Hocking Hills- Year 2

This weekend we repeated our trip to Hocking Hills with our very wonderful friends. As always it was full of surprises and fun! Again I am reminded that I am absolutely BLESSED to have friends that are more like family, they really are the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Friday we mixed way too many types of alcohol thanks to Jen the "bartender"! I now have a new drink to love- Captain Morgan spicy rum and coke. The laugh we all got from our own version of "chippendales" and then trying to determine who had the hairiest back, Kevin came in 2nd!
- Saturday- did not go quite as planned due to rain but we still managed to have a good time. The girls relaxed and read for awhile and the boys managed to squeeze in some fishing. We rented two movies and they were soooo different. One was on more "faith" based note about marriage with Kirk Cameron and the other was the 40 year old virgin. Ironically, they ended the same with a wedding although they took 2 very different paths to get there!!! Hopefully next year we will be able to actually go on the lake on the boat! The evening ended with Kevin entertaining everyone! I missed some of the funniest parts which are probably R rated and cannot be shared. However, I was there when he decided to dance to the Black Eyed Peas- some of you will know this would be quite a site! I think Beth, Jen and Christa were going to cry because they were laughing sooooo hard!
- Sunday- it ended way too soon. The weather was great and we got some awesome pictures of the group.
The best thing- all the laughing!!!! It feels so nice just to relax and laugh!!
The girls and Sam were watched by my mother in law and sister in law. The girls got to spend some quality time with their cousins and I am sure Sam was well entertained. It is sad to see the weekend come to an end and reality right around the corner!!! I have to get the girls packed they are heading to WV for another week with both grandparents.
I am posting a G-rated slide show of all the fun!! There is no doubt that I am forgetting something to blog about from the weekend, if I remember I can blog it later!!!

Just Another Weekend!

It was a weekend on the quieter side. The "boys" ( Greg, Kevin, Keith and Justin) went to Cinci for a Reds game. Since it was a 7pm game and Jen had a free night at a hotel about a mile away, they stayed the night. So, last weekend I asked Christa what were we going to do while the "boys" were off playing, she said have a party. We decided we would all meet here, grill out for dinner and those who could stay would watch 27 dresses that I have had here for weeks. The "boys" left around 1pm. Christa and I went for a pedi in am, then I did some shopping with Allysa and Ashlee to get a head start on school clothes since both of them will need stuff this year. We went to Justice (damage done there), Kohls, Bed Bath and Beyond and then came home to get ready for dinner. The "girls" and all the kids had a nice dinner- the food was great! We all chatted for awhile and by time we got around to the movie it was just Christa and I and we could not get the movie to show on the plasma and then the upstairs TV we being fickle. We finally got it started, the movie was quite entertaining but would have been better on the plasma.
This am Allysa, Ashlee and I went to breakfast and did alittle more shopping and now life has returned back to normal( Kevin is back)!!!! Enjoy the stories behind some the pictures below.

Allysa and Ashlee decided to do place settings- this was the final product. A sticky with the persons name, flower and their drink.

The beginning of the place settings
The first veggies from our garden

Our little garden

The boys(minus JP) who was probably the photographer

Perfection.....

This weekend and the past few days have been no where close to perfection!
- It started when it rained all day Sat. and all my "fun" plans for my girls and nieces went up in smoke. I could not find one thing that made them all happy!
- On the same day the grill decides it is going to not work and it is only a few years old. So, my lovely dinner had to be made in the oven
- One of my children deciding to behave in manner they usually do not
- Of course all of this on my birthday weekend
-Actually being able to get things done at work and not feel like I am always behind the eight ball
Of course as I eventually realized, if it all went perfectly all time what would we have to look forward too!!! I am still in "funk" but I do keep trying to remind myself of the above and things will eventually all work out!
All in all, the girls love being with their cousins. Enjoy the slide show, included is their annual trip to the zoo with Jen and Sam. Of course, I am not sure if Jen recovers from this adventure.

Bonus!

In the car, playing on the radio is Keith Urban "I want to kiss a girl" It is a catchy tune and the girls know it by heart but always giggle and manage not to say "I want to kiss a girl" when it comes up in the song" I say to Allysa do you have a boyfriend( believe it or not some of her friends do) then I say something about kissing a boy and they can not do it until they are 80.

- Both say- your not 80 and you kissed dad. I reply- I can change the rules. Ashlee was smart enough to say I was no where near 80- SMART GIRL!!

- Allysa responded to kissing boys " I am only in elementary school"- SMART GIRL

Holidays, Friends and Fun!!!

As always I am behind. It was another wonderful holiday except it means summer is going wayyyyyy to fast!!!! Friday night we chilled with the Wendels which was a very nice night!!! On Sat. we headed to the James's for our traditional 4th of July!!! Of course, as Beth predicted the weather was rainy. However, the kids managed to get some swim time in and all still had fun. The food and just being with wonderful friends is what life is all about!!!
This week at work has been overwhelming, I feel like I never quit being detective and I am still surprised about some things! It has just been crazzzzy!
Tomorrow will be Friday- YEAH!!!!!! The girls are very excited my brother is coming with his family and they are looking forward to spending some time with their cousins Alayna and Alison- yes we have an issue with names starting with A.
Everyone have a wonderful weekend!!!!!