A long time gone

Since our last update we've been very busy with visits and visitors...we took a trip to Grant's Farm, had a great family reunion in Peoria (where Chloe polka'd the night away with a real polka band!), a visit from cousin Anita and brothers Paul and Blake. We celebrated Britton's 27th birthday with a little trip to Six Flags... or as Britton might see it, "a little slice of Heaven."

Grant's Farm - Chloe really thought the display of old carriages was exciting

Tuckered out after the Farm

Family Reunion - First Skinny Dip

Happy Birthday Daddio!

Playin' - First Ponytail

Drumming

Britton is currently studying away for the bar.
I've been painting furniture, starting sewing lessons and searching for houses.
Chloe has been refusing to eat food that she can't pick up with her own hands, exploring new territory in the house all by herself and sleeping through the night...my personal "little slice of Heaven."
She has become completely obsessed with reading books.
Here she is reading with her uncles!

She's even in charge of turning the pages...cracks me up every time!

Mad Hatter

We recently realized that Chloe will let us put anything on her head and she just leaves it there.

We enjoyed a great Father's Day with a visit from my brother Bill and family!

In other Chloe news, this little cheeky girl thinks that she should turn 6 months old, grow a tooth, learn to crawl, stand and pull herself up in one week..... she tries to walk but still falls on her face. Needless to say my life is shockingly more hectic. Britton and I are pretty tired.

Bienvenido a Miami

Theirs nothing like entering the land of the Golden Girls. The flora and fauna are to die for. Chloe and I have been enjoying our "baby wrangling" adventure with Christine, Chuck and baby Matthew. We've been busy with a baptism, eating mangos from the yard, learning to crawl, packing up for Christine's move, cooking some delicious meals and taking many evening walks. Chloe is sad to say goodbye, especially to her new best friend Caleb the dog. But she is excited to soon be living only 3 1/2 hours from her cousin Matthew. I'm sad to say goodbye too, but not to the mosquitos...I've acquired about 50 bites...grrrrr.

Someone has learned to ham it up in front of the camera....

Welcome Matthew!

We are proud to welcome our newest godson/nephew Matthew into the world! He was born May 18th and he is perhaps the longest baby I've ever seen. I will be going down to Miami with little Chlo-ster in the next few weeks and I look forward to getting some rockin' snapshots of the cousins holding mangoes under the palmtrees.

Mommy used to be Molly, ok?

In the midst of losing my sense of self in dirty diapers and pat-a-cake my Aunt Chris saved the day with this super easy and creative activity! Yo Yo Quilts are about the easiest thing you can make and I like their vintage-y appeal! Mine is an expression of myself, by myself and for myself...no babies are invited to partake! I look forward to adding pics of my creation in the making soon.

The Low down

We enjoyed a particularly festive visit from our friend Desarae Low and our godson Michael, including but not limited to a trip to Chicago, a trip to the outlets, a case of the hives, a trip to the doctor, a trip to the beach, a case of pink eye, a trip to the pharmacist, great food and drink and, of course, sleepless babies!

they've gone the plaid

A long long time ago in a galaxy far far away
Britton travelled on a magic ship to law school
Little did he know he would soon enter the black hole library
Rarely to be seen and far from his family and friends he studied his days away
And he has finally emerged from the black hole
Degree in hand...

All the hours spent wondering about her long lost father has made Chloe a little crazy...

but she forgives him....
and she looks forward to being his secret weapon on the stand.