California!

Well, we are still on vacation, but Chadders is taking a nap, so I just thought I would update the blog now. :). we are having a blast! Tomorrow is our last day here, and then we fly out Monday morning.
We flew into San Diego Sunday at 2pm. The flights weren't too bad. Chadders slept for about 2.5-3 hrs of the long 4 hour flight. Thank goodness! It was hard to keep him occupied. After we landed we went to get the rental car, and it took FOREVER. We forgot Chadders car seat, so we had to go to Target and buy one. When we went back to the car to put the carseat in, Chad locked the keys in the trunk! (Yes, I am glad it was him and not me!) Thank goodness we were meeting Kellie and Nate for lunch(a very late one) because they called AAA for a locksmith and saved us $40-60. After eating and getting the car unlocked, we headed to Salton City. 1.5 hrs of mountain roads suck! I was car sick, and Chadders looked green in the back. When wwe did make it, it was worth it! We got to see Erica, Ralphy, Marley, George, Aria(30 weeks prego!), Mondo, Mely, and Ralphy's family(including his Brother's new daughter!). What a great first day after all of the hitches.
On Monday we drove into the desert for Aria's surprise baby shower at Desert European. It was great! Got to see lots of old friends and Aria got lots of cute stuff(including her stroller and pack n play). BTW, they are having a little boy, Jacob Espinoza! Due July 22!
Tuesday we took the kids to the Children's Discovery Muesem of the Desert. They had fun! Lots to play with. And then they played in the pool at Erica's house. Every evening included brushing Hercules(their St. Bernard). Poor guy had tons of matts from shedding so much, he looks great now!
Wednesday we just stayed at the house and let the babies play in the pool. It was hot out, so it was great! And Hercules got a bath! Yay!
Thursday we left Erica's and drove to San Diego. We took a different road, not through the mountains, and it took 3 hours! But, we made it in time to pick up Mom and Dad from the airport. After checking into the hotel we took Chadders to the beach for the first time! He loved it! When we stood him up in the sand, he froze, he didn't know what to do. So cute! No pictures on my phone, sorry. :( and then we went to Kellie and Nates and out to dinner. Great day!
Friday was Nate's graduation. SDSU is beautiful! And we had such wonderful weather! Chadders didn't really sit through the ceremonys, but he enjoyed running around! We ended the day with dinner at a family style italian place. It was really good!
Today was Nate's graduation party/cookout at Balboa park. Lots of friends and family came to celebrate! Chadders liked playing on the grass running around. And now we end with his nap. I will post more with more pictures soon! :)

Its may already?!

This weekend was spent with Mom and Dad Force. Both, Chad and myself, had to work Saturday. So, Gma and Gpa Force got to babysit Chadders. Gpa and Chad both got fitted for their tuxes, and I got fitted for my bridesmaid dress to be altered. Only 6 weeks untill Kellie and Nate's wedding!
We spent some time out in the yard this weekend. We even got Gma and Gpa to ride the quad! Had lots of fun! Chadders LOVES riding on the 4 wheeler(we don't go very fast though).
Today, after Gma and Gpa went home, Chad and I took Chadders for a bike ride in the country. It was fun(except those darn up hills-the down were great! LOL). He loves his little bike trailer. Now just 2 weeks untill our trip to California!

Ending April

Well, today, Chadders had his 1st haircut! He is so stinkin' cute! Unfortunatly he didn't do as good as his Daddy did for his 1st haircut. Accoriding to Gma Force, Daddy just sat there like a good boy. Chadders, not so much. Everytime she toched him he whined. And he had to sit on Mommy's lap. And every chance he got, he would give her a dirty look. Luckily, Marilyn(the barber) was still so sweet and kept trying to make it better. She got it all trimmed up nicely. Not much to save though.
We also got to play outside for an hour or so before it started raining. Chadders and Daddy rode on the 4 wheeler on the back lot for a bit. And then Chadders rode his little 4 wheeler for a while. All in all, it was a great day. Tomorrow is 3 weeks until we fly to California! Woo hoo!

Date night!

Chad and I finally had another date night! Aunt Susie picked Chadders up in Peoria and took him to my cousin, Shannon's, house to play with Jack and Frank. They had a great time! Then off to Decatur for Saturday night.
As for Chad and I, we did yard work in the morning. Which doesn't sound that great, but it's hard to do with a 19 month old. Chad tilled the garden and I mowed the yard. In the process, the mower got a flat tire, and so I ALMOST put it in the ditch again. Then we went into town and Chad spent a few hours at the auto show(voluntered for work). And I painted some pottery. Then we went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. Yum! And to a movie. We watched Green Zone. It was good, but not what I thought I was going into. I guess I thought it would be more like the Bourne Idenity(seeing as Matt Damon was in it) and not about politics and war. Not bad, just not date night material. And then we were going to get Cold Stone, but we were both still stuffed and it was 10pm. And baby free or not, we are still getting old. Ha ha!
Sunday morning(today) we met a couple of our good friends, Korrey and Laura(and their 3 kids) for breakfast. After that we headed over to Bloomington to meet Aunt Susie and Chadders for lunch!
When we got home we spent the afternoon playing in the yard. Chad tilled the garden again and Chadders and I picked thistles our of the yard and road the 4 wheeler. Chadders had so much fun! We stayed in the back yard, but still had fun. Daddy is going to have to make the trails on the back lot again this year. And to top of the evening I made Amish Friendship Bread muffins. But, I made it with soy milk instead of cow's milk, and bananas instead of eggs. It turned out great! Now Chadders can eat it! I had to make my own starter, since the ones that are passed around are always made with cow's milk. We all had a great weekend!

Easter

Well, Chadders had his 2nd Easter! He spent the night before at Gma and Gpa Force's house since Mommy and Daddy both had to work Saturday. He got lots of neat stuff in his Easter baskets. Movies, bubbles, gardening stuff, a kite, books, cars, blocks, and clothes. He got very little candy(seeing as he can't tolorate it). But, he had a ball. Gma and Gpa have pictures, I didn't get any on my phone. :( and then he ran around in the nursery at Church until his cheeks were bright red. We didn't color eggs this year. Maybe next year. I worry about him trying to eat them, which wouldn't be good since he is allergic to them. Maybe next year he will understand that.

This weekend Chadders will stay the night with Aunt Susie so Mommy and Daddy can have a date night. We went to a movie in Decatur in November. And before that, our last date night was 14 months ago. Ha! Time flies and we get so busy. Hopefully, dinner, a movie, and lots of yard work(welcome spring!) and sleeping in. Then breakfast with some friends. Hopefully we will get some pictures of our garden this year. :)
Oh yeah, and we got a new stove! Woo hoo! Its a black GE gas range! And it works great! How I love to cook and bake!

3 years...

So, 3 years ago this week(Thursday more specifically) a lot changed. First and foremost, our great friend Jake Pearly was killed in a motorcycle accident. He was 2 months from turning 21. Too fast to live, too young to die. Thursday was also the day(having nothing to do with the first topic) that Chad and I decided to move back to Illinois. We had been flirting with the idea for a week or so since Chad had been offered a job in Pekin, IL. We always knew that someday we would move back, and the opportunity presented itself. Well, technically, my cousin Shannon and her husband Ryan, called us when they saw the wanted add in the Springfield paper. So, we went into work the next day and gave a 3 week notice. We packed while going to services and such for Jake and left Cali on April 1st.
A lot has changed in the past 3 years, as we figured out that the owners of the dealership in Pekin sucked, and we hung in there anyway. And now new (wonderful) ownership has taken over and Chad got a raise and way better medical benifits. We also purchased our 1st home (well, the bank purchased it and allows us to live here until 2038 (choking!)when it is paid off) ha ha. We also had our first child(note all of the pictures of his cute butt). Not to mention all of the family things we have been able to be at. As well as the great friends we have made. All in all, the past 3 years have been a good 3 years. Hard at times and great at others(but, that's life!)
So there is a short recap. :)

Spring...is that you?!

After months and months of cold, spring might be near. Flowers are starting to pop out of the ground, and it is wonderful! We even had a nice day at the park. Here are a few pictures from the park. Chadders had a blast(minus falling backward off a slide).