It is official

We have been here in Ohio for 2 years.  We marked the anniversary of our move by going to the IX center for the indoor amusement park.  This was our first big event when we moved here.  We enjoyed it then as much as we did this year, our 3rd time.  Our 3rd time...... 2 years in Ohio......  It is difficult for us to get a feel if that is a long time or a short time.  It think the best (and most difficult) marker of time is the kids.  When we moved Kiara was 5, Mckenna 3, and Ava not born yet.  We now have a 7, 5, and almost 2 year old.  Mason was 6, Gabriel 3, Ryan 2, and Emily was 7 months old.  Ben had passed away just over a year before.  2 years to adults can feel like a snap of our fingers but to the changes in our kids, our niece and nephews, and the events in our lives, it is a very long time.  We are good.  We are happy and I think these pictures show that.

Bumper Cars. 

It took Kiara a minute to figure out how to work the car, but she did it, all on her own!

Mckenna and I on the bumper cars.  This ride was SO FUN!

We stood in line for this little train ride so that the girls could take Ava.  It went round and round and went at a very slow pace.  Ava was not tall enough to ride but Kiara and MC went on it anyway.  They were hilarious on this ride.  They were both really happy when it ended!

Ava having a blast on the Carousel with Daddy!

Ava could only ride 2 rides.  Look at her face!

Tom, Kiara, and Mckenna in line for a ride. 

Kiara and Tom went on the Ferris Wheel for the first time.  Tom said he was kind of scared and Kiara said she loved it :)!

Once again Tom won the girls a big stuffed animal by making a basket. 

They picked out the Husky in the middle.  Not sure what is happening with Ava's hair but boy do these girls love these animals!!

Manis & Pedis

Mckenna needed her haircut, I needed a haircut, and Kiara kind of needed a haircut.  March Madness was in full effect and Gonzaga was scheduled to play their 2nd game in the middle of Saturday.  Tom and I came up with a great idea.  I would take Kiara and Mckenna to the mall for haircuts and shopping and Tom would stay home with Ava and be able to watch Gonzaga play (as well as the 20 other games that were going on at the same time).  Kiara, Mckenna, and I had the best time.  We shopped, ate lunch, got haircuts, and decided to end the day with Pedicures.  Mckenna had never had one before.  Of course, the guy sold me on the few bucks extra to paint Kiara and Mckenna's fingernails.  So - manis and pedis it was!

The thing I like about this place is that there are lots of pedi chairs so we all get to sit next to each other.  Here are Kiara and MC relaxing in their chairs!

Mckenna getting her fingernails painted pink with white polka dots!

During MC's haircut, the girl asked how she wanted her hair done and she said "I want it to look like Kiara's!" 

Letting our nails dry.  How much fun is this????

The first time I got a pedicure was in high school.  My mom took me and we had a blast.  I would have never thought I would be the mom to get pedis with my daughters at the age of 5 but it could be one of my favorite treats to do with them!  I think we have found a new March Madness tradition.  Games for Tom and shopping and nails for the girls!

Beautiful Day

These next few posts are going to be a little random because I am a little behind on our everyday, normal (or not normal) events that are occurring here in Strongsville, Ohio.

We had the most mild winter here in Ohio.  The people that plowed our driveway only came a handful of times compared to at least 40 times last year.  This did not change the fact that when the sun came out and the temp went above 50 - everyone went outside.  We picked up subway and headed to the park for a picnic.

You can tell by what Ava and I were wearing that it was not that warm but warm enough for t-shirts if you were running around.  So nice to be outside without coats, gloves, and hats!

Happy Easter!!

Easter Bunny at the mall!

We thought Ava would cry for sure.  Kiara prepped her by showing her a picture of the Easter Bunny from last year and having her practice sitting on laps.  It actually worked.  Ava sat on the Bunny's lap, looked up with HUGE eyes and said (in a very scared voice) "Hi, Bun-ee.  Hi Bun-ee"

Easter egg hunt at the park!

Kiara helping Ava find Easter eggs.

Mckenna helping Ava find Easter eggs.

Kiara and Mckenna got to find eggs as well but they are a little more difficult to catch on film :)

Our little Bunny's!

Thanks Emily for the cute bunny glasses!

Wishing a very HAPPY EASTER to all of our friends and family!

Craig & Kristin

We were all SO excited to have Craig and Kristin coming to visit.  We cleaned, made a sign, and waited, not so patiently, for their arrival on Friday morning.  We had never met Kristin but knew that she was going to be awesome because Uncle Craig is awesome.  Of course everyone loved "Tin-Tin" as Ava liked to call her.  

Lego Time! 

And yes, Mckenna is not wearing a shirt.  We are in an - I'm hot so I am going to take off my shirt stage :).

Uncle Craig, Kristin, and MC

It was pretty standard throughout the whole weekend, where Kristin was, Mckenna was curled up right next to her!!

There is a toboggan run not far from our house and it is one of the things the girls LOVE about where we live.  It is actually a pretty scary ride and I am not sure how safe it is to be honest.  However, we took Craig and Kristin there and went down a few times.  It was great!

I love this picture! 
Uncle Craig was playing Sim City and teaching Kiara how to as well.  She has been playing it everyday since.

Go Browns!!!

Craig and Kristin brought Fun Dip for the girls!

Uncle Craig and Ava - perfect pic.

Once again, I don't have any pictures of our adult time but not to worry, it was really, really fun!  It consisted of playing WII, watching Craig and Brian's videos, games, a dinner out, Saturday Night Live (a few of them), and lots and lots of laughter.  We didn't want to go to bed on Sunday night knowing that they had to leave the next day. 

Kiara had the hardest time getting herself out of the door on Monday morning, understanding that Craig and Kristin would not be at our house when she got home.  Tom and I try to explain to our kids that the quality time we get when people come to our house to stay is SO SPECIAL and it is so awesome because it is like vacation from our lives with the people that are most important to us.  Kiara gets this but getting it does not help the tears and sadness when they have to say goodbye.   I was dreading her coming home from school and how she would be feeling.  This was our conversation when she got home (something like this :))

Deborah "How was your day?  Was it hard to be at school or were you able to get distracted?"

Kiara "I was distracted because you know what happened?  I got Artist of the Week!!!!"

  *Thank you Whitney Elementary for some fabulous timing*

Craig and Kristin - thank you for coming all this way to see us.  I cannot begin to tell you what it meant to Tom and I.  I think you get what it meant to the girls, but it meant so much to us as well.  The more time we are away from home, the more we look forward and hold onto the times we get to spend with our family.  We miss you like crazy and we will see you in Seaside!!!!