Cheesecake Factory

Melissa's birthday was this week...
She called me distraught with the stresses life was sending her a couple of weeks ago.
We decided at that point that we would have a girls get away.
Melissa had never been to The Cheesecake Factory in Cleveland, OH.
We decided this would be our destination.

The food was soooo good!
Melissa had the pork chops entree followed by Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake
I had the Steak Diane entree followed by White Chocolate Caramel Macadamia Nut Cheesecake
We were stuffed when we walked out of the restaurant

We walked around the mall to do a little Christmas Shopping

We didn't end up buying anything, but we sure enjoyed our time together.
We will definitely need to do this again.

Our anniversary

Today is our 16th wedding anniversary! How grateful I am that this remains a day to celebrate. We have grown so much in these last few years, and we truly appreciate the other for what each of us brings to this marriage. Marriage has become a joy, instead of a drudgery. All the aspects of marriage that I dreamed about as a child, and started to believe were unobtainable in my adulthood...are now a daily part of my life. Jonathan is my friend, my confidant, my protector. He knows what I need, right when I need it. He wants nothing more than my happiness...and I want nothing more than to return that happiness to him.

Jonathan and I went shopping for "Black Friday" for our very first time together (we've never been able to shop together before because either work schedules or our children being too young prevented us from being able to leave.) It was absolutely crazy out there! But we were able to get some really good deals and purchase some gifts for the kids that we normally wouldn't be able to afford if we paid full price. We stood in line for hours and were surrounded by a lot of intensity from the other shoppers. Not once did we bicker or fight. We just laughed and enjoyed our time together. I appreciated being able to find the "joy in the journey", rather than hearing complaining or bickering the entire time.

We came home at 6 am, completely exhausted. We put the gifts away and went to bed. I arose at 10 am to get breakfast for the boys and Grandma. I picked up the house and did some laundry. I tried to get Jonathan up to go and "hit" a couple more deals, but he wasn't budging out of that bed (He later told me he has a new appreciation for the constant lack of sleep I am enduring due to my work schedule). I laid down at 1230, so that I could be functional for our "anniversary festivities". Jonathan then had a quiet afternoon with the boys while I napped.

He got the kids ready by 4pm to take to my mom's. He had arranged for her to take the boys over night so we could have a romantic evening together. While he took the boys to my mom, I got ready myself and fed Grandma and settled her in for the evening. We then went shopping at a few more places, and headed to PF Changs for dinner. The food was incredible as always! They made us wait longer than they had originally predicted to us, so they went above and beyond with their service giving us a free appetizer and dessert to take home. When we opened our fortune cookies, I began to giggle when I read "Many pleasurable and memorable adventures are in store for you!" Wink, wink...nudge, nudge :D

We had discussed following the restaurant with going to the movies, but we were both whipped from the night before...so we just headed back home. It was so nice having a quiet house where we could enjoy being together without any other demands on us. What was even nicer was having a husband who wanted to go out of his way to show me how special I am to him. In this Thanksgiving season, I am so grateful for this man who loves me with all of his heart...a man who chooses me to share his time and all eternity with...a man who finds happiness in my happiness. Jonathan, I love you!

Thanksgiving 2009

Living in a new house that can accomodate our sizable family, Jonathan and I decided to have The Newbold Thanksgiving Feast at our place.
We got the house cleaned, put the turkey on at 5 am, made my famous Sweet Potato Casserole and we were ready for folks to arrive at noon.

Sean and Krisi

Kyle cleaned his plate

The Dynamic Duo!

It isn't Thanksgiving unless the guys sit and watch football
and the rest of us play games.

I wanted to take more pictures, but being the hostess with the mostest didn't allow for it.

It was a great day...I think everyone enjoyed themselves.

Father Son Boot Camp 2009

The Cub Scouts had a
Father Son Boot Camp
where the boys could learn what it is like to be soldiers.
At previous den meetings the boys made
dog tags and built marshmallow air guns.
They would learn how to stand in formation, march, do drills, run obstacle courses, save the soldiers, and participate in war fare.
They all wore camouflage and came ready for lots of fun!

Dave Amsbury kept having to do push ups.
The Drill Sergeant had it out for him.

Luke doing push ups for giggling during drills

Courage and Luke marching

Nicholas Josh and Brandon marching

The boys

The Dads

Nicholas running through obstacle course

Luke jumping rope in the obstacle course

Kyle runs the obstacle course

Sergeant Missi Bryant

Men down

Courage bandaging Nicholas' wounds

Luke bandaging Brandon's wounds

Courage pulling Nicholas to safety in
Save the Soldier

Luke pulling Brandon to safety in
Save the Soldier

Jonathan shoots a marshmallow at me out of one of the extra PVC pipes

Nicholas shows off the air powered marshmallow blow gun
Jonathan built it for the boys to shoot at targets

Jonathan shows how it is done

Nicholas blowing his marshmallow bullets

Kyle with his marshmallow blow gun

Dave Amsbury had the art of war fare down pat

Luke with his marshmallow blow gun

Our Crew!
It was such a good time!

OSU vs Michigan 2009

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We watched the Big Game at our house
We ate lots of yummy food!
Cheered our teams on
And had a great time!
OSU won again!
Beating Michigan 21-10

Dylan's 15th Birthday

Just yesterday I was giving birth to a 7 lb 11 oz little boy
and now look at him... He is about six foot tall and handsome as ever

The kids each get to pick out what they want for their birthday dinner
Dylan chose Applebee's

Our 15 year old

Dylan enjoying himself with his li'l brothers

After a yummy dinner, Dylan enjoyed his birthday sundae

We followed up going to dinner with Dylan's chosen birthday activity...
We went to the opening night of "New Moon"
It was a great meal, great movie, and a great night!
Happy Birthday Dylan!

"Lullaby" by Hofeldt

Sylvania Northview Concert Orchestra performing "Lullaby" by Hofeldt

"La Folia" by Corelli/Alshin

Sylvania Northview Concert Orchestra performing "La Folia" by Corelli/Alshin at Start High School on November 11th, 2009

Dylan's Orchestra Festival 2009

Dylan ready to perform in tonight's Orchestra Festival
at Start High School.

This is the first time I was ever able to see him in a tux.
Isn't he so handsome?

Suave and Sophisticated

My boy is turning in to a man

Dylan really likes the super shiny shoes

Concert Orchestra waiting to perform

Getting ready to perform up on stage.
This is the very stage that my mom and dad met one another on.

Dylan currently has the fifth chair for cellos in Orchestra

Dylan reading his m

Ice Cream Tradition after the concert