Monday, June 16th

Aunt Wendy offered to watch the kids while Jason and myself went to the Cheesecake Factory for our last day of vacation. The kids and Wendy walked to feed the fish and then they walked to Curves to say hello to Wendy's friends again. They finished up by going to another park to swing. By the time that we were back Wendy had done all that and had both kids down for a nap. She is GOOD!
After the kids woke up from their naps they played alot while Jason and I packed up our things. This is a cow that Karsten gave to Aunt Wendy one year for her birthday and the kids thought it was pretty neat.

Aunt Wendy and Uncle Laurel have lots of fun toys to play with.
Counting pumpkins with Aunt Wendy



Big Boy pulling the wagon

This cow is very special to Aunt Wendy, it was in the bouquet at Grandma Ada Norgaards funeral from the Great Grandchildren. Ada Grace was giving the cow some loving.
Talking with her hands to Daddy
Giving the cow to Daddy
Trying to get Ethan to love on the cow...he doesn't cooperate as nicely as his sister for pictures sake!

June 15th

I CANNOT believe I almost forgot to post this picture! What an important part of my daughter's life! She is eating her first carmel roll on Sunday morning before church! She REALLY REALLY liked it! Thanks to Aunt Wendy for ALL the wonderful food that she fed us while we were there! I have used most of the recipes at least once and the ones I have not used I will be using this week!

Mommy's Little Helper!

Ada Grace is really into "helping" or doing whatever Mommy is doing around the house. She like to help sweep, so I bought her the little broom and dust pan so she can help.
Ethan like to get in the way when Sissy is trying to work!
A new task for Ada Grace was setting the table. She is always coming up to be while I'm in the kitchen and saying "help" and so today I thought I would let her try setting the table...or at least putting the dishes on the table.
I'd say she did pretty well, considering she is still pretty short!

A Great Day to Celebrate!

Happy Birthday to Sara Johnson & Teagan Grenz today!

Happy Anniversary to Aaron & Nikki Grenz today!

Congratulations to Mary & Tyrel, Laura & Andrew, and Justin & Mirista as they will be getting married today!

Wish I could celebrate with each one of you!

I'm excited!

We are really getting time with the Grenz family these days! My cousin Aaron, Laurel & Wendy's son, will be stopping by today. They have been on vacation in Colorado (I believe) and are making our house a stop on their way (kind of) home. Jason has to work, so he will miss out...but the kids and I cleared our schedule so we could spend some time with Aaron, Nikki, and their kids. We'll have to see if I remember to break out the camera so I can maybe post some pictures.

Now, Micah & Gretchen...when do we get to see you?

Sunday, June 15th

Sunday we went with Wendy and Laurel to their church,Tabernacle Baptist Church. We met some wonderful people that we enjoyed talking with SO much! Jason and Pastor Black hit it off, they talked and talked. We ended up going out for lunch with the Black family and then they were invited back to my Aunt and Uncles for dessert afterward! We spent all day with them and could have spent more time! It is wonderful when the Lord brings people like the Blacks into our lives, we are truly blessed to have gotten to know you! Come visit us sometime!

Navy Pier, June 14th

One of the things that I really wanted to do was spend time at Navy Pier. I was able to go the in college with one of the "trips" I won for different things while at HAC, but due to being in a group we didn't get to do everything each of us wanted to do. So, I wanted to go back! We walked all around the outside of the pier.
Chicago Skyline from the point.
My wonderful Uncle Laurel and Aunt Wendy!
I really like this picture.
Just had to take a picture of this, since we used to live in Huron South Dakota. I also saw that one of the streets downtown Chicago was Huron!
A fun looking boat.
You may wonder the purpose of this very random picture, but I want you to focus on the far right of the picture and see the woman in the black dress that is just stepping out of my camera view. I really think that was her real hair, no wig! It cracked me up.
The kids have their shades while they are enjoying their cool new ride!

Ada Grace and Mommy
Ada Grace really like the water.
Ethan and Daddy
We did alot of walking the day we went downtown. Uncle Laurel said that if we walked in straight lines that it was about 8 1/2 - 9 miles. Of course we didn't walk in straight lines, we checked out a few stores on the Magnificent Mile (Nike Town), we ate, and we back tracked a little bit here and there. I think the kids got a little tired out...and all they did was ride!

We couldn't resist stopping to take this picture, they were both asleep with their heads turned into each other and they are HOLDING HANDS! This is very characteristic of them, I have a picture from January 07 (the kids were 3 months and a few weeks old) and they are holding hands. When they are tired they still try to at least be touching.

"The Bean", June 14th

Jason just really wanted me to take this picture of the single cloud in between the buildings. I didn't get the camera out fast enough before it started to duck behind the one, but it did turn out a pretty picture!
A new addition to Millenium Park is this huge silver bean! It is very interesting how at different places around the bean you see the Chicago skyline in different views.

There was a wedding party taking their pictures in front of the bean when we were there, and me being who I am (a hopeless romantic that LOVES weddings) had to take a picture. I really liked the Chocolate Brown dresses with the Key Lime sash.
It was a pretty fun sight.

Sears Tower, June 14th

Some of the beautiful views from the 103rd floor in the Sears Tower. It was very clear the day that we were there, much more clear than when I was there before. Jason enjoyed this, his first time up in the Tower.

I love all the white dots (boats)...these pictures just make me smile.

And of course we had to take one looking up after we were at the top!

Kids, June 14th

While Jason and I went to the Sears Tower the kids hung out with Uncle Laurel and Aunt Wendy. Do you see Ada Grace waving at the bikes...she loves bikes!
Apparetnly the kids thought this was pretty cool, you will have to ask Aunt Wendy what it is though ~ cause I do not know!
After they walked around for a while they went across from the Sears Tower so we could see them when we came out (we didn't.) Anyway, the kids made a new friend!
I figure this little girl my be right around Ada Grace's age.

I was planning on putting the pictures from the Sears Tower on with these, but for some reason Blogger isn't allowing any more pictures. Maybe later in the day when I don't have to be some where! Enjoy

It's your birthday~

Happy Birthday

Kaylee Johnson is 7 today

Jeremy Hartung is 34 today

Also having birthdays are Stan S and Adam Fritz.

Happy Anniversary to Travis and Krissy Fossing today!

Just so you all know, today is the best day to have a birthday on...so you are all VERY SPECIAL!

The Train, Saturday June 14th

We took the train downtown and Ethan loved it! This is a picture of the inside of Union Station.
Ada Grace wasn't so sure of the train.
He just kept looking out in aw.
Almost the entire 45 minute trip he watched!
This is my wonderful Uncle Laurel and Aunt Wendy...the kids loved spending time with them. (And so did we!)