Here and Now

I have a lot of catch up to do, but I guess I have to start somewhere...and there is no better place than right now.

So, Colston has had multiple experiences with broccoli and carrots (I want to train those tastebuds to like veggies), which I will post later, but Sunday was an especially good day for him--time to experience sugar for the first time--he got to eat watermelon with us!

 Here's Cole gearing up for the party...

...and the reaction to this new flavor and texture...

...and his post watermelon demeanor--I think he liked it!

I wish you could have seen him between first taste and post experience; he was sucking on that piece of fruit like it was his last meal--and he was going to experience every last drop--so fun to watch.

Mr. Man

So little Colston is growing, growing. We dressed him up in (most of) his nice clothes...

I actually got ready too--and it wasn't even a Sunday!!

  

He has a mouth like mom and dad.

Look, something new to chew!

This is one healthy boy--we love to kiss those cheeks!

I just think this is cute--in the last week he has started sucking his thumb every once in a while--but here it looks like he is just pulling a "look at me, I'm standing" face.

Daddy came home from work early; we went for a walk, and the boy got sleepy

Special mention of my cute friends who provided the clothes:

From Head to Toe...

Belinda Wong - Driver's Cap

Hannah Beus (well, now Van Bibber) - Argyle Sweater

Jamie Joyal - Polo Jacket

Haley, Jill, Kelsey, Wendy - Window Pane Slacks

Jen Ross - Trumpette Shoe-Sox

Thank you to all of our other generous friends and family too!!

Colston James

Our little Cole was born on
March 27, 2010

8 pounds 1 ounce
20 inches

Run, Run, Run...as fast as you can!

So Kelsey and Jill ran a half marathon--yes that is 13.something miles, ouch--and they both rocked it...like it was nothing.


See--after running 13 miles they are all smiles and no sweat...Way to go girls!!

Haley and I were the official cheerleaders, and we made signs to keep their spirits up...Haley's was my favorite (and yes, that is what Jill and Kelsey would look like as little green martians).

We had the opportunity to Cheer for the best teams at the race:

Team Kelsey

Team Jill

Way to go girls!

Froggy Fun

We found this cute little frog (toad) in our 'backyard'...


...we began playing with it, then dropped it (and I felt horrible) ...


...and in the end, Phil got a craving for amphibians.

A mighty good time with Andrea and Brad

Phil's sister, who about 6 months pregnant here, and her husband flew to Chicago for the weekend. We were really lucky that we got to see them while they were here...



We ate dinner at Gino's and then showed them around Chicago (since we've been there so much)...


And by some miraculous stroke of luck, we even saw a bit of Egypt while we were there!

(That big chunk of rock came from The Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt. If I remember right, this was the building where the Chicago Tribune is, and there were lots of little pieces of other buildings embedded in the structure.) This piece of pyramid was probably my favorite sight; however, the "Giant Famers" were a close runner-up:)

Packers Fever

Phil got to go to a Packers game with 'the guys' I missed out on the fun, but seeing the absolute glee that came over his face at the prospect of going to Lambeau was good enough for me...

nothing like the 80's

So our sweet friend Kara threw an 80's birthday bash for her husband Steve's 28th birthday...I must say it was pretty much the coolest party I have ever been to. Everyone dressed up, and looked oh so fine in true to 80's style.

Steve and Kara looking 'hot, hot, hot!' Why wasn't I lucky enough to be a teenager in the 80's?

Please take note of the sweet decorations and perfectly themed and executed background made exclusively for this night by the acclaimed artist Kara "da bomb" Pothier. Also note: These pictures were courtesy of Kara, and her rockin' photography skills.

The party only begun with dressing up--it also included twister, bubble-gum blowing contests, batman cupcakes and rings, a sincerely delicious nacho bar, and the original Super Mario brothers...which I tried to compete in like 6 times, and couldn't ever make it beyond half-way: a testimony to my brothers' lack of controller sharing, especially back in the day:) Phil did pretty well in the video-game department--for a while he was in first place--but alas, Steve O'Brian rocked his score by like ten seconds--Props to Steve!

Like I said--it was a GREAT party; a sweet time. Thanks Pothiers! and Happy Birthday Steve--Thanks for getting older so we could have a blast with you guys at your house!

Baby Bedding

The plans for making my own bedding have been postponed, becuase I can't find this fabric...

Our (mostly window-) Shopping Extravaganza!

So, my wonderful husband knows that I have wanted to go on a road trip for quite sometime, why?...

...Perhaps it is my love of maps and navigation; my need to constantly be doing something new/different; my desire to "see the world!"; or a silly attempt to avoid aging? (don't ask where the rationale come from for the last one...I am not sure that there is any; it's just how I feel...)

SO, originally we were going to head to DC, because we both Love American History and the founding fathers--but at long last, we realized that there was no way that was happening this year...so I gave up any hope or idea of a fun vacation before Phil lost any influence as to what he will spend his time doing for the next year.

Well, that lack of hope and excitement was a little premature...Phil surprised me with a getaway to Minneapolis, MN--or more importantly--the Mall of America!!! As most people know, I absolutely LOVE to shop (and buy things, of course) so this was a pretty good second to Washington, DC.


The drive on the way was a lot of fun (at least for the part of it that I was awake!) Phil drove the whole way there...my hero--isn't he cute! (it was like pulling teeth to get him to look at the camera)

While we were in Minnesota, we also saw...

1. The temple,

my cute Phil in front of the temple,

and me in front of the temple...a lot (too much in fact).

Phil wouldn't let me take very many pictures of him, and I am not sure why--he is basically the picture of perfection, and yet he refuses to let me get many pictures of him!

2. Minneapolis,

and cool buildings in Minneapolis...

3. We also drove through St. Paul, and you can probably tell from the pictures, or lack thereof, that we thought St. Paul had a lot less to offer than Minneapolis did, but at least there was this cool bridge! woo. hoo.

The Mall of America was the highlight of the trip (second to the temple of course)...

We saw LOTS of Legos...

Dinos made of legos,

My scary face next to Phil's face, infront of Legos,

Phil's face in front of large lego people made of legos,

and my face in front of pirates' faces made of legos...

We really like Legos!

We also saw the infamous indoor theme park.

Then we got bored with taking pictures, and decided to shop.

We went to so many stores that I actually needed a break from shopping (I never, ever thought that I would see that day). There were lots of stores selling random stuff, and lots of shops I had never been into, and there are still many stores we didn't see...and many, many, many stores at the mall that we never got to go into...on the top of my list were Lacoste and Burberry, which we saw as the mall was closing and I was like--"how'd we miss these?!" I think we only saw about 1/4 of the stores there...hopefully we can go back again:)

On the way home I had a lot of fun...

stalking Philly-poo

loving on Philly-poo
and taking pictures, to amuse my self, while Phil drove...
and enjoyed his blizzard.

Thanks to Phil, it was an incredible vacation! I don't know how he lived through those hours and hours of shopping--but he did it--and he's a champ! Love you kissy:)