Emily's 13th Birthday

 Oh, to be 13 again!  I say that after turning the big 3-0 last week!  Those sure were carefree days, but you know I don't think I would re-live them - puberty was not to kind to Jenn!

But my sister-n-law is quite the opposite.  She is a beautiful, smart, confident young lady and celebrated her 13th birthday with her friends Saturday at Boondocks!  She even had boys there - I don't think I even talked to boys when I was 13 - haha!  Matt and I were asked to be the chaperons - I think because we are so cool...now that is!

 Here's Em with her very best friends! 

 I am now old enough to be a chaperon...

 See the boys!  The one wearing the grey sweatshirt is Emily's boyfriend - Henry!  So cute...

 They all enjoyed pizza, cake, ice cream, arcade games and laser tag.  But I think the most fun they had was driving the go-karts!  It was actually pretty humorous to watch them...

 A little scared to see what kind of drivers they will be like at 16...

Emily took me for a little ride as well.  She definitely has NO FEAR and whipped us right around that track bumping anyone in her way out of it!  It was a fun afternoon and I feel so special getting to share in Emily's 13th birthday.  Happy Birthday Emily - Love ya!

NASHVILLE

For my 30th birthday (which I celebrated last week - ugh!) we took a quick weekend trip to Nashville with our best friends Kole and Shannon!  I have always wanted to go to Nashville and visit the famous Honky Tonks and live my dream of being a "country" girl, and I could think of nothing better to take my mind off of turning 30 then partying it up in Nashville.  Nashville was GREAT!  Except for the crappy weather - which is always the case in my world - so we made the best of it and had as much fun as our 30 year old bodies could take...

 So Friday there was basically a tornado that went through Nashville - totally broke Shannon's umbrella!

 With the weather the way it was we decided to jump on the local trolley and tour the city.  Lucky for us, this was the first day for this particular tour and since nobody else was out and about we had a VIP tour of Nashville - Ottis our driver/tour guide took us "all around the city", I mean all around the city, even parts I am pretty sure the trolley was not supposed to go!

 Here's the tornado...

 Riding on the trolley was truly the best way to see Nashville - it would have been great to actually get off and enjoy the stops, but it still was worth it!  We went to numerous parks, museums, drove by Vanderbilt University and down Music Row - very interesting!

 Here's where we spent the majority of our time - the Honky Tonks!  It was so cool to walk down the street and hear live music coming out of every door way - such a great vibe, for us country folk!  Some very good memories in those little bars...

 After the trolley tour we grabbed some BBQ - yum - and then headed to Tooties where Kole knew one of the musicians playing - we were like his groupies!  He went and had some drinks, listened to the awesome country music and got our feet wet honky tonkin'

 Kole bought his CD - Josh Mauer!  Maybe he will make it big one day and we will say we saw him back in the bars! 

 After Tooties, we returned to the hotel room to relax, dry off and change for our night out.  Of course we did some serious drinking and got ourselves all prettied up to hit the town!  Kole had his drinking "cap" on, and somehow he ended up with my necklace on...

 Friday night will definitely be a night I will never forget!  Probably the most fun I have had in a long time, even Matt agreed.  We drank, danced, listened to wonderful Country music, danced and drank!  It was so FUN and the pictures say it all...

 We honky tonked all night (actually I think we were in bed before midnight), so Saturday was a VERY low key day.  We slept in - which was a blessing in itself - and then was able to finally walk around the city a little bit, although it was still freezing.  I wish we would have tried out this Pedal Bar - you always figure out everything after you visit - but when I return its on my list...

enjoyed some ice cream...

and shopping.  Matt bought cowboy boots - so SEXY!

 We rounded out the afternoon hanging out at "The Stage" which I highly recommend.  The bands were awesome along with the atmosphere and of course the drinks - just a great laid-back bar!  Another thing we learned after the fact - is it's better to get a table at the bars around 5:00 when the bands are changing and plan on hanging out there all night because by 9:00 you could not get into the place...

 We visited Wildhorse Saloon before we left Sunday - another great bar we will have to go back for.  I actually ate Fried Pickles here!  They were great - I always cringed at the idea of a fried pickle - but I guess anything fried, dipped in ranch dressing is good!

 I LOVED visiting Nashville - everything about it!  Even Matt said "Nashville is my kind of town!" 
We will definitely be back.  There is something different about the South - It was so nice to spend a couple days in such a laid back city with the nicest people ever - I couldn't believe how nice everyone was!  Nashville is like my "Vegas"!  I couldn't have asked for a better way to celebrate my 30th birthday or with better friends - so thankful Shannon and Kole made the trip - it would have never been that much fun without them (love you guys)! I would say I am a country girl at heart after this weekend. 

 It was perfect.  Now I wish I could just go back...

A Perfect 10!

It's true, Eli is a perfect ten!  And he is also ten months old - can you believe it?  Well, I can't.  I am pretty depressed at the fact that in a little less then a month I will be making plans to celebrate his 1st birthday - how sad - I just don't think I am ready to be done with the baby thing!  Eli has definitely changed and grown up a ton this past month becoming quite the little monster - but still so precious!

He has become VERY mobile and getting into everything!  The day after he learned to crawl he starting pulling himself up on everything as well - no time wasted.  Now he is grasping the concept of cruising around the couch, tables and whatever other objects he can move to and from.  He LOVES the stairs - Matt spent one whole Monday teaching him how to climb them and now he is a pro - still not real comfortable with the idea, but Eli is pretty proud of himself when he reaches the top.  Sometimes I forget how mobile he is and before I can turn around to install the baby gate he up the stairs - clapping for himself!  With Eli now mobile he is much more content then before.  Still loves to be in someones arms if they will allow him, but is much better at entertaining himself, which is quite a relief.

Ashtyn has taken a new liking to her little brother - I guess because now that he can move she thinks he's pretty cool and not so boring.  She hugs him, picks him up, helps him do things, kisses him - where was all this months ago?  But I love her finally embracing him!  He does however get into her things - even now more so - which she is never too please with, but I am sure that will always be a fight to deal with between siblings.  Eli LOVES Ashtyn just as much.  He kicks his legs when he sees her and will scream to get her attention.  If we say "Go get Ashtyn" he will crawl right into her lap!  They are so precious. 

 Eli's eating and sleeping have stayed consistent.  He had a week where he took three hour naps - Boy was that nice, but very short lived - I am thinking he had a growth spurt.  He still is eating oatmeal with fruits or vegetables, but is starting to get very bored.  I have tried introducing more foods, but he still has a hard time swallowing probably because he still has no TEETH!  Can you believe that!  I am hoping some will come through, but for now he is toothless!  His favorite snack is cheetos by far and always likes to taste things off our plates.  He still has no idea how to drink from a sippy cup - I guess we should work on this in month eleven!

 He is definitely a little monster and into everything - trash cans, toilet paper, books, purses...whatever he can get his little paws into he will.  I found a huge trail of toilet paper the other day leading right to a happy, cute baby boy who was eating it!  Lovely...  He also loves to turn on the water for the bathtub and play in it, until his hand gets too cold and the he starts crying!

Eli has all of us on our toes, and although I feel I am always one step behind and constantly chasing him, I love that he is mobile and finally getting to enjoy the world around him.  I am going to soak up every minute with him for the next couple months, because this is the last of my babies!  I love how much fun and personality Eli has now, but I am sure going to miss having a baby in my arms.  But I do remember how much fun Ashtyn was when she turned one - so I will just look forward to that!  I thank God everyday for you Eli - you are such a blessing - Love you!