some catch-up pics

a few "catch-up" photos from the last few busy, busy weeks...Enjoy!

jack and his chocolate-zucchini cake - recipe from Great Grandma Cowden!

we think Jack has perfect hat hair...those blonde curls are adorable sticking out...

Dora and Spiderman treats at the Air & Water Show...a really fun afternoon

just a little reading during dinner...Emma is obsessed with "Georgie," Dora, and The Bearenstain Bears at the moment - "Bear! Bear!"

2 of Emma's favorite things - sitting on the island and licking the cream cheese off her bagel

sweet kisses when Daddy gets home from work

Fun trip to the Aquarium when Aunt Kitten was in town for a week!

our beautiful city

love jack's pose

snuggles in their new sleeping bags from Aunt Kitten

We had such a blast when she was here - she is AWESOME!

just a little break...

just taking a little blogging break...trying to enjoy a few quiet moments now that our summer of weddings and road trips is OFFICIALLY OVER!

back to programming later this week...

**Emma is getting her 4 back molars = brutal.

best day

just a quick post to say that I am already having the best day...

1. I picked my #1 little love up from his Grammy last night - we were all so happy to see his handsome little face after a week away! (See pic documenting the bro/sis reunion - ADORABLE)

2. I got a full 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep last night - Emma slept until 7:30am!

3. I am already showered and dressed, which is a feat in our house on the weekends!

4. Jack is at swim lessons with Daddy, and Emma is sleeping so I have already made 2 batches of hummus, made our bed, cleaned our bathroom, done dishes, folded 2 loads of laundry and am now catching up on some blog reading while drinking my Vanilla Caramel coffee standing in the kitchen (my favorite place to be online).

5. Everything is done for the week! The home is CLEAN (not my own doing, I LOVE YOU, Ira!), meals are planned and prepped, laundry is DONE, outfits are chosen - now we just get to have FUN the rest of the day!

6. I'm making a Chocolate Zucchini Cake today - my FAVORITE recipe from my Grandma (okay, 2nd behind her Chicken & Noodles...)

7. Off to the Chicago Air & Water show we go with a picnic lunch!

Awesome Day!

emmy time

Jack is spending this week split between my Dad & Mom in Indiana, so we are enjoying precious Emmy time!

Last night we went to "Food Truck Tuesday" with Katie & Pete - it was a fun way to eat dinner and Emma loved playing and having all the attention on herself...and not many 16 month olds get to enjoy a $4 cupcake while sitting next to the Apple store in the middle of a big city. So fun!

my heart

Our HeartBreaker

Our Personality Plus

Can you believe they are MINE? :-)
Love Them!

my little foodie

Jack and I had a very fun Mommy/Jack date on Saturday morning - we took a cooking class and made Broccoli Cheddar Mac 'n Cheese! It was SOOO fun and Jack really enjoyed it, we will definetly do it again.

He told the instructor that his favorite food was Broccoli - what a kiss-up!

Aunt Kitten is here for the week and we have already had so much fun! She is the BEST!

can't stand the cuteness!

First Pigtails!

I am seriously giddy with excitement and went out and "upgraded" her to bigger bows on Saturday. I am obsessed - Does it GET any cuter?

my sunshine

purse, princess cell phone, pink baby stroller - what else does a girl need?

Jack's first "official" swim lesson - amazing. seriously.

We went to the beach afterwards and he was SWIMMING through the waves on his own. awesome.

bro/sis hugs - special.

daddy and son playing baseball on the beach.

this makes mommy happy.

fresh peach on the beach with an amazing backdrop. perfection!

i forget that we live blocks from Lake Michigan! fun afternoon of beachtime fun!

the girl loves dips just like her momma. :-)

emma won at Words with Friends! :-)