Graduation Party & Cheese Country

May 31, 2009 - My nephew Luke graduated 8th grade and we went to his graduation party. Way to go Luke, we are proud of how well you have done!!!! It was nice to see everyone. There were a lot of little kids. It is amazing how fast the dynamics of a family can change. I love all the little ones running around! Here is what we called, "the nursery". Sitting on the blanket is my sister Laura with her daughter Julia, Noah on the left and my sister Jen's son Dylan on the Right. What cuties!!!

During our evening walk our friends Becky and Craig gave Andy these Cheese hat and told him that he needed one since we are now officially cheese heads. Thanks guys!! So it is official, we close on our house here in Illinois on June 9th. We will still live here until we close on the new house in Wisconsin on June 18th. It is bitter sweet. I cannot wait to have our family back together and be with my husband again. It will also be said to leave our house where we created so many memories, our town, family and friends. We will just have to create new memories in the new house and I know that we are not that we will not be that far from here.

Noah's 1 Year Checkup

May 30, 2009 - Noah had his 1 year check up with Dr. Baptist. He weighed in at 22 lbs. 4 oz. (50th percentile) and was 29 3/4 inches (25-50th percentile). He is growing on track and meeting all his milestones. Dr. Baptist said he was a perfect baby! This will be our last visit with Dr. Baptist. We sold our house and will be moving on June 17th. It will be hard to find someone as good as Dr. Baptist!

Here is a picture of Noah clapping while he waits for the doctor to come in.
He was such a good boy during the exam and didn't make a fuss. That is until he recieved three shots from the nurse but who wouldn't.

MaKayla is saying goodbye to Dr. Baptist.Noah is sporting his wounded legs.

Brookfield Zoo

May 28, 2009 - This is our second trip to a zoo in a week. My friend Lisa (Pip) was in Chicago for a visit. I haven't meet her twins and she hadn't meet Noah yet. When you are home for a visit everyone wants to see you so Lisa did the smart thing. She put out an invite to meet at the zoo by the gates at 10:30 for anyone who wanted to meet. She had friends who had season passes so we all got in for FREE. I love free! It was so nice to see my friend again. Another bonus I saw another skydiving buddy Amy with her kids there too. It was a nice reunion! I will have to say with a big group it makes a zoo trip very chiotic! We were always losing someone. Thank goodness for cell phones! Here is a picture of MaKayla looking at the bear.

Pip, Me and Amy
MaKayla giving her brother a hug. I didn't take as many pictures as I usually do. Handling two kids at a jam packed zoo was enough to keep me busy.

Madison Zoo

May 25, 2009 - We went to Madison Zoo. It was a little cool and overcast but still a beautiful day. We had wanted to take the kids the day after Noah's birthday but the weather did not cooperate. This is our little private celebration for Noah's 1st Birthday! Here is Daddy pulling MaKayla in the wagon and pushing Noah in his car.

MaKayla loves feeding the goats. This is always a highlight for her. Hmm, we could have just gone to a farm =).

Here is Daddy and Noah waiting to get on the carasol.

Noah on the leapord.
MaKayla ran to get the lion as soon as the gate opened!

Here is Daddy, MaKayla and Noah all crammed in a tiny train. Looks like fun doesn't it? We love the Madison Zoo. It is the perfect size for small children, clean and best of all FREE! We had a lot of fun a built more memories!

A visit with Great Grandpa & Grandma

May 23, 2009 - My Grandpa & Elaine couldn't make it to the birthday party so we went for a visit. One thing I can always count on when I visit Grandpa's is home made Mac & Cheese. It has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. MaKayla is following suit. Grandpa & Elaine are reading new books that they gave to them. MaKayla got a Bible and Noah got a Noah's Ark book. Both of them love to be read to. What perfect gifts!

My Mom also came over to see the kids and brought her pet bird Max to show the kids. He is a cool bird was a little timid that day because he was not used to being taken places.

Noah's 1 Year Pictures

May 19, 2009 - We went to JCPenny's for Noah's 1 Year Pictures. They do a great job and you can't beat the prices.

What a handsome Prince Charming!

So BIG!!!

Clicking his tongue

Little Princess & Little Prince

Little Princess actually cooperated long enough to get a couple of photos with her brother.

I love this photo of him!

Ike's 9th Birthday

May 18, 2009 - Ike turned 9 years old. It is hard to believe that it was 7 1/2 years ago that we rescued Ike. I took a ton of photos trying to get a couple to turn out. Dogs can be harder than kids to photograph at times! I was happy how the two of these turned out.

Happy 1st Birthday Noah!

Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Boy!!!!

May 16, 2009 - It doesn't seem possible that our little man is a year old already. Where does the time go. It seem like just yesterday we found out we were pregnant again. His birthday was an action packed day! Andy, MaKayla, Noah and I celebrating in the morning.


Andy is giving Noah a tool every year for his birthday. When he is older he will have a good start with his owl tool set. For his first birthday, Andy gave him a personalized Estwing hammer. They are manufactured in Rockford. Andy thought it would be nice to have something that was made in the town that he was born in.

On one side it says, "Noah Morris"

On the other side it says, "1st Birthday 2009" I am sure that Noah will treasure this thoughtful gift!

In the afternoon, we had a big birthday party complete with the Prince theme. Here he is with his cousin Dylan in his new car.

What a handsome Prince! He was so excited about his cake! We barely got a picture before he torn into it. You can see his hands heading that way in the picture.

Like I said he tore into it with wasting a second. He is already enjoying it while we are trying to get a picture. Well, at least he got one thing from me. A SWEET TOOTH!!!

MMMMMM GOOOOOD!

This was all that was left after about 15 minutes or so. He likes his cake. We took him straight to the tub. We ended up having to drain the water and starting a new bath to get him clean.

He passed out shortly after the bath!

Another picture of the birthday boy!

After a long nap and dinner, we took Noah and MaKayla for a walk. Noah loves his new car. He bounced and screamed and we went down the road.

Noah and MaKayla on his new ride on train. Right before MaKayla tried pushing him off.

Noah's 1st B-Day Party at Tati's

May 14, 2009 - Tati (day care provider) had a birthday party for Noah as she does for all the kids. The kids bake a cake in the morning, decorate the house and take turns decorating the cake in the afternoon. It really is a whole day event. I made it in time for the celebration of singing and cake eating. Here is Noah with Tati, Joseph and some of the kids.

Noah and his birthday cake. The cakes that Tati makes is not a traditional cake that we are used to. She is from Turkey and makes a bunt cake with bitter chocolate melted and drizzled on the top with fresh fruit. It is very yummy!

Noah likes it! Tati is irreplaceable! We are really going to miss her. I just hope we can find someone who can fill part of her shoes!

My 1st Mother's Day of Two

May 10, 2009 - This was my first Mother's Day with both MaKayla and Noah. Last year at this time he was still in the cooker. I was spoiled! Andy made me waffles with strawberries for breakfast. After breakfast, the kids gave me presents and handmade cards (the best kind!). They gave me a leather portfolio for my new business, chocolates, a hand made stepping stone and flowers. MaKayla picked out an additional little present for me all by herself. It was a bag of Skittles. When I opened she asked me to share with her, I think there was an alliterative motive. It was cute!

In the evening, we had pizza on the deck with neighbors. It was a perfect day! Here is MaKayla and her friend Bella eating in he playhouse.

Princess, Queen, Prince & Princess Daughter

April 20, 2009 - MaKayla loves playing princess! She is so funny, she says she is a princess, Mommy is a Queen, Noah is a Prince (she used to call him a witch we had to gently persuade her to call him a Prince) and Daddy is a Princess Daughter. It doesn't matter how hard Andy tries to get her to call him a King she insists that he is a Princess Daughter. I laugh every time she calls him that. It all started when Andy told her that she was his precious Princess Daughter. Somehow she confused it. The mind of a 2 1/2 year old. You have to love it!

April 23, 2009 - I tried to give the kids mohawks in the bathtub. By the time a took the picture MaKayla's had fallen and Noah's just looks like a little sprout.

May 3, 2009 - MaKayla loves to try and dress up her brother. I can see some of these pictures being pulled out for future girlfriends.

May 6, 2009 - I caught Noah in the act of unrolling the toilet paper and eating it. What do I do, run for the camera =)