Did you say... SLEEP?!

Sleep is a bad word to Susie... I can't get her to take naps anymore... and she tries her best to stay up as late as she can at night (i.e. "I'm not tired though!", "I need to play with Ariel first.", "But, mommy, I'm SO hungry!"... and on and on, etc.)
The other night she began running around her bed (mattress... on the floor) when I was trying to get her ready for bed. I thought I would just see how long she could last before loosing energy.... well, that was dumb... about 20 minutes later she was still full gusto. Oh, how I wish I could bottle some of that energy up for myself!

September Travels

Just the kids and I traveled home this past September, Dave had to stay back for school. The visit was just in time for my mom's store (Secret Haven) Fall Open House... which, is always AMAZING! We also enjoyed a day at the Zoo with Dorothy, my mother-in-law, and a Halloween party at my folks house.

Susie's always happy when we get to visit Bestemor!

Susie and Bestemor playing catch.Lennon loved Ode!

Secret Haven's Open-house

My mom asks her employees and customers to dress-up for her open-house. The costumes are always so fun... and it always shocks us that so many people come completely decked-out! Just too much fun. The night before, I drew a sketch for a costume to make and wear to the open-house. Above are my two seamstresses, my mama and her friend Maria (who happened to come over while we were busy sewing... we forced her to help) :)!This is how my costume looked when it was done. (I'm a "Halloween-ie Ballerin-ie")My mom and I. My mom made her costume too... there's a hula-hoop in that skirt of hers!My mom doesn't miss a detail... look at that toothy BLING!My sister-in-law, Christa and I. Christa's face was PURE glitter! (She looked like how S. Meyer explains Edward's skin to appear in the sunlight... but, perhaps more rainbow hued!)

Little America

We took Christa out to breakfast for her birthday. 5 adults, 9 rambunctious kids, and one unhappy waitress at Little America. Crazy good time!

Zoo Day

Dorothy took Susie, Robbie Lennon, and I to the Hogle Zoo one day.

Cute baby elephant.

I loved these lion drinking fountains when I was younger. I couldn't believe they were still in working order.

Susie roaring!

Susie, Dorothy, and Lennon on a train ride.

Susie's sitting on a huge elephant statue that played music, and shot air from it's trunk... I think Susie enjoyed this even more than the animals at the zoo!

Dorothy was so nice to take Susie on the Merry-go-round several times. It was the cutest merry-go-round I've seen.

Susie kept choosing the strangest animals to ride... the above picture shows her on a preying mantis.

Halloween Party

My mom with Lennon.

Can anyone guess who Lennon is?...

... Harry Potter! (This was a quick improvise)

Grace and Susie venturing around.

Tinker Bell Susie.

My parents had a way fun treasure hunt for the kids. These next few pictures are of the kids going from clue to clue.

Malia looking through her found treasure. Each grandchild got a Halloween bucket full of fun toys and goodies.My dad, Lennon, Nick, Ava, and half of Sadie Joy.Cousins: Sophie, Malia, Lennon, Chicken Pearl, Tinker Bell Susie, Grace holding Ava, Builder Aaron Jr., and Car Isaac.

We enjoyed lots of fun with our trip home! My flight back to Chicago, with my two kids, was quite the contrast! First, our flight was delayed, then Susie decided it would be fun to run away from me... so, I left our carry-on luggage unattended (which 'they' remind you not to do), picked Lennon up and started a mad dash to retrieve my wild child. Somehow she got out of site and my heart was racing. A few terminals down, I saw an airline worker with a confused look on her face. She was looking down one of those accordion-like hallways which lead to a plane. I asked, "Did a child go down there?" All she did was shake her head yes, while giving me a look that said, what kind of mother are you? I ran down the bouncy hallway to find Susie in line with the other travelers (boarding a plane headed to Canada)! I found her... but, that was not the end of my traveling troubles... oh no.... Susie decided to become a wet noodle, to pretend that her bones were made of rubber, so I had to drag her (while holding Lennon) back to our luggage and the correct terminal.
Finally when we made it on the right plane, with our bags safely stored away, and into our seats things began to calm down. Until... Lennon threw up all over me, then diarrhea-ed out of his diaper. Of course I didn't have an extra change of clothes for him, so he flew home in his birthday suit (plus diaper). Oh, man!
Well, somehow we made it back to Chicago alive... but, just barely. :)

Susie's First Day of School

Susie started preschool this past September. She was so excited to get to go to school "like Daddy." We felt like she was more than ready for the school scene... and I was ready for her to go too. :) Here are just some of the pictures I took of Susie before she headed off to her first day of school!She conveniently spilt water on her skirt before my photo shoot of her! Little stinkbug!

This picture (above) shows well her excitement, yet a tinge of an unsure expression on her face... excited, but a little nervous about the unknown. On our drive to her first day of school she said to me, "I'll never see Daddy again." It about broke my heart! She must have been thinking that I was going to drop her off and that was it, goodbye! I explained to her that she would be at school for just a little part of the day, then I would pick her up and bring her back home with our family. She parroted back my reassuring words to make sure she had heard right... and when I confirmed the words, she smiled.

Susie has LOVED school. She is learning and experiencing much. I am so proud of my sweet preschooler!

To: Trish-the-Dish...

My friend Trish flew out to visit for a few days this past September. It almost feels like she never came at all, because it went by SO fast... we just had SO much fun with her and her sweet Laird!

Lincoln Park Zoo

We drove straight to Lincoln Park Zoo after she landed. This is Laird, Trish, and half of Susie looking at some kangaroos.Checking out the penguins.

Shedd Aquarium, Millennium Park, the City...

The Shedd is always a site to see. The kids loved it... and us adults did too (except the part where Susie ran away from me, and put me into a frantic search for her, argh!). :)
Lennon wanted to join in with the 'big' kids.
Laird and Susie playing with some sea creatures. Poor Laird was so sweet the whole trip, and Susie was often not-so-sweet to him... yet, soon after he left she cried about wanting to play with Laird again!
Eating lunch as the dolphins swam by... pretty cool.
This is a crazy looking sea-horse!
Laird and Sus.
Susie's favorite part about our Shedd trip was getting dressed up as a penguin. Here she is sitting so protectively on a penguin egg...... but, soon she was trying to eat the very egg she had been trying to protect.
Trish, Me, Susie, Lennon, and half of Laird on the left. Love this huge American Gothic statue.

Laird standing next to one of the two water towers in millennium park.Susie splashing around the water display.

Our day in the city was a ton of fun, but crazy! We walked a million miles up and down and around the city, we carried strollers (loaded with children) up flights of stairs (eventually with some help from strangers), and somehow made it to most of our desired destinations! A day to remember!

Lake Michigan

One of my favorite parts of where we live... Lake Michigan. It was a beautiful day to show off the massive lake to a great friend. Susie played in the water even though it was freezing!

Lennon enjoying his sandy Cheerios! Trish and Laird watching the waves.

White Sox

Trish took us to a White Sox game... SO SO NICE! It was the highlight of her visit for me! We had such a great time... and there was even fireworks afterward!
Susie and Laird shared a seat... they did awesome.Yum, Laird.

Watching the fireworks. It was the best firework show I have ever seen... they choreographed it all to music.

Trish and Laird watching the show.

Trish and I after the game.


What a great visit from a great friend... lots of memories made to laugh over (car seats, my lack of directions for leaving the city, mistaking Soldier Field for the White Sox stadium, Shedd wristband....). Thanks for coming, Trish! It was way too much fun!