One Last Time.....and Happy Birthday to ME!

There were a few things we had to do just "one last time" before Kara and Landon moved.

Like: going to Rita's for a yummy Gelati

squeezing Emri into Bexley's stroller so they could hang out

having yummy Scotch pancakes for breakfast

and hitting a few Yard Sales on a Saturday morning! Good times!

The only pictures I took of my birthday celebrations were these of the girls at Applebee's for lunch! The only thing that kept E occupied were lemon slices! Silly!

Meg (and baby Miles behind the glass), Jami, Heather and E

Amanda, Samantha, and Kara. Thanks for lunch girls!

On my actual birthday it was a DOWNPOUR of rain all day! Booooo. When Brett got home from school we went to Olive Garden for an early dinner, then left Emri home with a babysitter while we got icecream and went to Toy Story 3. Then Saturday was super nice, so we headed up to Zoombezi Bay with some friends for some classic waterpark fun, then hit Pei Wei for dinner on the way home! I had a great weekend! Thanks everyone who sent messages, cards, packages, called or thought about me!!

Rodeo/Birthday Queen

About a month ago some friends (with the help of Kara's parents) came up with a great idea for her birthday celebration. Her bday is on the 4th of July (we celebrated on the 5th) and since it was her last bday here in Columbus we had to make it special!

Did you know that Kara used to have high hopes and aspirations to be a RODEO QUEEN?!??!?! I can't help but laugh to know this....not that there is anything wrong with that, but I just can't picture KARA into that kind of thing!!! She was a proud member of 4-H as a kid....so we went with that for the theme of the party! Sorry if you city kids have no idea what 4-H...or FFA is!

My amazing supportive husband watched the wheels turning in my head....but saw nothing being produced....so he turned into my very own CAKE BOSS and made the idea come to life!

The finished product!! I can't stop laughing!

Kara's mom sent out a package full of pics of Kara with her horse "Indy" and a bunch of old 4-H Horse Show Ribbons! Thanks Kit....it was all perfect---I wish you could have seen the look on her face....She was quite impressed and I think a little excited to Celebrate her Inner Rodeo Queen! ha ha! And yes, Brett MADE Kara wear that horse ribbon proudly during the whole party!

We had a good time with a yummy BBQ, and good friends. Not only is Brett an amazing cake artist....but a master at the grill too!

Friends.....

Emri loves Bex so much that she kicked her off her own blanket, then stole her bottle! Geez....whose kid is that??

All the kiddies enjoyed the pool....it was upper 90's that day...and STEAMY!

We sang to Kara....

And she gave us an official 4-H Rodeo wave (that one's for you Mike)!

Landon & Kara made some amazing homemade icecream! Nothin' better than that!

Happy Birthday Kara!! Thanks for giving us a reason to par-tay! Love ya!

Zanesville BBQ

For the 2nd year in a row we were able to attend the Zanesville BBQ graciously hosted by the Clarks! We get to drive an hour out of the city to beautiful country and eat and play at an amazing home/yard. Thanks Clarks for having us!

The guys: Matt, Beau, Brian, Dallin, Brett, Nate, Brett, Chase w/ Mason

The Gals (+ kiddos): Megan, Raquel, Kate, Averi, Jami, Kara & Abi, Tate, Rachel & Reese, Amanda & Boston

Cornhole Tourney...Brett & Dave

Averi has the most hilarious talent of pulling this face when you say "crusty"....and in the next second you say "happy" and she is cheezin' it and clapping! Too cute!

E and Brett ran for miles in the backyard kicking the ball

The girls all enjoyed the pool...

And Averi's slide....

Late night #2 of fireworks and fun! Emri was pooped!

Part of the group watching the crazy boys light fireworks!

Thanks Clarks for letting us bombard your home again! We had a great time! Things like this are really going to make us miss living in Ohio...

Red, White & Boom

Look at this awesome Columbus, Ohio skyline....now picture 30 minutes straight of NON-STOP booming fireworks in front of it....with a grand finale that was unreal! We've never been in town to experience Columbus' Red White & Boom until this year. I'm so glad we got to go. It was also the 30th Anniversary of the production, so I think that made it even better!

We went with a bunch of friends and got downtown pretty early to find our way around before the streets all closed. After staking out a spot (well, luckily we were able to crowd in with other friends that staked their spots out the night before...very smart) we watched the parade.

Kara, Bex, and Landon

Brett, E, Davis & Brian, Rachel & Reese

After the parade we were starving, so we had our fix of greasy "carnival food" from several vendors! Landon got this low-fat bucket of garbage fries! Pretty much everything you could think of was in there!

Basically Emri loves food....and Landon does too.... so, this = Emri loves Landon cuz he always shares with her!

Did I mention Emri loves food?! Trying Brett's gyro!

Have you ever seen someone soooo excited for Dippin' Dots?!?! It was Amanda's first time! Emri ALSO loved the dippin dots!

We had lots of time to kill before fireworks....E enjoyed some Curious George on the iPod.

Part of the group we were with...

Emri was wondering what the heck she was still doing up (but pretty happy to be hangin out with everyone)....jammies usually means bedtime?!

Some fun shots of the fireworks....wish the sidewalk light would have been off.

Even little Bex was loving the show!

Emri watched from this cozy spot....

She was out about 15 minutes into the show!

Such a fun (LATE) night!! So glad we got to experience Red, White & Boom!

Eclipse

June 30th, 20ten....Eclipse Midnight Showing. Yes, we were there! The group at Applebee's for appetizers and dessert before the show.

So, we kinda got jipped. We DID get to the theater early for seats...but apparently they had already seated our theater...super early?!?!?!?! DON' T WORRY, WE SAT ON THE 2ND ROW. Booooo!!! We were all pretty bummed...and had kinked necks after the show, but it was still great!

(l-r) Amanda, Jami, Kristie, Heather, Annie, Kara, Rachel

Kristy and Heather...pretty much the most beautiful mother/daughter combo I know!!

Front row joes: Rachel, Amanda, Kara, Annie

Self Portrait! Kristie, Amanda, Jami

2nd Row: Kristy, Heather, Kristie, Amanda, Jami

I thought the movie was awesome! For all of you out there that know my "love" for reading :) I REALLY FINISHED THE SAGA!!!! Just about a month ago I really finished all 4 books! It really was a big deal for me! (I'm proud of myself if ya can't tell)! And, Eclipse was actually my favorite of the 4, so I was excited for the movie! I just crack up at the tent scene when they are hiding out before the big fight! It made me laugh out loud in when I read it too! I just love Jacob's humor (and his rock hard bod!!)

Thanks for the fun ladies! Can we please do it again soon (but from the back row next time?!)