Saturday, August 9, 2014

Ryan's 34th Birthday

Ryan celebrated his 34th birthday this year on July 9th.  We sent him off to work after a big breakfast of waffles with syrup, strawberries, and whipped cream.  He got home from work in the Cincinnati area that day and we had steak, and twice baked potatoes.  Then we opened presents and had cake and cupcakes.  Ryan's birthday tradition is a marzipan cake, but we haven't had one since moving here since I haven't found a place in Columbus that sells it (and I've called probably every bakery).  But I gave it one more shot this year and a place that I had previously called started making them!  So he finally got his marzipan cake!

Fourth of July 2014

On the Fourth of July, we went to the Hilliard parade again, which we are fans of.  Not too small, not too big.  We met up there with a bunch of our neighbors and a new family from our ward that needed something to do.  Later on that evening, we had a super delicious BBQ with neighbors in our backyard with good food and of course a little cornhole and sparklers, after which Lucy and I joined some of them for fireworks while Ryan stayed home with Claire since she would not have made it through them happily.  It was a good day!
 Lucy was so funny... we saw/heard the police cars that led the parade from far away and it took what felt like 95 years for them to finally get to us, so she kept running part way into the street and doing a little side lunge to see out.  She as excited!
 Lucy had SO much fun in the back of the Hain's truck with Mason.  They brought cushions and lot's of blankets and made it super cozy and fun!
 Me, Lucy, Bobbi, and Mason.

Sunrise

Claire has been having a nice, long streak of waking up somewhere in the 5am hour.  6 or 6:15, if we are really lucky.  One morning I peeked out my bedroom window when she got up and saw this pretty sunrise!  I'm glad I took a picture because this is the beautiful view I have been able to wake up to almost all summer.  The only good thing about waking up that early.  And I would definitely prefer to just look at this picture instead of experience the real deal. :)

June 2014

These girlies love swinging at the park.  We go to the park and Lucy literally makes me push her in the swing for at least an hour.  Claire was pretty content as well.
 When Grandma Nae visits, she leaves treats in Lucy's shoes.  This time, she put them in Lucy's rain boots thinking it would be a while before she found it, but randomly Lucy put them on the next day.  This was her happy/surprised face. :)
 The Madsen's have a fancy dancy blow-up slide/pool thing and invited us over one afternoon when they set it up.  Lucy loved it when the water was not spraying out from the top of the slide.
 Our neighbor invited us to go to Oh-Yo frozen yogurt place to pass the time on a long afternoon when both of our husbands were gone.  Lucy and Mason usually have a good time together.  Lucy was too busy eating a few sour gummy worms to smile normally for the picture.
Ryan said he was tired and so Lucy ran and grabbed pillows and blankets for them to snuggle up with. So thoughtful of her!
 Claire up and started moving and climbing all over everything.  Here she is making her move from the couch to the end table.
 Lucy loves to pack everything and pretend she's going somewhere.  After a while though, this little game turned into carrying around every toy we have just to keep it away from Claire.  She is not a very good sharer right now!  We're working on it...
 Literally every time we go to the zoo, she runs over to this big Gorilla statue and says "take picture!"
 We went to the zoo with our new friends and Lucy and Hudson loved climbing on the fake dinosaur.
Playing with her princesses... she was so proud of fitting them all on this car.
 Claire was a disaster one day after dinner, so we took her straight to the sink to wash off.  She loved it and Lucy loved helping.
 Lucy loves when we use the trunk of that blue elephant stuffed animal to rub her back and belly, so she grabbed the yellow stuffed animal for us to rub Claire with while we did her as well. 

Aunt Wanda visit

My Aunt came to visit again in June and we did the usual- shopping, pool, out to eat, etc.  She spoiled us as usual and it was so fun to have her visit!  

I love this picture... everyone is smiling and looking at the camera!  And it was such a nice day outside. I love the clouds and blue sky in the background.
There's no question that this girl loves to shop!
 She thought it was the funniest thing to push Aunt Wanda on the bum!

Dayton visit

My Aunt came to visit me in Columbus and we went down to Dayton to visit my sister Lisa and her kids in their new home just shortly after they moved here.  We had a good day just hanging out around their house, letting the kids play, and ordering in some pizza.  It was a lot of fun!  I'm so glad Lisa and her girls live close by now for many reasons, but especially so Lucy and Claire can get to know their cousins a little better!
I love this picture of these girlies!

Father's Day

Ryan is the best dad ever to our little girlies.  I am glad they have such a great example to follow.  Ryan got a big breakfast before church, a long nap afterwards, steak from Costco, and a bunch of desserts at a little dessert get-together with friends.  Here is Ryan with the little girlies that love and admire him and made him a dad!  I love this picture of them.