A wonderful week

We had the wonderful opportunity of having my Mom's parents come visit for a week. How great that our children can make memories with their Great Grandparents!



Lots of family dinners



Grandma and Grandpa got to experience play dates with friends...



the girls even tried to get Grandpa to play dress up too!



We had a special treat to be able to go to the Red's game with my Uncle Brent and my Grandparents



They were welcomed in front of the whole stadium!



The Gapper (who my girls were not so fond of) even stopped by to drop off some special treats



I think a fun time was had by all







Thanks for a wonderful visit GG Russell!

Labor Day Fireworks...Ouch!

The Hensleys invited us to go to see the fireworks at an event in Mt. Adams this year.



Here was our view for the fireworks. It was perfect, or would have been more perfect if we were able to watch all of them from that spot, but I'll get to that.



There was a delicious dinner for the adults, Gold Star Chili for the kids and yummy Graeter's ice cream for everyone! The girls really enjoyed themselves.







There was a kids area with bounce houses, games and raffles. Right after this picture was taken, we took Cakes out of the bouncy house. I reached in to get Izzy out and heard Cakes screaming. Right next to the area was a large industrial landscape spotlight that was on. Katelyn apparently rested her hand on it and it burned it. She screamed for the next two hours straight. We tried to put cold water on it and took her to the first aid tent and they put something on it as well. Nothing seemed to help. I don't think we realized how bad it really was until about 45 minutes later (it was dark and the fireworks were just starting) and we saw the blisters starting to form. It was looking bad so we decided to leave and take her to the Emergency Room. We didn't get to see very much of the fireworks but we enjoyed what we saw. Sorry Hensleys for having to leave early :(



Here we are at the ER. Cakes finally fell asleep shortly before we got there. Good news is she was more calm when we were at the hospital.



Here is her poor hand two days later. She had a 2nd degree burn on three fingers and the upper pad of her hand. Ouch! She was such a trooper even when they started to pop!

Pre-School Here She Comes!!

So the time has come. Izzy has wanted to go to school for the past year and be a "big" girl. She had her phase in day last week and tomorrow is officially her first day by herself. She will be going for just a few hours but four days a week. My little girl is getting bigger. Isabelle has informed me as of late, when I call her baby that she is not a baby but a big girl. She is after all, three going on twenty. Here's to the fun years ahead!

Last trip to Phoenix

Remember how I spoke of time flying by? Well, believe it or not my parents have about 10 months left of their mission. We took what will probably be our last trip to see them and have lots of pictures to show for it. (Probably more pictures than people care to see, so just be warned :)



The girls had a lot of fun with Nana & Papa. They were treated like princesses and could do pretty much what they wanted. This picture pretty much sums it up. Not sure if you can see Izzy's shirt but is says "I rule the castle". It might as well have said, "I rule the mission home" because that is what they both did!



Katelyn loved to climb up the stool and turn off and on the lights. My Mom said this occupied her for at least 30 minutes one day when Michael and I were out. This would have driven me insane, so props to Nana for allowing it the whole time we were there.



Michael and I were able drive to Mesa one day and attend the temple, eat yummy Cafe Rio, and shop (Michael actually waited in the car for close to an hour as I had lost track of time in a store. He didn't attempt to call or come in and get me which I give him major points for). While we were gone the girls had a fun tea party with Nana, did some more swimming in the awesome alligator pool (we found on sale for $7.00!) and ate many Red Vines (which seemed to be the go-to treat of the trip).







Saturday morning we hiked up Surprise Mountain by my parents house. Cakes and Izzy got the easy rides on Papa and Daddy's shoulders.


We stopped about half way up and pulled out the water and snacks for the kids. The men hiked all the way to the top. We became a welcoming committee for the very popular mountain trail. Katelyn would wave and Isabelle would chime in with the standard "Hi Ladies" or "Good morning, what a beautiful day!". We made a lot of friends up on that mountain. One couple stopped and talked to us about building a Cairn and here is the one that Nana and the girls worked on until Michael and Papa returned.









Making rolls with Nana. We were lucky enough to take a batch home with us which was very convenient on the airplane!





Saying goodbye, so long, farewell







Thanks Mom and Dad for taking time out of your busy schedule to let us come and visit. We had so much fun!!

The British are coming (ok so they came & went)

So once again we have fallen behind on...life. I can't believe it's already September! I am frantically trying to keep up so I thought I should start posting.

At the end of July/beginning of August, Michael's parents and two nephews and niece (Levi, Malachy and Tallulah) came for a two week visit. The time was spent:
*Going to the Cincinnati Zoo



*Hitting up the Reds game (grateful we were able to get tickets, the Red's are doing great this season!)



*Swimming



*Visiting downtown Cincinnati, Newport, and consuming lots of ice cream!!



Of course we had the opportunity to do a few photo shoots to document all the Gattuso cousins together.
Izzy and Mally are just shy of two years apart in age and had so much fun with each other. Here is a picture of the younger cousins together



Gran and Grandad and all the Gattuso grandchildren



Michael and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary while everyone was here. It was really nice to have a night out and go to dinner (with free babysitting!) Wow eight years of wedded bliss and two beautiful girls, we are so lucky!!