We've been in our new house for a month already!  Everything is unpacked but we are still organizing and trying to figure out how we are going to decorate.  Should we paint?  What colors and decor should we go with?  It's going to be a slow process until we have the house completely done but I'm hoping we get there someday!  Maybe by the time the kids are in high school :)

They love to play outside but it's been so hot again lately that we don't stay out too long.

Alexis drove Andrew down the sidewalk today in the Jeep.  We were about 4 houses away when she decided she didn't want to drive it anymore.  So there I was, bent over, in a dress, pushing the jeep back to the house in 95 degree heat!  By the time we got back I was dripping in sweat and quite upset!  Now that I think back on it, I should have just jumped in and drove it back instead of pushing it! 

I'm not sure why they like to play in the bathroom!  

Tonight Alexis decided she didn't want to wear a diaper and she put her shorts on with nothing underneath.  My mom said she wouldn't like it when she had wet pants and pee down her leg..... well, I wish that was the case.  She said "uh oh" but then it didn't bother her at all!  After I cleaned up the floor and had to throw away a book, it was almost bedtime and I wasn't feeling the patience to try it again.... maybe tomorrow!

Andrew loves his big sister!  He does everything she does and loves to give her kisses!!

After falling on a toy today, Alexis might have her first black eye.... I'm anxious to see what it looks like in the morning.  Before bed it was swollen and starting to bruise :(

Pretty girl!!!

(the only way I could get her to smile was turn the camera around so that she could see herself and then take a picture)

Wouldn't it be nice if I could potty train them at the same time?!?

Taking a break while out shopping!

We were looking around for a pair of shoes for Andrew.  Alexis found these and kept asking to "buy these?"  They light up and she loves it!

This is how Andrew felt about his new shoes...   poor guy!

Alexis's 1st time eating Tapas

It was so hot out today and I couldn't find their blow up swimming pool so we brought in their floats and they pretended to swim....  it was a good idea because it provided them hours of entertainment!

All About Alexis

My little girl is growing up!!  

We went outside early this morning and played before it got too hot.  I am so jealous of her tan... she's waaaay darker than I am.  As she was sitting on the front steps eating her sucker, she kept saying, "Yamaw (Grandma) got this."  She amazes me how she remembers everything!  

I love when we lay in her bed at night and she just talks and talks.  It's usually about things that happened throughout the day.  But sometimes it's about something that happened weeks ago!

We haven't really started potty training yet but she is very aware of the potty, loves to sit on it but hasn't actually used it since we moved.  I don't know why I'm dreading doing it so much.   

She loves to sing and dance.  Some of her favorite songs to sing are: "Good Things" by BoDeans, "Millionaire" by Jake Maurer and "I Like It" by Enrique Iglesias.  

She loves baths and brushing her teeth.  Auntie Kristine taught her to sing the ABC's when she washes her hands so now she does it every single time.  She getting really good at puzzles and loves to play the matching game with cards.  She is inconsistent with her colors... sometimes she knows everyone and sometimes she gets them all wrong.   

She calls me "Tami" about 90% of the time.  I'm not sure why but I am so used to it now that I don't even notice.  She calls Albert by his name too.  She's polite and says please and thank-you frequently.  Most of the time, she is very sweet and loving but like any 2 year old, I think, can throw one heck of a tantrum!  About 2-3 times per week, she has to sit in time out.

She sleeps about 10-12 hours every night, but wakes up in the night and either insists Albert goes and lays with her in her bed or she crawls in our bed.  Sometimes I don't even know she's there until I roll over and she's hogging my pillow!!  She takes an afternoon nap lasting between 2-3 hours.  I don't know at what age kids stop taking naps, but I hope it's not for awhile!!

She loves playing with other kids but is very shy and it takes her about a half an hour to warm up.  I've seen a lot of kids in our new neighborhood so I hope she can make some good friends!

Do I have something on my face??

Meeting Baby Olivia

A little over a week ago, some of our good friends from Texas came to visit and we got to meet their precious little girl, Olivia!  

 We went out for lunch at Gino's East for some deep dish pizza!

Isn't she beautiful?!

We cooled off at Millennium Park... the kids had a blast!  

Alexis went there once last year but this was Andrew's first time and he loved it!!

Baby Olivia was full of smiles!

on a bus tour with Auntie

I don't have any pictures but Albert, Alexis and Auntie Kristine went with Ferdinand, Mary Kim and Olivia to the Taste of Chicago.  Here they are checking out Buckingham Fountain.

 checking out the architecture with Uncle Bong Bong

We went to Wrigleyville to watch a Cubs game!

Lolo, Lola and Auntie Kristine watched the kids for us-- I was so excited to be kid-free for a couple of hours and enjoy the game.  It was hot and sunny and we were enjoying our hot dogs and beer before the game started, when suddenly it became cloudy and it started to rain!  We had to take shelter underneath the stands because it was raining sooo hard and after an hour or so we drove back home :(  It was so crazy-- there was absolutely NO rain in the forecast.  We hadn't had rain in like a month and it had to rain at the game.....  it was Friday, the 13th  hmmmmm....

Another hot day, we went to the Morton Arboretum

goin' fishin'

She loved dipping her toes in the water...

and he just wanted to dive in!

Alexis and the boys!

little Olivia and mommy

playing in the treehouse!

We had so much fun when they came to visit!  I wish we lived closer but hopefully we can visit them in Texas sometime soon!

11 months and a visit from Great Grandma

Andrew is 11 months old today!

Grandma, Papa and Great Grandma Mona came to visit!!

He loved playing with Grandma Mona!

"I love green beans!"

having a snack at the new table and chairs Grandma and Papa brought

Baby Avery even got some snacks in her new highchair :)

We moved!!!!!

Soooo it's been almost a month since my last post!  We have been BUSY!  Lots of packing, packing and packing..... and now trying to UNpack everything!  It'll be 2 weeks from tomorrow that we've been in our new house!  It is so big compared to the townhouse and the kids love it!! 

one of the last baths at the old house

(it wasn't a bad place but we don't miss it at all :)

cooling off eating frozen blueberries!

shopping for a new washer & dryer

look at this big boy!

This is our new house!!

The kids have handled everything so well.  The first couple of days Alexis was so excited 

that she didn't want to take naps.  This day she wandered outside her room and fell asleep in the hallway!

wearing his sister's new skirt... he has a big smile behind that pacifier :)

my little helper

They're almost the same size...  he's a little shorter but his arms, legs and waist are bigger around!!

The kids love the backyard!  We get to watch the corn grow this year!  

And I'm sure they will love seeing the tractors!

Andrew likes it too but he doesn't like the feel of the grass on his feet so he played

on the blanket.  He has been walking for about 3 weeks now and he's getting really good!

picking blackberries from our backyard

She's loving the new house..... can you tell?!