It has been since before X & E came to live with us in September 2007 that Ryan and I have spent a night away from home together.

Our current parent/marriage small group study says that married couples need to spend 15 hours a week of undivided attention with one another. We had 24 hours....short, but enough.

We left Sunday after church for Fredricksburg. It isn't a long drive at all and before we could finish my Talyor Swift shuffle on my iPhone, we were at our first winery.

This was a pretty cool winery. Young, but 'up and coming'.

They were friendly and generous in their tastings.

We got there just in time to take a tour of their facilities including the cellar.

And got to sample several wines straight from the barrell. Love that.



We went to 4 wineries all together and sampled just about every wine they had at each one.

The last one was in walking distance to our B&B. We bought a bottle of Viogner and drank it while swinging.

Yes, it was ridiculously hot (103-ish). But since we were drinking wine and had no kids around - we didn't care.

Our B&B, Rose Hill Manor, was incredible.



The view was cool....but probably would have been better in the spring when everything was burnt from the lack of rain and 100+ degree weather everyday.

The B&B has an amazing restaurant inside. Five courses with wine pairings for each course.

Crazy good food all made gluten and soy free that evening for Ryan. Seriously super.



Monday morning we had another amazing 3 course breakfast (gluten and soy free again).

We did nothing all morning (which was awesome) and checked out at the last possible minute. We did some shopping in Fredricksburg. It's the small town/artsy/antique kind of shopping.

Again, it was beyond hot (109 degrees) so our window shopping didn't last that long.

Last night we spent 3+ hours watching X's dance school's recital.

X danced Hip-Hop to Cheeta Girls "Fuego".

It was awesome.

I have lots more to say about lots of topics but today after church Ryan and I are headed out of town to celebrat our anniversary in Fredricksburg, TX while Grandma Newcom stays with the kids. See ya in a few days.

E was so excited to be flying on an airplane we weren't sure if he'd sleep the night before.

The kids were quick to get ready and easy to get out the door.

Once at the airport E was a bit upset I was wasting time with pictures.

I always have one who will pose for me.

I managed to only have to carry my purse and my camera into the airport while the rest of the family carried 2 bags each. I did feel slightly bad about that.

Our flight from Houston to Cincinnati was on super small Express Jet. It was cool for the kids though since they got to really see the airplane they were getting on.

X and I sat in front of Ryan and E on this plane. I was able to sneak some photos between the seats of E eating his lunch (a turkey sandwich).

The kids loved the Cincinnati airport because of all the moving sidewalks. The ran as fast as they could down them....and we, being bad parents, let them.



The best part was watching them try to keep their balance as they charged off the end.

Grandma and Austin were waiting for us. Austin said he was so excited his heart was beating out of his chest. Love it.

Austin and E sat in Grandma's 3rd row seat playing with Austin's prized Star Wars action figures. (Let it be known that I referred to them as "figurines" and I was scolded immediately by Ryan. He informed me that they were not dolls or ballerinas which were "figurines". These were manly action figures.)



And so it was, just as X predicted, E had been taken away from us by Austin. The two barely left each others side. Austin even spent the night at Grandma's house so he could be there right when E would wake up everyday.

10 years ago I made a couple key decisions in life.

1. I wouldn't live in my parent's home again. I would spend my summers on campus working and taking summer classes.

2. Single again, I listed all the qualities I wanted in a boyfriend/future husband and promised myself I wouldn't settle for anything less.

3. I ordered a pizza.

Looking back I am amazed how God orchestrated all these (at the time-small) decisions into something HUGE.

Especially ordering that pizza.

This is because that pizza was delivered to recently sub-let-for-the-summer apartment by Ryan.

My first thought when I saw him at the door was, "Great. The last person who I ever wanted to see again." I managed to quickly cover that reaction up with informing him that I was just accepted into pharmacy school. (I had just received my acceptance letter and was so elated I told everyone that made eye contact with me.)

You see, we knew each other at the time but we didn't exactly like each other. I had dated his roomate/good friend for the 6 months previous. He thought I was a dumb blonde sorority chick and I thought he was a loser Star Wars loving pizza delivery guy. He took every opportunity to make fun and be mean to me while dating his roomate/friend.

For reasons I can only attribute to God, he asked me out (on what I believed at the time to a big group "date") while standing at the door with my pizza still in hand. And for the same reason, I said yes.

I remember being pretty excited about the date. I don't know if it was because I was going to a comedy club where you have to be 21 to get in (I was 20) or if it was Ryan. Regardless, I know that I got dressed up as though it was a date.

No other friends ever showed up that night.

We sat at a table emmersed in conversation while the comedy and laughter went on all around us. We didn't hear a word anyone else said. We continued talking, learning everything there was to know about each other (erasing our preconceived notions) till after 3 am in his car outside my apartment.

As I got out of the car I thanked him for a fun night and leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

I was pretty sure something special had just happened but I convinced myself that it hadn't. Ryan was the complete opposite of every guy I had dated - especially the roomate/friend who I was still getting over.

I worked hard to convince myself that I was making something out of nothing as we continued to see each other every Tuesday night (for comedy night). I hated being single....surely this is why I'm beginning to feel this way.

Remember your list of qualities, Kelly.

By the midde of June it became clear to me that the line between "hanging out as friends" & "dating" was  becoming blurry. Everything in my brain said that this was not supposed to be happening but everything in my heart was telling me to go ahead and fall in love with him.

And on June 23, 1999, while playing pool at a local campus pool hall, I gave into my heart and kissed Ryan for the first time. (Like, really kissed him...no peck on the cheek this time.)

From that moment on, my life has never been the same.

I knew with every fiber of my being: this is it. I don't have to look any further, worry any longer, date another; he is everything I want and more than I need (or deserve).

I knew then - in June 1999...I will marry him.

And exactly 2 years later I did just that.

We are just as much in love today as we were 10 years ago when in front of random college students and under the influence of alcohol we defined the rest of lives by kissing at the  poolhall.

A day doesn't go by that I don't thank the Lord for giving me Ryan as a husband.

Thank you for 8 years of marriage and 10 amazing years of being together.

Happy Anniversary. I love you.

My Mom heard of this great place just outside Cincinnati that had all Train stuff.

E + Trains = Happy Boy

They had huge train displays set up going through the different era's of trains.

And, of course, lots of Thomas things.

A train ride that E rode several times.

Here you get to scoop coal into the boiler. (Don't you love the boys matching outfits?)





The boys rode/hand pedaled their way around this outdoor "town" several times.

X tried her best to get into it all but she was running a fever and generally didn't feel like doing anything but laying on my lap at every stopping point.

After we left the train place (with more choo-choo track for E, a chocolate train for X, and a red lantern for Austin) we were craving Pizza.

I did a quick GPS search on my iPhone for the nearest LaRosa's (the absolute best pizza on earth-in my opinion). 

My Dad was pretty impressed (a hard thing to accomplish) with my phone and its capabilities. We found the LaRosa's in no time.

The area of town (West Chester, OH) was quite nice. As we drove to LaRosa's we passed a Starbucks, Target, Best Buy, etc. We joked that if we ever moved back we would have to live there in West Chester.

X got a bit concerned stating, "You've already signed the papers saying I was going to second grade at Leon Springs!"

So, alas, I don't think we'll be moving back any time soon.

I cannot resist posting these pictures.

E had just gone swimming in the new pool Daddy bought for him and X.

In my effort to keep him in regular underwear as much as possible instead of pull-ups, I quickly stripped him out of his swim trunks and swim diaper and threw on some dino undies.

He somehow knew I had the camera out because he looked cute in his undies (smart boy) so he hammed it up for me.

He actually leaned both hands on the table and stuck his bum out for me to take a picture of it. Seriously.

He had a wedgee and I was laughing so hard at how cute it was he got a little self consious.

Either that or he didn't know what a wedgee was when I mentioned it and he is feeling around trying to figure it out.

Wednesday, after returning home to unbearable 100 degree San Antonio heat, X had a play-off softball game.

She recovered from her 2 days of fever and general not feeling well, but the heat and general exhaustion forced her to ask the coach if she could sit on the bench for a while.

Even with lots of great hits from all the girls they came up 1 point short. Technically the game ended in a tie but since they don't do overtime, their rule is to defer back to the previous inning and whoever scored the most points that inning wins the game. That wasn't us.

So the season came to a close. I think X is generally relieved not to have to play for a while. 

She was elated with her bigger-than-last-year trophy.That made the whole season worth it in her eyes.

A day doesn't go by when I don't think about how lucky I am to have Ryan.

He is an amazing Dad.

He truly makes parenting a team effort. There is nothing he assumes is my job as the Mom.  If it needs to be done....he does it.

Thank you, Love. You are awesome. I love you. 

Ryan was trying to read the questionarre that X filled out for him but E kept doing his new and favorite game, "got your nose!" (and then he pretends to eat it).

X was jumping in and trying to take E's ear and eat it.

Then he decided to play, "got your lips!"

The funny part is that if you do it to him, he gets all upset and says, "put it back on!"

The kids gave Ry some new pajama pants and I surprised him with a mini getaway to Fredericksburg, TX (where all the wineries are in Texas).

And we can't go on a mini-getaway without a babysitter.

So a present to everyone was my announcement that Grandma Newcom was coming on Thursday. 

Everyone is excited.

I looked up the word "succumb" on Dictionary.com to make sure I was spelling it right (because I had started writing this blog post completely different) and I loved the definition so much I had to revolve this post around it.

Succumb verb

      1. to give way to a superior force

Ryan is now an iPhone carrying, Apple owning man.

I believe "succumb" is the perfect word to describe this turn of events.

Let the superior force be with you now Ryan.

On Saturday night we left the kids with Grandma and Grandpa to enjoy an evening out with some friends.

Sam is who I refer to as "my friend from forever ago". We grew up together and never grew apart.

Since they frequent the greater Cincinnati area more they chose the restaurant. 

Brio's is in the new trendy area of Kentucky right across the Ohio River from downtown Cincinnati.

I enjoyed feeling like I was back in city life again.

The food was terrific but the wine was only mediocre (not that that stopped us from drinking it).

Sam and Brad (with baby boy #2 on the way!)

Us (with absolutely no babies on the way).

Sam and I reminisced about our high school days (as we usually do). I'm not sure why we still find so many of the stories funny (I know poor Ryan doesn't).

Sunday morning we met back up with them with all of our kiddos + my nephew Austin for breakfast at Cracker Barrel.

I couldn't bare to leave Austin behind when he was enjoying X & E's company so much.

I felt so much at home at this Cracker Barrel (it is where I had my first waitressing job back in 1998) that I took the liberty of using their outlet above the fireplace mantle to charge my camera battery while we ate.

After breakfast we went to the local (but amazing) park.

They had a pretty awesome jungle gym.

E is in that stage where he wants to do everything X does.

All the kids together (which was a very hard picture to get).

This park is where Ryan and I went to have our wedding photos taken before the ceremony. We took a limo-bus with the entire bridal party to the park only to have it rain once there. We had to stand under an awning near the concession stand for what few pictures we were able to get.

We thought it would be cool to get some pictures of the kids there. Noone but Austin and E would do it though. Thank you Austin!