The Rest of May 2011

Mother's Day

My family had a get together the night before Mother's Day. My sister was so sweet and helped Addy with a gift and the cutest homemade card ever! It was a really great day spent with my family. It's really hard to be away from them! I really love these pictures of my mom with my kids. Love you mom!

We flew back home to Chicago on Sunday evening. Christian surprised me with a spotless house and a delicious dinner! He gave me a cute cardigan and some jewelry that he picked out all by himself. I am so lucky to have such a thoughtful and caring husband. It was so nice to be home with him again. We sure missed him!

Mother's Day dinner in Chicago

Two weeks after we got home from our vacation to Utah and Hawaii, Addy had another dance recital. Unfortunately she missed 4 weeks of dance practice so she hadn't learned the dance. I had her go anyways. The dance was really cute! She would have loved doing it more if she knew what was going on. She again was really concerned about staying on her letter!

Watch the dance video here

Addy came home from dance and wanted her ears pierced. I thought it was crazy since every time we talk about earrings she would get all stressed out. I had told her when she was ready for earrings and could take care of them, we would get hers pierced. I thought she would be 10 before that happened. Addy would always ask my why every person she saw had earrings in. She was obsessed! She made it clear each time that she did NOT want earrings. I told Chris about our conversation, and he wanted to take her that night to get them pierced. I said "NO!" We talked to Addy all week long about what was going to happen when she pierced her ears. Addy still wanted them done!

On Saturday, May 27 we took Addy to get her ears pierced. She was so excited! She chose out silver sparkle earrings that matched her nail polish. (rhinestone flowers) I couldn't have chose better myself! She started to shiver and shake and her face was pale. I thought it was because she was scared mixed with a little bit of anxiety. Two people pierced her ears at the same time. I held both her hands, and when the earrings where in she was immediately in tears. She cried until the lady handed her a mirror. Addy said, " I look so BEAUTIFUL!" She was so happy! She was nervous for me to even touch her hair, for fear I would hurt her ears.

We went to lunch after and Addy was acting really weird. She wouldn't eat and didn't really talk much. She fell asleep in the car on the ride home. We had a few other places to stop, so Chris kept her in the car with him so she could sleep. At our last stop she had woken up delirious. She kept saying weird things and she was slurring her words. I pushed her in the stroller so she could rest. She said her tummy was hurting, so I got her some sprite to sip on while I finished up. Out of no where, Addy sits straight up and starts puking everywhere. It was so awful! She filled the stroller, my hands, and everything around us. The poor girl was so sick! That night she had a high fever and woke us up at 3:00 a.m. Her body was so hot she looked like she had a sunburn everywhere. Luckily by Sunday afternoon she was feeling much better.



Memorial Day


We spent Memorial Day in downtown Naperville. We had lunch, walked the river walk, played at the park, and threw money in the fountains. The weather was amazing! Addy requested her hair in pigtails so everyone could see her new earrings.

Hawaii 2011

Christian and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary this year. What way to better celebrate than a trip to Hawaii! I wasn't too excited in the beginning of bringing our kids with us, but it turned out to be a great vacation! Christian's parents came with us to spend some time with our family. I couldn't have done the trip without them! They even kept our kids over night so we could go out and spend some time together. Family vacation + alone time = a perfect trip!

I didn't take any pics of the first day there. We flew in, went to the base on Pearl Harbor, ate dinner, shopped for groceries, and went to bed. The next morning we went to our Hotel on Waikiki and headed for the beach. This was my kids very first time on a beach. They both loved it! We played there for a few hours until we were surrounded by jellyfish. Unfortunately, Christian's mom Jamie, was stung by one on the back of her thigh. The life guard posted signs up about the jellyfish after we had been swimming for awhile. Jellyfish are all over the shoreline for two days after a full moon. We caught a couple in a bucket to look at. I was a little too nervous to let Addy and Benson swim any longer, so we headed back to the hotel to get cleaned up.

Benson loved crawling around in the water! He kept drinking the water even though he hated it. He would dry heave every single time! Benson also had his first couple mouth fulls of sand. it made him throw up immediately, but for some reason he kept putting it in his mouth.

Addy loved building a sandcastle with nanny Jamie.

That evening, we went to dinner and walked around Waikiki and looked at the shops. We ended the night with ice cream and smoothies.

On the third day, we went to the Dole Pineapple factory for some delicious ice cream. My kids were asleep in the car, so nanny Jamie stayed back with them while we went in for ice cream. Such a great grandma!

We drove to Waimea Bay to play on the beach. It was so cool to watch the locals surf the enormous waves. The beach goes up to a small hill and the waves were washing all the way to the top. The kids loved the waves crashing up on them. Even though we were all standing where the last of the waves reached, they could still pull my kids down the beach. Addy's new watering can was swept out in a big wave.

After we finished playing at the beach, nanny and papa took the kids back with them for the night. Christian and I went out for the evening and spent the night without the kids. It was so nice!

We went to one of Christians favorite restaurants, Duke's. We went there our first trip to Hawaii our first year of marriage. So it was kinda fun to go back there and remember our trip 5 years earlier. Our dinner was so delicious! I had baked mahi mahi and Christian had teriyaki steak. We walked on the beach all the way back to our hotel. It was a very relaxing evening!

The fourth day, we went to the Hawaii temple. It was so nice to be able to go with Christian! While we were inside, Dave and Jamie took the kids to BYU and ate lunch and walked around. When we were done, we took the kids with us to get more to eat at a little Japanese place and a delicious shaved ice. (I don't remember the name of it but it was super big and tasty!)

After lunch we drove to Poipu Bay to play in the ocean. We found a cool little spot in a cove where you could snorkel. It was beautiful! There were fish swimming all around us. My kids really enjoyed playing here. Addy met some friends that she had fun playing with.

On the fifth day we headed home. We really wanted one more day at the beach, but the flights were full the next couple of days so we didn't stay. The flight home was nice! Benson did so much better coming home because we stopped in L.A.

I really enjoyed my vacation in Hawaii with my family and Christian's parents. We could not have done it without them! My kids got to spend so much time with their daddy and grandparents.

Benson at 14 Months

-He is standing and walking around furniture

-points to everything and says "dat"

-loves walks in the stroller with his dad

-he lifts up his shirt to show his belly

-waits by the gate when daddy comes home at night

-still wont wear shoes

-he is very wild at church

-loves to brush his own teeth

-crawls at turbo speed

Easter 2011

We had a great Easter this year! Christian and I gave the kids their baskets a week early because we were leaving for vacation. The kids both enjoyed their baskets and the Easter egg hunt around our house. I gave the kids each a new outfit for spring. Addy held up her dress and wanted to put it on right away. Once it was on, she didn't really like it. She said to me " how about we give this to another big girl instead." It really made me laugh! I love her honesty.

Benson really enjoyed throwing the eggs around. I got some that were shaped like different sports balls, which he really liked. Once he figured out there was candy in the eggs he was so happy! He would open the egg, eat the treat, throw the egg, and then crawl to the next one.

The day before Easter, we got together with Christian's family to celebrate Jenson's 1st birthday. We met at the park for lunch and cake and ice cream. It was a really cold windy day, but that didn't stop the kids from running around, playing, and hunting for eggs.

I got a picture of all the grandkids but Holden. He was too quick for me! My kids are so lucky to have such amazing cousins to play with. After the park, we went to Christian's parents house to
extend the party indoors. Nanny Jamie and Papa Dave gave all the kids their Easter surprises.




Addy got to color her first Easter eggs this year with Nanny Jamie. I forgot our coloring kits so grandma let us use hers. Addy loved watching the eggs change different colors. She didn't want to take the eggs out until she was done stirring them. She decorated the eggs with a few stickers and put them in a bowl for everyone to see.



Easter morning we went to church and then to my parents house for brunch. My mom made lots of yummy food! My family gave my kids their Easter gifts and we had another egg hunt. This time it was just Addy collecting all the eggs. She got some money in her eggs to buy her a sand castle set for Hawaii. She was so excited!

Addy really loved her new dress up stuff and wore it all afternoon. She really loved the hat! My kids both really loved the new books which were perfect for our airplane ride. Thanks to both of our families for the fun weekend and for the gifts. We were so lucky to be able to be with our families on Easter!

Pinewood Derby and Fishin'

Addy participated in the Pinewood Derby this year. She had a blast! To say Addy loves Scouts is an understatement! She is absolutely devastated when she can't go every week to scouts with her dad. Luckily, she always gets to go to pack meeting.

Christian decided a few hours before we had to be to the derby that the two of them were going to make a car. I left to go to the grocery store so all the construction, painting, and pictures were up to Addy and Christian. I must say I was pretty impressed with what they came up with! It was all finished by the time I got home. Addy was so proud!

Addy's car wasn't the fastest, but she was still so happy seeing it go down the race track! One of the races she got 2ND place. Not bad for a 3 year old first timer! She spent most of the day on the front row with all the scouts. Addy received an award for " Most modern design".

In the beginning of April we were still having pretty cold weather. Addy gets pretty stir crazy being inside. I let her go out on our deck to play some mornings while Benson is napping. We are stuck home everyday during nap times, but we make the most of it! She likes to blow bubbles, color with chalk, drive cars and trains, and fish.

One morning she asked for her fishing pole and went outside. I was inside finishing up making a quilt and I can see her through the windows from my table playing. I couldn't see her so I walked out to see what she was up to. Sometimes this means trouble!

I loved everything I saw! I tried not to disturb her quiet fishing moment, but I ran and grabbed my camera. The first thing I saw was the picture with her crack showing. I don't know what it is about the picture that makes me so happy, but it does!

Addy stayed outside fishin' all morning! She really enjoyed her quiet time on the deck. Somethings that come to my mind when I see these pictures are:

creativity, imagination, funny, innocent, CRACK, childhood, memories, and my silly girl Addy. Love her to pieces!

Addy's Dance Recital

I forgot to post about Addy's dance recital that happened the last week of March. Her class performed during the spring open house at Lifetime Fitness. It was so fun to get to see what she had been learning the last 2 1/2 months. The little girls in her class range from 3-4 and are so cute to watch dance!

My pictures are not the best, but that's what happens when you are holding a squirmy little boy who kept swatting my camera. I had a hard time focusing my lens! Addy really loves dance class, but she really loves being with all her little friends the most.

Click here to watch a video clip of Addy dancing. It is so funny how concerned she was about staying on her sticky note. I love it!

March 2011

I am so far behind on my blog. I have the hardest time keeping up! There is just not enough hours in the day to get everything done. Here is a recap of the month of March:

Christian took Benson to Utah with him for 3 days. That was the first time Benson has ever been away from me. It was so fun having some one on one time with each of our kids. Benson did awesome on the flight there and back. He was able to see both of our families and spend some much needed time with Christian.

Addy was a little sad she didn't get to go. We told her that daddy had to go to a meeting and get our taxes done and he would be back soon. We didn't tell her that she was missing out on two family parties with all of our favorite people.

I gave Christian our little point and shoot camera and asked him to take some pictures of everyone. Sadly he failed me! For some reason he decided to just enjoy the time in Utah and not take pictures. What!? Thank you Allyson for snapping some pictures! I was a little surprised to see what Christian dressed Benson in. I sent full outfits in the suit case, but in the pictures above he is missing pants one day and is in only his onsies the rest of the time. Men just don't understand! But he took amazing care of my baby and that is what really matters!

The boys skyped us from my parents house. Benson was so happy to see us! He was flapping his arms like crazy! Seeing Benson made me miss him so much. Addy wanted to leave right then and go over to Nanny Elaine's house. She was sad I couldn't take her that second.

Addy and I had a lot of fun on our girls weekend! Saturday I asked her what she wanted to do and she said, "I want to go to Olive Garden and have some salad and chocolate with no bad nuts." So that's what we did! Olive Garden for lunch and some shopping after. We came home and she played dress up all night. It cracked me up to see her playing in her bee costume. It's from Halloween 2 years ago. It was just a little too small for her, but she didn't mind. Addy also slept in it that night. It's funny what makes her happy!

On Monday we went to the Children's Museum with our friends. Addy loved playing with Madelyn and Ethan. The girls were so silly dressing up and putting on a show for us. They both did some crazy dance moves on the stage! Addy had a great time!

We had lunch at one of our favorite Japanese restaurants and then went to ballet. Addy asked me several times a day when Benson was coming home. She really missed her little buddy! We had a great weekend together, but we sure missed our boys!

Benson pulled himself up to the standing position for the first time on my furniture! He was so excited at first, but then couldn't figure out how to get back down.

For playgroup one week we met up at the park. It was a beautiful day and we were all so happy to see the sun. Benson's morning nap is right when playgroup starts, so after 10 minutes in the swing he fell asleep! I was turned around taking some pictures of Addy and her friends playing on a hill and when I turned back around, Benson was slumped over fast asleep. He definitely enjoyed the swing!

I forgot about St. Patrick's Day this year! I dropped Addy off at the park to play with her friend Jackson and I left to run some errands. When I got back I noticed my friend Jami and her kids in green. I had totally forgot to dress Addy in green! Benson lucked out because he had a little green in his shirt. So when we got home I changed her shirt so daddy wouldn't get her! We drove into the city to see Chicago River. It's amazing how they turn it green! It definitely was fun to see, but it was too cold to stay and hang out. Maybe next year!

My parents visit

We had a great visit with my parents. This was my dads first time coming to Chicago. It was a short but fun weekend! They arrived late Friday night. Addy was so happy to see them both. Of course it was so cold the entire weekend! We braved the zoo Saturday anyways. It was nice to sit inside for the dolphin show and warm up. My kids love the dolphins the most! We ate in downtown Naperville for dinner and made our 1st stop to the candy shoppe.

We celebrated Benson's birthday Sunday. My mom and I cooked all morning. It was so fun trying a new recipe out with my mom. I knew I wouldn't fail with her help! We all ate way too much! ( the taquitos were even better the 2ND and 3rd time) That night we relaxed and watched Despicable Me.



Monday, Christian and my Dad spent the whole morning changing the brakes on my Jeep. As soon as they were finished the girls headed out Shopping. Addy sweet talked Grandma into getting her a dress from the Disney store and me some new clothes. Gotta love that! We took my parents back downtown to Giordano's for dinner. We ordered some deep dish Chicago pizza! Then it was back for our 2ND round to the candy shoppe.

Tuesday we went into Chicago to the Science and Industry Museum. None of us had been there yet. A lot of things made Addy nervous there. Lucky for her, we all took turns carrying her. But she mostly wanted her papa. We didn't make it through the whole museum but we all really enjoyed it there. We went to lunch and then dropped my parents off at the airport. It was sad to see them go! It was so fun having visitors and I loved how much time they got to spend with my kids.

Thanks again for everything papa and nanny! We love you very much and can't wait to see you guys again soon.

Bensons 1st Birthday Party

Our family was so lucky to have my parents come for Benson's 1st Birthday! We were so happy to have them here for four days. While they were here, we had a little party for my birthday boy! My mom and I cooked my friends delicious taquitos recipe, home made re-fried beans, green sauce, and salsa. It was definitely a hit, thanks Jami! After we had cake and ice cream and opened presents.

(thanks Jami for the yummy cake!)

Benson loved his cake! It was so cute watching him lick the frosting off his fingers.

I started with a theme of robots, but I didn't get very far with it! It still turned out pretty cute though.



Benson really enjoyed all the gifts he opened. Addy helped with every single one! It was like it was her birthday! She is really enjoying all his new toys and books.

It was really fun to watch Benson play with his new toys. The farm house and tractor are both the kids favorite! They also love the new books. Of course I love all his cute new summer clothes! Thanks to our families for all the wonderful gifts. Benson is one lucky boy!

A trip to the E.R. with Addy

2/7/2011

Monday night I was getting the kids ready for bed. Christian went to bed early because he wasn't feeling good. Addy was wired because she had a late nap. She was making me crazy and was begging to watch a show, so I let her lay down by her dad to settle down. A while passed by and I thought both Addy and Christian were sleeping. I had just sat down to watch one of my many shows on DVR and Christian was yelling my name from the bedroom. He was completely delirious! He said " Addy said she swallowed a pin, what does that mean?" I look at Addy and she said " My bobby pin was in my mouth and I tried to pull it out and I said (add choking noise here) and I swallowed it and it went down my throat, into my belly, into my knees, and into my toes." She was completely serious! I had a hard time not laughing. I twisted her bangs back with a bobby pin for ballet that night, and I guess she had taken it out and was sucking on it while she was watching TV. I didn't know what to do. We looked around for the bobby pin but it was no where to be found. So I decided to Google my problem. Everything I could find on the internet said to go to the E.R. I called my doctor's office and left a message with the answering service. With in 5 minutes the doctor on call called me back. He was shocked that I really believed Addy swallowed the bobby pin. The thing is, Addy doesn't lie. She always tells me what is going on even when she is the one getting in trouble. Plus the way she described that she was choking I knew she swallowed it. I remembered that the bobby pin was a mini one, so when I told the doctor that, he was more on board with the swallowing. He sent us up to the E.R.

Addy was a little nervous when I explained what was going to happen, but she really wanted the bobby pin out of her belly. The first thing Addy said to the nurse while she checked us in was, " my name is Addy and I swallowed a bobby pin". It was like she was at an "AA" meeting. It was so funny! Addy and I both told the story to the nurse and to the doctor. Addy said the exact same thing that she told Christian and I earlier. They both were skeptical but sent us to get an x-ray of her throat and lung area. I am not sure why the didn't do her stomach though. The biggest concern was whether or not the bobby pin was sitting on top of the stomach. If it was, when she went to bed, there is a chance it could come back up and choke her in her sleep. If it was all ready in her stomach the doctor just wanted to make sure she could pass it ok. The bobby pin was small enough that they weren't worried about it damaging her intestines. Really they just didn't think she swallowed it. They didn't find anything in the x-ray and the doctor thought the bobby pin was somewhere at our house.

Showing off her hospital bracelet when we got home.

The doctor was really nice to me, but I was irritated that they didn't believe me. I am not sure why he didn't x-ray her stomach but whatever. He sent me home with some paper work on "swallowing foreign things" and gave Addy a little talk. He was great and explained to her all about what is appropriate to put in our mouths and how dangerous it can be if we put "bad" things in there.

Long story short........ Addy passed the bobby pin! 4 days later it was in the toilet at my friends house. I so badly wanted to take a picture of it and send it to the doctor, but I didn't. I was seriously so happy! Mostly because I went right home and called the E.R. and got to tell them I was right! I was also happy Addy was ok.