Girls Trip to Chi-Town

This past weekend, I headed to Chicago with six of my closest friends for a girls weekend!  We had an awesome time.  Bret's mom came up from Madison to help out so Nash got the chance to have some extra time with grandma.  Which made me feel better leaving.  Bret is more than capable but still having some extra helped helped ease my anxiety about leaving.  We left on Thursday and came back on Sunday.  This was the first time I had been away from Nash.  Of course, he did awesome, I'm sure the time apart was way tougher on me than him.  Most of these girls I've known since elementary school, which is pretty unique.  We've managed over the years to travel together to Vegas, Denver, Chicago (once before) and NYC.  The weekend was full of great food, late nights, shopping, acting like tourists, comedy club and enough inside jokes to last another year.  We are already planning our trip for next year....did someone say Vegas?

Me on a Segway.   

Look at the view!  It was so cool to see the city this way.
Only downside?  It was freakn' freezing!!!!

Moules and frites!  Yummy.  We dined at a place where it was
BYOB or Wine.  We felt a little awkward each walking in with
our own bottle of wine.  Pretty sure they were used to it.
The table next to us was drinking airplane size vodka sodas.

Oh did I say I was drinking wine?  Well, then there was this at the Piano Bar.
Did you know the bars are open till 4 a.m.? Exhibit A

Dinner at Quartino.  Small plates Italian style.  Delish.

Millennium Park

Fun to get all dolled up and spend an obnoxious amount of time getting ready.

Meanwhile, back at home.  Bret was providing periodic updates for me.  I found them humorous, I'm not sure he meant them to be funny.

"Dinner"
He better have been kidding.

"I feel off the trampoline, but my face still seems to be intact.  Love you, mommy"

And this was suppose to be comforting?  Good thing I got this text after Exhibit A.   

Fall Harvest: Must Haves

Where did October go?  I'm panicking because I can't believe how incredibly fast this month has flown by.  I still have to get the rest of Nash's Halloween costume in order.  Fall is my favorite time of the year.  I love sweaters, jeans and scarf weather (well, really you can wear a scarf even in the summer but it's nice to wear it for it's "true" purpose).  It's the time to get outside while you still can before it's freeze your tongue to a flagpole weather.  Oh, and what's with all the holiday commercials already?  Between all the campaign adds and Target forcing December down my throat, not sure which is worse.  I think I might vote for the candidate that would bar retailers from marketing holidays to vulnerable moms.  Back to the topic of Fall Harvests!  This post contains everything that I love about fall.  Apples, adorable out-fits and good friends.  So many apples orchards, so little time.  We took the one in Jordan by storm!  Super disappointed that we didn't make it to the states largest candy store.  Next year.

I see it, I see it!

Tractor!

Adorable Simon. Adorable Des.

Tractor Ride

Farm to Mouth

I love how we tell the boys to hold hands and they will
pretty sure our days are numbered on this request.

You thought getting a good pic. of two toddlers together was hard.
Try getting the husbands to cooperate!

Six Months Together

Today marks six months together as a family of three. I.can't.believe.it. Mostly, I can't believe how much I remember from this past six months (I have an awful memory). How often have six months gone by and you don't remember much? I bet often, and certainly before Nash, there might be years of my life I don't remember much of. I know what your thinking...I remember college. Well, mostly remember college. But over the past six months, I think I've just mentally told myself, you can never forget this moment, this feeling, this super adorable thing that Nash is doing, etc. Of course, you can never remember everything. It helps to write things down (opps, I didn't start filling out Nash's baby book till month no. 3...sorry, Nash. Mama does not really remember your first word, but I'm pretty sure it was apple).


I spend a lot of time blogging about the families goings-on. And really not much about Nash...himself. So, here is what he's been up too. I plan to look back at our year anniversary and see how everything has yet again changed.

Nash continues to be a curious, independent, active, spirited, bright, inquisitive little boy. He loves to play with trucks, read books about trucks, and talk about trucks (scoopers, diggers). His language skills over the past month have exploded. He will repeat everything you say, and say anything you ask him too. Common sentences now include "where'd daddy go", "mommy I did it!" or "more mommy please". His coordination and balance amaze me. The kid runs everywhere, rides a 3 wheel scooter, pedals with authority on his big-wheel and climbs anything that is in front of him. Speaking of balance, he loves to walk around in my high-heels. He can walk down stairs with them better than his mama (see below for proof). He is also freakishly strong. Lifting a gallon of milk and carrying around his ride-on cars. He loves to read books before bed and is learning his colors (red, blue, green, yellow). Nash is very social and continues to love school. He came down with a fever this week and he cried for 1/2 hr. the morning we told him he couldn't go. A mother's dream, right?

Of course, over the past six months I'm also reminded of the challenges of parenthood. Balancing motherhood with a career, finding time for date-nights (we've been averaging about once a month, pretty happy with that). And just being a parent of a two-year-old, which is hard navigating these unknowns for the first time.

I know I'll blink and it will be six more months gone. Poof, just like that.

Chuseok-Part 2

I realized that although the Chuseok is a very important holiday, I only have enough "Chuseok" material for one last post (instead of three total like I represented).  So we took my Japchae and we headed to a friends house to celebrate the holiday with old friends and new.  The photos really speak for themselves.  We are so lucky to have connected with other families who look forward to celebrating this holiday with their kiddos, too.  Everyone had a blast, adults included.  So much so that we are planning an adult night out to a Korean cooking class...to get ideas for the next holiday perhaps.

The boys are suppose to be "cooperating" by holding up
their artwork!  

Nash was loving the food.

He barely was coming up for air.

Time to burn it off!  

Monkeying around on Simon's bed

Nap time?  Ha!  Right.

Just a couple of dudes....

Dining on fake corn.