Worth Reading!

We LOVE when people outside the "camp family" get excited about camp and are then, in turn, immediately part of the family! Here's a wonderful blog post from an accomplished author who is spreading the word about Flying Horse Farms and the other wonderful Hole in the Wall camps:

http://saralewisholmes.blogspot.com/2008/11/books-horses-and-camp-way-to-give.html


Reminder...FHF is scheduled to break ground in Spring 2009 and will be open for "business"---(that is, if you define "business" by lots of opportunities to play for amazing kids) in the fall of 2010! Jump on board and gallop along with us during this exciting adventure!

Home Again Home Again

We have returned from another WONDERFUL visit to California. Unfortunately we can't rave about the weather, the sunshine, or the time spent in the pool because Ohio was actually as warm or even warmer than the "sunny" state we spent the week in. But, we didn't travel for the weather...it was all about the company.
We played outside and took walks, Nick golfed quite a bit with my dad, we baked and cooked and ATE and played and played and played...

Helping Grandma with Christmas cookies!

Christmas morning!

Big girl underwear!!!---Stella insisted on putting them on immediately

Uncle Jimmy in his big boy long-underwear!---he insisted on wearing them all day indoors and out!

I am 19 weeks along now and am still feeling great. We have our 20 week ultrasound scheduled for next Friday. Baby is moving around and I LOVE being able to feel those little flutters!
We have officially wrapped up the basement remodel (photos to be posted soon) and are now on discussions for what to do to the main level and when exactly we're going to do it.
We're looking forward to 2009 and what it's going to bring. Hopefully visits from friends and family!

Santa Dance

No, this isn't on fast-forward!

A couple other favorites...

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'

Ok, I'm FINALLY getting around to the blog. The scoop since our last entry...I turned 30, had a WONDERFUL celebration in Cincinnati (although there isn't one photo to document the evening out). I got these in the mail from my amazing best friend, Amanda who knows me oh so well:

Nothing says 30th birthday like 12 chocolate covered strawberries all for myself! Don't worry...I shared!

I got new boots, that Stella decided to model:

And we have been to and from Palm Springs, California!

Stella's AWESOME Dora the Explorer tent from Grandma and Grandpa...a huge hit!

Helping Grandma cook...Stella's job was to unwrap the Hershey kisses...she didn't try to eat one until she heard that they were edible!

Another birthday celebration...I am officially 30!

Stella's best friend for the week, the beloved, Keisha

Stella would start out each day waking up and asking for "Keish"

A dip with Grandma and Grandpa

Almost everyone we got to spend the week with...cousin Kelly, Uncle Jeff, Aunt Ann, "the usual suspects", Grandpa, Uncle Jimmy and Keish...missing Grandma, Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma

All cleaned up for Thanksgiving dinner!

Mom with her sous-chef!

Dinner, dinner, dinner!

One of the 4 golf outings that week!

Miesen Family Circus...coming to a town near you!

Our brave, little fishy!

Ok, Thanksgiving is done...bring on Christmas!!!

A trip to the street fair

Finally...one with Great-Grandpa!

Modeling her apron from Great Aunt Julie!

And adding final touches to the tree

What's next? Well...this week life is somewhat normal. We're adjusting back to east coast time, wrapping up the basement remodel (it's going really well and REALLY fast!), enjoying our last week of music class, a check up on Baby....we're 15 weeks along now...
Then, we leave town again next week to celebrate early Christmas with Nick's mom, step-dad, sisters and husbands and kids. And then, we go back to CA again!
Here's hoping your holiday season is filled with as much joy and family and a little less hustle and bustle!