The rest of Aug and Sept 2013

-Benson's First Day of Preschool-

Benson started the 3's program at the Eola Community Center on Sept 3. We went for his first day to meet the teachers. He has two teachers this year, Mrs. Renee and Mrs. Sharon. He was very nervous to talk to them and I barely got a picture with them. His best friend Cailyn is in his class this year. He is so excited to see her and his other friend Stella at school. I am interested to see how Benson does this year. He doesn't sit well for me and doesn't really have an interest in projects.  

-Allyson came to visit-

So happy to have Allyson come and visit and for her to meet Finn for the first time! We had a great time having her here. I got in a little shopping and craft time with her which is always my favorite. It was nice to have a little extra help while I was getting my kids off to school. We made our annual trip to the Last Fling, which my kids look forward to each year. They loved all the rides and the yummy food. This is one of my kids favorite traditions we do every year. We love downtown Naperville!

-Herrick Lake-

We took the kids to Herrick Lake and let them ride in the kayak for the first time. They both were very excited and couldn't wait to get out on the water. As soon as Christian got the kayak in the water we found out that they didn't allow personal ones in the lake. So we had to go and rent a canoe instead. 

Addy was not thrilled about the canoe at all. She was so scared and I could here her screaming and crying across the lake. Sitting in the back made her really nervous and every time the canoe would tip she would scream. I convinced her to try again and to sit in the middle. She loved it and went out a few more times! Benson had a great time in the canoe but loved throwing rocks in the water the very best. We packed a picnic lunch and the kids had just as much fun pretending to row the kayak on the grass. Addy begged to hold Finn in the kayak. Such a sweet sister!

-Finn 1 Month Old-

My sweet boy is 1 month old. He continues to be such an easy going sweet natured baby. He is sleeping so well for me at night, around 7-8 hours, and naps off and on most of the day. His stats at his Dr. check up: 10 lbs 14 oz 75%, 22 in long 70%, and his head is 15 in 75%. He is a healthy and growing baby. I am loving every minute I have with him. My transition as been so much easier than I ever thought thanks to this little cutie.

 -First time riding the bus-

Addy rode the bus for the first time. She was so excited and felt very grown up, which made it easier on me to let her go. I wasn't all about the bus at the beginning. After I drove every morning and waited at the school every day at pick up with the boys in tow, I knew there had to be an easier way. Having Abbi at our house every morning before school to help Addy on the bus and to her classroom made it all the easier. The bus stop is at the end of our driveway and I can stand on the porch to see her off.  All kindergartners have to sit at the from of the bus and can only be let off after school if their parents are at the stop.  It really has made my life easier while adjusting to 3 kids!

-Steck Fun Run-

Our family participated in Addy's school fundraiser this year. I didn't think I was going to be able to run it with her, but I surprised myself and did. We chose to run the mile and she did such a great job. She ran the entire time and only stopped when I gave her a drink of water. She was so proud of herself and I loved seeing her accomplish something that she had been really wanting to do. Benson did pretty good and took off running really fast in the beginning, rode with Finn in the stroller for a little bit in the middle, and then ran at the end to cross the finish line with his sister. 

-Andrea came to visit-

We had a great visit while Andrea was here. We got in some serious shopping and made a few trips to downtown Naperville. We ate lots of yummy food and spent the day at Blackberry Farm. Definitely one of my kids favorite places to go. They got to ride the paddle boats for the first time. Chris and Andrea really had to paddle hard and Benson and Addy had a blast on the back of the boat. Love seeing these two cuties so happy! The weather the entire trip was gorgeous. It really has been a beautiful start to Fall.

July, August, and September 2012

We celebrated with a few of our friends for the 4th of July. We had a low key BBQ at our house and visited through out the afternoon. Later that night we drove to watch some fireworks that were close by our house. We all sat on the car to watched them. Of course my kids were mesmerized by all the bright colors and the loud noises. They love fireworks!

Pretty much all of my free time from about February- July was spent preparing for girls camp. I did the crafts for our stake camp in Wisconsin again this year. We had a great turn out and the girls all seem to love the crafts. We had an amazing opportunity for our girls this year. Each ward was assigned a country and we filmed our girls for the other country to see and they filmed their girls for us. We asked the girls to answer a few questions and to bare their testimonies. It truly was amazing to hear all the responses from around the world. It was a great thing for all the girls to see that they truly are the same. Even though they don't live the same way, the youth are all experiencing similar trials in their life. Each night we would gather on a big grassy area and watch the movies under the stars. It was an awesome experience! Our ward had Zimbabwe and a woman there beaded our entire stake these cute braceltes. Such a fun memory for these girls to have. Our camp was being filmed the entire time by the church so that added a little stress for us. I was trying to stay out of the cameras way because I did not want to be filmed! They are using the footage for training purposes for future girls camp. The youth videos just released for the new curriculum for 2013 has some of our camp footage on it. 

In August my sister Andrea and her husband JC came to visit us. We had a fun weekend with them! We spent two days in Chicago shopping, eating delicious food, sitting in terrible traffic, and checking out the aquarium. This was JC's first time coming so we had a lot to show him. On that Saturday we went to the Arlington racetrack. It was a very big race, the Arlington Million. My kids love to be there and of course it's one of Christian's favorite things to do! We went out that night just the four of us to a restaurant in downtown Naperville. It was fun to walk the river walk with them and stop off at the end to get some treats at Napersweets. Probably my most favorite store here in Naperville!

My kids wait all summer for The Last Fling. We have gone very year since we have moved here and it has become a tradition. Benson was big enough to ride the rides this year so it made it extra fun.

The dragon coaster of course is still their favorite ride! Nothing makes me happier than seeing these two laughing and having fun together.  We got a delicious funnel cake and snow cone to share. It was extremely hot but my kids didn't mind at all! 

We went out on the paddle boats for the first time this year. It was really fun! I was very nervous at first not being able to strap my wild boy down. Benson did great and only climbed around a bit. Addy helped her dad paddle and steer for almost 30 min of our boat ride. It was very relaxing and fun and something I  hope we will do again next year. 

Addy started her second year of pre-school the beginning of September. Her teacher this year is Mrs. Buscher and she has 3 other kids from our ward in her class. Addy loves school and wishes she went every day like all of her older friends do.  We are excited for this school year and look forward to all the learning and things she is accomplishing! She is a very smart girl and she loves to learn new things. She is very interested in learning how to read. I am not sure how to teach her, but I am trying!

September 2011... Allyson came to visit

The first week of September my sister Allyson came to stay with us. We had such a fun weekend! Allyson and I picked up a new hobby and spent several late nights embossing cards. We stayed up super late crafting and chatting every night.

We of course had to go to Naperville's Last Fling. It has been a tradition for my family since we moved to Illinois. This was Benson's first time riding the rides. The first ride he went on was the train. It moved really slow and he wasn't sure what to think about it. He had a concerned look on his face the whole time. Addy was so sweet and made him feel safe. She had her arm around him the entire ride and of course it made me cry! My baby is getting so big!

The next ride he rode was the cars and he knew right what to do. He was so happy and turned the stearing wheel back and forth. He would look for us the whole way around and barely would see us as he was passing by. He wanted to make sure we were watching him. Addy's most favorite ride is still the dragon coaster. She was a little nervous at first, but warmed right up to it. She wanted to ride it again and again. It made it even more exciting that Allyson was there watching her.

Some of my highlights for the day were eating a yummy funnel cake, a lime slushie, and spending the day with my family.

The day before Allyson left, Addy had her first day of pre-school. She was so excited to go and meet her teacher and see the kids in her class. We have been counting down all summer for this day. She has wanted to be in school for so long. Addy will be going to school two days a week for 2.5 hours a day. She has Mrs. Linda for her teacher and one of her best friends are in her class. We are looking forward to a great school year.

Labor Day

We had a great Labor Day weekend this year. It was very busy! We had our family pictures taken by my friend Erin on Saturday, and then that evening we went to the Last Fling in down town Naperville. Addy remembered all the rides from last year and was very excited to ride again. I didn't get the greatest pictures since it was dark outside. Addy rode a dragon roller coaster that I thought for sure was going to scare her, but she loved it! She still shows Christian and I how she held on so tight.

On Monday we headed to Chicago to see my first Cubs game. I can't believe I have lived here 2 years and never have went to a game. Christian has been to several games with out me. It was our lucky day! We got FREE parking a few blocks from Wrigley Field. I was so excited since we weren't bringing our stroller with us. Christian was talking to a scalper out front to get us tickets when one of the workers there said he had FREE tickets for us. They were awesome seats! We were just to the left of home plate on the 4Th row of the first upper section. We could see perfectly! Addy really enjoyed singing the songs and watching the game. I thought for sure she would want to play up and down the stairs, but she sat in her seat the whole time. Half way through the game Addy realized she didn't have a hat on. She wanted to wear her hat just like her daddy! Benson was such a good boy and let us watch the whole game. I never know what to expect taking babies anywhere. He did great!




Some friends and I had another girls night to say good bye to Erin on Tuesday. We ate dinner at Qdoba and had yummy shakes at Culver's after. We always have so much fun! I miss you all ready Erin!



Wednesday night before the Bunderson's moved, I took Addy over to say good bye to Ella. Ella was Addy's very first friend here in Chicago. These too have played so much together. Addy named both her babies after her best buddy. We are really going to miss this family!



The girls were being silly and running around as usual. Chasing each other screaming and jumping on the bed.