Early May Randoms

We had a few nice weekends early in May and on one of them we went to Rocketship Park, one of Miles' favorites.

Fun at the playground with friends.

The kids have been outside with the neighbors anytime it's nice enough out. A favorite hobby - catching toads by the pond behind our house. 

Smoothie night! No bananas in Paige's, please.

Brooke's egg drop at school was successful! She used a small tupperware container filled with cotton balls (her idea). I wasn't sure how it'd go, but the egg survived...only to be fried the next morning.

Miles having fun hooping it up at Sky Zone for Tye's birthday party.

One of our favorite spring dinners - the patio at Medinah.

Matt obviously enjoys a selfie a little more than me.

Happy almost summer (again...in July :-/)!

Mother's Day

Yes, I'm posting about Mother's Day the day after the fourth of July, but I have to get back on the horse sometime, right?

I was able to go to special Mother's Day performances at both Miles' and Brooke's schools. Miles and I had a cupcake and "tea" (water) together, then the kids sang a few songs for us and gave us some artwork they'd made for us.

 

Sometimes he is just too cute.

For Brooke's performance, we had a cookie and lemonade. I also got a couple of gifts from her, including a cute book about my favorite things. Then the kids did a dancing performance for us. I took so many videos that day that this is the only photo that I have, much to Brooke's chagrin ("Mooom, I'm holding hands with Kyyyle in that picture!").

For Mother's Day itself, Matt had jokingly suggested us going to the White Sox game. The weather was beautiful and I wasn't feeling like I needed time to myself (golf season hadn't really started yet...), so we headed down to US Cellular right after church.

 

Sunday is kids' day there, so the kids ate free. They also had a bunch of kids' activities set up throughout the park. 

 

Paige liked the Southpaw statue a lot better than the actual mascot.

Miles is turning into such a little boy. This is one of his favorite poses lately.

We were on the club level, so we had access to air conditioning when it got hot.

 

The kids were able to run the bases after the game, too.

It was a really fun day and the kids were all wiped out as we headed back to Wheaton.

Once we got back to Wheaton, we went straight to Matt's parents to celebrate with his family. 

The kids were a little extra goofy, but they rallied.

Brooke and Bri, who is kind of her mini-me.

Brooke was able to read all of Grammie Deb's cards. Matt and I were even impressed with how well she did.

And no family event would be complete without making Aunt Jamie or Uncle Will roughhouse with them a little.

It was a great day. I'm so thankful to my little family that made me a mother!

We're Still Here

The past month and a half has been pretty busy around here, so apologies for my lack of posting. I'm working on it - I just have about 600 pictures to sort through first. New posts coming soon!

Paige is Two!

And just like that, she's two. Thank God she's finally walking, although that means a lot more chasing her than I ever did with the other two. Paige at two is very full of life and very much her own person. From what I hear, she's a pretty typical third. She's good at climbing out of things, even when she's strapped in.

She's good at keeping up with her big brother and sister, and even though she isn't really talking (she has maybe ten words - speech therapy continues), she can boss them around pretty well. She loves to use writing utensils. If there's a term for a disease where you see a pen and have to write on something immediately, she has it. Maybe foreshadowing a writing career? Or a stint in juvey?

She is a very girlie-girl, often accessorizing herself, or requesting a headband or pigtails. She's pretty stubborn and strong-willed, or "feisty" as I'm choosing to call it. "Troublemaker" is her most common nickname. Regardless, we love her spunk and energy and couldn't love her more.

We haven't had her two-year check yet, but she's a peanut. She's still fitting in some of her 12 month stuff. She's my pickiest eater (probably because she's been exposed to the good, processed stuff the earliest). She loves cantaloupe and sweet potatoes as well as all dairy products. She's hit or miss with most other produce, except bananas. Pretty sure she's allergic, so we stay away from those. She's still a great napper (on the days that she's able to nap as long as she wants) and usually sleeps about 13 hours a night.

On Paige's birthday, Miles and Brooke both had school, so she and I made a donut stop before My Gym, one of her favorite places.

Fun at My Gym.

Happy birthday, Sweet Girl. We love you!