Visiting Friends

I got a chance to visit my dear friend Amy today. Amy was my little sis in the OSU Evans Scholar house, but I've known her family since her older brother, Steve, and I were in the same pledge class way back in 1992. I just love them all - good people! Amy lives in Kansas City now, so we only see each about once a year, but we always have a good time getting together with our four kids (one boy and one girl each).


We spent about five hours at Amy's parents house and I'm sure we would have stayed longer if the drive back to Dub-town didn't suck so bad. Good time had by all!



The two of us with our kids.

The kids had so much fun playing in the backyard.

The Pear, Amy and I.

The Pear, Sarah, Amy, Mr. King, Mrs. Queen, (this is what Taylor called them) and I.

Amy's kids, Walter and Sarah.

Taylor and Sarah dressed head to toe in pink, practicing ballet. These are the daughters of two tomboys growing up, haha.

I didn't get many pictures of the Pear, so here is a cutie from yesterday.

Just for fun, some pictures of our gangs over the years:

2005:

2006:

2007:

2008:
Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Tea Parties, Races and Football

As I've mentioned before, Michael thinks Taylor is the greatest thing ever and pretty much wants to do whatever she's doing. About 60% of the time, The Worm thinks this is really cool and enjoys the company; 30% of the time she puts up with it and the last 10% of the time, well, it can get ugly. She's gotten in trouble a few times lately for "tapping" her brother.

She wasn't too thrilled when he decided to join her tea party the other day. But, in the end, even she had to admit that it was pretty cute!

"One lump or two, Hershey?"

Getting Lanie all settled in.

Tea for two, Pear for tea.

She lets him "borrow" the spotlight - she does not share it. :)

Later that day, we had some good living room races. All anyone has to do is say "wanna race" to Michael and he backs up against the hallway wall, taking his place. Taylor usually joins in, too. If you visit our house, you will be expected to race.

1-2-3 - GO!

What happens to losers in our house:

On another random note, I had a proud moment tonight after dinner. Taylor came into the kitchen while I was cleaning and asked if she could listen to some OSU music. The kids go nuts when they hear TBDBITL (The Best Damn Band in the Land). Check them out. Listen carefully and you'll hear Michael saying, "O!".

I'm a little behind on posts and will try to catch up this weekend. Have a good one!

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to my best friend!



Mike and I met at a Hoop-It-Up tournament in June 2000. His team won, I interviewed him and he emailed me on the Post's website a few days later. Since most of his team was from out of state, there would have been no reason to interview him had they not won the whole stinkin' thing. Talk about the biggest game of both of our lives (and that of two cuties known as the Worm and the Pear).




We've been married seven wonderful years. Those years have included the addition of one dog, two kids, four job changes, two houses purchased, numerous vacations, road trips, etc., etc. We've definitely had fun together! I love our road trips and late nights after the kids have gone to bed because we get enjoy each other just like the old days. We can just talk and talk, which is why I always stay up too late and never get enough sleep!

Mike is a great dad and that's evident by how much the kids just light up when they're around him. Family time is the best.



So here's to seven awesome years and many, many more to come. I love you, Mike!

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

P.S. Here's a little clip from the Flintstones that I always remember when I think of anniversaries:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knp9-GY6fHE

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Our Summer Fun Tour continues. On Thursday, we took the kids to the Reds/Brewers game in Cincinnati. It was Michael's first game and Taylor's third. I'm pretty spoiled from my reporter days and only like to sit in good seats; Thursday night's were some of the best - second row behind the Brewers dugout.

The beloved Redlegs lost 9-6, but it was still a fun game to watch. Mike picked up a score card and showed Taylor how to keep score. I was surprised by how into the game she was. Michael was fascinated too and kept yelling "Go, go" and "Bat, ball." The Reds shoot off fireworks when they hit home runs, which the Worm LOVED and the Pear HATED. Poor kid cried both times. Of course, there were snacks, beer (for us big kids), chants and all of the other fun baseball game stuff. I forgot how much fun games are!

The Boys.

The Girls.

Mike explaining the 6-4-3.

Taylor happy.

Taylor REALLY happy. Her eyes are the same color as the cotton candy.

Look how close we are to field.

Edwin Encarnacion had 4 RBI but it wasn't enough.

I've always like Craig Counsell. Maybe it's because he's one of the few players older than me.

Michael after a wardrobe change. Nothing like stylin' in the eighth inning with jammies and sunglasses.

It was 11 p.m. by the time we got back to the car (yes, we made it through nine innings with two young children. woot.) and we figured the kids would fall asleep fast. They stayed awake the entire 50 minute ride home! They were completely slap happy. Michael kept yelling "Miiiiike" at his daddy, followed by an eruption of giggles. I turned around to see these:

...cheesy grin, car seat straps thingy pushed down and cotton pulled out of the (once) tiny hole in his car seat fabric. What a stinker!

Now that I know that the brood is capable of handing a game, we'll be going back to the old ball game!

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Sliiiiiide!

No water slide? No problem.


I refuse to buy one of those ginormous, grass-killing inflatable slides for the backyard, so today, we improvised. A little ghetto? Probably, but let me tell you, the kids loved it.

My cuties. Michael smiles now when you say "Cheese."

Who could argue with these faces?

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Happy Birthday, Taylor!

Well Worm, you turned the big numero cinco today. This birthday really hit me hard. For some reason, 5 seems like a milestone, the transition from little girl to big girl. Thank you for being my friend, my helper, my teacher and my biggest supporter. I love you so much, as does your Daddy and Michael (and Champy, too).



My mom took Taylor to Build-A-Bear yesterday and the Worm chose a dog to stuff and dress. She had a great time. I'm not going to lie, I wanted to make an animal, too!


Helping stuff her dog.

My little Worm.

Thanks G-ma!

Princess Chloe the dog and Princess Taylor the Worm.

I let Taylor choose between a cake or cupcakes and she chose cupcakes. I baked and iced them, and Taylor and her friend McKenna worked their magic with sugary decoration goodness. I figure I'll get the last of the sugar off the floor sometime around October...

The finished products!

I think Taylor got her birthday and Christmas mixed up because she popped into our room at 6:15 this morning, asking if she could unwrap her present. Mean ol' Mike and I made her go back to bed. We did make sure we were all up by 7:58 a.m. - that's the time the Worm was born five years ago.


Opening her card and presents before breakfast (excuse the chipped paint in the background. You'll notice it's at the exact level as the back of Taylor's chair...)

We don't do donuts very often, but the Pear is obviously pleased with his.

We had a pretty low-key day. It rained all day, so we spent a good portion of the evening in our neighbors' garage, just hanging out. There were 4 1/2 kids (one due in Sept.) and Taylor was the oldest. She's growing up on us!




Michael, Ella, Taylor.

Ben will be on the stoop with the big kids next year.

The festive trifle Taylor and I made for the cookout.

Hope you had a great 4th!



Until next time,



Mommy Kel