Meet My Godson

Last weekend my family drove down south for the Baptism of Ryan James! I was thrilled that my friends, the Lundy's asked me to be a part of their lives FOREVER or at least their son's. It was a wonderful weekend... okay minus all the items I forgot and the horrendous car ride. But we made it, had a good time visiting with our friends and their family. I hope to go down there again soon (once the ringing in my ears from Evan's screaming stops and I've fully recovered)!

Thank you again Lundy's and next time we will leave early.

Fireworks

It has been YEARS since I've seen any fireworks and this year I made plans to take the plunge and take the kiddies to see some. I was concerned as I didn't know how either of my children

would react. Ryleigh is known for her fears and Evan is still quite young. And to top it off, Glenn was leaving for work. So I made plans to meet up with my good friend, Jeanne and her family. I felt comfortable knowing I wouldn't be doing it alone. Saturday, we woke up and Glenn had a show at home for work. This meant there was a chance he would be home.

Last night, we packed the kids in the car (notice the WE, yup G was in town) and headed to Jeanne's house. We followed them over to her MIL to park and headed down toward the fireworks. My friend, Melissa and her clan (minus 1 - they didn't bring their 1 year old) met up with all of us. We decided to hit the elementary school playground before finding a spot to sit. We let them burn off some energy and about 45 minutes to an hour later we got a grassy spot to sit.

The kids got to play with sparklers (thanks Jeanne) and eat snacks (thanks Melissa) and WAIT. It felt like we waited forever and then finally they started. Ry was sitting in our double stroller with big eyes but only once did she cover her ears due to the noise (the finale). And Evan was a real trooper. The only thing he wanted was food. We (Melissa & I) were rationing off Cheerios in fear they would run out. 1/2 way through I put Evan in the double next to Ryleigh so Glenn & I could sit back and watch. Sam (Melissa & Mike's ball of energy) sat on our blanket and he completely cracked me up! He made it a real joy to watch especially since Ry wanted to stay in her cocoon in the stroller.

Overall it was a great night. I don't think we (Sharps, Lachers & Jeffers) will forget it since we all had first-timers with us. Driving home, I kept thinking of Ry's expressions as she watched... it was amazing!

Matt turns 1

Our friend, Matt turned one a week ago! His older bro, Sam is a friend of Ryleigh's (although friend may not be the right term since they act more like siblings...). Also Ryleigh's friend, Grace was there. Sam, Grace and Ry have known each other since before their first birthdays (same playgroup). And we all have one year old boys now too. It's nice to have a group of friends who match up well with age...

Long Overdue

Friday morning we had our favorite twins come over for a visit. The kids played outside for a bit then the queen diva had a small meltdown and decided she needed some space so she went to her room. Andersen was done playing outside too so he came into play with the crazy amounts of toys on our first floor. I decided to check on the kids inside and heard the best laughter ever coming from Ry's room. Andersen, being a good friend, went in to cheer Ryleigh up and they were giggling like crazy. I love catching kids having such a good time with no care in the world.

Thanks for coming over! We need to do it again sooner rather than later.

Special Service Announcement

As you all know by now my old work pal (and her family) are the Ambassador Family for this year's March of Dimes Walk in Central Ohio. If you want to really learn something about them then watch this video.



Alisa & Adam's ability to be so open and honest with their journey with their premature children has always amazed me. To donate go here!

Sad to see them go

Today I said goodbye to good friends of mine, the Lundys. They are leaving Ohio tomorrow to head to Kentucky. The moving truck is in front of their home, packing all their belongings and they will spend their last night in the first home they purchased.
For me, it's bittersweet. I am excited for the opportunity they have in Kentucky, but I will miss them. Meredith and I have gone through a lot in the past five years of knowing one another. We got married, bought homes and started our families. Those are huge things that happen in your life and we were there together.
Meredith and I met at work. She and her then boyfriend moved to Ohio. I was engaged and shortly after got married. She and Kevin then became engaged themselves and they started the wedding planning process. It was great to be a witness to all the chaos I had just endured myself. When her time came, I was there to witness them exchange vows. Meredith even wore my veil!
Glenn and I had been in our first home by then and I was pregnant with Ryleigh. They bought their own just one town away and became pregnant themselves. They came to watch Ryleigh when she was a few months old, but being a first time mom, we stuck around and had dinner with them. Kevin hadn't yet been exposed to a baby and there were tons of questions. We helped them as best we could and grew excited for Brendan's arrival. Once they came home, Meredith had her first time mom jitters and called me on Brendan's first night. I went over, calmed her nerves and reminded her she could do it. And she has very well.
Meredith has been here to celebrate birthdays and the homecoming of my second. The past couple of years we've had playdates, sharing stories of mommy woes and the common bond of traveling husbands. I feel blessed that I got to hold her new son today (cute as button and just 4 weeks old). It was my first time and I am sure not the last.
I went through their home today to see all the packed boxes, Brendan's first big boy room and the nursery one last time it became real. I went to say goodbye to Kevin, who gave me an enormous hug and my tears started to surface. I then turned to Meredith to give her my finally Ohio Hug and we were blubbering messes. I walked down the stairs to say goodbye to her mom. And before I left, Brendan came running up to me. I picked him up and he gave me the best hug. I gave him a kiss on the check and reminded him to be good to his mama. At this point, I had to leave because the tears were streaming.
My thoughts are with them today as they pack up to start their new adventure. I know tomorrow I will be excited for them but today I am just sad. Sad to see such a good friend go. I will miss you Meredith and your family. I promise I will see you soon and call you often. You call me when you need me for anything! I promise I will be there in a flash.

My first famous friend

My friend, Alisa, is in a commercial and as a mom I couldn't be more proud of her. Please check it out here. And while you're there considering dropping a dime or two towards the March of Dimes walk. It's a great cause!

Guess who couldn't play nice?

Evan enjoying the infant water table for the first time!

Sam. There is a love/hate relationship with him & Ryleigh

See what I mean...

Grace, cute as a button. Her & Sam could have played hours at the water table...

But SHE would have none of it!

We went to COSI with some friends about a week ago... imagine who couldn't handle it???? Yup, she refused to stay in one spot. It was like she was on speed. She had the 'been there done that' attitude. Needless to say, it sucked!

Happy 4th of July

Thank you to the Lundy clan for letting us tag along to the Orange Twp. Parade this morning. Also for the yummy lunch! It was a fun but wet morning. I think the kids loved scooping up all the candy.
Hope you're fourth was just as fun!

How do I know my links...

Okay folks, we all wonder how someone knows their blog crawl. And we check out other blogs that our friends look at so I thought I would explain how I know my "LINKS".

Hayes Family: This is one of my friends that I've know for a long time. She's one of my hometown girls. Although we've known each other since we were young we probably hooked up as friends in high school and became closer there after. She is one of those friends who even if we don't chat all the time, we can just pick up and chat as if we just saw each other last week. She has a great husband and 3 wonderful children whom I got to visit this past summer in Washington.

The Pearsons: Another one of those hometown friends... I've known Courtney FOREVER. She literally is my oldest friend in the world. We met in kindergarten and spent the night at each other's houses and had play dates as kids. We were lucky to get pregnant close together with our first and now our second children will be just the same distant apart in age as our first. We try to get together once a month or so to chat and let the kids play. She is a lifetime friend and I am really blessed to have her in my life.

The Lundy's: This would be a work friend. Meredith and her husband were new to the area (and the state) when I met her. We chatted at work and it developed into a friendship outside of work (which is good since we're both stay-at-home moms). She is my go-to for chic flicks. Before kids we use to go to the movies our husbands had no desire to take us to but we must see. I think the last time we went to a movie was a couple of days before her son Brendan was born... he is now 18 months old so that goes to show how much our lives have changed. We chat quite a bit on the phone and she is my lifesaver when my husband is out of town. I am so glad to be able to have her with my through my parenthood woes!

Fully Charged Double A's: Another friend I met through work. Alisa is Wonder Woman. I have so much respect and admiration for her because this girl has had some curve balls thrown at her in her adult life. She handles everything with grace and she is so upbeat. When I first met Alisa at work (we were on a team together) I thought there was no way I would be friends with her outside of the work place but here we are several years later... Alisa is so busy with her life and children that we don't get together too often but someone I always hope to maintain some sort of contact with... she is what you call good people. She has 2 beautiful children and she tells their tales in her blog. A must read!

Counting It All Joy: Tam-e is a girl from my hometown... yup, love the hometown girls. She is actually good friends with my friend Amanda (Hayes Family). They have kept in touch over the years and when Amanda started blogging I got hooked up to Tam-e's family blog. Tam-e was also a big help in our hs reunion. She helped connect me to a lot of folks from our class. Tam-e is fantastic and she too is a stay-at-home mom to 4. She has given me some advice through my blog which I am so grateful to have. Her experience as a mom is fantastic to have in your back pocket!

Bits & Pieces: Oh Jessey...how do I explain. Actually this one is easy. She went to college with Meredith (The Lundy's) at UC Davis (I hope I have that right girls). When Meredith started her blog I also started reading Jessey's blog. She is hysterical and I can get a good chuckle out of some of her misfortune's (sorry Jess but some of the things that happen to you... almost unbelievable that they are just too funny). Also she LOVES celeb gossip which is always so fun to read after some crazy incident happens. Her writing just tickles my fancy and I love to check on what is going on with her. She is what I term the blog friend! So glad I met ya!

Then there are the other two... Post Secret and Dooce. I don't have any connection to them. I actually have stopped reading them (well I still read Dooce... I use to be big into it but not so much now). Dooce is like the blog mama. She is huge. Her blog supports her entire family! Pretty fantastic if you ask me. She does write some funny stuff and I love her monthly letters to her daughter. She is just a great writer and so she is nice to read.

Alright kids, there you have it. How I know the folks I list on the right side column. Now don't get me wrong, I read others... I just don't have them listed. How about you... do you read your friend's friends blogs???

Great start to the weekend

We've been busy the past 2 days. Ryleigh and I met up with the Parker Clan on Thursday for a morning of COSI fun! Ava and Andersen Parker are twins who are nothing short of miracles. They are now 2 (although we fibbed to COSI to get them in for free) and doing great. Alisa (their mom) took this great video clip of Ava and Ryleigh playing at the water table.

This is a picture of the 3 kids as we were getting ready to leave... hence no one wanted to look in the same direction at the same time.

Today Glenn and I took Ryleigh to story time at the library for their Halloween theme. We dressed Ryleigh up in her costume and I think she thought she was the only one in the room with the witch story reader...

Also was able to get a photo of Ryleigh and Brendan. It's been sometime since we got a photo of these 2 together (the bad date night).

If I ever am looking for work...

The Happy Couple

I could become a babysitter! I just had a fun evening watching my friends' infant tonight. My friends, the Lundy's, were celebrating their 2 year anniversary. I thought this would give me some idea what it would be like if Glenn & I opt to have a second child. Needless to say it will be interesting...

When Brendan arrived the three of us went for a wagon ride... pretty uneventful. It was hot and sticky so when we returned we played inside. Or I should say Brendan played. Ryleigh got up on the couch and looked down at Brendan while he ran around the house. When she wanted some peace she decided to hop into her high chair and read some books. She wasn't much for sharing or playing. I had a blast with the little guy and realized how much I forgot about the 11 month old stage. He was a motion machine and orally fixated. EVERYTHING had to be tasted before it could get the Brendan stamp of approval!

I hope to do it again soon even if Ryleigh doesn't seem so interested!
The Not-So-Happy Couple