My trip to Erie (plus a little MJ)

I know that I have other blog posts on my tradition of making the birthday celebration of every nibling. This is another year of first birthdays. MJ turned 1 in May, Hiro and Blake turned 1 in June, and Quincey will turn 1 in November. Also, Miles will turn 1 just after the new year.

For Hiro's birthday, I was able to fly out to Erie, PA for a short visit. Sachi and Kyle are great hosts! I was able to spend so much time with the kids, which is my favorite thing. Plus, we ate like KINGS at various restaurants and bakeries. We played on the beach of Lake Erie, visited Niagara Falls (even the Canadian side!), and I got to see my first firefly!.

Big brother/little sis - Porter is such a good big brother to MJ!

I asked Katie to send me a picture of MJ on her actual birthday (May the 4th be with you) and she would NOT smile. I told Katie that "she is not excited about turning a year older.
I get it, MJ...I totally get it."

Just a small collage of all the fun we packed into 5 days in Erie. Bottom left clockwise: 1-Picasso's is a delicious sandwich shop where they have painter's pallets for tables and chalk on the table for you to create your own masterpieces. The sandwiches are HUGE! 2- Sachi and kids walked all the way to Canada's side of Niagra Falls with me. It was absolutely stunning and I was able to check it off my bucketlist. 3-Hiro diving into his birthday cake, candid photos of Sachi, Kyle, and Emma on their back porch. 4 - Cupcakes from Icing on the Lake! They were celebrating their 5th birthday so we all got free cake pops. These cupcakes were amazing--one was even called "the bees knees"...and it was. 5 - on our way to the Cleveland airport, we briefly stopped by Kirtland and this picture is in their visitor's center. When I go back in May '17, I want to tour that place. 6 - Mi Scuzi (which I think means "i'm sorry") was DELICIOUS. I had THE BEST soup that was so creamy, I am certain I gained 10 lbs. Another good eatery. (It's probably more fancy than an eatery.) 7 - Lake Erie with my friends! A great time at the beach!

Can you see it? It's not a fleck on your screen. (Well, it might be. I don't know how dirty your screen is.)
A first photo of my fireflying experience. Fascinating!

My traditional gift to give 1st birthdayers is a book. That's not my____ series is a favorite that I get from Usbourne Books. This one is "That's not my tractor". He loved using his feet to feel the textures. Such a doll!!!