Labor Day

For Labor Day this year, we drove up to Iowa to visit my sister Maggie and her family and see our new neice, Lydia.. With all the time Josh has had off, we decided to take advantage of it. Last time I saw her she was about 4 lbs and in the NICU. Now she is home and a whoping 11 lbs. She is so cute, we loved her to pieces!

Sunday playtime:
{this picture cracked me up because she had been crying over something and as soon as I got the camera and said "Bridget, smile!" this is what she gave me!}




Monday we went to a park and enjoyed the beautiful weather. The swings were the most popular.





Trying to teach Bridget to be soft with Lydia

Mary Anne loves Bridget, but she wasn't too fond of her walking around and getting into her stuff. She kept saying "No baby, no baby!!" It was pretty funny!
Monday night we went to a drive-in and watched Kung Fu Panda 2. In the begining Bridget and I were sitting next to each other and I was eating some popcorn, she quickly began helping herself. I had to put an end to it a little while later or she would have eaten the whole bag!

Who? Not me?!

Who thought that staying in a hotel for 12 days with a one year old would be a good idea?! Not me?! At home Bridget was sleeping like an angel--fell asleep with no problems, never waking up, and sleeping about 11 hours. Here, all the opposite! When she does wake up I quickly get her milk before we have people from the hotel knocking on our door!
While it's been fun seeing Josh when he gets off each night, and spending the weekend together, I can't wait to get home!! We have been doing lots of traveling since May and I can't wait to get our normal life and routine back!
I am writing this post on my phone so I can't upload any pics, but I promise I will when we get home on FRIDAY! More than likely it won't happen till Sunday!
Oh, Josh and I have decided that anytime a job opening comes up for DC, it's an automatic NO! It is waay too busy for us, with crazy amounts of traffic! And to live away from it all you would have at least an hours worth of commute, no thank you! Fun to visit (kinda), but we would never live here.
On a more happier note-- the General Women's Broadcast is Saturday night and that is just what I need! Plus dinner and a night out! ;)
Did I mention the breakfast here is awesome?! That's right, I came here for all the fee food. Now I remember...
Be back on Sunday, with pics of our downtown adventure, Briddgets birthday, caverns and more!

Lake Ozark

I know it's been forever since I have blogged, but I will catch up later. Right now, I want to tell you about our fabulous weekend!
Back in May while Josh was away, we started talking about going away just the two of us to spend some time together. In the end, we decided to go to this resort at the Lake of the Ozarks here in Missouri. Josh found a couples package called "Rest, Relax and Rejuvinate". Sounded great to us! We dropped Bridget off at my sisters Thursday afternoon, and were on our way! That night we walked around the resort and ate a really nice resturant there!

That night we went into town and found a great little ice cream shop called Grandpas Ice Cream. It was this old man behind the counter, Josh asked him "So are you Grandpa?" He said "Yep!" It was really good! And the single scoops, were more like doubles!
The next day we got a couples massage, which was amazing!!! Then we went back into town for lunch. Then we spent the rest of the afternoon laying by the pool and swimming! It was great!




For dinner we went to Outback, then found some great Outlets and we enjoyed walking around!
As we were driving down the road I looked out the window and below there was a huge outdoor go-kart track. I told Josh about it, and at the next light he was flipping a U-turn. Oh great, I thought, I shouldn't have said anything! I had never done anything like this before, so I was pretty nervous! It was fun, it definately gets your adrenalin going!




Then we stopped at Grandpas one last time! He laughed when he saw us walk in, I ordered the exact same thing because I loved it so much! Josh tried something new, but regretted it and helped me finish mine!
Later on Saturday we went and picked up Bridget, he gave a big smile when she saw us.
It wasn't easy to leave her on Thursday, but it was very important for Josh and I to reconnect as a couple and to just focus on eachother. It was so nice to spend time together without also having to be a parent too. It's been awesome having Josh home again, I missed him waay too much! Thanks babe for such a great weekend!

Feather Falls

Last week Pete, Trent, Amber and I went on a hike to the Feather Falls. It is just a little over an hour drive away, then a 4 mile hike there and back. It was a lot of fun, and great weather!
Amber & I in the beginning

A small waterfall we saw on the way

Amber risked her life for a cool picture. Just kidding, I wouldn't have done it though!

The Falls!

We had some people take a picture of all four of us in front of the falls, and now it's not on my camera! Bummer!
Here ya go Josh ;)

Sweet Girls

I am so glad I was able to go to Iowa last month and see my twin nieces. Lydia was doing so well. She moved from the covered bed, out to an open crib, gained weight, and started drinking bottles all while I was there. Catherine on the other hand continued to have long seizures, wasn't gaining weight and just wasn't progressing or doing very well. The doctors and nurses would try to take her off the venilator, but she would only last about an hour, and then need to be put back on it. A couple weeks ago my sister and her husband made the hardest decision of their lives, to take her off the venilator for good. They knew her quality of life would not be what they wanted for her, and they had to think about their four other kids as well. It was really hard to hear, but I know it is what is best for her. She was in a lot of pain, and looked so uncomfortable that I know she will be much happier in Heaven with her Heavnly Father. It was her mission to simply come to Earth, gain and body and return to Him. I'm so thankful for the Plan of Salvation and to know that I will see her again, and that she will be with her parents and siblings again.
Love you Catherine!

Fun, fun, fun!

My mother in law, Julie was here for the past week and we had so much fun! It was so nice having some company around the house and someone to do things with! Julie bought her a little swimming pool to use when it was really hot. She loved it as long as she wasn't trying to get out, then she would usually slip.
Getting ready to get in!

Lovin' the pool! This was a different day, we decided to forgo the swim suit, and she enjoyed a frozen gogurt!

We got a sitter for Bridget and had some mother daughter time getting pedicures and manicures!

Drying off with Grandma

We also went to a local city pool with some of my girlfriends and their kids from church!

I decided to take Bridget down the little kid slide, little did I know that would mean a MAJOR wedgie and bottoms almost coming off! My friend Katie warned Julie, but Julie decided to let me do it anyways and watch me struggle! Isn't she the greatest?! haha Thankfully it was a female lifegaurd manning the slide, I'm sure she saw some crack. :/ LOL

On the lazy river!

Full Bloom

The flowers in the front yard are in full bloom now and so is Bridget. She is doing so much I can't believe it!
I just love this outfit on her with the yellow flowers!