Cincinnati Weekend

 A few weekends ago we headed out to Cincinnati for the Bengals vs. Bills Sunday night football game.

 We left Saturday morning & got there in the afternoon. We played at the park, walked around the city, and then headed to eat dinner at a Incline Public House which had beautiful views of the city.

Pretty view, right?

Sunday we did some more exploring including walking the Purple People Bridge...

and exploring their well known Findlay Market...

Then we headed to dinner before the game. They were all so cute in their jerseys 😍

Maddox is a big Bengals fan & Jacoby is a big Bills fan. How? Well, when your parents root for the Chicago Bears & they're pretty terrible, it's hard to root for them. Jacoby loves Stefon Diggs and Maddox started rooting for the Bengals years ago because he liked their tiger helmets :) 

It's not every day that your kids teams are good & playing against each other on a big stage like SNF! Kendry changes teams every week, and this week it was the Lions. He wanted to wear a jersey like his brothers and Jacoby offered him one, so apparently he was a Bills fan this night...but truthfully he was just there for the snacks :)

See? haha. 

He was having the time of his life :) 

The Bengals came out with the win -- and being the home team, it was super fun! The crowd was wild, the weather was perfect, and both kids got to see their favorite players play! Jacoby had a good attitude even though it wasn't the outcome he wanted. I think we need to take him to a home Bills game some day too. 

We had the BEST time. We left the stadium around 11:45pm with tired but happy kids. It's a memory with my very favorite people that I will hold forever 💓

xox,

Naomi

Weekend Recap

I'm a little slow in getting this up, but we had a really good weekend and I wanted to document it! It was the perfect mix of relaxing and fun. 

Friday night Nate had a soccer game, but it wasn't great weather..so we stayed inside and Grandma came over to see the littles.  Also, Coby + Maddox smother Kendry about 50% of the day 😉

Saturday morning we spent eating pancakes and then we went on a family walk/bike ride.  We walked with Kendry in the stroller and the two "big" boys rode their bikes.  Jacoby has been working super hard on riding his bike and is good enough now to ride while we walk.  Maddox had to ride his "bike" too but he took lots and lots and lots of breaks/distraction stops.  It was the slowest walk ever 😋 but it was fun anyways.  We have our own little biker gang and it's my favorite. 

We met up some friends and went the Elkhart Jazz Fest on Saturday night.  We had so much fun dancing to the music, eating from the food trucks...

getting balloon swords...

...and eating ice cream way after bedtime. 

Kendry was along for the ride and slept the whole time. #reasonswhyiloveanewborn

Walking into church with my crew!

I have a thing for stripes ;)

Saturday afternoon we watched Leo at his baseball game. The term "watched" is used lightly haha. 

Saturday evening we went to dinner for Matt + my brother Nate's bdays, but I didn't get any pictures..

We came home and turned on our sprinklers...

A sprinkler run before baths + bed was the perfect ending to our weekend. #bestdaddy

It felt like the perfect summer weekend and I can't wait for more.

Happy Wednesday!

xox,

Naomi

Weekend Recap: Wedding + Family Time

This past weekend was so fun!!! Nate's littlest brother got married...meaning the family is now complete :) 

We couldn't be more thrilled for Louie and Raina. 

Lots of family came to town and we were SO excited to host Alex (Nate's cousin) and his wife, Lisa, and their little boy Henry!

They came in on Thursday night and we chatted until 3AM..

Friday Nate worked, then we had rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner.

It was a little chilly but a beautiful night to enjoy family and their close friends out by the lake.

We got home and chatted with Alex and Lisa until 3AM again :) 

The wedding was Saturday, so I spent some the morning relaxing with Alex, Lisa and the boys.  Then I ran Jacoby to the wedding early for pictures, ran to my mom's house (closer to the wedding), got myself + Maddox dressed and then got to the wedding...on time. #praisethelord

It was the most beautiful day for an all outside wedding.  Jacoby sprinted down the aisle, gave Louie a huge hug, and then got a truck from Papa.  He came and sat by me...and by the time Raina walked down the aisle, Maddox was screaming.  

SO I made the quickest exit ever in a wedding...and the boys and I camped out behind a couple trees.

I love my boys beyond words...and obviously it was important for them to be there, but weddings are a little bit more fun when you aren't chasing two toddlers around.  I missed a lot of the message/vows/etc.  But mom life...ya know? :) I'm glad they were there to celebrate and they were both really good during the reception.  We didn't leave until 11:00pm and they were both still in good spirits. 

Sunday late morning we spent celebrating our nephew, Theo, turning 2. 

Then we headed over to Nate's parents to hang out at the pool with all the family in town.

Monday and Tuesday were spent with more family and just relaxing...

It was a weekend full of family and lots of love.

Raina-- Welcome to the family sista!  We love you and are so thrilled to have you! 

If there's one thing I know, it's that those Carpenter boys pick the best girls ;)

xox,

Naomi

Weekend Recap

The last official weekend of summer... here's a little recap.

FRIDAY

On Friday the boys and I went to Silver Beach and the Curious Kids Museum with my 2 sisters (and their kiddos) and our friend Amy (and her kiddos).  

Y'all, this museum delivered.  A lot of times, things are geared towards kiddos a little older than my almost 3 year old and my 1 1/2 year old.  BUT this place was perfect.  I was super impressed with all the things they had to do, and the fact that all of it could entertain Maddox and also lots of kids that were like 5-7 years old too.  We will definitely be going to the museum again soon. It's a great place to run out energy during the winter too :)

Jacoby told me he was a red lion and Maddox was a blue lion.  I love my little lions!

After the museum, we grabbed a bite to eat and then hit up the beach.  We opted for just playing in the sand + on the playground.  

Having 2 littles running around Lake Michigan water makes me nervous...I prefer to do it when Nate is with me so we can have 1:1.  The boys feel too little for me to be able to safely watch them in water that big (in case you don't know, Lake Michigan is HUGE) without the help of Nate/another person to help watch.   We did attempt a big kiddo group picture at the beach, but it just didn't happen (my kids are the ones to blame this time haha)...maybe next time!

When you're so tired but the candy is just too good ;) 

Friday night we went out for pizza just the 4 of us.  We haven't had a weekend home with nothing to do for a LONG time and it was so needed.

SATURDAY

Saturday was slow + the perfect way to finish out the summer season.  We played outside, went on a bike ride to the park, and ended the night eating Mexican food...because it's our favorite. 

SUNDAY

Sunday we went to church (a church where you feel like it's exactly where you're supposed to be + you're excited about...it's a beautiful thing).

We grabbed a quick lunch and then headed over to Nate's parents to swim and hang out.  Maddox napped while the rest of us relaxed by the pool.  Jacoby jumped in the pool, ate way too many fruit snacks + popsicles + skipped his nap.  #becausesummer

After a little late dinner, we loaded the boys up to head home around 9.  Jacoby fell asleep in the car and Nate picked him up, put him straight in bed and he didn't make a peep until after 9:00am today.  He usually transfers well but always...always wakes up to say goodnight.  Apparently swimming and skipping a nap make it super easy to put him to bed hahah :)

Our weekend was filled with lots of down time as a family soaking up the last few days of summer.  Sunshine, swimming, late nights, park time + the beach.  Summer in a nutshell.  As much as I love summer, my favorite season is juuuust about here! Eeeek!!

We have a busy weekend coming up-- Nate's little brother, Louie, is getting married and lots of family is coming in town (some of my family is coming in town for Labor Day weekend too).  We are hosting some of our favorite Carpenters and I'm SO excited.

Happy Monday, friends!  Hope your week is off to a great start. 

xox,

Naomi