GREAT-Grandparents

While poor Andrew worked and worked this past weekend, the kids and I had lots of fun spending time with my parents and grandparents. 

Friday we dropped Andrew off at at school and headed to my grandparents house in Avon Lake. We ate a yummy lunch with them and then headed to the Cleveland Aquarium. What a treat that was for us! 

Both kids thought the displays were impressive, but McKenna especially was in her happy place. She was running around, pointing and excitedly yelling "fish!" essentially the entire time we were there. I don't know if I've ever seen her more excited to be somewhere in her life. She was a happy little girl!

Jake was also really impressed. He liked the turtles, which he thought looked like dinosaurs, the shark tank and tunnel (which was my favorite), and especially the sting rays. He was able to put his hands in the water to "touch" them as they went by, but I'm pretty sure he was splashing a little too much for any of the sting rays to actually touch his hands. But boy was he happy there. We went through the aquarium twice, and both times we had to pry him away from the tank after letting him spend way longer there than anyone else was interested in spending. It's always fun to see your kids so happy and experiencing new things with people you love. 

After a fun afternoon with my grandparents, we headed to my parents house for the rest of the weekend. They spoil the kids (and me) rotten just like their great-grandparents. Jake and McKenna loved having grandma and grandpa dote over them. They especially like when grandpa and grandma let them walk the dog around the block.  Both kids are always happy to hear were going to grandma and grandpa's house, and it never seems to disappoint! Grandparents and great-grandparents are the best!

End of winter (I hope!!)

Aside from a random snow shower yesterday, I feel like it has been starting to finally feel like spring! I'm glad I get to spend all my time with my kids no matter what the weather is, but I'm especially happy to be with them all day every day when we aren't stuck inside!

We tried to make the most of it, but here's to hoping we won't see snow again for a long time!

We survived the indoor boredom (barely), and we did have some good fun mixed in there too :)

I am so happy to be spending more and more afternoons at the park with squealing kids and huge smiles on all our faces. I don't even mind the dirt that has made its way everywhere. Hallelujah it's spring!!!

Family

In the past month, we've been lucky enough to see a lot of my family. My mom came one weekend and stayed, then my parents both came the following weekend, and Kim came and stayed with us the weekend after that. Needless to say, it's been great!

The weekend in the middle, my parents took us to dinner to celebrate all our birthdays (minus Kory, who is still working hard at BYU). Kim, Darrell, Andrew and I all have birthdays between Feb 14th and March 19th. We went to Chili's, ate well, had fun, and REALLY enjoyed the kids both behaving like little angels at the restaurant.

Whenever my family comes, I think our kids just forget that Andrew and I are even around because they love playing with their grandparents and aunt and uncle so much. Jake and McKenna sure are lucky! And so are we!!

28

Andrew and I both celebrated our 28th birthdays in the past 3 weeks. Birthdays are so fun, and 28 is going to be great!

For my birthday I wanted to sleep in and go to the mall all by myself. And I did! I woke up late to breakfast in bed with my kids and sweet husband. Then I took a long shower and went shopping. I had a few good coupons and some funds from my family spoiling me for my birthday. It was so relaxing! No kids crying, no stressing that someone is going to wander off. No trying to fit a stroller in a dressing room. Glorious! 

I wanted pizza for dinner, stuffed crust of course :) it was a great, relaxing day!

Then, as if that wasn't enough, Kim and Darrell had us over the next day and spoiled me even more! I'm so lucky to have such an awesome sister and brother in law!

Andrew turned 28 and had a relaxing day too. He slept in and had breakfast in bed as well, a birthday must in our house. Luckily it landed on a day he didn't have to teach or go in for meetings. In fact, he took a lot of time off from working, and it was fun to relax with him and to play with our kids together. 

We had Chinese takeout for dinner, which is what Andrew was craving. And we watched our favorite show after the kids went to bed. I'd say it was a successful day :)

I can't believe how much exciting is happening to our family during our 28th years! 28 is going to be great!