Lots of stuff to update!

It's been several weeks since I have posted and we've been quite busy! We have had several things going on and the one situation that has dictated how we spend a lot of our time has been that my mom has been in the hospital. She spent some of her time prepping for surgery and then now recovering from it. However we are elated that she is now home and able to recover in her most comfortable surroundings.

Lets go back to Mother's Day. Joe told me I could choose anywhere I wanted to go to eat so I picked Granite City. They have a Sunday brunch that is supposed to be really nice and Mother's Day and brunch just sounded like a nice fit. So we went to the first location and it was going to be an hour long wait (yeah RIGHT with a toddler) so we went to the 2nd location and it was going to be a TWO hour wait (not even a CHANCE with Sydney). Luckily On the Border was right next door to Granite City so we ate there instead. When we were done we headed over to Joe's niece's softball game and were able to watch her for the afternoon. While we were there Sydney really took off walking more and more around the sidewalks. I was shocked at how brave she was becoming right before my eyes!! It was fun watching her though discover things on her own--even if her forehead did meet the sidewalk one time! I found myself pondering the whole idea of celebrating just me on Mother's Day and discovered that if it hadn't been for my husband and daughter being in my life I wouldn't even be celebrating that wonderful day! So that night I made a meal to celebrate them and thanked them for making me a mom. It's truly the most amazing experience I think I will ever have. Nothing can top the snuggles and grins and kisses from my sweet little girl. She is the most perfect little person in my life and I thank God that He chose Joe and I to be her parents. What an honor!!

This past weekend we had so much stuff going on. We headed back to Delphos Friday night and ended up driving through this huge storm coming up from Emporia (we tried missing the one in Topeka by going a different way and ran in to this one). Luckily we arrived safely and enjoyed a couple of drinks with my dad after putting Sydney to bed. The next morning we were going to visit my mom when she called to say she was being discharged at 10:30 a.m.! With the thought that she would be home shortly we decided to go see my cousin and her husband's house house as they had just moved back to the area from Topeka. So we went up there and took the grand tour and talked for awhile (Sydney played with their dogs Kya and Scout), then headed back to my Grandma's house for some more social time. :) Sydney got to play with her cousin Addison for quite awhile! It was so much fun watching them toddle around Grandma's house (Sydney toddled, Addison walked briskly! :))

Sydney enjoyed a morning with Aunt Bailey and an empty milk jug!


After lunch we went to Joe's cousin Cory's high school graduation in Glasco, Kansas, not far from Delphos. Sydney did great until right near the end she started getting quite antsy so I had to get up and just stand with her. That was all she needed was a change of scenery!

Here's Syd in her pretty graduation/party dress!

Once we returned to my mom and dad's house I got Sydney's supper ready and then got myself ready for a night out on the town with my wonderful hubby. Mom (who was home by then) and my sister Bailey volunteered to watch her while Joe and I went to eat and to a movie to celebrate my birthday which was the next day. We ate at Martinelli's which is a lovely little Italian restaurant in Salina. We enjoyed some wine and shared a salad--I even got their most expensive dessert for free (because of my b-day). It was so yummy!! Once we had stuffed ourselves full we went to the movie "Angels and Demons." We had seen "The DaVinci Code" on t.v. and I had read the book and we really kind of liked it. This movie was good as well--it was full of action and twists and turns.

My birthday-day was spent at our niece Robin's graduation in Onaga. I have kind of grown accustomed to spending my birthday at someone's graduation...and years ago it kind of bothered me, then I was "eh" about it, but I realized that I was truly lucky to spend my birthday with family from both sides of my own little family. We were surrounded by people who care about us and love our daughter--I felt truly blessed to celebrate it with them!

Sydney pooped out on the way home from Onaga--I bet she walked ten miles at the party!