Easter Weekend

This weekend was full of fun, family, and food! We had a great Easter weekend!

On Friday, we colored eggs. Abigail really enjoyed dropping the eggs into the colors..and laughed when we took them out! We had a lot of fun!

Come on Daddy...look at all those eggs waiting for color!

Easter was a blast with Abigail this year. We started Sunday morning with an Easter Egg Hunt through our house. Abigail found all 10 of her eggs. The eggs were filled with change...so the more eggs she found, the heavier her basket was. By the end, she decided to let Daddy carry her basket for her!

Not wasting any time putting her money in her bank

Among other things, the Easter Bunny brought Abigail a new stereo for her room. She sleeps to music but her old stereo has been acting up! Of course, it's very "girl-ie"! We rocked out to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse all morning!

Sunday afternoon, we headed over to my parents' house. They had a Easter Egg Hunt ready for Abigail..and with all the attention, she was in heaven. She made out like a bandit with Easter. I was like Christmas!!!! Thank you to everyone for thinking of Abigail! Sorry I don't have more pictures of the family...I was very bad about taking pictures!

Abigail got lots of presents to get ready for our beach vacation this summer!

After our great Easter afternoon with the Muskovich family, we headed over to Rob's family Easter. It's always so much fun to be with the whole, big family!!!! Again, Abigail walked out of Easter with a whole bunch of presents! Thank you to everyone for thinking of her and thank you to Great Nani and Papi for the delicious meal!!!!

While I didn't have my camera out for most of the day, I did grab a quick picture of "part" of the family as we attempted a family picture. I am proud to say in the end, there was success! I will post it when I get a copy!!!

Abigail had a GREAT Easter. She sure is one lucky girl to be surrounded by so many people who love her!!! We end with a picture taken 1 minute after getting into the car to head home! Priceless!

Words, Fits, and a Pink Purse!

Abigail Grace Update!


Abigail is turning into quite the talker. Within the last week, the words are beginning to flow. Now, these may be words only a Mom could understand, but they are coming! She does a lot of repeating sounds in words I say. She is OBSESSED with her book Brown Bear. She has been reading 100's of times a day since Saturday. She will say "Brown Bear" when she wants to read it. So far she will name "bear, cat, duck, and dog" when she's reading it. I'm working on "fish and frog" but the d and b sounds are much easier for her. She is also starting to get a hang of this sign language thing. I have been showing her the same 3 signs for 10 months now: more, all done, milk. She's been doing more for a while and has recently started doing all done. Yesterday she was getting a bath and I said "Abigail, are you all done" and she did all done and said it too! Then this morning I asked her if she wanted milk and she did the sign. I couldn't believe it...I gave up on that sign weeks ago! She also LOVES the word "hi". When we are out she says hi to everyone we pass. It's so cute. It's especially funny when we are checking out because she'll say hi and when they say hi back she says hi again...it goes on for a while! But she hasn't learned "bye" yet!


In addition to talking, Abigail also has a new favorite thing to do...throw a fit!!! I'm telling you, this girl is the queen of throwing temper tantrums! She will throw her body down on the ground and yell whenever she's frustrated. She also likes to throw her head backwards onto the ground. I am in shock of her fits. We had to stop at a store on the way to her dr's app't and she threw a fit on the ground. I was so embarrassed. She looks so small and younger than she is and I know everyone who was watching was in shock of the baby throwing the temper tantrum. Then we got to the dr's office and she didn't want to sit for the dr so she went to throw a fit, but she realized the ground was hard, so the little stinker walked over to the couch in the room and then threw the fit on the couch! Is she 16???? I hope these temper tantrums end soon...I have to admit, Rob and I laugh at her when she throws them because they are so funny...but we are going to have to get strict if they continue. Yesterday she wanted her "people" that she had stuck down a hole and couldn't get back, and she threw her fit. It went on for over 5 minutes!


Anyways, Abigail keeps us laughing every day. She is getting such a funny personality. Right now as I type she's walking around with her pink purse she has. She walks around and sticks random things in it (Rob and I love to check her purse after she goes to bed and see what she collected, it cracks us up) and she has to swing her purse on her arm like Mommy does. It's so funny! We just love this little girl to death and couldn't be more proud of her...or more in love with her!!!!


Word Count
Words Abigail signs: all done, more, milk

Words Abigail says: doggie, da da, ma ma, up, hi, brown bear (as one word), bear, cat, duck, all done

"Mom...for real??? No more pictures!"

Breakfast with the Bunny

On Saturday, we had Breakfast with the Bunny with the Hackneys and Adams at the Bloomingdale Golf Course. It was a great morning...last year Abigail was so little...this year she actually participated in the egg hunt. We had a great time, it's a wonderful tradition we've begun!!!!


Abigail and Mae dancing


sigh sigh...my big girl


So precious...Alex and Abigail talking about something very important


Daddy and Abigail on the egg hunt



Adding to her collection


Don't you love her soccer ball egg basket?

We couldn't believe how she found the eggs, bent down, and put them in her basket. She's practicing for Halloween!

Abigail and Jake with the Bunny. Jake and Alex were so cute because they thought the Easter Bunny was like Santa so they were telling him what they wanted for Easter!

Rob and I also had a great time celebrating on anniversary on Saturday. I wish I would have taken some pictures. We spent the afternoon in Lincoln Park shopping, visiting our favorite establishments, and enjoying our time together reminiscing about how our lives have changed in 5 years. We had dinner at our favorite restaurant Basil Leaf (but they expanded and it's not the same, so sad) and then ended the night with our favorite part. We found a cupcake place called Molly's. We had dessert and played a little Connect 4! It was a great, great anniversary!!!!

Also, Abigail had her 15 month app't on Thursday. I was shocked with her weight..she only weighs 17 1/2 lbs (17 lbs 10 oz). The doctor said she's still following the curve even though she's still not on the scale. She only gained a pound in 3 months, but the dr isn't concerned. She said I could add some more fat to her diet if I want. She also had a ear infection, but that's being taken care of. She's met all her 15 month milestones already...

Thank you to everyone for the anniversary cards and presents...we appreciate it so much! 10 years=Jamaica!!!!!!!!

5 Amazing Years!

Today is our 5 year anniversary!!!! I can't believe it's already been 5 years! It has been quite an amazing journey already...so today I thought I'd post a few wedding pictures!


Rob and I on the Odyssey off of Navy Pier...where our reception was!


The Pour House...where it all began. This is where Rob and I really started dating...it closed down before our wedding, but we still took the whole crew there for a picture out front! This is our favorite wedding picture!


Our crazy, large wedding party!!!!


Rob with is best men, Bill and Brian


Beth with her maids of honors and sisters, Julie and Katie.


Rob's family


Beth's family


On the Odyssey at the beginning of the reception. It was COLD and WINDY, but we had a wonderful time!


1st dance



I think this picture is so cute outside the church. Some of my students at the time came to the wedding with their families. They passed out the "booklets" when the guests walked in and the bubbles when the guests walked out!


And they lived happily ever after...never before have 6 words been more true!

I think most people know that Rob surprised me with our honeymoon. I knew we were going somewhere, but I didnt know where until we got on the plane. It was such a fun surprise. I really, really wanted to go to Disney World, but Rob kept telling me he didn't want me to be disappointed but we weren't going..I was very convinced!


The 1st stop on our honeymoon...Disney World!!!!


The 2nd stop on our honeymoon...Montego Bay, Jamaica!!!

Rob and I are looking forward to celebrating this weekend in Chicago since we weren't able to get back to Jamaica! It really has been an amazing 5 years..and yet it's really just the beginning of our journey together!

Turtle and Bath Fun

Abigail has a new friend...her turtle. Grandma and Grandpa brought her back a turtle from St. John's and she loves it. It's really almost as big as her...and she carries it around the house! Here are some fun things Abigail is doing with her turtle:


It's perfect as a pillow

It's my playmate when Reese and Chase aren't here

This is my favorite..Abigail was using it as a chair for reading!!!

It can be a hat!!!!

I thought we were due for a good bath picture or two...but Abigail will NOT look at the camera when she's playing.

Catching letters in her net

The side view of her baby mullet that's growing

Look at all the toys in the tub...but her favorite is still the blue cup!

Abigail is so cute this week because she's starting to follow directions. In addition to her turtle, she loves this little pink garbage can that we keep her dirty bibs in (hey, it keeps her quiet). Today she was doing what she does 100 times a day, which is take all the bibs out. So I said, "Abigial, put them in" and she walked over and picked them all up and put them back. I was shocked! She definitely listens better than Kramer! ;) What a fun age! She is also babbling in her own language, but she'll often say "A-bi-gail"...I'm trying to get it on video, but Abigail won't do it once the video is on! I'll keep trying!

Also, Abigail wants to wish her Aunt Leanne a Happy Birthday!!!!

Happy Thursday!!! See you tomorrow!!! She has her 15 month app't today so I'll have status updates..as well as tomorrow is an important day in our family....I wonder what it is?????

A little behind....

A little behind...

I'm a little behind on blogging! We had a pretty quiet, boring week last week, so not much to report.

Last week I was folding laundry in our room and I realized it was quiet...a little too quiet...so I decided I'd better find Abigail. Here is how I found her and her partner-in-crime Kramer.


I love her eyes in this picture...the "Uh oh" eyes!





Abigail likes to feed Kramer his food....and then decided to test me while I was watching her by putting it in her mouth! She is really testing the limits of the word NO lately! I am having to put my foot down because she's at the perfect age to see what she can get away with! Uh oh...the next few months will be interesting. But I can't wait to see what they bring. Abigail is talking all the time now and is a walking pro, so she is so much fun to be around!!! But here's a picture of her testing me.


On Monday of last week, Abigail met her buddy Luca at the Dupage Children's Museum. The two of them had so much fun....

They are so cute together!!!!

Thanks Racquel and Luca for meeting us..it was a great day!

This week my favorite next door duo is back!!!! Our house is back to it's lively self! Two of the 3 of my crew are under the weather so hopefully we can have a low-key day today! I haven't taken any pictures yet...but I found a few pics from St. Patty's day I never posted....so here's the three of them doing what they do best...PLAY!

I should add that as I type, Abigail and Reese are doing something in the kitchen! I have locks on all the cabinets except the one that Abigail's bowls/plates/tuperware are in so I know they are in there. They keep coming out with different bowls. I guess it's like a play kitchen, only it's sort of real. So I may have some good pictures...but you know what? They are quiet and happy so I'll deal with the mess later!!!!! :)

Happy Monday!!!

1st Days of Spring at Bass Lake

1st Days of Spring at Bass Lake

We headed up to Bass Lake this weekend to enjoy the 1st weekend of Spring. We spent most of Saturday outside by the fire! Abigail enjoyed walking around the yard, playing with her ball and toys, and looking at the water. It was a great, relaxing weekend! Here are some pics!


Abigail with Mommy at her 1st campfire


3 Sisters


Abigail reading a book with Nana


Abigail enjoying the campfire with Auntie Gam and Uncle Al


Rob and his dad were busy at work cleaning out the basement of the house


One of the finds was a potato sack...which turned into a sack race gone wrong!


Too much fresh air!!!!! It wore out the princess!