Random Evening Cruises!

It's FRIIIIDAY!! Wooo!

What a week it's been! I had to admit that while this has been a wholly productive week at work, I was ready to welcome the weekend and the fun we've planned for the next couple of days. On top of that, Jesse's in town for the weekend, which is always a great time!

I met Rob and Jesse at the house after work, and on a last-minute decision, we piled into the truck with boat in tow and headed for the river. I texted Jessica along the way, who was at the Red's game with Jill, and agreed to hitch a ride with us.

on our way!

coming up to the stadium - cincinnati, you're a beaut! 

gorgeous.. 

We swung by the Serpentine Wall to get Jessica and Jill, then were off to Ludlow Bromley for dinner.

lovin' it! 

on the river!

the haaaaat ... thanks jessica! haha

We haven't been to LBYC in a little while, but it was the perfect night to kick back and relax with good people, good food and live music! 

we look a little ragged from the boat ride, buuuut.. i love this guy! 

Once we had dinner under the belt, we hopped back on the boat to drop Jessica & Jill back off. It was a karaoke ride back, in preparation for tomorrow's Tim McGraw concert! 

these two! :) :)
[and me... being creepy in the background?!]

mid-dance party shot.. thanks jesse .. haha

love her at night! 

so thankful for this guy. so, so thankful! 

What a perfect Friday night! :) 

It's canoeing tomorrow, and then Tim McGraw on the water! Gooood night! 

xo | cmd

City Flea & Cincinnati Meanderings

Rob and Dillon resolved early on to head out to the river. I voted to go my own way for the early morning, and took advantage of the semi-dreary day to check out this year's showing of The 513 City Flea. I made it down to Washington Park just as a downpour had made its way out, and was greeted by puddles, a drizzling remnant of the storm and handfuls of Cincinnati-enthusiasts who didn't seem to mind the sloshy condition.

Sunny or not, it was wonderful!

rain or shine! 

Becky rendezvoused with me a short time later, and after another few rounds of the City Flea vendors.

peruvian mochilas and kombucha

scavengers! 

It wasn't long before we took off northbound for REI, where Rob and Dillon met up with us. As it turned out, they'd not even made it off the boat ramp as the rain set in. They U-turned back to the house before joining us. The REI sales is still happening; Rob bought his hammock today!

uh oh... the hammock epidemic continues! 

and some yoga... ;) 

We parted ways with Becky and headed down to Findlay Market, where we grabbed Eli's and showed Dillon around the market grounds. There was a pitstop as well at Rhinegeist, where to our surprise, there was some major renovation well underway!

i'm sorry... say whaaaaaaaat?! 

I can't wait to see this when it's finished.

After Rhinegeist, we made our way back home, where the split decision was made to give the river a second chance. We dropped in and took off towards Ludlow. One of Rob's bosses and his fiance joined us for a couple hours, and then it was back up the river to the ramp.

The skies may not have afforded us the sunshine we were hoping, but it was still a beautiful night to be on the water!

beautiful! 

dillon & rob

We pulled off the river just as the rain started to threaten its return for the night, dried the boat off and made the trip back to the house. The boys wanted to venture back out to OTR, for the usual touring that occurs whenever we have visitors. I opted out of that excursion, and set myself up for a night of absolutely nothing on the couch - which I have to say I have thoroughly enjoyed ;).

The boys will be back sometime in the early hours, but with any luck, I'll be out cold by that time.

Happy Saturday, folks!

xo | cmd

Family Day on the River & Sydni's Birthday Party!

My family is here today!

It's not often that my parents and sister come down to Cincinnati to visit, but today was that day, and it was awesome. My mom, dad, Heidi & her son Jonathan made the trip from Mt. Vernon to spend the day with us, which we decided would happen on the river.

We'll start the photo reel off with my mom, who cracks me up like nothing else. This is her, before the boat has even fully left the boat trailer on the loading dock. Sydni doesn't even have her life jacket on yet; I think mom got hers on while we were still in the truck ;)

oh, mom (: 

Then there's my dad, looking as dapper as could be ;)

♥♥♥♥

give it a go, dad ;) 

We stopped for only a brief moment, far up the river to test out the waters, but decided quickly that today just wasn't the day for all of that. Instead, we set our sights back downstream to the LBYC for some lunch.

sister! ♥♥

pre-lunch siesta

Once we stopped at LBYC, it was lunch and then the most important item on the agenda: Birthday Presents!! 

it's time!!!

reading cards

art set

crazy sand! 

you & me 

It was finally time to load up and head on back.

syd's new baby! 

hugs from aunt heidi!

love this candid of heidi in the background! ;) 

With birthday presents in tow, we headed back to the house, where the fun continued.

my little girl, and her little girl!

so. stinkin'. sweet.

Unfortunately, Heidi & Jonathan were due back in Mt. Vernon, so they left as the evening approached. My parents were in for the night though, so we ordered pizza, found some movies and tested out some of Sydni's new gifts while we waited on our food.

kinetic sand with nana! 

I couldn't have asked for more out of today. I'm so happy they were able to come down!

xo | cmd

Luke Bryan.. From the Water!

Trish and I rendezvoused this morning for an attempt to find a church that spoke to us.

I wouldn't call it a successful mission, but we finally landed at Crossroads in Oakley that, despite its massive size, provided a much-needed refresher on life, our purpose in it as it related specifically to work, and just some quiet time between the music to reflect on it all.

You'll never know until you try it. It's a beautiful facility, just a little too much for me.

Back at home, Rob was up and ready to go, so we opted for a run out on the river. A week or so back, Rob and one of his work buddies had taken the new boat out for a spin, which was perfect, considering his friend is a seasoned traveler of the Ohio. It was our turn today, so we loaded up and dropped in just past Eli's and opened up the Baja for an afternoon on the water.

little river cruise

Jessica & Andrew joined in soon enough, and we were off down the water for a quick bite at Ludlow Bromley. Then it was back on the water; we decided last minute to anchor down on the waterside of Riverbend, where Luke Bryan was playing night 2 of sold out shows. I've never attended a Riverbend show from the river side before, but I loved it and will definitely consider doing it this way again.

hey girl, hey! 

the back side of riverbend

captain! 

The sunset on the water is amazing in and of itself:

love. 

We'll be back, yes we will.

river panoramic! 

I'm looking forward to waking up refreshed tomorrow for work, not drained from sun exposure and swimming. I could get used to this!

xo | cmd 

LBYC & London Bridge

We've been talking about going for a visit down to the Ludlow Bromley Yacht Club for a while now. The last time I was there was back in 2008, when we celebrated Jamie's birthday and had no idea what the LBYC really was. Oops.

lbyc!

We finally made plans with Becky to do dinner and decided LBYC would be the venue. We even brought along the same Whispering Beard coozie just because.. well, just because our minds both function that way. Hah.. 

becky!

Kalyn & Brian joined us soon after, and we made a little crowd of it all.

awh.

& of course, my best friend ♥♥

After LBYC, Becky called it a night and headed out. Kalyn, Brian, Rob and I were left with a decision on where to round out the night; we opted for the London Bridge back in Mt. Washington. The Bridge is exactly halfway between both Kalyn's place and ours, so it worked out perfectly; we could walk home from here had we so desired.

♥ this gal

That's a wrap, folks! We still have one more day before the official weekend, so it's time to call it.

xoxo.

G'Nite!

 

xo | cmd