VACATION...

I LOVE being on vacation...it's great not having a schedule and just doing whatever we want whenever we want!!! Vacation started for us yesterday afternoon. We left Toledo and headed over to the lake so we could spend the night and then get up this morning and head to Chicago. It was nice being at the lake last night, Jeff got to spend lots of time playing in the sand...his favorite thing, we ordered some pizza, and just relaxed. It was a nice treat to be up there on a Wednesday night instead of only for the weekend.

This morning we were up at a decent time but took our time getting out of the house. I forgot to bring food for breakfast, smart huh, so Nick took Jeff to McDonald's and got somethings for us to eat. We packed ourselves up and headed over to Chicago. It was a great car ride, no problems at all. We arrived in Chicago and headed right to Shedd's Aquarium. It was okay, but honestly we weren't that impressed with it, and we were kind of disappointed that we spent the money on it. It was gorgeous here, bright sunshine, so instead of waiting until tomorrow to go to the zoo, we headed there today. We had such a great time. The Lincoln Park Zoo is amazing and FREE to get into to. We were there for 3 hours...walked everywhere. Amazing how different zoos can be. This zoo was pretty much all outdoors and the exhibits were amazing. I'm so glad that we spent some time there today.

When we got in the car, Jeff was out in a few minutes I think. It was perfect because we didn't know where the hotel was so we drove around for awhile looking for it. I felt bad when we got out of the car. Jeff was so tired and in a horrible mood. He was crying and wanting to go home, asking for Grandme...it was not fun and I didn't know if we were going to be able to stay or not. Luckily I got some food in his belly and we were all good! We headed out to ESPN to have dinner, it was okay...I think I would of rather had something else, just because we are in a unique city, but Nick had a good time, so that's what is important. We came back to the hotel and went swimming. I was so happy that Jeff wasn't afraid of the water. He got right in, splashing & kicking...it was lots of fun.

Right now I'm trying to keep up with everything and uploading videos and pictures, Nick is watching a movie, and Jeff is sleeping peacefully in the next room. I'm tired and ready for bed, but looking forward to what tomorrow is going to bring!!!

Enjoying the lake!

He had sand all over him...but still was giggling!

The zoo had a John Deere tractor...Jeff was so excited to get to sit in it.

Driving the big tractor!

Jeff petting a rooster...

Daddy & Jeff sitting for their picture. I needed a new picture for my office!

Fabulous Weekend at The Lake!

The weekend started out great, and it stayed that way the whole way through! Friday Nick & I were both off work by 2. I know this isn't going to be happening anymore so I jumped at the chance to leave and hurried my hiney home. Jeff of course hadn't napped because he knew we were going to tha lake...yeah he gets excited too when he knows we are heading up there! Mom & I rode up together so we could talk, and Nick drove up with the dogs so he could enjoy a quiet car ride... We arrived at the lake around 5 I think, the guys were just getting in from fishing and it was nice to see grandpa & Uncle Tim. Aunt Helen & Uncle John were coming for dinner so we had just enough time to get unloaded and get things ready for them. It was a great evening of sitting around and listening to stories... I'm so glad I've learned to keep quiet around them, otherwise I'll get lectured about my beliefs, it's still nice to see them though.

We attempted another night of Jeff sleeping in the bunk bed...he did AWESOME, fell out around midnight but was still half asleep so I put him right back in and he slept there until 230 when he decided that he needed to come into mom & dads bed and sleep with us. I really do love snuggling with him, he just has to be right up againist me, reminds me of holding him when he was a baby.

Saturday we were able to sleep in until 730 and then the guys took off to get donuts and mom & I cleaned the cottage a little bit. Amazing how dirty a place can get when 3 guys are in the place for 2 1/2 days! We had a wonderful breakfast, and since you know Uncle Tim you know there was way to much food. I took Jeff up to Wal-Mart with me, to get our supplies for our trip to Chicago. I figured I could get snacks here and then I don't have to haul things from Toledo to the lake...made sense! I also got the oil changed in the car, it was a perfect timing and it worked so why not. When we got back to the lake Jeff was outside ALL DAY...I brought him in for a nap, but honestly besides that, it was hard keepingh him indoors. We did take a wonderful boat ride around the lake, it was freezing but felt good to have the first boat ride in for the season!

This morning was an early morning, but it was another great morning at the lake! Sun was shining early, and Jeff was outside by 9 and played till we loaded him in the car to go home. He cried when we told him it was time to go, it was sweet really. Luckily he was okay because I told him Uncle John was at home and would probably still be mowing when we got there. Jeff's face was so excited when we pulled in and Uncle John was still there! He stood there and waited and waited for John to tell him he could get on that mower and when he did he had the biggest smile on his face and he was so excited. After John & Steph took off, we took Jeff to Bass Pro and got him his very first fishing pool! He loves it and is carrying it around practicing with it, I'm sure he'll be using it this weekend at the lake. He was so proud for grandpa to come home and to be able to show him his fishing pole. It's amazing how dad just lights up when Jeff's give him that big smile of his. I know the two of them will create some great memories fishing together!

It's going to be an intersting week. My last day at work is Wednesday, wishing I was done already because I'm out of things to do. Looking forward to our vacation together, it's been since last May when we headed to Atlanta so this will be nice to be together. I'm interested to see how Jeff does being out of his element. I think he'll enjoy what we have planned though...at least I hope he does!

Daddy & Jeff checking out the lake!

First time on the boat for the year...he was so excited to get to go for a ride!

Daddy & Jeff taking their boat ride together!

Trying to get him to kiss a fish...he didn't!

Digging in the sand

Little Stinker...do you see the tongue sticking out?

They were watching a boat lift go in & I got lucky to get this awesome smile.

He was so excited to be able to mow with Uncle John.

Some Zoo Pictures

I finally got around to downloading some pictures from the zoo last weekend. I have some good ones with the animals, but honestly how many times do you want to see the polar bears? I figured Jeff was better suited here...

He was having a ball playing on all of the statues.

Anxiously awaiting his turn to ride the train!

Jeff & Grandme on the train...

I think this is the first picture of us together in months...to bad he's not looking at the camera!

Planning our Vacation

Since I don't have to start my new job until May 13, Nick & I decided to take a little family vacation since I won't get time off the rest of the summer. I wanted to go someplace warm, Nick wanted to go someplace practical... of course practical won!!! Next week we are heading to Chicago for a couple of days, spending some time at the lake, then heading over to Sandusky and going to Kalahari for a night!

Should be fun getting to explore with Jeff all of these new places & I hope he enjoys it too!

Gorgeous, Gorgeous Weather!

We could not of asked for a better weekend, if we had tried. The weather was amazing...80 plus degrees and bright sunshine, who wants to be indoors? Not anyone in our house that's for sure!!! I will say that it was a quick warm up, and it was a little to warm, but the nice breeze made it all worth while.

Friday night we went to dinner at Mi Hacienda. I had never been there before and it was pretty good. I think I still like the other Mexican places that we go to better, but can you really have bad Mexican food? Don't think so! After dinner we went to Bass Pro to get a few things, so the guys could go fishing the next day, and then it was a quick trip to Meijers to get food for the guys for their fishing trip!

I promised Jeff a zoo trip on Saturday, since Nick was fishing with my dad. My mom came with us since she didn't have anything going on either. We left the house at 9:30, ran a couple of errands and we were at the zoo exactly at 10, which was perfect because it was going to busy. It was nice walking around looking at all of the animals and seeing them out instead of indoors. We should of gone on Sunday though because the zoo was celebrating Louie's birthday that day...I thought it was on Saturday. The train was running and Jeff wanted to go so we took a ride on that. The whole time he was so excited and talking about the train...it was cute! After the zoo we ran some errands, got Jeff shoes for the summer, and then it was home for lunch & naps! Saturday night we went to Sal's Pals, which is a fundraiser for cystic fibrous. We weren't there long, maybe an hour and a half, but it was fun to bid on some things and eat the wonderful food.

Sunday morning we got up and did breakfast with the family. Then Nick headed with dad over to Indiana to drop off the boat since it needed repaired and I headed to the Glass City Marathon with Steph Hoover, to watch Molly finish the race! It was so awesome and inspiring to watch all of these people run the 1/2 marathon, and the full marathon. It really makes you want to get out and do it yourself, we'll see about next year!!! We were down there a couple of hours enjoying the sunshine though. John came over with his tractor and the guys worked on the hill in the backyard and us women went shopping. I have to get clothes for my new job and figured I'd better get a move on with the clothes buying. I didn't get much, but got a few things. We were sitting around chatting and Nick got a call that his brother was having emergency surgery so he took off to Marion & Mom, Dad & I went to dinner at PF Changs. It was nice to sit outside and enjoy the warm spring weather!

Weekend was full and I'm looking forward to the next one!

A Big Announcement!!!

I'm happy to report that as of 4/22/09, I officially have a new job!!! The process has been a long one, I think it's been going on since February, but yesterday it became official and we couldn't be happier. It's going to be an adjustment for all of us. I'm going to be working longer hours, well only a 1/2 hour more each day, but I won't get home until after 5 instead of 3:30, which I don't mind at all, but I will miss the extra time with Jeff. It's a good step forward for me to take in my career and I'm really excited about it.

Of course I'm sad to be leaving my job, I've been here 6 1/2 years, almost 7 and I've learned so much here. But after being unhappy with how things have changed in the past 6 months, I knew a change was needed. It feels great to know that May 6th will be my last day here!

A Request from Nick

So on Sunday Nick was in Tiffin and his mom showed him the blog. Now Nick is claiming that he didn't even know about the blog which is complete BS...unless he doesn't listen when I'm talking. Believe me when I say that I talk about having to go and update the blog all the time. So anyway, I get a phone call asking what DH stands for, so I tell him it stands for darling husband, which is truthfully does, but depending on how you feel about your husband that day it can also mean dumb husband. Nick thinks it stands for dick head! He has asked me to change all of the DH references to LH...loving husband! Sorry dear...it's staying DH!!!!

I did tell the girls on the message board I visit frequently and they thought it was hilarious!!!!