Christmas in Ohio 2013

Friday, 12/27/13

Well... we did it. Not sure why, but I'm glad we did :) it was foggy in the morning, ran into semi-accident 3-hrs into the trip... the whole thing took 10-hrs. And that's b/c I found a few people to go 85-90-mph with in Indiana! Can't imagine if those 2-hours had not have happened. But, here we are... almost immediately after we got there. Uncle Donnie would have it no other way :D

Mimi has stockings for all of them...

This picture cracks. me. up! Love LeaAnn's cheesy grin :)

Lauren, Linds & Elle opened their gifts at the same time... here we are opening their new Justin flip-flops! Mom & Aunt Ashley want a pair :D

Realizing how cool they are :)

and finally! the boots! the silver, sparkly boots! :D Love Lauren's face

Had to keep this b/c of Lydia's face.

Carson's cool operation R2D2

and snow board!

He was in love. I felt bad for him, Donnie took it away b/c he just wanted to ride on it. It's SO Carson, great job Mimi! (I should have your video of him snowboarding at your house to insert here!)

Can you guess what LeaAnn liked that was in her stocking?!? Yes, new tights & tutu ;)

Mimi loved her new vest!

And Lydia ADORED all of her new jewelry from Aunt Ashley! A ring for every finger, and bracelets up both arms ;)

Saturday, 12/28/13
Very nice in Ohio! So nice, it was decided to go to the park on Saturday.

My funny was I went to spray off the van before I got there (Mimi & Ashley took them), and the people who ran the car wash 'inspected' all the dirt & road muck I left in the stall after I left! HA! And the van was 1/2 way clean :) imagine what they'd think on a normal winter day ;)

Kids had a great time... we ended with a walk on this path.

And they all smiled! :D

It was a 1/2 mile, poor little Wiam got tired ;)

I think this was Saturday? Not sure, but these two were so funny! They loved the books that are ornaments and hang on the tree. The exact same ones I loved too when I was little. Mimi let them play with them, and they read out of them, sang out of them... hilarious. I did not get the singing, but here's the reading.

That night we went to Aunt Jayne's for Michelle's graduation party from Ohio State! Masters in Occupational Therapy I might add ;) just like her proud mama.

Lovin' the pretty blue shirts from Mimi!

Sunday, 12/29/13
Mom & Dad's 40th wedding anniversary! We went to church which was very nice and late that afternoon, the Prushing's & Green's invited everyone to go ice skating at Miami University. Blast from the past! Mom took us a lot growing up. So much of what she did with us (dad too ;) I realize now we were so fortunate to get to do. Very happy that my kids get to experience some of what I did too. Gave my camera to Aunt Jayne to take some shots... she was intimidated but I thought she did a great job :)

Can you guess who that is? Yup, my mom. :) She grew up skating, started when she was 3! I remember the white pair of skates that hung in the garage always wishing I could have a white pair too :) you always get brown or black when you rent ;)

Jordan & Jenny

Donnie & Carson... whoa! He did smile at least one time that night ;)

They had these amazing carts to push the kids in... perfect!

Billy & Stacie

Stacie & Michelle

Elle pushing Lydia :)

Renee

Dad & Aunt Ashley

Aunt Julie

I decided to grab the camera b/c Jayne had found a different/easier one to use :) I felt comfortable enough to skate with it, and this is what I got!
Brin Leigh & Henry! Amber & Ryan drove down to see us and skate with us. Super nice to see them and the kids loved it.

Lindsay talking Aunt Jayne's ear off ;)

Lydia loved it. To no surprise.

Lauren did great!

Yup, that's Mimi... just skating backwards... no big deal. :D She is supposed to be looking into lessons so that she can skate more often... how is that coming, Mimi?? ;)

Lindsay was a racket :) slip-sliding all over the place... but she had a great time. Stacie was a great skater!

Elle did an awesome job, pushing it to the limit no doubt, but she did a great job!

Brin & Henry

I left LeaAnn hanging out ;)

Lindsay found plenty of people to drag her around. Which I was super thankful for b/c I only had 2 hands, and they were used to push one of little two around... I did manage to go around twice by myself ;)

So cute!

Looks who's venturing... btw I LOVE this face... it reminds me of when she was a baby. So determined.

She did it!

We have got to go again! Iowa City maybe?

Love this picture :)

Renee pushing London

There's this big article about mom's being 'in the picture' on FB (how most are not).. well, it's not that I don't want to be in pictures, I just can't ever seem to get someone to take one of me! ;) So I kept these b/c I asked someone to take them.

And I was heartbroken about this one. I asked Uncle Jim if he'd take it, and he did... or he thought he did... but it wasn't there when we left. So thankfully Renee snapped this a little ways down. She text it to me, and here it is :) proof. The 5 of us girls have a bond, right?!?

Ended the night with dinner at a bar in Oxford, slightly painful, but the kids did great and enjoyed the entire experience immensely. 

Monday, 12/30/13
Our last day in Ohio, Lindsay & Tara drove down to see me and we ate at the Golden Lamb in Lebanon. I'd never been there! Awesome food, a little stuffy, but really cool history, and like I said, amazing food.

And I thoroughly needed the 3-hr visit that we had. It was fabulous, and I wished it could have continued long into the night...

And while I was away, the big girls went roller skating with Ashley's mom & dad, Ron & Vicky. They had a great time :)

But... it was time to go back to Iowa. Koontz's came down for a taco dinner and the kids played... Chase the Ace :)

So thank you Mimi & Pap for everything. Not only did you provide fun, games & childcare and allowed them to terrorize your house :) you supported me on the end of my journey to clock 1000 miles (next post). Thanks again & love you lots!