Trip to Iowa!

My mom's 6 grandkids (3 girls and 3 boys)! Didn't they do a GREAT job sitting for a picture??? From left to right: Olivia (Matt's daughter), Lucas (Dawn's son), Lily (Matt's daughter), Jackson (Crystal's son), and then Meggan and Jordan (mine, of course).

At the new pool (even though the water was FREEZING)! Doesn't it look tasty? :)

Meggan and Jess in Jared's semi!

Jordan's "cheese" face on the swing and Meggan and Jess building sandcastles in the background! Got to a few parks in the couple days we were there!

Jordan's signature head rub (he does this to Lucas multiple times a day)! I think that means he loves them?!?!?!

We got home at 1:30 a.m. today - but we were just glad to be back! The kids all did great both on the way to Iowa and on the way home last night! Dawn and I were able to have some nice conversation (while they were sleeping at least)!!! No, seriously. They did do a great job on that long car ride! What a fun-filled visit to Iowa, for sure, but I think we are ALL glad to be home! :)

Crystal and Jesse have themselves a keeper, for sure! He is so cute and so sweet - and he seems to be a good eater and a great sleeper! Let's just hope he keeps that up for their sake! It was so fun to see them and get to catch up with everyone else while we were there as well.

Meggan went to the circus that happened to be in Grundy Center TWICE on Wednesday night, stayed overnight at Uncle Jared's house with Jess and Jo-Jo, then had them stay overnight with her at Grandma and Papa's house the next night, then stayed overnight at Uncle Matt's house with Lily the next night, and then finally stayed overnight just her and Jordan at Grandma and Papa's house the last night ... she's quite the social butterfly, huh?!?!?! She had a blast getting to enjoy all the playing time with cousins and Grandma and Papa! She also had a great time riding the "new" bike that Aunt Crystal found at a garage sale for $10 ... it looks like it's brand new. It needed a little fixing on the back wheel and was out of commission for a few hours, but once Papa and Uncle Jared got their hands on it, it was good as new! That will see many, many blocks of riding in the years to come.

Jordan had a blast too once we got there, mostly enjoying the playing time with Grandma and Papa and also with the cousins outside! Saturday was a treat as we went to get pedicures and manicures since Meggan was still at Lily's house playing and Jason's parents kept Jordan busy (or was it him keeping them busy?) while I got some nice time with my mom and sisters and holding the new baby too!

After a busy weekend and the long drive back, VBS kicked off at our church this morning at 9:00. Meggan has grown up so much in the last year that I can hardly even believe it. Her poor teacher last year pretty much walked around with Meggan on her hip last year, and this year she just dove right in and started singing the songs and having fun! I'm sure having both Maggie and Cami in her group helps a little bit there, but she ran off and never looked back! I was off work today and have gotten caught up on all my pages, so it was fun to take them both along with me to VBS and then go to the pool at the YMCA and swim for a while this afternoon (and not even feel guilty in the meantime that I should be at home getting some work done)! Not something we get to do every day, so it was a real treat for all of us!

We are happy to be back in Indiana and back to "normal" everyday life! Now we just look forward to the end of this month when we go down to West Baden/French Lick for an adults-only base ball tournament the guys are playing in that last weekend (which also just happens to land on my 29th birthday)! We all have made arrangements to escape down there with no kids, and it should be quite enjoyable!!!!!

Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend as much as we did!

New York City!

So we're back from our little getaway together to New York City, and we had a GREAT time! I had to work on Friday, from about 9:00-4:00, but the rest of the long weekend was ours. Jason even met me for lunch when we took a lunch break during the deposition - that's something we don't get to do very often! :)

We did one of the bus tours that takes you all around and you can get on and off at any time you want. That enabled us to see everything, and anything we wanted to see a little closer, we could jump off the bus and check it out and then jump on the next bus that came around. It was really fun - and we felt like we really got to see everything! We also paid to go up to the Top of the Rock, which is the 70th floor of Rockefeller Center. That was well worth it! Other than those two "tourist" things, we walked around a whole lot and just took in the City - and walked and walked and walked and walked... :)

This week is another busy one. My little sister had her baby boy on Sunday morning, and we are planning a roadtrip to Grundy Center to see the little guy. My mom and Meggan took off this morning to Iowa, and Dawn and I and the boys (Jordan and Lucas) will be leaving tomorrow evening after work and then coming back home Sunday afternoon/evening to go back to work on Monday. It should be a fun - and exhausting - time!!! There's nothing like a little newborn baby; right?!?! :)

I'll post pictures of the "adventure" to Iowa next week sometime. For now enjoy a few of the views of the Big Apple!

Jason & me in Times Square!

Jason & me on Top of the Rock!

Times Square (see the ball that drops on New Year's Eve?) from the Top of the Rock!

The Empire State Building from the Top of the Rock!

Jason & me in Central Park!

Week in Review!

It was another busy week here in Indiana ... it doesn't seem as though it's already been a week since I posted last time!

Meggan dressed up in her Hannah Montana outfit and smiling with her cake (this was just before Jordan decided to put his hand in it right there at the bottom where the writing is - WHEW!)

We geared up for the long weekend and another busy few days. Jason's parents got here about the middle of the afternoon on Thursday and walked up to Nancy's house to pick up the kids. They chatted for a while and stopped at the playground on the way home, and the fun weekend was under way!

Friday morning we went to walk on the Canal downtown (Jason had to work both Friday and also on Saturday morning, so he had to miss out). It was really fun, and the weather was beautiful! The kids sat in the strollers for a while, but then they had to get out and run (literally) down the Canal. They had a blast though - and we were in no hurry and just let them go up and down each staircase and stop at all the water fountains and "talk" to the ducks and geese that were not too shy when you got up close. (We didn't even think to bring some bread along with us, which I'm sure the kids would have loved to throw out there!)

The kids and Jason's parents at the Canal!

Friday evening we met Jason after work at Cheeseburger in Paradise for some delicious supper! This is where Jason's parents wanted to go for their anniversary dinner (33 years on Friday ... WOW!). It was really good and everyone had fun!

The kids and Jason's parents at Cheeseburger in Paradise!

Saturday I went to the Y and did the aerobics class while Jason's parents played with the kids here at home. They met me at the mall to make Meggan's bear that she needs to have for her dance recital next month. Then we grabbed a bite to eat and they headed back home with the kids while I went to Sam's Club and got the sandwiches and cake and all the fixings for Meggan's birthday party. Then it was home to relax (at least a little bit) before the big party!

Meggan had a blast at her 5th birthday party! She and her friends played so hard, and it's always just fun to have our friends over and get to chat while the kids have fun! We even managed to squeeze a little game of Red Rover in there. We've always gotten really lucky with beautiful weather for her birthday parties (knock on wood) and at one point it sprinkled for about 2 minutes and then was nice again the rest of the evening!

With some of her new makeup on from her friend, Maggie!

By the end of the evening, a few of the kids were dunking their head into the big bucket that was holding bottles of water (yes, it was ICE COLD) and thought it was just the funniest thing ever! Meggan got in on the action too, but Jordan was even bolder...

Is this what little brothers are supposed to spending their time doing at their sister's birthday parties?

Sunday the boys went to the Indianapolis 500, so it was just us girls and Jordan for the day. We ran a few errands, grabbed a bite to eat, and then came back home to play. It was another beautiful day, and the kids just love to play outside!!!

After the busy day Sunday (the boys were pretty wiped out), we just chilled yesterday after a run to Kohl's to see what was on sale that we couldn't live without. It did rain quite a bit, but we made the best of it and did get to go outside later on in the afternoon and evening to enjoy the last evening Jason's parents were here for this trip.

It was a great weekend and so much fun to have Grandma and Papa here with us to help celebrate! They took off this morning as I was heading out to take the kids to Nancy's, and Meggan CRIED hard. She usually just tears up and tells me how her eyes won't stop watering or how she doesn't want them to leave, but she was crying. I felt so bad for her! They all do so much enjoy each other's company...

Jason and I are off to New York City on Thursday and will be there for a long weekend and come home Sunday evening. I have to work on Friday, but the rest of the weekend we will just get to be together and have a nice weekend getaway - I can hardly wait!!! Pray for safe travels and for Dawn and Jer to have fun with the kiddos! (THANKS YOU GUYS, BY THE WAY!)

Upcoming Birthday Party...

Meggan's birthday party is quickly approaching (we're going to have it this weekend since it's Memorial Day weekend, which seems a little weird because it's so early this year). It's so hard to believe that she's going to turn 5 already! Although she won't officially be 5 for almost a week after her party, she is telling everyone that this Saturday she turns 5 ... I want to tell her to stop rushing it and that we need to just stop time.

Meggan at about 2 1/2 years old! (Wow! Looking back through these pictures of her was almost like looking at Jordan now ... without the long blonde hair, of course!)


Meggan is so not a baby anymore, but she's still my baby. When people ask about my kids and I say the words "My daughter is almost 5 years old" - it just seems as though someone else is speaking and it's not really me. I really can't grip the thought that almost a full 5 years have flown by so quickly!

Meggan a couple months ago!

All is going well here this week. Just enjoying the BEAUTIFUL weather, taking some deep breaths, and looking back..........

First Graduation!!!

Meggan is officially a kindergartener now!!! They had a little ceremony this afternoon and presented each of the kids with their diploma ... how cute is that?!?!?!?!

It was sad to see her leave Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Janet and their classroom behind, but we look forward to another great year at Gray Road next year! What a blessing they were to us! We love her teachers - they were just so loving and caring and supportive of our little girl!!! :)

Meggan, the preschool graduate!

Meggan and Mrs. Phillips!

Meggan and Mrs. Janet!

What a fun time!

Great Blessings!

What a beautiful day it was yesterday for Mother's Day! We got a few flowers planted ... the kids were great helpers!

Helping Mommy plant some flowers!

My 2 most treasured possessions!

"Jordan, say cheese!"

Meggan showing him how to do it the "right" way!

How blessed I am to have two wonderful kids and a wonderful husband!!! They're the best!!!

Long Week!

It's been a little over a week now since I last posted. The days and nights just seem to fly right by us!

This past Saturday I participated in my first half-marathon. Dawn and I walked the entire 13.1 miles and finished in just under 3 1/2 hours! That is a LONG time to be walking. I'm thinking next year I will probably try and run it and see what kind of time I can finish in. Jason finished it in 2:17 and Jer finished it in 2:23 - so I guess that's about the pace I would aim for. I think that Jason's was about a 10-minute or 10 1/2-minute mile. We were just out there to say we had accomplished it, and we were pretty proud of ourselves when we crossed the finish line and got our medals!!! :)

Other than that, we had a nice weekend with BEAUTIFUL weather and have been back to the grind this week with dance class Monday and choir practice tonight. Meggan's dance recital is coming up in June, and we're looking forward to watching her on the stage (and hoping she doesn't develop stage fright while she's up there in the bright lights)! Then we will be taking a break from dance class for the summer and just enjoy the nice evenings. She has been wanting to try a gymnastics class, so we'll see what we go with there...

Jordan is home tomorrow with me since Nancy, the baby-sitter, is taking the day off, so that should be fun to hang out with him! Usually when I'm off I'm also worrying about work, so this will give me a chance to not worry about it because I have no other option than to be hanging out with him and can only work while he's resting tomorrow afternoon. He's such a funny little guy and is busy these days testing his limits as only a 1 1/2-year-old can do!

We hope everyone is having a nice week so far! We're looking forward to the weekend already!