Wisconsin Wedding

How many people can say they spent there 10th anniversary in Janesville, Wisconsin?  Well now I can.

We left Cincinnati in a rental car and drove to Indiana and stayed the night there, got up the next morning and drove to Wisconsin.  The kids did great, thank goodness!
It was so much fun to see every one and of course my kids got all the attention, since they are the only little ones on that side of the family.  

We were lucky enough to spend our tenth anniversary at Eric and Sheryl's wedding.  It was really fun to think back and remember what we were doing that day.  They even had a shout out to us that night at the reception. 

Jacoby was so funny posing for pictures.  He is a super hero here and I had to laugh at this picture of the boys standing so nice, this NEVER happens.  They can actually hold still, I have proof!

Every one kept asking Jacoby if they could dance with him at the wedding.  Pretty soon he says mom I don't think there is going to be enough songs for me to dance with every one.  My schedule is pretty full. 

It was so funny!  He kept rearranging the order whenever any one asked but one thing stayed the same, he kept telling every one that he wanted to dance with his Mama first and then maybe they could have a turn.  Yep, still a Mama's boy!

And then there was this cutie who I got to dance with too!  He loved dancing and being in the middle of everything.  He really enjoyed the cupcakes too.  The only problem was he liked to get down and dance on his own, which means he would run like a wild man on the dance floor and usually get knocked down or picked up by random people and he didn't like that.  Jarod and I finally stayed on opposite sides of him and followed him around every where letting him run but with a little protection on each side so he didn't get knocked down. 

When I wasn't chasing Jace, I got to dance with Jacoby.  Who spent the entire night dancing on the dance floor with every one.  During the anniversary song he was certain that he needed to dance in between us and you can't see Jace hanging on my leg.  It was our family dance.

I love my boy so much and I love that he still thinks I am the greatest thing ever.  He is so amazing and I am so thankful that I am his Mama!  I am so lucky to have two amazing boys who are my every thing and who I adore and love so much!

The next morning we got up and visited until it was time for every one to go their separate ways.  Grandpa J was giving rides and Great Grandma Leinen and Jacoby were lucky to ride together.  She is too funny, especially for being in her late 80's.
We headed back to Chicago for the evening.  We stayed near the airport but took the train to downtown for dinner and to walk around.  We hit our favorite pizza place Pizanos and walked around.  I was very emotional.  I miss Chicago so much and it will always hold a special place in my heart.  It is where I became a mother and the place I really found myself. 
The next morning we flew to the Dominican Republic!

Shaving with Daddy

It was Jace turn to learn how to shave with Daddy on our first morning of our family vacation in Indiana on our way to Wisconsin.  He loved it!

He doesn't like sticky or slimy things so I wasn't sure how he would do but since Daddy and Jacoby were doing it so did he.

He was so funny taking it all in the whole time with this smirk on his face that he thought he was so big.

Jacoby loves getting ready with Daddy and Daddy is so good and patient with him.  He puts deodorant on around his tummy because that's where it goes.  He doesn't like his hair to stand up so he puts gel in to keep it down.  It's pretty funny and now our little Jacers will be getting ready with Daddy too.

Jeff's visit

Oh my, we had a great time when Uncle Jeff came to visit!  We look forward to it every year!  My boys adore him and he is so good at playing with them.  With that being said we had plenty of adult time this trip as well.  Jeff and Jarod went golfing.  Jacoby, Jeff and Jarod went to the Louisville Slugger museum and I stayed home with my sick baby who had strep throat and an ear infection (it was horrible!).  We also went and tried something I have been wanting to do since I heard about it, the flying trapeze!  It did not disappoint!  In fact I am pretty sure I could join the circus and do this every day.  It was so much fun!

When we drove up I made the comment that it wasn't as high as I thought it would be.  Later as I was climbing the ladder I realized just how high it was.  Wow!  It was a little scary the first time up.  The worst part was getting from the ladder to the platform.

Once you jumped, the swinging and falling in the net was the best part. 

Jarod loved it too!  He was the first one to swing from his knees and once I saw that he could do it I had to try too. 

Jeff on the other hand was terrified!  This pic pretty much sums to up and every time I look at it I start laughing.  He was a good sport though and went three times.  The second time he ended up missing the bar and trying to run the entire length of the net..  He didn't want to end on a bad note so he climbed back up there and went again but after that he as done.

Jarod and I kept going as long as they would let us.  My second time up I was able to do the knee trick and after that I tried catching the other guys hands.  I was never able to though.  We never had the right timing. 

But I know I will be going again!
We also went on our annual majorly expensive dinner to Johnny and Carlo's.  It was amazing once again and we had the best time!
We sure do love Jeff and love having him come and visit.  We laugh and laugh and never run out of thing to talk about.  I love that Jarod and him are so close and I am so thankful that they have each other. 

Sprinklers

It's been getting warmer here so I pulled out the sprinkler and sat back and laughed and laughed as these two had the best time!  I could have watched them all day!  I love to see them smiling and laughing so hard together!!  My very happy boys!

Pittsburgh

 For this years stadium we decided to make the five hour drive to Pittsburgh.  Stephen Fife was going to be there pitching for the Dodgers so we thought it would be fun to see a new stadium and also see him.

 The boys did awesome on the drive over!  We got there and went straight to our hotel checked in and then took the subway to the game. 

 We were so impressed!  It was such a cool ball park!  I think behind Wrigley and Fenway this would be our third favorite!  Who would have thought!  It was a smaller one and just beautiful. 

 We all had a great time!

 It was so much fun watching Stephen pitch.  He did great and Jacoby loved that he knew the pitcher, so did we actually!

 We went back to the hotel and had a cookie and Jace insisted on sitting in top of his brother while he ate his cookie.  It was so funny!  Good thing Jacoby is such a good sport and according to Jace looked like a nice chair for the evening.   I stayed and put the boys to bed and Jarod headed out to meet up with Stephen.  He got to go and hang out with all the Dodgers and sit through interviews with Stephen in his hotel room.  He had a great time and got to live the major league life for the evening.  I read my book Unbroken by Hildebrand in the bathroom all night and finished it.  Can I tell you how amazing it was!!  Seriously one of the best books I have ever read. 

 The next morning, we went and had breakfast with Stephen.  The boys were excited to see him.  We got to catch up and hear all the baseball scoop.  He is so nice and it is so much fun to see him do so well. 

Then we got in the car and drove to Columbus where Mike and Alana Contreras had just moved back to.  I was so excited to see them!  We hadn't seen each other since Jacoby was a baby and since then she has had a few more babies.  It was so great to see them and catch up.  I love her!  She is such a great mama and I have learned so much from her over the years.  She was the first one that challenged me to get in touch with my mama instinct and to stick with it.  She is a big advocate for cosleeping and extending nursing and it is so nice to have some one with the same believes that you have. 
We had the best weekend!

Father's Day!

My boys are so lucky to have such an amazing Daddy!  He is the best!!  This year asked Jacoby what kind of Father's Day party he wanted to have and he told me a super hero one because Dad's a super hero.  Done. 
We had drove back from Pittsburgh that day and that whole trip was part of our Father's Day but as soon as we go home, Jacoby and I got in to decorating.  We sent Jarod to the store with Jace and we hung streamers, made super hero signs and Jacoby hung them up all over the house.  He was insistent that we all had to wear capes and he hung them on each of our chairs.  Dad was so surprised when he got home.
We had dinner and then we had made homemade icecream sundaes with homemade hot fudge. It was amazing! 
Then we headed outside and ended the night with some baseball.  I would say it was a great Father's Day for our super hero!

Just Playin

Everything that Jace does I think is adorable!  I love to just watch him.  He is so funny and so expressive!  You can tell what he is thinking by just watching him.  I love it!  Lately he has to have his hat on all the time.  Every time we head outside he pats his head and runs around looking for his hat.  He looks so stinkin cute with his curls coming out the back, I can't stand it!

Popsicles

Instead of our spinach smoothies in the afternoon we have been having spinach popsicles!  They are a huge hit on hot days here in Cincinnati!