Happy Birthday, Brian!!!!

Happy Birthday to my super Husband, Brian! His birthday was actually on Sunday. We celebrated his birthday on Friday because I worked yesterday. So, on Friday I had made dinner reservations at Jonah's. Yummy! My parents and Uncle Mike and Aunt Julie joined us for dinner. Before dinner Brian wanted to do some birthday shopping. So we went to Kohl's and to Eddie Bauer. While he was shopping in Eddie Bauer I took the kids to the play area. They had a blast! Nothing much is going on here. I am still busy learning my new job. It takes a lot out of me mentally. I am learning so much and there is so much to remember. I go to nights with a preceptor the last two weeks in April. Then we go on vacation and when I come back I will be on my own. I am so excited and also scared!!!! Anyway, I love Brian so much and he is the best Daddy ever. Brian-Thank you for being who you are. You have the biggest heart and I appreciate you very much!!!!!!

This is Hayden in his St. Patrick's Hat. He is very proud of it.

Ava being silly

She had a lot of fun climbing

Hayden loved all the tractors

The birthday boy and his kiddos

Hayden at dinner

Ava being silly, again

Brian with his birthday cake

My cute boys

A Texas Wedding

This past weekend I was in Dallas, Texas for my cousin, Chadd's wedding. It was a super great time! Brian and the kiddos did not come this time (too expensive). Anyway, I went with my mom, dad, brother (just like old time family vacations), my aunt Julie and then my other cousin, Andy, flew in from Chicago. It was a great wedding! We got to our hotel early afternoon on Friday. We walked across the street to eat lunch at the Macaroni Grill. We came back to our hotel and went up to the pool on the roof. It was beautiful out. We relaxed up there before we went down to the wedding rehearsal. The wedding was in a restaurant in the hotel and the reception was in the ballroom. It was perfect for us because we didn't have to go anywhere. After the rehearsal we took a party bus to downtown Dallas for the rehearsal dinner. We ate at the Iron Cactus. It was a mexican restaurant. It was three stories tall and we had the bottom floor to ourselves. It was so good. We had chips, salsa, queso, rice, beans and a fajita bar. We took the party bus back to our hotel and went back up to the pool and just talked with family. It was such a pretty night. We had most of Saturday to do what we wanted because the wedding wasn't until 5pm. We took a cab to the 6th floor musuem (which is the floor where Lee Harvey Oswald shot Kennedy) and saw where Kennedy was shot and stood on the grassy knoll. It was a great museum and I learned a lot. It was kinda depressing too. Then we walked a mile away to the Nasher Sculpture Garden. It was ok. I got some fun pictures there. Then we called our cab driver back and he took us on a little tour. We went back to the Macaroni Grill for lunch again (I know, but it is so good). We came back and relaxed some more before getting ready for the wedding. The wedding was absolutely beautiful! I am so happy for Chadd and Jessica. They are very cute together and I wish them all the best and happiness. The reception was great, too! Everything was beautiful and the food was delicious. They had a salad bar, mashed potato bar, fruit, cheese, grilled vegetable bar, and a roast beef sandwich bar. They had a photo booth so we did some funny pictures. Our family had a really great time. It was nice to be with all of my cousins because I don't get to see them that often. Also, it brought back memories of going on family vacations when I was younger. Enjoy the pictures!

My mom and aunt Julie holding the bag of goodies we got at our hotel from Chadd and Jessica

The Iron Cactus where the rehearsal dinner was

The family

Where Kennedy was shot

At the sculpture garden (aunt julie, mom, jean (Chadd's other grandma), Alexus(my cousin, Shelley's daughter)

The groom's cake. Chadd works at a golf course

The reception

The wedding cake

The wedding. It really did look like a chapel and not a restaurant

Having some yummy drinks during the cocktail hour

my aunt julie and her son, Andy

Me and my cousin, Shelley

All of us cousins and Jessica (the bride) with grandma

I had to put this in. It is my aunt julie and my mom dancing with their sons. How precious!!!

Bowling

We had some family fun this afternoon at the local bowling alley. We took Hayden and Ava bowling for the first time. I was thinking a couple of weeks ago about things I did as a child. Bowling came to my mind and I thought, "Hey, my kids have not gone bowling yet in their short life." So I have been wanting to take them. We had a lot of fun this afternoon. We played for one hour and that was enough time for them. They were very curious about why we had to wear different shoes. Then Ava asked me if they got to keep the shoes. Of course, the girl would have to ask. Brian took them up during their turn to explain how it works. He told them that they could not cross the line up by their lane. Hayden is all about the rules (even though he doesn't always follow them). When it was my turn he kept telling/reminding me not to cross the line like four times. They had a blast waiting for the ball to come back to them. Hayden kept putting his head to close to the ball hole. I kept telling him he is going to get bonked on the head. They did a great job of waiting their turn and cheering each other on. It really was a great time!

Hayden and Daddy watching how many pins would fall down

Hayden getting his ball to bowl

Watching very closely

Daddy and Ava watching the ball

Busy checking things out

Just a random picture of Ava from today

"Golden" Valentine's Day

I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day or Single Awareness Day! We started out the morning with Brian taking Ava to get her signed up for softball. Then they went and signed Hayden up for T-Ball. I can't believe they are old enough to start this. It is exciting and sad at the same time. Ava will be playing games where I used to play softball. Hayden will be playing games where Caleb (my brother) used to play. Crazy! What will be even crazier will be when they play at the same time. Good time! Then we they got home we rushed off to Peoria because the kiddos had a dentist appt. I know, what Mom schedules a dentist appt on V-Day? Well, I did and I do feel bad about it. They have been going to the dentist since they were pretty little. Ava, 6 months ago, sat still without crying for the first time and got her teeth cleaned so I wasn't worried about her. I knew she would do great. Hayden, on the other hand, usually screams at the dentist and they have never been able to do a cleaning or really get a good look in his mouth. So I was worried about him. I don't want him to be petrified of the dentist. Well, my fears were put to rest. He did a perfect job!!!!! He let them clean his teeth, floss, fluoride treatment and let the dentist look into his mouth! We are super proud of him!!!!! I guess he did some growing up the past 6 months. Then it was lunch time so we went and ate at a deli restaurant. It was very yummy! We came home and we gave them their V-day presents. Ava got a Barbie and some candy. Hayden got a truck and some candy. They were very excited! Then we rested up and all took some naps. At 4pm, Brian and I took the kiddos over to my mom and dad's to spend the night. Then, Brian and I made our way to Galesburg to eat at The PackingHouse Restaurant. It was so gooooood!!! The salad bar was delicious, the cinnamon rolls and garlic breadsticks were yummy! Brian got fried shrimp and I got a sirloin steak. All was so good and we were so full! Some of you might be saying, "Why did you drive all the way to Galesburg just for dinner?" I will tell you why. See originally we were going to see Tim Hawkins, the comedian, at a church in Galesburg. I thought Brian had already gotten the tickets (Right Patty?) and I was so excited to go because he is so funny! Well, Brian waited too long and it was sold out. So we already had a reservation at the restaurant and we went there anyway. After dinner we went to a movie. We saw, "Taken." It was a very good and intense movie. We had a great V-day. Oh, the "Golden" part means that we have been together for 14 V-days and V-day is on the 14th. Here are a few pictures.


Sidenote: Work is going great! I love my preceptor and I have been learning a lot. I have been so tired lately because work can be very mentally draining. Therefore, it has been hard to keep up on the blog, but I am trying. Also, not much has been happening either.

Opening their presents

Hayden with his truck and lollipop

Ava with her Barbie

Cheesing it up for the camera

Ava on her bike when it was really nice outside the other week

Sledding Fun!

Yes, that is right. I am doing a new post. I finally had something to post. Yesterday we took the kiddos to Mackinaw to do some sledding. We had so much fun. We went sledding on the burm. Hayden and Ava had a blast. Ava loved going down on her back and belly. She thought it was funny to bring the sled up and when she was almost to the top she would get in quick and slide down. It was pretty funny! Hayden had fun going down with daddy. I even went sledding. I had forgotten how much fun it was to do. If you want to feel like a kid again I suggest sledding!!!! We even brought Jakey (our dog) with us for the fun. When we got home we got changed and settled in with some hot chocolate. My favorite hot chocolate actually comes from Target. It is the brand "Archer Farms." I love how when you put into the hot milk it dissolves pretty quickly. No chocolate clumps. Later after dinner (I made mini meatloaves and garlic mashed potatoes) we watched the movie "Space Chimps." It was pretty cute. We had a great Saturday! This afternoon we are off to my parent's house for a Super Bowl Party (Ava calls it a salad bowl party). Have a super Sunday!

Ava being silly

Hayden closing his eyes after I say to open his eyes

One day for lunch we made english muffin personal pizzas

This is Ava telling us she was an egg (pretty clever)

Neglectful

I am guilty. It feels like there is a lot going on right now but at the same time I feel like there is nothing going on. I know, strange. Anyway, the kiddos are both sick today. I have been sick, too. Tomorrow I have my first lecture day at work. Then wed, thurs, fri, and mon will be generic RN orientation. Next tues will be my first day as a RN. I am super excited and nervous. This is the real thing! I worked my last shift as a tech last thurs night. It feels good to be done with that.

I have been reading the Twilight series. I didn't think I would get into them but I went and saw the movie first to see what is was all about. I like it so I read the first book. Now I am done with book 3. I have one more book to read. I love the books! It is nice to escape into a book for awhile. Now I can't wait until the next movie comes out! I am so Team Edward!!!!!

Sometime I will post some pictures! We got a new computer for xmas and I still don't know how to download them on it yet.

Thank you!!!!!!

I just wanted to say thank you for all of your congratulations!!!! It means a lot to me!