Happy 6th Anniversary!

Kevin and I celebrated our 6th anniversary last night. (Thanks BB and Papa for babysitting the kids for us!) We got to go out to dinner...just the two of us. It's probably been 6 months or more since we've done that. It was AWESOME! I love my husband. I'm a very lucky lady :)

Happy 37th Birthday Kevin!!!!

Daddy and his Boos on his birthday

I love this little guy!

2009 Trip to the Lake

We all packed up and headed to the Lake this past weekend. We really did have a good time, despite a few hick-ups/learning experiences. We learned that Caroline and Clayton are not ready to share a room. (They kept riling eachother up and wouldn't go to sleep.) We knew that Caroline wouldn't sleep much in the car, but now know that Clayton won't really either. (They were both up until 10:30 pm on the car ride out there.) We learned that they entertain eachother in the car, but also drive us crazy. They talked/sang/screeched for 2 straight hours in the car. We learned that very little sleep + being almost 3 1/2 = a very disobedient, naughty, and crabby girl. Ugh!

The funniest moment was when the neighbors gave Clayton a jump rope to play with. He took the plastic handles and put them on his nipples. Then he started makig the sound "waa waa waaaah. " No one thought anything of it...except me. I took one look and knew exactly what he was doing. He was pumping his "boobs"! He was imitating me with the breastpump!

Here are pictures from the good parts of the trip...

Baby Mazur

It's a Boy!!!
Here is the latest baby picture of baby-boy-to-be for Meredith and Dan!
We can't wait to meet you little nit! (sometime in November...)

Mr. Bear - 3 months

Happy 3 month birthday Austin!

Visiting baby Grace

Here we are visiting baby Grace. It's amazing how fast they grow. Austin looks like a toddler next to tiny, sweet Grace and he was only 2 1/2 months in this picture!

Welcome home Meredith and Dan!

My sister Meredith and her husband Dan just went on an AMAZING babymoon to Spain and France. Needless to say, they had a fantastic trip!
Here are a few pics...

shitaki mushrooms

We won't be here for Father's Day, so I thought I'd surprise Kevin with an early Father's Day. I ran out at 6:30 this morning and got him a splurgalicious Starbucks latte and a muffin from his favorite bakeshop. I also gave him a poster collage with pictures of all three kids. But what was supposed to be a good morning for him quickly turned sour. Although his office is only about 10 miles away, he had to commute over an hour to a different office this morning (ugh!) Running a little late, as he rushed to the car, he tripped and his caffeinated heaven-in-a-cup that he had barely even sipped was dumped all over the garage floor. Oh...and his nice work pants and shoes. "Shitaki mushrooms!" was exclaimed, only he didn't say "shitaki mushrooms." The three-year-old and almost-two-year-old within earshot thought they'd also try out exclaiming "shitaki mushrooms!" and laughing. Only...they didn't say "shitaki mushrooms" either. Lovely. Now poor Kevin is running even more late, he's covered in coffee, the garage is a mess, and both his toddlers are shouting expletives. This was not how I intended his substitute Father's Day to go. I guess we'll try again on the real Father's Day. :)

Winnetka Children's Fair

My mom and I took all 3 kids to the Winnetka Children's Fair on Friday. The "big kids" had a GREAT time on all the rides and Austin was a trooper as we schlepped him around from ride to ride. My mom took some great photos.

Congratulations Mary Beth and Ben!

Congratulations to my cousin Mary Beth and her husband Ben on the birth of their daughter, Grace Elizabeth!

Austin hanging out...

Caroline in her "uniform" for the past week. (She has either insisted on wearing her new ruffle twirly skirt, leotard, and tights everyday; or has snuck back to her room to change into them if wearing something else.)

Clayton's infectious smile

Caroline "dancing ballet"

The Boos...

Post baby body...

This entry is for my disciplined, exercise-every-day sister.
Since I got pregnant with Caroline, I have put exercise on the back burner (with the exception of running after toddlers and running up and down the stairs to retrieve sippy cups, lovies, lost socks, diapers, etc.) I never have been a "gym person" and have never done yoga or any of that stuff. I used to run and do some sit-ups. That's about it. Well, Austin is going to be baptized in a month, so I tried on a dress I haven't worn in several years that I would like to wear for the ceremony. Um...Right... Poor Kevin tried his best to zip the dang thing. "Is it close to being zipped?" "Um...No. Zipped would be like this..." he said as he pulled both sides together like Scarlet's maid trying to fasten her corset. Not even close.
I think I have some work to do. I dusted off an old Pilates DVD that I bought right before getting pregnant with Caroline and never ended up trying.
Riiiggghhhtttt. Kevin almost peed himself while watching me try to do a push-up and again as I collapsed to the floor while Patty Pilates did another 20 reps of some seemingly easy exercise.
(Again, Meredith - you would have been crying with laughter as I attempted to do these Pilates poses.) Not only am I morbidly inflexible, but also totally uncoordinated and incredibly out of shape. Do I still get credit for trying? Time will tell if I can get on a program to do this at least a few times a week. Will it be in time to get in my dress? Probably not. I did just make red velvet cupcakes after all, and sometimes sugar = sanity!

Lincoln Park Zoo

On Tuesday, BB and I took the kids to the Lincoln Park Zoo. We got to go with Tia Erica and Godsisters Sofia and Eva!

Here they are looking at the farmyard animals (and typical Clayton, more interested in the rocks then what we were there to see!)

mudcups

We had our neighbor Emily over to make "mud cups" (a springtime kid dessert made with chocolate pudding, crushed oreos, and gummy worms.)

Mmmmmm...