We really should have brought our Suits

So every other time Grandma Ewing has been out here it's been frozen, snowy, windy, icy and down right cold! So the kids and I were SUPER excited to take her to our beach, and our walking trails and show her why we love Lake Erie. I thought we were just going to have a picnic and throw rocks the first day out but ....... you can imagine how wrong I was with 3 kids a lake, a sandy beach and a BIG hole to fill up with water. I mean this stuff is important, no sacrifice to great to get that hold filled fast!

The next day Jack and I took her back to Presque Isle again to do some walking, see the bay and enjoy all the green trees. We brought Wally along and were surprised that he didn't scare off the family of geese we could practically reach out and touch! The flagship Niagara was out too so that was fun to see. Glad you could come enjoy a warm season this year Grandma!

Ithaca, we Hardly Know Ye

Grandma, Niagara, Palmyra, The Sacred Grove, Ithaca and Brady's Graduation ...... WOW what a weekend! We were excited to cram a bunch of fun into as many days as possible! Grandma was coming out for Brady's graduation from Cornell and we got to go to Ithaca one last time :-( It's so beautiful there, but mostly we are missing having family close that we get to see once in a while! We took a bazillion pictures, but here is a collage of a few of them and the general idea of fun fun fun!

And one of our best family moments, taken just outside the Sacred Grove.

Baby Abe and Ithaca

Grandma Ewing came out in March to meet new Baby Abe! Yes another flight east for her, she had time to wash her clothes and pack up again! We were all really excited to go to Ithaca and see the new little Chunky Spud and of course the B&B, I&A Ewing family! Eli was super proud of his new "little" brother 9lbs 3ozs! He was such a cute baby and is growing like a weed! The picture of Dylan by the TV shows his mario kart 1st place win, it's what he was doing while we were cooing over the baby :-)

I love Ithaca, probably not as much as Brady and Brooke do but it is a very unique and beautiful place that we've enjoyed visiting. Thanks for letting us invade you guys once in a while.

January ... The Fun Stuff!

New Years Party!!

We had a little New Years Eve party here at our place. It was fun! The kids of course had a blast running around, dressing up, playing games and staying up way to late. We ate (obviously) and laughed and played a few games with our friends. Wes was talked in to games to begin with, but was excused when he started drifting off at the table with cards in his hands. The kids ran outside and yelled Happy New Year for a while and then came in and started wrestling Andy, guess who won that fight?

January Snow Days !!

I don't know if you are aware but Reagan and Jack LOVE the snow! Dylan likes to sled and make footprints in his snow boots, but in most cases would rather be playing the Wii. Wes had a little time over the holidays and took the kids sledding. Then while my Mom was here helping out she got to re-live her Canada childhood in the snow! Reagan really had a great time with her building snow people and a little throne for she and Wally. Jack just really likes to wear his mittens and eat snow, yuck, stay away from the yellow!

Grandma Bev Came !!

As I mentioned earlier we were so lucky to have help from our Mom's while I was recovering! Couldn't have done it without them that's for sure!
While my Mom was here Wes decided to get me out of the house and take us to breakfast. We went to this locally owned place called Dominic's, it was really yummy. They had a frog statue and a fish statue inside so the kids had to have a picture. (there are a lot of these frogs around town but most are outside) They also had a painted mural of Erie on the wall, we love these old places in town. It was dang cold during her visit, Grandma Bev hadn't been here in the winter before. (and may never come again!) We had to stop by the frozen bay to show my Mom the ice fishing huts, I think she thought it was kinda cool. And Wes and the older 2 kids took her to an old Church in town that has some really beautiful windows and features. We also had hot dogs and smo'res in the fireplace downstairs for F.H.E. with Grandma, the kids Loved that and can't wait to do it again. Hopefully she had a little fun and it wasn't just work, work, work while taking care of us. It was great having her here! Thanks Grandma Bev!

Grandma Ewing Came !!

The day my Mom left Wes's Mom came to help, we really are blessed. It was great to have her here with us. Unfortunately for her this was her second winter visit to Erie, we need to try for a spring or summer visit so she isn't to bias, and frozen! She and Wes got to go see Avatar one night, and the next week she watched the kids so me and Wes could go on a date. (to see Avatar, apparently Wes liked it) Wes also took Susan and Reagan to a Greek festival where Reagan ate some little hamburger and rice wrapped in a grape leaf thingy, I was impressed that she tried it. They also took a swing by the old Church with the cool windows in town, I really need to see inside this Church. And Grandma also bought the kids a fun new Wii game called Out Door Challenge. It's a really cool game where you have to jump, run, lean, slide, stomp etc. to win fun games. The kids LOVE it, and I love seeing them play, they even do the team setting once in a while and work together! WOW! It was great to have her here taking care of us, I hope it wasn't to exhausting, next time in the summer ..... hitting the beach! Thanks Grandma Ewing!

While Susan was here the kids had their first basket ball games, it was SO fun to see them play. Wes snapped a few shots, and I am now wishing I had the camera and video camera at ever practice and game since then. Last practice Dylan made a basket (you should have heard the cheers!) and during his last game he dribbled the ball all the way down the court twice. Reagan was on FIRE her last game, she got 3 rebounds and made 4 of the 8 points to help her team win the game! The only girl to score all game! The love playing basket ball :-) January was a great month that's for sure.

Grama and Gramps and Fire and Camps

The first of October my parents drove 2,500 miles from Utah to Erie PA for a visit. My sister told me that my Dad said "Nothing sounds like more fun to me right now than a road trip" and my Mom's response was "Sounds like Hell on Wheels to me"! Those of you who know my Mother will know that she reserves swearing for the utmost of important occasions, so this was big! They came across the land in "the rig" their dually Chevy diesel truck with the camper on the back. It was a beautiful time of year with leaves changing and plenty of places to stop along the way. It took them about a week to get here, and about 4 days to get home. The kids were thrilled to see Grandma and Grandpa and of course play in the camper. Me, Reagan and Dylan spent a long and rainy night out in the camper with only about 10 "we are going inside moments" .... but we survived the night and came in for breakfast bright and early.

We hit the beach one night for a hot dog roast. There wasn't a sole in sight it was nice spending our time; running around, playing with the frisbee & sticks, eating, throwing Wally in the lake and trying to keep Jack out of the lake.


The folks were here over General Conference so they got the experience of watching it online with us. We have a windscreen I mac and once we got Conference to load (in English not French) it was great. We also did our share of sitting around watching the cute kids while they were here! Reagan did a little TaeKwondo for us, Dylan did some Light-saber moves and Jack showed his talents by eating things and getting into stuff. (pretty much his everyday) We also got to hit the Quaker Steak and Lube, and Wes had some time away from studying to come with us, YEAH! Thanks for the visit Grama and Gramps!
Glad it was warmer this time around :-)

Easter 2009

 

This was a fun Easter!  Jack was old enough to hunt for eggs and stop and eat what he found.  Reagan got a new Easter dress and Dylan loved the Easter sombrero that Grandma Bev gave the kids.  It was a nice day!  Good to take time out and reflect on the important things.

Kirtland Ohio

 

On the same theme .... the Grandparent trip.  We visited Kirtland Ohio on a sunny saturday.  None of us Ewings had been there before, my parents have but we hadn't.  It was fun.  

They had a bronze display up in the LDS visitors center about the life and Healing Powers of Jesus Christ, and that was really beautiful!  I am glad we got to see that while it was there.  If it comes near you go it'svery moving and really worth seeing! 

We had a nice picnic on the lawn in the sunshine and took the "abridged" tour of the homes and buildings that have been restored.  At the Whitney store after Jack's 27th attempt to grab, throw, escape and run we decided to bail and head up to the temple.  

The kids were excited to see the temple especially Dylan, he's alway wanted to go inside a temple.  I tried to explain that it's not owned by the Mormon Church and it's not being used like the other Temples but he was to excited to "see the inside."  

It was pretty cool to see how much work and love people put into their homes, the Temple, and things that were important to them.

We had a good time, looked at historical houses had a picnic, saw the Temple and tried to keep Jack from touching things!

Da' Zoo

One of our very favorite places is the local Zoo!  We bought a zoo pass and have already been 4 times since March!  The Erie zoo is just the right size and the kids each have their favorites there.  They were very excited to take G&G Bev to the Zoo and show them around!  It was cold as you can see from the hoods and blankets but still a fun zoo day!  

Dylan likes the bears, the chetahs, the tigers, anything spotted, and of course the train ride.  He's not a fan of the "smelly horse house barn"!  He also really liked the green house it was opened this time, and he thought it was really beautiful.

Jack slept through half of the trip this time.  He usually chases the ducks, likes the tiger and loves the giraffe.  He got to see the giraffe with Reagan and loved seeing him so close up!  He also loved the train, it was finally opened ...yeah.  Jack loves the zoo in general!    

The giraffe LOVES Reagan, we visited it 2 times and every time she went to the window it would bend way down to see her.  It only did this for her not anyone else!  It could have been the red jacket, but I think it was Reagan, it loved her!  Who wouldn't!  They sat head to head for a while, it was really cute! 

Beautiful Beach .... Jackets and All

 

Since we've moved here I've had about 3 people tell me how Erie has the BEST sunsets!  They have all claimed that they are in the top 5 in the nation, or world, or something.  One guy said it is because of the lake, something about air temperature and water reflection.  

My parents wanted to see the lake/beach while they were here so we thought let's time it right so we can see the sunset.  We had a lot of fun skipping rocks, (Grandma Bev finally got one to skip after about 30 tries) throwing sticks, and  enjoying the beautiful lake and sunset.  It was a nice sunset.  I don't know how it would rank but it was pretty.  We have been pretty spoiled the past 4 years living in Southern Utah.  We had gorgeous red rock sunsets out or front door most nights during the year!  A fun time on the beach for sure.

Chalk and Spokes, fun in the driveway

It was so fun to have Grandma Bev and Grandpa no hair come visit.  

We got to do a lot of fun things and the kids really enjoyed getting a LOT of attention!

Thanks Mom and Dad for coming.  And thanks Mom for staying on a little longer and helping me with sooo much.  It was nice of you and so great!

Here are a few pictures of the older 2  Riding Bikes and coloring chalk in the driveway with Grandma.  Grandma Bev even went for a short spin on Reagan's bike.  The weather was good and I am glad it has finally been nice enough to be outside and enjoy spring.