Mulcrones' Life As We Know It

Watch Cullen Grow...

2011-04-18T17:21:00.001-07:00

It amazes me how fast Cullen has grown - and changed.
He is a happy baby and so fun to have in our family.
There is a picture of his first time trying cereal. Not a big fan to begin with, but that has changed. He is a great eater - just don't feed him peas.
Just thought I would post some pictures showing him growing in the fall and early winter. He loved his first real trip to the zoo. So happy to be in his stoller and even happier in the Bjorn. He loves his sisters - he just squeals with delight when they come in the room.
He likes his exersaucer, but he LOVES his jumper. He gets some real air when he gets going in there.

A Day at the Museum

2011-04-18T17:09:00.000-07:00

Since Reagan's Christmas break went well into January we took advantage of the free days and headed to the Museum of Science and Industry. Such a quick trip and easy to park - we were ready for a fun day.
First stop was the discovery section - full of levers and water and places for the girls to explore. Similar to the Children's Museums, but still very fun. Then we headed to the farm area and saw the cows and checked out the combine and the tractor.
We also saw the doll house - Reagan was amazed.
I was excited because the trees were still up from Christmas so we walked around to see how people from around the world would decorate their Christmas trees.
Then we stopped to see the storm exhibit. The girls were able to move the vortex around and see the tidal wave display.
I thought there wouldn't be enough for them to do - I thought they were too young - boy was I wrong. We could have stayed longer if it wasn't time for naps. Looking forward to exploring more on the next free day!

Lunch at the Walnut Room

2011-04-18T14:08:00.000-07:00

Since Pat was home this year we were able to take the train into the city for our annual Scanlon lunch/dinner by the Tree at Macy's.
The kids liked the train ride and it was a nice day so we walked from Union Station to Macy's. We realize it was a little long for Reagan & Nola (Nola did get carried for part of the way) but it was easier than getting into a cab or a bus with 3 kids and a stroller.
We had 2 tables right next to the tree - best seats we've ever had. Grandma Jane sat with all of the grandkids (except for Cullen) and the rest of us enjoyed our peaceful lunch. The fairy came around to sprinkle fairy dust - always a highlight.
The food was delicious and the kids loved it.
After dinner we headed to the 8th floor to look at the tree from up high. Then we started trying out the furniture. The favorite was a motorized lazy-boy couch. Seriously, how much lazier can we be?!?

Merry Christmas!!!

2011-04-18T13:50:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful Christmas. Unfortunately Pat lost his job in early December, but that didn't stop us from truly enjoying the Christmas season. It was nice to have him home and really enjoy our time as a family.
We hosted brunch for the Mulrone's on Christmas Eve. Good food and great company - and then fun times with presents. The girls loved opening presents and couldn't wait to play with their new toys - especially the walking kitties from Aunt Maureen & Uncle Roy.
That evening Reagan sang out our church's Christmas Eve service. Her and her choir did a great job and really sang their hearts out. From there we headed to the Scanlon's for dinner with Brent, Linda, Aunt Karen, Uncle Nick, Elmer & Georgeann. A low-key evening was just what we needed.
Christmas morning was spent at home. Pat & I had to wait for everyone to get up - they slept past 8:30! To see Christmas through their eyes was just awesome. They had fun opening their stockings - and were excited with new toothbrushes.
And then came the presents...Reagan was thrilled with her new MP3 player and Nola with her boombox! Before we were finished there was one more box - they couldn't believe it when they opened it and saw a Wii!!! Pat got that hooked up for them and it hasn't gotten much rest since.
Soon it was time for breakfast. As is the tradition in our house, we each had our favorite ice cream. Best morning of the year!
After more playing it was time to head to Grandma Jane & Grandpa John's house. With 8 grandkids, it was organized chaos - or maybe not so organized. The kids loved all of their presents - Nola was especially fond of her new carrier for Bitty Baby (similar to my Bjorn). After Nola opened her Skittles, she decided she was done opening presents. She was just so happy to have a full bag of candy to herself. Reagan was busy playing school with her new school set.
After a fun afternoon with their cousins it was time to head to the Mulcrone's for our last stop. A bad accident shut down the Bishop Ford so it took us longer than we hoped, but it gave the kids a chance to nap.
We had a great night with cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. The girls just kept on playing until they dropped around 10. Then it was time to head home and spend the 26th at home, by ourselves, recovering from a wonderful Christmas and enjoying some much needed family time.

Chicago Club Christmas Party - take 2

2011-04-18T13:41:00.000-07:00

Once again we were invited to the family Christmas party at the Chicago club. The girls were so excited and couldn't wait to see the magician, Santa and get a balloon animal!
The weather that day was less than desirable, to say the least. There were parts of Lake Shore Drive shut down due to the bad weather, but that would not stop the Mulcrone's from heading downtown.
The party was wonderful. The magician stopped by our table soon after we sat down adn this year both girls were able to be his assistant. They were amazed by his tricks and laughed and laughed.
Maggie did a great job with their balloons - I even had to run into the street after the party to save Reagan's balloon that was taken away by the wind.
Reagan & Cullen were happy to see Santa, but Nola, not so much. Reagan was happy to talk to him and Cullen did great on his lap. A picture of Cullen & Santa made it into the Club's newsletter. Who knows, maybe someday he'll be a member!

Our dancers

2011-04-18T08:20:00.001-07:00

Nola is dancing for the first time - and Reagan is enjoying her 4th year of dance. In December I was able to go into their studio and watch them during parent observation week.
Nola has warmed up to Ms Robin and Ms Peggy and now participates in class (unlike the first few weeks). She loves to dance around the circle and is very excited when she gets to lead the train. It was fun to watch her following the teachers and dancing around the room during the free dance.
Reagan is now taking her second year of tap and ballet. She is having fun with her friends - Angelina, Erica, Macy & Kamryn. She dances around the house all the time and loves to have dance parties upstairs in her room.
It has been amazing to watch her progress over the past 4 years. And what a joy to watch her enjoy every minute of it!

Cullen's Baptism

2011-04-18T06:55:00.001-07:00

We had the honor of having Cullen baptised in November.
Pastor Dan did a great job - and included the girls in the baptism. He knelt down so they could see what he was doing and made them feel apart of it.
It was also special because Cullen was baptised with our friend's daughter, Quinn. It was great to be up there with Kris & Kent celebrating this wonderful day.
We enjoyed a great brunch at our house afterwards. Too bad the french toast casserole spilled over and filled the kitchen with smoke. It all tasted good and everyone was glad to be together.

Happy Halloween!!

2011-04-18T06:45:00.000-07:00

The girls were very excited about Halloween this year. Reagan dressed up as a fairy butterfly, Nola was a witch and Cullen was the cutest skunk you have ever seen!
The festivities started on Thursday with pumpkin carving. We had so much fun and the girls did a great job deciding what they wanted the faces to look like.
The fun continued on Friday by taking the kids to the costume parade at Reagan's school. Even though she doesn't go in the morning, we were able to participate in the parade around the school - very fun!
Later that day I was lucky enough to help with her class's Halloween party. It was fun to meet her friends and help with the crafts. I even was able to read a couple books.
On Halloween the girls and Pat went to Owen's Not-so-scary Nut-free Halloween party and had a blast - games, snacks, fun.
Then it was finally time to trick-or-treat. Cullen took a ride in the stroller as the girls hurried from one house to the next getting way too much candy!
Next up was our annual trip to Aunt MariPat & Uncle Bill's house for more candy and a little trick-or-treating.
We ended a very fun day at Cori, Ed & Cassidy's house for pizza and a time to play. A busy, but very memorable Halloween.

Go Cheetah Bears!

2011-04-16T17:44:00.001-07:00

Reagan had another great fall season of AYSO. Her team, the Cheetah Bears, played great and had a good time. Reagan really enjoyed playing and definitely improved since the spring. She had a few goals, which makes her smile, and played awesome defense. Looking forward to seeing her play again in the spring!

Apple Picking

2011-04-16T13:55:00.000-07:00

After a few years of going to the pumpkin patches, I thought it was time for a new fall tradition. So we headed out apple picking. Due to the hot summer, many of the apple orchards were closed by the time we wanted to go in early October, but I found one in Libertyville that still had apples. Cori & Cassidy joined us on a Sunday afternoon and we headed on our adventure.
The orchard was wonderful! We first picked golden delicious. It was fun to watch the girls look for good apples and try to reach them. It was a good thing Pat had the long stick for picking since a lot of the good apples were up high.
We then moved to the other part of the orchard and picked red apples. We're still not sure what type they were, but they were delicious and so much fun to pick.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Nola!!!

2011-04-16T13:46:00.001-07:00

Nola celebrated her third birthday in September. On her day we celebrated with ham dinner (one of Nola's favorites) and cake & ice cream. She was very excited to receive her dark-skinned Bitty Baby. She also received a ballet outfit for Bitty Baby, so she would be dressed appropriately to watch Nola in dance class!
Her big party was so much fun! She wanted to have another balloon party so balloons it was!! And a chocolate Costco cake for dessert - made her dad so happy. Nola was excited to have her friends and family at her party to celebrate. She did a great job opening presents and playing with her cousins and friends.
Nola is definitely our free-spirit. She loves to laugh and is great at pushing buttons - especially her sisters. She can easily get into trouble, but she does have a heart for service. She is always getting Reagan's drink for her and always wants to help. She has become an expert at cleaning our shower and can't wait for the next project Pat needs assistance with. She is great at skipping and is enjoying her dance class.
Looking forward to watching her grow this year - and excited to see all that she will learn. We love you, Nola!

Kindergarten...can you believe it?!?!

2011-04-16T13:37:00.000-07:00

Reagan started kindergarten in the fall. Not sure how she became old enough to go to kindergarten, but in a blink of an eye it was time!
The first day, Pat & I were able to go with Reagan for an hour to meet her teacher, Mrs Marusarz, and see her room. On the way into the school we were telling Reagan how proud we were of her and how we knew she would do great in school. Then she said, 'Yeah, I think I'm probably the smartest kid in the school.' So no need for self-esteem classes.
Reagan was excited to be in school and couldn't wait for Mrs Marusarz to play the piano for her class.
The second day she went by herself. She had a great time and hasn't looked back. She loves centers, going to the library and computers. She has made new friends and has learned to read.

Introducing...Cullen Patrick Mulcrone

2010-09-10T12:36:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to announce the birth of Cullen Patrick Mulcrone on Friday, August 13th at 9:52 pm. He weighed 7 lb 15 oz and was 20" long.
When I went to the doctor that morning for my weekly visit he said I was only measuring at 37 weeks so he did a quick ultrasound to find out that my fluids were getting low so I needed to be induced. I headed home to get my things - and Pat and then headed to the hospital. Lucky for me my dad was watching the girls for my appointment so he just took them home with him.
Induction and labor went smooth and easy and we were thrilled when Cullen was born. We didn't know if he was a boy or girl (I was convinced he was a girl) but it is exciting to have a son.
Cullen is a great baby - he eats well and is very content. Cries only for food, clean diaper and for a quick nap.
We are now 4 weeks into being a family of 5 and we love every moment of it. The girls are great with him and its so nice they have each other to play with when I can't play with them.
We have been blessed by family and friends who have visited, brought us meals, took the girls for a while and taking good care of us.
We can't wait for Cullen to meet all his family and friends - he is one lucky boy!

A very medical summer...

2010-08-11T10:00:00.001-07:00

Being pregnant I knew I would be spending a lot of time at the doctor this summer, what I didn't know is how much time our family would be spending at the doctor!
In addition to seeing my OB on a very regular basis, I also had to see my eye doctor to keep a check on my eye pressure for glaucoma. Praise God - my pressure has been 17 and under and I have not had to be on my drops throughout my pregnancy!
I made the goal of having all of Reagan's appointments for kindergarten done before the end of June. Thought that would be one visit to the dentist and one to the eye doctor. It was only one visit to the eye doctor, but 3 to the dentist. She had 4 cavities in her molars so we had to go back to get them filled and she even had a 'baby root canal'.
We got through that and thought we were good to go! Boy was I wrong...
At the end of July we had back-to-back graduation parties on my dad's side of the family (that's what happens when you are 1 of 16 grandchildren). At the first party Nola got her fingers slammed in the door. Thought we might be heading to the ER, but she calmed down (thanks to the Noreen and the dog) and she was ok.
The next day we went to Blaire's party and the girls were having a great time in the jumper and playing with cousins. That evening Reagan got a large piece of wood stuck in the ball of her foot from the deck. (remember the jumper...she was not wearing shoes) Jacqui got out her first aid kit and we thought the slivers were all out.
The next day she said it still hurt but I sent her to zoo camp anyway - thinking it was just her drama. That night Pat soaked her foot in salt water and a little piece of wood came out. Thought that was it...wrong again.
On Thursday when Johanna (our neighbor who is a nurse) stopped by she looked at it and thought I should have a doctor look at it. Off to the pediatrician we went. She couldn't see anything so got us set up to see a podiatrist/orthopaedic the next day.
Oh, and keep in mind, I kept sending her to zoo camp the whole week - the poor thing was walking on her heel.
That night Nola was up in the night coughing and having trouble breathing - sounded like croup. Luckily my mom was here for a sleepover so she took one for the team and slept with Nola.
Friday morning I was off to my doctor's appointment. While I was waiting I had to call our pediatrician again to get Nola in. She ended up with a 3:30 appointment - same time I had to have Reagan at her doctor. So thankful my mom and dad were able to take Nola and I took Reagan. Nola did have croup and was put on steroids.
From Reagan's appointment we went to the hospital to have an ultrasound of her foot - sure enough, there was a 2 cm piece of wood still in her foot!
Monday morning came and the surgeon called to tell us Reagan would have surgery at 2:00 to have it out...yes, a sliver can lead to surgery!!
Reagan was a trooper through it all - she was very excited that they put a hot pink cast on her foot after surgery to keep her foot safe. She had a rough time coming out of the anaesthesia but once she fell back asleep she was much better.
5 days later the cast came off and now she is in a walking boot. Still can't swim, but it has to be cooler than the cast.
Nola got a little better but was still coughing - back to the pediatrician. The cough had turned into bronchitis - luckily the z-pack worked and she is 100%.
Now we just need a healthy baby and we'll be all set...

Bonfire!!

2010-08-11T09:47:00.000-07:00

We finally got our act together and hosted a bonfire last week. The girls have been asking since last year's bonfire with the Erb's.
This year the Erbs, Goys and Williams joined us for quite a fun night.
Cassidy had brought us the largest marshmallows I have ever seen so that added to the fun!
The kids just had a great time playing with one another and signing Reagan's cast. Pat & Dave worked hard to get a great fire going and soon we were roasting away.
The marshmallows were so big - it was even hard to keep them on the graham cracker.
We have plenty of leftovers so I think another bonfire may be in our not-to-distant future!

Zoo Camp!!

2010-08-11T09:35:00.001-07:00

After such a great experience last year, Reagan was very excited to be going to zoo camp again this year. And to add to the excitement - Cassidy went too! They both had a great week - and came home tired out each day. Her counselor, Annie, was great and kept them busy all morning.
On Friday we were able to go see the Zoo Camp show. Reagan & Cassidy's group performed 'Barnyard Dance' on the outside stage and did such a great job.
We then watched the other groups do their songs and puppet show before Zoo Camp came to an end.
What a great week - and I can't wait to hear all the tidbits that Reagan learned. Funny how she can't remember anything when I pick her up but weeks later she is telling me about a nocternal animal she saw there when it was cloudy.
She is well on her way to her goal of becoming a veterinarian!!

Happy Birhtday, Finn!!

2010-08-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

I can't think of a better way to celebrate Finn's birthday than to join him, his family and friends at the Planetarium! I don't know if I had ever been there before - possibly on a field trip in school, but I can't remember.
After Reagan learned all about space in school she was very excited to be exploring the Planetarium.
They have a great kids exploration area and the girls couldn't get enough of it. They were able to put on astronaut clothes, so how astronauts sleep standing up, walk through a very black room - resembling space, and use a computer to launch a rocket.
One of the coolest things was they had rovers on a platform and the kids (or parents) could control them from a computer and the other kids could go under the platform and stick their heads through domes - very fun!
We were able to see the Big Bird show 'Big Sky'. It was fun and very comfortable seats!
We had lunch together and enjoyed delicious chocolate cake! It was such a beautiful day to be in the city - and such fun to celebrate as Finn turned 3!

And the rain came tumblin' down...

2010-08-11T09:15:00.001-07:00

And right into our basement. We have not only had a very hot summer, we have had a very rainy summer. We got a little water on the day there was a tornado in our neighborhood but Pat was able to clean it up.
The Friday night storm didn't leave us so lucky. We woke up to puddles on our carpet so we knew it was time to tear it out. Pat and my dad worked so hard and got the carpet out quickly so the smell went out with it!
We are blessed that we didn't get as much water as other people - praying others are able to get their houses back in order soon.
We now have new carpet and a new set up downstairs - amazing how a little water can get you to clean your basement!!

Zoo Days

2010-08-11T09:10:00.000-07:00

We are so lucky to live to close to Brookfield Zoo - and the girls love going there. Nola wanted to go for weeks - but as we drove past and saw the lines and lines of buses I couldn't bring myself to brave all of the field trips. And with it being such a hot summer it hasn't been our #1 destination.
A few weeks ago we did venture there with Michelle & Ella and Katie, Thomas & Andrew. It was fun to see animals early - before the heat really set in. The girls played in the splash pad before heading to their favorite place - Hammil Play Zoo.
They were veterinarians, birds and got their faces painted before heading home.
I am sure we will get there again soon - once its not 90 degrees and humid!!

Happy Birthday, Papa

2010-08-06T20:37:00.000-07:00

For Papa's birthday we went out to dinner with the whole Mulcrone family (minus Dan who had diving). We had a great dinner and the girls were very excited to be celebrating with all of their family.
We went back to Grandma and Papa's house for dessert and more fun times. The girls did some great drawings with sidewalk chalk and loved their time with Bridget and Shannon.

Fun with Friends

2010-08-06T20:34:00.001-07:00

We were lucky enough to have Shadia, Ray and Sophia visit us for a weekend this summer. Shadia and I have been friends since before we started school and it is always great to spend time with her and her family.
The girls were thrilled to have them over and even more excited that Charlie, the dog, came with them. He was a great dog and the girls couldn't get enough of playing with him.
It was fun to see how much Sophia has grown since we saw her in November. She is definitely Shadia's daughter - friendly from the moment she arrived.
The girls were also excited to try out the slip and slide that Sophia brought to them. We have used it many times - and the girls have figured out how to lounge in the end.
We had a great weekend and can't wait for our next visit!

Sears Tower...finally!!!

2010-07-15T07:02:00.000-07:00

Since we went downtown last summer for the walk for Nikki, Reagan has been asking to go up in the Sears Tower. After much putting it off and busy schedules, we finally got there on July 5th.
We were going to take the train, but found out they were on the holiday schedule so that wouldn't work. We drove and I felt like my brother - we got great parking on the street for only $2.50/hour. Knowing him, he would have parked in Greek Town and walked to save $0.25/hour, but since I am 8 months pregnant we spent the money :)
It was great timing to arrive since there was no line. We got in pretty quick and Reagan was excited to sit down and hear the story of how the building was built - definitely Pat's girl!
When we got to the top she couldn't believe how many windows there were - she told us she thought there was only one window to look out of. She spent the first 15-20 minutes just staring out the south-facing windows - not much to see but she was amazed.
It was great because Reagan loved it and Nola really enjoyed herself. For being young and not really getting the whole idea of being 103 stories in the air, she had fun.
When we got to the ledges that stick out Nola just ran out there to see what she could. We told her we had to wait for the rest of the people to get out so we could have a turn. And when it was our turn they layed down and looked straight down with no problems.
After about an hour we headed back down and headed to the water taxi. We thought it would be fun to take the kids on a short boat ride on the river to Michigan Ave. They loved the boat and Nola was excited to see the kayaks in the river - Nola was looking for her Uncle Sean!
By the time we got off the boat we were all really hot - nothing like 90 degree weather in Chicago. We headed to Walgreens with hopes of finding some cool air and silly bands. We didn't find the cool air but got the girls their first packages of silly bands.
Luckily we found good air conditioning at the Nordstrom mall just down the street. We had great lunch at Nordstrom Cafe and then got into taxi to get back to our van. The girls loved that part of our adventure as well. Just riding with no car seats was exciting enough for them!
Such a fun family day filled with great memories and fun pictures. What will be our next adventure in Chicago?!?!

Eyes to the Skies

2010-07-15T03:45:00.000-07:00

After having so much fun last year, we headed back to the Lisle Eyes to the Skies festival on July 2nd. We picked up sandwiches on our way out there and met my parents and Aunt Karen & Uncle Nick.
The crowds weren't as large as last year which made it easy to find space to spread out. We ate dinner and waited to see if the balloons were going to actually fly. Unfortunately the wind was too much (it has to be under 10 mph) so they couldn't fly. But they did inflate them and we were able to get out in the field and see the balloons up close. Then after the sun started to go down the balloons lit up for quite a pretty show. It was cool to see all the colors of the balloons really show up under the light of the fire. Uncle Nick introduced the girls to their first elephant ear. Reagan wasn't so sure about it but Nola loved it (of course). The girls loved seeing all the balloons and then went on a mission to find light up necklaces. Thankfully they got back just in time for the fireworks - which weren't great, but to the girls they were wonderful. It was a late night, but well worth it (especially when we all slept past 9 the next morning).

Dance Recital 2010

2010-07-14T19:31:00.001-07:00

Hard to believe, but in June we went to Reagan's 3rd dance recital. This was a big year because it was Reagan's first year of tap and ballet together. So she was in 2 dances - one for tap and one for ballet.
For ballet she was a coral reef. She had ribbons around her waist and a pretty tutu with beautiful colors. She did a great job and we could just tell how much she loves to be on stage and dance. She really knew the routine and was having a great time.
For tap she was a fish - complete with an orange head covering and orange scales for her arms and legs. She just loved to tap and see how loud she could make the tap shoes be! Hopefully she'll become more talented at tap than I was (she doesn't have far to go!)
Reagan was so excited that we were there but her other guests really made her day - Grandma Loretta, Grandma Jane, Grandpa John, Cassidy, Cori and Aly. We are blessed to have such amazing family that makes our kids their priorities. Thank you!

Preschool End of Year Celebration

2010-07-14T19:21:00.000-07:00

On a Friday night in May we went to Grace Lutheran for Reagan's End of Year Celebration. She was practicing her songs for weeks and told us there was some surprises that she couldn't tell us about. The kids marched in by height - Reagan was 2nd, just behind Ava! (and then Neva & Reilly were 2 of the last kids). They were so proud to sing their songs - and they did such a great job. They knew all the words and actions - too cute!
The last song was 'May there always be...', which was sung by one of the teachers, and then each child walked up to the microphone and showed off a poster they had made of what they wanted there to always be. Needless to say, time for tissues! Some of them were funny (ice cream, baseball, etc) but there were plenty that were more sentimental (my brother, my mom, etc). Reagan said 'My Family' - yes, she is a sweet, sweet girl. On her poster she had drawn Pat, me, Reagan, Nola and then a very small stick figure which is the baby.
We then had time for desserts and conversations in the fellowship halls with all the other families. They showed a DVD of pictures from the year - so it was fun to see the kids in different activities and field trips. We took some pictures with friends and then it was time to go home.
A perfect night to celebrate amazing children - most notably, Reagan!

Last Day of Preschool

2010-07-14T19:12:00.000-07:00

After 2 amazing years, Reagan had her last day of preschool at Grace Lutheran. She had such great teachers both years and learned so much - yes, even in a play-based preschool!
They had a picnic for the kids during their last day and then it was time to pick her up. It was sad to say goodbye to Mrs. Thoms and to friends, but we will see them plenty over the summer and into the future.
Reagan was blessed to have 3 close friends, Ava, Neva and Reilly, in her class. And starting last fall, they had a rotating 'girls playdate' every Tuesday. So each mom took a turn picking up all 4 girls and then keeping them until 1:00. The girls loved their time and the moms loved it too! Not only did we get extra time for 3 weeks, but then we had great time for conversation when we picked up. These moms have become my friends, and I think I was more sad that preschool was ending than was Reagan.
It was a big decision as to where we should send Reagan (and our other children) to preschool and I know that God led us to Grace Lutheran and we are so thankful that He did.

Spring Soccer

2010-07-14T15:09:00.001-07:00

After sitting at cold games in the fall we were lucky to have some nice Saturday mornings this spring to watch Reagan play soccer again. We did have a cold day one week, but the rest were perfect.
Reagan scored a couple goals in one game and had fun each week. Even though they don't keep score, she was keeping it in her head. When she played her friend, Grant's team she was sure to keep him updated as her teams racked up the goals. I think the 'unofficial Reagan' score was 7-1.
Reagan had a great coach this year and fun kids to play with. She will miss the Blue Dolphins come this fall, but I am sure she'll have another great AYSO season.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

2010-07-14T15:04:00.000-07:00

It is always fun to celebrate Pat's birthday with the girls. This year we went to his office and took him to lunch and then celebrated with him after work. The girls helped me make his favorite - ice cream dessert. And they helped him open his music cards - their favorites! Reagan & Nola are so lucky to have such a loving, caring and amazing dad. Happy Birthday, Pat!

Preschool Art Show

2010-07-14T15:00:00.001-07:00

One of Reagan's favorite parts of preschool is crafts. So it was exciting to attend her preschool art show. Many of her, and her classmates, art projects were displayed in the classroom and the fellowship hall. It was fun to see the progress - especially the one where she drew a self-portrait in September and then again in May - it was amazing how much improvement she had made. She was so proud to show us all her work and find her name - maybe we have the next Picasso on our hands!

Reagan's new gig...Church Choir

2010-07-07T14:29:00.000-07:00

When Reagan turned 5 she was able to join the children's choir at church. She didn't miss a beat - she went the first Sunday she was 5 and the kids were singing that day. After going to the room with the rest of the kids she decided she would just go up front and sing with them - I love how she has no fear! She did a great job and loved performing (imagine that).
I didn't have my camera for her first time up front, but I was ready on Palm Sunday. She did a great job again and had fun with her friend, Will.
Nola was all dressed up - and soon enough she will be up there too.

Spring Break...in Schaumburg

2010-07-07T14:24:00.001-07:00

It didn't work out for us to travel to Florida this year for spring break so we had to come up with Plan B. Thankfully, Michelle has some extra Marriott points and gave us a night free at the Spring Hill Suites in Schaumburg. The girls and I met Pat up there (less than a mile from his office) after work one day while Reagan was on spring break.
We got into our swimsuits and headed to the pool. The girls were a little timid at first, but after about 20 minutes they were ready to go. They just loved splashing around and Reagan was doing lots of paddles and kicks.
After swimming we had dinner in our room and went to bed.
The next morning we had breakfast and then the girls and I went back to the pool when Pat left for work. We were able to swim for a few more hours before we had to check out.
We met Pat for lunch at Pompei, a family favorite, and then I took 2 very tired girls home for naps.
They loved our little get away and we'll keep that in mind for future winters when we need a break from the cold.

Easter Egg Hunt

2010-07-07T14:18:00.000-07:00

The weather wasn't the greatest for the Brookfield Easter Egg Hunt, but that worked out just fine since they held it inside this year. We met up with the Erb's to enjoy this annual event.
Nola's group was first and she found a spot with no other kids and went to town! I can't even count how many suckers she picked up, but boy was she happy.
Then it was Reagan and Cassidy's turn and they did just as well. They found some open space and just started filling their baskets.
Great morning - and so thankful it was inside instead of outside in the cold rain!

Happy St Patrick's Day

2010-07-07T14:11:00.000-07:00

Once again we enjoyed a great St Patrick's Day.
To me its just fun to take the girls pictures in their shirts and then compare with past years - good to see Nola without the cast and quite a bit more hair...wow, are they growing fast...

Reagan's Family Birthday Party

2010-07-07T14:01:00.000-07:00

To continue with the birthday festivities we had Reagan's family party at our house - which included a few friends. It was great to see everyone and just enjoy time together.
Reagan was thrilled with her presents - and most excited about all the new dresses she received. She couldn't wait for the weather to improve to wear her new fancy dresses.
We broke tradition this year and did not get a Costco cake - instead Reagan requested ice cream cake and that was a big hit!
So hard to believe Reagan is already 5. She loves school and dance. She took gymnastics in the fall at R-B with her friend Ava and loved it. She doesn't understand that she will most likely be too tall to go much further, but all that matters is that they had fun - the 2 tallest girls in the class! Reagan went to Awanas during the school year and learned many new Bible verses. She started AYSO soccer in the fall and was on the blue dolphins. Reagan had great teammates and even scored a few goals. She will continue again next fall and spring. She loves crafts, coloring, playing computer games and doing addition and subtraction in her head. She is a very sweet girl and loves spending time with her family and friends. She is a true blessing!

Blast Off...5th Birthday!!

2010-07-06T17:59:00.000-07:00

After learning about outer space at school Reagan decided that she wanted to have an outer space birthday party this year. So after a great morning at American Girl we got home in time to rest before the kids arrived.
Each friend received a space suit to wear for the party - painter coveralls that I cut to fit the kids and then we used duct tape to make them fit better. They each had their name tag and an American Flag so they felt like real astronauts.
We decorated the basement with stars and planets and used colored lights to make it look more like outer space.
They had the opportunity to make their own solar system - and thanks to my mom, mother-in-law and Christen they were put together before they went home.
We played games using 'astronaut tools' but the highlight was the pinata - in the shape of a space shuttle.
The pizza was a hit as was the cake and ice cream, of course!
It was great to watch Reagan's friends from school, church and neighborhood come together for a great night of celebrating Reagan's birthday. She is such a wonderful girl - and she is blessed to have such great friends!

American Girl Birthday!!

2010-07-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

After much anticipation, Reagan's 5th birthday arrived and with it came her first trip to the American Girl Place. Grandma Jane was able to take a day off of work to join us - which made it extra-special.
Before we had lunch we spent time just wandering around the store and seeing all the options for dolls. Reagan was going to get her first American Girl doll that day and it was quite a tough decision. First she thought she would get Julie - but once she realized she came in jeans, Julie was no longer an option. She thought about Kit for a while, but then saw she came in a skirt and that wasn't quite good enough either.
Then she spotted Felicity in her beautiftul purple dress and the decision was made - Felicity was the doll of choice.
We enjoyed a wonderful lunch - the girls didn't eat much, but they had a great time. The wait staff sang Happy Birthday to Reagan when dessert was served - which was perfect!
We looked around a little more and Reagan got a nightgown for Felicity before heading home.
Such a great way to celebrate her 5th Birthday!!

Reagan's Birthday at School and Dance

2010-07-06T08:54:00.001-07:00

Reagan was able to celebrate her birthday for several days this year - her great grandma DeVries would have been proud!
She was able to was able to wear the special birthday hat at dance class and her whole class sang to her.
Then at school, Nola and I were able to bring cupcakes and read 2 of Reagan's favorite books - Pinkalicious and a book of Nursery Rhymes (not really a favorite but it was what she picked). Reagan decorated and wrote on her poster all about herself and was able to tell the class all about it. What a great day!

Children's Museum with Daddy

2010-07-06T08:47:00.000-07:00

Since Pat was off work for President's Day we headed to Navy Pier to the Children's Museum. The girls and I had been there before but it was so fun to watch them show Pat around and have him be a part of their exploration.
We made planes to fly in the one area, pretended to fish, shopped at the store and spent a lot of time playing in the water.
The girls had fun building a structure with Pat - something I had not done with them on previous visits. And they pretended to be firefighters in the safety exhibit. They both had several turns sliding down the pole!
Reagan even overcame her fear of climbing the rope course and made it all the way to the top! Next time I am sure she will do it without any troubles!
We ended our visit with lunch and then a quiet trip home.

Christmas 2009

2010-07-05T19:30:00.001-07:00

We had a wonderful Christmas - lots of time with family and friends and watching the girls really get into the wonder of the season.
We spent Christmas Eve afternoon with Mulcrone's at our house for brunch followed by church at CCOB. It was a great service and fun to be celebrating with friends. We had Christmas Eve dinner at Scanlon's and then headed home before Santa Clause would arrive!
Christmas morning the girls were thrilled with their presents - both girls received scooters, an air mattress and a DVD player for the van. Reagan was excited with her vet kit and Nola was thrilled to open her very own Bye Bye Baby.
We then had a great day at the Scanlon's and a wonderful evening at the Mulcrone's. It was a busy two days but worth it to spend great time with our families. The day after Christmas was a nice, quiet day at home - enjoying each other and all the new stuff!

Live Nativity

2010-07-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

Our church has a live Nativity for a few days before Christmas. This year we headed there after dinner to help the girls remember the true reason for the season.
Reagan was really into it, but Nola was ready to go quite quickly. Since I was freezing (as always) I volunteered to take her home.
Pat stayed with Reagan and I am so glad they did. Reagan was able to dress up (I think as Mary) and hang out for a while in the stable. She was so excited to be part of it with her friends Will & Finn - she couldn't wait to tell Nola and I all about it.
Once our kids are a little bigger I hope that we will be part of the Nativity each year.

Gingerbread Houses...another tradition

2010-07-05T19:20:00.000-07:00

Another Christmas tradition was celebrated when we went to the Schmeltz's house to decorate Gingerbread houses. This year, thanks to Costco, the houses were already put together so all the kids had to do was decorate.
Reagan was very particular about how she decorated her house, while Nola was more interested in how much of the candy she could eat. And this year Cassidy joined us for the fun!
Reagan wanted to make sure we took a picture just like we did the first year of her and Will with their houses in front of the Schmeltz's tree - funny what she remembers!
Always a great time with great friends - a tradition we look forward to every year.

Annual Scanlon trip to the Walnut Room

2010-07-05T19:11:00.000-07:00

As is tradition, we headed downtown before Christmas to have dinner by the tree in the Walnut Room. This year was especially fun because the girls (mainly Reagan) remembered going in the past and were excited to go again. After negotiating with the hostess we were seated at 2 tables close to the tree. All of the grandkids sat with grandma and grandpa (except for Nola) and the adult kids at the next table over.
It was fun to watch the kids enjoy their time by the tree and see the fairy princess - not sure how excited Anthony or Leo was about that, but they were good sports.
We got some pictures from the next story up and then headed outside to see the windows. Each year it gets more fun as the kids start forming their own memories and favorite parts of the visit.

Chicago Club Christmas Party

2010-07-05T19:05:00.000-07:00

We were lucky to be invited by my boss to the Christmas Party at the Chicago Club downtown. The girls were dressed in their Christmas dresses and ready for a great party.
The party started with a clown making balloons - and the girls were excited with their choices. We then enjoyed a fabulous lunch - Pat & I couldn't get over all the choices and the girls were just thrilled with their hot chocolate and fancy dishes.
We waited to see Santa - Nola really didn't want to sit on his lap but Reagan was much more friendly. Hopefully next year we'll have better luck with a picture of Santa.
The highlight for Reagan came just as we were about to leave - the magician stopped by our table. He let her be his assistant and she was so excited! To watch her face light up with each trick was priceless.
We left the party with two happy girls and great memories of a fantastic party.

Dance Demonstration Day

2010-07-05T18:59:00.000-07:00

We were able to visit Reagan's dance class in December to watch how much they have learned. She just loves going to class - it was fun to see her really working those tap shoes - the louder, the better.
Nola was very excited when she was able to get out on the dance floor and dance with Reagan. Not too much longer and she will be in class by herself!
We are so proud of all that Reagan has learned - and love to watch her show off her new moves!

Where have I been?!?!

2010-04-21T15:21:00.001-07:00

I cannot believe how long it has been since I posted. I am getting ready to get many, many new posts up very soon. You know its bad when even my dad emails me to see why I haven't posted!
The first few weeks of no posts can be blamed on not feeling great and feeling that the biggest news I wanted to share I couldn't - we are having baby #3 in August. But now that I am 23 weeks and feeling great, I have no good excuse.
I will get caught up and I will keep up with this blog.
Hopefully tomorrow, but don't bet on it - I don't have the best track record...

Marshmallow

2009-12-18T11:10:00.000-08:00

In Reagan's preschool class every child gets to bring Marshmallow, the class stuffed bear, home for a weekend. We signed up the first day and I didn't realize the date I signed up for was the weekend before Thanksgiving. And since they don't have school that week we were lucky (?!?) to have Marshmallow for 11 days!
He comes with a suitcase and the first few days we took Marshmallow and the suitcase with us wherever we went. And that was no small feat since the bear was almost as big as Nola.
After a few days Reagan even moved her car seat to the back seat and put Reagan in our extra booster so he could be buckled.
Marshmallow went to Grandma Loretta and Papa's, gymnastics, Grandma Jane and Grandpa John's, Thanksgiving, church, Leo's birthday party and many stores!
Reagan was sad to bring him back to school, but maybe we'll get lucky again and get to bring him home again?!?

Weekend with Friends

2009-12-18T10:41:00.000-08:00

In November we headed to Bloomington and Peoria to visit Jodi and Shadia.
We spent Friday night and Saturday with Jodi's family. Reagan & Nola had a great time playing with Anthony and Nina. Reagan and Nina had a 'sleepover' in Nina's room and Anthony was a huge help with Nola.
We even went to the Children's Museum in Normal. It was a great place - and we could tell we weren't in the Chicago area any more - there was a large tractor and cow-milking area! The kids made crafts, climbed on their climber, tried out crutches and much more.
Shadia, Ray & Sophia joined us for dinner. As long as Jason stayed away from Sophia she was a happy baby!
Saturday night we headed to Peoria and stayed with Shadia's family until Sunday afternoon. We even got to spend time with her mom and dad. Once again, Pat loved the cooking and the girls loved playing with Sophia and Charlie - the dog.
I wish these good friends lived closer, but we enjoyed our time with them so much.
(There would have been more pictures but the battery died while we were at the Children's museum)
And Jodi even convinced me to become a Scentsy consultant - and so far, so good!

Happy Halloween!!

2009-12-18T09:42:00.001-08:00

It was great that Halloween fell on a Saturday this year. This was Pat's first time trick-or-treating with the girls. The weather was pretty nice so the girls were able to trick or treat without freezing. Nola was still napping when our neighborhood group was ready to start the candy frenzy, so Pat headed out with Reagan and friends from the neighborhood.
Reagan quickly remembered how it worked and was in the front of the pack getting as much candy as possible. Nola woke up quickly after they left and was soon ready to go herself.
Reagan was a gorgeous Ariel from the Little Mermaid and Nola was an adorable duck - quack, quack!
The girls pumpkins quickly filled up - so much so that Reagan couldn't carry her any longer. And that was just 2 blocks!
We emptied the pumpkins and headed over to Aunt MariPat and Uncle Bill's house for our annual visit there. Talk about the best Halloween house!
After getting some dinner, the girls headed out for a few more houses before the trick-or-treating was done. They had a great time and (no surprise) were not ready to go home!
The funny thing is, after Halloween they didn't ask for any candy?!? And they love candy, so not sure what happened. Maybe they think that they only get to eat it on Halloween - I'm sure that won't happen again!

Pumpkin Carving

2009-11-24T15:25:00.000-08:00

Even though we bought our pumpkins at the pumpkin patch a couple weeks before Halloween we waited until the night before to carve them. Pat's dad had surgery that day and we wanted to go visit him at home, so we had to take our pumpkins with us and carve them there.
It turned out to be a pumpkin carving party! We carved our 3 and Grandma Loretta's pumpkin as well. I carved mine and the kids pretty quickly, but Pat, being the engineer that he is, took time and precision to carve his.
Loretta toasted the pumpkin seeds, but they weren't done before we had to leave.
The girls, especially Reagan, loved carving and was excited to see the finished product. After we got them home we found candles and lit them - very cool!
I don't remember ever being able to put a candle in a pumpkin when I was younger - oh that's right, my dad was a fireman!

Dino Nites!

2009-11-24T15:15:00.000-08:00

For the past few years my whole family has come up for Boo at the Zoo. Due to busy schedules we couldn't find a day to make that work so we decided to try out Dino Nites. And we were lucky enough to have Aly and Cassidy join us.
It turned out to be a great decision - the older kids really enjoyed it and the little kids were still able to do what they wanted - play at the Hammill Play Zoo.
I didn't go on the Tram of Terror but all of the kids did - except for Nola. I heard that Uncle Mike & Uncle Sean were silly and helped with the scariness factor.
The corn maze was fun - and actually really hard. Good thing I had Nola with me, she was able to figure it out.
We ended the night dancing to the dj and warming up in the pavilions. The girls loved the music and Cassidy & Reagan were really trying to learn the Macarena but I think they need to attend a few weddings to get the hang of it.
The kids were exhausted by the time we left but it was a fun night.

Pushing Mannequins

2009-11-24T15:09:00.000-08:00

For some crazy reason I thought it was a good idea to take the girls to the mall with me. We were doing well in the first 2 stores and then went into Gap Kids. I was pretty quick about picking out the gift we needed and skirt for Reagan and hurried to the register.
While I was paying I saw that my girls were in the front window - not a big deal. Until...I looked over and saw Nola take both hands out in front of her and push the mannequin over. Before I could get over there Reagan thought her sister had a great idea and proceeded to push the other mannequin over as well.
I ran over and started yelling (in a quiet, store voice) and told them to get by the stroller. (why I didn't have Nola buckled in I will never know). I got the mannequins back up and then told the girls they had to apologize to the lady at the store.
They both said they were sorry and she said it was ok (with a half smile). I told her they were standing up and she said, 'really, do you want a job'. I declined since all I wanted to do was get my kids out of the store before they broke something I had to pay for.
So I have learned my lesson, as have they. When I was at the mall over the weekend I noticed they had taken the mannequins down and put up a tree, coincidence?!?

Pumpkin Patch

2009-11-24T15:00:00.001-08:00

Last year we never made it to the pumpkin patch but this year Reagan kept asking and I was excited to take them so we headed to Bengston's Pumpkin Farm on what turned out to be a beautiful fall day. We picked up Melissa, Landon and Anna Grace on our way and the kids couldn't wait.
The kids ran around and loved seeing the pumpkins, the dancing skeleton band (a big favorite of Reagan's) and the dancing chickens (Nola's top choice). They pumped water and got measured before watching the bunnies for quite a while.
We stopped to eat our picnic lunch while we watched the pig races - fun for the kids and adults.
Then it was time for the hay ride - minus the hay! It was fun to see the kids excitement of riding on the back of a tractor - oh the little things in life.
Before we could leave we had to explore the pumpkin patch for our pumpkins. For reference, the pumpkin patch is nowhere near the exit, so whichever pumpkins we picked would have to be carried quite a distance. I tried to convince Reagan that we could get one closer to the exit, but she wasn't giving in. So we picked a pumpkin and put it in the stroller - good thing Nola likes to walk!
We picked up smaller pumpkins for Reagan and Nola, along with some small pumpkins and gourds and then checked out.
What a great day we had - looking forward to it again next year!

Nola's Balloon Party

2009-11-24T14:51:00.000-08:00

Since Nola doesn't have much control over the TV, her exposure to shows is based on Reagan's taste so it was hard to figure out what theme to have for her birthday. But then one day we were at Costco and she saw a cake with balloons (yes, the same cake she had for her first birthday) and said she wanted a balloon birthday - so excited for the easy theme!!
So Nola had balloons and more balloons at her party. She had fun playing with all of her cousins and friends and really enjoyed opening her gifts. She was happy to give hugs to those who gave her gifts (we are trying to teach gratitude).
We had cake right about the time she should have been napping. She loved to hear everyone singing to her and was thrilled to have chocolate cake. But within minutes of starting to eat, exhaustion set in and the tears started falling. Grandma Jane put her to bed and the rest of us enjoyed the rest of her party.
We are so thankful for our family and friends who love Nola and made her 2nd birthday so special!

Nola turns 2!!

2009-11-24T14:39:00.000-08:00

So hard to believe that Nola turned 2 in September - where did the year go?? It was a busy year for her - she had ear tubes put in in November, broke her leg (really I broke her leg) in March, first airplane ride in April to Florida, loves her music class, and brings us so much joy!
Nola talks non-stop - from the time she wakes up until she talks herself to sleep. She is a smart little girl - and has everyone figured out. She has become an expert at pushing her sister's buttons. She loves to imitate everything that Reagan does and believes she can do it all.
She loves dolls - carries one with her all the time. Right now her favorite is Reagan's bye bye baby. She is asking Santa to bring her one of her own - that will make them both much happier since they won't have to share!
She had a great birthday - we met Sally & Ben at the park and they brought her a donut (chocolate with sprinkles of course). Then we picked Reagan up from school and had a girls day. We had dinner with Grandma Jane, Grandpa John and Papa - Nola loved the ham I made.
And then she opened presents - a new jumper!!! She couldn't get enough of it and still plays with it almost everyday.
We are looking forward to another fun year with Nola - more music, more dolls and more fun! We love you, Nola!!!

Bonfire

2009-10-29T12:58:00.000-07:00

Before the summer ended we were able to host one bonfire in our yard. The Erb's came to join us - and luckily they did because we don't have sticks (must invest in them before next time). The girls loved making S'mores - or really they just loved burning the marshmallows in the fire.
Their attention span wasn't too long, but they still talk about it and can't wait to have another.

Time to Dance

2009-10-29T12:56:00.000-07:00

Reagan started dancing again this fall - and is very excited because now she gets to take ballet and tap. She is tapping away and loving every minute of it.
Hope she has more grace than her mom did.

Kiddie Land - the End of an Era

2009-10-29T12:33:00.000-07:00

The big new story this summer was that Kiddie Land was closing for good. We had never taken our kids but thought we better make it happen because this was our last opportunity.
The Schmeltz family joined us for what turned out to be one of the best nights of our summer. The kids loved it from the time they stepped onto the first ride until we dragged them out at closing time.
There was no fear of any ride - the faster the better - especially for Nola. And our girls, benefiting from our height - were able to ride almost every ride there. They started with the cars then moved on to the elephants, back to the cars, spinning rides, airplanes, swings, slides, bumper cars, carousel, and finished off with the roller coaster.
We did take time to stop for dinner - typical amusement park fare. But there was a highlight near the end when Reagan and Nola had their first taste of cotton candy. And now they are hooked.
It was so fun to watch the kids ride the rides with their dear friends, Will & Finn. They stuck together and couldn't have had a better time.
It is sad that it is now closed because our girls just loved it!
It reminded me of going to Santa's Village when we were growing up. And in keeping with that tradition - they did not get sweatshirts!

DeVries day at the Zoo

2009-10-29T12:27:00.000-07:00

Living so close we go to the zoo frequently during the summer. But its always more fun to go with someone - especially when its family! We joined my Aunt Karen, Kristin & Kelly and all the kids at the zoo in August.
The kids had all been together a bunch this summer so it was fun to take them to a fun place and enjoy time together.
Its also fun to get the perspective of the older kids - interesting thoughts and ideas (and funny). We even went in the Australia hose - and after seeing all those bats hanging from the ceiling I know why I don't go in there more often.
We had a picnic lunch - complete with geese. And had time to spend in the play zoo. All the kids got their faces painted - which is still Reagan and Nola's favorite part of going to the zoo.
Nola was asleep before we got home (the mile ride home tired her out) - but the girls had such a great time playing with their cousins they didn't want it to end.

Good times with Ella

2009-10-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

For many months Nola referred to all children her age as 'Ella' - my dear friend Michelle's little girl's name. So any time spent with Ella is a great time in deed. This summer we ventured to Navy Pier with Michelle and Ella to explore the Chicago Children's Museum.
It was so fun to watch the girls play and figure out all the museum had to offer - and wonder why they didn't have these cool places when we were growing up!
The girls loved the block party area - complete with stage to be a band, carts to sell hot dogs and ice cream and so much more. They got wet in the water area and bowled a little.
We even got to do the parachute with balls!
What a great day it was - and the girls can't wait to go back soon.

Nikki

2009-09-04T15:18:00.000-07:00

This summer was fun but it was also a very sad time for our family. My dear cousin, Nikki, passed away on August 4, 2009 after a 19 year battle with brain cancer. I really didn't know how to write about this time and what I should say but I can't blog about our lives and not include her passing. Growing up we spent Sunday afternoons at my grandma & grandpa DeVries' house with Nikki's family so we really did grow up together. We went to Chetek, WI for family vacations when we were younger - we even went to the eye doctor together (Dr Z). She was my cousin and in many ways like a little sister to me. Even though we were only 18 months apart, Nikki was always 'younger' and her and I had a special relationship. I still remember going to her house to ask her to be in our wedding - she was so excited and I was so happy she said yes!
Since I graduated from college I started going with Nikki and our parents to the Ride for Kids (motorcycle ride to benefit pediatric brain tumors). First one I went to was in Elgin, then we went for a few years to Northbrook, then to Barrington and the last two years we went to South Bend. The best part of going to South Bend was that we spent the night there and would go swiming and then out to dinner the night before and then go to the ride in the morning. And before we could head home we had to have lunch - Nikki's orders :)
I am so thankful for all the time I got to spend with Nikki. Sure, I wish I could have had more time with her but I thank God that Pat, Reagan & Nola all got to know Nikki and love her as I did.
Nikki had a faith that truly exemplified 'childlike faith'. Nikki should be a role model to each of us as we journey through our life - that no matter what God gives us to endure, we must trust in Him and know that he is God.
There was an underlying peace surrounding our family the last several weeks, days and hours of Nikki's life. Its not something I can put into words, but I know without a doubt that this peace comes from God and trusting that He is in control and the way to eternal life. Nikki would be so happy to know that even just one person turned their life over to God after knowing her or even just hearing her story - she knew where she was going when God called her home. I hope we all can say we know where we are going when He call us.

Garden update

2009-09-04T15:12:00.000-07:00

To say our garden was a success in an understatement. After not knowing if anything would grow in the unknown soil we have been pleasantly surprised that all of our vegetables have grown! (the pictures are from July)
We have had tons and tons of tomatoes - mostly cherry tomatoes for my salad and they are so yummy. We did get a lot of squash and zucchini but they were really seedy so I didn't use too many of those. We also harvested some green beans and just a few sugar snap peas - the squash plants overtook the pea plants, unfortunately.
We now have the most amazing sunflowers - taller than our garage - and planted from seed.
My grandpa DeVries would be very proud - just hope he can't see all the weeds I haven't picked!

Zoo Camp

2009-09-04T15:07:00.000-07:00

In July Reagan attended Zoo camp for one week in the mornings. She was so excited to wear her green t-shirt and bring her water bottle with her. One of her friends was also in her class - so that made it even better.
She loved going every day and came home exhausted! They did a ton of walking and learned a ton as well. They got to go to Dinosaurs Alive, ride the Carousel and ride the motor safari. The last day their teachers painted their faces (and did much better than I could have ever done) and they put on a little show for the parents for the last few minutes of camp.
I was amazed at how much she learned and how much she enjoyed herself. We go to the zoo quite frequently but zoo camp was the best time at the zoo ever!

Swing, Swing, Swing

2009-09-04T15:03:00.000-07:00

Last summer our friends called to tell us their neighbors were selling a large Little Tikes treehouse for $25 so we rushed over to the other side of town and snatched it up. The girls (and their friends) have had a great time climbing in it and going down the slide but we were missing the best part.
So their amazing dad built a swingset for the other side of the treehouse. We now have 2 swings and the girls couldn't be happier.
Nola is very possesive of her swing (imagine that) but Reagan shares nicely and they have spent many hours on their swings this summer. Thanks Pat, for giving them this great gift!

Happy Birthday, Finn!

2009-09-04T14:53:00.001-07:00

Back in July we had a wonderful day at the aquarium celebrating Finn's birthday. It was a beautiful, sunny day - perfect to head into the city. The aquarium was quite full, but we still had a great time and the kids were enjoying every minute. The new kids area downstairs was really cool - and the kids explored all of the exhibits down there.
We had a great picnic lunch on the lakefront - you can't beat that! The kids ran around and squirted water at each other - and us. Reagan was happy to see the Sears Tower and Nola was just happy to run around.
It was a great day with great friends. Hard to believe Finn turned 2 - which means Nola won't be 1 for much longer.

Play Ball!

2009-09-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

This summer Reagan played T-ball through our local YMCA - and I was lucky enough to be the assistant coach. She really loved playing and would get so excited when family and friends came to her games. She had 2 weeks of practice and then the games began. Everyone got to bat and the last player to bat would run all the way around the bases. It didn't take Reagan too long to figure that out and soon was requesting to be the last batter at least once per game. She also wanted to play first base - because that is where the ball was always thrown to. She did not want to be in the pitcher position (no one pitched - but someone was in that positions) because they had to wear a helmet and mask. Not her thing.
It was fun to coach and experience this with her. And she was very excited that I was her coach.
They made the teams by preschool so Reagan knew a few players on her team - which was nice. And we got to see them every week. By the end of the season Reagan was doing a great job hitting the ball off the tee and running the bases. She even improved on her throwing - at least now she is stepping with the correct foot.
I think we'll sign her up again next summer - and I'll probably sign myself up to. Can't beat the free t-shirt!!

Pool Day

2009-08-02T19:35:00.000-07:00

This summer has not been a warm one - average temp is under 70 - so we haven 't gotten much use out of our pool pass. But last week we did get to go swim at Uncle Sean's house in his heated pool! Reagan & Nola had a great time swimming with their cousins and Reagan was proud to announce that this year she can touch the bottom step on the ladder into the pool. Nola loved getting on the dolphin and then chasing the ball around the pool with Reilly. It was a fun day - and of course, they were not ready to go home. But naps were needed and we headed home. Hopefully we'll have some more time there before this summer ends. Maybe we'll be swimming into October - hoping for an indian summer!

Cinderella

2009-08-02T19:29:00.000-07:00

Ever since Reagan was Cinderella for Halloween I have been trying to find a play of Cinderella to take her to. (she did get to go with Cori & Cassidy but I had to miss) So a few weeks ago I got tickets for her, Nola, myself and my mom to go see Cinderella. We were one of only a few families there - it was mostly summer camp groups. This meant we got great seats - front row! - since we only needed 3 seats.
Reagan and Nola just loved the show - the music was great as were the actors. They came into the audience and had the kids sing along, so it was a great time.
After the play Reagan did not want to get her picture taken with Cinderella - but she was very excited to get a 'magic wand'. Of couse, we needed 2 so Nola could join in on the fun.
Such a fun day - can't wait for the next play!

Happy Birthday America!

2009-07-31T08:56:00.000-07:00

After our family fun day we had a chance to rest and then to headed to Lisle for the Eyes to the Sky Hot Air Balloon Festival and fireworks. My mom and dad joined us - which was great because my dad has always wanted to take a hot air balloon ride. The weather was great and we were able to get good parking - thanks to my dad.
We met the Goy's when we got there and then headed into the field to see the balloons up close. There was a storm coming in later that night so they couldn't fly but we were able to get really close to them. The kids loved it - especially the very large Energizer Bunny balloon and the pink bunny ear hat they were giving away.
We were able to see a balloon get blown up from the beginning. It was a beautiful balloon and very cool to see it start off flat and grown into an amazing large balloon. When it was almost up they needed 4 people to stand in the basket to keep it from floating away and my dad was quick to volunteer. Nola though he should 'get out now' but he enjoyed being in there - even if it was quite hot!
All of the balloons lit up before being brought down. We sat down for a while and waited for the fireworks to begin.
The show was ok - nothing to write home about - but the kids loved it and that's what matters. Maybe next year we'll take them downtown and have them experience the great fireworks and amazing crowds - might be tough to convince their dad, but we'll work on it!
On the 4th of July we woke up to a little rain. Reagan said she didn't want to go to the parade in the rain so we met the Scanlon family at Tony's for breakfast (Pat & I were very happy to miss the parade so we could have great breakfast!)
That afternoon we had a party at our house - still raining, but we had a good time. Pat was quite the trooper and cooked on the grill in the rain. It was a fun day - hoping for better weather next year!

Family Fun Day

2009-07-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

With the 4th of July being on a Saturday, Pat didn't have to work on the 3rd so we decided to have a family fun day and take the girls to Pirate Cove in Elk Grove Village. It was a beautiful, sunny day and it wasn't too crowded.
We started off on the ferris wheel and then the girls tried out the train where they have to turn the handles to make it go (or the workers used a pole to push them along) Nola was thrilled to be on the 'horsey' and then enjoyed being on the train. We thought we would have to pry her off, but she was fairly cooperative.
Then we headed to the potato sack slide. I got to go the first time and then Pat got his turn. I remember going on those slides with my dad - so it was fun to experience it with the girls. They really enjoyed it and wanted to go again. But we moved on to the jumpy house - they can never get enough jumping!
Next on the list of things to do was to ride the train. While I ran to the bathroom they took several rides on the train - changing seats each time for a new perspective. Good thing there wasn't much of a line!
Our last stop on the first time around was the bumper boats. The girls did a great job waiting in a long line until it was finally their turn. Similar to the train, they had to use their arms to make the boat move. Nola didn't get her boat moving too much but had a blast. Once Reagan got it figured out she was moving all over the pond - frontwards, backwards, fast and slow!
They were having so much fun that we went back on some of the rides. We did a little climbing in the park area and Reagan really liked the dragon slide - Nola not so much.
After 2 1/2 hours we decided to head out and get some lunch for the girls and get them home for a nap before we headed out to celebrate the 3rd of July. We had such a great time - no rushing, no schedule to follow, just time together enjoying summer - can never have too much of that.

Reagan's special day

2009-07-22T21:41:00.000-07:00

Ever since I went to Pik a Pot n Paint with MOPS Steering Team Reagan has been begging me to take her there. I explained that we would have to go a day that Nola was somewhere else because she was too little to go with us.
On the last day of VBS Nola was spending the day with Grandma Jane, so that afternoon Reagan and I went to Pik a Pot n Paint. I was concerned that they wouldn't have air conditioning and it was one of the 5 hot days we have had this summer - but it was plenty cool and she was too excited to notice.
Reagan couldn't decide what to paint. She looked and looked (and looked) - and finally decided on a unicorn. It was actually pretty fun to watch her look at all of the options and tell me why that would be good - or if maybe Nola could do it - or we could make it for Daddy for Christmas, etc. After the big decision was made she picked out her colors and was ready to start painting.
She just loved being there - she would use one brush for a while and then switch to a new brush. And then to another. When she finished painting we cleaned up and were ready to get some lunch. But before we could leave she needed to take one more look around.
We headed to Pompei for lunch where we sat outside and enjoyed the summer weather and time for just Reagan and mom - what fun!
I think we have found a great place for special days - and soon Nola will be able to join us. Watch out Pik a Pot N Paint!!

Gooooaaalll

2009-07-22T21:32:00.000-07:00

This spring/early summer Reagan played soccer in Riverside's rec program. She was on the blue team and really enjoyed herself. The first half hour would be spent on drills and practice and they would then play a game during the second half hour.
The first few weeks were fine but then Reagan really started to get a better grasp of the game and really started playing. By the last 2 weeks she was scoring goals and showing some fine soccer skills (must get them from her dad).
It was fun to see her enjoy playing and get better each week. Now we are on a break from soccer to play T-ball (posting soon) and then in the fall she starts AYSO - should be fun!

Just Tri It

2009-07-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

On the 2nd Saturday of June I competed in the Subaru Women's Sprint Triathlon in Naperville. I did the race last year and really enjoyed it (weird, I know) so I decided to do it again. So after 9 weeks of training I got up very early (before 5 am) and headed to pick up Nancy and head to Naperville. The weather was great - not too hot and no rain. The water temp was barely 70 so I rented a wetsuit - which made it very bearable.
Pat and the girls arrived right before I started - great inspiration to have them there to support me. So, not sure why, I lined up in the front of my wave for the swim start. I started out way too fast but my competitive juices were flowing and I didn't want to go slower than last year. By the first buoy I had gotten into a good pace and had a good swim. When I got out I was able to see Pat, Reagan & Nola while I ran to the transition area.
After finding my bike (took a moment) I got out of the wetsuit (was glad it came off ok) and headed out on my bike (which is my 10-speed from 8th grade graduation). I had trained many, many hours on the bike and wanted to make sure I improved on my time. The ride was good - just some tough wind when turning the corner to head back in. Nothing too eventful besides avoiding the landscaping truck that somehow got on the race course.
Back into transition and off to run. I was pretty nervous about the run after re-injuring my hip a week and a half before the race, but it held up fine. A little sore when I started, but soon I was in a rhythm and out on the course. It is great to have so many people along the course cheering for everyone - not just who they know. I had good run and strong finish - so I was thrilled.
My mom and dad had arrived while I was racing so they were also at the finish line. It was fun to see my friends, who also raced, at the finish line.
Reagan was quick to take my medal and still thinks I won! (not going to take that away from a 4 year old) The girls were tired after getting up early, but I am so glad Pat got them there to see the race. Reagan told me that when she gets older she is going to do triathlons - how cool would that be.
So no more training this summer - just running when I want, where I want and for as long as I want. The training schedule was great - I was 8 minutes faster this year - but its nice to be on my own and not have to follow any schedule for the summer (except the pool schedule).

Dance, Dance, Dance

2009-06-18T15:20:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was Reagan's 2nd dance recital - and do you think she was excited? The day before she asked me, 'Mom, are you ready for the big day?' and I was! Last year Nola was not even a year old so my mom came with me to dress rehearsal, but this year I thought I could handle it - not great thinking on my part. Reagan was ready to go and hung out with her friends. Nola and I sat in the front row and before long she was attempting to climb on to the stage. She also ran to the other side of the auditorium, but one of the girl's sister brought her back. Reagan's rehearsal went great and then we just had to wait...for the Big Day!
Due to the never-ending rain in Chicago, Reagan's soccer game was cancelled on Saturday morning so that gave her time to rest and be ready. I got her dressed when Pat and my dad headed to LT to get good seats.
Reagan was excited to see both of her grandmas and grandpas and so happy that it was finally time for her to dance on stage again.
I got her settled into the room with her class - and got some pictures. Before I left Aly, Cori & Cassidy stopped in so I was able to get pictures with them as well. Reagan was happy to be with her teachers and friends and we were happy to get in our 4th row seats (nice job Pat & dad).
The great thing about this show is that it is only 30 minutes long - nice and sweet. Nola loved watching the girls and had plenty of space to do her own twirls and movement.
When Reagan's class came on - Reagan leading the way - we all got to see their cute Rolie Polie costumes. Reagan and all of her friends did a great job and they had so much fun on stage.
At the end all of the dancers were on stage for their bows. Reagan was thrilled to do her amazing bow - a great end to a great year of dance.
Next year we start ballet and tap...watch out!!

Survivor Walk

2009-06-08T15:50:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we woke the girls and headed downtown for Northwestern Hospital's Cancer Survivor Celebration and Walk. We parked at the hospital and took a trolley to the walk. The girls had fun playing with a dog while we waited for the trolley and thought the trolley ride was fantastic!
The walk had started when we got to the park, so we got our rain gear on and headed out for the walk. (After being so cold the previous day we were prepared for all weather!) Reagan thought she would walk for a while, but since it was a 4-mile path we knew the walking would be short lived, and it was.
Along the walk there were water stations set up and in addition to giving us water they were giving out fans, dolphin key chains, leys, and suckers. Such smart planning for a walk with a lot of kids. The girls loved their goodies and were fascinated by the boats in Lake Michigan. We stopped by the lake and got our picture taken and then continued on.
Also along the walk were banners with pictures of survivors, their names, disease and then a quote. We knew that Nikki had a banner so Reagan was searching for Nikki's banner all morning. We were almost to the turnaround on the walk when we found Nikki's banner. How cool was it to see her smiling face as we walked. We obviously stopped to take pictures and other walkers took our picture for us.
On the way back we saw one of the survivors standing next to his banner and his family and friends were taking pictures (and so did we).
When we got back to the park the girls went right into the jumpy house. It was a great way to end the walk - Pat and I had burned lots of energy walking but they had been sitting a lot. While they jumped I walked over to take a picture of the Survivors. They invite all of the survivors to come to the stage - what a sight to see all those purple shirts and know that they all had overcome their cancers - quite emotional.
The girls then took a couple turns on the bouncy slide - Nola held up the line for a while but couldn't understand the concept of waiting in line.
We then had a little picnic. All walkers received a Subway sandwich, pretzels, cookies, banana and water. We had a good break and then waited in line FOREVER to get a blue monkey made out of a balloon.
We did have to wait a while to get a trolley back to our van, but that's ok. The girls were excited to be downtown and Reagan loved being so close to the Searses (her words) Tower. Only drama was when the blue monkey balloon broke right before we got on the trolley.
Unfortunately Nikki was not able to walk with us because she was still in the hospital. I know she wanted to see her banner - but I did tell her she would have had to walk a long time to see it! Luckily I was able to go to the hospital yesterday to see her and show her the pictures. Not quite like being there, but at least she could see a glimpse of an amazing event.
Please keep Nikki in your prayers as she had an MRI today and will get results this week. It was quite a declaration of her faith to see the quote she had on her banner 'Trust in God, he will take care of you.' I pray we all can have her faith.

Picnic in the Rain

2009-06-08T15:38:00.000-07:00

Every year we attend the Mulcrone-O'Donnell picnic the first Saturday of June. We have had years when it is so hot we are looking for air conditioning and then there was this year. We left our house and the temperature was about 65. The hope was that Nola would nap on the way to the picnic, but she had other plans. So I dropped Pat & Reagan off at the picnic and drove around to get Nola to nap. What a waste of gas! We were back in about 15 minutes and she was not giving in to my plan. When we got back it was really raining. Thankfully I found Reagan's umbrella in the van and Pat Sr. came to my rescue with a big umbrella.
Reagan & Nola thought the rain was great - fun to splash in and the perfect excuse to play with umbrellas.
Eventually the rain did stop but the temperature never rebounded. We were all in sandals and capris or shorts. After another hour I gave in and drove to Marshall's to buy socks for the 4 of us. Not making a great fashion statement I put on the socks with my flip flops and instantly felt warmer. Things got even better when Micky got back with a couple boxes of Dunkin Donuts coffee - yeah!
Reagan was having a great time playing with the other kids that were close to her age. They had bags of candy and bubbles (which Nola wouldn't put down). They ran around in the field, played with sidewalk chalk and Reagan even did the egg toss. Nola was busy climbing in and out of someone's stroller and putting on their hat.
Micky brought out his accordian and he quickly had a groupie - Nola! She thought that was pretty cool and was trying to figure out how it works. While he played she listened for a while and then tried pushing some of the buttons. What fun!
By about 7 we headed home - we all needed to warm up and the girls were in desparate need of a good bath. The picnic was a huge success - fun to watch the girls play with some distant cousins and completely enjoy themselves. We'll see if we have 90 degree weather for next year.

How the Garden Grows

2009-06-08T10:46:00.001-07:00

After 3 years of trying to get the area ready the Mulcrone family finally has a vegetable garden. We cleared out the area next to our garage - taking out rocks, weeks and other fun things. Reagan was so excited to plant - she couldn't wait.
So the Sunday after Mother's Day our work was complete and we were able to plant. We planted a lot - don't think we allowed enough room in between plants, but we'll see.
We planted squash and tomato plants and then squash, beans, sugar snap peas, watermelon and sunflower seeds. And I am happy to report that we have lots of plants coming up! Reagan and Nola enjoy watering - although we haven't had to do too much watering with all the rain we have had.
We also planted some flower seeds in pots and they are growing as well.
Now we are ready for some hot weather to be outside and enjoy the progress. And we (well, mostly me) can't wait to have fresh vegetables ready to pick and eat!

Memorial Day Parade

2009-06-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

Reagan had been looking forward to the Memorial Day Parade since last year - who would have known that a parade in South Holland would be so much fun!
The girls were lucky enough to spend the night at grandma & grandpa's the night before so they were ready for the excitement. We had to change them into their American Flag dresses (yes, Reagan is still obsessed with American flags!) but then it was time to enjoy the parade.
They had their chairs and their bags for candy and were ready to go. Nola didn't know what to think at first but once she saw the older kids getting a lot of candy - she was in!
Reagan was most excited about the candy and Nola loved the music on one of the VBS floats - she was literally dancing in the streets.
It was a much cooler year, which was nice but it did start to rain when the parade ended so we were in the house the rest of the day.
We are already on the countdown until next year...

Sophia Rae

2009-06-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

In life we hope to have true friendships - and God has blessed me with many - but there is one friendship that I have had before I even knew how to be a friend. Shadia and I were hanging out at Willowbrook with our moms and older siblings when we were too young to even play together. We went to school together from kindergarten through high school and have remained close friends since then.
So it was an exciting day when I found out that her baby, Sophia Rae, had been born. Now that Shadia lives in Peoria we don't get to see each other that often, but I had to figure out a way to get to the hospital to see her and meet Sophia.
Luckily I have another great friend, Michelle, who offered to watch my girls so I could make the trip to Peoria. It was a quiet trip - I actually got to pick what I listened to the entire time!
All I can say is that Sophia is GORGEOUS! She looks just like Shadia and has more hair than most of my family's children had when they turned 2. She is a sweet baby and I couldn't put her down - I just wanted to hold her and kiss her sweet head.
Shadia was doing good and trying not to laugh - didn't want to hurt the incisions. Her motherlly instincts had set in and she is a great mom.
It was just so good to see her, Ray, Sophia and her mom. We had a great time just hanging out and I even got to be there for Sophia's bath.
The time flew by and soon it was time for me to get back on the road. I wish we lived closer together, but we are already planning another trip down there - this time Reagan and Nola can come - they can't wait to meet Sophia!

Mommy Time

2009-06-02T14:41:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the end of our MOPS year our Steering Team had a night out at PikaPot and Paint in Elmhust. It was so fun to hang out and chat without interruptions and little people needing something.
We honored those who had served 2 years and the rest of us just enjoyed being with them. Now I am not the most creative person, but I did have fun painting my new coffee mug (and it actually turned out cute). Some others (Michelle & Amy) really took the creativity factor to a new level and made an amazing platter and plate - wish I had pictures of those to share.
MOPS has been such a big part of my life since I had Reagan. I have had a chance to serve on Steering Team for 4 years and look forward to at least one more. Its just so great to be with other moms who are going through the same things - diapers, temper tantrums, new words, long days - all together. These women are amazing and I am so blessed to be walking through life with them.

Day at the Gardens with Grandma

2009-06-02T10:15:00.000-07:00

We enjoy many days at the zoo because we are members and live so close. But 2 weeks ago we had the opportunity to go with Grandma to Chicago Botanic Gardens and enjoy her membership! We picked Cassidy up in the morning and then picked up Grandma on our way. It was an absolutely perfect day to be outside and enjoy the beauty of God's creation.
I had never been there and was quite impressed with all the gardens had to offer. The flowers were unbelievable and even their vegetable gardens were pretty.
The girls liked the flowers - we had to remind Nola not to pick the flowers - but the highlight for them was the abundance of fountains! There were some I was afraid they might fall into, but Grandma knew where there were good ones that they could put their hands in and not risk falling in.
On the way out we stopped at the fountain they could put their feet in. Another huge hit!
The girls also were excited to see ducks swimming in one of the ponds. They were asking the ducks to swim closer, but for some reason they didn't listen. We sat to rest at one point and there was a duck sitting less than 10 feet from us, so that kept them occupied for quite a while.
We ate our lunch outside on the deck - underneath a weeping willow. There were many small birds landing around us - which kept the girls busy.
It was such a perfect day - wonderful weather, beautiful sights to see, fun times together. Looking forward to another visit soon - can't wait to see what they plant in the summer.

Preschool Picnic

2009-06-01T16:01:00.000-07:00

It feels like it was just yesterday that I was taking Reagan to preschool for the first time and now her first year of school is over. We had a great time at her end-of-the-year picnic. The kids were able to play in the park with their friends for about an hour. Then we headed up to the pavilion for prayers and lunch. It was a little cool under the pavilion so we ended up eating on the ground outside in the sun.
We feel so blessed that she had such a great experience - amazing teachers, fun kids and great parents. Glad she has another year there - just wish she was with all the same kids and teachers, but that's not possible.
After lunch the kids and parents sang songs and played games with the big parachute. It was fun to see the kids enjoy each other so much - and Nola was so glad to be a part of the fun!
The teachers received aprons with all of the kids' names embroidered on them as well as a few pictures of things they did on their field trips - a fire truck, a barn, etc. They were so excited and the kids were excited to find their names on the aprons.
The teachers gave the kids each a bucket with a shovel - a big hit in our house.
Reagan said good-bye to her friends and teachers and we started our summer. Looking forward to next year but ready for a long summer of fun in the sun together.

A Mother's Day to Remember

2009-05-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I wonder why we try to plan 'perfect' days when we have children. Such was the case on Mother's Day. Our girls went to bed on Saturday night with fevers so we knew we couldn't take them to church. Pat and I stayed up late watching the Blackhawks knowing we wouldn't have to get up early. Or we thought...Reagan came into our room at 6:30 - after Pat told her it was still the middle of the night I went to lay with her in her bed, hoping for more sleep for both of us. But at 7:15 she was in the bathroom getting sick - Happy Mother's Day to me.
Got her settled with some Sprite and good TV shows and hung out for the morning. I tried to make banana bread but our oven needs to be cleaned so it was smoking too bad. Luckily my great neighbor let me borrow their oven. On the way back from taking it to their house I realized that our lawn was the only one on the block that hadn't been cut yet. So I changed and mowed the lawn - but that is something I actually enjoy donig. After getting Reagan settled, Nola and I went to my parents' to have lunch. They had picked up Maggiano's - so lunch was fantastic! We had a great afternoon - Nola loved being outside with her cousins.
Then we brought Grandma Jane back to our house (Grandpa came in his car) so that Reagan could see her for Mother's Day. Reagan was still fevering a little bit, but was glad to celebrate the day as best she could. It was a great day - I am so blessed to be a mom - and to have the most wonderful girls as my daughters!

Mother's Day Tea

2009-05-20T07:56:00.000-07:00

Reagan's preschool held a great, Mother's Day tea. Nola and I arrived with the other moms to be greeted by our children and brought to tables for a treat. Nola had the brownie bite finished before the prayer - but that was ok. We also had apples and grapes and could choose from apple juice and iced tea to drink. It was fun to be in the classroom and enjoy watching Reagan interact with her friends and teachers and enjoy being a mom.
After the treat, the kids lined up and sang several songs for us. Reagan was so excited to be performing (imagine that). She might not have been singing too loud, but she was doing the actions in her very dramatic way. So fun to see!
They gave us cute gifts Reagan had made and sunflower seeds (which are now part or our garden). It was a great morning - so thankful for her preschool experience!

Happy Birthday, Pat!

2009-05-20T07:37:00.001-07:00

When I first met Pat I was very excited to find out his birthday was Cinco de Mayo - because I knew I would never forget it. So when May 5th rolled around we were excited to celebrate with him. The girls and I (including Cassidy) went to Pat's office and took him out to lunch. (Sidenote - we had to stop at home after preschool to get a pretty dress for Reagan to wear because she couldn't imagine going to visit her dad on his birthday and NOT be in a dress) We had a great lunch at Buona Beef and then stopped in to say hi to some of his friends at work.
In the afternoon the girls and I took naps and got ready for his celebration. Papa Pat, Grandma Jane and Grandpa John joined us for Giron's pizza and ice cream cake. Pat requested chocolate ice cream cake with both chocolate and caramel sauce - and he was delighted! As were his daughters - Nola couldn't get enough!
He received some steaks (yum), memory for his tablet, and Bamboo for the computer (don't quite know how it works, but he does) and a t-shirt from the Ft Myers tea party.
The girls loved his musical card they game him - and danced around to 'Go Daddy Go'. It was a great night - happy to celebrate another birthday with my amazing husband.

Happy Birthday, Hannah!

2009-05-19T19:11:00.001-07:00

The 2nd of May is a special day - it is Hannah's birthday. This year it fell on a Saturday so we were able to celebrate with her on her day. It was a nice day so the kids got to play outside most of the time. Sean did trip Reagan, but we have decided not to sue :)
Hannah was excited to by 6 and had a great time at her party. It was fun to see her having so much fun and enjoying being the birthday girl!

Congratulations, Dan

2009-05-19T19:06:00.000-07:00

Dan celebrated his confirmation in April. We had a great time at his party - it was fun to celebrate with him. Nola loved chasing Chester, their dog, around the house. Reagan was thrilled to be playing dress-up with Shannon and her other nieces.
Hard to believe I had no pictures of Dan - but plenty of the girls!
We'll get some pictures of Dan at his graduation party (hopefully).

More Florida Fun

2009-05-19T18:46:00.000-07:00

Its so hard to put into words what a wonderful vacation we had. The weather was perfect - only rained one evening - the girls were great (took long naps), we relaxed, we ate great food, enjoyed some of the best ice cream ever, and Pat & I even got a date night.
Our mornings would be low-key with playing, eating breakfast outside and then getting ready for the pool or beach. We would then be in the water until lunch time. Nola would usually go in earlier with one of us for her lunch and nap and the rest of us stayed with Reagan. By the end of the week Reagan was jumping into the pool by herself -
There was a small park close to the house, so we went there one morning while we waited for it to warm up a little. The girls loved the swings and slides, but were most excited to pet the dog that came walking by with its owner. Pat and Reagan did try to play frisbee - it was a great attempt.
In the afternoons we rested, read, watched TV, whatever we felt like. Then we would get ready to go out to dinner. We ate at great restaurants every night. My favorite was the Fish Monger where I enjoyed stone crabs for the first time - Delicious! Nola and Reagan loved their fish tanks and the chocolate mousse - fun to watch Nola eat it with her hands. But since we were coming from a very long, cold Chicago winter, we did try to eat every meal outside if possible.
One afternoon Pat, Reagan & I attend the Tea Party in Ft Myers. It was a political demonstration against the government's taxes. We hung out in the back so Reagan could play at the jungle gym and the swing. It was one of the highlights of our trip for Pat.
Usually at the end of a vacation I am ready to go home, but not this time. I was trying to figure out how we could stay a few more days - more fun in the sun and pool, but it didn't happen. We had an uneventful trip home (except for a very unhappy flight attendant who didn't like kids) and quickly settled back into life at home. We were only home a few hours when Reagan asked, 'can we go swimming today'. Unfortunately I had to tell her no, since it was about 40 degrees and raining. But that afternoon I got online and started looking up pools to join for this summer. We are now signed up and awaiting the opening on Saturday! (won't be warm enough to get there on opening day but the first hot day after that you know where to find us!)

Beaches, Beaches, Beaches

2009-05-17T13:04:00.001-07:00

After 2 days at the pool we decided to change things up and head to Ft Myers Beach. After packing up the van (thanks Pat) we headed out for a great day on the beach. Maureen and Roy had recommended an area of the beach to try, so we did. It was a perfect day for the beach - mid 80's and sunny. The water was really warm and the girls loved playing in the sand. The waves were a litter bigger than Reagan would have liked, but she did get in the ocean. Pat took her past where the waves were breaking and she did some swimming.
2 days later we headed to Barefoot Beach in Bonita Springs. First of all, the houses we passed to get to the beach were unbelievable! Reagan thought one was Cinderella's house. The beach was filled with seashells - Reagan loved it! She picked out so many shells we weren't able to bring all fo them back with us. The waves were calmer so she spent a lot of her time swimming in the ocean. The water was a little cooler than Ft Myers Beach, but still comfortable. Nola loved digging in the sand and getting a little wet from the ocean. She was most happy on the blanket, under the umbrella, having a snack!
Right before we left Reagan and I built a sandcastle. It was fun and she was, of course, making up a good story about who lived in the castle. As we were building one of the beach patrol came up and asked me if Reagan had sunscreen on because she was looking very red. I explained that she was wearing 50! (guess he hadn't seen any Irish people lately!!)
It was so fun to watch the girls enjoy the beach and ocean. We had so much fun at the beaches - looking forward to getting to some beaches this summer.

Florida!!!

2009-05-15T09:12:00.000-07:00

After a great morning at church, we went to Tony's (our favorite local breakfast place) for a late breakfast. Uncle Bill picked us up around 12:30 and we were off to Midway.
The girls loved running around the airport as we waited for Grandma and Grandpa. The check-in and security went smoothly and we were on our way!
We did not buy a seat for Nola, but lucked out because there was an empty seat in our row. We had hoped she would nap on the way down there, but were sadly mistaken. Reagan did great on the plane (and great for us she sat next to the window and grandma the whole time!)
When we got to Ft Myers you could just feel the warm weather - fabulous!
We got our luggage and as we were loading the van Nola finally fell asleep.
We had time to get a little settled in the house and then headed to Bahama Breeze for dinner. We ate outside and there was live music that kept the girls entertained. They were happy to be dancing and running - with no coats!!
The next morning, after a quick trip to the grocery store, we headed to the pool! Reagan couldn't wait to get in and start swimming. And either could Nola - she thought she could walk right into the pool and ended up under water. Being her tough self, she came up and shook it off with no tears!
The girls loved the water - Reagan was swimming by herself (with her floats) and loving every minute. Nola thought she could swim by herself but we had to slow her down.
We ate dinner at Pirate Key - a favorite from our last visit 2 years ago. Great food and, more importantly, live music with a large dance area. After we ordered Pat and grandpa took them dancing and when dinner was finished they headed right back to the dance floor. Reagan made a friend to dance with and Nola found a little boy to chase.
We had a great night - and had to drive quickly so we could get to the Love Boat - the amazing ice cream store - before it closed. Grandpa got us there in time and we all enjoyed amazing ice cream. Off to bed before another fun day in the sun...

Here comes the Easter Bunny...

2009-05-15T08:55:00.001-07:00

After the MOPS Easter Egg hunt Nola and I headed to South Holland - to drop her off with grandma and grandma so I could attend Shadia's baby shower.
Pat was lucky enough to take Reagan and Leo to the Erb's for their Easter celebration - complete with the Easter Bunny. They loved the Easter egg hunt but weren't too sure about the bunny. More candy - another big hit! It was such a fun time for them to be outside - so fun for them to spend more time with family.
They had a great time and then headed down to South Holland for the Scanlon Easter celebration.
Since we were flying to Florida on Easter we celebrated Easter with the Scanlon's on Saturday night. Great dinner (kids really loved the rolls and butter!) and then the kids (yes, only the grandkids - the grown kids no longer receive Easter baskets - we see how it is) searched for the Easter baskets.
Nola was most excited about the Fannie May chocolate Easter eggs she found on Grandma's end table.
Reagan and Hannah played with their Polly Pockets - the ones where the heads and bodies pop off (kind of creepy but they loved them).
Then it was time to get home to finish packing before our flight the next day...

MOPS Easter Egg Hunt

2009-05-08T15:01:00.000-07:00

For the 3rd year our MOPS group has hosted a MOPS Eater Egg Hunt. The first year it was so cold the kids took their eggs and left as soon as possible. Last year we had snow! It was pretty with all of the eggs on the snow, but still there was snow.
This year we had great weather, hence a great showing of families came out this year. We split the group into 4 and under on one side and 5 and up on the other side. To add to the excitement we had Leo and Cassidy with us as well. And when I say 'us' I should really say Pat because I was in charge of the hunt, which made him in charge of 4 children 4 and under.
First I said every child could take 8 eggs but then realized there were a ton left so each child could have 12. I was busy making sure it was running smoothly and didn't get over to the kids until they were done.
I found Cassidy with a basket pretty full of eggs. I explained to her that she had too many eggs so she put some back and gave some to other kids. Pat told me, "You haven't seen anything yet". That is when I found Reagan with a basket almost overflowing of eggs! I quickly took a picture (it was pretty funny) and then took her around to kids who didn't have as many eggs and had her share some of her eggs with them. Watch out for the kids of the mom in charge - they don't follow the rules!

Happy Birthday, Reilly!

2009-05-05T15:52:00.000-07:00

So hard to believe that Reilly turned 12 this April - where does the time go?! I still remember getting the call when I lived in the Chi O house at NU. Was so excited and couldn't wait to meet her. Now she is a great niece and so good to our girls. It was fun to celebrate with her.

Preschool Easter Party

2009-05-04T14:38:00.001-07:00

I was lucky enough to be a helper at the Easter Party at Reagan's preschool. My role was to coordinate the games. The class was split into groups of 4-5 and they rotated from games, to crafts, to activities. It was fun to be in the classroom and get to know the kids a little bit after hearing about them all year.
Reagan has already told me that I will have to do the Halloween party next year...we will see.

Easter Egg Hunt #1

2009-05-04T14:22:00.000-07:00

Since we missed the Brookfield Easter Egg Hunt this year we headed to La Grange to participate in their hunt. It was advertised to begin at 10 - but really didn't start until 10:30. Cori and Cassidy joined us so that made the waiting more fun for all. It was hard for Nola to understand why she couldn't pick up the eggs before everyone else so we tried to distract her as much as possible. Reagan and Cassidy got a good amount of eggs and Nola got 1! She was happy with her one egg and Reagan and Cassidy couldn't wait to get to their candy. It was a beautiful day outside so we were glad to be outside and looking toward spring.

Last Day of the Cast

2009-05-04T08:06:00.000-07:00

On April 1st Nola's cast came off. I took Reagan with us to the appointment since the other one was so quick (an hour to get the big cast off and the small, new one on). Unfortunately this one wasn't so quick - 2 1/2 hours later the cast was off and we left the doctor's office. It was an experience since the appointment was at 11:30 and I didn't bring lunch. I was emptying out the diaper bag of any and all treats I had. The girls did great - it was just a very long day!!

Day at the Zoo with Daddy

2009-05-03T15:03:00.001-07:00

Pat and the girls enjoyed a fun Saturday morning at the zoo back in March (yes, I know I have been slow with new posts lately). It was a little chilly, but they had a great time - and even got their faces painted. The girls love to visit the giraffes - too bad they are one of the furthest animals away from the south gate where we usually park! But daddy was a trooper and took them all the way over there to see them. Can't wait to spend many sunny days at the zoo soon!

Nola and her cast...

2009-03-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

It has been almost 2 weeks since Nola broke her leg. She is getting really fast at crawling and is great at scooting on her bottom to get where she wants to go. Every once in a while she will get off of the couch and stand, but that doesn't last very long. She has not yet figured out walking. We go to the fracture clinic tomorrow and they will most likely take it off, x-ray her and then put a new cast on. But we shall see. Praying that she is in a good mood and it goes quickly.