Our trip to Oktoberfest Zinzinnati

Jason chows on a Super Brat with kraut and mustard! Yum!

Elena won't look at the camera... seems sorta interested in the Weisbrau

Our first time as a threesome at Oktoberfest (Jen and my 2nd time together)

Yes, I have been planning on visiting Oktoberfest for months now. Ever since missing last year's celebration while living up in Akron I have dreamt of the super brat... the giant Servati's pretzel... the goetta balls... AND the massively huge bavarian cream puffs!

I realize this is the worst possible food one could eat, but we all have to splurge sometimes. Besides, Oktoberfest IS only once a year. Surprisingly Elena did very well for the first hour or so of our outing, but did start to get very upset and wanted to be held. Once Jen found a place to feed her she did fine the rest of the trip and napped on the way home while Jen drove and I dusted off the cream puff.

I think this was Elena's first big outing with large crowds about. If we make it next year when she's 1 and ½, I may even buy her a goetta ball - or maybe just a hot dog.

Until next post,
Auf Wiedersehen aus Zinzinnati!
-Jason

Our Future Country Western Star?!

'Nuff said. :-)

(And no... we didn't buy the hat)

Have a Yeehaw Yipee Kiyay Day

-Jason

Too Cute!!!

This picture is SO cute I just had to blog it for everyone to see. We were without power for 35 hours and had to entertain ourselves recently. Elena is wearing a new 6 month jumper that she BARELY fits into. Yes, she is only 5 months old but 85 percentile in length and 75 percentile in weight, so we will have to jump to 9 month clothes very soon.

Elena update:
She pretty much grabs everything - including daddy's glasses.
She screams/sings/whines a lot more these days.
She can flip from back to stomach and to back again very easily.
She prefers to sleep on her stomach - usually going to town on her thumb.
She is starting to eat some solid foods and actually likes some of them.
She really enjoys standing and all she needs is just a few fingers to hold onto.

Jen and I are also doing well - trying to avoid getting sick and dealing with life's little curve balls. I hope to have a new "best of" album up shortly - time and effort permitting. Hope everyone is well.

Thanks for reading!

-Jason

Last day with the Springers

Lucas rides happily on his new Turbo ATV

Jen helps Isabella get the controls down - amazing how a 2 yr old can actually drive this thing!

A routine bubble bath leads to a soap-in-the-eyes mohawk

Isabella shows off her alfalfa spike

I wanted to blog a few more pics of our extended Akron family's visit. We all had loads of fun together. Sunday morning was a nice relaxing lazy day. We started off with homemade waffles, eggs, and sausage. Then it was time to get the newly garage sale purchased ATV out for a spin - it had been charging overnight. Both kids loved zipping up and down the sidewalk and where ever else the thing could go... yard, street, etc.

Next it was bath time for the kids. I had purchased some bubble bath (at Jen's request) and Shane had fun making hairdos for Lucas and Isabella. Isabella's kept falling over but we finally got a picture just in time before the spike collapsed.

Our final stop together was the King Arthur's Court toy store in Oakley. I hadn't been there myself in years, but they had! This store has quite a bit of every conceivable kind of toy - a kids paradise. Lucas and Isabella of course wanted to stay all day, but Kristin and Shane decided it was time to make the trip back to Akron. We all said our goodbyes and talked about getting together again soon. It's probably our turn to head up to Akron next. Maybe in a month. All this driving can be quite exhausting when I have only every other weekend off.

I will try to get the "Best of August" pics of Elena up soon. I'm currently addicted to Facebook so I have to balance my time as best I can.

-Jason