Melissa has never been to Michigan and we had been planning a trip up there for months before the pandemic hit. We decided, since we won’t be back to Ohio anytime soon, that now was the time to go, if we were going to go. So we decided to visit Ann Arbor with our friend Faye. One day we’d love to come back and visit the Upper Peninsula because neither one of us have been up there. Ann Arbor was really cool and we are at a super yummy Vegan place.
We’ve been pretty busy lately with packing, hiring a moving company, finding an apartment in NC, and spending time with friends before we leave.
Only 4 more days until moving day. It feels like we still have so much to do before then. It’s all so overwhelming. I told Melissa that she better be okay with living in NC forever because I’m not moving out of state ever again. Unless of course her job pays for the moving company and it’s a company that packs everything for you!
We are at the point where we are just ready to be down there and unpacking in our new place. It feels like the 30th will never come!
I’ve always wanted to try kayaking but have always been too nervous to try. Well, our friend Faye wouldn’t take no for an answer so while Melissa was at work I conquered a fear.
And found a new love.
Faye’s boyfriend went on a fishing trip with a buddy so we took Faye on a hiking trip! We visited John Bryan State Park and explored Yellow Springs after. Then we went and had ice cream at Young’s Jersey Dairy.
It was an amazing day!
Melissa and I went on quite the adventure this past two weeks. Melissa’s childhood best friend’s wedding was in FL and so we decided to make a vacation out of it and since my Grandfather lives in FL, we decided to go visit him as well.
We left on February 12th. We got up SUPER early (I think around 3:30am) to start our trip. Our plan was to drop the boys off with Melissa’s Grandmother for the few days we’d be gone, stay the night, drive to FL, and then come back to NC after the wedding to spend a few days with her before driving home.
We arrived in NC around dinner time. I had fallen victim to a very bad cold and so I had been loading up on medication during our trip, something I never do since I try to use natural remedies. But since we were traveling I decided this was easier. The natural medicine I wanted to buy wasn’t available so I settled on Mucinex. BIG MISTAKE. In my sickened state I didn’t think to read the labels. Mucinex (the liquid kind) has Sucralose in it. I am HIGHLY sensitive to it. So on top of feeling miserable from a bad cold, I now had severe stomach issues. So when we got to Grandma’s I ran to CVS to get the medicine I originally wanted. When I got back to Grandma’s, I barely ate a few bites of dinner before I headed to bed to sleep off the stomach issues.
We woke up super early (again), said goodbye to Grandma and the boys, and made our way to FL.
We arrived at my Grandfather’s around 7:30pm. My cousin, Lauren, and her boyfriend were visiting at the same time so we got to spend a few days with them as well. We also had amazing weather while we were there, although, compared to Ohio in February, any temp above 65 is amazing. It was sunshiny and HOT. We loved it.
While in FL we were also able to meet up with Hannia, one of Melissa’s friends from college. She’s from Costa Rica but was visiting her Mum in Miami so she drove over to spend the day with us! We went to the zoo and the beach.
We left Sunday morning to head to Tampa for Jess’s wedding. It was BEAUTIFUL.
Sadly, right before the wedding we found out Melissa’s Grandfather had passed away. So we diverted our trip slightly. Instead of heading back to NC after FL, we drove to VA instead. t was a sad time but it was nice seeing Melissa’s family again and meeting new family members. Also, I got to snuggle one of the cutest babies ever.
After spending two days in VA we headed back to NC, stopping for a couple of hours in Savannah on the way.
We took the boys to the beach (their first times). They were not fans but it was also super cold, rainy, and windy. We told them they need to get used to the beach and sand because one day (soon hopefully) we will be living near the beach.
It was nice spending a few extra days with Melissa’s Grandmother and visiting a few local places Melissa likes. She took me to her favourite pizza place in NC. It was REALLY good.
We left early in the morning on February 22nd and made it back home to Ohio at around 10:30pm. It was an amazing trip but with all the driving it was exhausting.
14/10 would do it again. And again.
“Do you, Melissa/Jessica, take Jessica/Melissa, to be the wife of your days, the companion of your heart, and the friend of your life? Offering her your love and encouragement, your trust and respect. To keep her in sickness and in sorrow and to be loyal to her forevermore? And to stand united in the face of adversity and bask together in the light of good fortune as together you create your future?”
“I do.”
“I do.”
Always.
Since my birthday was on a Thursday this year, we celebrated on the weekend. On Friday I found a surprise in my cubby at the gym. A llama mug from my friend Nariana and her little boy, Oliver! Nariana and I have only known each other a short time, but we immediately clicked when we met. She and her husband have graciously allowed Melissa and I to use her farm as our wedding venue.
On Friday evening we went to the 200th birthday celebration of Jessi’s hometown and on Saturday we went back, this time with Jessi’s BFF, Candyce and her fiance, Brye. After the birthday celebration, we went to Candyce and Brye’s house for a game night.
MY BIRTHDAY SURPRISE!
Melissa and I are not really “things” people so we decided that for our birthdays we are going to do special adventure dates instead of presents. If you remember I took her to CoSi for the Harry Potter Wizard School event for her birthday. Yet another tradition we started that I love.
Melissa took me to the Franklin Park Conservatory! They have a Chihuly glass exhibit as well. His pieces are absolutely beautiful.
After the Franklin Park Conservatory she took me to one of my favourite restaurants, The Hofbrauhaus!
My 35th year Earthside is off to an amazing start.
We got a “love fern” (anyone know what movie that’s from?) to commemorate our adventure!
I’m a happy German girl!
We started off our weekend with a Tupperware Party hosted by Dee W. Ieye. It was hilarious!
On Sunday we went to the Ohio Village for their “A House Divided” Civil War reenactment.
Melissa and Jessi were joined by one of Jessi’s (and Melissa’s now too) best friends, Vanessa, and her daughter Grace, and their friends at the Columbus PRIDE festival.
Vanessa is a very special person to Jessi. She’s the one who has helped her to learn to love and accept herself. Vanessa will be one of the Officiators at their wedding.
Melissa’s friend, Joanne, came and stayed with us for the weekend. It was amazing getting to know her and to hear stories about younger Melissa.
Joanne is an amazing soul
We finished the day by watching Apollo 13. Toby really enjoyed it as well.
An Awfully Big Adventure 