Our trip back started out rainy and it really stayed that way the whole time we were in Ohio. With the exception of the wedding day, I think it rained and was cool every day we were there! We drove to Burlington, Vermont and left from the airport there....reason being...cheap airfare out weighed the 2 hour drive! We did however have huge delays in Burlington and then again in Newark where we connected before heading to Columbus. What should have been about 7 1/2 hours of traveling turned into a 14 hour day of traveling! Arabella kept herself busy watching the planes most of the time.
But it is hard for an almost 3 year old who is so excited to sit still...so when the delays in Newark kept piling, up and she was over tired and fighting sleep, I did what I did when she was a baby, put her in the stroller and walked. It felt like I was walking for hours, but she finally fell asleep!
We finally made it to Columbus and the next day, Arabella was ready to go. With stayed at Auntie Jonna's - Arabella had fun playing in the yard with the dogs and even followed them through the doggy door! She even had Jay try...but he wouldn't fit!
One of the ways we were welcomed back to Ohio was with big storms and tornado watches. I can honestly say that I do not miss those at all! Part of a tree in the next door neighbor's yard came down and knocked out the power, it ripped the lines right out of the house!
We had a lot of fun - doing errands and prep for the wedding. It was fun to drive around and see the places that used to be home. I will say I did get a pit in my stomach when we drove on 315 and passed Riverside Hospital...I know it has been 3 years since rough Arabella's rough entry into the world, but I still am very emotional about it, I think I always will be. Nevertheless, it was a lot of fun and we saw some silly things...like this Impala...oh wait, PIMPALA!
I am also thankful and happy that Ashlee asked Arabella and I to take part in her last minute wedding day prep. We helped make chocolate dipped pretzels...so fun and so yummy!
Arabella had a lot of fun playing around with Ashlee and Mallory! She just loves them so much, it is so sweet!
Arabella even shared the love with Auntie Jonna! It was so adorable that she slept on her while we were at dinner with our friend Tom at the Cheesecake Factory!
And dinner at the Cheesecake Factory was so yummy! We had a great time catching up, it seemed like it was just yesterday when we saw each other - a true mark of a great friendship. We all enjoyed our food, the delish red velvet cheesecake (we all shared and Arabella even decided to get creative. Tom had olives in his drink, so she had to have them as well - olives and milk - a new trend?? She loved it!
The day before the BIG DAY - which was actually Will & Kate's Big Day - us girls enjoyed pedicures and watching the Royal Wedding! It was fun to just be able to relax with my best friend and her girls.
And before we knew it, it was time to get ready for the rehearsal dinner! Arabella was so excited to "practice" being a princess. It was a beautiful evening and everything at the rehearsal went off without a hitch. Afterwards, we enjoyed a fun dinner at Olive Garden to kick off the next day's festivities. We all laughed and ate a ton - it was a wonderful evening.
