Columbus with friends

A few weekends ago, we traveled to Columbus, Ohio to visit our friends the Crossley's.  Ryan and Karen have Hannah (5 days younger than Sam!) and are expecting a baby boy in July.  They just moved to a new house, so we got to check out the new crib.  We also ventured to Fort Rapids, an indoor water park.  Ryan and Karen had a voucher for a free hotel room, so we upgraded it to a suite and made a mini-vacation out of it. I did actually bring my camera;  however, I didn't take any pictures (worthless I know).  The kids had a good time playing in the water, and the adults enjoyed catching up over the course of the weekend!  We love spending time with the Crossleys and it's a bummer we only do it a few times a year (is 3 hours really that far away?).  Karen sent me a few pictures from her phone...that's the best I can do these days.

Scott reading bedtime stories to Hannah and the boys

 

 Breakfast at Bob Evans--can  you believe we got smiles out of all 4 :)

Thanks for the fun weekend, Crossley crew!  We can't wait to meet baby boy Crossley!!!

Happy New Year! (4 weeks late)

We came back to Indy on the 30th and the Crossleys came to visit and spend the New Years with us!  We've only seen Hannah once since our Colorado trip last summer and the visit was brief.  The kids have grown a lot since then, and Hannah has a ton of hair!  Ryan and Karen bought Christmas gifts for the boys--Sam got "Scout", who sings and talks to Sam (its programmable, pretty cool)

Charlie got a helicopter and police car--still a favorite at our house!

 Taking a ride in the dump truck...

 

 

Hannah ended up staying up to ring in the New Years with us (actually, we missed the official ball drop because we had the TV on pause, haha, so we celebrated a few minutes late).  I love getting together with Ryan & Karen and it will be so much fun to watch our kids grow up together!

Constructive Eating

Anyone who has spent time around Charlie in the last, say, 6 months, knows he is REALLY into construction trucks.  At our house, we live, breathe and even eat trucks...or with trucks.  Scott and I were fortunate enough to have a "staycation" trip a few weekends ago to meet up with our friends the Crossleys down at the Belterra Casino (Happy 30th Ryan!).  Ryan and Karen spent time with Charlie in Colorado this past summer and still talk about  his "scoop, dump" excavator routine that is on constant rerun at our house...so when Karen saw this plate, fork, spoon, and pusher at her parent's store, she knew Charlie would love it! And she was right...

Not only does Charlie request this set for every meal (cereal? on a plate?  no Charlie, we have to use a bowl), but using the bulldozer to push the food onto the excavator or forklift has Charlie cleaning his plate at every meal.  And begging for more veggies.  Seriously.

 

and smiling about it!

Thanks, Crossleys, for such a fun gift.  We hope to see you again soon!

Adams Falls

Our last day with the Crossley's, we decided to drive to Grand Lake and hike Adams Falls...a short, easy hike with a beautiful waterfall as the reward! Round trip, it was only about a mile but there was plenty of uphill climbing, and Charlie walked the whole way! We saw a doe and her beautiful fawn (no more than 2 weeks old; had spots and everything) on our way up but I don't have pictures on my camera--have to get them from Ryan. The hike is in Rocky Mountain National Park and just picture perfect!!!

Charlie loved throwing rocks with DadProving I was there as well...and yes, there's a baby under there, but it was so sunny and he didn't have sunscreen on!

Playdate with Hannah Banana

Hannah, if we're going to play, at least share your paci

Ok, so now what should we do?...makin a move (think she'll notice if I hold her hand?)This is fun!

Family shots

Just a few family pics...

(Please excuse his fluffy bum, there's a cloth diaper under those jeans)

Moose! and a hike.

Our second day in Colorado, we drove to Monarch Lake to hike...and on the dirt road leading to the trail head, Karen spotted something moving in the trees--two moose!!! Not too far from the road but we didn't have a long range lens. The Crossleys will have to send us their pictures!

The lake is just beautiful...a 4 mile hike around. Sam in the back carry for the first time (makes hiking much easier, rather than when he's on the front!) and my friend Liz, who recently moved from Indy to Denver and came up for the weekend!

Ryan, Karen and baby Hannah

Charlie rockin the back pack!

Not only did Scott have to carry the extra 28 lbs (Charlie) plus the backpack (5 lbs, it's ultralight) plus all our random gear (5-10 lbs?), he had to talk constantly to Charlie and "jump" off rocks, logs, etc to keep him amused. What a dad. What a view. What a great day.

New Years Eve

We spent New Year's Eve in Columbus with our friends the Crossleys. Of course, I end up with very few pictures (and NONE of the Crossleys!)...just wasn't thinking. Karen is due 2 weeks after me with their first--a little girl! We're really excited. Charlie LOVED their new basement--new soft carpet and a big comfy couch with "circle" pillows. He spent most of the weekend going up and down the stairs.

Thanks for hosting us, Crossleys!!! Can't wait to meet the upcoming baby girl.