Visit from the girls...

This weekend Mary and Jenny came down from Chicago for a girls' weekend. We try to do these twice a year to keep our almost 20-year-old friendship close. The two days spent together were filled with lots of laughing, gossiping, catching up, shopping, eating, crafting, dancing and playtime with Izzy. My favorite memory is the dance party we had with Izzy...we girls were all over the living room dancing and Izzy showed off some new moves of her own. The three of us big girls have been dancing together since 7th grade, so this was so nostalgic for me. It was so special to have my very best friends with me for two whole nights. Can't wait for the next visit!!

Pajama weekend...

This weekend was yet another cold one spent inside in our jammies. No plans = relaxing and fun weekend at home. Saturday morning I did have to leave for a few hours to show some houses, which left Mike and Izzy home alone. I returned home to a slumbering Izzy and Daddy. Apparently they had a big morning out...they spent several hours at our friends' house on an impromptu play date. Whenever I leave the "outfitting" of Izzy to Mike, I never know what I'm going to find. Take note of the pink camouflage get-up he dressed her in. This outfit was a gag gift from Mike's dad/step-mom to go with her new ATV. Um, Mike apparently thought it was hilarious to dress her in this outfit AND bring her out in public wearing said outfit. Yikes.

Izzy LOVES Baxter and has recently taken to sitting on him
Shortly after this pic was taken, Baxter decided to get up and walk...throwing Izzy backwards. Not her finest moment :(

Camouflage regalia

Watching it snow HUGE flakes out the back door with her best buddy

Mish-mosh of pics...

Reading to Izzy and Luke on NYE

Izzy and Luke playing (read: fighting over toys...you'd think these two were siblings!)

Izzy playing with Baxter on his bed

This weekend we took down all our holiday decor and did some rearranging in our house. First of all, Mike switched the dining room and the front living room. The dining table that he made for my wedding gift was far too big for the room that it was in. Hence, the change. I've been hanging out in the new (smaller) cozy living room all weekend long catching up on Tivo and napping. There still is a lot of work to be done: chandelier take-down and installation in new DR, pictures to hang and small furniture pieces to purchase to fill some empty space. Love the change. Secondly, Mike put up a shelve in our family room so I could have a place to put my ever-growing collection of framed pictures (our built-ins next to the fireplace were getting packed). It's a work-in-progress, but we're both loving the new changes!

Happy New Year!

We rang in the New Year with(out) a bang. Last night we had a delicious dinner and a night full of games with our friends, the Fellers and the Falciones. I believe we were home and in bed by 11:30, just in time to watch the ball drop on tv.

With the new year has come new "tricks" that Izzy loves to show off:

-waving and saying hi and bye-bye ALL the time

-giving kisses and hugs

-blowing kisses

-being an Indian

-when holding her sippy cup she wants to "Cheers" with your cup

-clapping when we sing "When you're happy and you know it"

-new signs of "please" and "all done"

-gives high 5 when asked

-and of course, walking up to 8 steps on her own (so what if she's a late bloomer!?)

Here's to a healthy and happy New Year to you all!

Christmas in Michigan

Our final leg of the 2008 tour de Midwest was Michigan to visit my dad. My sister and her family were also there and we had two days full of yummy food and lots of games! I just realized I didn't take any pics of my dad...I will post as soon as my step mom sends more :)

Yet another family pic

Sisters

Taylor

Playing with Grandma Anna
Playing with new toys
Showing off her new walking skills
Visiting Nana & Grandfather in their new home

Showing great Nana how she can read (and say ball!)

Christmas in the Fort

After yet another ice storm the day after Christmas and being house-bound...we finally made it to Mike's dad's house in Ft. Wayne. There Izzy was greeted by a pink and purple-clad Barbie ATV. Mike was so excited....as I had successfully talked him out of buying this for her, only to be surprised by his dad. I didn't want her to have this...but soon learned that it only goes 2 mph and Izzy actually really likes it!Cruising

Right before bedtime (and the adult white elephant)...Izzy climbed in the middle of all the gifts
Cousin Steve scored the Old Style Light beer sign we re-gifted in the white elephant
The next day and she still loves the ATV

Grandpa Bob's xmas tradition: homemade pizza

Opening up gifts with Grandma Laura

One of her favorite new toys (she is talking on the phone!)

Peering over the loft...she loved this!

Christmas at the Lake

Christmas at Grandma & Grandpa Berger's started out with Izzy's first xmas Eve church service. Izzy LOVED being in the big crowd. She clapped after songs were over, flirted with people in the pews behind us, and crawled from lap to lap the entire time. She was so much fun and such a trooper for staying up late! Clapping before church startedFamily pic

Grandma Berger put a headband in Izzy's hair along with some hair product (!)

Opening presents with Grandma
Playing

Lots of walking...

...and lots of falling!