Aloha!

May 1st through the 7th we had the amazing opportunity to vacation in Maui!! Matt's employer has a recognition program called the President's Club and when someone reaches that level they get a free trip to an unnamed location. Well Matt achieved the President's Club status and got the trip!! This time it was to beautiful Maui, Hawaii. We were stoked!! What an awesome surprise! We had a blast and we were even more excited about the location because our great friend Timara lives in Honolulu so she was able to visit us for a few days as well! 


So not only did we get this incredible vacation for free but we stayed the the Four Seasons..... it was sooooo luxurious! This is the Serenity Pool that overlooks the beach and mountains. 

 Getting ready to go snorkeling!

 beautiful sunsets

 one of the pools at the resort

Matt with his coworker Rob

Awesome Luau!

Timara!!

We spent a day in Lahaina and did a little shopping... 

This is the popular Banyan Tree...it sprawls about 1 or two blocks along the Lahaina coast

Timara and her boyfriend Nate, aren't they a cute couple? :)

And lastly this is part of a huuuuge lava field we visited on the last day... it was very impressive. This would be a blow hole in which the ocean water shoots through and looks like a whales blow hole. 

It was such an amazing trip and I'm so thankful to my husband for doing such an amazing job so that we could enjoy this amazing vacation!! AND thanks to our family for taking care of Owen while we were gone... we obviously couldn't have done it without them!!

tick tock, tick tock

I am so tired these days. I'm having a really hard time focusing on work when all I want so badly is for this baby to arrive. I know, I should enjoy this time while I have it because once this baby comes the silence will be gone forever! I had my 36 week doctor appointment yesterday. No progress has been made as of yet... meaning I'm not dilated. The baby's heartrate was 155. He or she has definitely dropped at least a little bit which is so very nice because I'm able to breathe a little easier! :)

Over the past couple of weeks I've been so lucky to have had two baby showers! One thrown by some very dear friends of mine and another was a dual shower at work with my friend Meredith who is due a week before me. How lucky we are! Here are a few pictures from the first shower on 2/28.

This is my friend Michelle, she made the cute tiered cake with the little pregnant lady on the top!! It was so delicious too. She is so stinkin' talented... love this girl!

Everyone was encouraged to decorate a onesie. Oh my gosh they are priceless!! It was such a great idea and it will be a wonderful memory from the shower each time the baby wears one. How sweet! :)

Ah yes, the belly string game... let's guess how big you are! This is Ellie, my cousin's daughter, trying her string on for size. She did a good job guessing!

My wonderful friend Valerie made a cute-as-can-be diaper cake! We will definitely be using those here soon! Thanks Val, you're the best! :)

And last but not least, are the amazing party planners! I know these girls put a lot of work into making it a beautiful shower and I can't thank them enough!! I am so incredibly lucky to have such great/amazing/sweet friends!!! :)

Birthday's are fun!

This past weekend was a great weekend filled with lots of friends and family! Saturday was my best friend Kathy's 30th birthday. I wanted to make it a very memorable birthday so I planned a few surprises for the big day. First off I showed up on her doorstep to sweep her away for a few hours of pampering! Our friends Amanda, Des were in on the secret as well and joined us for manicures and pedicures at the Aveda Institute in Columbus. We had so much fun!!! Who doesn't love getting pampered?! :) So the plan for later that night was that Kathy would think her and her fiance Jonathan were just going to come over to our house for dinner. On the way over Jonathan was planning to stop at a wine shop in Worthington to pick up a bottle of wine to bring over. When they came in the shop, SURPRISE! There was a party of friends waiting for their arrival. She was totally surprised. Yay, my plan worked! What a fun night! :)

I hope you had a wonderful birthday Kathy! Love you! :)

I am sad, however, that we missed the wedding of our dear friend's Jim and Jenn. They planned a destination wedding in Vegas and we were unable to make it... not for lack of want but funds and the baby bug bit us. :) (but I do love that little baby bug) I hope you had wonderful, amazing, gorgeous wedding Mr. and Mrs. Russell!!

last but not least

This past weekend was the last of our graduation parties. Saturday my cousin Nate had his high school graduation party. It was SO great to see the family! I really only see my Dad's extended side of the family at major family functions... so it's hard to catch up on life when you only see them every 6 months, so it was wonderful to be able to chat with the cousins and grandparents. Congratulations Nate!!!! Love you!:)

My dear friend Valerie also graduated this past Sunday from Otterbein. That girl has come along way. I am so proud of her and all she has accomplished... AND she's going back to get her MBA. Congratulations girl!! You rock! :)

So in the midst of catching up with my cousins and hearing about all the cute stuff their kids do and how my cousin Kylie is expecting again (with her 4th child!!!! yowza! ) I began to think, what do I have going on, I mean really? I am extremely happy with my life but I guess I'm just needing a challenge... something to push me to do SOMETHING. So I've decided I'm going to run a 10k. It's not HUGE news but it's something I'm looking forward to. I figured I can run 5k's no problem, I run 4- 5 miles average and feel pretty good... why not run 6.2?? Exactly, I'm just going to gear up for it and do it. I'm actually really excited about my little decision. :) haha, I lead such an exciting life!!!! The earliest 10k I can find around here is October (or after) time frame... but there are 4 milers. (kinda weird but whatever) So that's what I'm gonna do! Run a 10k! whohoo!

And now I leave you with some crazy pictures from our fun night at the Park Street Festival this past Friday night... hope you enjoy :)

This would be me, Stacey, Meredith, and Christy

Sweatin' to the Oldies???

kisses!

Meredith looking like a purana (sp??)

Matt's dancing because he wants some 'street meat' as we call it. (i.e. gyros) hahaha!

and last but not least... our entertainment of the night... Stacey & Meredith singing their ghetto fabulous song. Good job girls!

Birthday, Graduation, and other fun stuff

I was by no means excited for my birthday this year. Alas, it was bound to happen whether I wanted it to or not. I am now a part of the '29 club' (as Kathy calls it). Oh yes, it has happened. 29 and holding! My family and friends were super wonderful to me this year.

My Mom, StepDad, and brother Glen all came over on Monday and we had dinner together. Something we don't do nearly enough. They were too sweet and got me a Camelbak to go with the NEW BIKE Matt got me for my birthday!!! It rides beautifully and I love it... what a gem! :) I definitely plan on using it as much as possible this summer... the bike and the Camelbak!

Tuesday, my birthday, Matt's Mom and StepDad brought me dinner. Matt's Mom made me a really cool wreath made out of wine corks. It turned out really awesome! She is so talented! It's fun to look at and see corks from the places we visited in California...brings back good memories!

Friday evening my dearest best friend Kathy threw together a little party with some friends to come over and celebrate my birthday. We grilled food, drank some wine, relaxed by the fire... it was a great time! I have the best friends... thanks everyone for coming!! :)

Saturday was my brother Glen's high school graduation. Wow, that just sounds so weird! My baby brother is all grown up! He plans to go to OSU Marion in the fall and study to be an xray technician. I'm proud of you Glen and I love you very much!

Glen and his cute little girlfriend Ashley

Sunday went to visit family and celebrate Matt's cousin's engagement! It was our first time meeting Christy and she was super sweet. Too bad I don't have any pictures of the cute couple. But I am super happy and excited for them!! Congratulations Dave and Christy!! :)

After our family luncheon we ventured out to Schiller Park with Jonathan and Kathy to watch The Three Musketeer's. Every weekend in the summer there is a play put on by local actors. Jonathan and Kathy's friend Bill is a lifer at this stuff :) so we just had to see him in action.

(that would be him i.e. Bill on the right)

Kathy enjoying the vino... and the show!

Very fun and we will definitely be going to the other shows later this summer!! If you've never been you must go check it out!

So after that busy week and weekend.... I need a weekend from my weekend!