Winter and Adoptaversary!

So far things have been alright here at the homestead. We are all starting to go a little stir crazy. We decided not to do anything major for adoptaversary this year. Instead the plan was just to have a nice relaxing weekend. I don't know if it was super relaxing but it was nice.
Jimmy chilling in his PJs.


We went to the art museum and hung out, had a leisurely lunch at panera and then went to dinner at Bucca.




Last weekend we tried a new place for the day - Galaxy Golf - which was a huge hit! Such a big hit that we decided to have Jimmy's first realy birthday party there. Should be a lot of fun!

I even got in on the action and had a pretty good time!

The Holiday's Take 2... Finally finishing up the holiday photos.
We decided that before trapping our 3 year old in a car for over 3 hours, we might want to tire him out... Snow madness ensues.
I love this one because he looks so determined...


How many adults does it take to put together Uncle Jason's gift? A lot... Really fun, though.

Here it is fully constructed...

Grandma Hawkins opened the lovely gift from my bro and sister-in-law... Drawn picture of the family.

Remember that one crazy warm day in between Christmas and New Year's? Yea. That day was fun... Sigh...


New Year's Day tradition. Lunch at Grandma Judy's.

This past weekend was pretty exciting. Brian was diagnosed with pneumonia and was sicker than I have ever seen him. Like the champ that he is, he has rebounded pretty quickly, but he was out for the count on Friday night and had to skip Jimmy's first play-date with people who aren't our friends... That sounds terrible, but Jimmy was invited to a play date by a classmate and we decided to meet up at COSI. I didn't know these people and was a little nervous. Its one thing if you want to borrow my kid for a couple of hours but something completely different if you want me to go too!

Well, I am super glad I went (like you usually are after these types of things). Not only was it fun, but informative. The wife is studying pediatric dentistry and was able to give me some advice on Jimmy's teeth. And they lived in Alaska prior. I'd never met anyone who lived in Alaska!

In addition we went to Galaxy Golf on Sat. and decided to have Jimmy's 4th Birthday there. He asked to invite Grandma Judy, Grandma Hawkins, Traci and Jason so I guess its a good thing we went on the play date. He obviously needs to make friends with some KIDS!

Everyone stay safe during our icy adventure. Fingers crossed for no school tomorrow!

Christmas
I apologize for being so late on updates. There truly isn’t any excuse… Just haven’t carved out the time. And this isn't even all of it! I will get the rest up soon...

Jimmy at his Holiday party at school!



The Barlups Christmas Eve celebration.

Jimmy and cousin Gilly.

The Hotwheels Christmas begins...

Payne puts together one of Jimmy's more complicated toys.

Uncle JP played along while Jimmy had the camera. I am so lucky to have these pictures.


Jimmy's note to Santa...

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for the remote control car Uncle Paul!

One last snuggle with Grandma Judy before heading out.

Out new living room! Very happy with it. And I have already begun hounding Brian about painting the dining room... And then re-doing the old office... And then it will be time to start on the garden!

Happy Thanksgiving!

So much has been going on this month... For starters Ms. Sophia Bair drove me and her poor mother crazy this month. My bestie Melissa was due on November 19th. With her first she went early and she started with contractions really early this time around. Everyone figured we would have our little bundle way before Thanksgiving... But while she came early she decided to hold out and show up on the 18th - after induction!

Regardless of how much I (and I am sure her mom and dad) wanted her here earlier she is a blessing that we can certainly be thankful for this year.

Happy Birthday Sophia!

Secondly - so glad that are friends and family don't hate us! My sister finally came for a visit (with her work schedule and mine it doesn't happen very often). While my sister was visiting, our friend Jason came over to kindly help Brian re-roof our kitchen (not easy or fun work!). Meanwhile Jimmy decided to get a very contagious - food posioning like - flu... Only he'd had a flu shot. I didn't realize how bad it was going to be and let all these people in my home. Every single one of us got sick... A lot.

We are real sorry and are really glad you still like us.

Getting ready for the Thanksgiving Day throw down! Jimmy ate about 2 bites of food and then ditched us. But don't worry - I represented at the table for the two of us.

My first cherry pie... Turned out pretty well! My first pumpkin... well, it was edible if just a little burnt. My mom took a look at this pie and says - I thought the top pieces were supposed to be weaved in and out... Yes they are. In the picture on the box. I didn't make the pie that's in the picture on the box. I am going to assume the person who made the pie in the picture on the box got paid... Until then - this is how I roll.

The family Thanksgiving evening hanging out. Thankful for my boys!
After Thanksgiving we came back into town so we could make Lockland's 3rd birthday bash. Much fun was had!

Jimmy shows off his 2nd cool dino tattoo. He quit playing musical chairs to get the tattoo. Definitely a fan.
Our gamer... We don't really have any video games in the house and whenever Jims gets the chance its like he would take kids OUT to get to the DS or Wi or computer or what have you. Obviously the coolest thing he has EVER done.

Thanks to our awesome families (by blood and by choice) for taking such great care of us. We love you!

Happy Halloween!!

On Sunday Jimmy and I went to the North Market for their trick-or-treat activities! We bumped into the Thiels and Clines while we were there... We didn't stay long. I think I had had enough of Halloween by that point and I was feeling overwhelmed. So we got some candy, had lunch and bounced a little in the bounce house and we're on our way...

Jimmy's class' Halloween party was fun. They have them do a costume parade and last year I was surprised at how well it went... This year it wasn't quite as smooth, but once he got candy he was fine with it. They also got to run around and chase balloons in the hall which was lots of fun!

We trick-or-treated in Bexley with our crew. Jimmy was supposed to go as Iron Man but when I was finally ready to get his costume I couldn't fine one in his size. Instead he choose Transformer Bumblebee (which I was kind of surprised he didn't pick in the first place). Well, Bumblebee is an autobot (a good guy). It ended up that Julian went as decepticon Megatron (a bad guy). Even though Jimmy kind of wanted to fight him at first, they ended up being friendly.

Even baby Bair got in on the costume action. Little girl should be joining us any day now. I'm sleeping with my phone on waiting for the call! Can't wait to meet Baby Bair!

Jimmy was a riot and the whole time were trick-or-treating refused to be called Jimmy. He was Bumblebee and that was all he would answer to. In addition, he called Julian Megatron the entire time. Very funny!

Bumblebee and Megatron meet!!

Fall!

We're gearing up for Trick or Treating this week. Jimmy has decided to be a transformer. Gone are the cute costumes I guess... He really wanted to be Iron Man but I dropped the ball and waited too long. Iron Man is very popular this year. Two stores were out of his size so we picked Bumblebee instead...

Playing in the leaves at Shiller park.

My new living room... Headed that way any way. I am dreading winter. Each year it gets a little harder. To help cope with the coming cabin fever we rearranged the furniture and did some purging. It only took us 8 years! We need to repaint and get a new couch but that's going to be our Christmas presents to each other... For now, just rearranging helps!

Jimmy and I went to the park this past weekend. Love my new camera!

Jimmy at the Circleville Pumpkin Festival!

We made friends with this great mom in line for the roller coaster. She had triplets (and 1 older daughter that her husband was taking on big kid rides, God Bless em.). We talked Noah into riding the roller coaster with Jimmy. Noah cried the entire time. Jimmy seemed like he was on the brink of freaking out but he kept it together. They got off and the first thing Noah did was ask to go again. Too funny! Jimmy said he had enough of the roller coaster.

Jimmy decided to spend pretty much all his ride tickets on the bounce house. Waiting in line for our 3rd turn!

We attend the Ohio Historical Society's All Hallows Eve event. It was really fun. At some point we have to get a membership to help support our historical sites. Here we were waiting for the reading of Sleepy Hollow - complete with horse. But Jimmy decided he needed to go to the bathroom about 5 seconds after this picture. We didn't quite make it... and we missed the reading of Sleepy Hollow and the horse. Maybe next year?

Loving licorice!

A game to find the golden pumpkin! Jimmy won this round!

My boys.

At COSI for the opening of Clifford. Love this picture!

For the first time Jimmy was pretty sure there was somebody in there. He asked me who it really was... They grow up too fast!