The Ohio House That Built Me...

Here is a special video for our amazing family in Ohio!! Hope you all enjoy it...brings a little smile to my heart <3

See below on the previous blogs to learn more about our trip and to see pictures, we can't wait to visit again...

Love you all,
The Jankord's

Fall Ohio FuN with the family...no better way to spend a trip home!

We had a fun filled weekend with family and friends, so I have many pictures to share. We took small videos throughout the weekend and we hope to put them all together soon to share...I'll keep you posted!

We decided to spend a morning having some "Fall family fun" and we found the PERFECT place! We went to Genoa, OH to the "Country Lane Tree Farm" to visit/feed the farm animals! I think I might have liked it even more than my niece, Kaitlyn!

Kyle, enjoying the cool and sunny day...it was beautiful out!

Just look at these guys....seriously! I would like to say they were patiently waiting for food, but they were anxiously waiting!

What a cutie!!

PUMPKINS!

So funny!

Matt feeding the goats, and representing the future OSU game that went very badly :(

Joe feeding the pony...the last time he touched a horse it almost bit his finger off and it was quite terrifying...this is a huge step for this guy! I however will remember his screams til the day I die...HILARIOUS!

We didn't know if these were llama's or Alpaca's...they are almost the same thing right? Anyway, dad loved feeding them...and talking to them as if they understood what he was saying. This must be where I get my crazy animal obsession because I did the same thing.

This guy was the "boss" to say the least. He would literally butt the other animals out of his way to get some bread...not very nice huh? While dad was bending down trying to feed the sheep this guy tore open the bread bag in his other hand, very funny!

Tricky little goat!

Dad telling him to be nice...

Kaitlyn's favorite part, holding the bunnies! She was a natural!

She kissed it...

and gave it many hugs!!

When I saw this turkey walking around with his feathers all ruffled, I thought he was a bit upset. However, a woman on the farm said he wasn't upset at all...he was in LOVE with the lady in the picture below. He has been trying to get her attention for weeks and she is ignoring him, she is older and wiser...typical woman, typical man.

This is an Ohio ride at its best! It was the craziest and bumpiest thing I have ever seen...Kaitlyn loved it!

Momma and her baby, I really don't know what this is, sorry!

You could milk this sweet cow and I tried to get Joe to do it...he refused, what a sissy!

Kyle seeing the goats up close and personal, I think he liked them...and thought they looked very different from his dog!

Kaitlyn saying bye to the goats on the way out!!

And tugging on their chin hair... :)

Surprising Mom at work...in OHIO!!

Surprises are so fun right?! I feel like we never have enough in our lifetime, so it was fun to surprise my mom with a trip home! Joe and I landed in Detroit Wednesday afternoon and we drove straight to mom's work downtown. She obviously had no idea that we were coming, so we decided to video her reaction. PRICELESS...

Solvang...Ahhh wine country!

Joe and I decided to take a drive to a little Danish town near Santa Barbara. We didn't really know what to expect, but it was a perfect little day trip, just the two of us. When we drove in off the exit we saw an awesome wine vineyard, we were going to stop when I noticed that the vineyard was also an ostrich petting/feeding farm. I'm sure some of you would jump all over the chance to pet and feed a gigantic super fast ostrich that could peck your eyeball out in a half a second, right? Well, not this country girl...me and feathered friends don't mix! So, we continued to the little town and were pleasantly surprised at how cute and quaint it was. Solvang has over 150 little boutiques, shops, art galleries and also wine...did I mention they had wine??

We did a couple wine tastings and even purchased 3 bottles that Joe actually liked. Joe and wine mix about as well as me and ostrich...we actually had a lady helping us who gave up on getting Joe to like her wine. She even said to him, "Close your eyes and imagine you are sitting in a beautiful restaurant about to eat your favorite meal, take a sip and let the wine rest on the back of your tongue a minute before you swallow, you will love it."  Joe did as he was told and the lady waited with anticipation and I thought...this might actually work! Joe swallowed the wine and opened his eyes and said, "Um yeah, no that tastes terrible" the lady was so disappointed.

After wine tasting, shopping and eating we ended the day laying in the park under a tree taking in the beautiful day. Oh...and Gloria Jean,  Joe and I picked out a Christmas present for you too... :) you'll love it!

Harley is 5...I mean 6...I mean 5!!!

So, our big dopey doodle is 5 years old! We celebrated Harley's birthday with a bath/haircut and a trip to "The Three Dog Bakery" in Newport...only the best for this big lovable guy! The problem is that for 2 years in a row now, Joe has not gotten Harley's birthday right nor has he remembered how old the poor guy is. So, we celebrated Harley's 6th birthday on September 23rd...BUT his birthday is September 13th and he is only 5 years old. Harley is doing great though, he is getting gray hair in his tail and he has a harder time jumping on the bed...but he still is full of energy when the moment strikes him. Here are some pictures of the BIRTHDAY BOY...and he even shared a little cake with his sister :)

I have never seen Harley balance like this, the cake must have smelled REALLY GOOD!

 Now, before you start accusing me of being crazy...I already know this! Our children at this time happen to have 4 legs...maybe all this wacky stuff will stop when the real deal comes along, but don't hold your breath!