5 Year Anniversary!

Kevin and I just celebrated our 5 Year anniversary! The kids had an overnight with BB and Poppa (grandma and grandpa) and we had a weekend downtown. We toured Millenium Park

and walked along the lakefront. It was a gorgeous day.
Then we dined at Atwood Cafe,

which was very good. It had a nice, cozy ambiance and amazing foccacia bread and bread pudding. We stayed at the Hilton Chicago right on Michigan Avenue. The next morning, we ate at Orange. I don't think I would recommend it for the food. It is perhaps a little too inventive at the expense of actual taste.
The juice, however, was amazing. You can create your own fresh-squeezed juice. Yum!

The two boos

The Lake!

We all traveled to "the lake" with Kevin's family for the first time this summer. We had a ball! Caroline got to go in the boat for the first time and both kids loved playing with their cousins!

scrambled egg yolks

So, babies can't have egg whites until they are one. They do say you can make them scrambled egg yolks. I have three words for those that give that advice - not worth it. They are a MESS. They smear into a yellow paste that is a nightmare to clean up. Sorry buddy, you'll have to wait until August for scrambled eggs again!

Crawling!

Clayton Matthew has FINALLY learned to crawl! I swear - he just took his first few creeps a few days ago, and he is already all over the place and into EVERYTHING. The basement stairs seem to be a big draw. (Lovely.)
As do door hinges (Awesome.) I have to watch his like a HAWK now.
Hello freedom for Clayton. Goodbye freedom for Mama.

The police

So, this morning, the doorbell rang at about 8:30. It was the police. "Someone just made a 9-1-1 call from this residence", the officer said.
I reassured him that everything was fine and apologized for the trouble. And who do you think made the call? Clayton. His favorite "toy" in the house is the phone and he somehow managed to turn it on and dial 9 -1-1.
Yes, my 10 month old is already making crank calls to the police. What am I in for!?!

Haircuts!

Here are my nieces Sarah and Alyssa with their cute new haircuts!

Libertyville Carnival!

On Saturday, Caroline and her cousins, Sarah & Alyssa, went to the Libertyville Carnival. The girls had a really great time!

"I've decided that I'm going to fix your hair, Clayton."

"Umm...I'm not so sure about this..."

"To get the look I want, I'll just dump a cup of water over your head."

"Woah. I don't know if I liked that. "

"Ha ha ha. I love being the BIG sister!"

"Here. I know how to fix it. If I just splash a little more water on it..."

"There. Now it's perfect!"

T-shirts

In their "big sister" and "little brother" T-shirts

Growing with Mr. Bear - 10 months

The breaking out of the baby pool!

Last gymnastics class

Caroline had her last gymnastics class yesterday. She really loves gymnastics now, so I know she will miss it!
somersault
trampoline
trampoline2
rings

Kevin's grandma meets Clayton

More pics from Aunt Meredith & Uncle Dan's visit...