Phone Talk

I've been wanting to get on video what you do when you start talking on the phone and today I did. I always think it's so cute how you immediately go back to your room to sit in the recliner. You've watched me have many conversations there I think. :)

Oprah

Today I had so much fun going to the Oprah show. It was her Friday live show. Karrie was so sweet to invite me. We had to be there so early so we had to leave my house at 5:45. We got there in no time. I'm glad there was no traffic. We thought we were going to be super early but then when we got to the studio there was already a line started. So after we go through security and check our purses we headed upstairs for the staging area where we had to sit for about an hour and a half. So it was finally time to go down to the studio and when we get there I see a girl seating everybody in front of us up on the back section. When she got to me and Karrie she asked if we could step to the side and she continued to seat the people behind us. I was confused. I was like are you not going to give us a seat? Then when the "head" lady came over to us our girl said "Do you have a seat for them?" So she said "Yes, will you two follow me." She ends up taking us up to the FRONT ROW. Karrie and I sit down and can't believe that we are sitting in the front row. And not just the front but right smack in the middle. Wow it was so awesome! Later a lady comes and sits next to me and she leans over and asks "Are you guys special?" and we were like "No, are you special?" and she said "NO". Then she asked the same thing to the ladies to other side of her. She said I was a standby and I just thought I'd try to get in a this is where they put me. All of us on the front felt pretty lucky to be sitting there cause we were just regular joes. :) It was funny. I honestly got so nervous. I couldn't believe what was happening. The guests today were Mckenzie Phillips who was skyped in and then her sister Chyna was actually there. Jay Leno was skyped in. He was pretty funny. And then the most dreamy of all Harry Connick Jr. was there and he was dreamy. He was really funny too like during the commercial breaks. We got to go home with his new cd which I LOVE LOVE LOVE. What a day. I was so tired when I got home. I can't believe how much fun I had. Here's a picture of me and Karrie outside the studio.

Apple Holler 2009

It's that time of year again where we go and do all the fun fall activities. This year we started out with heading up to Apple Holler again. We really had fun last year and so we wanted to make sure we made it up there. It was a lot of fun this year with Katelyn being so big now. I can't believe that last year when we went Kate wasn't even a year old yet. Just a baby. She was fun and loved taking a few bites of an apple and then throwing it out and picking another. We might have created a problem though. Today sitting in church I had an apple sliced up for her and she would only take a bite out of one slice before moving on to the next one.


Must have been a sour one

Kate's a big girl now!

Last night was Katelyn's first night in a "big girl" bed. It wasn't as smooth as I would have hoped but it wasn't too bad I guess. We decided to change her crib to a day bed cause she had started climbing out of it during her nap and at night. She's pretty good at it but we thought before there's an accident we should just change it. So I got on video her climbing in and out and of her helping her dad fix her bed.

More Birthday Surprises

So Monday night was another fun night of surprises. My girls surprised me at my house and took me out to dinner. I took my camera and then forgot to take a picture so this is the only one I have of all us.

Anyways they were so sweet. Craig was sweet too. He came home early from work so that I could go out. It was funny seeing Craig trying to keep it a secret all day. He told me in the morning that he was catching the 6:00 train and he wanted the frozen enchiladas that were in the freezer for dinner. It was way too early in the morning so I didn't really give it a second thought. Then he calls later in the afternoon and asks if I am still on for making the enchiladas for him and then tells me that I can't eat after 4. (what?) Then he calls again about 5ish telling me that he wants dinner at 7:30 and to have the house clean and be ready (ready for what?). Well by this point I'd figured out that someone is coming over here and taking me out. So Craig gets home and he tries to throw me off in all these other directions saying it's us going out and we're getting a babysitter. The enchiladas are for her-blah blah blah. :) Ya whatever. So then I say to him "My girls are coming to get me huh". He tried to keep it going like it was just him and the babysitter that were the surprise. Then on the nose at 7:30 here come in my 3 amigos. I was so happy. We went and ate at Bob Chinn's and I ate some yummy halibut and clam chowder. I think it's the best I've ever had. What a great night. I'm so lucky to have these great friends. And so lucky to have a great husband who comes home early to take care of Kate even though he has mounds and mounds of work to do (which he's making up for the rest of this week). Again, what a great birthday! Loves to you all!

Birthday Weekend

So today is my birthday which means I didn't do anything but go to church and be at home. I guess that's how Sunday birthdays go. But that did not stop us from having a great celebration before. :) So Craig had a big surprise for me on Friday. He put so much thought and work into it. He even called the babysitter! So I rode the train down to Chicago Friday afternoon and for my first surprise we went on a Segway Tour. I was so happy. All week I was secretly hoping this is what we were going to do. I always thought it would be a cinch but it's actually a lot harder than it looks. I got the hang of it after about 15 minutes. We had a really small group too which worked out so nice. There was only me and Craig and two foreign guys. We took the tour that takes you around Grant Park and up to Soldier Field and all the museums (Shedd Aquarium, Planetarium, and Field Museum)and where the old airport is. I had no idea there used to be a small airport out there. Our tour guide told us that Mayor Dayley had it torn out in the middle of the night cause he was the only one that wanted to get rid of it and that a couple of men from out of town who were attending conferences at the McCormick center had flown in there and then couldn't leave cause he tore it all up. They had to put their private jets on ships and get them out that way. Isn't that crazy. I learned little facts like that, that I didn't know before. Interesting stuff I know :) Anywho, so my next surprise was dinner and he tried to have me guess but I had no idea cause I like most anything. Well I shouldn't say that. :) I'll eat anything but Thai, Indian, and sushi. So the cab took us to Ron of Japan. Craig knows I LOVE teppanyaki. I guess this is the only teppanyaki place in Chicago (Bennihanna's is gone I guess). My veggies, soup, salad, and filet mignon was delish. We sat with 4 other women who were there celebrating their 50th birthdays. They thought it was funny that we were sitting with them celebrating my 25th birthday cause they are all from out of state and their theme for their big vacation was party like two 25 year olds. They were a little funny! :) They had lots of wine :) So that was my big night. It was so fun. I couldn't stop smiling. Craig is the best. He put so much thought into it and he worked so hard all week so he could leave early. Thanks for the great birthday. Love love love you!!! Here are some pictures from our night.


Beautiful Skyline





Buckingham Fountain




Man with fish





I learned that the fountain behind me of the 5 ladies represents all of the great lakes and the water that falls from them is how each of the lakes fall into each other.

I know you can't see our faces but I thought it was so funny how bright our reflective vests were. :)

Us out at dinner



They brought out this piece of fruit or something with sparklers in it and sang happy birthday to our whole table. Craig didn't get a picture in time with all the spark. Oh well. This is what it looked like at the end. :)




Opening presents


On our way to church

Kate putting in contacts

Labor Day weekend

Craig had Friday and Monday off for the holiday weekend so we took advantage of having him home for a few days. Friday we went down to the city and hung out at Navy Pier and the Children's Museum.









Saturday after a very lovely baptism we attended we headed out to the Morton Arboretum again this time with Craig. Of course Kate had a blast.













We were pretty tired from the two long days we had plus the long day of church that Monday we just relaxed and didn't do much. Great weekend though!