New Life and Grandparents

June 21 Levi James Cleveland was born 9lbs 10oz. 22 inches long. Congrats Jamie Emily and big sister Avery we are so excited to welcome him to our Cleveland family.

Levi James Cleveland

Chris and Mark came up on Friday to meet our adorable new addition to the family. I had to work most of the weekend, but they defiantly got some quality time with Bo.

Eating with Grandpa

Bubbles

Walking at Centennial Lakes

Story time

Hi Grandma

 

Then I got a little photo shoot in with Bo

6 month pic same location

Saw this on Pintrest had to try it

Love that face, just wish it was a little sunnier out

there is the blue sky

Grandma and Grandpa Cleveland

What a great weekend. Can't wait until next weekend when work is done and I get a whole week off with our family. 

"Family"

Josh and I both grew up with families that many people dream about.  We have extended families that we actually know and talk too on a regular basis.  We have parents that love us unconditionally and have been with us through good times and bad.  Siblings that we are proud to call our brothers and sister, and in-laws that so obviously make our siblings so happy.  We have nieces and nephews that couldn't ask for better parents.  All of you have been such an important part of our lives and we are so glad that you have all shaped who Josh and I are as people. 

Then there are the people that choice to come into our life and stay there despite our flaws and become part of our extended family.  These are the people we can't imagine our life without, tell our deepest secrets to, call when we are sad, text when we have great news, the one that was right next to us when the cops were called, and of course the ones that could tell our kids the things we did when we were their age which will take all credibility away from our desire for them to listen to us.
These people are our BEST friends. 

On the rare occasions that we get to spend extended time with any of them we want to just soak it all in.  This weekend was just one of those occasions.   Erica came up from Texas to watch her nephew run at the regional and state meets.  She got to spend some quality time with her family, then headed to our house to spend the weekend with us before having to head back to Texas.

Friday was state prelims for Collin, so Erica dropped off her kids with me and headed to watch him run.  The kids and I had a great time playing together.  It was so fun watch them.  

Just playing

Come on Owen

Come on Bo!

Kind looks like they're hanging out at Wrigley

Kaitlyn not so happy, she wants to eat too

Such a good helper

Pistol loved having them too.

We got up early Saturday morning, and just spent the whole day just hanging out.

Hanging with "auntie" Erica

Bo loved hanging out with the "baby"

...and doing what ever Owen did

Bo loved having them just as much as we did, we had so much fun.  Time to say good-bye!

Kisses for Kaitlyn!

Now it's time to get ready for my nights and weekend work for the next three weeks, and not really see my husband for more then a few minutes a day for a while.  I'm going to love hanging out with Bo everyday though.  Anyone up for the zoo?

Wedding time...

Last weekend we headed to Ames to go to Josh's cousin Lindsie's wedding.

We headed down to Ames Friday night to spend some quality time with Josh's immediate family.

Time with grandma Cleveland

Van and Maddox

We went to bed early (at least early compared to how late we normally stay up when we go to visit.)

Saturday morning though it was really nice that we were able to to have the cousins play together

Breakfast of Champions, Donuts!

Train time!

Cousin time

Then we headed to the pool at Grandma and Grandpa's hotel.

Bo's first time in a "big" pool

Playing in the pool

I'm not really sure how this happened, but I didn't get a single picture of Lindsie and Matt's wedding.  It might be that Bo doesn't just quietly sit there anymore, she likes to move around and talk, so I had to take her outside.  (very disappointed though that I didn't get any of my own pictures)

Between the wedding and the reception we headed back to Jess and Mitch's to hang out.  Of course we couldn't pass up the opportunity to get a picture of all the Cleveland cousins.

Kid wranglers

Which camera should we look at?

Then off to the reception we went

Can I dance with you guys?

We get low low low low (she was coping the older girls too cute)

Our little family

Again I didn't get very many pictures at the reception either, Bo was too busy walking around to take very many "good" pictures.  Bo and I also left early with Jess and the boys, I think it was really nice for Josh to spend some quality time with his extended family.  I however did steal a picture of the happy couple from Karen's Facebook. 

Congrats Lindsie and Matt, thank you for including us in your beautiful day

Sunday morning was another great day spent with Josh's family

Grady showing off Maddox's early birthday present

Bo's wings

Cuddle time with Auntie Stevi

Bye Bye Aunt Jess, Maddox and Grady

Toy Story 3 with Van

When it was finally time to go home, we were all worn out from our great time.  However, about a hour from home we decided to stop (someone was getting a little restless)

Taking a walk with daddy

But when we got back into the car, it didn't start. (Starter went out gotta love vehicles)

Three attempts at jumping it, a call to AAA, an hour of waiting for the tow-truck, a ride in the tow truck back home, and waiting for a ride to get home we finally made it home, from our great weekend with the family. 

New pool

It was really hot a over Memorial day weekend so we decided that Bo needed a kiddie pool.  

Plus I had a gift card from work for Target, so why not spend it on Bo.

Here are a few pics of how much fun we had with our new pool.

Testing the water

AHHHHHH

Testing out my new chair with mommy

Agggg my hands are wet

Cracker time

Bubbles!

 

As Promised...

...My new recipe

HIMM aka: Happiness in my Mouth (Spinach Artichoke Clam Dip)

Ingredients:
1 cup Mozzarella cheese
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup Colby Jack cheese
1/3 cup cream cheese
1/3 cup Hellmann's mayo. (used generic and I could tell the difference in the taste)
2 cups fresh spinach (or 8oz. frozen spinach)
1 can of clams (not sure of the size)
4oz artichokes (8 halves)
3 cloves garlic (use more or less depending on your taste)
1/4 cup hot sauce
1/2 cup milk (use more or less based on the consistence you like)

Supplies:
Hand Chopper (you could use a knife if you don't have a hand chopper)
Double Broiler (this just prevents if from burning to the bottom of the pan)

Step one:
Prep all ingredients
Chop garlic, spinach, and clams (note if you are using frozen spinach you will want to defrost and get any extra water out before adding it to this mixture)
Combine in bowl and set aside

Sorry for the fuzzy picture

Step two: 
Combine all cheeses and mayo into double broiler and stir until it is mostly melted.
(Note: if you are not using a double broiler be sure to stir often, to prevent burning to the bottom of the pan)

Step three: 

Add hot sauce
(Note:this could be excluded if you don't like hot sauce, or use more if you like it a bit hotter)

Step four:
Add the already chopped ingredients
(Note: I tried sauteing them first, but it gave it a different flavor that I didn't like as much)
Step five:
Add milk and test consistence

Step six:
Reduce heat to low and stir occasionally.
When you lift up the mixture and it is no longer stringy it is done.

Enjoy!

Grilled Portabella mushroom and grilled asparagus topped with HIMM

NOTE: Goes great with gluten free bread and corn chips too.

Tip: instead of buying and expensive (3.50 for 8oz.) can of artichokes get them at the grocery store salad bar for much cheaper (2.50 for 8oz.)  who knew artichokes were so expensive.