Ohio is kinda weird...& rude...

I was able to go to the outskirts of Dayton, OH to visit with Erin & the girls. I hadn't seen them since the wedding plus I had never seen their apartment. The new hubby, Eric, works at Wright-Patterson AFB. So the town they live in is what I would call a 'military town'. It's also a college town because Wright University is right down the road. There are lotsa people that work on base AND lotsa college kids too. Erin had mentioned that they lived like 2 seconds from all kinds of shopping places. And, well - shopping is the magic word so I headed up Thursday night after work. I got there after 8:30 so I didn't really get to play with the girls much that night. Friday morning Madelyn was up bright & early & ready to go!

Madelyn is getting potty trained! She did very well while I was there! Ya'll know I have no clue how to potty train anyone, but Erin read you are supposed to make a big, exciting deal when they go on the potty. So we made a big, exciting deal every time she did! Then she got to put on her 'bob bob'(Sponge Bob) big girl panties!!!
She came out with some sunglasses that had lost the lenses. I told her, "We're twins! We better take our picture!"

Miss Payton was up a bit later & she was ready to play too! She is walking really good now! She's still has balance issues sometimes, but I couldn't believe how well (& FAST!) she gets around!

Madelyn had to show me all her toys! This is her 'botorcycle!'

We had a really relaxing morning. Payton got up around 8:30 & went back to take a nap around 9:30. Ah, what a life that chick has!!!!

When she woke up from her nap, we were ready to go shopping! I helped get the girls ready. Please notice in the picture how Rusty the dog is right there beside me. Last time I saw him he was literally only up to my ankles! Now he is up to my waist! He's super lovable & always has to be touching someone. Since I was the newest someone, he stuck with me most of the weekend! It's kinda tough having a little girl stand on 1 leg so I can put on her sock PLUS have a huge boxer leaning up against me!

We headed to eat lunch first! I swear, they live like 10 minutes from any shopping & food facility you could ever want. I was super jealous!!! Erin picked Red Robin for lunch because I had never been there! I got a run of the mill cheeseburger. It was the biggest, most delicious burger I have ever eaten!

Insert lotsa shopping here. We went to the mall (which is 2 stories, by the way). I was even able to get some Christmas shopping done. (Don't judge me - we're going on a cruise in December & I will have NO time to shop after we get back...) Something I discovered in Ohio is that the people are kinda rude. Ya know how when you're out in public & you may lock eyes with someone & you just kinda give them a smile? Nope, not in Ohio. You get blank stares back. Or ya know how when you're shopping & you need something that someone is standing in front of you say, "Excuse me?!" Nope, not in Ohio. They just kinda push their way through & get to the item they want to get. Rude..

By the time we were done at the mall - Madelyn had literally shopped until she dropped. Payton was still bright eyed from her mid-morning nap. No worries, she got yet another nap when we got back from shopping. Jealous!

Friday night is grocery night! So we all packed up & headed to Meijer which is 5 minutes from their house. We had to get Rusty some medicine so Erin, Payton & I headed to the pet section. I let Payton look at the fish while Erin got the medicine. She came back to the cart & said, "OK I got it-lets go." I said, "Uhm, doesn't Rusty need food?" She said, "Yes, but they keep the dog food in the grocery section." Whaaaa? Weird....

Then we met back up with Eric & Madelyn in the grocery section. And I saw this sign by the deli. What the hell is purple cow ice cream?! Weird...

Saturday morning I hit the road to come back home. I had seen the Ikea store on my way up & I wanted to stop because I have never been there & I always here people rave about it!

Here's what I learned about myself & the Ikea store. #1-I am not fancy enough to shop at Ikea. #2-There is SO much stuff there - it's 2 stories - that I really needed a plan of what I was looking for before I went in. #3-I should not be trusted to purchase things by myself. (I bought a new lamp for our bedroom. Very simple. The base was $5, the shade was $7. Simple & cheap. Right up my alley. Uhm, I got the stupid thing home, put it all together, tried to screw in the light bulb & nothin'. The light bulb wouldn't screw in. Turns out - it takes SPECIAL kinds of light bulbs. Sigh...the bulbs are probably expensive so my simple & cheap lamp is worthless...) #4-I am not smart enough to shop at Ikea....

Thanks again to the Hoehn's (gulp...will I ever get used to THAT?!) for letting me stay for the weekend! I had a lot of fun & it was really cool to see where they live now! Get ready, Eric, I'll be back for Payton's 1st birthday...& B-rad will be coming with me!