Ready? OK!

Miss N, striking a pose

Woah. Seven?

Its really hard to believe. Seven? Seven years have passed since these babies were trying their hardest to get out of my big ole' belly? Yep, sho nuff.

3am-ish this morning, Elliott came into our room, breathing heavy, waiting for me to acknowledge him, and then said, "I hafta puke." Well by all means!! In the midst of him emptying his dinner, he said, "I...I fink.....I don't fink I can go to school to-mow-woah." Poor pumpkin.

They blew out candles in their requested birthday breakfast of cinnamon rolls (poor Ellie hasn't had his) and then Norah got ready for school.

Its funny...just in the past 6 months or so, they sure have their own style. Elliott with his mohawk....


Norah with her accessories du jour (bracelets, headbands worn 80's style, crazy knee socks, non-matching shirts and bottoms, funky shoes)...


And her recent disdain for him :( Although if they are separated for the day, she misses him like crazy and can't wait to see "Ellie". Go figure.

can you see her leaning away from him? the "don't touch me!" look in her face? ugh.

Esprit Petites-Jump from Glee!

Norah got to perform her first pom routine for us last night :) It was awesome. Its very blurry b/c Chris was zoomed in too much, but she's in the back row w/ pigtails.

10 Years.

July 25th. That's the date that my husband and I first hooked up. At a U2 concert. In Madison. It was 1997. We had been friends for a year at this point, but I had known of this guy for many years prior. Our paths just never crossed.

December 10, 1999. That's the night he proposed to me. I surprised him by taking him on a trip to New Orleans. He knew we were going on vacation, but that's all and it wasn't till the last minute. I cleared it with his boss. He didn't know where we were headed until we got to the airport. I had no idea he'd propose. He shocked me with that one. He had gone out with our friend Troy and gotten me a ring when he found out we were taking a trip. He proposed while we were out on a carriage ride in the French Quarter.

October 6, 2000. A Friday at 5pm. The day we tied the knot. It all took place in downtown Milwaukee at the Grain Exchange Room. Its a memory that is still very fresh in my mind and it was all perfect.

3 kids, 3 homes, and 10 years later.....

he still makes me laugh

he's still the crazy (maybe a bit toned down. and that's a real good thing) guy i met.

i still like to hold his hand

The awesome photographer responsible for these photos (and many, many more) can be found at www.robynviningphotography.com.

Wanna Skate?

Miss N asked for a rollerskating party for her 7th birthday. What a blast from the past!!! I tried hard, but I could not find rollerskate or 80's themed party goods. So I went a different direction and did Tiffany & Co. Although the party favors included a coloring book that included 80's themed cartoon coloring pages --boy ones for the boys (like He-Man, Dukes of Hazzard, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Fraggle Rock, etc) and girl ones for the girls (like Rainbow Brite, Fraggle Rock, Smurfette, etc). You'll notice the picture on the coloring book cover page. My initial thought was, "oh! I will find smelly stickers!..." Yeah. Not so much. They are like, $1.75 or more per sticker. And they no longer make them. Why?? Why discontinue such a good thing?? Can we start a movement to bring them back? Why deprive our kids of these cool things!! Anyone? Heather, I know you you have to be with me on this....
Anyway....the party was fun. I think the girls all had fun, despite all the falling down!

laughing while skating

Does anyone remember that scratch-and-sniff sticker? I think it smelled like leather!

Girls Trip!

whistling at pigeons on State Street

On Saturday, Norah and I took a day trip to Chicago to enjoy a few hours at American Girl. She's been looking forward to this for a year now. She carefully chose her girl*, her cat she wanted to get with her gift card, and all the accessories she wanted. We also had her photo taken with her girl and cat in the photo studio and ended the day with a 4pm tea time. What a splendid girly day!!!!

*When she first expressed interest in an AG, she wanted Kirsten. However, Kirsten was retired in 2009. Then she chose Josephina, but after reading 2 books, she decided that perhaps, that wasn't her first choice. She chose Lanie, who is the girl of the year and a lover of the outdoors and animals, because Norah loves animals.

My girl and her girl at tea

You know your baby is growing up when...

... he gets up on a Sunday morning and at 7am, walks roughly 5 blocks to the local bakery/coffee/pizza(at night) shop with a neighbor friend, and brings back a big box o' donuts, including mama's favorite, the cruller.

Wasn't it just yesterday that he was my sweet little Aidie? And now he's almost 9.