Pics!!!!

Well, we were able to Apple last night and freed up a little picture space, so I think I am good for the busy birthday/school week ahead.  Never thought we could actually fill our hard drive, but it has been done.  Here are pics from the busy weekend of visiting both sets of Nanas/Papas while I had some fun downtown :)

Girls weekend out (minus the photographer)

We stayed with Nana and Papa before heading to Huntley, and Lucy was forced into a last minute photo!!  This is a fake cry

Luau-ing

And more dancing

Taking Nana for a ride on the Huntley bus

A Picture-less Post

Unfortunately, we have reached some sort of limit in photo storage on our computer and need to take it in for an upgrade.  Unfortunately, that means I need to make an appt at the Apple store with Lucy in tow, so for now, we are not able to upload any photos! Hopefully we can get this taken care of soon because Lucy's birthday is Tuesday and her first day of preschool is Thursday - kind of a big week in our house!! (Preparations have begun for school - every morning I explain that she has to get her hair done before school, which is usually a battle and ends up with me giving up and her happily walking around with bed-head all day).

Anyways, the computer issue is sad news because we have lots of pics to update after an eventful weekend.  I spent the weekend downtown on a "staycation" with some friends and it was as relaxing as I thought it would be.  We had great dinners out, did a lot of wandering and shopping around the city, enjoyed relaxing pedicures, took a fun barre class at a great spa, Exhale and ended the trip with a great brunch at the Trump (our hotel.)  Joe hosted a fantasy football draft so Lucy spent the weekend with Bill and Chris in Huntley.  Highlights of her weekend included getting her "big girl" bed with princess bedding from end-to-end, and attending a Luau which I have cute pics to share.

Time for a little Lucy update before the big birthday next week!!

Lucy is getting so big - she seems to talk in full sentences these days, tells me to "wait just a minute," says "this is my favorite color" and something is "very, very cute." She is very independent these days - she tells me "mommy don't touch me" and tells me where to stand when she is trying something she knows I will help her with (like today when she wanted to walk on the balance beam alone at gymanstics). She must get in and out of her car seat/car herself, wants to try to change her diaper and get dressed herself, wash her hands without help, and pretty much wants to be left alone with help unless she has the option of walking or being carried, in which I am her best friend.  Despite all the independence, she has NO interest in using the potty.  She tells me when she goes and hides and tells me "mommy no, don't look at me,"  but when I ask her if she wants to use the potty because then she won't have to wear diapers, she says no.  So, we are definitely heading to school in diapers!

Our biggest challenge these days is listening to us and following directions. Usually I have to count to 5 or 10 to get Lucy to pick up the toys I asked her to or to get into her car seat, etc.  She is really smart so takes every last second of my counting to do these things, so I know she gets it.  Time outs don't work all that well, she just gets up and leaves.  Usually when I say "okay, mommy won't be able to play with you anymore since you aren't listening,"  she is quick to listen up.  I am happy preschool is starting because I think it will help with her following directions and listening.  (I hope!).  But, we rarely have tantrums, Lucy understands "wait your turn," and she is starting to naturally say "please" and "thank you" so we are really proud of her and all that she can do at such a young age.

We can't believe Lucy will be turning 2 next week and have a "princess day" planned for her :)  If I can get our computer fixed by then, I will have lots of pics - and of course of our 1st day of preschool on Thursday!!

Have a great week!

Our trip to Blue Harbor

Just updating with some photos from our weekend at Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan, WI.  Who would have thought that a beautiful resort would be sitting along Lake Michigan in this town - with a cute little pier with shops, an ice cream parlor, restaurants (and the random Curves.)  Great place for a family vacation!  And I am sure Vern will always remember his first vacation with our family going to an indoor waterpark.  Not to mention Katie and Vern shared what would be ideal seating for one person in the back of our car and helped calm Lucy from a 30 minute meltdown both ways.  He gets a gold star.

We had a great time - lots of relaxing, swimming, eating, card playing amongst the men and Olympics watching (which provided much more entertainment than I would have thought as we used it to to help pick names for Beth and Rob's third child.  The girls loved the water park - the slides were a hit and Beth and I spent a lot of the time catching them and taking them back up the slides.  Lucy enjoyed the lazy river and swimming with daddy in the pool.  I like to be near the pool, but not really in, so I served more as the support staff who ran and got the towels as needed by the swimmers.

As always, the most random events create the best memories on a family vacation!! Pics in no particular order...

A family pic - you take what you can get when a stranger is behind the lens

Lucy and Papa enjoying the pier

Caitlin all ready for another slide run (Lucy in background!)

Aunt Katie and Abigail after a run down the "big kid" slide

Ice Cream!

With Nana and Papa

 

And Daddy

And Mommy

Meet the Fletchers!!!

I am a bit behind, I actually forgot how much has been going on the last few weeks until I looked at my camera.  This weekend I will get all caught up on our great trip to Blue Harbor Resort of Sheboygan, WI.  Today is dedicated to the Fletchers!  We celebrated Kristy and John's Mexico wedding with a reception in Chicago and it was a great night seeing family and meeting Kristy and John's friends and family - many who also made it to Mexico for the big weekend.  Lucy's highlight was seeing her cousin, Jayden, and although I sadly didn't get any pictures of the two of them, we will be seeing Jayden for his 1st birthday this weekend so I will be sure to get a ton!

Congrats Kristy and John!! You are so perfect together and know this is just the start of a very, very happily ever after :)

The happy couple

Giggling with Aunt Kristy

A serious photo of the host (Aunt Pat) and Nana Chris

Cheers!!!!

The Lacny/Blandford/Fedyk ladies

Olympic Wrap Up

Joe's whirlwind trip to London for some Olympic action has wrapped up!  And, it was as amazing as any event planned by by his boss.  In total 8 traveled from Chopper (7 guys and 1 girl, I never did ask how the hotel rooms were figured out there).  I wasn't there, but it sounds like the trip went a little like this:

- Fly and dine on short rib and salmon stuffed with crabmeat

- Drink some Guiness

- Watch Usain Bolt win the 100 m run, along with other track and field events

- Drink some Guiness

- Check out London's nighclub scene (which led to some caffeine during the week, which led to a situation, see below)

- Cheer on a few beach volleyball matches

- Visit a few pubs

- Dine at Nobu sushi next to Andy Murray - a big highlight for Joe

- Run into good friend, Kevin Weck

- Drink some Guiness with Kevin

- Check out Picadilly Circus

- Visit the Chopper offices in London and meet two of the new traders based there

Warning:  Debbie Downer:

On the last day of the trip, likely caused by a combination of things including alcohol, caffeine (which Joe almost never drinks), lack of sleep and just a really long week, he had a hyperventilation attack.  This has happened before, at our home, on a much smaller scale.  So, now that he is home he is going to the doctor to make sure there isn't something more serious there.  Luckily I wasn't there because I am usually the one who is like "no, we don't need to call an ambulance just yet" but the guys with him did so I am grateful for them :)  

Joe said he could feel the heat of the olympic flame.  Right before Usain Bolt's 100 m run!

Proud Americans - with a flag straight from the Chopper reception room

Meeting up with Kevin Weck

The Chopper group (and Kevin right in the middle of course!)

The guys at a London cafe. I did get this photo and immediately think "is Joe drinking an espresso?  So odd for him to drink caffeine." It was a double expresso.   A man of extremes.  

The Chopper Group - including the London team!

Weekend at Bass Lake

We spent the weekend - (I gave myself until Friday night to update this post so I could still use that) at Bob and Neici's home in Bass Lake, IN and it was every bit of fun as we remembered.  I don't remember dancing around with Kramer at 2 am like I did 5 years ago when we were last there so maybe times have changed a bit, but it was an amazing, relaxing, quality-time-with-family, much-needed break from life in the city, weekend.  I mean, where else can you be comfortable showing up in an outfit and realizing when you leave the next afternoon that you are still wearing the same outfit, like Joe did?  At the lake!

As usual, I took about 2 useful photos and 10 pointless ones.  I attempted to get a few from my mom who has some great ones, but in the interest of time since it will soon be another weekend with new very interesting updates needed, I am going to do a post with the suggestion that you visit http://wennerstromfamily.blogpost.com to see some good pics of the weekend.  I am sure Beth has some.

Thanks to Neici and Bob for hosting us - and for Beth, Rob and the girls for sharing their awesome loft space with us!!! Not only was it a weekend at the lake, it as Bass Lake Days, so there was the annual 5K run that Beth and the family ran. Nice work Beth!!!! And, the annual bike race that Beth worked. Nice work Beth!!!  We did some swimming in the lake, I got to share a "very fast" tube ride with Abigail, we did a lot of playing outside,  and lots of eating, drinking, enjoying the lakeside view and most fun, watching the girls play together.  Lucy spent most of the time looking for Kramer, chasing Kramer, hugging Kramer, asking where Kramer is, and when she looks through my phone pictures and sees one of her and Kramer, she laughs so hard.  So, we are probably in the market or a little puppy one of these days :)

Thank you to Bob, Neici, Rob, Beth and the girls for such a great weekend!!!  We loved every minute and will be knocking on your door next July asking if you have any room in your hotel for Bass Lake days!

The girls getting ready for bed (followed by a lot of bed switching and deep discussions until late into the night between Lucy and Caitlin)

Neici and Caitlin on the pier (sorry, bad phone pic)

The fish! This girl loves water!

Caitlin making her spot at the lake official with some footprints in the concrete

Lucy and her BFF Kramer

This weekend is exciting because we are celebrating Kristy and John's Mexico wedding with a reception in Huntley!!!! Can't wait to see the happy couple!!! 

And, Joe just found out today he is heading to the London for the Olympics for 5 days with his boss and a few guys from the office. So, I am sure there will be some interesting and amazing stories to share next week!