So Happy Together

We had two days. 

Two free days to share as a family between Andrew's Nauvoo and Chicago trips, and we did our best to maximize them! We even have random cell phone pictures as proof, so get ready.

Sunday we celebrated Father's Day. So fun to pamper Andrew...we handmade a card, presented gifts, fixed his favorite french dip sandwiches, and Asher surprised him by learning the song Daddy's Homecoming (I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home). We made sure the house was super clean, and after church, snuggled down into fresh sheets to watch his new favorite show - "Sherlock." Such a sweet day together.

 The next day we made use of our new zoo pass, and went to the Columbus Zoo for the first time as a family. It was so, so much fun! For starters, it was a perfect, sunny day - mid 70's, nice breeze. Asher got to pet a turtle and a snake, and got a good close look at the elephants, polar bears, penguins, monkeys, kangaroos, and hammerhead sharks.

 

 Largest bats in the world - 6 foot wingspan

 Watching a kangaroo sleep...

 ...Then following suit

 So while Asher napped, Andrew and I felt like we were suddenly on a date. We bought overpriced Dipp'n Dots to share, sat in the shade and just talked (feet away from a sleeping grizzly bear we were oblivious to for a half an hour). It was beyond nice. It's funny the way you love your kids so deeply, yet relish every moment they sleep. :)

 Baby boy and I at 31 weeks!

We wrapped things up at the zoo then stopped in old downtown Dublin for a little Donato's pizza (I seriously think it might be my favorite), then walked across the street to Jeni's for some of their special ice cream (that's right - our sequence was ice cream, pizza, ice cream). We tried a ton of cool flavors, but ended up settling on lemon blueberry, roasted strawberry buttermilk, and goat cheese and red cherries.

 Wait, what - are these glasses? Yes, I've seen them before...please, allow me

 If you'd just hold STILL! 

We spent the rest of the evening at home together. Here's a little video clip of Asher and Daddy being silly.

It was hard to see Andrew go the next day, and we've seriously missed him this week (Asher keeps saying, "Where's my daddy?" and it broke my heart when he tried to have an excited conversation with a voicemail Andrew had left), but we are so excited to pick him up from the airport tomorrow! No more conferences until the end of July!

Near, Far, Wherever You Are

WE'RE HOME!!

On June 2nd, we set off for a busy series of trips and travel, and finally made it home Tuesday night, 18 days later. We enjoyed a Florida vacation, the Steele Family Camp Out, my sister Christina's wedding, Holiday World, and lots of time with family in between. I knew it would be a lot to document, so in spite of our recently deceased video camera, I left home with my iPhone and camera to ensure we preserved lots of memories. Well. Along the way, I ruined my phone, cracked our Kindle, and lost our camera. So...guess that makes me a loser in every sense of the word.

Anyway, here's my attempt at a somewhat brief timeline of the last few weeks' events. I'll add what borrowed pics I can scrounge up, and try to avoid making this a labored vacation account.

June 2, 2012, 11:00 AM - Help throw a "Baby Olympics" themed baby shower for my fitness instructing-friend Lindsey. We all have a lot of fun! Here are some pics taken by our beloved Noelle:

 Holy crepes! So, so good. 

 Mal and I try our hand at the dirty diaper toss

 

Lindsey herself and Sarah - both due July 30th! Can't wait to meet their precious babes!

2:00 - Asher and I kiss Andrew goodbye (he can't come along because he has a week of class left) and head South. We stop in Louisville and meet Gramps (my dad) at a Bats game, and Asher has a total ball. Here's proof:

June 3rd, 7:45 AM - We set off for Florida with my little sisters Amy and Hannah. They sleep the ENTIRE way. Darn kids.

7:00 PM - Arrive in Destin where we are greeted by my sister Liz, her husband Rich, and their boys Wes and Kent. Asher believes we are preparing to leave him with them (as in March's trip to Mexico), and freaks out. "Mommy don't leave! Mommy stay with me!!" So sad...we really did traumatize our child.

The next four days we enjoy the luxurious Grand Dunes and have fun swimming, sunning, going to the beach, grilling out, making homemade root beer, going shopping at the outlet malls across the street, watching movies, going out to eat, etc.

 

We were here everyday and it was almost always deserted! Or maybe people saw we were there with three kids and avoided us...at any rate, who doesn't love a private oasis?

View from our balcony

 

Rich and Wesley making root beer

 

Hanging out with the sisters at night - Amy (#6), Hannah (#5), and Liz (#1)

June 7th - HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Four years of marriage together...and Andrew and I are apart. But as my least favorite singer Celine Dion says, love will touch us one time, and last for a lifetime. So we try to remember that and not worry about the spaces between us. Would have loved to celebrate together, but when Destin calls...

June 8th, 8:00 AM - Hannah, Asher and I depart for Louisville. Meanwhile, back in Ohio, Andrew enjoys his White Coat Ceremony. Here are some pictures taken by good wives who were actually present at the occasion:

 

Andrew walking across the stage in a tiny girl's coat they accidentally gave him at first

Jason, Dix, Andrew and Bryan - the four LDS guys in the class

8:00 PM - Drop Hannah off in Louisville, meet up with Andrew, Joey and Kim who are fresh from Columbus, and we head to Hardinsburg, KY for the annual Steele Family Camp Out.

Everyone looking awesome.

Then we stayed for Evie and Shep's combined first birthday party.

 The amazing summer spread

Soaking up the last bit of extended family time together before heading home.

June 9th, 5:00PM - We drive to Central City, KY while rediscovering the best hits of the 90's, courtesy of a burned CD we found. Andrew and his siblings all reconvene at Joey and Kim's, and we spend the rest of the night playing corn hole, eating barbeque, and watching the kids play on the new swing set.

The next two days are blissfully low-key...Andrew enjoys some much needed R & R after a crazy first year of school. THEN - 

June 12th, 2:00 - We drive to Louisville to meet up with my family, and attend my little sister Christina's endowments. Profoundly special experience.

June 13th-14th - Hanging out with family, playing games, visiting old friends, eating too much, getting favors, flowers, and centerpieces ready for the wedding. 

June 15th, 12:00PM - Christina and Ryan are sealed for time and all eternity in the Louisville, KY temple. These two are so over the moon for each other...beautiful day to be a part of.

 

More pictures to come. A luncheon followed the ceremony, and then we had a blast at the reception that night. Side note: weddings are the best part of life. You can't beat a night of dressing up fancy, seeing old friends, celebrating love, dancing, and EATING WEDDING CAKE.

Cake is my favorite food. Christina and Ryan's lemon and strawberry cake was so delicious...I'm reliving it now, and hoping it's in my dreams tonight.

June 16th - depart once again for Central City, where we spend Saturday and Sunday hanging out with Andrew's family.

June 18th - Drive to Santa Claus, Indiana, where we my in-laws treat us to an extremely fun day at Holiday World. This is the cleanest, most fun, family friendly, something-for-everyone theme park I've ever been to. Their water park is incredible...plus they offer free sunscreen and unlimited drinks, so we enjoy a day of cold Gatorade, Sprite and Aquafina. Asher dominates the kiddie rides, water slides and splash pad, and quite possibly has the best day of his 2-year life.

5:00 - Sun-soaked and exhausted, Andrew, Asher and I head once again to Louisville, where we stay the night with my family.

June 19th - Andrew spends the morning at Bluegrass Eye Care (the opthalmic practice where he worked for 3 years) in his new white coat shadowing and seeing patients. He LOVED it. The man's found his passion for sure.

2:00 - We say our sad goodbyes to my sisters and leave for Columbus, stopping on the way for a couple of hours in Jeffersonville, OH to do some outlet shopping. Find a lot of great deals and thoroughly enjoy doing some leisurely retail as a family. :)

8:00 - After nearly 3 weeks of suitcase livin', the three of us finally make it home together! Suchagoodfeeling.

...But it didn't last long. Andrew left early Thursday morning to chaperone youth conference in Nauvoo, IL (am I bitter that his first time back since our wedding day is being spent with a bunch of teenage strangers who aren't me? Maybe a little.) He'll return home late Saturday evening, then fly off Tuesday to an optometry conference in Chicago for 5 days.

This all translates to a June where we'll have only been together two weeks! And we miss him like the dickens. But my heart will go on...Can't wait to have him home for good!! :)