Happy 1st Birthday to Austin!!

And next... maybe we will try crawling! More to come!

Happy Birthday - blow out the candle of your carrot cake cupcake!!


Okay, dig in! What, you already started?


Good stuff, huh?


Really good.


Is there any more?


I swear this cupcake was huge and Austin ate most of it although a little did manage to hit the floor and the bib...

Can't believe my baby is one!

A Sign of the Times?

Okay, so this is almost funny. I know times are tough for some and the prices of many metals are high... but this I cannot believe. As you may know, we are on an alley where we access the garage. On either side of the garage door there are copper gutters. Someone quite literally stole one of our downspouts. You can tell they used wire cutters to take off the brackets. The other side is still there but the bracket is cut and the gutter is bent - like they tried to pull it off and it didn't give quick enough. Time for motion sensor lights??

So, was this a prank, for the money, a dare, other ideas? Didn't know that we moved to the 'hood. This is almost as funny as the fact that I consistently have to clean-up dog poop out of my fenced in backyard. I DON'T have a dog. Now go figure that one!

Time for a Post - a finish!

Okay, so I'm slacking a little bit... It's been a little hectic - although isn't it always? I have a few pics to post later - but I'll start with just a couple easy ones! Last week I finished my cross stitch by Brightneedle called "Can You Spy?". I now have started another one called Quaker Alphabet by La D Da.

Oh, by the way, by "finish" I mean the stitching part. The framing is a whole other thing and I must admit I'm not that good at it!

Here is the completed one...

Here is a picture of the new one...

Here is the start of the new one... although it calls for one thread over two - I decided to do one thread over 1 since it is 30ct linen instead of 35 ct as pictured.

Happy Birthday Nicholas!

Thursday was Nicholas's 3rd birthday! Nicholas is in Sunday School with Luka. Amy (Mom) also has an adorable baby girl (6 mos) named Caroline - how did I not get a pic? Nick's party was at a play place called "Pump It Up" in Vernon Hills. There are a ton of big inflated bouncy things to play on - the favorite was the slide...

Nick & Amy down the slide!!


Nick on the slide - no, my photo isn't blurry - it's the speed!!


Luka down the slide - what a hair raising experience!!


I will climb the wall!! Well, maybe not.


I can gather and throw TWO balls - can you??


Hmmm... where to next?


Need a water break - I think I got at least some in my mouth... I love water!!


But I love cake more!! Look at this great Cold Stone Creamery chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream cake!!


Hmmm - wonder if they would notice if I took a little taste while the other kids are eating pizza...


Such a cutie - being all patient and using a big boy cup so well (compared to Luka who ended up with a good portion on his shirt - thank goodness it was a dark color!).


Amy's Dad, Nicholas and Amy. Do you think the cake was good, asks Nick? What, do I have any on my face or something?


Fun was had by all. I got to meet some of Amy's sweet girlfriends and their children - I think one of them was quite smitten with Luka... Thank you Amy for a great party and Happy Birthday Nick!

Play Time!

Our friends Jenny and Peter came by on Wednesday to visit for a little bit... Pete was 2 in February.

Oh, Peter and Jenny are here - what can I do while Mommy is distracted? Hey Pete - wanna be a partner in crime?


No, I'd rather play peek-a-boo with Mommy. Where did I go?



Here I am!


Isn't she the bestest??




Where's Austin?

Yeah Mom, got this standing thing down...


Focus, focus - remember to hold on... (helps to focus when I stick out my tongue)


Oh this is so funny it makes my belly hurt!!

Bath Time!

Okay - most of these speak for themselves - so I won't say too much...

Like my hair?


How does this frog work again?


Mommy! PG please - isn't this going on the "Blog"?


Cutie!


Oh, ya wanna splash? Oh yes!!

Crazy Saturday

Okay, so I'm a little behind... Although the weekend started well, we had a little bump when Austin got up several times Friday night (well Saturday morning actually!!) and then around 5AM Luka had a bloody nose - so after cleaning, washing and getting Luka back to bed then Austin was up again - for the day!



But we were determined to make the best of it. So we popped over to Chuck's new office area where he decided to store a few items. Check out the RV - gotta love it.

Is that a car? Hmmm...

Then out and about - hit the Amish furniture store.

"Mommy - I want this one!!"

Just testing the merchandise...

"Mommy - my birthday is coming up..."

Then Chuck took me to Stoney River Steak House in Deerfield for a belated birthday dinner - the kids got to hang out and Grandma & Grandpa's house.

Grandma had Luka working "hard"...

Okay, now what do I do again?

Like this?

Or this?



Wait - I got it - up like this, right?



Yes!



Okay - now time for a break - any cookies Grandma? I swear I'll eat my veggies now!

Party Friday

Muriel and Sophie came over for diner on Friday night and fun was had by all!!

Sophie and Austin played nicely - and Austin was more than willing to share the Cabbage Patch Kid...




Luka took some time out to chill on the couch with the remote.



What Mom? Pose - how about this? Or wait, I have a sticker for my hair, see?



Does Sophie like "up" - oh yes!! Chuck had fun "throwing" Sophie into the air!



All that fun makes a girl tried - time to wrap this up!



Kisses for Luka....



Kisses for Austin...



Kisses to everyone!!