Heat Wave, Working out, Fixing Jeeps and Saving Babies

The Raptor's AC decided to break. And, of course, it broke right before a crazy, humid heatwave! I did all I could to keep our home cool, but the heat just keeps coming! The hard thing about the Raptor is that it has these huge black windows that don't open all the way. So, it tends to get hotter in the Raptor then it is outside and even if I open all the windows I can't cool it down.

[Plenty of ice packs to keep me cool]

[Inside temperature]

[Outside temps... "feels like" is REAL people!]

[Totally!]

I continue to go to the gym six days a week. I really try and get 15,000 steps a day and if I am a little short I'll do one of my Insanity videos to get that extra 2500 steps :-) 

[Calluses are holding strong and I can see the top of my socks through my shoes]

In my spare time I like to plan vacations :-) 

Josh is stilling working hard on the pipeline. In his spare time he works on his Jeep (recently fixing the broken AC) and saves baby birds!

Memorial Day Weekend in Superior

Josh knew he was getting Memorial Day off so we decided to make the trek up to Superior to see his family. We talked to Jessi and Ally and they decided that we should come up and surprise Grandma and Grandpa Carlson and have a BBQ at their house. 

I got up Saturday morning and headed to the gym that is close to Josh's work site (that's another great thing about Anytime Fitness). I worked out for an hour or so before heading over to Target and then Starbucks (no frappuccino for me!). At noon I met Josh at his work and we headed north. It was a long drive but traffic wasn't bad.

When we arrived in Superior we headed over to the bar to meet up with Jessi and Ally for dinner. Jessi texted us to let us know they were running late so we patiently waited... no, that's a lie. I was WAY too excited to wait patiently! 

After a few minutes we saw Jessi and Ally enter the bar with Suzi and Clay! WHAA?! Last we heard Suzi and Clay were on a job in Pennsylvania! Apparently their job just ended so they made the trip up to Superior to surprise us! Yeah! We then also learned that Uncle Shorty (coming in from New York), Brandon (coming in from Colorado) and Rachel Lane (coming in from central WI), and Cassidy and Kennedy (Josh's cousins) would also be at the BBQ! Holy hell! I was so excited to see everyone! This will be the first time we were all together since our wedding! Pipeliners Unite! 

The next morning Josh and I went to the grocery store to get food for the party. We didn't know how many people were coming and if they were going to be bringing food (Jessi and Ally bought the meat), so we stocked up!

[Food! And flowers for Grandma]

While we were at the store I was approached by a man. He said, "Aren't you Josh's wife?" Um... yeah! Apparently he is Grandma and Grandpa's neighbor and he recognized me! It's always strange to be recognized in a place where you think you won't run into anyone you know!

After getting the food we headed to Grandma and Grandpas house. We met up with Suzi and Clay and Jessi and Ally on the driveway so we could all go into the house at the same time. Grandma and Grandpa were so surprised to see us all! They had no idea any of us were coming! 

Throughout the afternoon more and more people showed up. We had tons of food and ended up having a great time!

The next morning we all gathered at Grandma and Grandpa's house for Grandma's famous biscuits and gravy! It was so good! I had to have two servings! I just had too! 

After breakfast Josh and I headed south. I am so glad that we decided to go to Superior! It was so much fun to see everyone! When most of you family works in the pipeline business you don't ever know when you will all be able to get together. I am so thankful for this amazing family I married into and I wish I was able to see them more often. Love you all!

Josh's Birthday and Our Anniversary

"Courtney's Homemade Lunchables"

Lunches for Josh are hard. He is working on a pipeline that goes through a city. So he could leave the ROW at lunch time and go get a sandwich or fast food, but that can add up and end up costing a lot of money. He used to take a sandwich every day (along with a tuna pack, a healthy snack, and a granola bar), but he started getting heartburn from the bread. So we started brain storming and we came up with a lunchable-type-thing. Instead of buying lunchables I would just buy everything in bulk and make them at home. Brilliant! So I would cut up the cheese and put 2 oz in a bag and then put 4 oz of deli meat in another bag and then put some crackers in another bag. Done and done! Josh seems to like them, he doesn't get heartburn anymore, and we are saving money!

Josh's 31st Birthday

We had a nice night in for Josh's birthday. I got some cake, ice cream, and wine and Josh brought home some Chicago pizza. Happy birthday Josh! I hope you enjoyed all your presents!

Just funny!

This election season is out of control so when I find things like this it makes me very happy!

Our Anniversary

I received an email from Marriott Rewards informing me that all our points were about to expire. We had a bunch of them since I stayed at a Marriott during the week of our wedding. So I decided to book a Marriott up in Chicago (close to Josh's work) for the weekend. I drove up there Saturday night and met Josh at the White Chocolate Grill for dinner. YUM! I got the salmon with steamed broccoli and Josh got the ribs and then we got desserts! Amazing!

After dinner we went back to the hotel where I fell asleep watching the NBA while Josh worked on his reports. Party people!

The next day we got up and went to the Chicago Outlets to go shopping. We are not huge shoppers but we had a fun time anyways :-)

That night we went to The Melting Pot for dinner and dessert. 

It was so much fun and the food was delicious! Good thing I got 140 extra WW points this week!



For our 1 year anniversary Josh got me these beautiful paper earrings and necklace. Apparently "cotton" is the 2 year anniversary present. So Josh cut some lace off my wedding dress (with permission, of course) and had it made into these:

I love them! Happy Anniversary to us!

Baby Cole!!

I had been planning on going to Ohio in April since I found out that Missy was pregnant and due while my parents were out of the country. My brother (her husband) is gone a lot for work too. So I told Missy that I was planning on coming down to Ohio on Tuesday (April 19th) but if she needed me before that I would be there in a heartbeat! 

So Tuesday arrived and I made the five hour trek to Ohio. After having dinner with Missy and the boys I went to my parents house to unpack. The next morning, Missy dropped off the boys so she could have some rest. We went to the park and played baseball in my parents backyard. 

Wednesday (April 20th) night while I was at Ryan and Missy's house, Missy started having contractions. She timed them found out that they were a minute long and 5 minutes apart. When I left for the night I told her to call me if they needed me to come and stay with the boys. Well, at 11:45 PM my phone rang and Missy said, "It's time!" 

I packed up a small bag and went over to Ryan and Missy's house. They met me in the driveway and I wished her good luck! I went inside (the boys were sleeping) and fell asleep in the guest room.

At 2:44 AM (April 21st) baby Cole was born! Ryan sent us updates via text message during the night. At 7:00 AM I heard the boys come out of their room. I called to Brady and told him to get Dane and come and sit on my bed. They came in and asked where their parents where. I showed them the pictures that Ryan had sent and they got so excited! I told them that we were going to go at noon to see the baby. EEK! So exciting!

At noon we left the house and headed to the hospital. They boys were so excited to meet their new brother!

[Missy, baby Cole, Dane and Brady]

[Look at all that hair!]

[So alert!]

After spending some time with the baby I took the boys downstairs to get baby Cole a gift. After much debate (I wanted to get this life-sized Storm Trooper balloon), we got him a smaller balloon and some socks.

[I sent this to Missy... I felt it was completely appropriate]

My parents flew in that afternoon and my brother picked them up from the airport as I took the boys home and made dinner. That night my parents went to the hospital to meet their new grandbaby and then they came over to see me and the boys.

Over the next week I spent a lot of time with my family. Baby Cole is a huge hit and he is super cute and squishy!

[Big brother Brady with Cole]

[Medium brother Dane with Cole]

[My turn!]

[Super happy "Gran-ma"]

[Squishy!]

[Papa reading to the boys]

Ok, I thought this was funny: I went to Wal-Mart to pick up some allergy medication and I sent out a mass text to my family to see if they needed anything while I was out. My dad asked me to look into black mulch, Missy asked me to get some mouthwash for Brady (NO Spongebob!), and my mom asked me to check out the price of Propel. Once I found the Propel I texted my mom and here is her response:

Five?! FIVE CASES?! She LOVES her Propel!

Since Missy JUST had a baby and Ryan was working, my dad took Brady on his field trip to the Farm. Isn't this so cute?!

On Friday, April 29th, Ryan, Brady, Dane, my dad and I went to the Newport Aquarium in Kentucky. And it was AWESOME!

[Touching tank]

[Dane was so brave]

[Seahorses!]

[Alligator!]

[Otters]

I loved the Jellyfish section! There were so many different types and they were beautiful!

[Touching the sharks!]

[Watching the pengiuns]

[Walking across the shark bridge]

The Newport Aquarium was probably one of the best aquariums that I have ever been to! We had such a great time!

After the aquarium we went to Tom+Chee to get their famous grilled cheese sandwiches and grilled cheese doughnuts!

[Grilled cheese doughnut with peanut butter and bananas]

[Grilled cheese with turkey, cheese, and pickles]

[YUM!!]

After lunch we walked down to the waterfront and threw rocks in the river.

Can't get enough of him!!

The next day I went with my parents to a place in Cincinnati called Over-the-Rhine. We tried to get into The Eagle for dinner but were told it would be a 2.5 hour wait! Their food is so delicious but I was hungry! We then walked down the street and found a sushi restaurant called Kaze. After dinner we went to the famous Graeter's Ice Cream. It was very creamy and delicious!

I was missing Josh so I sent him this picture in a text message (no, I didn't draw it myself). I don't think he appreciated it as much as I did.

Sunday night (May 1st) my dad and I made fresh homemade pasta for dinner. And it was tasty!

After dinner we went outside and the boys played with the neighbor kids. It was so cute to see Dane driving the little car. 

After running around outside we came inside and had ice cream cones. Right then a huge storm rolled in and it started to hail and lightning!

[Note the chocolate on the window sill, table, his pants, shirt and face!]

While I was having fun with my family Josh was at home working. I love him and appreciate him so much! Here are some pictures from work:

May 4th is Star Wars Day. I sent this message to my brothers. 

They responded by telling me I need this hat. I completely agree :-)

I watch Clone Wars before bed every night. It's so awesome!