Zakk and I went back to Ohio about a month ago. It was a bittersweet trip. Saying goodbye to Grandma Dee was difficult, but we are both so grateful that we got to share memories, tears, laughter, and hugs with all of Zakk’s family. We had some seriously delicious burgers, fries, and shakes and then (much to Zakk’s dismay, although I think he secretly liked it) watched Pitch Perfect, which was ridiculous and hilarious and a perfect way to spend a night with family. It’s been awhile since we have seen most of them and so I’m choosing to see it as a gift from Grandma that she brought us all together as a family. So thank you for that and for so much more, Grandma Dee. On our last day there, we went to the West Side Market and I had the most delicious gyro I might have ever eaten, which was a perfect way to close out our visit.
Zakk at the West Side Market
Steve’s Gyros at the West Side Market
Ruth and Emma at the West Side Market
From Cleveland, we headed down to Columbus to see my family.
Ohio
Sharing a home with my cousins, siblings, parents, and all the littles was so much fun!
Sweet Iris
Zakk and Sam playing action figures
SpiderGirl
Devin & Rylie watching the geese eat the bread they fed them
Papaw rocking Baby Alex to sleep
The card shark plays with the minnows
Cierra ~ tongue-tied and sock-tied
Aunt Carol and Baby Alex
I went to the Franklin Park Conservatory to see the butterflies with 4yo Sam and Zakk,
Zakk and Sam getting a closer look at a butterfly
Sam with a monarch butterfly in front of the crazy glass
ate delicious Chinese food (which is surprisingly hard to get in Portland) with the Hyde-Albright clan at Bobby Lee’s and got to be part of their dinnertime ritual of sharing one positive thing that happened to each of them that day, got my fill (and then some!) of delicious Jolly Pirate donuts, went on an adventurous and slightly muddy hike through the woods with my 6yo niece Rylie (who was very sure we were lost the whole time, wondered whether we might run into a homeless person, and then became excited and frightened when we came across a tiny shed that she was sure was one of the 3 little pigs’ homes which meant the wolf would be nearby),
Rylie walking along a log on our hike
hosted a glow stick/laser light dance party for all the kids,
Cierra showing off her handcrafted glow stick / laser light dance party costume
played very competitive games of Uno until the wee hours of the morning when we became delirious and someone very adamantly tried to make the color of play “blue” even though the blue cards (as well as all the draw 4s and draw 2s) had been removed from the deck to try to speed the game along,
Playing Cards – part 1
Playing Cards – part 2
went back to the Franklin Park Conservatory to see the butterflies with 2yo Ben, 6yo Cierra, 9yo Breanna, 12yo Mark, and Zakk,
Cierra, Breanna, Mark, Zakk, and Ben looking out over the butterfly garden
Ben & Zakk
Breanna and the Butterfly
Cierra and Breanna pose with a Monarch
and just generally had a ball hanging out and sharing meals with everyone at the lake house.
Zakk trying to dress a squirming, giggling Ben
Happy Baby Alex
Beautiful Breanna
Zakk and I had a wonderful time at our Ohio baby shower. So many people came out to celebrate with us and we feel so loved and so blessed to have been able to share an incredibly gorgeous day with everyone.
Yummy Cake
So Much Generosity!
Our Littlest Helper
Handmade Mobile complete with Whaki tunes from The Metzgers
Thank you to everyone who spent time with us and helped fill our trip with good memories.
We are so lucky!
A good time was had by all! So great to see many of Zakk’s family members. Always a good time at the Lake House with lots of family, Thanks to Carol!!! The two of you are going to be such awesome parents! You have had so much fun practice with the niece, nephews, and cousins who all love to see you both! No words can really express the joy I felt in my heart during your stay! Especially our quiet time just the two of us relaxing as you were talking about loving your pregnancy. Just wait the best is yet to come, parenting is truly the worlds greatest adventure!