Oops, Kerplump on "Le Butt"

We had a Girl's Vanenture Day! Maya, Mommy, and Grandma took the train to Chicago and went ice skating at Millenium Park. Well, sort of ice skating. As we were putting on our skates, we were chatting with a couple and told them that it was Maya's first time and that I hadn't skated for thirty years. The man said, "you know, it isn't easy". I thought, "it looks easy on tv!". Kind of like McDreamy doing neurosurgery on Grey's, it looks easy on tv. IRL (in real life), NOT.

We still had tons of fun. Lunch was yummmmmy at the Park Grill. I ended up with a new pair of jeans because my "le butt" got very, very wet from contact with the wet ice :)

Another awesome Vanenture Day! No ambulances, success!

More "Red Rug Party"

Red Rug Party

That's what Maya called our Red Carpet party :)

More pics to come - I bought a 8GB high-something-or-other memory card that won't work on my old (only two years!) computer without a separate reader (I'm headed to best buy later). These are from Wayne's camera.

Maya's First Sleepover

Grandma and Grandpa helped us out by staying overnight last night so Wayne and I could enroll Maya in a preschool, Field Station. I can't remember who told me about this one, it was at least a year ago, I was talking to someone about preschools in the area. It's a nature-based program, run by a cooperative of parents. It's located in an old barn in the National Lakeshore. If you're interested, check out www.fieldstationkids.org. They have more kids than the limited number of openings so they hold a first-come basis registration starting at 8:00 am. We heard that the first person in line last year got there at 3:30 am! Sooooo, to make sure Maya was enrolled and partly for the adventure/challenge :) , there we were, in the middle of the night. We got in line a little before 3:30, and we were second in line.

Maya had a blast, with her "BEST SLEEPOVER EVER, GRANDMA". She started out the night in her new princess sleeping bag.

My Little "Posh Lady"

My little "posh lady"!

Dinner at Cafe Elite again.... I tried the baked brie - awesome! - and grilled vegetable salad. We used a restaurant.com gift certificate. If you haven't tried them yet, they're huge bargains. Right now they have a $25 gift certificate for $10 AND then 80% off - so you pay $2 !! You have to watch the restrictions, ie dinner only, or with minimum purchase, etc. but the savings are huge.

The Grandpa and Maya Show. They regularly give us reports that "I AM BEHAVING
and I CAN HAVE DESSERT". Although Maya likes to snitch on Grandpa, "NO, Ed" and "Look, Grandma, look!"

Instructions for Snow Angels

This is how you do it.....

Admire and....

repeat.......

365 Days of Gratitude - Day One

I saw someone doing this on Facebook. Maya and I try to name our favorite thing that happened during the day and / or in our "God Bless" es, we thank God for a specific thing from our day. I'm getting out of the habit of posting on this blog since my camera broke so I thought I'd combine all this into an effort to write my "gratitude" daily.

WARNING! WARNING! More sappy gushing about Maya......

Day One: (has to be the biggest thing!) I am grateful for the precious gift of my daughter. She was building with blocks tonight while I was watching American Idol. She walked up and put her hand on the side of my face, gently pushed it away from facing the tv to facing her block tower and said, "Mama, watch ME!". It was SO sweet. She's started calling me Mama and it sounds so tender. Although sometimes she will say Momma or Mommy fifty times in sixty seconds and it can be a bit, just a teeny bit irritating, I don't think I will ever tire of hearing the words.

One more, just have to add..... I'm grateful for the company and friendliness of women. I went to a Friends and Newcomers meeting this morning where one woman took the time and effort to show us how to make a scrapbook for greeting cards. Everyone was so nice - just a really pleasant morning spent laughing and creating.

Playgroup and Islamorada

We're trying a new playgroup, sponsored by the Friends and Newcomer's club in Valpo. After this week's (our second time), Maya and I went for lunch at Islamorada in the Bass Pro Shop. Moose-riding is fun, but can be a little scary!

Kid's Night At Fazoli's

Fazoli's has become a favorite hang-out. Tuesday's are kid's nights with crafts for the kids and specially priced kids meals.

Valentine's Day!

The week before Valentine's Day, Maya starting asking, "Is company coming over?" and "Are we having a party?". I thought it was a "great idea" (we say that alot) to celebrate Valentine's Day as a day of love instead of limiting it to romantic love. Okay, okay, I was in the mood for a party :) Even though the official day was Saturday, we chose Sunday so that we could combine it with Wayne's lunch with Linda and Dave. On Saturday, Wayne did the traditional Valentine's giving me roses (I LOVE flowers) and a beautiful card. I gave him a card with the song, "Love will keep us together" - the oldie by Captain and Tenille. Aren't those song cards fun?

Maya has been wanting a sleeping bag since before Christmas, so I thought Valentine's Day would be a good time. I found a cute one (on clearance, of course) at Kohl's with the Disney princesses in a nicely made matching tote bag. Partial to the bags, ya know! Cousin Pat sent Maya a package and Aunt Elaine sent a gift bag, so Maya had a mini-Christmas :) It was fun!

Aunt Linda, Uncle Dave, Cousins Jaime, Greg, Jacob and Baby Katherine, Cousins Kim and Alex, Grandma and Grandpa came over to celebrate with us!

Daddy cooking his famous waffles.


The "grumpy-guys"!

Alex opening his belated Christmas present.

Scavenger hunt.

Awwwww, Grandma holding a sleeping Baby Katherine.

Maya and Baby Katherine.

Our trip to Australia

......or not!