We called her this morning to sing happy birthday and she was at Toys R Us picking out a new bike, lucky girl. Her mom let her choose any dinner for tonight and she said she's having pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream. I've always thought we were kindred spirits...
Claire is unique. We have the BEST time with her... D and I and Croz have been so lucky to spend time with my brother's kids when we visited Cleveland recently for his dental school graduation. Here is when we were at Cuyahoga Park walking a trail back to the car. Claire was walking with D and me, but then stopped and said, "I want to walk with Grandpa." She absolutely loves the guys of the family, it's funny.
Well this Cleveland trip Crosby took his first plane ride. He enjoys window seats the most.
Me, Pat, and Steve all flew out to cheer for our bro
Whoever coined the phrase "Cleveland: the armpit of America" was mistaken. D and I felt like we would move there if we could. We've visited in Winter and now in Spring and truly we think the area is BEAUTIFUL. It is so lush and green right now. There are large houses with acres of yardage, woods, really neat places to take your family, awesome grocery stores... we love it in Cleveland! This is Brandywine Falls in Cuyahoga Park:
Generations
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Ice Box Cave
Ledges @ the park
Cam and Brig
Almost all of Cam's fam (Grant was @ school)
The kids hanging out together
D and I watched all of the kids while everyone went to Kirtland on Saturday and we made this clubhouse
Then we made cinnamon rolls... Grant and I had so much fun making the dough
Can't tell ya how nice it is to have my whole family in one spot
Cam's graduation from Case was in this gorgeous church
Here he is at the end of it all! The organ music was surround-sound in that church and it sent chills right through to watch them walk to the music; such a happy day.
Anyone spot Cam?
Proud parents
Proud Beth!
Cam and his family
Us!
The whole group
Did I mention I'm proud of my brother? Lots of sacrifice to get to this point
Speaking of sacrifice... it was cute, after many pictures were taken and we were standing around basking in the (extremely bright) sun, Cam took his robe off and started to decorate Audrey, saying, "She is the one who deserves this!"
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum (make sure you have a FULL day if you ever go)
Browns please don't let us down
Lake Erie
D and I checked out Lake View Cemetery. This place is so large and spacious... some of the most beautiful vegetation I've ever seen. At the cemetery they have the James Garfield memorial building, which I found to be so beautiful as well:
The juxtaposition of bright and rusty
The ceiling inside, I thought I was in the Vatican for a second
President Garfield
He rests here alongside his wife
D, me, and Cleveland skyline atop the James Garfield building
Loved this door!
West syyyyyde
More shots of this pretty building
Loved it
My mom and dad and their FOUR GRANDKIDS!
This was (one) of the big moving days. My dad had worked so hard all day organizing things in the moving truck, so he was on the floor resting and the kids started climbing on him. He pretended to be a monster who for some reason only would eat kids who are sweet, otherwise he'd spit them out. So here they are waiting to be eaten:
Claire would have done this all night if they let her... she kept going up to my dad saying, "I'm sweet, I'm sweet!"
Crosby fit in with the kids so well it scared me. Scary because it makes me realize how much he needs a brother or sister! Honestly I find such joy in watching these kids together. Grant has the role of big brother DOWN... he was a jewel with Croz and would look at him with adoring looks I only thought adults knew how to make. Here Grant let C use his little Transformer ball and Grant kept saying, "I can't believe he knows how to figure that thing out!"
Crosby and Claire were two peas in a pod. Despite the fact that she wants to be his mother, they play really well together and they are the most fun to watch. She says, "Come here Croz," and when she says his name it sounds like "Croth" with her little lisp. She was pushing him all around the yard in this monster truck:
Brig's a little different story... he is still warming up to his cousin. I wonder if he thinks Crosby's moving into his family and so he's protective of his role as baby of the family. Brig likes to tattle tale on Croz!
The way back home these happened to be C's only clean clothes left, and of course the women of Delta were swooning at the little airplanes on his shirt
SO HAPPY TO HAVE CAM, AUDS, GRANT, CLAIRE, AND BRIG BACK IN THE SAME CITY!!!!!!!
