Camel ride anyone?

We had a LONG day today. The kids and I left Omi and Papa's house at 10 am and did not return until 10 pm.

First stop: Cleveland Zoo

We often head to our zoo in NC so I knew the kids would love a chance to stroll through another zoo. I was just happy that one of my best friends from my working days would be able to join us. Michaelann and I worked together at Life Line Screening. We met before either of us had husbands - although I believe that when we met I was dating Pete. She will have to verify though. She now has one super cute little boy named Cole. He is 2.

Meet Cole


...and you know Izzy and Drew...



Don't you just love his glasses :)

Check out his tough guy look


So after seeing some of the animals we decided to take a train ride.


Izzy then headed down the "serpent slide". I took Drew down on my lap but he screamed the entire way. I don't think he liked that the slide was enclosed. Izzy however loved it and went down about 5times.



Next we stopped at the petting zoo


Then we went for a CAMEL RIDE! Cole and Mitchell (he is the son of a friend of Michaelann's and he was a huge help as he tagged along all day) rode the camel first. Izzy thought it looked fun and I was game. I really thought Drew would get a kick out of it too so I bought him a ticket, but he wimpered almost the entire time. It is not easy to hold a wiggling kid on top of a camel. Lucky me, I got to ride on the darn hump!





Drew preferred to "ride" on the turtle


Why is it that out of all the things we saw and did, it seems the kids most enjoyed a game of tag?









After we left the zoo we headed to meet up with my Dad and Donna. We went to Donna's place and then to a really yummy place called "Scottie's" for dinner. We were fortunate to sit on the back patio which allowed the kids to stand up and run around a bit. I am not sure how either of them had the energy to walk let alone run?

Here is Donna having some girl talk with Izzy


And the kiddos with Grandpa Dave




You might think that when dinner was over we would call it a night. Not so. You see, I had a reception to attend the next night and had nothing to wear :) Honestly, I forgot to pack something. So the kids and I stopped at a mall on the way back to Wooster. At 7:30 after a hot day at the zoo and a dinner out I took the kids shopping. I stopped at Mrs. Field's cookies and got them each a jumbo cookie and told them they had to stay put in the stroller. They did a GREAT job while I tried on entirely too many clothes. Just an FYI...Express dressing rooms don't hold a double stroller as well as another person. I finally found a super cute outfit at Ann Taylor where the employees were so helpful! They brought out a basket of books for the kids and then proceeded to bring me outfit after outfit until I found "the one".

FINALLY at 9 we headed back to Wooster to Omi and Papa's house. An hour later we arrived.

Pool Time with Omi and Papa

Good times, good times.

The kids didn't get up until 8:30 this morning! We played around the house a bit and then headed to the new library. Wooster has a really great kids section at their library. Drew played with the Brio trains and farm animals while Izzy played with some magnets and a dollhouse. There are also computers and various other games the kids can play.

Our real fun came after Drew's short one hour nap. YUCK. We headed to the pool!

Omi and Izzy


Papa and Drew


The gang


Me and my guppies


Check out Omi pulling both kids around - good total body workout!


After our swim we headed back to the house. Izzy rode in the golf cart with Omi and Papa while I pushed Drew, uphill, in the stroller. I was hoping he would take a quick snooze - he didn't. Once back at the house we enjoyed some pushpops.







After that it was time for a bath, dinner and bed!

On the Road Again

Well, two days ago the kids and I decided to take a quick last minute getaway to good 'ole Cleveland. Wooster, actually. So within a day I gathered our stuff together and packed the car for our 8 hour trip. Al, my stepdad, has not been feeling so well so we thought he needed some Izzy love to make him smile. Both my parents haven't seen Drew since March so they were in for a shock when they saw how much he has changed!

Pete had been out of town and hadn't seen the kids in a couple days. For him to see the kids prior to us leaving I would have to wake them by 7:30. I woke the kids so they could see Daddy before he had to leave for work. I packed up the car while the kids played a bit and then we were on the road at 9:30. I must say that I am shocked by how little I actually packed. Usually my car is filled! I even had room for Izzy's bike. The snacks were in the front with me, and the toys were below Drew's feet. Other than that we just had luggage.



Not a bad pack job if I do say so myself


At one point along the way I noticed Drew had put on his sunglass - upside down!


We made it three hours before we stopped for lunch. ...oh, we also had a 45 min. delay outside of our first tunnel. Typically this is the point that I also refuel, but since gas was $4.12 I figured I could do better. My fear always is that a child will fall asleep and then I will need gas only to then have the sleeping child wake up when the car stops. Thankfully this didn't happen and I was able to find gas for $3.99.

Drew eventually slept for almost an hour. Once he woke up we made a pit stop at a rest area so the kids could burn off some energy. We also had a potty break and got some treats out of the vending machine. Darn machine ate my $5 bill only to give me pop-tarts. Thankfully I was able to find some loose change so Izzy could get her treat. I filled out a form to have my money refunded. ...cause I am sure that will happen.

Rest Area Fun


Flower picking - doesn't everyone stop to pick the flowers at a rest stop?


And a game that parents and children both love on a long road trip...the uphill run to chase birds. ...a game only a 3 year old would invent - yet both entertaining and hopefully tiring!


I have some more cute individual pics of Drew hill rolling and screaming (just to burn off some steam) but this computer is SO SLOW that it would take much too long!

Once back in the car we only had about 2 hours to go. The kids did great! Drew became a bit restless with 45 min. left or so, but nothing some loud music and songs could fix.

Omi and Papa were SO excited to see the kids. Izzy and Papa took a golf cart ride while Drew, Omi and I unpacked. We then had a "pick and eat" dinner. Drew had oatmeal, cheese and raisins. Izzy had a pb&j. I had wine.

Bedtime went so smoothly that it was almost eerie.

Tomorrow we are going to hit the new library and pool!

Working on a slideshow

Let's see if this works. Should it work then I will know I am one more step closer to becoming a truly skilled blogger!

These are pictures from our first day in Chicago (yes, the trip we took last month) where we take in a Cubs game. Notice there are no shots of the actual game as we literally sat down and then immediately left. As we sat down a homerun was hit and the crowd cheered. That was enough to scare both kids, one of which needed a nap and the other whom was forced to wake up from one for the game, so Aunt Jaclyn and I took them to the park and playground while the guys stayed for the rest of the game.

Since the shots are just random I thought I would try a slideshow. Here's hoping it works.

*Unbelievable, it worked! Okay, slideshows are going to be my new favorite addiction for a while now. I am just going to randomly throw some together for the heck of it :)

**Okay, it really wasn't that easy at all. Truth be told is that when I hit "preview" it appeared just fine, but once I hit "publish" I got an error. I spend a good while trying to manipulate things to no avail. Then I called on my go-to gal Kristin and she helped me! Thanks Kristin!

Happy Father's Day

Hugs for Daddy!







We love you!
Izzy and Drew

My Main Little Man

It is obvious to anyone who knows me that I am gaga for Drew-Drew. I have the biggest soft spot for him and love him something fierce! While Izzy was in camp last week my main little guy and I got to spend 12 sisterless hours together just hanging out. We had so much fun so this entry is going to be all about my guy.

Drew is 20 months. Born 9-26-06. Here are some of the things Drew is able to do...
-recognize all his letters (his favorite is "G")
-count to 18
-recognize all colors (including gray and magenta)

Things Drew enjoys...
-playing with Izzy
-singing songs: favorites to include, Twinkle Twinkle, the ABC's, Itsy-Bitsy Spider, Wheels on the Bus, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, If You're Happy and You Know It.
-playing trains
-riding his bike
-watching Lazytown
-eating popsicles (favorite colors are green and blue)
-jump off my bed into a pile full of pillows head first!
-read books (and if it is the same book 10 times in a row well, even better)

Favorite foods:
-hands down oatmeal
-yogurt
-pears
-pancakes
-little crunchies
-double stuffs
-ice-cream (vanilla)
-string cheese
-Dora (must be Dora) crackers
-macaroni and cheese


Drew can speak in complete sentences and has been able to for a couple months now. Some of his favorite sayings include:
-When asked if something is good he replies "dee-YISH-isss"
-Greets everyone he passes by stopping, waving and saying "Hi" or "Hi Dew" (if he wants them to say hello to them)
-Now that we swim everyday a popular saying is "Watch diss" or "I good simmer"

Drew doesn't require much sleep and seems to turn on the charm after we tuck his sister into bed at night. He is an official part of Izzy's bedtime routine. Izzy must have Drew in her room to say goodnight. We put her into her bed and then Drew and I sing her Twinkle Twinkle. Drew then gives her a sloppy kiss and says "more tiss" and gives her one more. As I carry him from her room he says "night night sugar, see you in mornin time". Then he blows her one final kiss and says "mwaaa, Izzy". Perhaps someday I will be able to get it on video.

Why is it that because I am trying to write about him I am at a loss for words? How bout we just look at the little hottie and some of the pics from our quality time together.

Here is handsome helping me water the plants


Riding his bike


Ready to head out for a couple errands


Our playdate with Jack


How cute are they. I can't stand it!




All tuckered out, which can only mean the playdate was successful!




A trip to the children's museum..train fun it a big favorite!






Another favorite is looking for eggs under the chickens


Another successful day...


I love you Boo! Thanks for playing with me while Izzy was at camp.

Super Fun Playdate

What a great day we had today! It started off with me getting up at 6:15 to go for a run. I am really starting to enjoy having some early morning time to myself. I think a little exercise really improves my mood and makes my day start off on a positive note. Once home I was happy to have an hour to myself until Izzy woke up. Then the two of us had another hour to play until Drew woke up! In my hour alone I paid bills and caught up on the phone with a friend who was on her way to work. The hour with Izzy was spent playing a game she invented called "obstacle course". Once Drew was up we had breakfast and got ready for our playdate.

We went over to Ian's house. Ian and Izzy went to school together. We were so excited when we got to Ian's and saw that Owen was also there. Owen also went to school with Izzy and according to her teachers Owen and Izzy were the bestest of pals at school. ...and of course Izzy's best friend Delaney was also there.

We were outside the entire time and it was like being at a park, pool and playground all in one. The kids had the best time. Drew was a bit fussy, but I only have myself to blame since I chose NOT to nap him yesterday.

I have no idea what this thing is called, but I remember riding on one as a kid and loving it. Apparently Izzy (and Ian) do too!


Drew and Owen had fun on this swing...


More swinging




Teeter-tottering


sliding


sand play


and finally some swimming






After our playdate we came home and Drew napped while Izzy had quiet time. Then we headed to our pool for the evening. We invited Delaney, her mom and sister along since her daddy was working late. The girls had a great time, of course. And Drew, well Drew has decided that he no longer needs a flotation device of any kind and will "duck walk" until the water comes up to his nose. As soon as you think you need to rescue him he pops up and laughs. ...then does it again. I am betting that he will swim before Izzy. Once the girls were done swimming we showered all the kids off and dressed them in pj's so that they were ready for bed.

Now really, does it get much better than that?

OH...and Pete's Father's Day Gift came today! Since he doesn't read the blog and chances are no one who talks to him does either I will tell you what I got him. If it gets back to him then oh well. I am not worried :)

For those who don't know (most of you) Pete is training for the Chicago Marathon. I got him the WAY AWESOME running watch. It is called the Garmin Forerunner 305 and if you have a chance you should look it up. It will track his running courses, his heart rate, and all sorts of other things. He can then see the various info on the computer. It will show him his course, what his heart rate was at the various steps, the elevation at those points and a bunch of other really geeky computer stuff. I know once he starts using it that he will love it and then I will want one.

Tomorrow night I get to cash in on my Mother's Day present. A girlfriend and I are going to the spa. I have a gift certificate for a massage and facial. After our various treatments we will hang out in the relaxation room and drink some wine. When I get home my kids will already be in bed for the night. I can't wait!