Indy

The weekend of Oct. 8, 2011 we spent visiting my sister Tricia and Justin in Indianapolis.  The boys and I went to this really cool park.  It had different playgrounds for any level of child that wanted to play.  There also was a pretty cool nature center. 

 Alex just hung out in the stroller at the park.

Saturday morning we were able to watch Justin in a cross bike race.  (I think that is what it was called.)  Pretty interesting stuff.  They race on pretty rough terrain, grass that is often muddy but not so this day, up and down hills, over baracades, often there are lots of wrecks.  After that we went to Trader’s Point Creamery for a fall festival.  This is an organic dairy and restaurant. One of our friends from the church we first attended here takes his milk to this dairy.  We also ran into some of Chad’s family friends at Trader’s Point, small world.  

The boys got their faces painted.  We all went on a fun hayride.  For being the beginning of October, the weather was quite warm…actually HOT!  Not the best picture of us, but there you have it.

I guess I didn't take any pictures of our wonderful hosts!  Thanks for having us Tric & Justin!

Anniversary weekend in Indy

July 24th 2010 was our 11 year anniversary. Just doesn't seem possible that we have been married that long! We decided to go to Indianapolis for the weekend. The boys went to stay with Grandma & Grandpa K. for the weekend. (Thank you very much!!!)

We had asked my sister and brother-in-law; Tricia and Justin, if they would want to go to a Jack Johnson concert with us. We all went to that Friday evening. It was at Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville, an outdoor amphitheater. We had a great time listening to Jack's music, trying to stay cool (it was so hot!) and enjoying a thunder/lightning storm. Chad said I shouldn't bring the camera that night...maybe he took some photos with his phone...hmmm

We got home late, slept in til 9:00am. When is the last time we did that??? I do not know! We spent the day with Tric & Justin. For lunch we had this great Arugula pesto pizza. It was a joint effort between the 4 of us. Tric & I worked on the crust, making the arugula pesto, and chopping the tomatoes and peppers.

Chad and Justin did the grilling of the crust

and putting all the toppings together on the crust.

It was quite tasty and very pretty too!
(so annoyed that blogger isn't posting this how I want it!)

Buddy the dog hung out in the kitchen with us. He is very photogenic. :)

Had to get a picture of my sister and I.

A case of the giggles.

Chad & I on our anniversary, July 24th 2010. 11 years.

That night we decided to make the most of it and stay at a hotel in downtown Indianapolis. We booked through Priceline for the first time, not a bad deal! We stayed at the Marriot. We headed out to dinner at Ruth's Chris. (you must order a fillet and sweet potato casserole!!) This is Chad's favorite steakhouse. It is rather expensive. Chad mentioned while eating there that if our current home town ever got a Ruth's Chris, that we could be in trouble. I assured him that he didn't need to worry about that happening! Chad first ate at one during his residency when he was in San Antonio TX for a review course with his fellow residents. He is hooked and it is always fun to meet up with those guys/gals and go to Ruth's Chris.

Sunday we slept in again and then met up with Tric & Justin & Justin's cousin & business partner Tom. (have you heard of Indie Bike? check it out!) We ate at a great little cafe called The Taste for brunch. Yum, I am salivating just thinking of it. I wish we had a restaurant like that in town!!

We headed back to O-H-I-O to pick up our boys. So fun to see them again after 48+ hours apart! And so great to celebrate with a weekend away!

(and now since it is 1:45 I will attempt this sleeping thing again. two little boys will be in our room way too early for me I have a feeling.)

Our weekend away

Chad and I were blessed with an extended weekend away. We had done this in January of 2008 when we went to Chicago for the weekend. We had a great time then, though quite cold and snowy! So this year we thought we would try heading a bit south. We wanted to go somewhere within driving distance and somewhere neither of us had been before.

We decided on Nashville, TN. My parents came here Friday evening to stay with the boys til Sunday. They then met Chad's parents and handed the boys over. The boys had so much fun with both sets of grandparents. In fact, they had so much fun that Andrew was in tears when we came to pick him up because he didn't want to go home! Anyways, I'm getting a little a head of myself.

Chad and I left Friday evening after eating supper with the boys and my parents. We headed to Cincinnati for the night. Saturday morning we were able to sleep in some and then get back on the road. We arrived in Nashville just before 2:00 Saturday afternoon, with the time change - which we didn't expect....we thought the clock in our hotel room was wrong at first. We went to a great little restaurant Sat. evening, Germantown Cafe. The food was excellent, very eloquently presented and such a nice atmosphere! That evening we had tickets at the Ryman Auditorium (a really neat old theatre) for a Grand O'le Opry concert. We went to this to experience a little of Nashville, not necessarily for the artists that were performing. There were probably 12 different artists that each sang two songs. A few of the artists were Lorrie Morgan, Marty Stuart, Ronnie Milsap, Chuck Wicks.

Sunday morning we slept in again and went to the hotels gym for a little exercise. After getting ready we then went to another local Nashville restaurant for brunch, The Garden Brunch Cafe. Another great restaurant; awesome food, nice atmosphere and even some live music. We then headed to a great mall so I could get ( I mean start) my shopping fix. We got through the top level of the mall and then headed back to the hotel for a rest...Chad watched the Colts football game while I read. That evening we went out to eat at Macaroni Grill and watched the movie Blind Side. We both really enjoyed this movie.

Monday was spent much the same as Sunday; sleeping in, out for brunch, shopping, eating and then seeing the movie Avatar. (Can you guess who chose which movie?) Chad's funny comment the week before leaving for TN, when trying to convince me that we should see Avatar was, "If we don't go see Avatar it will be like not going to go see Star Wars back in the day." Well, neither of us saw Star Wars back in the day! Did I like the movie? Umh, I don't really know. I am not a sci-fi kind of person. We saw it in an IMAX theatre and I think the movie was amazing - how did they do all the graphics!? It was really intense. Did I like it? I really don't know.

Perhaps we should have done things to experience more of Nashville. Go to the Country Music Hall of Fame. I'm not sure what else but we had a great time. We loved being just the two of us. Getting a chance to sleep in, enjoying all the great food at the restaurants that I didn't have to cook, having the opportunity to leisurely shop.

We loved getting back to see the boys as well. Carson was very excited to see us with plenty of hugs and kisses... Andrew on the other hand was very tearful, upset...afraid he wouldn't be able to finish the memory game he was just starting with Grandma, Carson and cousin Lucca. He did get to finish the game and he was ok but I think secretly could have stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's much longer!

Thank you very much for watching the boys for us! They loved spending time with the four of you and we appreciated the time were able to spend just the two of us! We feel refreshed.

Our trip to Hartville

Almost two weeks ago (where does the time go???) the four of us traveled to Hartville Ohio. We lived in Cuyahoga Falls, OH during Chad's 3rd & & 4th years of medical school (summer of 2001-summer of 2003). During these two years we drove down to Hartville for church. We really enjoyed this church and the many wonderful people we met there. We hadn't been back to that area since early 2004 and hadn't seen anyone from this area for about 3 years. So we decided it was time for a visit!!

It was so great to be back with these friends!! We all now have children and really enjoyed meeting their kids. Andrew & Carson had a blast! We first met up with Scott & Kami for an impromptu lunch. The kids stayed with the guys and Kami & I headed up to a volleyball game that Scott's sister was playing in. When Kami & I got back, Scott & Kami rounded up the miniature horses for rides.

Before actually riding the horse, Andrew said he wanted to ride the horse while it was running. After taking a few steps on the back of the horse he changed his mind - just wanted it to walk.

Little stinker wouldn't look at me or smile - just stuck out his tongue.


After the afternoon there, we headed over to Gary & Charla's house. Gary is Scott's brother. Gary & their oldest son Blake had picked up some worms and we did some fishing in the pond behind their house. This was a new experience for the boys. They both really enjoyed it. Neither one wanted to put on the worms or take off the fish they caught. Do you really blame them? (Chad & I didn't really want to either!) Gary & Blake helped them with that.


That evening we went over to Ryan & Heidi's house, another couple we know from our Sunday School class. Several other couples were there as well. We had pizza for supper and later roasted marshmallow's for s'mores. YUM!! Andrew had so much fun playing with the kids. They ran and ran and ran! with some tackling mixed in.



We headed back to Gary & Charla's where we were staying for the night. They have such a beautiful home in a very nice setting. We went to church with them on Sunday morning. So great to worship there again and see many of the people that we got to know during our time there. We went back to Gary & Charla's for a great lunch with them and their 3 kids and Ryan & Heidi and their 3 kids. We spent the afternoon watching a little football, fishing again, playing on their swing set, feeding their chickens, riding bikes, playing with sidewalk chalk.....

Luke & Carson feeding the chickens some grass

These two little guys both share November birthdays. I think they are 8 days apart!


Sophia & Andrew riding bikes

Sophia is 6 months older than Andrew

Luke & Carson making masterpieces with chalk

I love how little kids can just pop a squat wherever! Notice how both of their feet remain flat on the cement with their knees bent and bottoms so near the ground. Try it, it isn't easy - at least not to hold that position for very long!

Great time!! Thanks for hosting us!!