Ohio 2010

Life has its fair share of challenges and I am reminded no matter how much I think I have it figured out... I don't (I will explain later).

Three weeks in Ohio was wonderful! We spent 22 days with our family and each day I was reminded just how WONDERFUL they ALL are. I was also reminded how much I miss them and wish that we were just a  short drive away.

WEEK ONE:
We spent time with my family and Chris' family. We were able to see my Uncle Russel and my cousins Karen Sue, and Jeff and Jayne. We also were able to spend alot of quality time with my sister-in-law (Kelli) and her family (with seven day old Emma in tow) and my step-family, the Stidhams.

It was a busy week. We had professional pictures taken with Kelli's kids, ate at Bob Evan's (Which is not as good as I once remembered and must say, with a sad heart, that after eating it three times... it didn't get better.) and we swam our little hearts out at any pool we could find.

The kids (Kelli's and mine) had a good time getting to know one another again. They did what many children do at their ages. They laughed, smiled, hit each other, cried, and laughed again...
One evening after the kids (really the boys- Wilson and Adam) had gotten into there 25th hitting match I told them to work it out with their words and "do NOT come and get me or Kelli unless there was blood."

Needless to say, not such a good choice of words because less than twenty minutes later Wilson is crying and there IS BLOOD. Let me be clear, Wilson's bleeding had nothing to do with fighting with his cousin. It was just a incident caused by curiosity that ironically happened after I made the "blood" comment.

Wilson's mishap took some time to piece together. One story involved the tractor and another involved the horse. Needless to say, we figured it out. Wilson lifted a jack (estimated to be about 12 pounds) off of a horse feed bin and dropped it on his big toe. I am sure it was very painful. He may have broken it... It was bleeding, blue, and swollen.

WEEK TWO:
The kids and I hit the road. We drove to Columbus to visit with some of my family, my old college roommates (Krista, Jules, Kate, and Mary Kate) and my childhood best friend (Jill).  We had the pleasure of staying at my Uncle Bill and Aunt Fuzzy's where Wilson was "in charge" and watched bull riding with Uncle Bill until 10 pm (all while Nora teethed on a Bud Light can). We spent the next morning with my great-great Aunt Irene and then lunch with Jill followed by pool-side with the OSU girls. It had been at least four, maybe five, years since I had seen the OSU girls. And it was three years since I had seen Jill. After a jammed packed day in Columbus we left for Zanesville and we able to spend two nights with Melissa and her crew. I had a blast with the Goss family! Serious! A. Blast.You should have seen me on the trampoline! ;)

Back to Gallipolis we go... Where I  finally got to enjoy my favorite pizza with my mom! (Will someone tell my why everything tastes worse than I remember?) We wrapped up the week with some quality pool time and visiting with more friends.

WEEK THREE:
Chris arrives in Ohio!!
By the last week I was not the parent I wanted to be with my children, not the daughter I wanted to be to me mother, not the sister I wanted to be to my brother, and not the friend I should be to my friends. Now, by saying that I am not saying that I was a hell raising terror to be around [although my brother might disagree:)].  Just that schedules and naps and being here and there took a toll on me. Please understand that by saying this I am not trying to complain. I am just being honest. I am an honest person.

It is funny to me how "home" doesn't seem like home anymore and a place that always seemed to relax me made me crazy. My children did fantastic (with the exception of some disruptive crying from Wilson periodically throughout the last week). They handled taking direction and getting attention from people they haven't seen in a year (For Nora people she has never seen). We were all welcomed beyond measures and loved beyond words. Our family is fantastic and I wish that we didn't have to back up ship for three weeks a year to enjoy them. I hope that some day we can drive for the weekend. They slept in random places and rooms... All of that made me a better person and I hope them better people too.