Girlfriends

I always seem to have good fortune when I visit second hand stores. Evie loves to dress her doll just like her, and when I found this outfit with crazy ruffle bottom pants and an "e" on the shirt complete with a matching American Girl outfit for $8 I almost lost screeched for joy. Unfortunately no one was with me to share my excitement, but she sure did like it when I brought it home to her! And she wore it in the middle of July. I am thrilled that she can finally wear it without sweating :)

Love this girl!







Still can't believe any daughter of mine is this pretty. And she's growing up so fast.

One Tree

I need to be posting to this blog like I need a whole in my head. I am so far behind on my business stuff that I can't even see straight, but I can't resist right now. People have been asking to see pictures of our new place, and although that's not what this is, it will give a taste of our new home in the country. This fall hasn't been the prettiest I've seen...pretty much everywhere I look I see lots of dead thanks to no rain at the end of the summer for what? 8 weeks? But there is one tree in our yard that catches my eye each time I pass it. The way the sun shines through it at sunset takes my breath away, and I always think to myself, I need to get Graham out there to take his picture next to it! (I just took Evie's pictures--those are to come soon) Well tonight I did. He needs a haircut and a bath, but did I mention I'm behind on my work stuff? :)









Hmm...wish somebody would've gotten Evie ready today! :)

High Tea

Evie is a tea party kind of girl. She loves to have tea parties here at home with water and fake "crumpets". I decided it was time to take her to a real tea party. I had been to the Ritz Carlton in downtown Chicago for tea once before, for my sister in law's bridal shower (otherwise I'm positively sure I would have never gotten to experience such a thing). Since I went, I'd been anticipating the day when I could take Evie there for a real tea. It was on the top floor of the Ritz, and Evie has been talking about going to tea at the "tallest tower of the hotel" since I told her about it. It was sheer joy watching her enjoy it, calling everyone "My darling", and commenting on how good her food and tea was. What a great time we had!

We almost missed our train (I keep wanting to call it a bus, but as it turns out, Jess my sister in law who is from the Chicago area, reminds me each time that it is in fact on tracks) but a 5 foot nothing maybe 90 pound Jess scooped Evie into her arms and sprinted up 2 flights of stairs JUST in time to get on the train! Special thanks to Miss Liz for letting us stay with her since we couldn't afford a room after our tea! :) And thanks to my mom and Jess for going with us!

Just before we got our tea, you can see her excitement...



Practicing the tea hold...





Rebecca made the trip too, so they brought her her own chair. Adorable!



She loved the sugar cubes.



Our food was really good. But then I really like food.



This is a French press (in case you are ever on Jeopardy)







After our waiter took this one, he said, Oh perfect! Umm..yeah except for the guest of honor's face being hidden!

Perfectly normal

Normal day,

let me be aware of the treasure you are.

Let me learn from you,

love you,

bless you before you depart.

Let me not pass you by

in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.

Let me hold you while I may,

for it may not always be so.

One day I shall dig my nails into the earth,

or bury my face in the pillow,

or stretch myself taut,

or raise my hands to the sky and want,

more than all the world, your return.

~Mary Jean Iron



I took these pictures this morning thinking that he just looked so adorable in his pj's eating his cereal. Then I saw this poem on another blog I follow (Sheye Rosemeyer was remembering her daughter Ava who passed a few years ago). I thought how fitting this poem was for the pictures I took of Graham today. Just perfect. Perfectly normal.

A reason to celebrate!

I'm getting slightly lazy in my old age...since their birthdays are a month apart, this year we had a joint birthday party for Evie and Graham. They picked out a cake in a book, and let me tell you this will be the last picture of a cake you will see from me. I'm throwing in the towel and buying them from now on! Just way too much time and trouble. I could've been spending that time with my kiddos. Instead I was listening to them fight over who was going to lick the bowl. :)



Evie turned 5 this year, and she said multiple times on her special day, "This is the best day of my life." Too funny; I love this kid.



Graham will be 3, and he made me teary when we were singing to him. He was just so genuinely happy and loving all of the attention. Soo cute. We are so thankful for him!



My nephew Bailey was out skateboarding last week, and I had just come from a session, so I took a few of his mad skills! Don't you love the duct taped shoes?

Back from vacation

We had a great time last week in St. George Island, FL last week! I'm almost hesitant to say where it is that we went, because I want it to remain the little piece of paradise that nobody really knows about. But it seems that the oil slick is going to ruin that for all of us. I'm glad we got to enjoy it more than once. I put a little slideshow together if you have about 3 minutes to watch it :) In the slideshow you'll see not just my kids, but my parents, both of my brothers and their families. It was a very exciting vacation--Evie is finally swimming without the assistance of a floataion device or my shoulder, and Graham is too! Actually Graham sinks more than he swims, but he's brave and loves to go under. Enjoy!

St. George Island from Sara Willhelm on Vimeo.

We never have any fun around here....

except sometimes :)















It's a shame she has no personality...







I think I see a smile!!



Those goggles aren't doing any good!