Our Soccer Player!

Despite a few tears at first, we now have a soccer player!  Lexi's first practice came and went and she was smiling at the end!  There are 10 Kindergarten children on her team - The Timbers - and her coach (Coach Mike Foster) is actually the Copley HS Band Director!  I think she is going to like soccer.  We shall see in a few weeks when she actually has a game!

Lexi goes to Kindergarten!

Well, the time has come!  Lexi got on the bus this morning for the first time!  No tears, but we will see how her day goes.  Hopefully we make it through the morning and back home with no tears!  She is growing up!!!  Good luck Lexi and Mrs. School and hopefully it will be a wonderful year!

Clear Lake '12

Last weekend, the Saris family traveled to Fremont, Indiana to spend the weekend with the Culler clan!  We love our yearly trips to Clear Lake and the girls look forward to swimming, riding on the boat, and playing with the Culler boys for a whole year!  This was Alli's first trip and she did extremely well!  Erin got in her cuddle time and Alli took her first boat ride.  It was a little chilly for tons of swimming and the girls didn't so much like the tubing this year (they liked it last year).  However, we still managed to have a great time with some great friends.  Can't wait for you to come our way this winter!

Maely's Baby Shower

Last weekend, the girls and I traveled to Haviland for 2 nights to attend Maely's baby shower.  There was a great turn-out - close to 50 people!  All the decor was so cute... animal theme.  Marty and Shannon even constructed an Ark complete with rainbow to house all the books and cards that were brought by shower-goers for the new mommy and baby Nick.  We had lots of good food (and lots left over).  I especially liked the table set up to decorate onesies for Nick.  There were some REALLY cute ideas put onto the onesies.  Nick will be a stylin' dude!  Thanks to everyone for coming out and congrats to Maely (and of course Garrett, too).  We can't wait to meet baby Nick!

Alli's 6 month photo shoot

Well, they are growing up fast! We took the girls to Portrait Innovations this morning for Alli's 6 month pictures. They did very well (except that Alli got quite tired of photos towards the end). I am pleased with how they turned out for having a 6 month old, a 3 year old, and a 5½ year old! As I was putting them on my computer, I couldn't help but look back and compare their "tub" shots and how they all look alike/different. Enjoy the comparison between all 3 girls at 6 months old and then also all the pre-edited pics from today!

Lexi - age 6 months

Jill - age 6 months

Alli - age 6 months

Chicago!

Matt and I celebrated our anniversary just a few weeks early this year.   We had decided way back in August to plan a trip to Chicago with another couple who are great friends of ours.  So, we were on the road by 8:30 am Friday morning headed to Montpelier, Ohio to drop off the kiddos.  Gra-Nola and Papa Gary met us at Kay and Jim Fackler's house (Nola's cousin) just around 11:30.  We were only there for about 20 minutes and then were back on the road toward Clear Lake, Indiana (where Ben and Erin Culler live).  By 12:45 pm, we were on our way to Chicago with Ben at the wheel.  Just a few hours later, we arrived at the Inn of Chicago - just off the Magnificent Mile - for our 2-night stay.  We grabbed a drink and some appetizers at Timothy O'Toole's Pub (best guacamole - EVER!) and walked down Michigan Avenue until we were ready to eat dinner.  We found ourselves at Gino's East to enjoy some Chicago-style deep dish pizza.  It was excellent!  Then we had some extra time until the Comedy show, so we ventured to the Hancock Building where we rode the elevator to the top and enjoyed a drink at the Signature Room.  By 10 pm we were at the Up! Comedy Club to enjoy comic Rob Riggle.  Late night for us since we were still on Ohio time!
On Saturday, we first enjoyed breakfast and coffee at The Corner Bakery and then hit the shops!  I found a great pair of shoes and we of course had to go to the Disney store and get T-shirts and stuffed animals for the girls.  Lexi scored a Perry the Platapus and Jill ended up with Scully (from Jake and the Neverland Pirates).  Alli came up empty-handed... I don't think she will mind too much this time.  All that shopping worked up an appetite, so we made our way to the Grand Lux Cafe.  So yummy!  Matt and I just couldn't stop ourselves from moving on to The Cheesecake Factory for a slice each 'to go'.  Next came a much needed nap in our rooms.  After we were well rested, we got changed for our dinner at Mastros - surf-n-turf!  Matt ordered swordfish and I got the petit filet.  We stuffed ourselves and then ended the night at the Redhead Piano Bar. 
Great times were had by all and we can't wait to plan our next adventure with the Cullers.  We left Sunday morning with a quick bite and coffee from Dunkin Donuts and made our way back to Perrysburg to meet up with the kiddos.  Huge thanks to Nola and Gary for keeping the girls for 2 nights.  Hope they weren't too bad!
I'm ready to go back, but my pocketbook says we need to keep it to once or twice a year! HAHAHA! Enjoy a few pics!

Graduation, Baptism, and Memorial Day!

Well, I know it has been awhile since I last posted, but we have been BUSY!  We now have a Pre-School Graduate, a baby that is baptized, and a (getting there) soon to be potty-trained 3-year-old!  Lexi graduated from Montrose Zion Christian Preschool on Sunday May 20 with 14 of her friends.  Each child received their own Story Bible and the preschool received a wonderful gift from the parents to celebrate their 5th year in business.  Then on Wednesday, the whole preschool went bowling for their last day together.  The grads were recognized and each received a 'diploma' and sang a few songs for the parents.  What a great 2 years it has been for Lexi.  She has made a LOT of new little friends and I just hope we can keep in touch with some of them.

On Saturday afternoon, we ventured to the Diller farm in Columbus Grove, Ohio.  The Dillers attend St. John's Church where Papa Gary preaches and had been telling Gra'Nola to "Bring the kids over next time they are home", so that is just what we did!  The farm houses 2 miniature horses, about a dozen lambs, 2 dogs, and a BUNCH of new little kittens!  The horses and the kittens were the biggest hits!  Kaitlyn was fearless and loved on the lambs and by the time we made it to the garage with the kittens, Lexi was also in love!  It was so precious watching the girls hold the kittens (Kyle however tried to pick one up by the tail)!  Thanks to the Diller family for letting us come and have fun with your animals.  We will have to come back in the fall when it isn't so hot!

Then, just this past Sunday May 27, Alli was baptized.  Papa Gary once again did the honors at Columbus Grove UM Church.  We were very fortunate to have MANY family members able to attend.  I really want to thank each and every one of them for coming and taking the time to celebrate the baptism of Allison.  We were especially glad to have Godparents Ben Ginter and Maely Alexander stand up with us during the service and promise to lead Alli in the way of the Lord.  After the service, we enjoyed an awesome buffet at the Red Pig in Ottawa.  YUMMMMM!

After our busy weekend, we celebrated Memorial Day at home (well, at least the girls and I did... Matt had to work).  My friend Michele came over and we took all 3 girls to the pool.  It was Alli's first pool trip and Jill's first time without a swim diaper!  We were there for 2½ hours and they didn't want to leave!  We packed a picnic lunch and enjoyed a very warm sunny Memorial Day.  The girls will surely sleep well tonight!