SO my children. The only two people in the millions in Chicago crazy enough to go swimming in Lake Michigan in September!
Chicago Day Two Continued: The ONLY two people in Lake Michigan
Reply
Chicago Day Two: Lincoln Park Zoo
I LOVE this zoo. It’s literally right in the middle of the park so it’s always open (at least in the day), no entrance fee and people just jogging, walking their babies or just having a lunch in the park among the wild life. We were lucky enough to be there when the new baby rhino who was just born was being shown for the first time, although he was a little shy.
Chicago The City & The Hotel
Just had to put one in here on the hotel and the view. Daddy picked it because he knew the girls would go crazy on how ‘fancy’ it was… hanging chandeliers, velvet arm railings and the topper seats in the elevator. Hilarious!
Chicago Day One: American Girl Doll Store!
I wasn’t quite sure WHAT to expect at the American Girl Doll store but I think ALL of us loved it. Well, maybe Daddy loved watching the girls love it. We got off the plane dropped our bags at the hotel and high tailed it strait to the american girl doll store. Hannah was SO focused finding her doll she didn’t want to go to brunch. The waiter calmed her down immediately. He asked her who she was looking for and said “Oh I know her! She’s fabulous. Don’t you worry, she’s down in the historic section. I have them hold her for you.” WOW! We actually got to have a peaceful and fun lunch with out current dolls. And shockingly the food was AMAZING. I kept craving the pasta all week. Then the girls were off to pick out their dolls and then off course have their hair done and ears pierced. A full day of beauty!
Lemonade anyone?
She might need a little more dedicated partner this time. I think Z is more interested in the caterpillar than the lemonade sales. 😉
Funny things to remember
Well it was a nice car ride to school with Charlie. That would be our pet fly. Yes you heard me right… a fly. They won’t let me kill it or shoo it out the window or anything like that… It must drive alongside us all the way to school. I’m sure you can guess what I did after they left.
Flippin’ over Gymnastics!
Here we come!!!
We have a TON more… I will have to look for them. Both girls got new bikes this year and Katie even learned to ride without training wheels!
Funny Things to Remember
H informed that She only likes fascinating books now. So now I should only buy her fascinating books. She cracks me up.
Lacey Teaches Us to Ice Skate!
My Little Artists!
More to come! I haven’t even come close to taking pictures of all they have done this year!
Swim Team Banquet: Highlight? Pie in the face! YES!
Back to School Bash
Hannah was known for playing cups all through recess I think for the whole first month of kindergarten. I think it was fun also easier than having to find new friends. Always hard for her… But she is REALLY good at cups! Sissy is too. But the water balloon fight with one of her best buds from pre-school was priceless! She has a BLAST. Katie too. What’s better than chasing your friends around with water balloons??!!
The Beast…
Everyone just thinks this is funny. I am the only one who DID NOT want a dog and for some reason I am her favorite. Typical… She still thinks she is a puppy and small enough for sitting on your lap. Really???!!! Although I may have a run for my money with Katie… I think she is getting wise to who butters her bread!
Hannah’s First Day of School!
Doesn’t she look FABULOUS!!! And so much the kindergartner. Where did my baby go? She was obviously hesitant. She went with the first teacher reluctantly, then held my leg and did the rest of testing with me present except the last one with the art teacher who she loved. But the first week of school she wanted me to walk her in everyday. Sat at the door with little crocodile tears pooling in her eyes. But after a week and the introduction of the treasure box she started to get excited. Thank goodness!
Does anyone else see modeling in her future?
Trip to the Zoo with the Sisters, Friend and Cousin Lacey
The Tooth Fairy’s First Visit to Hannah!
Can you SEE how excited she is… She lost it at the pool. Better than the other time when she accidently ate it.
Blueberry Picking Time!
The funniest part about this visit to the blueberry farm was the girls. Hannah has always been a little “eewyue” about bugs but it has definitely never bothered Katie. We were having a great time when Hannah heard the cicadas. She started freaking out thinking they were rattle snakes to which I had to calmly inform her they were just bugs. It provided little comfort though. Then a ‘mysterious’ HUGE bug landed on Katie and was apparently chasing her! We went to the other end of the patch to get away. We got another maybe 10 minutes of blueberry picking in when the mysterious bug was back. It chased them ALL the way to the vehicle as you can see. Clearly my girls are NOT farm girls.
Swim TEAM!!! GO EAGLES!
The girls definitely take after their father. Both are incredibly talented swimmers. Hannah still doesn’t like being in big groups and says she’s not going to do swim team next year. I pray that isn’t true. She doesn’t like being in the water during practices all bunched up with the others but loves the swim meets. As for Katie, the girls a fish! She came in first in almost every match and was always in a main event except for when she had hit her max of 3 main events. She totally ROCKS the butterfly which is TOUGH.
I got my Ears Pierced!
We’ve been talking about ear piercing for I don’t even KNOW how long but the girls never seemed to have the courage to make it happen. One day out of no where after dropping Katie off at school Hannah announced she wanted to have it done. I asked “when?” Her response, “Now.” So off we went! What a brave soul! After Katie saw it when we picked her up from school she immediately had to have it done too!
Memorial Day Pool Party with the Dog and Fireworks!
Katie’s 2nd Grade Track & Field Day
It is so amazing the creative games they come up with for these things. By far mosquito tag and the water cups were my favorites and the kids had a BLAST!
Hannah’s Pre-school Graduation
My baby’s growing up. Proud, excited and sad all in one. We’ve been at that school for six years and it seems an era has ended. Hanging out on the playground after school. Ms. Pat’s hugs and friends that last long after the school day has ended. Mom’s hanging out on the playground exchanging stories. So many wonderful memories. Congratulations to my sweet baby.
Pig Jig with the S Family
Every year we go out to support our dear friends at the Pig Jig. It’s always a great friends, great BBQ and FUN RIDES! Great times!
Good bye Hermy….
So sweet and so sad. Our first real death other than finding stray frogs or worms on the sidewalk that we felt compelled to give a proper burial and prayer. The girls left the cage lid off and I guess Sunni thought Hermy was a good chew toy. She didn’t kill him only broke his shell and main claw that he only made it a couple of days after that… Hannah was very sad. God bless her sweet little heart. Notice her get well card by his new separate cage so the other crabs couldn’t hurt him in his weakened condition.
Strawberry Picking Time!
By far my favorite activity all year… Fresh strawberries, chocolate milk, pound cake and for the girls some home made ice cream too. We topped this one off with a 2nd visit to another strawberry patch with friends later that day where a viscous strawberry fight erupted!
Sunni’s 2nd Birthday!
The girls crack me up. They LOVE to celebrate Sunni’s birthday and they insisted that her friends come to the party. So funny.
I Guess we are in the Mood for Christmas?
I am not even sure what to say… Hannah is definity the comic in the family though. Very witty with her jokes and come backs and a total ham as long as she is with family and not in a big group. Love my funny girl!
Katie’s 2nd Grade School Play
Katie got quite a few roles in this play. Some at the last minute too. She did FABULOUS! I have a video I hope to splice in here after I finish my 2013 recap of videos.
Summer Fun, Friends & and little Hoop!
Snowballs… Our absolute favorite that we go to almost everyday after school. Then we pop on over to the studio to meet one of my good friends and I get some cute shots with girls and her sweet baby Holden. <3 Then it’s off to Hoop Jam! Typical busy summer day!
