Viva Las Vegas!

All I can say is... WHAT GREAT FRIENDS WE HAVE!! Our latest trip to Las Vegas wouldn't have been half the trip without the two awesome couples that were able to tag along with us. Here is a run-down of our fun-filled week in the city that never sleeps:

Monday - Flew in from Cleveland (4½ hours - yuck!) and ate at Fatburger for lunch. Stopped at the ABC Store and got a few necessities for the week. Hit the pool and/or the bed for a nap and then to Jimmy Buffet's Margarittaville for dinner. After dinner, we walked down the strip to Harrah's where they had karaoke from 6-9 and then the piano bar at 9. What an end to our first day!

Tuesday - Woke up and had a great breakfast of eggs and toast in the suite (thanks, Audrey). Then we made our way to the ticket booth to get same-day tickets to the Cirque du Soleil show "KA". After piecing for lunch and hitting the pool again, we walked to the MGM Casino and ate at Emeril's New Orleans Fish House (yummm). When our bellys were full, we then made our way to the KA Theatre and saw an awesome show - complete with people flying through the air and rapelling off the walls.

Wednesday - The day of much walking! Woke up once again to Audrey in the kitchen making pancakes. After breakfast, we headed out for the Venetian (which for those of you who know Vegas, is NOT a short distance from Planet Hollywood Casino near our resort). Then, since we were already at the Venetian, we decided to keep walking to the Wynn and cross the street to Treasure Island. After hoofing it back to the resort, we showered and dressed for Benihanna's Hibachi Grill at the Hilton for dinner. After eating, we decided that the piano bar was so much fun on Monday night, that we wanted to go back. Instead of going to the same one, we hit the Bar at Times Square in the New York, New York Casino where the pianists were even better. Great times!
Thursday - On our last day in Vegas, we decided to go south and hit the casinos we hadn't seen yet. Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur were among these. After our venture south, we got dressed for our last meal at Olives (at the Bellagio Casino). Not only were we on a balcony overlooking the Bellagio fountains, but we were there when they were going off every 15 minutes! All I can say is WOW! If you are willing to drop a pretty penny, I have to recommend Olives to anyone traveling to Vegas. We ended our trip stopping at the Rio for the party in the sky and then finally at the Orleans where Matt and I walked away with more money than we started with (which is always a plus).

I couldn't have asked for a better trip or better company. Can't wait to do it again soon!

Big Sister!

Yes, it's true! Lexi is going to be a big sister. Matt and I are expecting our second child around May 2, 2009. It hasn't fully sunk in with Lexi yet, but I am sure as mommy's belly grows bigger she will become aware that there will soon be a change to life as she knows it. Hopefully next fall we can get her into a preschool class a few days a week so she can have her own special thing and we can have some alone time with the baby. Until then, we will just keep on living and she will continue to amaze us at the new things she says and does every day!

Labor Day at Van Wert Fair

We spent the Labor Day holiday at Gra-Nola and PawPaw Gary's house and of course had to check out the big county fair before heading home on Monday. Lexi was overjoyed! She experienced many "firsts" at the fair this year. We took off for the Baby Animal Barn. There, she saw piggies, puppies, chicks, ducklings, kittens, 2 sheep being sheared (and making a lot of noise), and even a baby horse! The next stop was the pony barn. It was pretty dark, so the pictures didn't turn out very well. The COW barn was next... yes the COWS! Finally Lexi was able to see and even touch a cow up close. After seeing the animals, we ventured off to find some food. Lexi had her very own corndog (the whole thing!) while mommy and uncle Benny shared a Texas Tenderloin. Lexi also liked the tenderloin and ate her fair share of it as well. She also had some of mommy's nacho chips (without all the topings) and several bites of elephant ear! It was a good thing we packed plenty of juice. After walking through several of the display buildings, we decided to head for home. Of course we couldn't leave without grabbing a bag of cotton candy. I will let you know how that goes as soon as mommy is brave enough to open the bag and actually give her some. What a great close to a busy and awesome weekend.

Double Dedication

On Sunday, Lexi met her newest second cousin Lillian Ginter for the first time. Granny hosted a double dedication service for the two Ginter children (Lillian and her big brother Connor). It was really nice and the weather was beautiful! Connor and Lilly's great Uncle Gary performed the dedication service outside in Granny's back yard under a big shade tree. You won't find two more proud parents than Andrew and Jessica (and what cuties they have!). With about 40 people attending, you can imagine lunch was quite a feat, but Granny outdid herself once again and everyone enjoyed quite the feast. Many pictures were taken and many memories made. Granny even got a picture made with not only her grandkids, but also all her GREAT-grandkids that were at her house! I can't wait until the next gathering of the Ginter family (hopefully sometime around Thanksgiving) to see how much all the kids have grown.

Oops!

It was time for Lexi to have her bangs trimmed. As you can see in the "before" picture, we have been combing them off to the side, but they still got in her eyes and it bothered her - so, mommy gave her a bath, washed her curly hair, and combed it so she knew exactly which hairs to cut for bangs. Lexi was so good and sat really still in her high chair while mommy took the comb and shoved hair down in her eyes. Then her eyes followed the scissors as mommy cut her straight, wet bangs. Then it was done! Of course with the hair being wet and mommy knowing full well that the bangs would curl up as soon as they dried, they were WAY too short (as you can see in the "after" picture)! Oh well, I guess they will grow. Also, to all of those Saris family members out there... do we have a new "CHOCOLATE FACE" in the family (again look at the "before" picture)???

2 Zoos and Lots of Animals!

Well, we were supposed to go to the Columbus Zoo on Sunday, August 17 with Abi, Brett and Izzy Fry, but had to postpone until the next Sunday... So we went to the Cleveland Zoo instead! It was a great day - the weather was perfect and the animals were out and about. We saw everything from bears to flamingos to elephants, and even the seals were swimming around. Mr. Polar Bear was tired and sleeping as you can see in the picture with Lexi and mommy. Lexi wanted to walk most of the trip, but did ride in the wagon for a few up-hill climbs. It was really good to have some quality family time. Needless to say, Lexi was tuckered out and slept on the way home (the whole 1/2 hour from Cleveland Zoo to our house). For more Cleveland Zoo pictures, see the Kodak site.

The very next weekend, just as promised, we loaded up a picnic lunch and headed out to Columbus for the day. We met the Fry family at their house and took off for the zoo. It was a scorcher (that means REALLY HOT!), but I think both the girls had a good time. After lathering them both with sunscreen, we set out for the animals. After riding in the wagon for awhile, they both wanted to ride the boat, so Abi and Bethany took the girls on the boat adventure while the daddys watched the wagon. We saw kangaroos, otters, manatees, and lots of reptiles (eewww). Izzy even had the courage to touch the Rat Snake they had at the touch-n-feel booth (not Lexi, though - she's too much like mommy). We feasted on a great lunch of tuna and egg salad sandwiches, pasta salad, grapes, goldfish, and lots of water! It was really great to spend time with the Frys and we hope to do it again soon. The camera was left in the van while we were in the zoo, so the only shot I have is on the way to the car with the girls in the wagon. Hopefully I won't be so forgetful in the future.

Cousin Kaity is ONE!!

Our last month has just been busy busy busy. Tate and Lisa's "Last weekend in July" party was crazy and fun as always. There was lots of good food and it is always so nice to catch up with all the relatives. Lexi of course loved the pond (and especially the slide). She also managed to spend some quality time with G.G. Eileen and Grandpa Bud.

Yes it's true... Kaitlyn is now officially one year old! It is so crazy how time flies. The weather was perfect, the cake was cute, and Kaitlyn was just adorable!! She ate her cupcake like a champ and even got a little messy (which is unusual for her - she is usually VERY messy!) Matt and Brittany hosted the whole clan (both sides of the family) at their home in Perrysburg. It turned out well - everyone brought a carry-in dish. Kaity did take a time-out for a nap, but woke rejuvinated and ready to go.

It is already getting hard to remember things Lexi was doing at 12 months. I know the time has also flown by for Brittany and Matt. Well, I am sure you are just dying to see more pictures of Kaitlyn on her birthday, so go ahead and click on the Kodak link and enjoy.