Rain (gear)...on a Sunshine Day

The girls new rain gear arrived just a day after the storms...go figure. But that didn't stop Katie from donning her new apparel and going outside. The best part, was watching Pete open the impossible package...and Kate letting him know that he wasn't very good at it! ahahah.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Well, the time has come (sniff, sniff) for Katie to start school. I was curious to see how she would do, as she's a bit more attached than Delaney. Luckily, Delaney went to school before Katie (i.e. all last year), and Katie saw how much Delaney LOVED it! Well, that love for school is either genetic (think of me...still in school at 31 years old) or Delaney's positive attitude transcended down to Katie.

Both were super excited, and couldn't wait to get dressed up for their big day. Both will have Show-and-Tell on Tuesdays. Delaney can't wait to bring "Cookie" (her webkinz) and, of course, Katie will be bringing her princesses (no surprise there). Here are pics from their first and second days of school.

And, the second day of school...rainy and chilly. Perfect for their new Puma warm-ups!

Hender-Q

We had our every-other-year BBQ...the HENDER-Q this year. It was a lot of fun, but tamer than the last one. I wonder if part of that is me being sober, cleaning throughout, and not enthusiastically begging people to do shots, have ghetto-pops, and enjoy Julie Dilly's jello shots. It was still a late night and many of our guests stayed until 2:30. Pete donned his Daisy Don'ts that were hanging hot tub side throughout, letting guests know what they had to look forward to or leave before. ahahha. All in all, it was another fun year. This year we even got a moonwalk for the kids to enjoy, along with the pool, swingset, and slip-n-slide!

Okay, Okay

So, once again I've become lazy in updating the blog. We've had some great things happen since I last posted, and for some odd reason, at night when the girls go to bed, I have little desire to do much of anything than just watch some tv and drift off to sleep. Actually the last week has been a little better (re: my exhaustion), which is a good thing, since my new crazy schedule at school has begun.

I'm starting to show...Yikes! It's too early, right? Ah well...I'm 15+ weeks, so being in maternity clothes for comfort isn't too bad...or is it? I think I started wearing them around 12 weeks when pregnant with Delaney just out of pure excitment, not necessity.

The girls have started school. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Kate is so hyper, she's hard to control. She loves school, and in the two times she's been there, she almost is in tears when it's time to come home. She doesn't want to leave, and I think that's GREAT! Delaney is a pro at school, and think she'll be even happier next year when she gets to go on the bus, and go five days a week.

We had a short, but very sweet visit from Nana on Labor Day...we (she) planted flowers, transplanted my big plant, made deviled eggs, and played with the girls. See-it IS called LABOR day for a reason! ahahah. The girls already miss her and we're looking forward to our visit to Iowa at the end of the month.

Since I know most of you prefer the pictures and videos over my narration, I'll give you what you're looking for on here, and stop typing.

Wake UP, Uncle Joe!

The girls couldn't wait to wake up, Uncle Joe...and Uncle Joe was happy to have it taped...to show up the other uncles! That brat! :)

Enjoying a Visit with Uncle Joe

Uncle Joe flew in from L.A. on Wednesday afternoon, and began his visit with bleacher seats at Wrigley. The next day, he trained it back downtown for another Cubs game, and then had a fun night on the town...only to be woken up before 7 to play Mario Party and to play outside on the Slip-n-Slide. He was able to nap for a while, and then got up to do some Avatar 'bending' with Delaney. The girls are really enjoying his visit!!!

Steak and Screaming...ANIMALS!

Katie is a great meat eater, unlike her sister. She requests cinnamon rolls and sausage for breakfast quite frequently, loves bacon, ham, and chicken wings. She is so opposite of her sister in that way, we are still shocked anytime we watch her eat!

This video is when Katie got mad at me for cutting her steak, so I gave her a chunk...and this how she eats it. The animal. I'm just sad I didn't get the beginning when she did get mad at me, and was eating more of the steak! Then the girls scream, pretending to be animals, and then get distracted by other subjects. Also, note the way Peter eats corn on the cob. Never fails to make me laugh!

Katie's First Experience at AMERICAN GIRL

Here are pictures of Katie's first experience at American Girl Place. She had a great time! She saw the Bitty Bear Revue, and loved every minute of her front row seat, ate lunch and had birthday cake at the American Cafe, and then got matching outfits with her doll!

SO Far Behind!

I can't believe I've slacked this much on here! SORRY! The end of the semester, I guess, had me a bit busy.

We've been staying pretty busy here in Joliet! Going to parks, the zoo, gymnastics class, and swimming. The girls start dance and gymnastics back up next week-on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They also are both starting preschool at Kid's Connection the Tuesday after Labor Day. They are both excited, and I personally am looking forward to two hours every Tuesday and Thursday to myself. I'm promising myself a nice housecleaning, laundry-doing, and a looooong shower! That, I think, is the only way I'll keep up with those things next semester of school.

Not only am I pregnant, but I'll be working 20 hours at my regular job, taking 9 credit hours--all of which I've done before (just not pregnant), but I'm also adding on in two of those classes the responsibility of seeing clients at the counseling lab at school (a 45 minute drive). Oh-and I will also be a Grad Assistant, which I am very excited about! So-that being said-I will have SUNDAYS only for the family. I will become a hermit, one might say, as the very little time I may have away from work, school, and school-work, will be devoted solely to my family! So-I'll see you after December 19th! :)

We are looking forward to a wonderful trip to L'Anse, MI for a few days in November for Thanksgiving, as well as a FIVE day trip to DISNEY WORLD! The girls are VERY excited about that one!

And now...onto adding pictures and videos, as there are many I'm behind on!

Our Kids' Babies

So, according to Katie, she also has a baby in her belly named "Birdo" and her belly is going to get bigger and bigger. She also tells me when her baby is tired or hungry. Then she turned to Delaney and asked Delaney if she has a baby. Delaney responded, "Of course not! I'm going to wait until I'm at LEAST 13."

Gosh! What a relief for me and Pete, huh?!