Thunder Over Louisville

Every year before derby there is a big celebration called Thunder over Louisville.  We didn't make it to the party last year because the weather was pretty crummy and we heard it is super crowed and crazy.  This year though the weather was fabulous and we just couldn't pass it up.  And since this is a free event we knew there were going to be a TON of people there, and let me tell you there was!  During the day they have an air show and then at night they have a HUGE fireworks show.  Everyone lines up along the Ohio River on the KY side and the Indiana side.  The fireworks come from the bridge that goes over the river and from big boats out in the water.  We met some friends and staked out for the big event.  Even though Ella tried to run away when the fireworks first started, it was so much fun and worth fighting off the huge crowd!  

Some of our group that we met up with.  Even more showed up later on.  

The bridge that the fireworks shoot out from.

Ella and Tiffany, one of the ladies that watches Ella for me during the week.  Ella loves her and I couldn't go to school without her help!

Ella and Victoria, a friend from church

Fireworks!  They have two different shows going at the same time.  These are the ones that are up in the sky and.....

.....these are some coming from the bridge. 

Here are some video clips.  I finally understand why it is called Thunder over Louisville.  My whole insides were shaking by the finale!

Hilton Head '09

Over Spring Break this year we headed over to Hilton Head, South Carolina.  We rented a beach house with three other families and had a blast!  We did so many fun things and it was so sad to have the week come to an end.  I took a million pictures and posted about 1/2 million!

The Beach

The beach was awesome!  Ella loved the water, sand, the sea shells and the birds.  She would sneak up on them and then scream as she ran toward them to scare them away.  She loved picking up the sand and throwing it into the water and once she got used to it she loved splashing around in the ocean with her feet.  

Ella and Dax digging in the sand

Chelsea, Janelle, and me catching some rays

Sea Pines.  These trees are pretty cool.  They are kind of like a mix of palm trees and pine trees...hence the name "sea pine"

Beach Bikes

We rented bikes for the week and cruised around everywhere on them.  They were sooo much fun.  And, my legs got an awesome workout!  Every night we would take an evening bike ride on the beach.  It was so peaceful and so beautiful.

Ella and Brad on our sweet beach bikes

Ella was just plain worn out by the end of the day and fell asleep on our bike ride.

Other Adventures

The boys: Jon and Dax Dickson, Hans and Austin Meyer, and Brad and Ella's baby on top of the lighthouse

The girls: Ella, me, Janelle, Dayna, and Chelsea on top of the lighthouse

We found a ton of jelly fish that had washed up on the shore.  Ella wasn't too sure what to think about them.  And Hans tried to kill me by flinging one in my direction with a stick!  Silly Hans :)

Alligators and turtles hanging out on the lawn of some houses.  It seemed like an odd match but they seemed to all be getting along nicely!

A picture of the bird poop that just happened to land on MY head.  This is like the third time in my life that I have been pooped on by a bird.  Seriously, something is wrong here!

Brad, Ella, Hans, Austin and myself obeying the sign

Ben and Brad cuddling up close while watching a little March Madness.  Ahhh, what a cute couple.

During our vacation the boys got to spend a morning golfing and the girls got to go and get pedicures.  It was my first one and I LOVED it!  My toes are the ones on the right.

Just a clip of Ella enjoying the ocean water!

Spring Time Fun

Our apartment complex had an easter egg hunt for all the little kiddos.  We thought Ella would enjoy it so we headed over to the club house to check it out.  They had A TON of eggs scattered everywhere and Ella got super excited.  Here are a few pictures we got of the first-time event.

There was a 20 egg limit so we had to stop and count.....we were a little over our limit!

The loot :)

One of the eggs was a special prize egg.  The winner won a big gift basket full of treats and toys.  Ella just happened to pick the prize egg and was so excited to win such a big present full of treats!

After the egg hunt they had activities for the kids.  There were eggs to dye for the older kids and plastic eggs to decorate for the little kids.  

Ella getting all the stickers ready for Brad to put on the egg.  

The finished product.  Good job Ella and Brad!

Ella with her bunny and a chick one of our neighbors made for her.