Covered Bridges

matt and i have always wanted to take the ashtabula county bridge tour, but have never got around to it. well, matt's parents love road trips as much as we do, so we all hopped in the car (minus J b/c he was at school) for a day trip. we toured 10 different covered bridges, many of them dating back to the 1800's. the scenery was absolutely beautiful, and the company fabulous. please don't end fall...

this is the longest covered bridge in the nation, stretching 613 feet.

our little van drove through every one and matt got creative with the honks!

Amish Country

one of the many things we love about ohio is our trips to amish country, holmes county. holmes county is the most heavily populated amish county in the whole united states. it's so peaceful and there are so many wonderful shops and people. my brother-in-law was in town, so we took a trip down. it's just a little over an hour away, and i think we've been there 10 plus times. we're going back next week too for matt's birthday celebration. it was a beautiful day. fall is on it's way, hooray! enjoy a few pics!

pumpkin blossoms

we are trying our hand at pumpkins this year. we started them a little late, so here's to a warm fall! we have several beautiful blossoms though!

annie

this is not my annie, although i would totally claim her. she belongs to my beautiful cousin. we are so glad she is here safe and sound. {i want an annie too...someday if i get another girl, tara says she doesn't care}. for now, i'll just love on this annie. super baby looks HUGE now!

little miss american pie

i LOVE the 4th of july.
family, friends, food, fun, fourth!

my friend found this link and sent it over for a shirt for G...i changed it up a bit...

this was too fun to make! the crust is too yummy too. it's from my cousin, tara.
1 box yellow cake mix
1 egg
1 stick of butta' {softened}
bake at 350 for 10 min
{you have to double it for a sheet pan}

then for the frosting it's:
1 cube softened cream cheese
12 oz whipped cream
2 Tbs lemon juics
1/2 Cup powdered sugar

summer fair

every year our town has a homecoming fair in june. there's rides, good food, fireworks...and all sorts of good old-fashioned fun. it takes place up the road for us, so we all loaded up on our bikes and road our way to fun memories for the last four summers we've been here. this is another last for us. last time at the fair (sniffle, sniffle). we enjoyed shaved ice, funnel cakes, gyros, rides and games. there was also a live band playing oldies but goodies. this is the perfect summertime event.

i snapped this as the kids were looking at the rides and taking it all in. oh to be a kid again.

my favorite place in ohio

{G and our little friend picking raspberries}

we went berry picking this last week and i'm already dying to go back. let me paint you a picture. the drive to the farm is windy roads through the country. the minute i stepped out of my car, the smell of sun-kissed strawberries fills the air...my mouth starts watering. the breeze is blowing our hair and the vista is breathtaking. we are on the top of the highest hill in the area so we can see a small valley below. we pick these yummy strawberries and the juice just runs down our chins. little puppy just planted himself in the middle of the patch and would pick his own strawberries, put the whole thing in his mouth and then spit out the stem. his shirt was covered in strawberry juice. next we plucked raspberries from their plants...oh so yummy. i'll be going back very soon.

{thanks jenny for the pictures, you are amazing}