Chicago

Jeff and I fell in love.  Not with each other (that's already been done).  Not with Avery (that's already been done, too).  We fell in love with a little place called Chicago!   I don't know where it would fall on my list of favorite cities, but let's just say it is up there with Paris, Rome, San Francisco and Boston. What can I say?  I love bustling, exciting and cultural cities...and Chicago embodied all of this.

From the gorgeous weather to the upgraded suite (we were chosen as the guest of the day - no idea, but I'll take it), the trip was perfect and we look forward to going back!

Not even out of the airport yet and we're already crazy excited.

Night # 1 cocktails...I love my dirty martinis!

Creepy, but breathtaking John Hancock building...

Night on the town.  Hey, Mr. GQ, you're a handsome little devil.

Beautiful, peaceful park during a run.

We happened upon Jay Cutler doing an ESPN radio show on Michigan Avenue.  Goooo Bears Patriots!

If you're ever in Chicago by Wrigley you owe it to yourself to go to Luckys.

I was just as obsessed with my gargantuan veggie sandwich.  Hands down, one of our best meals in Chicago...maybe ever.  No joke.  The Simpsons don't kid about food.

French fries, amazing coleslaw and the best white bread ever.  All staples of every sandwich.  Thank you, Man vs. Food for turning us onto Luckys!

Private tour of Wrigley stadium.  Gooooo Cubs Red Sox!

The door leading to the field.  "Beat up" is a nice term.

They even let us play in the dugout.

Oh, you know.  The Bean.

Beautiful city views on our bike ride.

How could you not fall in love?!

Top of the John Hancock building.  Way too high for us.  One drink, one photo and we were out.

Architectural tour.  Worst part: the ugly Trump tower.  Best part: everything else.

Last night in town...booo hooo!

We missed Avery so much while in Chicago, but she was in great hands with both sets of grandparents.  They get a gold star x 1,000 for taking care of her while she fought flu #1 of the season.  (If anyone is keeping track we are currently on flu #3.   Flu #2 was last week's stomach "virus" that knocked down seven people in our family.  Awful, painfully awful.  This is going to be a loooong season.)

Despite fevers and such, I think she managed to have fun while we were gone.

Ralph's has the best toys.  =)

Mom and Dad who?

FPT

Avery meeting baby Cole.  I wish I had an explanation for her face, but I don't.  She's two and a little odd.

Ghosts, Goblins and Ladybugs - Oh My!

Three words. Sour.  Patch.  Kids.

As we all know, Avery loves sweets.  After Halloween 2012, we can add sour sweets to her obsession.  After trick or treating Jeff and Avery laid out all of her candy to sort through and pick a few to eat that night.  She kept telling us she wanted to eat Sour Patch Kids (eye catching packaging - bravo!).  We kept telling her she wouldn't like them.  On and on in typical toddler fashion.  Finally, Jeff gave in (I mean twist his arm if he had to eat them if she decided she didn't like them!).  To make a short story shorter...she is now Fan #1 of those tiny pieces of sour Heaven. 

Halloween was awesome.  Everyone had been getting her excited for Halloween, so by the time Halloween was here she was dancing around giddy with visions of candy, friends, candy, trick or treating, candy and costumes in her head.  Cindy spent the day with her and said she kept up the same enthusiasm ALL day.  Needless to say, we were out in the street, costume on, dancing around and ready to party with all the other neighborhood kids at 5:15 p.m., roughly 45 entertaining minutes before we started asking everyone for their treats.

Here are some pictures from Halloween 2012...

Ladybug, ladybug, look at you!

 

Everyone in the Halloween spirit?!

Blurry, sorry.  But, look at the littles...and note the second ladybug!

Time to start the real fun!

She said very sweetly "trick or treat," took one candy and said "thank you." Yes, of course, we had to prompt her - but, she caught on!

Can't get enough of this bug o' mine.

Happy Halloween!

Getting down to business and discussing their candy options.

In preparation for Halloween festivities we went to the pumpkin patch.  Jeff and I have been going to this same patch for four years now. It's local, fun, they have great pumpkins and sometimes puppies.  Yes, puppies.  Golden Retrievers, in fact. 

Avery and the Stone'ster.

I just like this one of Avery's hair...

Throw the toddler in the wagon for a photo.  Clearly, she'd rather eat hay.

A little bit country, this one.

This is the best we could do of the three kiddos.  Ha!

As you can see, fall has been great so far.   Oh wait, what's that Mother Nature?  It's going to be in the 80's again tomorrow?  Ugh.  At times like this (in November) I wish I lived in Colorado.

FPT

She pretty much hated the patch and was screaming to leave.  Poor kid.

"I love..."

"JUUUUIICCCEEE!"

Yes, it's true. The first time my daughter said the word "love" it was in regards to apple juice. If it wasn't so crazy hilarious I would have been seriously offended.  

Avery drinks milk or water 90% of the time. It's only when we eat out, go to party or have a treat with Grandma and Papa that Avery is allowed to indulge her apparent love for the sweet juice.  

For a treat one night after dinner last week we gave her a small cup of apple juice. She took one sip, looked up as if she saw Santa Claus and Elmo walking though the front door and screamed "I LOOOVE JJJUUUIIICCCEEE!" 

Never once has she said anything like this, so her extremely enthusiastic "love" reference had us rolling on the floor.  

You know what else has us rolling on the floor? Avery's mad jump roping skills. 

FVT

Coronado

Have I ever mentioned how lucky I feel to have such generous, loving, fun and active in-laws?  Well, if I haven't, here it goes..."I feel so lucky to have such generous, loving, fun and active in-laws!"

Jeff's parents took the family to Coronado for the weekend.  It was a perfect mini-staycay and I know we all wish we could still be there.  We spent hours in the pool, hanging out, eating good food, going on walks and exploring the hotel.  The cherry on top was Uncle Fred, Uncle Brennan, Aunite Moosh and Cousin Helen visiting with us on Saturday and having a mini birthday celebration for Avery (I swear - that's the last one!).  Here are some pics from the weekend:

Lounging by the pool.  That's my girl!

New love for Avery...bike riding!

Thank you, Vanderveens, for letting us borrow the bike seat.  We're getting one this weekend!

Cousin Helen - what a happy baby!

Balloons and another cupcake.  She's so lucky.

Photo shoot with Uncle Fred.

Priceless.

Uncle Pat, Jeff, Uncle Fred (the fab family photographer), Wayne, GramCin, Auntie Moosh & Cousin Helen, Uncle Brennan...and of course, Avery on her way out of the photo.

It was a wonderful weekend spending time with family that we love so much!

FPT

"Ummm, Dad...  How do I say this?  I think you're a wee bit too big for this slide."

Happy Birthday, Dear Avery...

…happy birthday to you!

Like I've said in years past (well, technically just one so far...), Avery’s birthday celebrations have been a whirlwind of fun.

Here’s what we’ve been up to!

The weekend before Avery’s birthday we made a point to spend some quality time together as a family and focus on the wee little one.  And, what better way to do that than to take advantage of this beautiful summer weather?!

Beach babes!

Afternoon activity - pool time with the pool babes!

Our special "birthday event" involved the three of us trekking up to Irvine to visit Pretend City Children’s Museum…and OMG – best destination ever!  Pretend City is a magical place for children featuring a kid-size interactive “town” which includes a grocery store, restaurant, house, garden, bank, performing arts stage and town center among others. Needless to say, Avery had a blast and didn't want to leave.  And, in all honesty, neither did we!

Cutest fire woman this side of the Rockies.

She loved the grocery store.

Liked loved it.

Pretty much her favorite place...

Here she is making a sandwich at Daphne's Greek Cafe.  Ha!

On Avery's actual birthday, we woke her up with kisses, balloons and a few gifts...oh, and a beautifully horrendous, but heartfelt rendition of "Happy Birthday."  (You're lying if you say you can hold a note at 7:00 a.m.)  After a full workday (booooo for working on birthdays) my parents came over for cake with the birthday girl. 

You're two!!

Letting Papa do the work on her new tricycle.

Our silly birthday girl!

Happy birthday, beautiful!

FPT

Totally cake wasted.