O-HI-O!

   Over MLK Jr weekend we all took a trip to Ohio. It was an adventure to say the least. Adam and Harrison got there safely that Wednesday. No issues, no problems. I'm prepping you for later...

Guess who's in Ohio?!

   Thursday they loaded up and drove down to Harrison, Ohio to visit Grandma and Grandpa Thiele, Aunt Kara, Aunt Kelly, and Uncle Kristofer. 

Eating my weight in Skyline Chili!!

   Oh and we can't forget Harvey, Jackson and Quilliam Shakespeare... yes that's Aunt Kelly's porcupine....

Checking out Quilliam. He's weird.

   Harrison and Adam stayed the night - Harrison got tons of Grandma snuggles!!! 

Grandma, I'm really tired. I think it's my bedtime.

   The next day Adam and Harrison met up with some of our friends, Hudson and his mommy Maura. Adam and Maura go all the way back to high school. She's one of the few that was as stylish as he was in school. 

Hudson's one cool dude! He had hair gel!!!

   Adam and Harrison headed back to Findlay but of course encountered some fun winter weather. We're a bit rusty since we haven't had winter yet (knocking on wood NOW!). 

Someone doesn't care about looking at snow!

   Then we fastforward to Friday evening. Ugh. So after school I loaded up and headed to the airport for my 5:45pm flight. Everything was on time. I was actually on time. It was great. Then as I'm going through airport security there is an announcement. My flight is canceled. Awesome. I go stand in line at the gate with maybe 10-12 other people (is this really all that's on our flight??). After 20 minutes, I get on another flight. The problem - I'm no longer flying direct. Instead I'm flying through Atlanta then up to Detroit. When I asked the gate attendant about my bag, she laughed... Like yeah, I wouldn't count on that. Oh fabulous - smart me has crammed my winter coat in my suitcase. Instead of getting to Findlay at maybe 10:30pm, I got there at 2:30am. But, my suitcase did make it! Miracle! Adam and I slept until 11:30am the next day... wait for it.... Harrison did too! Adam had taken him to Uncle Daniel's basketball game the night before so he didn't get to bed until 10pm. Have I told you how much I love my kid?!

Don't worry - I'm not going anywhere. Helen's got me! Go Uncle Bubs!!

   Saturday was awesome (once we finally got up). We had a great lunch at a fun taco bar. Then that night the adults went over to a neighbor's house for the annual neighborhood soup competition. It was hilarious and very yummy! 

Guess who ate all of the guacamole and limes?

   Sunday we hung around the house and watched lots of basketball. Pop had a fire going all weekend so Harrison was transfixed! 

Pop - I'm the tickle monster!!!

   He also liked going into Pop and GJ's bathroom and closets... I don't know what that was about. 

Don't bug me, I'm cooking!

   Monday we packed up and headed back out. We had a wonderful relaxing trip! Hopefully we'll be back in March!

We made it back home. It was Harrison's 20th flight. Yes, 20th.

Until our next adventure!

~Emily

Just for fun

So I've decided to change up the blog a little bit. I've been challenged to a round of blog tag. Here we go:0) I was tagged by Sarah and here are the rules. 

#1 - Post these rules.

#2 - Answer the 11 questions from the person who tagged you. 

#3 - Create 11 new questions for the people you tag.

#4 - Tag 11 people and link them to your post.

#5 - Let them know that you tagged them.

My answers to her questions:

1. Why did you chose to start blogging and how much time do you spend a week doing it?

I chose to start blogging when Harrison was about 4 months old. I thought it would be a great way to keep our family/friends up-to-date with all of his milestones! I would like to blog once a week but it's really maybe 2-3 times a month if that. 

2. What 5 things would you grab if your residence caught on fire?

Harrison, Adam, Eddie, Tootsie, my laptop

3. Who are your favorite sports teams?
KU… Do I have to even explain? I’m also a Dartmouth College fan since my brother went to school there. Professional sports? Hmm… I’ll “cheer” for the Chiefs and Royals along with the Cincinnati Bengals and Reds (it’s an Adam thing).

4. What is your favorite type of food?

MEXICAN!!! It’s all about the cheese dip.

5. If you could have dinner with anyone in the world who would it be (let's go with only alive people here!)?

Tough one. I think Madonna would be interesting. I liked her interview on Leno. Maybe David Beckham… yum… Oh President Obama so we could get this education thing figured out.

6. How will you most likely celebrate Valentine's Day?

With my boys – it’s a school night so nothing too crazyJ

7. Did you play any sports growing up?

Haha.. Yes actually. Ballet from 3yrs on, softball since age 6, basketball since 1^st grade,  and track my sophomore year in high school That makes me sound athletic.

8. What was the best vacation you ever took and why?

It’s a tie. Senior year in high school my family went to Hawaii for a week. It was amazing! Then there’s the Jamaica honeymoon – simply gorgeous!

9. Do you have a motto or words of wisdom that you try to live by?

Something I should follow – Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

10. What is your favorite outdoor activity?

Playing with Harrison at the pool or on the beach.

11. Do you have pets?

YES – two dogs. Eddie and Tootsie!

 My questions to you:

1.)   What is your favorite time of the day?

2.)   Do you have any kids?

3.)   What would your dream job be? 
4.) Who is someone you look up to – that maybe doesn’t know it?

5.)   What’s the best part about being married?

6.)   Morning person or night owl?

7.)   What are 3 words to describe you?

8.)   What’s one thing you don’t like about yourself?

9.)   Have you ever laughed so hard you wet your pants?

10.) What was your favorite subject in school?

11.) What was your favorite Super Bowl commercial?

The bloggers I'm tagging:

The Duvalls at Lillian Kate Duvall & Eloise May Duvall 

Stacy at Life with the Vellecas

Abby at Down the Streit

Alice at A Little Bit Married

The Stallbaumers at The Stallbaumer Family Blog

Maureen at Adventures with Drew and Anna

Erin at Simply Sweet

Courtney at Baby Boogies

Jessie at Confessions of a Resolutionist 

Audrey at Pool, Party of 5

Katie at Our Curious George Boys!

Happy Tagging!

~Emily

Fun field trips

   I get antsy sometimes in the winter. Everything is grey and cold and blah. This winter we've been very lucky - we've seen 60 degree weather. Numerous times! I have tried to get Harrison out and test out some fun things around town. Some were better than others but hey, I'm still figuring this mom thing out! :0)

Field Trip #1: Winstead's
  Okay this doesn't really classify as a field trip per se but it still was fun. Harrison and I met up with two of our very special out of town friends for lunch after Christmas. Auntie Sue is living the dream in LA - she lives in Beverly Hills. (According to her, it's very economical...). Auntie James is staying nice and dry in Phoenix. We had a great time and Harrison was a perfect little flirt!!

I'm a ham. What can I say? (Photo by Aunt Susan)

Field Trip #2: Wonderscope
   This field trip has been in the works for months! We went with our good friend Cade and his mom, Tammy. (Remember them from swim lessons?) Anyway, we've been trying to get to Wonderscope since summer but something always seemed to come up. Wonderscope is an elementary school converted to a children's museum.

Just shopping.

   Each room has a different theme: Farm - you can pick your own veggies, Space - you can build ramps and play with Legos, Golf Ball - literally thousands of golf balls you can place on ramps of all kinds, Water - play with water (we skipped it for selfish mom reasons), etc... It was great! Harrison could have stayed in the golf ball room all day!

Mesmerized by golf balls. Typical boy!

Field Trip #3: Union Station and the trains!

   We lucked out that Adam was off on a weekend in January so we all headed downtown to Union Station. There is a free train exhibit I wanted Harrison to see. One of our malls has a train store that he loves going into. It's nothing too fancy but Harrison really likes watching the trains. Union Station didn't disappoint. Harrison started in his stroller but he saw some other kids playing with a train table. He had to get in on the action! 

Driving the trains! 

   We also let Harrison run around one of the open areas of Union Station. I got a great picture. Talk about an all American boy!!

See ya Mom and Dad!

Field Trip #4: Great Wolf Lodge

   This was our one epic fail field trip. Sad face. The alumnae group from the college I got my master's organized a one night stay at the Great Wolf Lodge. I thought it sounded awesome! Harrison loved swimming. He loves playing in the bath. This was a perfect winter activity. I mean their commercials do state it's 84 degrees in there... 

Watching the giant bucket dump the water out!

   Let's just say, while the room might be 84, the water was not. The three of us were shivering. Harrison didn't want to go in the water. He didn't really want to play either. It was a great place... if your kids were old enough to run around on their own. Oh well, you can't win them all right?

At least we had a yummy dinner and I got these ears!

I think that's all of our field trips for now! Next up - our January Ohio trip!

~Emily