Surprise trip to Hocking Hills for my (early) 31st birthday

My husband, Sam, surprised me this past weekend with a "mystery trip" that he's been planning for months. About a week ago he finally broke the news to me, mainly because I had a work conflict that I needed to rearrange, and he was scared to pack for me (as any man should be for his wife), and he was also afraid that if I didn't have time to mentally prepare for leaving Charlotte that I wouldn't want to go! This trip was after all my first time leaving her overnight in 14 months!

My mom came up Thursday night and we went over Charlotte's schedule. Friday morning Sam and I were off - the destination still unknown for me at this point! As we traveled south in Ohio Sam kept asking me if I knew where we were headed. "I haven't a clue," I'd reply. And truthfully I did not! As we pulled onto Honey Fork road, I saw a sign for Hocking Hills and realized we had reached our destination! We had a beautiful house for the weekend, complete with a hot tub, pool table, and cute lodge vibe. As Sam and I started making our weekend "witch's brew" - a concoction of whiskey, cinnamon sticks, and apple cider (delicious!) he asked if I wanted to go outside. In the driveway I found Amy and Colin, two of my favorite friends. A little while later another dear friend, Laura B, showed up, and a little while after that my sister Samantha and her boyfriend, Klaus, arrived! I was so surprised and glad that they had all made the trek to Hocking Hills for my (early) 31st birthday celebration.

The first day and night we all just chatted, played games, caught up and utilized the hot tub. It was such a great time just hanging with my friends and making memories and laughing and being silly. Around midnight my dear friend Mallory arrived -- she had driven 7 hours from Virginia to be there. I was so happy she was there to spend the weekend with us.

dear friends

my loving husband

The next morning, Sam told me he had another surprise for me. As we drove on crazy country roads we finally arrived at the Equestrian Ridge Farm! Horseback riding! I was absolutely thrilled! I had an Icelandic pony growing up (my dad bought Christopher for me when I was 8 years old) and I loved him so much. It was great to get back in the saddle!

First the owners paired us up with our respective horses (I had Rocky!) and then we mounted the horses (I actually made it onto my horse without using the steps -- pretty good for being only 5"1) and started practicing in the corralled arena. I was a little nervous because I had an English saddle, and I was used to a country one, but I got the hang of it pretty quickly. Once practice was over, we set out! The trail ride was an hour and a half long and we could not have had a better day for the ride. It was 68 degrees, sunny, and the leaves and scenery was simply stunning. A few times on the trail I caught myself admiring the beauty around me and the simplicity of riding a horse.


Rocky, my horse for the day. He was a very good boy.

Our group had a few laughs on the ride too. Laura had never been on a horse before (she got Duke - who was "very polite") and Sam got Bo who was acting like a misogynist that particular day and had to stay in the back. Bo did try to take a bite out of Rocky when he got too close at one point! The owners/instructors rode with us and gave us hands on instructions, which I needed at certain points when we were going down a steep hill or over a soft, muddy area. All of the horses did a fantastic job and everyone felt at ease. It surprised me how well Sam and Colin took to horseback riding since neither of them had been on a horse before. About twenty minutes into the ride they both looked like longtime cowboys! Klaus was also a natural and he told me he used to ride horses often in El Salvador. It surprised me how responsive Rocky was to my commands and how sore I was when I finally dismounted! I would recommend the horseback riding to anyone who wants an amazing experience in a beautiful backdrop.

on the trail - we look like pros!

In all, it was a fantastic weekend. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband who would plan a trip like that for me, a wonderful mom who babysat my daughter, and amazing friends who would make the trip to be a part of it all.


plaid for days - country chic with my girls


the whole gang

P.S. Reuniting with Charlotte was fantastic and I gave her lots of hugs and kisses. :)

my 14 month old baby girl who loves her pumpkins

Moms: 12 Tips to Make it Through the Holidays

With only 64 days until Christmas, stores are already decorating their interiors and putting out the "hottest toys for 2014" lists. Read on for some of my best tips for how to manage it all without losing your cool.

1. Remember that it's not all about the gifts. My church announced they are starting to collect new and gently used bookbags for children in El Salvador. Not everyone has the same opportunities that we have. Instead of buying one more meaningless cashmere sweater, offer to sponsor a family in need this holiday season.

2. Take time for yourself. I know, I know. You hear this all the time. It's hard to find "couple time" let alone "alone time." My alone time typically consists of showering and drying my hair - what a treat! In all seriousness though, it's important to have quiet time to catch up on reading or two hours to get a massage and go to the salon because your roots are 3 inches long. Pick one day on the calendar and block it off as "MOM DAY!"

3. Take help when it is offered. For some reason taking someone up on their offer to help feels like a failure. I know I've had many friends and family members offer to help me out and I've never gotten back to them or just say, "It's fine, I am getting along great." Sometimes we need some help! If a friend offers to come over and babysit for an hour so you can go to the grocery store, doctor's appointment or to get some shopping done, remind yourself that you are not failing and reply, "Yes, that would be great. Thank you!"

4. Reconsider the visit to Santa. Last year I took Charlotte as a 4 month old and she was all smiles. I saw a lot of parents with older children though who were scared, screaming and crying. If your child is terrified of Santa, don't force them to sit on his lap. Ask your child what they would like to do! Maybe it is to go see Santa, but then they get nervous when their time is near. Remind them it was their idea to see him, but they can always change their mind too. Alternate ideas to the forced close proximity to Santa: snowball fight, build a snowman, bake some cookies together, create a keepsake holiday ornament with a recent photo.

5. Watch your favorite holiday movie with a glass of wine. My all time favorite is Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation. I think I have just about every line memorized at this point and it still makes me laugh to this day. The point is to watch something that makes you happy and reminiscient and it will be even funnier with a little buzz.

6. Set spending limits. Talk to your spouse/partner/significant other about what you can afford to spend this holiday season. Deciding upfront how much you'll spend rather than racking up credit cards with high interest rates is the better way to approach it. If you and your significant other decide not to exchange gifts this year to save some money (my husband and I did that last year) then be sure to do something small together. Even if it's just cuddling up together with some hot cocoa and watching your wedding video or looking at old photos together, it doesn't have to be expensive to be meaningful.

7. Start planning now to get holiday photos taken. I know it seems early, but I've already got my photo session booked for Nov. 1. If you plan to get cards in the mail and want some photos hanging before the actual holiday, best to get the outfit now and the photographer on the phone. Last year I waited too long and was rushing to get cards in the mail. This year I am thinking ahead so that come mid December I can be less stressed.

8. Try on your holiday dress a few weeks before Christmas/New Year's/etc. I made this mistake two years ago after I found out I was pregnant. I was barely showing but the dress my mom had bought me six weeks earlier no longer fit. I was hysterical and emotional and couldn't find a darn thing to wear - a recipe for disaster at 7 pm on Christmas Eve night! Even if you're sure the dress you plan to wear "still fits" give it a try. The worst thing to happen is my scenario above. Best case scenario is that you try it on, it doesn't fit, and you have an impromptu stop to H&M or Ann Taylor Loft in the works. (see #3 above for babysitting help)

9. Ask for what you want, not what you need. As moms, I think we immediately feel guilty if we want to indulge a little bit. This is the time of year to ask for something other than new cookware or bath towels! If you really want that $25 Nars Manhunt lipstick or $25 Diorshow mascara that normally you'd never think of buying, put it on the list! Maybe Santa thinks you look smoking hot with red lips and long lashes too.

10. Take lots of photos and videos. This may seem like a given but often times it's the day after Christmas, everyone is leaving and not looking their best, and this is suddenly when the family portait idea comes up. Make a timeline on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and be sure to schedule that family shot when everyone (including you) is looking their best. The little ones grow up so fast and it's nice to have those keepsake photos and videos to look back on as they get older.

11. Laughter really is the best medicine. If something doesn't go right (your child cries during a holiday concert, or ruins their fancy Christmas dress with a crazy poopy diaper) laugh it off! We've all been there. Make sure you have a few friends who you can share these experiences with because in the end perfection is boring. It's the little things that make the holidays memorable.

12. Keep Calm and Remember There's New Years! If Christmas means the entire family is in town visiting, schedule a low key New Year's Eve. Last year Sam and I rang in 2014 with a cranky baby (we later found out she had an ear infection) while watching "Finding Nemo" with a bottle of Prosecco. Giving your loved ones a kiss at midnight is sometimes the best part of New Year's Eve night (well, for me it is anyway.)

Christmas 2013 - Charlotte (3.5 months, and Bruiser, 5 years old at the time)

Fall(ing) Behind

Fall, fall, fall. My favorite time of year. The crispness of the air, leaves falling gently, and an adventurous soon-to-be 14 month old exploring this lovely season. We've been having a blast this fall, starting off with a visit to Mapleside Farms for the Johnny Appleseed Festival.

Charlotte and her two older cousins, Henry and Teddy, had so much fun running around the farm. We explored a corn maze - Henry led us through it! And we saw tractors and a petting zoo and even had time to eat some french fries!

exploring the petting zoo

the three amigos!

Cousins having a blast

loving the pumpkin farm


Charlotte loved chasing Henry and Teddy around and couldn't get enough of the pumpkins. Grandma Jackie bought her a small one to take home, and mom was even able to snag some pepperoni bread! (score one for mom)

Next up we had a visit with some dear college friends and their 10 month old son, Rocco. Rocco and Charlotte loved experiencing the Cleveland zoo together in mid September. It was an absolutely beautiful day and we had so much fun meeting Rocco and catching up with Tommy and Adrianne. We saw all kinds of animals - everything from monkeys and snow leopards to koalas and grizzly bears! The Cleveland zoo is an awesome place for kids - I am thinking a zoo membership might be in order!

pointing to the elephants

mr. koala in the tree

saying hi to the baboons

fun at the zoo playground with daddy

weeee! zooming down the big slide with mommy

grizzly bear swimming in the water - check out his claws!

After the zoo we went back to our house for some downtime and dinner. We introduced Rocco to some of Charlotte's favorites - veggie straws and goldfish! Once dinner was finished (thanks to the guys for cooking grilled chicken, vegetables and red potatoes) it was time for Rocco's first wagon ride. Charlotte was a good host and shared her wagon very nicely with him.

wagon ride!

Early October brought on some sickness, which is the hardest part of being a mom for me. I hate when my baby is sick and there isn't much I am able to do for her. She had some sort of nasty virus (picked up from school no doubt) and a high fever. The doctor said to keep her hydrated and to use Tylenol for fever. This also conicided with Sam's annual guy's trip where they travel out of town for a Brown's game. This meant mommy was on call 24/7 which meant some long nights. Charlotte developed roseola from the virus, which meant more time out of school. They said there isn't anything you can do for the rash and that it isn't uncomfortable for the babies. Luckily it went away within a few days.

poor sick baby

Once she was feeling better, we took her to Mapleside Farms with the grandparents for round 2. Charlotte loved donning her new winter coat and hat and getting pulled around in her wagon!

family photo at the farm

grandparents

wagon ride

It's been a terrific fall season thus far...next up, a visit from Grandbirdy because mom is going on a "mystery trip" with dad. This means my first night leaving Charlotte (I am starting to mentally prepare now!) I will keep you all updated on how that goes and perhaps Birdy will be a guest blogger to share her experience watching Miss CharTot for 2 whole days solo!

Hope everyone is well and taking some time to enjoy the small things in life.

my little girl playing with her toys

fun in the leaves with her new pink ball

love this little pumpkin more than words can say!

Catching Up - Charlotte Faye Turns One!

It's been hard to play catch up lately, sometimes I feel like that's all I get done doing! That leaves little time for writing, but alas, I have a few spare moments so want to update the blogosphere on what is going on in our lives.

Charlotte Turns One
Charlotte turned one on August 26, 2014 and reflecting back on the year was extremely awesome and therapeutic. It's easy to have those days as a mom where you really doubt and get down on yourself. Looking at pictures from when she was a newborn and realizing how far Sam and I have come as parents since 1:19 pm on August 26, 2013 was amazing.




My birthday present to Charlotte was her one year scrapbook. It took me about 3 months and I won't even say how many hours to complete. When she is older I will give it to her to show what an amazing first year she had, and how truly loved she was from the very beginning. The scrapbook features events from her very first smile and bath, to her first big trip to Grand Cayman and Oak Island, North Carolina and everything in between.

Charlotte's first birthday party was a street fair theme. It turned out amazingly thanks in large part to the party planning awesomeness of my mom (Birdy). We had a unique space to work with - my skinny strip of grass and the driveway but we made it work! We had a popcorn maker, cotton candy machine, sangria for the adults and kids, and enough food for 100 people! Charlotte had a blast and friends and family seemed to enjoy the day! Some of the unique touches we implemented was the photo booth -- which everyone seemed to have fun taking photos with the old school Polaroid camera (purchased at Michael's). We also made a one year birthday banner and had photos and fresh flowers of her everywhere.

Here comes the bday girl!



And now for some more photos from the party...











And now for my favorite photo - nothing is better than snuggling with my peanut girl...Happy Birthday, Charlotte Faye. We love you!