Pumpkins & Mums - 259/365

It was a Monday. 

Jim had to go off to work and Nana, Reagan, Brinkley and I went to the three mile trail. It was still a little damp, so I was worried, that Brinkley's fresh shampoo would get all icky. Thankfully, he still smells like a powder puff. 

After our walk, we went down to have lunch at the Dutch Hause. They have the best soup and salad bar around. Reagan was quite fascinated with the princess cake display today. Especially, the Dora the Explorer one. She kept asking for one and I told her, that if she kept up her good work with the potty, we would get her one. Of course, after I said that, she asked to go to the potty. 

 After lunch, we went to L&M Greenhouse in Columbiana to check out their mums. They had really, really nice ones. I ended up getting two "super pots" and three medium, all in the orange color.

Reagan really took to the pumpkins. She picked out a few and carried them with her the whole time we were there! She would NOT put them down. Nana picked one out for herself, went to set it down to pick up a mum, and Reagan about had a heart attack. She said, "NANA NO! Hold you pumpkin!" It was too funny! 

 This evening, Jim and Reagan headed off to their art class. Today, they were making fall trees. It was too cute! There was a trunk glued to paper and the kids got to make leaves of all different colors with Q-tip tips. She was so proud when she got home. She came running in and said, "Mama, I made a project! Dada is going to bring it in." When Jim came through the door right after her, she about grabbed it out of his hand to show me. We're so proud of her!

 The photo of the day is Reagan and her little pumpkin....

 Next is Reagan and her favorite Dora cake....

Finally, her fall tree...

 

KU Take 2 & Jillian Turns 4 - 258/365

Busy day today!

We all just hung around the house this morning, before we went up to Twinsburg to celebrate our sweet little niece, Jillian's birthday! She was turning FOUR!
Boy, time goes so fast! It seems like we just went to the hospital to see her for the first time!

Happy 4th Birthday, sweet Jillian!!

The party was at The Little Gym in Twinsburg.

It's a cute little place where Jillian takes gymnastic type classes and dance. The kids had an absolute ball. They got to play on all the mats, balls and balance beams. The two instructors did some organized activities, too! They did a dance with pool noodles, which was super cute. They played with a giant parachute. They also had a big inflatable track that the kids could run and bounce on. It was a big hit!

After they played, we went back in the party room for pizza and cake. Jillian's theme was Angry Birds and she had a super cute Angry Birds dress on. Adrienne had it decorated adorable for her. There were tissue paper balls made into Angry Birds all over, balloons, tablecloths and centerpieces. The kids each got an adorable favor for attending the party. They got an Angry Birds coloring book, pencil case, toothbrush, snacks and rings. Reagan was the most excited about her toothbrush! LOL!
After we got home, while I was waiting for my mom, we snuck in a few minutes of the Browns game. We had taped it since we were at the party. It looked like it was going well for awhile, but as it turns out, I'm glad I didn't see the whole thing. They lost to Baltimore 14-6 in the last few minutes of the game. They sure stink!

My mom came shortly a little after 4:30 and we were on our way. We did our traditional pre-concert dinner at Nicolini's. We got to Blossom a little before 7:00 and it looked like no one was there. There was zero traffic going in. By the time 7:30 rolled around it did start to fill up. The vendors said they heard there would be around 8,000 less people than Thursday.

Keith came out around 7:40 and was welcomed with a thunderous cheer. He stepped to the middle of the stage, dropped to his knees, put his hands over his head and bowed down to the crowd. He stood up and broke right into a song. It was around song four, that he spoke. He said, "It gives me great pleasure to finally say.... Hello Cleveland!" He apologized and then went on to say, "I thought we'd come out and there would be a few people here and there, so to see this many people come out to hear us play, means the world to us. Thank you!" He was so humble and so gracious. He is a true class act.

He ended up playing for three straight hours and gave it his absolute all. He couldn't have put more effort or heart into this show. It was amazing! He took requests from the crowd and nailed the songs, too. It was cute to see the band interact to get going on a song that hadn't played in years.

He even joked during, "Raining on Sunday." He was singing and sang the line, "Let's hope it's just a song tonight." It was hilarious. Turns out, it wasn't just a song tonight, it did end up pouring down rain again. We felt so bad for the people sitting on the lawn. They got rained on twice now!

In the end, Keith Urban made good on his promise to Cleveland. He is an amazing performer and seems to be an amazing person, who is truly grateful for his fans. It was really worth the trip back up to Blossom to see him!
Jim and Reagan spent the evening playing around the house and took Brinkley for a walk.

Here is Keith Urban singing his heart out!

 Next, is my mom and I covered in KU confetti!

Sunset on the Farm - 257/365

It was a really pretty, but cool day today.

Reagan was still at Nana's, so Jim and I had a chance to sleep in after the concert. Lovely!

This afternoon, Jim was going over to Uncle Franks, to watch the YSU game. YSU was playing Michigan State and ended up losing pretty bad, the final score was 55-17. The guys had a good time together, anyway.

 Jim got stung by a hornet on the way out the door to come home, though. The bee flew in the neck of his shirt. He was trying to get out, when it got him. OUCH!

While Jim enjoy some football time, Nana, Reagan and I went to Inner Circle for lunch.

After lunch, we wanted to go out to White House Fruit Farm to pick up some more honeycrisp apples. White House was CRAZY! I forgot that their Fall Festivals had started. Every Saturday, they have activities and their pumpkin barn open. We got to check everything out, but didn't do any of the activities.

This evening, Jim, Reagan and I were going to, Sunset on the Farm at the experimental farm. We popped out last year, just briefly, and it was fun. This year, it was PACKED. We got there and were going to do the hayride first, but the line was super long. They had this little side field with other activities, so we headed over there. They had a folk singer, singing some tunes while people enjoyed the activities. It was so nice!

They had a little table set up where they were giving temporary tattoos. Reagan's teachers from Tales for Tots, were helping out at the event, so it was one of her teachers that gave her the tattoo. She picked out a blue alien! LOL!

They also had tiny bonfires and were giving out marshmallows to roast. Reagan, didn't like the "dirt" (burnt part) on hers, so she ate it not roasted. They also had fresh apple cider to sample, too!
Next, it was time for games. They had a huge haystack for the little ones to play "needle in a haystack." They had hidden little colored squares in the hay. The kids were digging and digging trying to find the squares, it was funny. Reagan found a yellow and red. After you found your square, you could take it over to the prize table and pick a prize. Reagan chose a Hershey Bar and a Peanut Butter Cup. LOL!

Next, we made it over to the corn maze and let Reagan lead us through. At every turn, she would stop and say, "which way do we go now?" We would say, "You tell us!" Then she would say, "This way! " pointing with her tiny hand and she would start running. It was so funny! She loved it! I think it's pretty fool proof, because we never got lost or found a dead end. OR, Reagan is just the next Rand McNally LOL!

Once we made it through the maze, it let us out by the barn. We stopped to see the animals. Reagan loved the baby cow, but was a little intimidated by the sheep. They were letting out the traditional, "BAA!" She just kept backing away. They goats were overly friendly today, she liked them!

After that, we got a chance to mash apples, to turn into cider. She got to pick out her own apple, put it in the masher, then turn the wheel to break it up. It was so neat to smell the fresh cider. Reagan asked if we could drink it. LOL!

Finally, we got back in line for the hayrides. The line was just as long as when we got there, but Reagan had been waiting and asking, so we had to take her. We were still pretty far back, when a lady came around to say, the rides had to stop when it gets dark, and she wasn't promising that we would make it on. We chose to stick it out and we were glad we did. We were one of the last three rides of the night. They were asking for a group of three and we were chosen! YES! It was a beautiful ride, but our horse had quite a bit of gas. Pew! Reagan loved the ride and that's all that mattered.

  It was a really nice event and we had a really fun time. Family fun is the best!

The photo of the day is us on the hayride....

And Reagan digging in the hay...

 

Keith Urban - 256/365

Nana came over around 10:00 and we were going to go Fellows, Family Garden Day. They just painted their new fence around the Children's Garden and wanted to have the kids put hand prints on the fence with their names. We really wanted to take part in that, but with the misty rain, we knew they probably weren't going to do it, but we didn't want to miss out. Well, we were right, they cancelled that part of the activities for the day. Reagan still got to see her buddy Violet and do some crafts. Today, they were making bees and decorating them with leaves and bean pods. They also got to pick four gourds to take home. This was Reagan's favorite part.

After that, we went and had a quick lunch at O'Charley's, then headed home.

Reagan was going to be spending the night at Nana's tonight, while Jim and I went to, what we were hoping would be, the Keith Urban concert in Pittsburgh. They ended up having a good time. They played games, went to dinner at WhiteFire Grill and watched some cartoons!

When it comes to concerts, Nana and I always try to see the big acts twice, when they are doing Cleveland and Pittsburgh, but she decided to sit this one out. Jimmy was happy to take her place, so we could go on a little date.

We had dinner at The Shale on the way down to the show. We just love it there and they have the best burgers in the world!

We got to First Niagara Pavilion a little after seven and Dustin Lynch was already on the stage. YES! Our tickets were VIP, so we decided to sit in that area and have a drink before going down to the seats. Little Big Town came out, right at 7:40 and were gone by 8:30! WOOHOO!

We watched half of them in the VIP area, but decided to watch the second half of them down in the pavilion, because it was freezing out there! We figured it would be warmer where all the people were crammed together.

Finally, it was 9:00, and the lights were still on, but people were just standing there talking, not feeling to worried...LOL! Suddenly, with the lights still on, people started screaming and clapping. Here, Keith Urban, took the stage with his banjo and just started playing. Two other guys came out and the lights were still on. It was a hoot! After a few minutes and right on a "beat" the lights went down, and these big black curtains behind him dropped to reveal these HUGE monitors. It was really something to see! VERY COOL!

He put on an AMAZING show! He had confetti cannons, smoke, wind! It took all the frustration from the night before away. Jim really enjoyed it, too! We had a really fun time!

Keith Urban, did mention the Cleveland mess. He said, "Hey Pittsburgh, we actually made it tonight! Anyone happen to attend the show last night? Well, I am so very sorry, and we will make it up to you." A couple people did raise their hands. So, I'm not the only one that does back to back shows. It's FUN!

After this show, it really makes me excited for the bonus, Keith time, in Cleveland on Sunday! YAY!

  The photo of the day is Keith Urban in his confetti!!!

Jimmy and I before the show...

Finally, Reagan and her bee project...

 

Little Big Town - 255/365

What a day!

Jim went off to work and Reagan, Nana, Brinkley and I were going to hit the three mile trail. We checked the radar and saw some rain was on it's way, but "hour by hour" and the radar looked like we could make it.

We piled in the car and headed over. We went about 15 minutes when Reagan said, "Oh no! It's raining!" Then, I felt a drop and not two seconds later, the skies opened up and it was a downpour! Thankfully, Nana brought two umbrellas and some ponchos. We covered Reagan in the stroller with a poncho and we used umbrellas. When we got back, we were still pretty wet. Brinkley was just SOAKED. Reagan was the only dry one. LOL!

 Thankfully, we were supposed to be taking Brinkley straight to the groomer, so we just went straight there and dropped him off. I walked him in and said, "Sorry he's soaked, you may just need to add soap."
We went back to Nana's and my house, to get some dry shoes and shirts and were on our way again.

We decided to go have lunch at Steamers for some soup, they have the best. We were sitting at lunch and Reagan kept turning around in her seat. Nana went to tickle her head, to get her to turn back around. She waved her arm at Nana and said, "Nana, DON'T! I'm watching the Browns game!" Sure enough, we looked up and there was a football game on the TV over the next table. We about died laughing. At lease the brainwashing seems to be working.

Finally, it was time for the Keith Urban concert.

Nana and I grabbed some dinner at Nicolini's. We love that place for pre-concert dinners because, unfortunately, there is never anyone there. The food is great though! Then it was off to the show! 

We should have known something was up, when Little Big Town came out at almost nine. I forgot, or didn't even realize, they were going to be there. Anyway, after Dustin Lynch went off around 8:15, we grabbed another beer and made our way down to the seats. We were almost to our section, when the lights went down. I grabbed my phone and thought, "It's 8:38, that's weird. He must be doing an extra long show."

We got situated in the seats, but the stage just didn't look right for Keith Urban. There was this weird cloth with skulls and stuff. Next thing we know, here comes the band. I said, "OMG, that's Little Big Town, WTF!? I didn't know it was a split show!" My mom said, "Neither did I."

I knew they were big enough, that they would play about an hour. We were so bummed. I thought they would play till 9:30 and maybe Keith would play from 9:45-11:00. Which was better than nothing. We go to enough concerts, that we pretty much have the timing of opening acts down, and know that Blossom, has a strict 11:00pm curfew for bands to be off the stage. It all was a little off, for how things are normally handled with a three act show.

I looked up Little Big Town's set list, it was showing 12 songs, which made seem a little better. OR, so I THOUGHT. They stayed on course for the first six, then, it all went wacky. They just kept singing, and singing, and singing, and singing, and singing. The crowd was slowly sitting down and you could tell people were annoyed. People just wanted to see Keith, it had been an hour and a half! FINALLY, they left the stage and it stayed dark. We thought, maybe they aren't doing a set change, which was also weird. All of a sudden, we felt this faint mist, even down in the front. We turned around and the skies let loose. At the same time, this man walked out on stage. The timing was actually almost movie like. It was crazy! It was just POURING and lightening made it almost daytime, it was so bad. I looked at my mom and said, "OH MY GOD, they are cancelling the show because of that lightening!" Finally, the guy said, "Excuse me, excuse me! I have a very important announcement. Keith wasn't able to make it to the show tonight. He's stuck in New York." He then played a video of Keith apologizing to the fans. The collective groans, boos, and catcalls were hilarious! People were NOT PLEASED! Especially the poor people on the lawn, they were just soaked!!! It was honestly like a hurricane.

Those of us in the pavilion, decided to wait out the rain a bit. Everyone was just standing around chatting, sharing thoughts on how, they couldn't believe Blossom did this. They had to know, if he was in New York even at 7pm, he wasn't going to make it. It was unbelievable!

We were all still standing in the pavilion, when ushers started coming around saying, "you have to get going, this isn't a campground." Are you kidding!? We would have left hours ago, but you waited until a hurricane starts, to tell us the main act is cancelled. Now, you're kicking us out? REALLY? We went over to the VIP area to stand for just a little bit more, then started walking out. Luckily my mom usually finds a "Lot A" parking pass, so the parking is next to the pavilion, we didn't get to wet. We spent the ride home, reading all the hilarious "tweets" from people that were at the show. Here are a few of my favorites....
 

"Still can't believe Keith Urban cancelled on us. I hate Little Big Town and sat through them, because I thought Keith would make it better." - Elizabeth J

 

"So, after shitty ass Little Big Town gets done playing, for 'effing' ever, they decide to tell us Keith Urban isn't even coming now. I hate him." - Jenna S

 

"I kind of feel like Keith Urban stood us up for that one date, then decided to share the news, as the sky dumped an ocean on us." - Anastasia M

 

We laughed the ENTIRE way home! The good news is, he's playing a makeup show in Cleveland on Sunday and it's just him, starting at 7:30. I bet the people on lawn are hoping he doesn't sing

 "Raining on Sunday."
Our laughing at the tweets, was spoiled when I tiny bunny ran out on the rain soaked freeway and found his way under my mom's car. What a heart wrenching sound. We just felt AWFUL! :(

Meanwhile back at the ranch, earlier in the evening, Reagan and Jim had a fun night watching Princess and The Frog, playing stickers and dancing. They have so much fun together.

The photo of the day is the "Little Big Town concert."

Nana, Reagan, Brinkley and I on our rainy walk...

Next, is Reagan watching her "Browns game"....

And finally, an adorable picture I got while enduring the Little Big Town concert...LOL!

 

September 11, 2013 - 254/365

12 years.

It's been 12 years since that horrible September 11. As everyone in America, we remember exactly where we were and feel the same emotions. It was a tremendously tragic day. Every September 11th, I look at a replica of the Twin Towers I got shortly after the tragedy. It's sad those towers don't stand over New York anymore. It's even sadder, to think of all the wonderful people who were taken from their families.

Let us never forget. God Bless America!

For us, thankfully, it was a pretty boring day.

Nana, Reagan, Brinkley and I hit the trail. After, Reagan went to Nana's for a little play date, while I got some chores done. I got the grass cut early before the heat set in.

I came in and was doing some work on the computer, when I looked over to see our cats, cuddling! They never really cuddle! They are friends, but will generally just be in the same room, not on top of each other. I never thought I could get up and grab my camera, but I did! Thankfully, my camera is always just sitting on the counter ready to go. It was adorable!!!

When Jim got home from work, we took Brinkley back up to the farm to enjoy some running. That's about it!

Reagan had a great time at Nana's they played Skunk Bingo and watered some flowers. When Papa got home, they had dinner at Tippy!

The photo of the day is Bailey and Brandy having some cuddle time.

Finally, Reagan playing a little Skunk Bingo...

 

MOPS & Swimming - 253/365

Busy day today!

I started the day by filling up Reagan's swimming pool! It was going to be 90+ degrees today! A perfect day, and probably the last day, for some backyard swimming. I got it all set up and filled, so the water could warm for this evening's porch party.

After that, I went off to the first MOPS meeting of the year. I got into MOPS two years ago and really liked it. This past year was so crazy, that I didn't make it there quite as much as I'd like. Hopefully this year, I can attend more regularly.

It was so great to be back and see some familiar faces. I get to sit at Amy's table which is great. I ended up knowing two other lovely ladies, that I sat with last year. It is such a great group, full of wonderful ladies. It's nice to get a couple hours out with other mom's and share life stories.

At every meeting, we usually make a craft at the end. This time was no different. Today, we got to make little reed diffusers. They had little bottles that we decorated and filled with drops of scented oils. They are so adorable and smell wonderful! When I got home, I put mine right on my window over the kitchen sink. It looks great!

After the meeting, I ran a few errands and rotated Reagan's closet for Fall. Ironically, on a day it was 90+ degrees out!

Jim's mom was nice enough to come over, so I could get all that done. They had fun together. They played for awhile, then they went out and did a few errands of their own! Reagan helped grandma with her groceries and got to pick out a cool coloring book and stickers for good behavior!

Grandma even picked up Jimmy a copy of the Star Trek movie, he's been waiting for! He popped it in this evening and watched it. He was so excited!

This evening, Ron, Rachel, Parker and Milana were coming over, for probably one of the last porch parties of the year. Rachel, even with "two under two", was nice enough to bring the main dish! She made taco stuffed shells and they were delicious! We ate almost the whole thing! I did salad and angel food cake with blueberry and cherry topping.

After we gobbled down our dinner, we took the kids out for some swimming. They had a good time just splashing away. It was a nice night to visit and watch them play. We had fun!

The photo of the day is Parker and Reagan taking a dip in the pool!

The next is my little reed diffuser from MOPS....