Summer in Review

 For those of you that still check this blog, bless you! I cannot believe how long it has been since I last posted. I know I've promised before, but really making an effort to keep up this blog and stay connected with the rest of you that blog regularly. I can't say that I have one good excuse for being away so long. I suppose just a rough mix of things. However, I have really been missing the documentation of Avery and Spencer, since they're changing so much, and just our family in general. 

Thought I would just do a quick round-up of the summer so that I'm not so overwhelmed with trying to post everything. But, here's a good mix and a good starting off point for me to jump back in!!

We took what is becoming our annual trip to the beach and Disney World.

Our favorite beach, Clearwater. It was so clear this year I actually felt comfortable in the water-no sting rays!

Spencer loved meeting all of the princesses! 

The kids got makeovers, Disney-style :)

Avery was tall enough for Tower of Terror! We didn't know the guy next to her, but he thought she was awesome-and she is :)

We were lucky enough to snag this pic with virtually no one in the background. How, you might ask? A tip: schedule breakfast at a park restaurant and you get in early! On this day we ate at the Crystal Palace-obviously in Magic Kingdom-for Mother's Day.

We had lots of character meals and met just about everyone! I highly recommend character meals. It beats having to wait in line forever to meet characters. This way, they come right to your table and you get to meet everyone while you eat your meal-best thing ever with young, excited kids!!

Avery was also tall enough this year for Splash Mountain. She loved this one a lot and took both Artie and I on it...can't wait until Spence is tall enough and we can all go together :)

The kids picked out some awesome Mickey and Minnie ears.

Non-Disney part of the summer :)

Artie and I ran our first 5K. Artie pushed the jogging stroller the whole time-up and down the hills of downtown Cincinnati! We didn't do too bad either :)

The kids also participated in their first race-The Flying Piglet. Spencer cried because he didn't know where to run to, but they both had a great time and loved their medals!

Spencer has taken a liking to baseball. So Uncle Jake got him this for his birthday.

There was a dance recital or two. I love this picture. Avery has sadly decided not to dance for her third year this year. Instead, she has joined a competition cheer team. We shall see how this season goes!

Our furry boys have done a lot of cute cuddling. They are definitely the odd couple!

There was a lot-and I mean A LOT-of time spent at the pool this summer! We had some pretty nice tans, too bad they don't last long.

We spent time with best friends at the park and at the zoo :)

There was a Pompeii exhibit at the museum here in Cincy. It was amazing! The kids developed such an interest in history after seeing this exhibit. They still talk about it months later.

Silly dancing inspired by the Olympics! The kids LOVED watching all of the events.  I'm a summer Olympic junkie-hello extra tennis!-so the kids got to watch a ton of TV those two weeks!

Speaking of tennis, the tournament down here was right after the Olympics. The kids were excited, they love the tournament. It's very kid and family friendly. They tagged along with Artie and I during our volunteer orientation.

Since we were practically the only parents that actually brought our children to the orientation, Avery and Spencer went up on stage in front of hundreds of volunteers and picked all of the raffle numbers. They were a huge hit, and were offered the position next year. For their efforts, they snagged these two awesome cups-yep, mommy has taken them over!

Artie and I were excited that the uniforms this year were black, the last few years I have been dressed in bright orange! 

We got to see the newly crowned Olympic champion, Andy Murray (and Spencer's favorite player) up close and personal!

My sister and I took Avery on one of my days off from working as a marshal and had a girls day. We got to meet Caroline Wozniacki and get her autograph.

We found a really cute ice cream place near our home! It became quite the favorite summer after dinner spot.

Spencer decided to get creative on our TV stand. 

And then learned about cleaning up messes! Luckily we were able to use some goo gone to take off the crayon without taking off the paint!

While my sister was down for the tennis tournament, we took a painting class. It was so much fun and I ended up taking one all by myself a week later!

Finally, I can't believe it happened, but now I have two preschoolers! Avery missed the kindergarten cut-off by just two weeks and rather than trying to file an extension and get her in this year, we were happy enough to just let her do one more year in preschool. Spencer enjoys having his big sister right next door during his first school year. It has been sweet seeing the two of them share school time and I know it's just the begging. Since they are now only one grade apart, I'm hoping they always enjoy being so close and don't become too competitive with each other.

Well that's our summer in a nutshell. We were really busy and sad to see it end. We are on birthday countdown here as Avery's is next week. Plus, we have my brother's wedding in less than two months so the cooler temps will bring plenty for us to enjoy!

Spring!

The first day of spring is finally here-though, it's been feeling like summer! We've been busy enjoying the weather, playing pro bono chauffeur, and potty training. Spencer is fully potty trained-2 months before he turns 3 :) We are so happy with the job he's done. He even wears underwear at night and stays dry! It has been awesome not having to buy diapers/pull-ups! Avery is extremely into tennis and we spend a lot of free time (per her request) practicing different swings and serving. Spencer is very excited to be able to join her in lessons this summer, once he turns 3 in May.

We're still unpacking from our move in December. I don't know why it's so hard this time! I think it's because we condensed our stuff to live with Artie's dad before we found a place down here of our own. Then once we did we had to get a bunch out of storage and are still dragging stuff down from Fort Wayne whenever we're in town there. It's exhausting moving!

Here's a little of what's been happening...

New towels! A lion and butterfly :)

Ace found his way into Avery's princess chair. 

We recently dug out my old iPod touch and programmed it for the kids with games, shows, and music-they love it and it's nice to not have to give up my iPhone for them anymore!

Very excited about St. Patrick's Day. We had just played tennis and the kids had picked shamrocks :)

St. Patty's treat-shamrock shakes!

Spence had to have his own, of course!

Lately, our little man has been falling asleep by his bedroom door. I have no idea why he's been doing this, but it's too cute.

Just back from dance class last night and what did the kids have waiting for them (Spence dressed as Woody)? Letters from my brother and Natalie to be in their wedding as a flower girl and ring bearer :) Avery has been carrying around her card since she opened it telling anyone and everyone that Natalie and Uncle Jake love her so much they want her to wear a sparkly dress and be in their wedding! We can't wait until December 1st!

Happy 1st Day of Spring!

Moved!

Most of you probably know by now, but we have moved! We're just north of Cincinnati now in Mason and getting adjusted to our new surroundings. We moved two days before Christmas and I don't ever recommend moving that close to a major holiday-especially when we left that night to head to Fort Wayne for family Christmases. I'm sad to say we're still not unpacked. We have all been extremely sick for nearly 6 weeks in a row so I feel like there has been no normalcy at all! Anyway, if you don't have our new address and would like it, please email me and I'll get it to you!

What's This...

A New Post!

Oh my gosh, I can't believe-once again-how long it's been since I've last been on this, or any, blog!  I guess life's been happening a little too much lately and it seems that it has been dragging me down-and away from keeping this updated!

Since last posting, we've had another death-very unexpected-and Avery's 4 yr. well check left me bawling in the doctor's office and completely blew us away with news that she has developed a heart condition that is now being monitored by a cardiologist at the children's hospital here in Cincy.  Artie and I's marriage has been pushed to the limits and then some, especially recently.  And, I would be lying if I didn't say I've asked myself a few times "why me?"  I can't understand how I could be going through serious health concerns with another child, but it is what it is and I still have my really dark days, but Avery is the most amazing little girl and I'm just loving her to pieces-so I'm trying to be happy that my kids are otherwise healthy and keeping me busy!

Since I'm so far behind, I'll just try to do a little picture recap of the last few months and start anew!

We had a chance to visit the Osburns on a trip to Indy for Avery's birthday!  

Spencer and Jacob had a great time:)

Elizabeth and Avery also became fast friends and quickly started planning their
next get together!



Avery's request for her birthday was a trip to Chuck E Cheese-her first experience!


Avery got her very first big girl bike (from grandma and pop pop)!


Great Grandma (and Grandpa Scott) made a trip to Cincinnati:)


We're very into dressing up-especially as Rapunzel.


While running through the park-on a rocky trail-I managed a nasty ankle roll that had
me thinking it broke because of the snap I heard. Also left me unable to walk myself out of the woods-quite the spectacle when I had to be taken out on a landscape cart to the ambulance waiting for me! Turns out it was a dislocation. Seriously, one of the worst pains I ever felt.


After crutches for as long as I could stand them, I ended up in this for weeks. Almost 8 weeks later and it's still not healed completely! The worst part, trying to chase and drive kids around while in this boot!


My uncle unexpectedly passed away the month after my grandpa at 50 from a heart attack. My dad lost his father and his brother in a month's time. Jake, Cim, and I made sure to get a picture with our dad at my uncle's funeral since we aren't together often.


Halloween brought Woody and Jessie to us! These two made out like crazy in candy-but they were so cute, people couldn't help give them extra:)


I finally started drinking wine.


The kids met Santa. Even though we don't do Santa in our house in the traditional sense, Avery and Spencer still enjoy seeing him. We went to a lovely horse-drawn parade in a charming town called Lebanon just north of Cincinnati and ol' Mr. Claus brought the Mrs. to help celebrate!


Avery attended her first real birthday party-invitation and girls only!


Avery also had her first Christmas recital and her first recital with her new dance school down here. She danced to "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and she knew the whole dance (over 2 minutes!) and performed like a star!


And just last night, Avery made her stage debut as a bumble bee in "Winnie-the-Pooh" and as a proud mamma, I must tell you she was the only preschooler with speaking lines! She did amazing and seriously, a star might have been born:)


Well, now you're all caught up! Hope you all have a wonderful (FINAL) weekend before Christmas!

Iron's Fruit Farm

First, (since I have been blog absent for a while) I'm happy to report my brother made it home safely from his year tour in South Korea about a month ago.  It was such a long awaited reunion and yet, bittersweet.  The day before my brother got back to the states-in fact Jake got the news at the airport in Korea-my grandpa passed away.  I wasn't able to make it back in time from Cincinnati and I was (still am actually) pretty upset about not being able to have seen him before he went.  The report I had gotten from my dad just the day before was that he was doing better and then he went so quick no one was able to make it to the hospital.  I'm sure it was his time and he was ready, he lived a long 89 years, but it isn't ever easy.  So the few days Jake was home before reporting to his next duty station was spent with family saying goodbye to our very special grandpa. 

We did have a special moment, surprising Jake at the airport.  I wish I would have gotten a picture of it but I was so happy to see him in person I sort of forgot!  He didn't think we were coming because he actually flew into Indianapolis and his girlfriend, Natalie, was going to pick him up.  We kept the kids up way past their bedtime-considering Jake missed his connection in Detroit from hold ups in customs and didn't get in to Indy until 11:30pm-but it was well worth it to see Avery run to her Uncle Jake with her arms wide open to give him his first hug!  Spencer wasn't far behind and it made my brother so happy that the kids missed him so much and didn't forget him-thanks to skype Spencer really got to know Uncle Jake while he was in Korea (since he was only 1 when he left).  Anyway, we had a great time with him in the few short days, we had a bonfire, family meals, and Jake bought his very first car!  He's now stationed in Kentucky (40 minutes outside of Nashville) and only about 3 1/2 hours from us!  I can't wait to visit him once he gets settled:)  He will be deploying to Afghanistan January 2013, leaving just a little over a year for us to enjoy him being back! 



Avery's First Field Trip

Yesterday, I was able to tag along with Avery and her classmates to an adorable little working farm for a hayride and pumpkin picking.  Spencer came too and it was such a blast to get to watch Avery with her classmates and friends.  I drop her off and pick her up and get to hear about the kids in her class, but it was nice to finally see them interact!  Her teachers are great and we're really happy with our choice in her school!

 
There are just under two weeks until my little princess turns 4! We can't believe she's getting so big. The time has sort of crept up on us and Artie and I are scrambling to make plans for her big day (or weekend since her bday is on a Monday). Be sure to check back for birthday fun!