Goodbye Brecksville Home

We moved to Brecksville July 2007. We have lived in our same home for the last four years. When we moved out here, G was barely two and J turned four weeks after we moved in. My mom came with us to help us move in. Our wonderful neighbors, the Olsens also helped us out. Now we are leaving with one more family member and a whole lot of friends that will forever be our Ohio family. I didn't realize all the wonderful things this chapter in our lives held in store for us. While the last four years has not been all a bed of roses, I wouldn't trade our time here for anything in the world. We've all grown up a little and learned important life's lessons. We have lived, we have loved. We have laughed, we have cried. We have just loved Brecksville, OH. We will always look back on our time here with such a fondness and a longing to be back.

Clelveland Top 10

TOP TEN THINGS WE'LL MISS ABOUT OHIO

10. Handel's - So this post isn't all about ice cream, but here in the US, it's the best we've EVER had! We love this little joint. The ice cream is all homemade and only 5 minutes from my house...trouble. We are sure going to miss you Handel's!!!

{they even put little eyes on the FREE kiddie cone for super boy.}

9. The Indians' Games - Sports are SO MUCH FUN out here! We just attended a game last Friday where the last guy to bat {bottom of the 9th, 2 outs, 2 strikes, and down by one point} hit a homer with another player on 2nd base. It was perfect. Everyone in the crowd was hugging each other and sharing high fives. My kids had fun high-fiving our fellow Indian's fans all around us. I love the fanatical fans. They also have the BEST fireworks' show I have EVER seen.




8. The Wildlife - We see deer, squirrels, and a variety of birds on a daily basis. My kitchen window looks into a wooded area next to our house and I see birds like blue jays and cardinals. I watch the squirrels gathering acorns for the winter. Deer are constantly walking in our back yard and drinking from the pond near our house.



7. Playhouse Square - We have really loved the wonderful theater district in Cleveland. It's the largest outside of Broadway, you know! We have seen: Wicked, Les Miserables, Mama Mia, South Pacific, and STOMP there. The theaters are so lavishly built and decorated and the shows just amazing.


6. Amish Country - We LOVE visiting Holmes County. The Amish are so clean and kind and just plain fascinating. They have the best food and great stores.


{I picked up this Granny's Garden quilt top all hand-pieced by my Amish friends...now to quilt it}


5. The Metro Parks {The Emerald Necklace} - Oh, we have loved riding bikes and going for walks and hikes in the amazing parks right by our house. My kids enjoy the "really tall swings" and seeing the beautiful wildlife.


4. Springtime - All the daffodils and blossoms are AMAZING. I just love magnolia trees. They are my favorite! Spring really feels like a rebirth and a renewal of life.



3. The Fall Colors - Oh my goodness is this unreal and gorgeous! I have never experienced something quite like this. I LOVE Ohio falls. The colors sometimes take my breath away.



2. Our Yard - we have the BEST backyard. It stretches on forever. My kids have enjoyed it so very much. Riding dirt bikes and tractors, playing soccer and tag, and having good 'ole hot dog roasts are among a few of the things are yard has enabled us to do.





1. The People - I have met people here that I will never forget. I have best friend's that are like sisters to me {who I know I'll see again...just not every day...hate that}. I have friends who are parents of my children's classmates that I love dearly. I have many friends and examples that I have looked to from people that attend church with me. My friends come in all ages. I will miss you the very most. You are my Ohio. My kids have also learned to be the "new kid" and make friends easily. They have been blessed with wonderful friends in their lives just like Matt and I have. Not to mention that I love mid-westerners. The people out here are so friendly. Now let me go cry myself to sleep. Also, don't forget our little Cleveland souvenir, Sam.

We Made It!

We are finally here. It was surreal. There ceremony took place in Cleveland at the Church of the Covenant. As he came in, my eyes became misty as I realized our dream had finally come true. All his hard work had paid off. Then my eyes betrayed me again as they welled up with tears as the announcer read, "Dr. Matthew Ellingson." He has worked SO hard. I love you, babe. You are AMAZING.

Super boy fell asleep {2pm isn't the most family friendly time for a ceremony} in Papa's arms, then slept on the bench with poopy pants and all.

Matt's parents and biggest brother came to support us. It means the world to us. Thanks for coming.

We love our support group and cheering section.

Matt commissioned as a Captain in the Army after the graduation.

My mom and dad came to support us too. It means so much to us. We have a great family.

I used my fish-eye lens to capture the whole church. It was really an ornate church.

I love the Gothic rose window.

J & G tried daddy's special hat on for size.

Both J & G kept saying how prod of their daddy they were!

G's is Six

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I love this girl. She is such a fun-loving little person. She is always singing and dancing around and often dreaming up something fun to do. She uses large words like, dramatic, exasperated, ashamed {"Mom, I'm so ashamed that I always push the incorrect button on the phone!"}, inappropriate {"The boys on the bus are so inappropriate!"}, beverage {for her school drink}, the list goes on. Matt and I are always giggling to ourselves at what she comes up with. She also is super tough! Whenever she falls she quickly gets up and exclaims, "I meant to do that!" She's a real thinker too. For a while J was afraid of the basement because he was afraid "bad guys" would break in and steal him. G told him that she wasn't scared because if you take a look around our neighborhood, ours is the smallest house and she thinks the robbers would much rather go to the other larger houses than ours because they have better stuff to steal! Ha! G LOVES the stage. She told me that's the whole reason she is in dance is for the show. G loves to sew and create "crafts". Recently she made a purse, a wind chime, and diaper changing pad, and a scarf. She knows all about my sewing machine and knows to ask me first. G is also LOUD! She really doesn't know how to whisper. She is always excited about something and practically yells everything {in a happy way...just loud!} We love our little pretty. My favorite is most every morning the first words out of her mouth are, "Love you, Mom." She and I are buds. Love her.

These pics are in my beautiful yard. I know dandelions are weeds, but they are pretty weeds. G and I love them because they are a "beautiful, vibrant, yellow." We picked some fresh blossoms for her hair. I love my yard. I love my girl more.


These pics are in my beautiful yard. I know dandelions are weeds, but they are pretty weeds. G and I love them because they are a "beautiful, vibrant, yellow." We picked some fresh blossoms for her hair. I love my yard. I love my girl more.