An Ohio Labor Day!

Going into Labor Day weekend we didn't have any big plans because I figured Garrett would work all Saturday and Monday but we ended up having the best time!

On Friday night, the Flanders invited us to the Columbus Clippers baseball game! So I raced to go pick Garrett up so we could race down to the stadium. It was right downtown which was fun because we hadn't been yet. We met up with Matt, Gina, and their two boys Owen and Emerson. We sat in the lawn area and it was the perfect evening. I just couldn't stop thinking that. It is the perfect evening.

It was dime-a-dog night at the baseball game so we had some hot dogs, nachos, and popcorn. While the boys got concessions, Gina and I chatted and enjoyed the game. The boys went to the bounce house a few times during the night. Then we were entertained as Owen, Emerson, and a few random kids chased each other around with empty water bottles. We left being very happy. Owen absolutely LOVES Garrett so he was loved on all night long.

Then Saturday morning we got up and headed to meet up with Matt and Gina to go to the Ohio State Buckeyes Season Opener. Being here in Columbus on a football Saturday is like nothing I've ever seen before. Everyone is here is die hard fans. Whether people are going to a game or not they are in their red and grey. We knew that it would be crazy down by the stadium so we parked a little ways away and got and uber to get our tickets and walk across to the stadium. 

It was just a SEA of RED. It was nuts. 

We got there just a few minutes late and the other team which was Bowling Green had already scored so we were a little concerned and thought it might actually be a close game. It wasn't... It was so much fun being able to cheer so often because they scored so much. The final score was 77-10. 

The halftime show was AMAZING. Garrett was saying that he usually doesn't care or watch the marching bands but he was very impressed by this one. The alumni came back and marched with them and it was very impressive. We had a good time cracking up!

After about the middle of the 3rd quarter a ton of people started to leave and by the time it was the beginning of the 4th a lot of people were gone. It gave us a good opportunity to get some pictures. 

This is Matt and Gina. He is the co-owner of Greenix and his wife. They took us to the game and it was BEST time. No one else we would have wanted to go with. We had so so much fun and we are seriously still talking about it. So thank you Matt and Gina a million times. 

 

We stayed until the very last second. At the end of the game all the players go over, stand in front of the band and sing the school song while swaying back and forth. So we stood and sang the fight song while swaying back and forth. 

The day was beautiful. We were shaded until half time and the second half we were WARM but it was perfect. 

We thought that since so many people left that traffic wouldn't be as bad.. it was. It was insane. But we had some good laughs about the people tailgating. The tailgating was insane. 

Why would you want to sit in the Ohio heat and humidity OUTSIDE the stadium on a tiny tv instead of in your air conditioned home? I will never understand these Ohio State die hard fans. But I am becoming a fan and they are my team now.

After the game and traffic, we finally made it back to the Flander’s after picking up Chipotle we ate and scarfed our food down so fast. The kids wanted to play Pie Face (the game where you get whipped cream thrown in your face. It was going to be me and Emerson so I said I would go first hoping that it wouldn’t get me. I rolled a TWO so I was thinking that I would be in good shape. I turned it once and then on the second spin I got whipped cream right in the face. Emerson thought it was quite hilarious. That game is rigged. Garrett turned it on turns 5, 6, 7, and 8 and still didn’t get him. WHAT?

Garrett headed out to sell for a little bit and I stayed to hang out! We headed on a bike ride/Segway ride to the splash park. 

The ride there went well, the ride back not so much. You could say there were multiples and threats to leave them a couple of times. But we did make it! Then once we got back Matt taught me how to ride their ninebot segways. At first it is a lot harder than it should be but then Gina took me around the neighborhood and I got the hang of it pretty fast! They are so fun and addicting to ride! 

Then right when Gina and I got back Garrett came back from working so we said hello to the kids and chatted for a few minutes. Then next thing I knew Garrett and I were headed out on a Segway date. Gina and Matt hooked us up with jackets, flashlights, and the segways. 

We rode them down the bike path to a little local restaurant in downtown Hilliard called Local Cantina.  We shared buffalo nachos and dessert while we watched some football and chatted on the patio. It was so much fun!  

Sunday we went to church and then had Sunday dinner with the Flander’s, which was delicious as always. We brought a strawberry pretzel dessert that we used gluten free pretzels for and it was DELICIOUS. I’m still thinking about it! Everyone loved it. We have loved spending our Sunday’s with them. They have become our family away from family!

Then on Monday, Garrett went out to work early and then got home a little earlier since it was Labor Day. We laid by the pool and did a little shopping and then went to the House of Japan with the Flander’s for dinner. It’s a hibachi grill and definitely one of the bests. It was so dang good! I got the shrimp and seriously it was heaven along with the fried rice and veggies! YUM! Garrett got chicken and loved it as well! We left feeling very full and happy. Owen who is 6 got sushi for dinner and was cracking us up because he downed all of it! It was two orders of sushi! We were very impressed and surprised that he likes it so much!

Overall, we had a great Labor Day weekend full of fun with the Flander’s.

B-Town

After we left Lander we headed to Billings for a few days. A month away is just too long for my heart. It's going to be tough when we actually move to Iowa long-term.

Anyways, we always stay busy while we are there and the first day we were there, we took Graham to Hawthorne wading pool. We got up early and were so ready to go that we got there an hour before it opened. So we went to target and walked around there for awhile. Then we headed to the pool.
Two of my absolute fave boys hanging out in the grass. Graham loves loves loves Garrett and it is totally understandable.

We would snack and then swim. Snack and then swim. 

Graham absolutely loves the pool! It was the perfect day in the sun (minus my ridiculous sunburn).

I was so happy that Elle and Graham were still in Billings when we got there because I thought I had already said goodbye to them for the summer back in Rexburg. So I was pretty happy to be able to spend a few more days will my littlest boyfriend. 

Later that afternoon we ran across town to pick up Sophie's car and to find a gift for Emmett. We walked around Toys R Us and Graham tried out all of the cars. 

Then, my dad came over and met us. Sophie is OBSESSED with Jeeps and our family friend Greg Kemmis has a jeep that he let my dad borrow for the evening. So Garrett, Elle, Graham and I hopped in and drove home. Graham LOVED it. It was so fun! 

We were singing and dancing and then next thing we know Graham had his hands up in the air. 

After dinner, Garrett went up to the golf course with Payt to hit a bucket and my dad, my mom, Sophie, and I went for like a 2 hour drive in the jeep. We were JAMMING. It was so much fun!

On Friday we went to the Zoo. It's not the absolute best zoo and my cousin refers to it as a "Nature Walk" but anything with Graham is fun. There weren't many animals out but we took advantage of the selfie stick. 

 Graham got ahold of the selfie stick and his cheesy smile is EVERYTHING. I'm so in love. He was so happy seeing himself in the camera. 

We saw a few tigers and a few bears and fed the goats! Graham loved riding in the wagon and dumping water on his head. They had gone to the zoo earlier in the year with Graham already so he already loved feeding the goats and after awhile he would do it by himself. 

 

 

Checking out the tigers with Grandma!

And the bears with Uncle Garrett!

Graham would not let go of that water bottle and he loved pouring it on his head and in-between the top picture and the bottom picture I got drenched. I will love these pics of the three of 

On Saturday the boys were in a golf tournament out at Pryor Creek. It was a scramble.. and they ended up WINNING! They shot 21 under. Garrett had the very best time! After they were done we all met out at Jim and Margies for a BBQ with everyone! It was way fun to catch up with everyone!

While the boys were golfing, my mom, Soph and I went shopping! We hit up a bunch of different places and got a little lunch at Applebees and then went and saw Finding Dory! I love spending time with these two. 

On Sunday, we went to church and then had a delicious meal, played some spike ball and spent the last little time together that we had. 

We love being in Billings and this was no exception. I love when the whole family gets to be together. See you in a couple months. 

Mount Rushmore 2016

We set out on our second cross country road trip and made our first stop at Mount Rushmore. Garrett had been before but I hadn't! It was just a little bit out of the way and was a perfect way to break up our day 1 drive of 13 hours.

We thought that because it was a Monday that it wouldn't be super busy... we were way wrong. It was swarming. But it was a nice warm day minus all the wind and trust me, there was a lot of wind. Just look at the pictures. 

 

Montana was the 41st state admitted to the Union in 1889.

Wyoming was the 44th state admitted to the Union in 1890.

After we walked through the Avenue of Flags we went and watched the short informational video and learned about how and why they were carved. Then we walked around the museum! 

A few things we learned were that the reason for doing these carvings in South Dakota was to bring tourists to the Black Hills. Which is kind of funny and smart because why else would we or anyone else ever stop in South Dakota. 

 

It was amazing that there were NO fatalities, especially due to the way they had to go up and carve them. They used dynamite to carve about 90% of it as well which is nuts! 

 

Overall it was very impressive and we highly recommend it. As we were leaving we could see how you could spend a couple days doing everything that there is to do in the Black Hills!