"TUTU" cute.

Don't you just love these TUTU's? If you have a little girl, it is a must to have some fun dress-up! They are a great idea for a cute Halloween costume too.

We made these the other night for a craft night at church, they are super easy, so if you want to know how to make them let me know!

Luke Skywalker WANNA BE.

Let's just say Taylor loves Star Wars. Infact when we told him that before he was born we were thinking about naming him Luke, he was very upset and asked if we could change his name. I have lost count as to how many light sabers the kid owns. So you can only imagine he went a little crazy when my friend came over the other day with her new iphone! It makes the same sounds just like the real ones! He was in his own world, jumping around on the bed thinking he was in fact Luke Skywalker. He just makes me laugh! He was all dressed for judo, I couldn't believe some of the moves he was pulling. It makes me happy to see my kids in their imaginary worlds, I just wonder how long this one will last?!

Baby Shoot.

I love photography and I love taking pictures. Since I got my new camera I have been opened up to a whole new world. A few of my friends have asked to me to take their family pictures and so forth. Here are a few I took the other day of my friends baby. Isn't she YUMMY?!

This is the first time I did a baby. But I think they turned out pretty cute...it does help to have beautiful subjects. I am taking my first photgraphy class next month, so I am so excited to learn all the in's and out's of my camera so hopefully I can maybe do this professionally someday???

Pretty in Pink.

I just couldn't resist posting a few pics of Maddie...ice cream dripping from her chin, messy hair and all! I think she is beautiful, and I just love her to pieces...even though she is pretty rotten!

The Magnificent Mile.

I was looking forward to this part of our trip the most!


This is one of my favorite places...Too bad my husband is too cheap to buy me anything there! My best friend Shelby hooked me up, she bought me an awesome ring (a few years ago)!

Of course Maddie and I had to go here. I can't wait to come back when she is a little older.

Maddie was in AWE over all the baby dolls!

What a cutie...with a mouth full of bubble gum!


Getting ready to cross the street to get to the Hershey store!

My cute boy.


No more pictures PLEASE Mom!



And of course we went to the Lego Store, couldn't leave without this picture. If you know Taylor at all he is a LITTLE obsessed with Star Wars!



And you can't go to Chicago without having a TRUE Chicago Dog, well I can, but Dale can't.

Kopps & Jelly Bellies.

The kids had good time at the Jelly Belly Factory in Kenosha. There are only 2 Jelly Belly Factories in the states and now we have been to both of them. The other one is in California, close to where we used to live.
Dale and his sister Dawn with all the munchkins (Dawn watches a 2 and 4 year old, so it was perfect for Maddie, she always had someone to play with!) Taylor was happy too, he shadowed his 13 year old cousin Josh everywhere!
You can't go to Milwaukee and not go to Kopps Custard, it is simply the best! We first went there for lunch...huge hamburgers and onion rings, then walked around the mall for awhile. Then on our way home we stopped for desert...so so DELISH!
Taylor and Josh by the waterfall in the courtyard in front of Kopps. They were anxiously waiting for their food!
Maddie with her mouth full.

8 years ago today...

Navy Pier.

The last few days of our trip we spent down in Chicago. We went with Dale's sister Dawn and her husband Jim, and son Josh. They are great! We are so glad they put up with us for the week, they took such great care of us and the kids. Maddie just loves her "Auntie Dawn!" She still talks about wanting to go to Auntie Dawn's house to play.

Navy Pier was a lot of fun, the weather was perfect! It was fun to see the navy guys walking around in their sailor suits (I don't know what they are really called). The atmosphere was just fun and exciting! Can't wait to go back again!

*as a side note...the picture of Dale and I...we didn't even realize we were in front of "the beer garden" until we looked at the pictures later, but it is the only one we got of us together.

Back to School...Special.

Well first of all it's special because my little boy is now going to school all day, it is kind of sad. When we took him into his class for the first day of school yesterday I got a little choked up and teary eyed. I thought "Why in the world are you getting emotional about Taylor going to first grade?" I have been looking forward to all summer, well maybe not all summer but definitely the last couple of weeks. I guess I just realized he is growing into his own person, and will be influenced by so many other people besides our close Friends and Family. Taylor running off the bus, because he sees I have my camera, and is really beginning to hate me taking pictures of him! I'm glad our neighbor Keagan gave me such a happy smile!

Waiting in line for the bus this morning. Can I say how much I love the fact the bus stop is practically right outside my front door, and I don't have to worry about getting in line with all the rest of the parents to drop him off for school.

Off he goes into the big world all by himself...he will be fine right?!

Up North...part 2

After our visit with Aunt Lynn, Bunk (Lynn's husband), and cousin Derick we headed back down south. We stopped in Manitowoc, WI to see the USS Cobia submarine. Those of you that knew me before I was married know that Cobia is my maiden name, so of course we had to go check out the sub. Taylor loved it...he is now our little sailor!

Maddie got scared just before we were to go on the actual tour of the sub, so instead Maddie and I walked around the museum and played in the water area they had set up for children. I was perfectly fine with that too...I'm sure it was very claustrophobic in there. Dale and Taylor loved it!

After a very fun time up north we went on our way back down to Milwaukee. We spent several more days eating yummy food and spending time with Dale's sister and brother and their families.

Up North...part 1

We started off in Green Bay to pick up Dale's Aunt Lynn so she could take us down to what the cheese heads call "Mecca." We had fun walking around watching all the tailgaters...these people are SERIOUS about football up here! The kids had a fun time playing with their cousin Derick...swimming in his pool and playing in the sand box. Of course...we had to watch the game that night, along with every other person in Green Bay.
See what I mean...these people are all CRAZY about Packer Football!

the willicuties in wisconsin.

We started our vacation in Racine, WI. where Dale grew up. It is a cute little waterfront town along Lake Michigan. We stopped to have lunch at one the best pizza places in the country, at least that's what we think! Then we visited "Grammy M" at the cemetery. We loved the miles of corn fields along the drive from Auntie Dawn's house into Racine...we just had to stop and play in between the corn stalks. We bought fresh picked corn several times while we were there, and that's all we would eat for dinner...so delish! There is just something about the water...breath taking. The kids loved climbing on the big rocks and watching the sail boats come and go.

We had such a great time enjoying the beautiful scenery... the kids wanted to play in the water, but it was way too cold, poor Maddie was shivering just from getting her toes wet. Of course Taylor could care less, and ended up soaked!

This is just the beginning of our journey...so stay tuned for more adventures as we head up north...