Playing at Nonna and Papa's This Weekend

While up north for Taylor's wedding we had some time to play. Watching the trains is quickly becoming the kids favorite thing to do at Nonna and Papa's. They love blowing the whistle and making the smoke puff out.

Jack playing baseball with Aunt Taylor.

Everything is so interesting at Nonna and Papa's, even a giant piece of paper.

Alex striking a pose!

Jack took this picture of my mom and sister. Can you believe it?!?! He loves being a little photographer:)

Announcing Mr. & Mrs. Ryan Karpeles

This weekend we went to Chicago for my sister, Taylor's wedding. Despite the crazy weather (tornado sirens during our pedi/mani appointment and a microburst that tore down tree limbs and knocked over giant potted plants during the rehearsal) on Friday, Saturday turned out to be a beautiful day (although VERY hot) for a wedding!

Getting ready! So handsome! Practicing walking down the aisle. When it came time for the actual performance, Jack was so excited he sprinted down however Alex made it half way down, got excited to see Lindsay and started walking backwards! They were adorable and it was totally worth all the worry when they looked so precious. Mom and Dad watching thier baby all grown up! Me and the beautiful brideDaddy and Daughter Such a fun, but long day!

All tuckered out after a day with no naps! This might be the first time ever that my children have not had their afternoon nap (I'm not anal, just LOVE schedule and routine)!

Look what I made!

Alex has begun to accumulate quite the array of clips, bows, & barrets (sp?) so I made this to hold them. I was quite proud!

WOOHOO, We Saw the Sun Today!

So I feel like every day we've had the chance to go outside this summer has been rainy or cloudy. Finally this afternoon we had some sun so we went outside after naptime. We went on a bike ride/walk around the block. That was a big step for Jack, I've never let him ride his bike all the way around the block because I've been worried he'd just get tired and stop and then I'd be stuck with two kids a bike and a stroller to carry home! He was a trooper and even though he did say "Mommy me tired" when we got to the small hill on our street, he made it! So after all that work we came home and enjoyed popsicles! This is Alex's first popsicle! I think it's going to be yummy:)Not a fan!

Party Weekend

This weekend we headed up north again for a lot of fun. I started off Friday night with my sister's bachelorette party. We had an awesome dinner at PF Changs and then went to a comedy club. Can't believe just one more week and my sister will be married!

On Saturday we hung out with my parents all day. Jack loves making breakfast with Nona and Papa.

Jeremy teaching the kids to play bags, well the kid version anyway!Then Chris and Lindsay came over to hang out on the patio. Alex loves playing with Lindsay in the backyard. Relaxing with Papa Jack so proud of the log houses he built! (I used to do this very same thing with these very same lincoln logs when I was a kid!) On Saturday night Jeremy and I went to my high school reunion. It was so much fun to catch up with everybody and have a night out.When we got home for our weekend up north we went to our friend Kate's 1st birthday party. The kids had so much fun playing with their friends and eating yummy food at the park. It was a great ending to a great weekend!Fun on the playground Party Ready, even though I look a bit sad! Jack and Emily, cute little monkeys! Just another reminder how much we'll miss our friends in Bloomington:(

Out and About in Downtown Bloomington

Today mom's morning at the park didn't work out b/c of all the rain, but we did manage to get out of the house for lunch on the square in Bloomington. Here are Jack an Emily sitting so nicely, after this they did quite the little dance show for those eating lunch!

Stacey brushing up on babies:) A few minutes after this pic Brayden was nice enough to remind her about the spit up too! (Doesn't Brayden look so much like Jack when he was a baby.)

Look at our cookies! Yummy:)

Party Day!

Our summer vacation started out with a bang and a very busy day. We had two parties! We began the morning celebrating Emmalee's 2nd Birthday with our friends at the Children's Discovery Museum in town. The kids had a great time and were all tuckered out
Alex is ready for the party.

Jack working hard to make a lot of noise! Not too unusual!

So many fun things to play with. Just chillin at the museum. All tuckered out and relaxing with Nell!

Jack and Zach playing in the maze. Of course Jack got up but got scared, thankfully Zach was there to help him down! Emmalee (the birthday girl) and her mommy! Our second party this weekend was super fun but a little sad. Ginnell threw us a going away party at her home. I feel so lucky to have friends that care so much, leaving them is hard. We had a great time saying our official goodbyes, even though I'm sure we'll see everyone before we leave at the end of June!

Jack and Emily playing. They are so cute, they are such good friends and spend so much time together they are like brother and sister - play, cry, hug, play cry, hug! Jack has learned to say lots of sorries!

Ginnell and I, not sure what I'll do with out her:(

Jeremy relaxing at the party.All the moms hangin out with the kids! Alex and Aubrey, they're such good friends! Alex playing with Travis (Ginnell's husband), he's such a natural! Emily enjoying her cupcake! Looks yummy It was a great day because we got to spend it with such great friends! Thanks everyone for making our life here in Bloomington so full and happy, we will miss you!

Dora LIVE!

On Wednesday night Jack and I went out to eat and to see the Dora show with some friends. It was a great time. Jack had fun eating with Emily and Katherine. Then we went to Dora. Jack and Emily so excited to see each other (after like 10 minutes apart)! The Dora stage (after this pic they asked me to put my camera away!) So many smiles for Dora and Diego. The kids had so much fun singing along with Dora and recognizing all their favorite characters! It was so neat to watch Jack's reaction to the show. At intermission Jack would not even leave his seat because they said that Diego was coming on next. I tried to get him to walk around with his friends, but no way! Oooh! Dora is so cool! I was so nervous about keeping Jack up late, the show practically started at his bedtime, but he did great. Although he did start looking quite tired by the end. Jack had so much fun singing and laughing with Dora. It was so darn cute!