Friends don't let Friends turn 40 alone!

Love these ladies for many reasons  - one of the biggest is how grounded they are - they are my running buddies.  I met them through Mary and than TRY to keep up with them running.  

But I love our time as women, moms, friends.  AND Kelly is turning 40!!  Kristin planned an overnight in NYC - we got to go with and be part of the surprise!!  You can't turn 40 alone!!

4 Ladies in NYC and while the selfie stick is essential - sometimes you need a little help to get it all in.

Kristin did all of the planning and orchestrating - so honestly I had no idea where we were staying and had to laugh when we pulled up to the SAME hotel that Chris and I stayed in with the kiddos on our Spring break overnight.  Clearly there is only 1 hotel in NYC - 

Since I had been there in April everyone thought I knew the city - bad idea!!  Thankfully we had our phones to rely on.  I will say, 9 times out of 10 we started out in the wrong direction.

We did make it to the High Line.

And to our showing of Waitress which was awesome!  So much talent up there!  (not us - I meant the cast of course)

NYC is just getting started in the decorations department.

We had a great night out and YUMMY dinner at an Italian restaurant the meg's patently recommended to us.  Love my time with these ladies and just being real - love celebrating Kelly she is so put together, so on time, so thoughtful - she is so many things that teach me to be a better person.  She also got us out RUNNING the next morning - and to the TODAY show just before it all ended.

We ran through central park  - no photos as it was all about breathing and talking....  by the time we ran to breakfast the idea of an orange juice was so inviting i never want to forget about this....  Took me too long to get into this carton (that had a straw hole...)  

Kelly was laughing at my silently too while the others drove on with their conversation.

We managed to get back showered and head to the 9/11 museum which really brings you back to that exact day - very powerful.

Thank you Kelly for being you and for being in my life!!  Hope you truly enjoyed this celebration for you!!

San Antonio bound!

Why wasn't Chris at the Veteran's day celebration?  

That morning - early Friday He and Nick woke up and headed to the airport.  Why??  Many reasons!  This picture is one of them.  

10 Years ago I was VERY pregnant with Nick and we went to the game in San Antonio.  It was only fitting to go back - with the newly 10 year old.!  Loved that Liz is out there now and excited to welcome her brother and Nick for the weekend.

Chris and Nick LOVED traveling together.  I love that Nick took a few photos.  He was apparently a great passenger.

Even a little Selfie

Love the stuff he captures.

I am thankful to Deakon for this photo!!  Only one from the game - The game wasn't the best - Army lost to Notre Dame - but they had a great time.  Deakon and Evan came down for the night.  Nick, Evan and Seb had a blast playing together. 

Love that they 2 knew each other when they looked like this..

Wake up Evan - time to play!

Seriously, I could look at these photos all day - They were supposed to be on the same football team together.  Yes, I know our fault.

Lunch anyone??  Love that after all the years in between - they really could just play.

O.k. one more...or ride around in a stroller together.  Evan, are you missing a strap??

Back to real time life in Canton - I took the younger dudes to the skate park opening in Canton

We weren't the Target audience for the skate park (it was really high school and up) with this cool bus that showed up that sold skate gear - if you can imagine 10 guys living in it - its not really the kind of thing my kiddos need to totally check out.

So lets go home and take a bath - and Dab

These 2 did have a blast together.

Loved getting updates here and there from Chris. and knowing they had a great time.

Veteran's Day

Veterans day has become a great day to really reflect on that part of our lives that truly changed our lives - in so many ways - but just saying yes to serving.  Its a day we look back at some memorable photos and say, remember when?

I know its photos like these that truly kept Barbara up too late most nights - Sometimes I wondered how I got through a 15 month deployment but now that I have 3 boys I have no idea how she got through even a minute of having both of them in Iraq at the same time.  I know we all cherish this photo.  5 minutes they managed to land the CH 46 on Chris's base camp, to which Chris and Steve drove a HMMVEE to meet them - 5 minutes, one photo.

My own experiences seem so far away, but photo like these truly take me back.  Up watching SeaHuts construction.  watching.  I mean supervising.

Yes, I admittedly love construction, but can honestly say it was my soldiers that taught me everything about building these guard towers.

What does this beautiful horse have to do with Veteran's day?  Well I got to brush and clean sweet Evelina today as my treat.  She is a driving horse and the gentleman that drives her is 89 years old and not terribly interested in keeping her clean.  

Truly beautiful and great 2 hours this morning.

That afternoon, I joined my folks for lunch at Chipotle and we went into the Cherry Brook Primary school and got to spend time in BOTH Drew and Shane's classroom.  My Dad is often reserved about his service.  I feel like that is normal - Chris is too - its as if they don't want any fan fare - I completely understand - but I think its times like this that I enjoy talking to the kiddos about options - real life in the service - real choices they can make.  Granted Primary school isn't where they are making these choices, but we can sure put a great face on the military options.

I still wear my uniform - yup, its not code, but its worth it for the kiddos - I even brought my Dad's old pants in - Pretty sure he was just as shocked.

My dad brought some great photos and ribbons and loved talking to the kids as well.

Love how proud Drew was to have us - Love his hair??  Me too - 

The do a sweet presentation for us all and had 50 Veteran's there - Impressive for little Canton!

I wish I had taken a photo of the Veteran pages on the wall as the Leadbetter/Carlson family took up an entire line.  Managed to capture this Q-T

Thanks Dad for joining me - Of course you had everything to do with the decisions I made - and in a very good way!  Will always love being able to do this with you!

Voting

The first year we moved here - voting was at town hall and the kids went to school - it all went down hill from here.  This year in this crazy election we took joy in the BEAUTIFUL day it was.  

But here is a funny story about voting - everyone in this picture voted for someone different.  Yup - I have often thought kiddos just reiterate what they hear at home (Which I guess should make you question what they are hearing at home...) but I LOVED hear who they voted for and why.  Maybe you can pair them up.

One voted for Hilary because is she wins his best friend won't have to move.  Hmmmm  where might that friend be moving to?  My guess was Canada, assuming its not Mexico

One voted for Gary Johnson - with Gary Johnson's media campaign makes me wonder where he got his intel.

One voted for Trump - wonder if you can guess which one that was!!

After voting on this beautiful day - what is the next thing you should do?!?!  Go mini put on their last day of the season - thanks of the Leadbetter's for the gift idea!

Lets fast forward a few hours - its 11 and I had just finished watching "This is us' great show by the way....  I flipped on the news to see what was going on and everyone seemed shocked at what was happening...  Trump was winning and I became a bit fascinated.  I called Chris in from reading in the other room (yes we are at that point in our relationship - often thankful for the different rooms!  However I am often the reader... I digress...)  We loved watching the shock - and the fact that Savanah was up covering it all - she was going to soak in every moment of this event!  Well around midnight guess who walks down??  Trumps good luck charm...

The rest is history.  I could hardly get to sleep handiwork up at 3 to confirm it all happened.  

You know I am not a huge Trump person so this isn't political  I am just asked at the media assumptions and what really turned out.  

In case you are wondering - this is what I truly believe.

She wasn't going to save you and he won't either - but he just might shake things up a bit - just like the guy in this photo =)!

Nick Turns 10!

Yup, this guy is about to be 10!  the face says it all - cannot believe 10 years ago he graces us with his presence and turned us into Parents.  What a sweet, caring, sensitive and understanding kiddo.  So often I catch you doing the right thing and i cant say i could love you any more!

So as a labor of love and our birthday gift to you - we Transformed your room.  This trundle bed was supposed to be temporary - it served a good purpose for when you had friends and family visiting.  Now it was time to move it on.

Amazed we finished this while you were at school!  Dad helped in the morning time and Oma Sue was there for the afternoon portion

Love how your room turned out

A little more space for stuff.

Wait, who's birthday is it?  Nick isn't driving yet right?!?!

Chris finally purchased his truck - he had wanted one for years - Since he started with C&H - yet he waited wanting to get 'life' off the ground and make sure we were profitable.  So here is his reward.

I must say, he looks great in it!

On Friday for Nick's birthday we had 5 kids come off the bus (including Nick!)  

My mom was there initially and helped video him seeing his new bed - All that work and a sweet reaction from him

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAuBOe9ahtc

Chris was off at a UCONN football game with 40 other Canton dads - so I bravely took on 5 boys - they were having a blast but had odd numbered teams - so we called in the ringer!  Ben - love that he join us so seamlessly - All these guys want to do it play.  Can you see Ryan back there??

Thankfully my folks had Drew and Shane was getting a sleep over of his own at Luciano's house - every little bit helps!

here they are partially tuckered out after a few games of capture the flag.  We watched goosebumps and I asked them to be quiet by 11:30.  Needless to say, that was the hardest part.  I literally stood by the door frame asking them to stop talking. 

 Finally Chris came home and said exactly that - stop talking...  and they did!!  Amen!

Waffle Breakfast time!

A few more shenanigans before its time to head home

Nice morning to head back outside to play soccer - with the Chickens of course.

That night we celebrated his birthday family style - I have to admit, my folks absolutely saved me here.  The made stroganoff (my childhood favorite) and Strawberry Rhubarb pie - Nick's favorite. and we had a wonderful family Dinner - thank you mom and dad!  Happy Birthday Nick!!

Sweet how he saves opening Nicolas's gift for last.  Love that they stay connected if only once a year.

https://youtu.be/iwU3Luk4Iwg

I think he really felt the love all weekend long and he truly expressed it - Chris and I have to keep reminding ourselves in the sea of chaos and the boys - he really is a sweet soul.
Love you Nick!