Just one of those days....

After a long week, it's just the 3 (or 3 and a dog) of us...and we are having a hard time finding motivation today!  We were going to go to the gym, but started playing with Bendaroos instead.  We were going to do errands, but started playing EVERY board game we own. 

We are just having one of those days....but the girls probably need it.  Both have had crazy runny noses and sore throats all week...

So today we are still in our pjs (or tutus if you are abigail, because only tutus or tights/dresses/skirts are "fancy", but pjs and pants are NOT) and about to watch some Sesame Street and probably head up to brush our teeth soon!  :)  Everyone once in a while, I guess you need one of those days!

So I guess we'll do another puzzle! 

And let mommy take some pictures....

And laugh....

I never posted about our winter projects.  This winter, our projects were 1) paint walls and put up chair rail 2) backsplash  3) screen door.

I am happy to report we have done 2.5 of our projects.  All we have left is the chair rail.

Here's our new screen door!  Very exciting...it really adds light to our house.  It also has a drop-away screen so we get lots more fresh air (when there is not crazy construction in front of our house). 

Here's what it looks like when the door is closed....so dark! 

And our big project last weekend...the backsplash!  Here is the before: 

And after: 

And here's the before and after side by side: 

We love our new kitchen!!!! 

This weekend we have the March of Dimes walk!!!!  It's probably the last year we will walk, so we are really hoping for good weather!!!!  And check out this bad boy that will be coming with us on the walk this year: 

The newest addition to the Wennerstrom Family.  She doesn't have a name yet, but will soon!  I'm so excited...finally a double running stroller!  I got an amazing deal on Craigslist...got it new in the box!  Abigail loves it almost as much as me.  We have been "trying" out running strollers and she has been very opinionated.  Yesterday when we picked it up, she kept saying "I'm so excited to see it.  I can't wait.  It's like the best present!"  We went for a quick (cold) walk yesterday to try it out and her review is "perfect". (She is my mini-me!)

So Sunday, we'll be out walking with our whole family to honor all babies, those born too early and those born on time, but all born perfect!!!!

We are so blessed that Abigail has such little "effects" of being born so early, but everyone once in a while I'm reminded that she still is a preemie.  Her lungs were still "premature" and even though we were so lucky to get steriods and not need a ventilator, she still has problems.  This week she had a cough, and most kids can just get better, but she needs to nebulizer to open her pathways.  Such a little thing, but a reminder never-the-less.

"One day, ALL babies will be born healthy."  -March of Dimes

(In unrelated news, Caitlin is the FASTEST baby ever to go down the stairs.  I have a video to post!  She also is talking a lot more...only words I can understand but they are there!  Her favorites this week:  backpack and banana.)

Spring Has Sprung

What better way to spend a beautiful Spring day than for Daddy to teach Abigail how to ride her bike!

Easter Fun

WOW!  What a weekend!!!!  It included a pizza party, brunch with the bunny, a birthday party, backsplash installation, a sleepover at Nana and Papa's, and a baby shower!!!!!!  We were busy every hour of every day, but it was a great family weekend!!!!

On Saturday morning, we had our traditional Brunch with the Bunny.  We have gone from our first year with 3 families and 5 kids to our 4th year with 5 families and 9 kids!

Here are pictures of all the fun we had:

We had two cute girls in my favorite Easter dresses yet:

We had hamming it up for the camera: 

We had some cheese: 

We had some dancing: 

We had some bunny: 

but that was as close of a bunny picture that the Wennerstroms are going to have because we also had a lot of this from both girls: 

They do NOT like the bunny!!!!  Not one little bit!!!  (Maybe when they realize he brings them presents they will like him better).

We had some magic: 

And the cutest little bug: 

Uncle Rob had his godson: 

And mommy had her high school friends: 

We had an egg hunt: 

And pictures with mommy: 

and daddy: 

We had balloons:

And some really cute kids: 

And at the end, we had 2 tired girls: 

There was a lot to be "had" at our Easter Brunch!  It was a great morning!!!!! 

More pictures to come to roundout our weekend..and then next weekend is our March of Dimes walk and Aunt Katie's bday celebration!!!

Still Counting in Months

At the store this week, someone asked me how old Caitlin was and I had to check the date (I NEVER have a clue what the date is anymore...I'm seriously lucky if I get the year right)...and she said, "Oh, she must be under 2 if you are still counting in months!"  I LOVE counting in months because it means she's still my baby!

Today Caitlin is 17 months old!

She continues to make us laugh and pull our hair out at the same time!  I love this bug so much!  She's very independent.  She will play by herself for hours...and it's amazes us the way she plays.  She's very smart and observant.   She is also finding ways to communicate with us.  In addition to the signs we have taught her, she is starting to make up her own signs. 

My favorite thing she is doing right now is when you go to get her out of her bed, she wants EVERYTHING to come downstairs with her.  She also is so funny when she "blows her noise" on her own....anything that resembles a kleenex will be used as one!

She has been LOVING to go to Kids Korner at the park district gym.  She gets so excited to go and the teachers said she is so good (and independent) in there!  Caitlin and I are also in Mommy and Me swim lessons right now and she loves it!  (Abigail is in big girl swim lessons and loving it too..more on that soon).

All in all, life with a 3 (and almost a half) and a now 17 month old has been pretty amazing! 

I love her in her cute overalls and her ponies with ladybugs on them..my favorite outfit for Caitlin!  Caitlin is definitely more of my "overall" wearer.  Abigail...well, that's easy, she's my "tights" wearer!

A look back at Caitlin at 7 months.

And for a little comparision, here's Abigail at 17 months.  It ws also the day we announced to the blog world we were expecting again (I was 14 weeks along with Caitlin)!  People always tell me they look alike..and while I see it a little bit, they definitely don't look identical to me...but it may be their personalities that I'm focusing on!

Happy 17 Months, Bug!

(And on a random side note, we have been working on Abigail not wearing a Pull-Up.  She picked out a Belle Barbie doll and gets to play with it if she stays dry the night before...she stayed dry for 2 nights in a row.  This is very exciting and we are very proud of her!)

PLAYdoh

a lil coloring....a lil playdough....a great morning.

seven

This weekend Rob and I celebrated 7 years of marriage!  I feel so lucky to have spent the last seven years married to my best friend.  We have such a great time together.

We went out for a "memorable"dinner on Saturday night to celebrate.  It was great to spend time just the two of us.  We talked about our favorite moments together and started our "bucket list" for places we want to go and things we want to do.  It was a great night!

And the best part of our anniversary was our "gifts" to each other!  We bought a new screen door and backsplash for our kitchen.  Exciting, I know!  But to us, it really really is.  These are things we have wanted to do for 3 years, so we finally went out and did it!  Rob and I installed the screen door all by ourselves yesterday, that was quite an accomplishment.  We are having someone come help do our backsplash in the next few weeks. Then, Rob and I have chair rail to install and our 2011 winter projects are complete!!!

As nice as our time was together this weekend, the highlight of our weekend was definitely our family time with Lucy!  Lucy (and Aunt Katie) slept over on Friday night and we had a great night.  Then Saturday, we headed to Brookfield Zoo.  It was so much fun! 

Our "attempt" at a cousin picture:

Lucy Lulu: 

Abigail, our big helper: 

Caitlin is still in her "cheese" phase: 

Lucy playing with all the toys: 

Aunt Katie and Caitlin having a great night together: 

Daddy bonding with his goddaughter: 

Another cousin picture "attempt": 

Caitlin and Aunt Julie at the dolphins: 

Weekends sure don't get much better than this!!!!!!!!

Go Cubs Go!

Go Cubs Go!

Go Cubs Go!

Hey Chicago, what do you say?

Cubs are going to WIN today!

*No Children were harmed in the making of this blog post, although these girly girls may tell you different...apparently hats are "not cute!"