Friday Favorites

I'm linking up for the first time with Shay, Narci, Andrea & Erika!  One of my favorite blogs ever to read is Shay's.  She and her adorable family just went through the adoption process, of adopting a little girl from China.  Her journey through the entire adoption process is a must read for everyone!  It's inspiring, and their new addition is one lucky girl to have a family love her as much as the Shulls!

I love that today is FRIDAY, and I don't have to set this alarm again until Monday morning!!  Here's to sleeping in a bit longer this weekend =)

We FINALLY got a second carseat for Alyx.  No more taking the other in and taking it out.  If you're a mom, then you know how much of a pain that can be!

These pictures I found on facebook this week, and I laugh at them everytime I look at them!

 

Emma spent a few days at my parents house, and she was terribly homesick...all because she missed Alyx.  Thank god for Facetime, Emma & Alyx were able to talk and that made Emma happy =)

 

I'm very very excited about this frying pan!  This was my grandmothers, and it's over 100 years old.  When she moved out of her apartment into the nursing home she gave it to me.  I can recall her making me swedish pancakes on this frying pan every single visit I made with her.  I'm more than excited to have been given this from her.

 

Emma wanted curly hair for today.  So we braided her hair last night, and well, she got curly hair this morning!

That's all for today friends!  Hope you all have a Fantastic Friday and a Great Weekend!!

Let's Recap & a Video

Let's go back 2 weeks ago.  I completely forgot to blog about that weekend.  My moms side of the family had a mini family reunion.  They do this every February, and Brian and I haven't been able to go the last couple of years.  And pretty much last minute my mom called me and basically said, "you're going."  Well there really was no twisting my arm!  So that Saturday early afternoon we headed out!

We drove a little over an hour to our hotel.

The view over looking the ocean was absolutely beautiful...but it was COLD!  I had wanted to bring Emma's snow gear so she could go sliding on the snow out there, but it was just too cold.  So instead of sliding...she went swimming!

She had the pool to herself for quite a while, and then there were tons of people in there!

We headed back to the room for a bit, and Alyx loved looking out the full window door.  She spent a lot of time standing there looking out.

We didn't really do anything that day.  We basically just hung out at the hotel.

Before dinner the entire family met in the lobby for happy hour.  Food, wine and lots of laughs =)  It was really fun getting together with them.  My cousin and her boyfriend had surprised us all by flying in from Chicago for the weekend =)

Emma & Madison were photo bombed by Owen! =)

At dinner for some reason Emma decided she was going to sing for my cousin.  My cousin Katie asked if she could video her, and Emma said that was fine.  Well, we had 27 family members there, plus everyone else that was in the restaurant.  Emma didn't have any idea but the restaurant became super quiet, and even the wait staff came out to watch her.  She did sooo good!  I wish that my cousin had taped the entire thing, because everyone started clapping for her at the end =)

Very proud of her =)

The next morning we had breakfast at the hotel and then headed we headed home.

Alyx loves waffles and pancakes, but then again...who doesn't?!?
I wish we did more weekends like this, because we really had a lot of fun!  Definitely going again next year! =)

A Visit

It's Wednesday Friends!  Hump day I guess =)  I bet you will never guess this, but we're in store for more snow again tonight into tomorrow and then again on Sunday.  I'm totally convinced that we will have snow for the 4th of July this year! hehe

Emma is on school vacation this week, and Brian and I were off on Monday and Tuesday.  Our 2 days off were completely jam packed.  Monday we loaded up and headed to my parents house for the night.  Tuesday morning we woke up bright and early to go and visit my grandmother.  I'm not sure i've mentioned it on here, but my grandmother, or Gucky as I call her, has been ill.  She lives in the same state as us, but unfortunately she lives almost 4 hours from where Brian and I live.  So to get up there to visit isn't all that easy.  She's in a nursing home now, and has only been there for a few days now.  So, we woke up bright and early as I said and got ready to head out!

Alyx was already awake and dressed, and we went into my parents room to wake up Emma.  She loves being woken up by Alyx =)

In the car packed and ready to go.  But of course we had to stop at Dunkin Donuts for coffee, hot cocoa, and doughnuts first =)

The drive there is long.  And I mean long.  About an hour on the interstate and then the rest is back roads.  She lives basically right on the Canadian border.

It was definitely a beautiful day for a drive.

As we got closer I got this message on my phone...

So needless to say I turned my data off when I got this message! haha

I can't even begin to tell you all how excited my grandmother was to see us.  Especially the girls.  We definitely made her day!!  We stayed for a few hours visiting with her, and enjoying each others company.  Before going to the nursing home she was living alone in an apartment.  I think the nursing home is good for her because she has interaction with some other people.  The nursing staff there was great.  

When we left it was definitely emotional for me.  She's the only grandparent I have left, and I really hate that she is so far away from us.  I wish she were closer so I could visit with her daily or every other day.  She's 340 miles round trip from us.  She's doing ok.  My dad is heading back up there today to spend a few more days with her.  She has a bunch of dr's appointments this week and i'm hoping she gets some good news at them.  I have so many memories growing up with her, and when we left she reminded me of a few.  Lots of tears were shed on the way home.  But I know she is in a good place and getting good care.  And have I mentioned that she is 95 years old?!?  She doesn't look it I don't think.  She's a strong woman, and I love her ohhh so much!!!  <3

On the way back, Emma stayed with my parents.  Since it's school vacation week, she is going to stay with them for a couple of days.  I'm sure my mom will have a bunch of fun things planned for her!

And we had to take a family selfie minus Emma.

And Alyx slept most of the way home!

Hope you all have a great Wednesday!!!