September 2011

Rob & I started off September with a Labor Day weekend trip to Albuquerque, NM. My cousin Andrew Gulick and his beautiful bride, Jovanna, were married in front of a wonderful group of friends and family.  Our kids were home with Grandma & Grandpa Winner and had so much fun. The first night on our trip we got the opportunity to ride the cograil to the top of the Sandia Peak for dinner at the High Finance Restaurant with the Gulicks. We had delicous food and most menu items included the green chili.





Beautiful mystery flower at the bottom of Sandia Peak.

   

Uncle Jim, Susan, me


 

Gulick family.





Jill, Susan & me




Uncle Jim & Aunt Peggy




Uncle Bob Gulick, Pam, Uncle Bob & Aunt Sally Troiani



Susan & Mutta




Mother & Son




Kelly  rockin the bridesmaid's dress




Jovanna & Andrew




Jimmy, Jeanne, Jim, Nate





Uncle John

  While we in NM our neighbor called to let us know that one of our tallest and beautiful hickory trees had been struck by lightening overnight, dopping the top 20 ft of the tree into our neighbors yard, and they were unable to get the fire out. They had to call the fire dept to finally stop the smoldering. We were so sad to see this tree go, as it provided such great shade for our yard. Rob was so happy though, that the hammock was saved and it did not fall on the barn.

Andrew was back at school this month. He is working on his writing his letters and loves playing on Laura's playground at St. Mary's. Andrew has also taken on a passion for playing solitaire so we'll have to get our cards out and learn a few card games. Isaac and Andrew are really playing well together these days and love to wrestle, play tractors and swing. Erin is climbing on everything and loves to knock down the boys towers/buildings are they spend all day working on them.

Later in the month, I enjoyed a weekend away with Nancee, Tanya and Jena to celebrate Tanya's 30th Birthday. Shopping, food and relaxing. You couldn't ask for a better time with some great ladies. Congrats to our niece, Lauren who was the 1st grade homecoming attendant at New Bremen last weekend.

August 2011

We rounded out the summer by finishing the basement, dinner with House family, visit to The Wilds, a few birthday parties, celebrating Isaac's 3rd birthday, dinner with great friends, celebrating the baptism of Leah Elaine, camping with dad, going to the Great Darke County Fair, watching John run cross country and sending Rob back to school. It was an amazing month of new adventures and lots of time at home with the kids. Oh, did I mention poison ivy and more poison ivy.


Isaac sitting by his favorite John Deere at the Great Darke County Fair.




Pick up the pace pony!



John racing for Milford in the Boys open.




Playing with Nana at the cc meet.

 .

Sweet boy on his 3rd birthday.

Firetruck cake by mom.

Isaac was so happy to be the center of attention.



Great Grandparents Winner and Tangeman with kids.



Erin in her new outfit from Aunt MaryAnne.



Anna enjoying some free time.




Isaac and godparents MaryAnne & Tyler.




Great Grandma & Grandpa Tangeman.




Wadding in the creek with Jeff & Trevar.




We love to camp with dad.



Sandbridge Virginia 2011

A great time with family!

Brown family. Mutta is missing b/c he had to get back to school.



Winners



Erin

Durkin extended family

Gulick grandchildren and great-grandchildren

Jim, Ann, Peggy, John & Aunt Nancy

Andrew



Afternoon nap with Nana in the hot summer  with a cool ocean breeze.



John & Isaac working on some kite string.



July 2011

We spend the first month of summer working on the house...painting a few rooms, demolishon, wall prep, plaster, etc. Can't wait to turn our basement recycling room into a real part of our home. On July 1 we caught up with Uncle John and his big red rig in Greenville. So happy Uncle John that you were passing through and we got to spend the evening together for dinner and ice cream. We had a great canoe/kayak trip with the Steyers and Blumenstocks later that weekend. I always give Rob a little ribbing when the water is low in the Greenville but we still had fun and the creek was beautiful. We stopped along the way for a nice lunch and some cool drinks. Aunt Margaret and Uncle John were so sweet to come up from Cincinnati to play with the kids all day.

Uncle John always keeps them entertained.

Erin.

Isaac

We spend the rest of the 4th of July weekend with Grandma and Grandpa Winner and the rest of the Winner/Homan family playing, eating and relaxing. They kids love to spend time at the farm and get suckers in the meat shop. Andrew says he is going to work at the meat shop and drive a motorcycle like "the guys."

Lauren

Isaac...again looking innocent. Later he pushed this piece of wood down the slide
and it hit andrew in the head which was followed by blood and screaming. Luckily
we got away without a trip to the hospital this time.

Abby

Anna & Grandma

Isaac started cleaning up and dumping a few drinks out.
Good to know the kids are making sure no one is overindulging.

Kelly keeping an eye on some tired kids.

The second weekend we went camping with a great group of friends and family at New Paris. So excited that Greg, Tanya, Lauren, Abby and Anna joined us. I love watching the kids enjoy their cousins. Lauren and Andrew are calling each other best friends which is so sweet. We had much better weather than the heat wave and turential down poor from last year. Thanks to Mawlk for keeping Isaac stocked up on "hot meat" AKA pepperoni. We had great sites right next to the playground so the kids were busy the entire time. One night the kids had some playdoh out and Isaac was rolling some up. We asked him what he was making and he reported. "sausages for grandpa." :)

Anna, Abby, Lauren

I learned to ride my bike  - no training wheels!

Becky, Sarah, Kim

Chad & Matt

Isaac, Lauren, Leah, Andrew

Isaac making "sausage"

Bryce

Graham, Hilary, Bryson

Isaac & Matt

Karla, Amy, Erin, Hilary, Graham, Sarah

Abby & Andrew

Happy Birthday 6th to our beautiful neice Lauren Marie on the 15th.

Nana & Poppop came up to visit and corral the little ones while Rob and I began paining a few rooms in our house. It was nice and hot but we are very happy to have it done.

We spend a wonderful morning with the Steyers in late July celebrating Greyson's life. They had an amazing day filled with entertainers, bouce houses, pony rides, bubbles, snow cones, caricatures, hot dogs, games and prizes. Rob wasn't feeling well so he didn't make the party but he did rally to make it to Keisha and Brian's wedding for a few hours later that evening. It was a beautiful reception and Keisha was stunning in her Vera Wang dress. I even got a new dress myself. Yah. Nancee was kind enough to join me for a relaxing evening of shopping earlier that week. We rounded off the weekend with a 11 hour trip to Sandbridge, Virginia for the Gulick/Durkin vacation. Great week of pool/sun/beach. Andrew and Isaac loves the water and Andrew is making some real progress with his swimming. We enjoyed some excellent time with Aunt Nancy and my mom's cousins from NJ and Colorado.

pics to come later...