A Getaway

While Ryan's mom was in town we planned a little getaway. After the fun at Great Wolf Lodge, she took the kids home and we stayed another night at a different hotel. We went to see Iron Man 2 and also to Maggiano's for dinner. We had been there one other time in Seattle and were very excited to find one in our part of the country. We both had awesome food. Totally planning another trip there.

The next morning we headed to King's Island for a day of Roller Coasters. Our first ride was Firehawk. This one they tip you on your back so you are facing the sky. You climb to the top facing the sky and then it flips you over for the rest of the ride so you feel like you are flying. I was so nervous for this one. I think it was because it was my first ride of the day and it was so different.

Vortex.....................

Invertigo.............

Diamondback.............

After the first ride I was good. We stood in lines for awhile but hit all the rides we wanted to. It was a lot of fun to be just me and Ryan.

We drove home to quickly jump back in the car to take Ryan's mom and brother to Church hill Downs to watch a couple of horse races.

Again, Eva took the kids home and we stayed the night at a hotel right on the waterfront. It was fabulous.

It was such a good break for us. We always enjoy our time alone. Thank you Eva and Nick for making that possible for us. We are grateful.

Great Wolf Lodge

As part of Aidan's birthday celebration and really just a part of Granny's visit, we went to Great Wolf Lodge. It is a hotel with an indoor water park. The kids loved it. The room was like a cabin and it had a bunk bed area for them with their OWN tv.

Just down the hall was the indoor waterpark. It was nice and warm inside and no need of sunblock. Love that. The slides varied in scariness. They had little Cassidy slides and then big Ryan slides. I was surprised that Aidan and Lacey went on some of the bigger slides. Most of them had tubes with them. There were some that we could go together and others you rode solo. It was such a great place. We went the night we got there and then as soon as it opened the next morning. We had to take full advantage of the place. It was a BLAST!

Birthday Boot Camp!

Today was Aidan's 7th Birthday! We started the day with Banana Muffins and hot chocoloate per request of the birthday boy. He got a ride to school with his good friend and had lunch with his dad and his Granny.

He was so excited for his party. He helped plan the whole thing. Invitations, games, and cake. Five of his school buddies rode the bus home with him for his Boot Camp Birthday party. In all we had 13 soldiers show up. It was a well energized party. It had rained all day until about 2p.m. and then cleared up just long enough for his party. We were so lucky! Thirteen 7 year olds in my house at once? That would have been insane.

We dressed up everyone in war paint and dog tags and took their picture.

We played several army games. We did an obstacle course.We made the soldiers carry a wounded soldier across the lawn and back.

We had a granade launch and a paper airplane flying contest. The boys loved it.

I made Aidan a Tank birthday cake. It was so hard to make frosting such a gross color but it looked pretty realistic.

He got some great presents. He loved getting gift cards and even money. He also got a new bike. This is the look on his face when he realized it.

We were exhausted after it all. So worth it though to see how happy Aidan was. Happy birthday, Aidan boy!

On this day...

Today Ryan and I are celebrating 9 years of marriage. We honestly feel like it is number 3. It has gone so fast.

Although we have had some wiz-bang anniversaries, Paris, Puerto Rico, and St. Martin, today was still a great day. We went to a matinee movie and for a quick lunch at Qdoba. We love their nachos. Then tonight we went to ward temple night. We decided to do sealings. It was so cool to kneel across the alter from Ryan again and think about that same moment 9 years ago. I tried to remember what I was thinking and what I felt in that moment. Then I thought about all we had been through since then. Wow, what an adventure.

I am so grateful Ryan is my husband. He is a great at it. He balances me. He is strong where I am weak, he is faithful where I am faithless, he is courageous where I am fearful. He is a perfect companion for me.

Happy 9 years!

Derby Bingo

My fab friend holds a traditional Derby Bingo Party. This year she asked us to come in hats. I was thrilled. Had I had more time and more money, we would have been well outfitted. Lacey found a fabulous hat at the flea market. I found a small hat for Cassidy and dolled it up. I had so much fun doing Cassidy's hat. I almost considered it my new passion and occupation. I mean really Derby hats have not restrictions. I shared Lacey's hat this year but next year, my hat will be awesome!

We had a fun time playing Bingo and yes we really did watch the Derby. I think quite a few called the winner. It was a great time with great food and great friends. Thanks Alexis! Can't wait for next year.

If you look close you can see the little red cardinal I put on Cassidy's hat. She can pick out a cardinal from a mile away. True Kentucky girl.

Welcome back 80's!

A friend of mine turned 30 recently so we had an 80's surprise party for her. It was just a girls party. I was so excited to take a trip to the 80's. The whole week prior I was listening to music, looking at old pictures and laughing at the clothes. It was so fun to think about my life then. I was 5 when the 80's started and 15 when they ended. The 80s were some good times. So many good songs and funny memories. I thought about all my little girlfriends and the crazy things we did together. I miss those times and miss those good friends.

I went shopping with a friend for 80's clothes. It was fun to think about the dorky things we wore. I found some great stone washed jeans, a jean vest, and even some JELLY shoes. I did feel a little old though because Alexis didn't know what pegging your pants was nor what bubble skirts were.

I put my hair in a side pony tail with the little curls down the front. Then I ratted my bangs to make them big. It was strange how naturally it felt doing my hair like that. I then put a big bow clip in my hair. I had hot pink lip gloss and blue eye shadow. Man when I looked in the mirror I seriously thought I was 13.

The party was great. We totally surprised her. Everyone was dressed up too. It was AWESOME! We played 80's music and ate fluorescent cake and reminisced about the crazy 80's.

So the funny addition to this is the next day we were getting ready for church and Lacey asked me to do her hair like mine was last night. I thought she meant the side ponytail but she wanted the curls down the side too. I refused to make her bangs all poofy so luckily she didn't insist on that but she did want the big bow. I just laughed because she thought my hair looked good when I thought it looked beyond ridiculous.

Was that Thunder?

The greatest event our city offers to some may guess is the Kentucky Derby but in reality it is Thunder over Louisville. This is an annual firework show over the river. It takes place two weeks before the Derby. We are die hards and go every year! This year was the first time we went with friends.

Parking is always a mess. You have to park in certain areas and then walk down to the water front. Ryan had dropped me and the kids off while he parked the car. I totally thought I would get to the waterfront before him and I would have a place all saved for us. Well, he parked way closer than where he dropped me off. I had two strollers and all our stuff. I pushed the big stroller with Lacey in it and all our bags and Aidan pushed Cassidy in the little stroller. Aidan would trade off with Lacey pushing. At some points they were both tired so I had one sit in the front seat of the double stroller and steer the stroller with Cassidy in it. So I was essentially pushing both strollers but Aidan was steering the one Cassidy was in. It was a crazy mess. We walked over two miles just to get to our spot. It took and hour and forty minutes. Yeah it was insane and I was so tired.

We had a great spot on the lawn with our friends. We had lots of snacks and treats to keep us occupied while we waited for the show to start. Two barges shoot off fireworks that mirror each other on each side of the bridge and then fireworks are shot off the bridge as well. The whole thing is choreographed to music.

Each year our kids have hated the fireworks. It is too loud and too late at night. We often consider getting them a sitter and just the two of us go. But there will be one year they surprise us and finally like them so we keep bringing them.


We were prepared though. We had two sets of headphones used at the gun range and then earplugs. Cassidy was startled by the first fire works. She held on tight to me the whole show but didn't really cry. She just watched in amazement and a little concern.

Lacey on the other hand full on zonked out for the whole show. She didn't twitch at all to the noise. She seriously missed the whole thing.

Aidan surprised us and didn't use the earplugs and liked it. It was his year. Yeah!



I loved it as I always do. Loved the music, the colors and the volume of fireworks they shot off. It is truly the best fireworks show ever.

Here is a taste..........