Mangos, Maricor & Macarons

My wonderful cousin was in town today for work. She made it a point to see me before and after, and I feel so loved for that.

We started the day with brunch at First Watch, complete with morning tonics [and no, not alcoholic].

good morning tonics! 

We went our separate was after that; I had the day at my disposal; fortunately I have a husband who obliges my unplanned requests to go lumber shopping in the middle of the day. I've had my written plans in place for a couple weeks now and continuing the mini library upstairs, and am so thankful that he goes along with these things. I don't know how I got so lucky... even if we both decided halfway through circling laps through Lowe's that we didn't feel like getting the entire sum of material we'd originally planned. This would do for now.

gosh. i love him.

Our DIY plans fizzled as soon as we got home from Lowe's, when we both looked at each other and admitted neither felt like starting on that specific project. Rob's been working on a motor rebuild, and I owed it to him to have time for that, instead of hoarding him to help me build a bench. I took the opportunity to run a couple errands.. and some other unplanned stops:

i will pencil this place into any agenda... and on any day. 

Macarons are kinda sorta YES and ABSOLUTELY YES in my book. I was craving some blackcurrant today, and of course one thing led to another and well..

blackcurrant

*Sigh.

i'll just take 1.
..... pair of boxes.... please. 

I circled back home, relaxed for a couple hours while I waited for Maricor to wrap up at work. She eventually finished, and Rob and I met her at Chuy's for dinner. If there's anything I'd ever wish in an imperfect world, it would be that all my favorite people lived closer. 

♥

Our first HOUR was spent waiting past other parties who'd arrived long after us, and we were a little skeptical on how the rest of the evening would fare in terms of service. We were proven so wrong, so quickly, by the awesome server named Bobby, who not only made us smile every time he came by, but gifted us a free sopapilla at the conclusion of dinner.

If it's possible to have a spirit animal for a night, well.. Bobby... ya nailed it.

sopapillas = divertidas ;) 

I couldn't have asked for a better self-paced Saturday, except for maybe one including Sydni. Next weekend, though. Next weekend. 

For now, we're fed, happy and calling it a night. 

Happy Saturday! 

xo | cms

Cousins Day at Kings Island!

This was a day meant for pictures, not words.
So with that being said....

suuuurprise! 

I surprised Sydni with an orchestrated trip to King's Island. She guessed that part of the surprise as we were turning into the parking lanes, but the bigger and better part of the surprise came when we strode into the dining hall and were greeted by none other than... cousins!

Maricor came down with the little girls and Shawna, along with some of Shawna's friends. We had the day at our leisure, and we took full advantage of it.

m&s deciding our course for the day.. 

 

why are we still sitting here?! 

Okay, okay, enough of lunch... it's piiiicture time! ♥

starting the day with sophie girl!

love these two

the big girls on the first ride of the day with the teenage girls 

gosh, i love these girls!
#cousins #sisters #family

Shawna & her friends soon split off on their own route for the day, which left Maricor & me with hours of fun at our fingertips with the girls.

carousel

so much fun! 

Syd usually spends her cousin time more predominantly with Madison, but today provided some solid bonding time with Sophie, which was thoroughly enjoyed!

s&s! 

silly faces!!

little monkeys! 

But of course, it was a pretty wonderful day all around :) 

hahaha

the "twins"

syd & mads

all legs!  

Hangin' out with Snoopy & Woodstock!

It was getting hooooot outside.. 

... so we decided to take a spin on the water ride ...

love love love it!! 

The girls loved it, and they had good reason. On a day like this, I think getting doused was part of what kept us all in good spirits :) 

sophie was upset because it took us so long to get back on the ride... again.. 

In between three rides on the water ride, Syd and I took a break to ride one of the bigger coasters; she's currently the only one of the three girls tall enough to ride it, so I indulged and soaked up every second of time with my girl!

roller coaster time! 

silly girls! 

sophie talking business... the older girls listening.. 

Our last stop of the day: Bumper cars! 

I was very much impressed by the girls hanging in as long as they did today, what with us zig-zagging from one far end of the park to the other, and then back again. Over, and over and over again.

cousins - love, love love you, woman! 

The day wound down, and we eventually filed out of the park about 7 hours after we'd arrived. Maricor and I had bets on how far we'd each get before the girls were out cold. We made it aaaall the way to the first stoplight.. haha.. 

zonked. mission accomplished! 

Fast forward to the drive home, immediate showers, a book read, dinner eaten and some night-ending snuggles to top off the perfect girls' day out. We are happy to be back home with Rob, who spent the day catching up on the list of things he's been stretching to get done for weeks now. We're a happy, tired little bunch tonight, and 110% thankful for it. 

Now bring on the...... work week. 

Tomorrow, that is ;) 

G'Nite! 

xo | cmd

Mother's Day in The Vern

F A M I L Y D A Y ! 

We road-tripped it north a few hours today, only to arrive at my parents' and be cattled right back into the car for the short backtrack trip to Foundation Park [aka Mt. Vernon's new pride & joy!]

We picknicked. We hiked a little. We laughed, we played... and we fished.
'Twas a day better cataloged via photo than my words ;)

quality time with pappy & nana

feet & family :) 

my better half

lookin' thrilled...

these two made a makeshift fishing pole

Eventually, we made it back to the house to clean up a little and put together the dinner menu for the rest of the family who were due in: Heidi, Jonathan, Emmie & Hanny.

Before the family rolled in, we got to see the progress of Mom & Dad's work on the train set. To say I'm impressed is a huge understatement:

The family rolled in...

All I know right now is that I'm spent, so I know Sydni's well past her limit. It's been such a beautiful day, and I am one content, tired and grateful mama.

Gooooood Night!

xo | cmd