Long Overdue

It's been a while since a post...mostly because I didn't have my camera to take pics over the weekend....but thanks to technology, I took other people's pictures!!! :)

Last weekend we headed to Indiana.  First, we went to take the pier/shore station out.  Then, the kids got to have a sleepover with Nana and Papa while Rob and I headed to Valpo for my 10 year college reunion!  It was a great time catching up with friends....but I couldn't do that more than once every 10 years!  :)

This week the weather has been amazing....so we are making sure to enjoy it as much as possible.  One afternoon we headed over to Cosley Zoo.  We love this zoo, but they started charging to use it so we don't go as much as we used to.  But it's was the perfect day to visit this week.

Here are some pictures from the weekend and week.  They are really out of order....

Sister Picture taken at the cottage.  Look how cute they are holding hands!   They are sitting in Rob's chair from when he was a kid!

Cosley Zoo this week: 

Checking out the ducks

Happy Girl

Another happy girl

The deer made a friend

Here was my attempt at a cute picture.  I am now convinced I may never get a great one of the 2 of them together: 

This is hilarious.  Abigail told me she had a great idea for a picture.  I said, "Okay, show me."  So she went and sat at the other end!!!! 

Okay, now we are at the lone picture from my college reunion.  And I only got it cause I took it off someone's page on facebook!  (Thanks Ang!) 

A picture with one of my college roommates and her hubby who also went to Valpo!  Check out the mini glasses we had to drink out of!  But it was 8 bucks for 4 hours of drinking...gotta love college!

Okay, now we are back to the cottage.  Here are some action shots of us taking the pier and shore station out.  It was HEAVY!

My 1st time wearing waders!!!!

Look at those muscles!

Abigail and Nana making cookies.

Caitlin (and Kramer) cuddling with Uncle Al.  That's her buddy!!!!

Caitlin and Aunt Georgeanne

Thanks to all who helped me piece together my weekend with your pictures...even though you probably didn't know I have them!  ;)

BIG weekend ahead!!!  On the agenda:  Apple Fest, Mommy and Daddy go to a wedding, Kids sleepover at Grandma and Grandpas, Nana's Bday/Celebration, and Grandma's 60th Bday Celebration at Gospel Fest!!!!  And maybe I'll even remember my camera!  :)

Just another week....

We have been pretty boring around here lately...and LOVING it!  It's been nice to slow down for a while and just enjoy life together!!!

Checking out sheep at a local farm

Going for a "ride" at Klein Creek Farm

The girls and Luca checking out the sites at the window

Sorry, nothing too exciting to post...but thought I was due!

Also, Caitlin is close to walking.  Last night she would take like one step and then fall.  I tried to capture it on camera today, but being by myself and having to hold her and hold the camera didn't work.  But I posted an "attempt" anyways below.  I have a feeling by next Friday I'll be posting a video of my walker!  Scary!!!!

Almost a Walker

Meeting our New Cousin

Hi!  It's Abigail and Caitlin!  We wanted to tell you all about our special day on Saturday!

We went down to Aunt Julie and Uncle Joe's house to meet our new cousin, Lucy!!!!!

She's very "small" and was very tired when we were there, but we think she's "sooooooo cute" and we can't wait to play with her next time!!!!  We love her so much!

All the mommies and daddies thought we should take a cousin picture....good luck parents!!!!!  Better luck next time!

(The whole "photo shoot" Lucy slept, Abigail said "cheese" over and over, and Caitlin tried to crawl away, all while smiling).

After we visited our new cousin, mommy and daddy took us to lunch at some place called Smoke Daddy's!  They wouldn't stop talking about how much they love this place and ate there all the time when they lived in the city....yeah mom and dad, we get it!

Then, they took us to Navy Pier to go to the Children's Museum!  That was so much fun!!!!!

OMG Mom and Dad.  Why are these kind of pictures so funny to adults?????

So, I was just standing here, playing, and my mommy and daddy looked over and realized I was standing while not holding on to anything....they were so excited, but it just scared me and made me fall.  They think I'm going to walk soon!  Of course I am!!!

We got to play at the water table.

This was our favorite room because they had a tree house that daddy and Abigail played in a lot, and a room all for Caitlin too!

We did lots more at the museum, and didn't even get to see everything...so we'll definitely be coming back soon!  Luckily, our aunts and uncle live in the city so we get to go see them a lot!

It was a pretty great weekend, which also included a fun bonfire at the Hackney's and a big Bears WIN on Sunday!  Looking forward to a fun week...and then a big weekend ahead!  We get to go the cabin and our mommy and daddy are going to Mommy's College 10 year reunion!  Uh Oh...we hear mommy had a lot of fun in college and is looking forward to seeing a lot of old friends!  Have a great week!!!!

Finding our Schedule

School is officially in session...and it's really nice to finally have a "schedule" in place!  Monday and Fridays are our "slow" mornings because they are our free days!  However, Tuesday and Thursday are nice because we have a schedule now and it makes the day smooth and relaxing!

Tuesday/Thursday Schedule:

7:00 Get up (if not up...which rarely ever happens)

7:00-7:30:  Milk and Mickey Mouse

7:15:  Caitlin goes back down for a nap.

7:30: Abigail eats breakfast

8:00:  Get dressed, do hair, brush teeth

8:45:  Get Caitlin up, dressed, and fed breakfast

9:00:  Go pick up Luca and head to school

9:15:  School drop off

9:30:  On Thursdays, we head to the gym. 

On Tuesdays, Caitlin started her library class!!!!

Cailtin loves being around all the other kids.  It's so nice for her and I to have some one-on-one time together!  She did a great job listening to the story and loved all the singing.  Cailtlin LOVES to dance...she will bust a move to any song she hears...so the singing part was her favorite!!!!

11:15-11:30:  Pick up at school  (Probably the best part of the day...Abigail is so excited to see Caitlin and mom and tell us all about her fun day)

11:45:  Play at home for a half hour before lunch

12:15:  Lunch

12:45:  Story time

Abigail knows that after lunch we read books...and if it's nice outside, we take advantage and have our DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) time outside! What can I say, I'm still a kindergarten teacher at heart!

1:30-3:30:  Nap Time   (ahhhhhhhhh)

3:30-6:00:  Just trying to stay sane until daddy gets home from work.  This is definitely my least favorite part of the day....the kids are crazy!!!!  In the summer it's not too bad because we play outside a lot, but in the winter, we are going to have to find something to keep us busy!  Hopefully a new wave of toys at birthdays/Christmas will help!!!  ;)

6:00:  Dinner

Look at this cucumber from Daddy's garden!  It was insane!!!!!

6:30:  Family time (games, blocks, puzzles)

7:00:  Head upstairs for bath, books, and bed!

And I have to post about the PINK CHAIR!  Caitlin is obsessed with Abigail's pink chairs (she has one in her bedroom and one in our family room).  I am not exaggerating that every single second she is not sleeping or eating, she is sitting in this chair.  She can sit there for 30 minutes...just sit there!  It's really the cutest thing I ever saw!  She's sort of like an old man just sitting in his chair and observing the world!

(Look at Caitlin's face!  ha ha)

Hope everyone has a great weekend...the girls are going to get to meet their cousin for the first time and they are so excited!!!!!!

First Day of Preschool

Last week was Abigail's 1st week of preschool!  She loves it...and we love seeing her gain some independence!  She was very excited about starting school.  She met her teachers before and loved them!  The first day of school was great.  No tears...she walked right in, gave me a big hug, and got right to playing.  I love her school so much...it's such a great fit for our family!  I cannot wait to watch her grow and change this year!

Our BIG girl

September 2010

October 2009

Flashback to Abigail's 1st day of playgroup..look how much she has grown!

I love her bookbag so much!!!!!

Little Sister Caitlin all ready to take her big sister to school!

Luca goes to school with Abigail.  Who would have though back when they were next to each other in the NICU that one day they would be starting school together? 

Abigail loves playing in the kitchen!

At the end of the first day of school....2 happy kids!

First Day Success!

Happy Birthday, Papa!!!!

We just wanted to say:

"Happy Birthday, Papa!"

We love you! 

Love, Abigail and Caitlin

"Princesses on Ice Cubes"

I know I need to post about the first week of school, but first I have to post about our mommy/daughter date night last night.  Abigail and I went to Princesses on Ice (or Princesses on Ice Cubes as Abigail calls it).  We were both very excited for our night out....Abigail has lately become obsessed with princesses (a little girl at her daycare loves them and they play them/talk about them/read them all day long). 

Leaving for the show.  Thanks so much Reese for letting us borrow your dress for the show!!!  I think we'll be asking for a princess dress or two for Christmas for dress up!  She loves Belle, Snow White, Cindrella, and Tiana dresses the most!  ;)

When we walked in, I have to admit, I got a little teary-eyed (I'm known as "tears" in my family so not a big surprise) because she was so excited she couldn't stand it.  I heard "Mom, Look!!!!" a hundred times.  Every princess sign, souvenir stand (there were LOTS), and lil princess walking by holding their mom's hand (even more) was so exciting to her!  She had to point out every princess!  Then she'd say "They look just like Abigail!"

We got to our seat and were ready for the show!!!

Waiting for the show to start

From the moment the princesses came on, she was so happy.  I wasn't sure if the whole "concept" would be lost on her, but it wasn't.  She watched everything and interacted with the show (clapped, yelled "NO" when they asked a question to the crowd, and waved bye to every princess who left the ice).

Waiting at intermission.

I don't remember seeing a Disney On Ice show (although I'm sure I did) but I have to say, the show was actually great!  So many great stunts and special effects.  I was having just as much fun! And the best part were all the girls sitting around us.  There were squeals the whole time.

We thought the show was over and no Cinderella...oh man, the tears by the little girls around us....but it was just intermission and after intermission, the big lady appeared! 

A great night out!!!

Even Princesses get cold

The show went from 7-9:15, which I was very impressed because the tickets were very affordable!  I had a quiet ride home with a little princess in the back seat....dreaming of "happily ever after" I"m sure of!

When Abigail woke up this morning, the first thing she asked was if she could go back...but bring Caitlin with this time because she likes princesses too!  So sweet!

I look forward to many more events like this with my girls.  Rob and I are going to try to do something special with each girl each year...I'm with the girls all day but it's amazing how important this one-on-one time is!  I have a feeling daddy will be taking the girls to sporting events on his daddy-daughter date night!!!