Another Year...Wiser

Happy Birthday to Shawn!!! September 27, 2009 we celebrated Shawn's 34th birthday. It was a lot of fun! The previous day we went to New Madison and celebrated his Mother's 60th birthday. Here is our fun-filled Sunday Surprises as we called it.

We woke up and I made breakfast, scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit & drinks (coffee for those thinking another way). We had Shawn open his gifts. Chief got him a new OSU hat and long sleeve shirt. I got him a new LL Bean jacket (one he can wear in the Spring and fall). Shea and Will got him something he's been wanting. A charcoal grill of his very own! Complete with wood chips that Brett says you must soak in water to get all the good flavoring. You see, each year that we go to Dale Hollow we cook over this type of grill and the food is SO good. At home, I don't have time, I have to have my propane grill! Now we have both. I had fixed a head of time our favorite burgers to put on this new grill, goat cheese burgers with onion jam (check out Party in the party dot com for complete recipe details). They were YUMMY!!! Then our afternoon activity was to head to Prairie Oaks Metro Park not far from our house. We went walking on the trails.

Shea, Will and Shawn with the Big Darby Creek in the back ground.

September birthday boys!!

We walked a long time!! Will napped in the wagon and Shea complained at how much walking we were doing. I said, this is your Father's day and this is what he wants to do. We have to suck it up and have FUN! We did! The leaves were just starting to change and fall. We saw three willy-worms and one baby snake. No other wild life was seen but lots of prairie grass, flowers, water and just beautiful scenery.

A view of the Big Darby walking across the bridge.

Fall is starting, these trees are beginning to change.

Just a walk on the great trails!!

We still had one more surprise in store for Shawn! He knew we had dinner reservations at 6 p.m. in Columbus but he did not know anything else!! He drove and I'd tell him where to turn. He found out that we were going to Genji Japaneses Steakhouse. He had never been to one...can you believe it? I knew he and the kids would just love it, this is a great place and the food is good too. Part of the surprise is that our good friends, the Kuck's and Sheri were meeting us! Shawn was very surprised and happy to see everyone! I was sure right, the kids LOVED it!

Shea and Noah reacting to the big fire on the grill. Of course it was their favorite part!

Kendall getting a front and center view of the volcano fire. COOL!!

Even Will was totally in amazement with this dinner. It is fun to see your food cooking right in front of you. Our Chef's name was also Will, too funny! He even threw egg pieces for us to try and catch with our mouths. Shea was successful and most of us all most caught it. He threw mine right down my shirt!! We even had the Birthday Surprise brought out. That is a large and loud drum that they bang, sing happy birthday and give us a huge pineapple to eat. It was fun to embarrass Shawn. They gave him his very own chop sticks too.

Sheri and Kendall.

It was a FUN day. Shawn said he thoroughly enjoy everything. We are so glad!!! Wonder what we'll come up with next to go do? Any ideas??

Birthday Boy

Happy First Birthday, Will!!!!! We can't believe that on September 15, 2009 he turned one. This past year has went by so fast. The amount of things he has learned in twelve months is just amazing. He is our Little Man, that is for sure!!

Yesterday morning when he woke up, Shea and I went into his room and sang Happy Birthday to him. He wasn't sure what we were doing but smiled in the end. He always wants to eat right away. He had is normal, pancakes and fruit. The fruit of choice was oranges. Yum! Then we went into Hilliard to get the shopping done for Saturday. We are having our families over to celebrate his first year. Shea suggested we take him to one of their favorite spots for lunch, Chick-Fil-A. So we did! The kids had a great time. Back home for Will to nap, he must have been worn out. He slept for a while.

Birthday breakfast!

When Shawn came home we ordered a pizza and sub to take up to the beach area at our lake. We figured what more would a 1 year old boy want than a picnic with dirt & water. I think we hit a home run, he loved it. Shea did also! Will went straight for the water and sat right down in it, before we could get any swim trunks on him. Oh well, we just let him get as dirty as he wanted! It was his birthday!

Will enjoying the sand pile on his birthday.

He ran in and out of the water and walked, crawled and squirmed his way through the sand. Here is the little man's footprint in the sand. I had so much fun getting this photo as Shawn walked him along the waters edge.

Will's footprint at 12 months.

Shea found the remnants of a sand castle and turned it into a mote. She had a ball. Will on the other hand sat in it and tried to destroy it. We let him, it is his birthday! He had the most fun playing with this stick. He is such a boy!






We had to head home to get the kids cleaned up and ready for jammy time. After that we gave Will one of his presents, Daddy's favorite. A 4-wheeler ride on toy. Needless to say, Will LOVES it.

He couldn't wait to get it open to sit on it.

What do you think Sis?





He did this laugh and ornery smile on this thing for over an hour. We are glad he liked it.

Will, you have brought so much love and joy into our home. Thank you for the past year and we are all looking forward to the next year. We love you!!!!

Go Bucks!

Wow, did I have a big weekend!!! My Mom and Dad took me to this place on Saturday called Ohio State and they took me to my first tailgate. My Mom was SO excited that "her little Buckeyes were going tailgating". She was skipping around the kitchen, I thought she was nuts. She told me it was a big game, OSU versus USC. I didn't quiet understand but smiled. You see, my parents friends Mr. Barry and Ms. Jen knew of people having a tailgate, a party, that they could take Will and I too. I was just excited to get to go with Kendall and Noah. Ms. Sherri went with us too. When we got there, we parked far away and took this bus onto what Mom called Campus. The bus was great!!! When we got off the bus there were parties everywhere. The strange thing is, everyone was dressed the same. My Mom explained to me that everyone was wearing their Buckeye clothes, just like me. That morning I had even asked her if I could wear her real Buckeye necklace. She let me!

Here are the adults acting silly. They said it was fun making "Ohio". I was off running around.

My Mom and Will. He ate a lot of strawberries at the tailgate.

My Mom, Ms. Jen and Ms. Sherri.

My Dad and Will.

Me and my Mom. We are cute Buckeye girls.

Us kids were getting tired of being at the tailgate. The adults were having fun but they took us to a place called Coffey Park and we had fun. There was a hill we'd run up and down. A baseball field to play in the dirt. Plus, a drinking fountain. We all liked that. My brother, Will, really liked the challenge of walking up the hill. I was having more fun running around with Noah and Kendall.

Here is my Dad watching Will play.

Here my brother and I pose for a picture.

After we were done playing and I had to use this gross thing called a port-a-potty to go in we got back on the bus. My Mom asked me what my favorite part of the day was and I told her riding the bus. She laughed. I asked my Mom what her favorite part was and she said going tailgating with her little Buckeyes. Ahh...

The grown-ups said it was past dinner time and we still had to drive home. They decided to let us have desert first. To tell you the truth, I think they were more excited than us kids. They took us to this place called Graters. I got a scoop of Cookies n Cream. My Mom, Dad and Will shared a big waffle cone. It was good! See...






We came home and the adults made us dinner. It was a fun day but I was tired. I went to bed but my parents stayed up and watched this game they were excited about. I hope you like looking at the pictures from my first tailgating! My parents said it was fun and they want to go it again. I'm not so sure, there was no swing set to play on. But... GO BUCKS!

Walking Around

In the last few days our little Will has decided he wants to become a toddler!!! Until last week Will would take one or two steps between the couch and chair or person to person. He would realize what he was doing and then fall down to crawl. Last week he started taking a few more steps and then on Thursday, he was off! Although, if he wants to get from point A to point B in a hurry he crawls. He gets so excited that he has walked to something he does this funny laugh when he reaches his destination. It is so funny. He has also been cracking Shawn and I up with his walking. You see, he didn't just start walking like you and I think of walking. He picks up his entire leg and then puts it down and repeats that with the next leg. It looks like this, a drunk man walking around! Then when he has his bottle in his hand walking like that....Well...it's just down right hysterical. I tried for days to get a picture of this but the little stinker always saw me. It is hard to sneak a photo of him.

Will walking towards me. Too cute!!

Will and Chief continue to make mischief of one kind or another. These two conspire and are always into something. Here is a photo of the two of them. They are cute together but watch out!

Chief and Will

In this photo you can see how big the boy is getting! He is eating very well and has developed rolls. He is very proud of this fact. Recall how skinny he was?!! This is also the best "drunk walk" photo I could get. To see it in person is hysterical. Today he is starting to get the concept down better and walking more normal.

Will learning to walk.

After a long morning outside helping Daddy in the garage, Will fell asleep in his chair after he finished his lunch. I was able to wipe him up and get him into his bed with out him even waking up. Now that's tired!!!

Monday we took advantage of Labor Day and did not labor around the house. Shawn, Shea, Will and I went to the zoo with his parents and brother. Will wanted to get out and walk around. Here are he and Shawn. They did not know I was taking this picture. In the end, I'm glad that they didn't. I think this is too cute. Dad helping out his son. Precious.

Will and Shawn

Shea wanted to climb on this sculpture. I thought, ah, we can all get in the photo. That doesn't usually happen since Shawn or I (mostly me) are taking the pictures. Here we are! Will was busy looking at a little girl behind me who was trying to climb up.

We are walking up to the Asia Quest. Here are Shawn, Shea, Justin, Paula, Wayne and Will.

Now I'm officially chasing a toddler. In the course of one week I now have a Kindergartner and a Toddler. Oh my how quickly things change. This is an exciting time!!

Growing Up

Time goes by so quickly. Kids grow up too fast! Today is our baby girls first day in Kindergarten. It's an exciting, happy time. Unless you are the Mom!! You want your baby to still be your baby all the while still growing up. Complicated thought process, I know. Shawn and I dropped her off this morning. She was excited and nervous. We found her locker, helped her settle in and then we left. I managed to make it all the way to the door way before I began to cry. I made my goal! I was a long and quiet ride home as I reflected on the past five years...

Proud new parents looking at their baby girl on April 1, 2004. Seems just like yesterday!!!!



Shea Alexa Huntington weighed in at 7 pounds even and was 20 1/2 inches long. Now she is 5 1/2 years old and 45 pounds! OH MY!






Here she is with her proud Dad and brother, Will, as we dropped her off on her first day.





The annual first day of school photo's. Will was uncooperative, he was too busy climbing. Shea posed nicely for many photo's.

WAKE UP!!! You are a Kindergartner now!!

I am counting the hours until 3:27 p.m. when I go to pick up she and Kendall. I can not wait to hear all about the first day. It is so exciting. We know she'll just love it there. After the adjustment period. Fun times are ahead.