Grandma Jane's Visit...

Grandma Jane came to visit a short while back. She arrived in time to celebrate Ryan's birthday...

It wouldn't be Ryan's birthday without an ice cream cake.  And just because he is extra special, we celebrated with 2 ice cream cakes this year.

I asked the birthday boy to pose with his cakes.  This is what I got....

Not really the pose I was thinking of - but whatever!

Not only was Grandma here to join in the birthday festivities, but we kept her busy throughout the week.  

We went bowling...

We took her to Quinn and Sullivan's most favorite place in all of the land.... the library!

We glued at least 1,000,000 (or at least seemed like that) pom-poms on a certain someone's Halloween costume.  We had quite the assembly line going.  Thanks Grandma Jane for all your help in making Q's costume so amazing...

Once the costume was complete, it was a must that we go out and show it off.  The Indy Zoo was hosting their annual Zoo Boo.  Quinn and Sullivan wanted Grandma Jane to be able to experience it with them.

The Zoo Boo was a lot of fun.  Lots of people, lots of excitement.  We only lost Grandma once in the crowds - thankfully we found her right away!  We'll call that a success. 

We spent our fair share of time out and about - but we also had plenty of down time.  We might have gotten about 2,048 rounds of Phase 10 and Skipbo in while Grandma was here.  So many good laughs around the table.

Grandma Jane, we loved having you here.  

You left us seeing love...!

Favorite Person

Sullivan was tasked by her teacher to write a short story about her favorite person.  They were using their iPads to write this little ditty.

My sweet Sulla Grace wrote this....

Don't you just love that illustration of me too?!?  

Her little ditty just melted my heart.  

Chicago Marathon

Scott ran the Chicago Marathon the weekend before last.  Ryan and I made plans to travel to Chicago to cheer him on, along with Abatha and Scott's parents, Kevin and Mary. It turned out to be a fabulous weekend - not because the weather was perfect for the 40,000 runners who ran the race, rather we will surrounded by our best friends celebrating a major accomplishment!

The night before the race we (spectators) enjoyed a few cocktails at happy hour.  

Scott enjoyed a Gatorade.

Scott researched his running route...

Kevin and Ryan studied the map and planned the different areas where we were expecting to see Scott run the following day. 

I was more than astonished to see the swarms of runners coming down the street as we exited our hotel.

I was even more astonished to know that over 1.7 million people serve as spectators throughout the race.  Incredible.  Mark the 5 of us among the 1.7 million people...!  

We walked, we jogged, we took the "L" from spot to spot.  All to see this incredibly courageous person run 26.2 miles. (in the neon tank top - far right)

When relying on public transportation to get us from place to place, all while the 1.7 million people are doing the same thing you are, you have to sometimes adjust your plans.  Plan A went to Plan B and so on.  I think by the end we were on Plan M or N (not literally - but it sure seemed like it)!

Amazing doesn't adequately describe how Scott did in the race.  We are so, so proud of him and his accomplishment!  Can't wait for the next adventure!

The Best Part...

Sullivan had her parent-teacher-student conference this week.  Her teacher requires the students to be present at their conference.  In fact, not only do they have to be present at the conference, they have to lead the conference.  They are in charge of their learning in the classroom, so they need to be in charge of communicating their learning to their parents.

It was quite apparent that their class practiced and rehearsed what they would talk about during the conference.  It was probably the best led conference that we have been apart of to date.  Lots of great information - lots of  self-reflection. Sullivan was undoubtedly very proud of herself - as were Ryan and I!

Outside their classroom was a display entitled, "The Best Part of Me" that they made in the first few weeks of school.  The children were asked to pick the one body part that they liked the most and write about it. One person chose their tongue because it allowed them to taste great foods, some picked their legs because the legs helped them run fast.  Here is Ms. Sullivan's pick...

Sulla Grace liked her hair the best.  I wouldn't have guessed that, but that is what is great.  Sometimes she surprises you!  Who can argue with all her reasoning!?!

We are so proud of Sullivan and the progress she is making this year!  

Keep up the great work, Bo Bulla! 

Singing and Dancing...

Quinn and Sullivan recently went to a show choir camp put on at the local high school.  They spent the day with the high school show choir members - who taught them all sorts of great skills.

They learned a couple of songs from the movie Descendants and then put actions to the melody through dance.  They had an absolute ball at this camp.

Sullivan's group preformed first...

(pink pants, front row on the left)

Followed by Quinn's...

(front row, left side - wearing blue and white pants)

At the end of the day, the parents were invited back for a mini-performance.  The performances were spectacular and each of the girls had a great time!

They were invited back later that week to the evening High School Show Choir concert - where they were allowed to go on stage and perform their routines for the entire crowd.

Nana happened to be here for that performance.  The girls couldn't have been more thrilled to have someone other than mom and dad there to watch them preform.  

Dear Santa,

We had a conversation with Quinn this week about her wishes and wants for Christmas.  These were not her exact words, but the jist of the conversation went a little something like this...

Dear Santa, 

If I ask you for a phone for Christmas, my parents said that they refuse to pay for a data plan for it.  They said that I am too young to have my own phone.  I guess that asking you for a phone is a waste of a gift.

So instead I guess I will ask you for one of these...

My dad still says that he isn't keen on that idea.  But he doesn't get to make my wish list.  I do.  Here is to hoping my wish comes true!

Love, 
Quinn

Still Searching...

In search of the 'perfect place' to take family pictures, we set off last weekend to tour another park.  Yes, I know I am being obsessive.  Yes, I know it is overkill.  Just choose a location, you say.  Easier said than done.

In the quest to find the right place, we went to a park called Potters Bridge.  Indiana is known for their covered bridges, and this park had quite the neat bridge.  It was built in 1870, which is incredibly hard to fathom.  

The girls were not quite feeling this whole let's-go-tour-the-parks-to-find-the-perfect-place thing.  I have to say that they were quite the troopers, despite how boring it was to them.  

They got plenty of goofy pictures in...

And some pretty cute ones too...!

Aside from the real cool bridge, this park didn't have much to offer.  It was quickly nixed off our list and we settled on a different location.  Now starts the obsessive clothes shopping venture.  Yuck, yuck, double yuck!!