Weekend at Sherry's (not Bernie's)!!

We had such an amazingly fun weekend! We left for Lansing Friday afternoon and ate at Clara's... we sat at the booth with the three chairs in front of it.
Everybody enjoyed their meal and then, we were off to see the lighting of the tree. When we passed the bank (on foot), it said that the current temperature was 21!!!!!!!! We were bundled up to the max and once we got to the capitol, the body warmth radiating around us was quite comforting. By the time we got inside the capitol building, we were sweating (well, at least I know I was, but I was carrying an extra 20 pounds)!!

Do you like Rob's warm hat? His crafty wife made it for him ;o)

These pictures don't even come close to describing the amazing experience!

As we were watching the fireworks, Sherry and I agreed that we had never seen fireworks in the winter before. It was an amazing sight!

Governor Jennifer Granholm's office - it's still undetermined on whether or not she was in the building!

The House

One of the many chandeliers

Sir Isaac

Me and The Miss

Isaac snapped this picture of the ornate detailing on the walls

He took this one too...

For some reason, this picture caught his eye - President Ford

The next morning we watch Rob as he opened the bike rack that he wanted for his birthday!

Irelynn helping open the card (looking for money???)

Isaac cheesing it up for the camera!

We were then planning on having brunch at a restaurant in Jackson, but they closed at noon (and we didn't get up until 10 - we stayed up until 2:30 talking the night before), so we headed over to the Cracker Barrel and enjoyed a lovely breakfast there!
Irelynn learned how to drink a few weeks ago when I brought a to-go cup home from work with a pink straw in it. I caught her in action this weekend!

She really enjoyed the grits for brunch!

Rob and his mom!

Isaac and his grandma!

Grandma Sherry trying to get some kisses in...
Isaac checked out the rocking chairs outside - they were comfy!
Isaac and his Grandpa John - talkin' about this years' crop!
Thank you so much for a wonderful weekend!

Birthday party and Nana's

On Tuesday, we celebrated Rob's birthday at my mom & dad's house. She made cannelloni and I made tiramisu! My dad was sweet enough to buy Rob drinks of his choice, although we all drink his beer (he had to drive home anyways)! We had such a great time - we really appreciate all that they do for us! We can honestly say that we are all spoiled rotten by them... although I am pretty sure that she loves my the most - ha ha ha! For those of you who don't know, it's been a long-running tradition in our house for Isaac to tell Nana that he loves her the most. Supposedly he loves us both the most, but I know he is just saying it to pacify me! He does make sure to tell me that he loves me to 'infinity and beyond' and back. I can just hear the competition now when Irelynn can start talking... but we do have a trick up our sleeves! It helps that we had a girl the second time around! I need to be done now - we are going to Lansing to meet John and Sherry to eat and watch the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Capitol! I am so freaking excited about it... what great memories! We will then head to their house for the rest of the weekend! We are going out to brunch Saturday morning and then John is making Chicken & Dumplings for dinner Saturday night! They spoil us, too! We are so lucky to have such a great family! Oh, did I mention that Granny decorated and made the best Fried Chicken ever on Wednesday for Rob's birthday - I hope he is enjoying his birthday 'week' - it has been a blast!

Here are a few pictures... and all I have to say is "thank goodness for digital cameras"

After a few attempts, we finally got a good one!

I can't believe she closed here eyes... what are the chances?!

This one is my favorite!

Oh and I decided to sneak this one in... it wasn't from the party, but I didn't want to do a separate post... Isaac was watching Imagination Movers and requested that his sister watch along! I plopped her in the chair beside him and they stayed there until it was over!

Irelynn and Isaac

Last week, Rob brought Isaac's snow boots home from the storage unit and he was so excited to make sure that they still fit - once they did, he grabbed his coat and ran outside! Miss Irelynn loved watching him play outside (someday they will both be out there... eek)! The slider door in her most favorite place to stand, whether it's day or night. She might be just as outdoorsy as her dad - which is good because Isaac and I are not so much! It's amazing to watch her stand on her own... she can even go from standing to sitting without falling over! It seems like all she wants to do is learn how to stand and walk. We are going to develop a hunch in our backs from walking around with her so much - ha ha! She is also playing pat-a-cake, itsy-bitsy, will do 'so big' on command, she is working on her second tooth... oh it's overwhelming to think about! This past weekend, our cousins Chay and Hannah (who is 10) spent the night and Hannah stayed in the kids' room. I had gone to check on the kids and couldn't help but to stare in amazement to think that someday my baby girl will be that big! I imagine it will be easier in some ways and harder in others! Hannah and I had a lot of fun making birthday cards for her parents, making a piece of yarn cake and looking through her beads! She is going to make me a bracelet, which I am so excited about! Chay is an amazing kid, too. He was looking online at some winter hats that he liked and Granny was teasing him about knitting it for him, and I piped up and said that I could make it for him. He went to Michaels the next day with his mom and bought the yarn! I will be working on it this weekend :o) A lot of people say that Isaac reminds them of Chay when he was that age...
Alright, before I get too sappy, I am going to sign off and add more pictures in a new post!!

Look at the big girl standing all by herself!

Look at that tongue!

Sweet kisses

I was shocked that I captured this moment

Happy Birthday Rob!

So... I have spent all morning trying to find a magnificent quote or poem that expresses what your birthday means to me this year... and came up empty handed (except for this:Happy Anniversary of the day that you were expelled from your mother's uterus)! I found nothing that portrays what a blessing you have been in my life. Through all of our ups and downs, I can always hold on to that moment when I knew I was in love with you. We have so many great memories of fun... like the Griffins game that we went to but forgot to watch the game because we were so busy talking about music! You have encouraged me to work on being more understanding, more forgiving, more loving. I can't express to you the joy you have brought into my life... I know some days I forget to tell you, but I promise you have! Although I dwell on your quirks a majority of the time, I am working on changing my thinking, like knowing that you wouldn't settle for anything less than 'top-of-the-line' should make me feel good - what a compliment! This year, I am making a resolution to do my best to lighten up a bit and joke around with you more, I might even sit down and watch a 'stupid-funny' movie with you! Thank you for choosing to share your life with me!
It's unfortunate that this is your last birthday celebration... I was looking forward to celebrating many, many, many more with you ;o)
Enjoy the last year of your 20s my love,
Stephanie

Happy Voting Day!