cincy road trip - sunday...

what started as 7 friends in kentucky together has bloomed into 5 happily married couples with 8 beautiful children!  i look forward to many more gatherings with these wonderful people!

we loaded up in the car and max was ready to go with all his snuggle buddies! :)

it was a LONG trip home...but we made it and would/will do it again in a heartbeat!

cincy road trip - saturday...

saturday morning all 16 of us headed to the zoo.

my little dude was READY TO GO!

we love going to zoos together, so it was fun to explore a new one.

we checked out the giraffes, flamingos, and elephants.

we watched a cheetah demonstration and then headed to the playground.

max was "shooting webs" while climbing on the webs.

look at that concentration! :)

after the playground we split up.

some kids were done being at the zoo, some just wanted to play, and others wanted to explore.

max and i decided to stay and look at more animals.

we checked out the snow leopard.

max couldn't believe how close this guy was to the window!

the eagles (of course!)

we also saw tigers, the reptile house, alligators, and monkeys.

after the zoo, we headed back to the beardlee's for lunch and play time.

some of the boys played cars,

max and lydia worked on a puzzle,

and they played in the tent.

it was so cute to watch them all interact with each other.

max also decided that all these birds needed to live in this "house" together! :)

we stayed through dinner and then we headed back to the hotel, did some swimming and got ready for bed.

then all the parents met in the lobby, watched the olympics and just relaxed.

so blessed to have such wonderful friends!

cincy road trip - friday...

friday morning we woke up and loaded up for the remainder of our drive.

max had his minga-minga and we were ready to go!

we drove straight to the beardslee's house and hung out for a bit.

we headed to the hotel when timmy and jp were ready to nap.

our friends started to arrive shortly after us.

we did some playing, some swimming, and some catching up.

since the beardslee's didn't have to travel, they decided they'd provide the meals.

they brought over yummy pasta, salad, breadsticks and brownies.

it was YUMMY!

with so many kids, we left a mess...so max thought he'd help with clean-up!

it was a nice first day to just talk, have a few beers and spend time with some of the most amazing people i know!

cincy road trip - thursday...

max and i loaded up in the car a few weeks ago and headed to cincinnati for our annual get-together with my friends from my time volunteering in kentucky.

he was set with toy story and his own little can of pringles.

we drove all the way to the edge of wisconsin and stopped somewhere i've always wanted to visit...the jelly belly factory.

we loaded up on the jelly belly express for the tour.

me and my buddy.

he gave me a thumbs up before the tour started.

i don't know if either of us would have given one at the end.

it wasn't as cool as i had hoped...but it was still interesting.

the store was much more exciting.

there was so much to look at...and to taste!

i got us each our own customized bag of jelly belly beans.

max choose cherry and watermelon, drew wanted pear and buttered popcorn, and i got toasted marshmallow and cappuccino.

max really wanted this hat...but i just couldn't bring myself to purchase it.

after all that excitement and then lunch, max took a snooze in the car.

we stopped just north of indianapolis and stayed at a "hotel, motel, holiday inn."

(that's what max calls them!)

we found the packer pre-season game on espn...so we decided to order a pizza!

we got all set for a picnic on the bed.

at half-time we changed into our suits and went swimming for a bit.

after swimming we got ready for bed and watched some more of the game before we fell asleep.

it was an awesome, laid back, no schedule day.

i'm not usually a "no schedule" kind of girl...so it was fun to just relax and make memories with max!

fun at the lake...

sunday after the wedding, we headed to the johnson's lake house for a little bit of fun!

max really liked the ride on the "slow" boat.

we took a ride around the lake, saw an eagle's nest, and relaxed with our friends.

baby audrey enjoyed the boat ride too!

me with my handsome hubby!

max even got to drive for a little bit!

max loved the hammock...he especially liked snuggling with audrey! :)

we spent the night in our camper and enjoyed spending time by the lake!

lindsay's wedding day...

the wedding day started off with all the girls getting ready at the cottage.

ashley, the girl who normally does lindsay and my hair, travelled up to door county to do our up-do's.

i loved my hair and was so glad to have someone that i trusted!

linda and i secured lindsay's finishing touches...the veil!

lindsay and evan saying their "i do's!"

max got to hang out with grampa mark during the ceremony.

i think i had the cutest date there! :)

hannah and teddy were such great helpers with max and hayden!

max thought the butter flower was an appetizer.

funny and gross at the same time!

me giving my speech that almost didn't happen.

i misplaced my note cards and had a little anxiety attack.

they were finally tracked down...i had left them in a bag in pam's car!

me with my dad.

he was able to come and be the dj!

dancing to "we are family!"

max tore up the dance floor ALL NIGHT!

i love that he was moving so much that his tie was flying everywhere!

he danced until he couldn't stand anymore.

he would come and slump himself over a chair for a bit.

then once he'd collected enough energy...he'd go back out for a bit!

he sure has some sweet dance moves!

it was a beautiful wedding, a fantastic dinner, and a great party!

congrats mr. and mrs. perrault! :)

rehearsal dinner...

after lindsay and evan's rehearse at the church, we headed to the bay for a ride of the famous chicago fire boat.

max was so excited to ride on the red boat.

(red is his favorite color)

he is quite the goofball.

i'm not sure where this face came from, but it cracks me up!

i had to get a picture with my mom!

and one with one of my favorite people...diane!

i'm telling you right now, i don't know how i could love this little guy any more!

this picture was hilarious to take...ryan with all the short girls! :)

the boat ride was so fun.  everyone had a chance to chat, have a few drinks and relax.

after the boat, we headed over to letham smith for a delicious dinner.