~A 5 Year Old Nicki Minaj~

My friend Jill turned me on to Nicki Minaj last year. I like most of her music although I am not a big fan of her videos. Her latest single "Super Bass" has my heart, and so does this five year old little girl! It's a great song to dance and work out to. I know that this video is so greatly popular right now but if you have not seen it yet, you must.

My friend Meghan Bryant shared it with me! I am so impressed at the talent that this little girls has. You must watch the whole video. If you have not heard the song before, sorry, just know that is right on the money from beginning to end. Although there have been lots of comments about how disturbing it is that a five year old when even know all the lyrics to this song... you have to give her props!

~Grandpa's Birthday~

My Mom was sweet enough to take me Zanesville for Grandpa's Birthday. We went to MCL (one of Grandma and Grandpa's favorite places to eat) the day before. We spent two hours talking about him and about Grandma as well. It was so wonderful to hear Mom tell stories of them both. I also brought an album of photos of my Grandpa and later we went to Uptown Westerville, sat in a gazebo and looked at each and every one of them. What a special day!

It was so nice to ride in the car with Mom, on the way to Zanesville (the next day) and tell her all about my week. When we got to the Cemetery Mom let me have some time alone. I truly felt his presence with me while I walked from the truck to the site. I talked to Grandpa, told him how much I loved him and missed him too. He passed my Sr year of High School and my Mom's Mom passed two years before I was born. Mom say's that she would have loved me and that I get a lot of my creativity, artistic side and design perspective from her. I was so glad that I had time to go.
Mom spent the whole time we were there telling stories of the two of them and showing me around town again. I loved it! This building was Grandpa's old Carriage House. His Mom (my Great-Grandma) lived right next to it. It was completely renovated since the last time we were there.
Here is Mom's old house from when she was a little girl. She told me stories about the family like how Grandma had a kitchen in the basement where she could Can - One more similarity/talent I got from her. And Grandpa literally moved the house so that they could have/build a front porch! Now that's something to say!
We went to Tom's for lunch as we would have done if Grandpa and Grandma were still alive. Well, Tom's or Nicol's! Tom's Ice Cream Bowl is the talk of the town and the only place to really get a great burger and Ice Cream! I spent some much time there growing up. I had a cheeseburger and a Chocolate Malt! We sat and talked for over an hour about more memories!

It was a great day with Mom! Grandpa, I love you and miss you everyday. Xo!

~Four Day Weekend~

The 2nd weekend in August Tommy and I were able to take a "Four Day Weekend Vacation". We packed up the car and headed to Michigan. We were originally busy that weekend and sad that we were going to miss being apart of Bob and Vicki's Anniversary Week in Ludington. After our plans got canceled and we booked the weekend for Aunt Sue's we realized that was week as Luddington! How could we forget? One word: BUSY! What did we do? Tour de la Michigan with both sides of the family.

We left Thursday evening for our first Michigan stop... Grandma Polcyn. We didn't get any photos with her but we got the next best thing, THE FOOD! We felt so special because she made us special treats! Yum! Below: Dinner.
The next morning after a night cap, lots of stories and looking at the Puerto Rico album, we had yet more amazing food. Tommy and I were so glad that we go to visit with her on our way to Westbranch. Before we we left Grandma said, “Looks like your best memories for Puerto Rico are from food and Restaurants!”. That made me smile to see that she noticed that because at Grandma's house the heart of the home truly is the kitchen.
Friday around noon we made it to Aunt Sue and Uncle Bill's around the same time that Aunt LuAnn, Uncle Fred and Mom and Dad did. I love their home on 3rd street. They have a beautiful wrap around porch and creek.
Aunt LuAnn was sweet enough to get this for Dad. Everyone knows he is obsessed with Coca Cola! She found it a Sam's Club and knew he had to have it. We all split the bottles and Mom just used it last week for a dinner party with ice and four types of drinks.
Sarah was in a wedding that weekend and she stopped by to say Hi to everyone on Saturday after she got her hair done, before we met up with the bridal party. While she was there we looked at the Puerto Rico album together. Sarah, Alex and I were the only cousins free that weekend. We missed everyone else but were glad that we at least got to see each other.
Mom and I had to get a photo together. We all needed to go to the art fair in one car so we took the truck and we rode in the back. In my mind, I went back to High School. Too much fun!
The Art Fair was Friday and Saturday and we walked around both days. It was a lot larger than I thought it would be. There were at least 100 tent of vendors ranging from wood photo frames, metal wind chimes, decorative pins, rugs, all kinds of framed art work and even to hand made baby clothes.
~Brothers~
While Mom and I were in Westbranch on Saturday (and Tommy was in Ludington) we went to the Outlet Mall and got really lucky with Perfume! I had been looking for Juicy Couture on sale as well at Ed Hardy both in Sets with matching Lotions and Body Butters. Not only did I find both at a great price but I got 20% off each (from a coupon from Aunt Sue) and two free perfumes as gift with purchases. One of them being Jessica Simpson's Fancy for Mom. I already have it and got it for Mom. She was so happy!
While we were out shopping Tommy was up to something fun with his Dad. Although he started his adventure about seven hours prior. The two of them had been trying to get a date in the summer for work for eight years. Finally Tommy could go fishing again with Bob. They had such a great time together working in a team of four for the Tournament in Ludington!
Tommy was so proud to day that he caught a 19 lb Salmon! It was his big catch of the day! I am so glad that they finally got to go out on the boat together. They did not win the tournament but had the best time together. That's what most important.
~Tommy took this photo of me relaxing on the wrap around porch.~

~Another view of their beautiful home and property~
We all go out to eat once a weekend when we get together. Aunt Sue did not have anything in particular in mind and Tommy was begging me to go back to G's with him so I suggested it and we all went out for the best pizza in town. Tommy requested the topping on a pie that make it the "Tommy Special", boy were we happy campers when the food came out!

When we got home from G's the "adults and me" plopped down in the basement and got some work done. We went through tons of old family photos, boxes, documents and more to help Aunt Sue and Uncle Bill get their closet back. LOL. This was after we watched a 70 minute video (with no sound) of the 1950's and 1960's of Daddy, Uncle Fred, Aunt Sue, Grandma Jean and Grandpa Harry. Boy was I having the time of my life. I loved watching them as little kids and it was so much fun to look at old family items and take dibs!
The next day when we left Westbranch we made a stop at Sherni's Candies. The family who owns the store (The Sherni's) are related to Uncle Bill. We ended up getting a couple of sweets for the ride to Bob and Vicki's house. Little did I know where we were off to first....
On our way to Tommy's parents house (and by way home I mean 50 mins in the other direction) Tommy took me to the two camps that he grew up at; Boy Scout Camp and Band Camp. We went to Olde Canoebase (Boy Scout Camp) first. They were so happy to let us in and walk around. Tommy and I got some many pictures there and I got to hear so many stories but I am afraid if I share them all this blog would be an extra 20 pages long!

One one of the trails that we took back to the nature center we came along little turtle crossing the way. Tommy wanted his picture taken with him! Awww buddies for life!
There were many signs all around camp! I liked the saying on each and every one of them. All positive and many very, very creative.
Before we left Olde Canoebase Tommy had to show me the infamous trail. To make a long story short, Tommy got in trouble and his punishment with two other kids was to build new steps all the way down a path. Tisk-tisk!
Then we were off to Camp Mahn-Go-Tah-See (Band Camp). They were also kind to let us and in and roam around. One of the cooks offered us cookies and asked when Tommy attended camp. I couldn't believe her reaction when he said Southfield High Band! I guess after Tommy left the "group" went down hill. The Band Director that Tommy had left the year after he graduated and I guess the new one had no control, to the point where S.H. was asked never to come back. Oops! I guess they vandalized a lot of property to say the least and the Camp couldn't even begin to cover the costs of damage. ANYWHO, this was the Mess Hall and Tommy said it seems so much smaller now.
~Yes, this was his idea!~
When we got to Bob and Vicki's we almost didn't recognize that we were in their house. They had taken down a wall and gutted the kitchen. It looks great so far. We can't wait to see it completely finished!!!

Before we left their house Tommy and I went to the basement to get something and got sucked into looking a Tommy-wammy as a Baby-waby! :) At first Tommy swore this was on Christine but it's Tommy! At least according to Christine! LOL~Tommy at Three Months!~

We made lots of new memories on our Four Day Weekend Trip, that's for sure. I can't wait til we have another one together. It was so great to see family.

~A Whole Month of Bday Fun~

All of August was spent celebrating my birthday. It started with working on Extreme Makeover Home Edition with Tommy, Dad and my friend Angie. I was so excited that Ryan's (my youngest that I nanny for) birthday was in August too. The four of us (me and three kids) made cupcakes. We made home made vanilla with home made icing from Cupcake by Charise Mericle Harper. It's about a little cupcake that feels lonely because all the other cupcakes get "played with" (eaten) and he doesn't because he is 'just plain'. It's a really cute book. We have gotten it from the library three times now!
The kids LOVED helping out in the kitchen and it was a blast to decorate the cupcakes and leave one simple and plain! Here is a photo of the "other birthday kid" decorating away!

The final products! We each got to make six and eat one after singing Happy Birthday to Ryan and Happy Birthday to Meredith! Can you find the cupcake that the story is about?
When I woke up on my birthday morning Tommy had flowers and two cards for me. He put them in a vase with three other flowers (glass ones) that I got from the Columbus Museum of Art when we were first married.
Our friends Melissa and Dan from Bible Study were sweet enough to drop by with a card and veggies from their garden because we were not meeting for the month of August. It made me grin ear to ear when I came home and saw what they had left me. Melissa remembered me telling her about all the veggies that I did not have room to grow but wanted to some day when I had the space. How thoughtful.
One morning in the month of August Hannah and I met up for breakfast. It had been too long since I had seen her. We had such a great time talking. In two days she would officially start High School!!! I can't believe she is a Freshman now. I remember when we brought her to our house, she was two weeks old!
Hannah is very creative and artsy. She made me a necklace. That was something that we spent time doing together over a weekend in 2008. She said that she remembered that fun weekend and wanted to make me something new to wear. How sweet!
Two Tuesdays after my birthday I decided to have a birthday party, Basically it was the only night I had free. Friends were requesting that I do so! I was not planning on having one but when the sixth person asks you whats going on for the party... you plan one! LOL! I decided to have a themed Black and White party! I had fun shopping with my mom getting black and white napkins, decorations, Zebra Cakes "my cake", M&Ms, Oreos and more! We had about 10 people out on the patio and Brooke and Audrey too. Yes I babysat the night of my birthday party.
Audrey was so happy and giggly that night! Of course all of my friends were instantly in love with the girls. They hung out on the patio with us, played board games, flirted with my friend Sammy and later were put to bed, by Tommy, in our bed. I put my play list on to Taylor Swift and Tommy tucked them in. It was so sweet. Here's one of Audrey while I was tickling her.
Audrey had this thing where she was trying to climb over the couch and she would get stuck. What was extra funny was that she knew she was doing it for a laugh!!!
~I had to wear Zebra print for the party!~
~Hanging on the patio~
I know it's a little silly to blog this photo but I just had to. I ended up with 101 people posting Happy Bday on my wall! I'm gonna say it, "It made me feel special". Wow Facebook! What have you done to me?

Tommy's birthday gift to me was to have a Bed and Breakfast retreat after the first wedding we attended together where we were not photographing. On the way home from the Cleveland area we stopped into Grandpa's Cheese Barn and Sweeties as well. My birthday goodies from Tommy...
When we came into town on Sunday and my Mom had a surprise for me. When were in Cleveland with them in July, at a restaurant, I was tying to get one of the three of them to split the HUGE carrot cake slice with me. No one would and I was kinda sad but knew there was no way I could eat the whole thing myself. I come home to find she has made me Carrot Cupcakes for me. I felt so special. That was so kind and thoughtful of her. We all sat around the table and ate cupcakes along with our treats from the Barn. I loved all of my cards this year as well.
Jill also spoiled me this year with a bag of goodies, "Things that Meredith Likes!". I should have taken a photo. I totally forgot. She got me a new UofM tee, some photography and licence plate goodies (LOL) and more!! I love you Jill! Thank you so much.

If you haven't figured it out already, this blogs events are way out of order but I don't care! It's like a "smash page" from the new K&Company line... a thrown together page of things that make/made me happy! Happy 27th Birthday to Me! :)

~Extreme Makeover: Home Ed~

The Extreme Team made their way to Columbus, Ohio to build a home for a deserving family! I wanted to badly, for years, to be apart of it. When I found out that they were headed this way in August I told Tommy that I knew what I wanted for my birthday!!!
They chose the Rhodes family on Dewey Ave at 71 & 5th Ave. "Emergency brain surgery last year saved Mikia Rhodes but forced the mother of four to move her family in with her parents. This year, the home of James and Jackie Rhodes — in a neglected East Side neighborhood — will undergo a radical procedure of its own.".

Columbus Dispatch - Aug 5th 2011~The Rhodes~
Daddy, Me, Tommy and my friend Angie all went together. Daddy was sweet enough to drive as all after have a midnight breakfast - best scrambled eggs ever, carrot cake cupcakes and fruit! We needed it because our shift was from 2am - 8am (had to sign in at 1am)! Yea, you heard it right! This is us right before getting on the bus after signing in! See the tent?
~The boys are thrilled to be up this early!~
The team in charge would not let us keep our tags around our necks so I took a photo of it on the bus. No, not the EMHE Bus but the Shuttle bus that took us back and forth from the parking lot to job site.
Angie took this photo first and I just had to copy her - PROOF that we were up and rolling at 1am! LOL!
So we get the site only to find out that we got red t-shirts in stead of blue t-shirts because "our home" is the EMHE Christmas Episode! Ok, see if you can get this! We meet one of the building coordinators and she says I need two volunteers (one guy, one girl with a cell phone) to go stand guard of the lawn ornaments! What? Yep! The kids from the community center (that the family helps out) got to go shopping and buy Christmas decorations and decorate houses - for part of the Holiday themed episode. Guess what Tommy and I did?
I guess some kids were messing with them and trying to steal them so they needed some volunteers to guard this one and many more!
~Me&T~
Side view of the house around 7am or so. It's so much larger than the old house - as they always are! We DID get to go in after guarding the lawn decorations for 2 hours (we really wish we had brought UNO or something). Anyway, the house has an upstairs laundry room, 5 bedrooms, a patio on top of the garage, a two story living room and a large basement with two additional bedrooms! When we were leaving they were getting ready to paint. Since the four of us helped carry paint to all the designated areas we know what colors the inside will be! Let's just say if the furniture matches it is going to be one happy house!
We did a lot more than carry paint and stand guard. Daddy cleaned floors, we all carried waters and other drinks to the construction workers, constantly picked up trash and scraps! We sweated the whole time we were in the house! We'd get covered in sweat, dust and drywall, clean off our faces with our shirts, go back in and five minutes later we'd be dirty again. I also could not believe how hot it was inside. I guess I can considering that there were 35 people on the main floor at any one time. Going up and down the stairs, dodging laders, men and nail guns was interesting as well. But, the men sure were happy when we asked, "Water, Gatoraide, or Pepsi?".
One of the security officers took a photo of us at 8am before we left! I am so glad that our shirts came clean after a wash!
The bus ride from the job site to the parking lot was literally an 8 minute ride! Poor baby - So Tired! I love him in his shirt, so cute!
The 941-square-foot structure got turned into 4,000 plus home! This is stage that the house was in when we were working, right before paint and laying the floors!
As the bus rolled into town on Wednesday I was babysitting and not able to see the celebrities and reaction from the family. I CAN NOT WAIT to see the episode air in December. They even decorated the house with Christmas bulbs, bows around the windows and Christmas wreaths. They even had 50 Santas there for revil day!

There were no EMHE camera men filming while were were there so we will not make the show but I can't wait to see the reaction of the family!!!