VOTE FOR ELISE!!!!!

Hi, Gap is holding a nationwide contest to find the next faces of babyGap and GapKids, and Elise S. is entered into the contest. Check out Elise S.'s entry here:	Contestant # 40981885

Contestant # 40981885
http://family.go.com/gapcastingcall/entries/MinDer08/40981885/

You can vote once a day, every day through November 17, 2009!!! Go vote!!!!!!

Picnic at the Park

Well, what I gorgeous day we have today!!!

When my parents were packing up the house for their move to Arizona, they asked us if we wanted a picnic basket that they didn't want anymore. We thought that would be such a fun thing to do!

This weekend Logan asked if we could use our picnic basket and have a picnic lunch at the park. What a great idea! The weather is just perfect - not too hot, not too cold, sunshine, and hardly any wind blowing!

Well, I guess we somewhat cheated as far as the picnic lunch goes...we picked up sandwiches at a nearby deli on our way home from church rather than making them at home. But besides that little detail, we got out our picnic basket, the red checkered blanket, and set up lunch at the park.

Such fun times with my beautiful family! :)

Back to Indy

This weekend we took a trip back to Indianapolis to see our friends and former co-workers. We hadn't been back since we moved and were married, so we were due and everyone wanted to see Logan and meet Elise. The opportunity to head back to our old neighborhood and revisit the city where Derek and I first met is always a great time as well. I think both of us would agree that when we first drove into the city, it was still so fresh and familiar to us that we felt like we never left. As we drove by several places we kept saying "Remember we loved going there" or "Wow that's new" or "I wish they had this in Columbus", etc.

We spent all day Saturday on the go. Poor Elise was pretty fussy with all the events that took place. She's gotten into such a routine with daycare, feedings, naps and such that having a different schedule and environment isn't always so fun for her. But she made it through!

We were able to meet up with Derek's old high school friend and his wife for lunch at one of our favorite restaurants. We managed to go into downtown to take our familiar walk along the canal on such a gorgeous day. We went to watch the Butler girls volleyball game. Then, we met up with a bunch of our former co-workers and their families for a cookout later that night.

Today we attended Derek's old church for their Sunday morning service and had lunch afterwards with several church friends. It was a great time reconnecting! Our short weekend visit then came to an end as we drove back home just in time for Derek to grab his hockey gear and head over to his game tonight. Which, by the way, his team won and Derek scored a goal!!

So here it is...Several things we learned from our trip back to Indy:

1. Found at least 3 of the Starbucks that we regularly visited were closed down. :(

2. A Five Guys is now located in our old neighborhood.

3. We REALLY wish Scotty's Brewhouse would branch out and open up a restaurant in Columbus!

4. Derek's old church has a new pastor.

5. We don't miss our old employer, and although we miss living in Indy, we are glad we moved.

6. We realized how many great friends we left behind.

7. Everyone's kids have grown leap and bounds!

8. Downtown Indy is still a cool place to hang out.