Vertical!

"Big Girl Bath"

Time to sit up in the tub! Kate loves being able to grab toys floating by and playing with Grace.

First of Many Lessons by Grace

We have been trying hard to get Kate to sit up. Grace decided to take the task on. Most of her technique involves telling Kate to sit up- "Kate, just sit! Sit!" She says it very lovingly and serious, it's funny to see how frustrated she gets when Kate doesn't sit up. This particular day she decided to try to hold her up. First with her hands.

Then with her feet!

Sweet H2O Race

I knew this would happen one day but it was still sad- we missed one of Jack's races. And it was his longest! 50k Trail Race. Grace was sick the day we were supposed to go so Jack forged on by himself. Thanks to modern technology we were able to keep up with him via text messaging so we knew he was doing great. Poor guy woke up so early to drive over to Atlanta, did the run and then drove all the way back by himself. We were so proud of him!

(And I have no idea what that picture is- I gave him the camera and this is all he came back with on it)

Grace's New Favorite Location- Hotels!

Grace was so excited to hear we were staying in another hotel on the way home. She loves sleeping in the same room with us, the breakfast and in this hotel- the pool!

Kate seemed satisfied just hanging with me and watching

Last Round of Visits

Our last morning in Wisconsin was very busy. We started out with a good breakfast with Great Papa, Great Brenda and my cousin Teresa.

We then made a quick stop to get my favorite cheese- Apricot Honey from Kraemers! Sooooo good!

We stopped in on our way home to see my grandmother one more time. We missed her by two minutes, she had gone for a hair appointment. Just as we were turning to leave they brought her back to get a different wheelchair to wash her hair. Such luck! She skipped her appointment and we got to spend some time with her talking and watching shows by Grace.

Just before starting our long drive, we stopped by my favorite ice cream stand, The Kilte and had some ice cream. We were so full from breakfast we couldn't eat any lunch but we could eat hot fudge sundaes! Grace couldn't believe we were eating ice cream for lunch- but she was very flexible and joined right in! ;o)

Dinner with our Hosts

After our cookout we went back to my Uncle Don and Aunt Sheila's house for a great spaghetti dinner. They were such great hosts and were very flexible with our busy schedule. The girls really enjoyed spending time with my cousin Bart and Jack enjoyed having a basketball watching partner. Thanks Don, Sheila, Bart and Teresa for having us and for all the help with the girls!

Memorial Day Cookout

We had a great Memorial Day Cookout at "Great-Papa and Great-Brenda's" house. (We let Grace decide what to call my grandfather and his wife and those are the names she came up with-pretty good ;o))
My Uncle Pat and Aunt Tina brought their family and it was great to spend time with my cousins and to meet Adam and Corey's girlfriends and Amelia- my cousin Kevin and Jessica's baby. Grace had a fun time playing blocks with her.

The food was delicious and the company was wonderful as always!Kate meeting her Great-Papa- she was thrilled!My cousin Greg and me peeling some good Wisconsin corn.Greg's wife Tracy hanging with KateJessica, Amelia, my mom and Grace building bridgesAnd then it got serious...They have a great yard for bocce'
Kate was also thrilled to meet Great-Brenda!
Lots of Nana love! This was super cute- they were both giving the other lessons...

Breakfast with Great Friends

We were so excited to learn our great friends Kristy and Matt were visiting her parents in Wisconsin at the same time we were there. I have been friends with Kristy since the second grade and we took several trips together- before we had kids. It was so great to get to meet their son Jack and to introduce them to Grace and Kate. It was a short visit but lots of fun!

My Pretty Girl

I just like these pictures

And this one was just cute

Happy Anniversary Stan and Linda!

The reason for our trip to Wisconsin was my Uncle Stan (my dad's only sibling) and Aunt Linda were celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary and my cousins were throwing them a surprise party. My uncle Stan is my Godfather and 35 years is a lot to celebrate so we decided to make the trip. They were completely surprised about the party and all the guests. It was a great chance to catch up with my dad's family.My dad and cousin RyanEnjoying the tons of good food!Every kid needs a picture like this with her dad- Wisconsin is a great place to have itKate and my cousin KellyRyan, Kelly and Kelly's boyfriend JohnKate and Uncle Stan. And then.....Kate hasn't fallen asleep in someone's arms in months. Stan has always been a Baby Whisperer
Ryan's wife Leah enjoying her great, well organized party!Grace found it easier to just set the bags into the target. Why throw them when you could just put them right in?The day was lots of fun! After the picnic Stan and Linda invited us back to their house to hang out and eat some of the leftovers so we got to spend more time with them. Congratulations!

Visiting Grandma Trish

Sunday morning we woke up and went to church with some of my family. It was a great treat to hear my Uncle Don as the Cantor and Grace was excited to spend more time with Sidor and Aurora, even if it was being quiet in the pew.

After church we went with my mom and dad to see my grandmother. The nursing home she lives at has a great playground. I have visited many nursing homes and I have never seen a playground at one. What a great idea! It gives the kids a place to stay busy and there are chairs all around for the residents to watch them. Grace was very excited to play there.It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed spending an hour together!

WI Trip- Geib Cookout

Our trip to Wisconsin was very busy. The first day we arrived at my Uncle Don and Aunt Sheila's house to set up "camp." They were so kind to allow us to stay with them. It was a perfect place for us since they have everything we could have ever needed for the girls.

My parents arrived via airplane shortly after we got there. My cousin Bart was playing Wii and we all decided to join in. We were showing my dad and Uncle John how to play baseball when there was a little accident. My dad swung his "bat" hard, really, really hard into the pole that runs from the floor to the ceiling in the basement. It shook the room. I don't believe anyone took a picture of the result but he had to wear a brace the next day on his finger/hand. It was black and swollen- no more Wii for a little while...

Several of my family members came over for a cookout. It was so great to see everyone!My cousin Justin, my cousin Angie's boyfriend Peter, my cousin's Audrey's husband Marty, my cousin Angie and my Uncle MikeJack, my cousin Teresa, her boyfriend Rick, my cousin Audrey and meKate and my Uncle PatGrace had a blast with her "new friends" Sidor and Aurora- my cousin Audrey's daughters. They had a great time playing together!Sidor and GraceKate was apparently very hungry...She is trying to steal Grandma Trish's hotdog. It was great to see my grandmother.It was my Uncle John's birthday in a few days so we surprised him with a cake as he walked out the doorKate and my Uncle JohnMy cousin Angie and meThe girls loved playing with my cousin TeresaJack, my cousin Sean, Rick, Teresa and meMy Aunt Tina and Aunt Sheila took the girls for a walk with their "babies." Right after this picture I watched them get to the end of the driveway and heard Grace tell my Aunt Tina she needed someone to hold her hand in the street. I love my rule-follower Grace ;o)After a hard day of playing, the girls enjoyed a bath and a story