UNOH Getaway

Since both my dad and Jon are automotive instructors, we were invited to go to an update seminar put on by a local university. My dad has been going for like the past 15-20 years... but this was Jon's first seminar. The University of Northwest Ohio (UNOH) treated us like royalty! That's right... US! It wasn't just for the guys, the women were invited, and spoiled, too!
Day 1 -
Race car driving (real race cars or trucks of our choice!), go cart racing, pizza, etc. followed by a HUGE welcome banquet in the evening with 4 different cuisines to choose from.
My dad was scheduled to drive a couple hours before we were...


... but it would have been SO fun to be on the track together!!
Here's Jon and I walking down to the pits...

waiting...

getting all strapped into the trucks... (I was even going to drive my OWN truck!)


... and that's where the fun came to a screeching HALT! We were all geared up... hearts a pounding... and then it started to rain. So they shut down the track for the day... and sadly enough there was no driving experience for us!

We were then treated to a nearby hotel free of charge (for both nights!). We didn't pay a penny for anything the whole weekend we were at the seminar! Craziness!

Day 2 -
Guys : Update classes (which were really really good, according to the gents!)
Girls: SPA DAY! Delightful, I tell ya! Manicure, Pedicure, Facial, Make Up, Color Classes, and a lovely catered lunch. The evening banquet was just as good as the night before with costumes suggested to keep the mood light! We aren't the dressing up type, but with over $9000 in prize money (first place got $1000), we decided to suck it up and don a mask! The theme was "Disney, Cartoons and Comics."

We didn't win any mullah... but Jon did manage to win $200 by playing Family Feud!


Day 3 -
Guys: Update classes (both guys came home loaded with free "garage stuff" and said the classes were, once again, very informative!)
Girls : Go home and relieve the AMAZING friend who watched my babes for 2 days! At least that's what this mama did! The other ladies were treated to a day out shopping, seeing museums, and a big buffet lunch!

Thanks again Patty for being absolutely WONDERFUL with the girls, and for giving up two days of your summer to watch them! They loved it... Alia still jumps up and down at the mention of "Miss. Patty!"

My goodness... what a wonderful little getaway we had! Isn't it crazy what 1 or 2 days away can do?! We had SO SO much fun and look forward to next years seminar!!

Corn and Canning

It's been fun to be home while the garden is flourishing. We've been canning and freezing til the cows come home!
Beets, Beans, Peas, Corn, Tomatoes... the list will continue, I'm sure!

We had a new little member to add to our canning club.



My Grandma's corn recipe is SO SO GOOD. Gracious. If I could take back coolers and coolers of the stuff, I would! Seriously...




Mmmm... not to mention her pizza sauce recipe. We have freshly sealed jars sitting on the counter as I speak.


And since bringing trailers full of it back to Manitoba is NOT an option... I will be canning some as soon as time allows when we get back!

See that little Nuk?

It's never been too far from Larren. She's a little addict to say the least!
BUT... today she's going cold turkey. I've made it clear to her, myself, and all those involved that she is no longer going to have a pacifier!

And I must say... she's doing WONDERFUL! I'm actually really, really surprised how well she's done without it. So, see ya later alligator... there's a new girl in town!

Terrible Twos...

... I don't think so. I'm not buying it for a minute. Yeah, there's the whole "I do it! No, I DO IT!" thing and the occasional temper tantrum... but overall I love the 2 year old age. Love, love, love it.

Like today, for instance, Alia isn't Alia... she is "Skinny Minny Peanut Baby Hippo". Where she comes up with some of this stuff is beyond me!
Goodness... if only freezing time were an option!!

Take One

The cute little matching subjects were there. The props were there. The setting was there. The concept, the camera, the mommy behind the camera, the willing assistant (thanks again Erin!!)... but NOT the attention spans!
So... take two will happen soon, but here's a few pics until then. Because let's just face it... I don't have a very good track record in the whole "taking my kids pictures when they're the actual age that I say they are in the pictures" thing.

Throw and Repeat

Alia and Avery, my parent's lab, are pretty much best buds. Alia leads Avery around the yard...bosses her around, then gives her hugs... plays "fetch" with her... gives her doggie treats... and best of all (in Avery's mind, at least) throws Avery's ball into the pond. That last one may sound simple but it's really quite the process!

Step 1 - Make the trek out to the pond


Step 2 - Say "Stay Awey. Stay. Stay Awey."

Step 3 - Throw the ball as hard as humanly possible

Step 4 - Be careful not to fall off the dock in pure excitement over seeing Avery jump into the water


Step 5 - Avoid getting drenched as Avery makes her way out of the pond, and straight to the throwers (or photographers!!!) side, to shake all the water off!

Step 6 - Repeat. Again and again and again!

Who Needs a Tent...

... when ya have a clothes hamper?!
Alia just made herself comfy and camped out for awhile.


Pillow? Check. Book? Check. Water bottle? Check. Bonfire? Marshmallows? Dark starry night sky? Maybe next time!

Larren and Beer Update

Whelp... just got back from the Dr. and the treatments that we did last week for Larren's milk, egg, and rice allergies worked great! She didn't react to any of those things at the appointment today, but we did a few more tests for sugar, pollen, mold, etc. and she does have a mild allergy to pet hair! Just one more reason not to have a pet in the house, I guess!!

The Dr. did confirm that she's teething... which would explain why we've had a cranky baby the last couple of nights! All in all, I'm pleased with how she's doing (now that I know she's teething and not reacting to the foods I'm eating!!) and am SO glad we found these things out before they got worse!

As for beer... well, not so grand! I had an outbreak of hives (which I've NEVER had anything remotely close to in my life!) so we checked today at the Dr. and sure enough, I'm allergic to beer! It's a good thing I've never been too fond of the stuff! I'm going to continue taking herbs and would like to nurse Larren as long as possible... within reason!

Hopefully the drama is done and we can carry on as "normal" from here on out!

By The Way...

... we made it. I don't think I ever mentioned that WE'RE IN OHIO! We had a wonderful, wonderful trip. It went WAY better than I ever thought it would go! The girls were fabulous travelers, and I even managed to drive a bit while Jon caught some shut eye! It took us a little longer to get home than usual... 22 hours... but we drove straight through, we can only drive so and so fast! :)

And, as you can imagine... the girls are getting spoiled!

Larren is getting held by everyone who sees her... and getting tons of hugs and kisses on a minute by minute basis!


Alia plays and plays from sun up to sun down. There's never a dull moment... there's just SO MUCH stuff for her to do! Just in case she would happen to have a moment to twiddle her thumbs... my parents got her a few "treats" to keep her occupied...

She couldn't wait to try out the new pool... she went right in in cut offs!

Then we opted for a bathing suit



The pool even came with 6 cute little blow up fish!


Here is her surprise of all surprises... the "jumping bean", as she likes to call it!

At first she was in a bit of shock...

But she recovered quickly!



Gramma joined in on the fun too!

I'll keep ya updated, of course, but as ole' Dorothy would say... there's no place like home!!!