We're getting married!!!!!!

This past weekend Gary proposed to me during our two day trip to Boston. We couldn't be happier. As we were sharing an ice cream cone Gary told me to make sure I don't "bite it". Then, he said, "Go ahead and finish until you get to the cone and then I want a bite". Right before I got to the cone I saw IN the ice cream a ring. :) :) :) I guess this was last minute planning on his part. We had just taken a boat ride to tour Boston and he saw the ice cream place while we were boarding. He's so sweet! :) I don't remember what happened to the ice cream after that ... I just remember him getting on his knee and asking me if I'd marry him.

When we got home and told Lucas he seemed to totally get it. He wanted to know if he could come to the wedding too. I am so happy we can all be a family now. I can't wait!!!

Here we are at 4:00 am at the airport.











Our first meal at Boston. I was starving! He ordered pigs n a blanket and I got potato skins. Not very Boston ... but, darn good!

This is us just before boarding the boat. His mind must have been perculating the idea.

Us on the boat ... it went from cold to hot from hot to cold ... Glad I got the sweatshirt while I was there.

I thought the view was beautiful. Boston is such a neat city. The history was incredible. The buildings, cemeteries, etc. Very cool.

This is us right after his proposal. As you can see it was a bit windy. I couldn't stop smiling and laughing for the rest of the day ...

These were street dancers that performed both nights we were there. This guy jumped over all these people. One kid was a volunteer from the audience. I don't think I would let Lucas volunteer for that. But, it was very cool and entertaining.

This is at the hotel during the wine reception. Each night they had an hour long wine reception. Kind of fun thing to do before dinner. But, I need to be cut off at 2 glasses! :)

Poor Gary got blisters and walked around like a hill billy until we found a CVS. It was pretty funny.

They had such neat buidlings ... I won't bore you with all the scenic photos.

This was at a Farmer's Market. They had in the cement mushrooms, pizza, berries ... It was crazy there.

Another 4 a.m. shot. Not quite as awake going home.

Kalamari ... I mean ... Kalahari

This past weekend was my work's national sales conference. for the first time this year we were able to bring family. it was held at a indoor/outdoor waterpark resort called kalahari. it was so nice. the first night i was w/out gary and lucas, then they arrived on friday afternoon. lucas loved playing on the one orange slide, which happened to be the biggest kiddie slide outside. but, he would have nothing else of the others. he must've gone up that slide 100 times this weekend. gary and i were able to just relax in our chairs and get some sun. i pretty much skipped out on all the meetings ... but, with 700 ppl there, i doubt anyone noticed me.

gary is silly. :)

this is a part of the outdoor waterpark where luke played. they had rented out the whole place for us and we had a bbq.

you cant really see the indoor water park very well. but, suffice to say, this place was huge. i got enough exercise for the month just walking to our room.

this is a girl i work w/. her name is edwina. yea, pretty unique name i thought too. i think we were both a little stoked to be away from our 4 year olds for the night ... can you tell by our cheesey grins?

this is katherine. she works w/ me too, but we never really hung out before. we had a lot of fun riding the indoor slides the first night. after we ate at our "around the world" dinner, which consisted of entirely too much food. i think they thought i was a little too excited b/c going up the stairs to the slides i took two steps at a time. :) then, one time we realized we went up the wrong steps, so i thought we should just jump the fence. well, edwina is all of 4ft 11.5 inches. so, she couldn't make it over. NO WORRIES! i grabbed her under the arms and pulled her over.

anyway, it was a fun weekend all around.

Cedar Point and a Family Reunion

In no particular order, here is what we've been up to the past couple weeks. Gary's family reunion this past weekend. They had a slip n slide that Lucas couldn't get enough of. Then, a pond with a ton of fish, that Lucas enjoyed visiting.

The weekend prior, we went to Cedar Point. We had a great time and gary and I got plenty of time to ride the adult rides too. We are both big roller coaster fans. And, luckily Lucas is too. Lucas loved the kiddie roller coasters. One was actually pretty rough and took you sideways and Lucas just held his hands up with a huge smile and laughing. They videotape you now on them, so I bought the DVD and Lucas loves to watch it.

We stayed until it closed, so as you can see, he was EXHAUSTED! The hotel we stayed in left much to be desired. But, I guess it's just once a year.

The first pic is us at breakfast the morning after Cedar Point. I'm too lazy to put this stuff in chronological order.

This is Michele and I on our own while we gave Gary and her cousin the kids. A much needed break for us. The lines were so short since the day was supposed to give us a ton of rain (which we got a one minute drizzle). We waited no more than 1/2 hr for a ride the whole time!

And, yes, Lucas is trying to smile. He is not throwing a fit here. He's a strange child. ;)

Past few days ...

Life has been pretty normal since last I posted. I am continuing to enjoy hanging out with my neighbors and their kids after work and trying to get Lucas to eat some dinner. The nights FLY by. This is a picture of Aiden and Lucas ... Aiden is about the cutest boy ever. He loves to dress up and so Lucas had to do it too. They played like this all night ... Monday night I think it was. First time I met Aiden was last year, and to this day a typical outfit for him is shorts, yellow rainboots, dress shirt and tie. Cracks me up.

Gary took Luke and I to "Mid Ohio". It's an Indy Race or something ... Not real sure. But, Lucas loved watching the cars go by at 100s of miles per hour. Gary shared with me stories of him and his buddies riding there on their motorcycles. I'm glad those days are behind him ... somewhat. He is on the market for a Harley ...

The past few days, Lucas has been going to the bathroom in his pull up at night. I was just about ready to take away the pull up all together at night, but now I don't know what to do. And, it makes me mad at him. But, I'm not sure if I should punish him or not for it. He is going #2 in the pull up! I mean, what is up w/ that?! I tell him I'm very dissapointed that he does this and he says "Please dont' be dissapointed in my Mommy. Be happy with me! I won't do it again." And, sure enough he did it again this morning. My neighbors told me that I shouldn't use the word "lie" with him because it has a negative connotation and he wont' understand it. But, dangit, he is flat out lying when he says he won't do it again.

Anyhow, I need this work day to end so I can go get his rotten butt. One last thing, I added up the cost of daycare by the time Luke gets into kindergarten, and I will have spent a little over $40,000 dollars. Excuse while I go get sick in the bathroom ...

Vacationing in Columbus

Who could've thought I'd have so much fun taking a week off from work and not leave the city? For those of you I talk to on a regular basis I'm sure have heard me whine about not having been on a vacation in years. Well, maybe next year I'll see the beach. But, this year, Gary, Lucas and I hung out in Columbus and did so much together. It was a great time. We hung out with our families, went canoeing just the two of us, out to dinner with some friends, took Luke swimming and other fun water activities ... taught him to ride his bike, which even with training wheels Luke has resisted. Here are a few photos of the week ...





This is my family's family reunion on my dad's side.

This is Lucas and Lilly at Gary's family 4th of July get together.

There goes the big boy riding his bike. Of course, I made him put all the gear on. He did so well we took him to a park and let him just ride all by himself while we actually sat down and watched.

All summer Lucas has been writing his name, but I haven't taken a picture. So, here you go ... I can't believe he is old enough to be doing this! It's amazing to me!

I don't get a chance to go to the pool too often, but Lucas had a lot of fun. Some of the other kids were more brave than he was (jumping off the side without the help of their mother), but he had a smile on his face the whole time.

I am not sure what posessed Gary to do this. I suppose there must've been a few dull moments.



This is Easton Mall. Lucas had a blast once he got up the bravery to get in the water.

4th of July at my parents house. There is nothing more fun than watching Lucas play with his cousins.

This is Lucas at Popcorn Pops (picnic accompanied by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra). They put on a few shows for kids - that nights theme was super heroes.