Some weekend pictures

Here are the pictures I promised from the weekend. Just a few that really captured the essence of the days. But here is a link to see all of them:
http://picasaweb.google.com/kellybull/BirthdayPartyAndBuddyWalk#

What a weekend?!?!?!!!

This weekend was pretty fabulous. I will post pictures when I can!

Saturday - we had the kids' party for their birthdays. We had about 70 people show up to Homestead Park to help us in the festivities! Once them majority of the people were there, we started our fun and games. First, I handed out their goody bags, only to find that Swiper had stolen all of their treats! He left a note behind, explaining they would have to go to the Chocolate tree, Dora's bridge and then the party house to find them all. The kids were so excited! I repeated the places we had to go and made them repeat it also. Chocolate tree, Dora's bridge, party house! So off to the chocolate tree. I put a ton of Hershey kisses (one of the few candy's Gavin can eat) around the base of a tree. I also mixed in their goody bag treats too. I told them we needed a special instrument to find all of the goodies around the chocolate and make them look bigger. So I reached into Backpack and pulled out some lollipops, maracas, and telescopes. I asked them which one would work and they all shouted "telescope". So each kid got a little telescope to find the treasures in the chocolate (and keep the chocolate of course). Next, I asked where we needed to go - and they shouted "Dora's bridge"! So we went to where I had a foam puzzle broken into pieces with more goody treats and some fake reptiles all over them. They had to charm the reptiles (snakes, frogs and lizards) with music in order to get their goodies and put the puzzle bridge together. Again I pulled out backpack and we used the maracas to charm the reptiles and get the treats to put together the bridge! In the meantime, Swiper (aka Patrick) snuck up and tried to steal a piece of the puzzle so they wouldn't be able to build the bridge. All the kids yelled "Swiper NO swiping"! "Oh mannnnnnn", Patrick jolted! Then we were heading off to the party house when our big suprise came! DORA herself! I invited Dora to come to the party and celebrate with all of us. She got pictures with all the kids (that wanted one) led the hokey pokey, played red light, green light and let the kids reach into her special backpack and pick a toy prize. Some kids were a little frightened (Evie included) but others could not stop staring and trying to talk to Dora (Gavin included). It was great! The parents all participted and we had fun! We all ate pizza and ice cream and cake (in reverse order) and I had hired a photographer to help capture the fun memories! I will post her pics when they are available!

Sunday, we had the great fortune of being able to participate in the Buddy Walk for the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio. We were part of "For Love of Leah" team and couldn't be more proud! Mary and Eric did an outstanding job in leading the team and we were in the top 10 teams so there were extra pictures of Leah around Crew Stadium! The team was almost 100 strong walking...from Grandparents to infants. I had one of the moments where I was overwhelmed with the feeling of love and joy such a special person can bring to my life. We were in the midst of walking, and Leah was being held in the front of the pack, facing back so she could see everyone. Being the little ham she is...she started clapping and raising her arms - as if to say "Come on people - cheer with me"! And they did. People started clapping, and cheering and she would just do it more - as if to make it louder!!! She giggled and squealed with delight as friends and family all walked together in her honor. It made me proud to part of her life and for her to be part of mine. She (and Mary, Eric and Greg) have brought something so special and irreplacable to my heart. Celebrating milestones for Leah fills my chest with happiness. Of course, tears came to my eyes (happy ones) and I was so glad to see others around me wiping their tears away as well (yes, Lisa, I am talking about you). The amount of love and compassion in that stadium was palpable. It was everywhere. On every smiling Down Syndrome face, on every proud parent, and on every person, lucky enough to be able to enjoy this event. Music filled the air and unimaginable love filled my heart. I knew in that moment why God allowed Mary and I to be friends. Not that she isn't an amazing friend in a bazillion other ways, but I truly feel like God placed Mary and Leah in my life to simply fill it up to another level. Than you Mary for letting us participate and succomb to the beauty that today was!

COSI Fun

I swear these kids have been spoiled rotten lately. Within a week, they have had a family party, will have a huge friends party, went to Pump It Up, went to the zoo, spent time with the grandparents, went to a carnival, played outside every afternoon with friends, AND went to COSI for playgroup. COSI was named the #1 Children's Science Center in the country by Parents magazine, but we love it even more because it has a GREAT kids play area. The picture is of Gavin and our neighbors/friends McKenna and Camille playing dress up like Doctors! How cute!

Evie's birthday weekend - Nationwide Children's Hospital Day

We said farewell to MomMom and PopPop (much to Gavin's dismay) and went to the Nationwide Children's Hospital Employee day. Patrick did not want to join us (he doesn't like going to work when he doesn't have to) and had lots of studying to do, so he stayed home. G&E had a blast! They had huge slides (much like Pump It Up) and face painting, ice cream, kite making, the Turtle Lady, the Bug Man, and much more! It was a beautiful day and Gavin loved ALL of it! Evie mostly stayed in her stroller, eating lollipops and ice cream...rough life, huh? (PS - Don't tell our dentist!)

Evie's birthday weekend - zoo with mommom and poppop

It was such a gorgeous day and we wanted to have fun with MomMom and PopPop Bull so we decided to go to the zoo. We heard rumors that Dora was there - but then I saw the line wrapped around out the gates, and decided we would just wait for her personal appearance at our party next weekend. We did see some crazy monkey action and get to have fun in the playground. Gavin, Mommy and PopPop also got to go on the big pirate ship ride. I think sitting in the back seat was a BAD idea since Gavin was scared out of his mind and Mommy and PopPop both have VERY weak stomachs. I guess we know better next time. Poor Gavin was 2 inches too short for the log flume - so it sort of ended on a bad note. But then we got home, had a great BBQ and went for some yummy Handel's Ice Cream! Overall, a great day!!!

Evie's birthday weekend - Cupcakes with neighbors!

After Pump It Up, we came home and got ready for MomMom and PopPop to come over. While Gavin was at school, Mommy had her secret cleaning helper over to get things prepared for the in-laws. Evelyn woke up a bit early and wanted to play and I found her out on the deck eating a cupcake!!! What a sneaky girl!!! Then later on, we had all the neighbor kids over for some cupcakes. She had about 3 more cupcakes and was devasted when I wouldn't allow any more!

Evie's birthday weekend - Pump It Up

We started off Evie's birthday weekend with some fun at Pump It Up, a cool party place with huge blow up inflatables like slides, bounce houses and obstacle courses. We were joined by the Christensens, the Youngs, and the Drexels. Gavin had a blast and Evie liked sliding down the hills that are meant to climb in from. It was super fun though - and a great way to start off the day!

Happy Birthday my baby girl!

I loved you from the very start,
You stole my breath, embraced my heart.
Our life together has just begun
You were a part of me and then you turned one.
As mother with child, this year we grew,
My mind was filled of you turning two.

I'd daydream of the things we had shared,
Like late-night bottles and Teddy bears.
Like your first steps and first skinned knees,
Like bedtime stories and your ABC's.
I thought of things you'd want to know,
Like how birds fly and flowers grow.

I thought of lessons I'd need to share,
Like standing tall and playing fair.
And every time I see your face,
I pray your life will be touched with grace.
I thank the angels from up above,
And promise you unending love.

Each night I lay you down to sleep,
I gently kiss your head and cheek.
I count your little fingers and toes;
I memorize your eyes and nose.
I linger at your nursery door,
Awed each day of how I love you more.

Through misty eyes, I dim the light,
I whisper, "I love you" each and every night.
I loved you from the very start,
You stole my breath, embraced my heart.
As mother and child our journey begun,
My heart's yours forever, my little one.

So now that you are turning two,

Here is my birthday wish for you:

Please know I love you every day,

In our own special, Mother and Daughter way!

ouch

I ripped a flipping toenail off my middle toe. Ouch.

Columbus - The Windy City?

We are getting a lot of backlash wind from Ike. Check out our neighborhood...shingles flying off houses, kiddy pools flying in the street, trees bending over sideways. I can't imagine this twice as strong like they got in Texas...

Apple Picking!!!!

We went on our Annual Apple Picking adventure on Friday! I took the kids to Lynd's Fruit Farm - our favorite place to pick Apples. This was our 4th year going! We love to get the MacIntosh apples since MomMom gave me some great applesauce and apple pie recipes. We get a 20+ lb bag and use them all through the holidays!!!

Playtime with Daddy

Last week we had some great September weather! We took a family walk and went to the elementary school where the kids got some playtime with Daddy! How FUN!?!?

Always remember...

Mid Day Date

Patrick had a half day on Tuesday so he wanted to take me on a golfing date. I am pretty decent at golf (not great - but can usually hit the ball at least) so we went on a little date. We dropped Gavin and McKenna at school (Angie took care of Evelyn while she napped) and we played 9 holes up the street. It was really fun and we felt like teenagers again on a date!

A Zoo addendum...

The gorilla pictures in the photo with Evelyn (in the previous post) and in the picture here with the boys is now the oldest gorilla in captivity. SHE is 51 years old (I assumed it was a he - oops). The previous oldest was just euthanized in Texas for an inoperable stomach tumor. No wonder she was so cranky - she is just old!

The main reasons I love back to school...

#1. Gavin gets to participate in many new cool activities such as water day at his school. They played in sprinklers, pools, water tables, bubbles, shaving cream and lots more.



#2. The zoo is totally empty and the animals are WILD! We joined the Welshes on Thursday morning and spent the entire time (only 2 hours because of school) at 2 exhibits - the monkeys and the penguins. The penguins would chase Gavin's finger around and were swimming like crazy and jumping and flipping around. The monkeys - well, the big ones especially, were rowdy! They silver back gorilla was beating his chest and kicking the glass. I don't think he liked us there. But the bonobos were slapping high fives as well as some other apes!!! Very cool!