Seven years and counting

Dan and I celebrated seven years of marriage on Sunday. My parents graciously take the boys every year so that we can go away for a few nights, so this year after the wedding on Saturday we sent the boys home with Gramma and Paw-paw and and enjoyed the weekend with just the two of us.

Saturday night we headed into Pittsburgh to watch the Pens play the first game of the Stanley Cup finals on the jumbotron in Mellon Arena. It made an event out of it and was much more fun than staying at home and watching it, which we couldn't do anyway. I think we'll have to try and catch a home game next season.

Sunday morning we had a nice quiet morning, sleeping in with no boys to wake us up early. We went out for brunch and then headed a little south for a tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright house, Falling water. We both enjoyed this immensly.

Afterwards we drove to Rockwood PA, which was just a few towns over and stayed in a B&B.

The B&B we stayed at was called "The Rockwood Trail House" and was right at the Rockwood trail head on the allegheny highlands hiking and biking tail. It's an old rail road bed converted to a trail and is a beautiful place to ride. We had gorgeouse weather the entire day. The sun was shining, the river was close by and the rocks and the trees were beautiful. I would recamend this to anyone who enjoys bike riding. We rode about 12 miles to the little town of Meyersdale where we stopped at the old train station. It is now the historical society's building and also housed model trains. We managed a lunch from Sheetz since most

places were closed due to the Memorial Day holiday and headed back to Rockwood. 24 miles in a day is not an easy day, especially when you're not used to it. Dan and I were both exhausted, but very pleased with our weekend away. It was good to spend the day together in God's beautiful creation.

Wedding #2

We had another wedding this past weekend. Our second a second weekend in a row. This also happened to be our anniversary weekend, but I'll blog more about that later. The boys weren't to sure about that, but we assured them that this one wouldn't be to bad since all their friends would be there. You would think from their reaction to the news of a wedding that they never had any fun at them. The fact is, they had a blast at their Aunt's wedding and they had a blast at this one too.

I just wanted to share a few photos from the reception. N. was the main photographer, though A. took a few as well. This is one of our favorite ways to keep them out of trouble at such events.

Some of the goodies. There were tons of amazing cookies provided by the ladies of the church. They also followed the great tradition of having cheese cake instead of regular wedding cake. They provided several different fruit options to top the cheese cakes.

Of course you always have to take some pictures of the guests whether you know them or not.

And when you have grandparents like N and A have you can't resist catching a few of their silly faces.

Wedding Weekend Extravaganza

This past weekend, we drove out to the Jersey shore for my husband's sister's wedding. It was quite the weekend. They rented a house that they were going to stay in for their honey-moon and that is where the groom and his groomsmen stayed. Then, a friend of theirs, offered the use of his duplex so most of the brides family got to stay there. It was a lot more fun than being in a hotel room all weekend. The boys had room to run around, not to mention all sorts of relatives to talk to and play with and there was a kitchen. Rob's (the groom) mom provided heaps apon heaps of food. They could even go fishing right off the back of the house.

It rained on our way out there and on the way home, but the day of the wedding was beautiful and sunny. The bride was gorgeouse and we all had a great time. We're happy that we can now call Rob, brother. Welcome to the family!

Mother's Day

It occured to me on Mother's day that perhaps I should post something. It's a wonderful opportunity to refect on the joys of being a mom. The blessings of my two sons, and all that was true, but I was feeling lazy and didn't feel like posting. :)

There were a few high-lites to my mother's day. Two of them happened before the actual day.

On the Tuesday before mother's day, I had asked my dear husband to bring a box home from work so that I could mail something, He abliged, and when he walked in the door that evening, N asked him, "what's that?" "Mom's mother's day present." He replied as he handed me the box. I thought he was being silly, and said sarcastically, "oh! a box! just what I wanted". Dan replied with, "I wasn't talking about the box, but what's on the porch." He had stopped on his way home and bought me a flowering dogwood tree. I was stunned. He was days early. This is my husband who usually runs out Sunday afternoon to get something.

A night or two later I mentioned that if he was ever trying to think of another mother's day present, that I would really like to have a lilac bush. He asked where I would put it and I said, "I don't know, we have at least a year to decide." The next day he came home with a lilac bush. He said it was the last one and needed a home, besides, he likes plants.

Sunday morning, both of the boys woke up unusually early. They were running up and down the hall making a terrible amount of noise and throwing toys onto our bed. As I rolled over and tried to drown it out with the covers I joked, "hey, where's my breakfast in bed."

About five minutes later my sweet son, N. came upstairs with a bowl of cereal. He disapointingly said, "I couldn't pour the milk" A., wanting to get in the action, soon returned with a glass of water for me and shortly thereafter a "beard" for his dad (that's a beer in A. language).

So I sat on my bed with my two blessings eating dry cereal and drinking water. It was moment I will always treasure.

My "Date" with A.

While Dan and N. were off camping and fishing, A. and I had the weekend to do things just the two of us. This was a really special time and included things that couldn't have happened if it were not just the two of us, like cuddling on the couch and allowing him to fall asleep while I held him.

Friday night we went to Eat 'n Park for dinner other wise known as the "cookie restaurant" that was A's choice. Then we went to the "coffee store" which was a coffee house at a local church for which our church was providing the live entertainment. I had been talked into singing a song with by my dad. We had a fun time hanging out.

On Saturday, we headed into Pittsburgh to the children's museum. They had all sorts of fun things to do there. There was a Mr. Rogers section, a place to climb around, a gravity room with a really fun slide that you had to use to get out, pools and fountains of water to play with, and A's favorite, a doll house with furniture and all kinds of characters. We spent several hours there and then went and visited a friend who lives in the city and got ice cream, the perfect end to a perfect day.

Happenings

I've been lazy recently and have not posted anything in a while. I appologize. Therefore, instead of one super duper long post, I may split it up into several.

There are have been several going ons in our home in the last several weeks.

About three weeks ago, Dan went on a fishing/camping trip with his dad and also N. They had a blast. Unfortunately, they did not take pictures, so I don't have any to share with you. I was not willing to part with the camera for the weekend since I knew A. and I would want to document our time.

Just a few highlights that I was told about the trip...

1. N. had a blast camping with his dad and pap-pap. Mom wasn't there to worry about getting to dirty or to think about what she was going to have to clean up, so he made sand angels (for those of you who don't know what those are, they're are like snow angels except you make them in the sand) He found a stream and made cannals and had his handy boots to use as a shovel. He filled his boot with so much sand that he couldn't fit his foot in. (you should have seen the socks he brought home)

2. Pap-pap caught a big ten pound carp.

3. N. found a pair of pale green pants with nobody inside them. If you are not a Dr. Seuss fan, you should go out and get the book, "the Sneeches" and read the story about the Pale green pants with nobody inside them. They look like they were some kind of garden decoration. N. lugged them for quite a bit so that he could bring them home and now they are gracing the front of the boys' playhouse. We even planted a flower in them.