Enough said.....

When you need to remember how sweet your children are....(especially in their teen years) refer back to the notes that they made you when they were little.....

How can you not LOVE this face????

Auntie's Pretty Pretty Girl!

ENGAGEMENT.....the story

Yes....Matt and I are engaged! Well I was in so much shock on Wednesday(August 26th 2009@7:45 pm haha) that I didn't realize that I had my camera with me the entire time! So Sarah, Kailey and I went to all of the sites the next day so that we could recreate the moment in pictures!

First, I had no idea what was going on! I was so caught-up in finals, back-to-school, and just being exhausted that I didn't pick up on any of the hints. First he asked me if I wanted to go to dinner on wednesday...which isn't wierd I thought that he wanted to give me a break considering I took a final and sent the kids back to school that day. My first clue should have come when Matt knew right away where he wanted to eat...Old Bag of Nails! It is his favorite place so again I didn't think anything of it(even though we had only eaten there twice and once happened to be our first date.) Please also keep in mind that I really had no idea so I was wearing the worst outfit....my pirate pants(as Matt calls them) and a hand-me-down green shirt. No make-up and bags under my eyes that were big enough to move with! Here are some pics of Old Bag....and the booth where we sat!

Then my second clue should have been that he wanted to go to Hoover Reservoir...to walk off some of the food. Well we walked for a while before we came back to the place that again Matt and I went to after eating on our first date....still not dawning on me that this might be odd! I even mentioned to the kids that Matt was re-creating our first date. I also didn't notice that Matt just standing there.....then he asked me to come over to him! And again I was thinking he just wanted to give me a hug....and all of a sudden he started to give me a speech about new beginnings in his professional-I'm-giving-a-speech voice......then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him, holding out the ring of my dreams! It was a very emotional moment for all four of us! The sweetest and most traditional part was that Matt had already called my Mom and Dad to ask permission.....what a day! Who knew that Matt even remembered our first date that well....you know how guys are! Here are some pics of the spot where it all came together! What can I saw Matt is thoughtful......honest and all that I have ever wanted it a man!

So of course the next day we had to go get my wedding binder started....and we had to go buy some wedding magazines...even though I won't be finished with school until the Spring of 2011! But every girl needs to be prepared! Check back from time-to-time for updates...although I can't decide whether or not to start another blog about the wedding????? Here are my first two magazines~and a few pics of KK who did the best she could helping me get things started!

First day of FIFTH and SECOND grade

Wow...I am lonely all ready! I wish my kiddos could be at home with me, while I enjoy my little break! I hope that you school year is fantastic! Aidan has Mrs.Katz again this year...at Pointview the first grade teachers move up with the students to second grade. Aidan really liked her so we were really happy about that. Because the kids are at different schools I didn't get a pic with Blaise and Mrs. Roberts I will have to do a post about that later!
Becasue the kiddos looked so georgeous and I think the first day of school is so important I stopped at Inniswood after school....awesome photo opportunities! I LOOOVEEEE the close-ups of Blaise and Aidan...and the fauz modeling pose of Aidan was so dorky that I had to post it!

Sorry Blaise

Blaise I first want to say that I hope that you forgive me someday for accidentally cutting off all of your hair right before the first day of fifth grade....I love you and I am sorry! The story is that I was thinking about a million things at once(as usual) and I was totally done giving you a haircut and I suddenly saw a few hairs that I missed....I quickly saved them, and also quickly realized that I forgot to put the guard back on the clippers. Needless to say my options were to cut it, or to let him go with a bald stripe down his head! I went for the earlier....I cut it! Again sorry Blaise and I promise I will pay more attention in the future! Of course you look handsome anyways....

BTS Traditions

I have been making back-to-school cake since Blaise started Kindergarten. It is a silly, fun tradition that we enjoy eating on the night before the big first day. I love the first day of school and all the excitement....I even love to start a new quarter still and I'm 30.....here is last years cupcake...my all-time favorite the "chalkboard" cupcake
I had the best of intentions this year with a "math book" cupcake but writing math on a little cookie proved to be impossible...and they ended up looking similar to last year...oh well! They were still yummy!

Saving money....BTS

I love to accessorize....I do not get to do it very often because, well I just don't usually wear more than yoga pants and a t-shirt to school. So I like to accessorize the things around me....I bought cheap bookbags fro the kids for $9.00 from Walmart, and then dressed them up. That way theirs will be unique and much harder to lose....(Aidan) Here are some pics....I also did Aidan's lunch box.

Pizza...and a walk at the park!

What is better than a five dollar pizza, your favorite kids, and a cool afternoon walk? The kids and I(Matt was at work) enjoyed their second to last day of summer vacation at Blendon Woods....where I could share with them some of my new knowledge on local plant life! So fun...

I love nature....

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Tyler Smith

This weekend we went to the wedding of Sarah Guntrum and Tyler Smith. I have actually known both of them since high school, it was really nice to see all of their children and family get to enjoy such a remarkable day. It was also fun to get dressed up!

I love this picture of Blaise Blowing bubbles....he is always so well behaved!

I only got a few pictures of the wedding...I figured my camera is not good at all at inside photos so I better leave that tp the professionals! Here is one of Aidan and Kyle Vittorio(Sarah's son) and Ashley Vittorio(Sarah's daughter).

King's Island 2009

Wow...what a hot, humid, and fun fun day! I love King's Island, and have been going there since I was a little kid. I remember riding on the Beastie, King Cobra, The Beast of course....among others! This year we went with Mom, Jut and Sarah....it was actually Sarah's first time ever!!!!! I love the rides, and the excitement...it is like being a kid all over again. The lines were not long for almost everything....unfortunately I forgot to take Dramamine, so after getting right on the Vortex, Beast, and Diamondback...I was ready to lose my stomach and had to send Matt for some.
The Vortex is one of those coasters that you love and hate all at once....it has the best of all the thrills, and I love it...I just get a little beat up in the process. The Beast was our second ride and of course it is a classic....

By far one of the best coasters that I have ever been on is the new one Diamondback....it is smooth, but you are held in the seat by what seems like nothing! Look at Sarah's face in the last pic...sheer terror!

I think that people should read the posted signs.....

The next pictures involves a cruel trick that I have played on every kid in the family....now it was Kailey's turn....anyone that has seen the bridge over Congo Falls...knows how this will end!
The highlight of my day way taking Aidan on her first Beast ride...we rode in the very back seat(which was not a very good idea) and Aidan screamed the whole time Mommy you lied, and Mommy are you ok????? Poor baby....in one of the dark parts she let out this blood-curdling scream! She survived and in the end said it was her favorite ride.

We also went to the top of the Eiffel Tower...which was a first for all of us!