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| Wearing Mom's shoes and shades |
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| Trust me, those bows and piggy-tails don't last long with this active girl! |
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| I finally made the dress I got the fabric for over a year ago--and there's still room to grow! |
Thursday, July 31, 2014
All Dressed Up
I admit, I love seeing Hylie in cute little dresses...and now that she has more hair, I can't help but try some girly accessories. She's such a cutie and is growing up way too fast!
Girl's Camp and Grandma's Help
I got to experience our church's week-long Girl's Camp for the Young Women organization. I am still in awe at all the work that went into the camp--I just showed up and tried to keep all the girls on task and out of trouble (and I was EXHAUSTED from just doing that!)
I was able to go because my Mom was willing to come to Chicago and stay with Hylie while Geoff was at work. Hylie (and Geoff) were certainly spoiled with gourmet breakfasts, yummy brownies, amazing dinners, and a clean house! Mom even did some home-improvements and got us a much-needed light for over our kitchen sink.
Hylie was busy all day going to the park, blowing bubbles, and doing crafts. Grandma went the extra mile and even pushed Hylie on her bike (TWICE) to the park which is a good ten-minute walk. Being hunched over, pushing, and steering Hylie is NO easy task...especially when Hylie applies the brakes! Grandma definitely gets MAJOR bonus points for that feat!
Grandma claims Hylie behaved and didn't cause any trouble--I sure hope that was the case.
After a long week at camp, I was so excited to see Geoff and Hylie. Hylie melted my heart by saying, "Mommy come home from camp" when I walked in the door and then snuggled with me on the couch.
Grandma flew home Saturday morning before I got back from camp. She knew Grant was going to be in the Chicago area that night and was stopping by for a visit, so she made dinner (which included a yummy dessert) for all of us before she left! Talk about being spoiled beyond belief! Thanks, Mom, we sure love you and are forever grateful for all you do and even more for who you are.
I was able to go because my Mom was willing to come to Chicago and stay with Hylie while Geoff was at work. Hylie (and Geoff) were certainly spoiled with gourmet breakfasts, yummy brownies, amazing dinners, and a clean house! Mom even did some home-improvements and got us a much-needed light for over our kitchen sink.
Hylie was busy all day going to the park, blowing bubbles, and doing crafts. Grandma went the extra mile and even pushed Hylie on her bike (TWICE) to the park which is a good ten-minute walk. Being hunched over, pushing, and steering Hylie is NO easy task...especially when Hylie applies the brakes! Grandma definitely gets MAJOR bonus points for that feat!
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| Can you guess which ones Hylie did all by herself? |
Grandma claims Hylie behaved and didn't cause any trouble--I sure hope that was the case.
After a long week at camp, I was so excited to see Geoff and Hylie. Hylie melted my heart by saying, "Mommy come home from camp" when I walked in the door and then snuggled with me on the couch.
Grandma flew home Saturday morning before I got back from camp. She knew Grant was going to be in the Chicago area that night and was stopping by for a visit, so she made dinner (which included a yummy dessert) for all of us before she left! Talk about being spoiled beyond belief! Thanks, Mom, we sure love you and are forever grateful for all you do and even more for who you are.
Trip to PA
We were able to make it to Grandma and Grandpa Nelson's for a few days at the beginning of July. We even caught the tail end of "Grandma Camp" so Hylie could get a taste of how Grandma and Grandpa Nelson love to spoil their grandkids.
It was wonderful to be there with Jared and his family, Janna, Dean and his clan, and of course, Grandma and Grandpa and Great-Grandma and Pap Pap.
I really thought Hylie would love swimming in the pool, but she wasn't too crazy about it, unfortunately.
And this is as close as she came to experiencing the slide into the pool...one look over the top told her it wasn't for her! Maybe next year...
Hylie got to experience her first fireworks show. When we arrived, it was way past Hylie's bed-time, so we were wondering if she was going to wake up to see anything. Well, she did wake up and was pretty excited to be in on the action. When she was watching the fireworks she kept saying, "Fireworks fly in the sky!"
While we were waiting for it to get dark, Hylie was glad Grandpa was willing to walk her around so she could people watch and scope out the scene.
The glow sticks Dean and Andrea brought were a hit with all the kids--especially when it came to using them as swords!
Hylie STILL talks about the pinata she got to hit at Grandma and Grandpa's. And yes, the candy was quite the highlight!
We also had an evening of sparklers and a few fireworks.
And we found out that Grandpa has been hiding his talent of balloon shaping!
Thanks for such a great time, Grandma and Grandpa!
It was wonderful to be there with Jared and his family, Janna, Dean and his clan, and of course, Grandma and Grandpa and Great-Grandma and Pap Pap.
I really thought Hylie would love swimming in the pool, but she wasn't too crazy about it, unfortunately.
And this is as close as she came to experiencing the slide into the pool...one look over the top told her it wasn't for her! Maybe next year...
Hylie got to experience her first fireworks show. When we arrived, it was way past Hylie's bed-time, so we were wondering if she was going to wake up to see anything. Well, she did wake up and was pretty excited to be in on the action. When she was watching the fireworks she kept saying, "Fireworks fly in the sky!"
While we were waiting for it to get dark, Hylie was glad Grandpa was willing to walk her around so she could people watch and scope out the scene.
The glow sticks Dean and Andrea brought were a hit with all the kids--especially when it came to using them as swords!
Hylie STILL talks about the pinata she got to hit at Grandma and Grandpa's. And yes, the candy was quite the highlight!
We also had an evening of sparklers and a few fireworks.
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| "Fireworks fly in the sky!" |
And we found out that Grandpa has been hiding his talent of balloon shaping!
Thanks for such a great time, Grandma and Grandpa!
Summer 2014
So far we've been thoroughly enjoying our summer--lots of sunshine, warm days to play outside, and no snow to clear off the driveway! Hylie absolutely loves being outside, whether it's to play or to help Mom and Dad 'work'.
I love the faces Hylie makes when she's so involved in what she's doing.
And no, her sticker obsession has not slowed down one bit!
We planted a few pots with some vegetables to see if we could have any luck with a garden. Our cucumbers and zucchini didn't make it...but we got some green peppers and the tomatoes are looking promising as well!
Hylie LOVES being on her bike, but don't let her fool you one bit: she's not doing a lick of work. If she goes anywhere on that thing, it's not because she's pedaling...it's because she's being pushed around!
Monday, June 23, 2014
Mother's and Father's Day 2014
Both Geoff and I enjoyed celebrating Mother's and Father's Days this year. We are blessed with amazing parents who touch us every day with their love, guidance, patience, and support. We are also blessed to be parents ourselves and love watching Hylie grow and develop. She is such a gem in our lives and we hope she will be as excited as we are to welcome a new little one into our family at the end of the year!
Camping Trip June 2014
A couple of families in our ward decided to do another camping adventure and we all had so, so much fun! Everything was wonderful: the weather (sunny and in the 70's), the food, and the company!
Hylie sure enjoyed being outside and getting as dirty as possible. While Geoff and I were setting up the tent, Hylie kept gravitating towards the pile of ashes in the fire pit and playing in rocks and dirt. She was in heaven!
Hylie also enjoyed lounging in camp chairs and literally being spoon fed by everyone!
Hylie started with pants on, then we rolled them up, and then her jeans were so weighed down and soaked, we just decided to let her go pants-free.
We didn't get much rest that night. The air mattress we brought didn't like to stay inflated and Hylie woke up a little before 4 in the morning. I was able to get her back to sleep while I held her and sat on the ground. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep from that point on.
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Hylie kept sneaking into the bag of marshmallows and eating away. I decided to let her experience a TOASTED marshmallow, but her face let us know pretty quick she really wasn't digging that camping treat. Ha ha!
We knew it was a successful camping adventure when Hylie was passed out minutes after getting in the car to head back home!
Hylie sure enjoyed being outside and getting as dirty as possible. While Geoff and I were setting up the tent, Hylie kept gravitating towards the pile of ashes in the fire pit and playing in rocks and dirt. She was in heaven!
Hylie also enjoyed lounging in camp chairs and literally being spoon fed by everyone!
Playgrounds are such a hit with this girl!
The beach was no disappointment, either!
Hylie started with pants on, then we rolled them up, and then her jeans were so weighed down and soaked, we just decided to let her go pants-free.
Hylie was spoiled by a bunch of the girls who made her a personal 'lake'.
We didn't get much rest that night. The air mattress we brought didn't like to stay inflated and Hylie woke up a little before 4 in the morning. I was able to get her back to sleep while I held her and sat on the ground. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep from that point on.
Geoff trying to catch a few more zzz's early in the morning. Aren't inflatable mattresses great?
But who needs sleep when you can have S'MORES!
Hylie kept sneaking into the bag of marshmallows and eating away. I decided to let her experience a TOASTED marshmallow, but her face let us know pretty quick she really wasn't digging that camping treat. Ha ha!
We knew it was a successful camping adventure when Hylie was passed out minutes after getting in the car to head back home!
Friday, June 13, 2014
Zoo Fail
One morning when my family was still in town, Mom and Dad slipped away to get to the temple. I decided this would be a great opportunity to take Hylie and Janna to the Lincoln Park Zoo.
We got there in good time and I went to the information center to find out where all the 'hands-on' exhibits were that Janna could experience. They let me know of an animal presentation at 11:00 and then of the petting farm at the other end of the zoo. At the animal presentation Janna and Hylie got to pet a little boxing turtle.
Working our way across the zoo wasn't the easiest. When Hylie was cooperative, she sat on Janna's lap...that didn't happen as often and I would have liked and a lot of the time was spent trying to hold a squirming Hylie while pushing Janna, or trying to convince Hylie to stay with us as we walked through the crowded zoo.
Finally we got to the farm area and I went into a big red barn building thinking it would house the animals to pet. It was a big interactive area for kids, so I let Hylie finally run free while I signed to Janna the information they had posted about hatching chicks.
Hylie was getting more and more ornery as we grew closer to lunch and nap-time, so I knew we had to act fast and get to the petting zoo. I asked a worker and she directed me to the correct building. We went in and all the animals were behind a double fence, not reachable to any guests. Confused, I asked a worker where we could pet the animals. He let me know it was here, but they won't open the animals for petting for another hour. The minute he told me that, I just started crying. I explained the main reason we came to the zoo was so my sister could pet the animals, but he claimed he could do nothing about it. I knew I couldn't stay another hour with Hylie's stubborn and tired temperament.
I continued to cry as I pushed Janna and held screaming Hylie through the zoo, back to where we parked. About half-way to our car, I was able to bribe Hylie to sit back on Janna's lap, making it MUCH easier to get through. Just before we exited the zoo I asked Janna if she would like to use the restroom, which she did. So I went into the building with the large "RESTROOM" sign posted on the front. I didn't see them anywhere, so I asked a worker for their location. He saw Janna's wheelchair and said, "Oh, the restrooms here aren't accessible. You'll have to go back to another building in the zoo." I was not impressed. Luckily, we were able to get to those restrooms, but I must say, after this experience, I'm going to need someone to really convince me to give Lincoln Park Zoo another try.
Janna was a trooper the entire time, but I can't wait for her to come back and visit so I can take her on some other, more successful, adventures!
We got there in good time and I went to the information center to find out where all the 'hands-on' exhibits were that Janna could experience. They let me know of an animal presentation at 11:00 and then of the petting farm at the other end of the zoo. At the animal presentation Janna and Hylie got to pet a little boxing turtle.
Working our way across the zoo wasn't the easiest. When Hylie was cooperative, she sat on Janna's lap...that didn't happen as often and I would have liked and a lot of the time was spent trying to hold a squirming Hylie while pushing Janna, or trying to convince Hylie to stay with us as we walked through the crowded zoo.
Finally we got to the farm area and I went into a big red barn building thinking it would house the animals to pet. It was a big interactive area for kids, so I let Hylie finally run free while I signed to Janna the information they had posted about hatching chicks.
Hylie was getting more and more ornery as we grew closer to lunch and nap-time, so I knew we had to act fast and get to the petting zoo. I asked a worker and she directed me to the correct building. We went in and all the animals were behind a double fence, not reachable to any guests. Confused, I asked a worker where we could pet the animals. He let me know it was here, but they won't open the animals for petting for another hour. The minute he told me that, I just started crying. I explained the main reason we came to the zoo was so my sister could pet the animals, but he claimed he could do nothing about it. I knew I couldn't stay another hour with Hylie's stubborn and tired temperament.
I continued to cry as I pushed Janna and held screaming Hylie through the zoo, back to where we parked. About half-way to our car, I was able to bribe Hylie to sit back on Janna's lap, making it MUCH easier to get through. Just before we exited the zoo I asked Janna if she would like to use the restroom, which she did. So I went into the building with the large "RESTROOM" sign posted on the front. I didn't see them anywhere, so I asked a worker for their location. He saw Janna's wheelchair and said, "Oh, the restrooms here aren't accessible. You'll have to go back to another building in the zoo." I was not impressed. Luckily, we were able to get to those restrooms, but I must say, after this experience, I'm going to need someone to really convince me to give Lincoln Park Zoo another try.
Janna was a trooper the entire time, but I can't wait for her to come back and visit so I can take her on some other, more successful, adventures!
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