Goodbye, Tyler & Elissa

Well today was Elissa's last day as our family's nanny. I have been dreading this day for the past month and it finally arrived. I was hoping if I didn't wake up this morning that it would just pass, this day. But I woke up. And Elissa & Tyler came and went. Hugs were exchanged, gifts were exchanged, and goodbyes were said. I shed many tears. Izzy blew kisses. Laney waved (backwards). We sure will miss these guys (Izzy calls them her buddies). Thanks for being our buddies for the last year. And thank you for caring for our girls like they were your own. We love you and will miss you!!!

I just love this pic of Tyler & Elissa...it captures her spirit perfectly! (Photo compliments of Molly Connor Photography)
Tyler & Elissa gave Izzy markers and stickers so she could make them pictures and send in the mail to them! It will be so fun to have pen pals now!

Elissa opening her gifts from the girls: a photo/memory book and a necklace with Tyler and her husband's initials on it

Thanks for a very fun year, Elissa. We love you and miss you already!

Girls' weekend in Chicago...

So I decided I needed to have 1. A girls' weekend and 2. A change-up in my training. The perfect culmination of the two was running a half marathon in Chicago with my best girlfriends from home. Friday afternoon I jumped into the Feller caravan to Chicago (thanks, guys, for letting me tag along!) and we were off on an adventure.

Friday night Mary and Jenny and I picked up my race packet and ate at Garibaldi's (my favorite Italian food and also where I worked in high school). The girls went out that night while I stayed in and got some sleep. It stormed the entire night, not letting up even in the morning. Thunder and lightning storms and pouring rain. I took off for the race and was soaked just walking to the start. The race was delayed 30 minutes and STILL the rain was pouring down. The girls arrived just in time for the start and were major troopers and took pictures of me along the course while cheering for me the entire time. Let's just say my performance was lackluster; I was soaking wet, running soggy shoes/socks (read: BLISTERS), I had stomach issues almost from the get-go, and the event staff ran out of water (!!!) at mile 8. My finish time was 15 minutes SLOWER than what I just ran the Mini just 12 weeks ago. Let's just say I was very disappointed and ready to get out of my drenched clothes and shoes and move on with the weekend. (And wouldn't you know it - the sun came out on our drive home from the race!)

The BEST friends a girl could ask for
Mile 3

Finish

After the race Jenny and I drove into the city to meet Erin for a 12 o'clock Cubs game (vs. the Cards). We lucked out and had Suite tickets (thanks Jen & Mike) so we enjoyed the game in comfort of free beer and food. Again, thanks Budweiser for the suite! PS-The Cubbies won! So much fun. We spent the rest of the day in Wrigleyville (the world's largest beer garden)...and then went home to rest and ended up staying in and watching a marathon of Jersey Shore. Girl time!!

Shaded seats, thank goodness

Sunday morning the Feller caravan got an early start back home so we could go to an Indians game in Indy.

Laney enjoying the game

Both girls loved the cold ice cream (it was 90 degrees!)

Some other random pics:

More crafts (I'm kind of addicted to making these as gifts!) The "A" for Brenna and the "G" for Mary.

Izzy making brownies

The girls having a tea party...love that they are starting to play a little more together. Most times Izzy wants nothing to do with her sister, while Delaney wants to be doing everything Izzy is doing! Ha!

All the Single Ladies...

Mike spent the past 3 days on his annual boys' baseball trip (Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincy) while the girls and I stayed home and did fun girlie things. I had Friday off and we spent the morning with Deanna & Connor at the zoo. It was a HOT one but we somehow managed to survive. D and Connor are old pros at the zoo, as they are members, so they showed us the ropes. I LOVE that D knew exactly where to go, what to see, and how quickly to do all of it. With (almost) 3 year olds, their attention span is limited...so we flew by some non-essential exhibits (snakes/desert) and ventured on to the more important ones (see pics). It really was my kind of visit - and we all loved it. Can home to some 4 hour naps!

Connor & Izzy looking at the sharks
Looking for Nemo (please note Izzy's accessories, which were her choice: two plastic fish rings, hair bow AND a head band with two piggies)

Zebras

Rhinos

Elephants

Deanna took both kiddos on the carousel (um, did I mention she is 29 weeks prego at the zoo with us in this heat!?!?)

Saturday morning Brenna came over at 7am to watch the girls while I got a long run in (thank heaven for girlfriends!!!). Then the girls and I went to the pool to meet Lori for swim lessons (I manned Laney Bug while Lori did lessons with Izzy Lou). We then spent a few hours swimming and hanging out. Lori and Izzy enjoyed the lazy river...and again, what would I do without such amazing girlfriends to get me through a weekend sans husband?! I'm so fortunate.

Bubbles

Saturday after naps we headed out to dinner at Chicl-Fil-A and some playtime in their toddler play area (we had to get the sillies out!). Sunday morning we woke up and headed out for breakfast and then a trip to Sam's Club. It was a bit overcast all day, but we still managed to squeeze in another trip to the pool. After naps we actually hung out at home and watched some movies and snuggled on the floor with some popcorn. We also managed to do some serious potty training all weekend and spent every minute at home in big girl undies. Here's to hoping some headway has been made! (We did get some ice cream - a very rare treat - on Saturday night b/c Izzy pooped on the potty!!!)

We REALLY miss Mike and are anxiously awaiting his return in a few minutes. The girls and I had a lot of fun; however, I'm not sure I could do this all the time. I have tremendous respect for single parents out there - this is some hard work! But I must say, being able to do 3 days (sort of) on my own is quite gratifying!

Birthday, pool, & a fish fry...

This was quite a busy weekend for us...felt like we were constantly on the go. Sometimes I just enjoy having nothing on the calendar, but this weekend I was pumped for every activity (minus my 12 miles on Saturday morning). Swim lessons Saturday morning followed by some time at the pool. You'd never know that we actually saw Jaime & Luke, as I forgot the camera (this is unlike me, as I average about 50-100 pictures a week!). But we did. See them, I mean. Very briefly (too briefly, in fact). Anyway, we went home for naps (while I snuck away for a hair appt and some quick shopping) and woke up to go to Christopher's 1st birthday party.

Was fun to spend the evening with good friends and good food. As I was saying goodbye to Katie I became choked up talking about how quickly the year has flown by for both of us. We both struggled with infertility for several years each, and now we have such blessings with our littles. I remember when we used to talk about fertility procedures...now we talk about poop. Ha!

Laney Bug & Christopher
Playing with the birthday balloons
Mike & Bug

Laney looooves to swing!

Singing

Happy Birthday!

Another craft...I'm really enjoying making these!

Sunday morning while Laney napped & I did laundry and bathroom cleaning, Mike worked in the yard with Izzy (this is becoming their routine: Mike pulling weeds or watering the garden while Izzy tags along - super cute).

Mike stayed home to work more in the yard while the girls and I escaped to the pool. (I know some of you are thinking - and secretly judging - Izzy eating her apple sauce through a straw...this is what happens when I forget a spoon!)

Sunday evening Brenna & Scott had us over for a long-awaited fish fry. Brenna and I have a VP that has a lake house and her husband fishes...long story short, she gave some of their lake perch to Brenna and we decided we HAD to fry it up! When we arrived the girls were surprised to find a bouncer in the back yard...so fun! Izzy took to it immediately while Jack and Laney were a touch more hesitant. I'm hoping we can borrow it for Laney's birthday party, as it was such a hit!

Crawling; Laney's rendition of bouncing

Izzy bouncing while Jack looks on

We all enjoyed the deep fried fish (way to go, Scott & Mike) and were moving on to dessert when we noticed that Jack had a blow-out. Scott swifly scooped him upstairs to the bath and no sooner was the water running than Izzy announced that she pooped, too. Mike checked....yep, blowout. Cleaned her up and then Laney ALSO had one. Um, only a parent can appreciate this haltingly fast stop to a dinner party. It was comical to say the least, especially since we left their house with unclothed children. Here's to hoping we get invited back again!

4th of July with the Tynans

Sunday morning we headed to Lake Tippy to do our annual 4th of July visit with the Tynans. I don't think we were there for more than 2 minutes before we got into our swimsuits and were in the water! We joined Aunt Nance, Big Joe, Andrew/Suzanne/Max, and Sam/Bridget/Luke/Maggie/Grace for lots and lots of festivities.

Izzy experienced her first water balloon (among many over the course of 48 hours). Do you not just LOVE Izzy's face? She is quite the drama queen and has hilarious facial expressions.
Laney Bug & mommy

Maggie & Grace putting on a dance recital

After dinner

Izzy experienced her first sparkler...

...and was simply enamored

Daddy & Izzy watching fireworks

The neighbors put up a huge jumbo-tron and play music videos...Izzy & Mags danced the night away

The crowd watching, complete with light-up cups

Izzy & Grace watching (and tuckered out - it was past 10 when they finally went to bed!)

We did lots of jumping

And the 4th wouldn't be complete without the putt-putt out back

Daddy just got back from playing 18 holes and then taught Izzy how to putt

Izzy also got to experience tubing for the very first time!

She loved everything except the sun in her eyes! She's such a big girl!

Floating

Enjoying a cold treat

Bathing in the lake

Heading in for a 4 hour nap!!! Love the lake, as it wears her out! PS-Another first for Izzy girl is that she slept in the kids' cold dorm on the bottom bunk! Again, BIG GIRL!

After naps and before dinner the kids watched Toy Story 2 on the big projection screen

Aunt Nance organized an impromptu parade after dinner...singing happy birthday to USA complete with flags

Of course more jumping!

How I miss this girl!!!!! Love her.

Sunday morning TURTLE HUNTING!!!

Izzy & Gracie girl on the lookout

Big Joe caught two!

Izzy posing with "Hairy" the turtle

Big Joe doing what he does best...snuggling with the babes

And we capped the 5 day vaca off with a pinata. Another first for Izzy (she's the one with the bat). I must say we had an absolute blast with the Tynans. Loved visiting and catching up. But loved even more watching our kids play together and become buddies. Wish this could have lasted another few days, but there's always next year! Happy 4th of July everyone!