Holiday Road Trip

It wasn't in the plans, but we made a last minute trip to Cincinnati for the holiday weekend.  Andy came home from Afghanistan on leave as a surprise so we didn't know until Monday that he was going to be there and then we didn't finally decide until Thursday that we were all headed that way to see him!  So if we missed you on this trip, sorry! It was a last minute affair.  It was a good time though!

 First stop, as always, is Skyline.  Clearly he hasn't learned how to eat a hotdog yet?!

 Next stop, Grandma's for fruit roll-ups.  

They always know where to find them and never forget that she has them!

 We made the usual trip to Cracker Barrel for breakfast on Saturday.  Chase was excited to show off his new purchase -  a hat that says "Grandpa says I'm a keeper!"

Then it was a quick good-bye and off to the next stop.  Chase is not a fan of saying bye.  He would like for everyone to stay together all the time!

 Saturday afternoon Dave went to play golf with Andy and Jeff so Kerry and I took the kids to the park.  This is one thing I really miss about Cincinnati.  They have way better parks.  We paid nothing to go here.  (Had there been someone at the gate we would have paid $3 but still practically nothing!)

 Taylor gave it her typical first reaction.

 But soon decided it would actually be fun!

 Chase hopped right in and was sliding down in no time!

 The happy crew!

 Even happier to find the snack bar afterwards!

 Happy to have her very own snack!

 It was obviously a very tiring day!

 Sunday it was time for a cookout!

 Chase was excited his cousins were coming over.

 Side note: While party prep was underway we snuck out to church where we used to go when we lived there.  We figured out we hadn't been back there in 5 years!! Anywho, we were hoping to run into the Seybolds there and we did, so they came over for a bit later in the afternoon!  

Hence, Taylor with Fiona and Noelle!

 I love Noelle's hair.  She sat and let me play with it a bit until she decided I was crazy!

 We never got all four kids together at the same time for a picture, oh well.

And as quickly as we came, we were headed back home! The kids (and even Dave) did so well on the trip. It was an unexpected treat!

Birthday Fun & Company

 The birthday fun continued this week.  I took Chase shopping with his birthday money from some of his great-grandparents and he picked out this monster truck ramp and a couple of new trucks.

 Taylor got this chair from my grandma and she takes it with her everywhere.  She was watching the monster truck show here.

 Then the newly improved Caddell Hotel welcomed it's second set of guests!  Megan and Kerry came to town for the weekend.

 Checking out the swing set.

 Making our way to, where else, Chuck E. Cheese. 

 Bryce was completely stoked that he hit the monster truck jackpot.

 Taylor shared some tickets with Emmy and she was excited too!

 A little air hockey.

 Poor Bryce.  The "real" Chuck made an appearance and Bryce did not appreciate it.  Call me mean but I took his picture before I picked him up!  It was a priceless look.

 The kids got to dance with Chuck for a chance to win some free tickets.  There wasn't much dancing from these three, but they were all about picking up the tickets.

 Showing off the loot - this time they picked a slinky.

 We wore Emmy out - she passed out on Kerry's lap and looked way too comfy.  Even though her eyes are open, she is sound asleep.  She can thank Jason for that trait.

 Chase finally got to have his "big" birthday party on Friday.  It's hard to wait a week for your party when you're 4!  He wanted to have it at Kidz Zoom, an inflatable place, even though he cried the day I took him to check it out.  He promised he wouldn't cry at his party and he didn't.  It was fun.

 Eating pizza with some of the boys.

 Taylor was excited to have some girls to hang out with.

 He requested a soccer ball cake this year - taken care of by MeMaw.

 Shooting some hoops.

 Opening presents.

 Happy boy.

 Not a happy boy.  Dave picked on his sisters one too many times and they paid him back.  He hates people messing with his neck and they pinned him down and got him good!

 In the birthday throne! 

 The adults might possibly have had as much fun as the kids.  

 Saturday it was on to soccer.  Taylor insisted on putting sunblock on Megan but it was too late.  She looked like a striped lobster when we left!

 After soccer was Kaleb's birthday party.  Chase was completely petrified that some loud noise was going to happen while we were there.  After cake and presents he looked a little happier than he does here!

 Later Megan and Kerry took Chase birthday shopping.  I think Taylor thought it would increase her odds of getting something if she just carried everything around the store.  This was the look I got when I told her we weren't shopping for her.

 It was a nice evening so we went out to Short Pump for dinner.  Taylor rode the train for the first time.

 Chase was not interested.  He opted for throwing coins in the fountain.

And hanging out with Kerry, since I forgot to get her a train ticket.  

Taylor did not let me forget that I made that mistake!!

By the way, forgot the warning at the beginning - lots of pictures!!!

Buddies, Swing Set and a Sprinkler

 The chocolate donut buddies are back together!

 Taylor is glad that Emmy gets to tag along this time.  

 Sporting the matching outfits.

 The three amigos.  They stick together - to do good and mischievous things, but mostly good!

 Being a "cool babysitter" - she loves it.  Emmy is very patient.

 Trying to get a group shot.  They were being silly.

 All classic cheese faces.

 Some things never get old.  We have to have seen every Caillou episode about 10 times now.

 Taylor asked if she could put Emmy to sleep one day.  It worked for both of them.  I'll take it!

 MeMaw and PaPa gave Chase a swing set for his birthday.  I think Taylor was ok with that plan!

 Chase was happy when it was finally put together.  It took about the entire weekend, but luckily the gifters get to do the honors.  PaPa insists there are about 1.2 million screws holding it together.

 Taylor had to be happy if Chase was.

 In fact, she can one better him and be really, really happy.

 Bryce thinks the swing set was a good idea too.  It's just like the one he has but he told me our slide is on the wrong side!

 Vickie gave Chase a sprinkler for his birthday and they couldn't wait to try it out.

 They are so much braver than last year.  They actually get wet now!

 Their favorite activity was passing the ball back and forth over the water.

Taylor insisted on wearing the swimming suit but she never got within 10 feet of the sprinkler.  She had to keep an eye on Emmy.