Road Trip!

July was such an incredible month! I don't remember having so much fun in such a short time. The highlight of this month was our "summer vacation" with my parents and sister (Adam went of a fishing trip with his brother and dad at the same time). Our final destination was Tulsa, OK to celebrate the marriage of my cousin Kristi and her now husband, Brian. Rather than just driving the eleven hours straight, we decided to make an adventure out of the drive and enjoyed many activities and sites along the way. We have already started talking about where we are going next year :)

One stop was at the botanical gardens in Iowa. This was a stunning place, and we all enjoyed ourselves.
AJ was throwing pebbles into the river. Here he picked up a piece of their landscaping and asked if he could throw this into the river. My answer? "no!" :)

AJ likes to refuse to smile these days, that is why most of my pictures lately are of Abby. Here he is trying really hard to not smile.He is starting a little smile, but is fighting it pretty good! Giving in. I love his smile!

Abby loved touching all of the flowers (and trying to pull the heads off the stem as well).

The kids were really good sports because it was really hot and we were in the big greenhouse here.

One of the thousand beautiful flowers.

Abby was pretty proud of herself for climbing into this suitcase.

Aunt Mary Anne drove to the interstate to meet us for a quick stretch in Missouri. What a nice little visit we had!

Kristi was married in a lovely old mansion. Here is Aunt Cheryl dancing with Abby.

One happy Grammy (and happy two grandkids).

The stunning bride (and you can kind of see the groom).

Abby had fun standing on the window ledge and looking outside. Cousin Jesse was ready to catch her here.

I LOVED LOVED LOVED seeing AJ in a tie. He is growing into a young man before my eyes!

Every night (five nights total) we went swimming in the pools at the hotel. Both kids had SO much fun, and it was a great way to get some energy out.

Here Abby is walking in the halls of Union Station, in Kansas City.

One proud grandpa. Even though the trip was a lot of "work" with the kids, it was so relaxing and I felt like I had lots of breaks with my parents and sister lending many hands. The kids LOVED all the attention and we all had such a memorable experience.

At the dinosaur exhibit in Kansas. The controls by AJ's left hand move the dinosaurs. AJ had so much fun and has since been very interested in dinosaurs and their features.

AJ looking for dinosaur fossils under the sand.

AJ and Aunt Ashley standing next to the wall of dinosaurs.

School's Out for the Summer!

June was very bittersweet. I am greatly going to miss the wonderful team I have been fortunate enough to work with the past five years as well as the students whom I have grown to truly love and care for. I was so sad to end that chapter of my life, but at the same time was so excited to begin a new teaching position as a resource room teacher through the New Prague School District at a school that is only three miles from my home, and the same distance from my daycare. I am so excited that my children will one day attend the same school that I teach at, which opens up so many possibilites I didn't know would ever be a reality. I will be there for the first day for kindergarten, they can stay in my classroom after school, we will share the same schedules of summers and vacations, I will personally know their teachers, and the list goes on. Not to mention I will be there for any school performances they may be in, and can be the threat if they are misbehaving in their classrooms (my children, misbehave?)

As things started to wind down at school summer fun began to pick up. We took advantage of every day. Almost every day we had an outing, whether it was a playdate at a friend's house or went on some adventure - the water park, mall of america, the list goes on. This month we also celebrated Abby's first year with a birthday party for family and tutus. Another joyous event was watching our friend's two children the first night their new little brother was brought into the world. Adam and I share together how blessed we are with our two sweet children, and I am not sure if a third will be in our plan ever, but it is fun to think about!

Abby discovered toilet paper this month (better than playing with the toilet water, right?).

Abby has learned how to climb up the stairs!Abby's first time sporting a ponytail. Here Adam and Abby are at the mall.

Riding her horsie.

Gotta love the bows!

AJ playing hide and seek.
Running through the tunnels at the children's museum.
Sharing a pizza.

Here is AJ and Adam riding the roller coaster at the Mall of America.

Abby having fun in the jumper. AJ and Abby enjoy friends from daycare. Here is Sarah, Tyler, Hayley, AJ, and Joey.

Decorating presents for Father's Day.

Meet Baby Teagan.

Abby posing for the camera. She is getting so good at that!

Dainty Abby playing with monster trucks and trains.

Abby plays so well with toys. I love watching her learn through her play. She is constantly analyzing toys and it seems like you can see the wheels turning.

We had fun playing with Aurora, our friend and neighbor. She is two months younger than Abby, but they get along great, and I think AJ may have a little crush on her :) He always gets very excited when I say we are going to see her.

Can you see the mischieve in her eyes?

Abby and Aurora checking one another out.

I love it that Adam rocks Abby to sleep most nights. This is what I came downstairs to one night :)

Abby playing at an Awesome waterpark in Burnsville.

AJ running and splashing at the water park. It is so much fun to watch him be more comfortable with playing independently and with other children. Last year he would only play in the water if I held his hand or was within a few feet of him. This year it was all I could do to keep an eye on him and Abby.

Drinking from the fish. I am sure that was sanitary :)

Friends on a Sweeney playdate.

Sleeping Beauty.

My brother-in-law, Matt, graduated from high school this year. We had fun joining in the celebrations!

Abby had so much fun walking around. Abby took her first steps at 11 months and by the end of 12 months was able to walk around very well and for long distances. It is such a joy to see how proud of herself she is and she is loving this level of independence!

It was a little bit windy :)

We had professional photos taken the day of Abby's first birthday. I loved how our cake turned out (the picture is one that the professional photographer, Jo, took at the water park on her actual birthday). Nobody wanted to cut her picture :)

Princess Abby at her party.

AJ & soon-to-be aunt Sara at Abby's birthday party.

Abby crawling through the streamers.

Abby (and AJ) couldn't wait to open presents. We caught them opening presents while we were eating cake. It was super cute.

Not sure if Abby liked her presents or the wrapping paper more.

Abby wasn't so sure about her cupcake (we got her & AJ a cupcake so they could have the whole thing while the rest of us ate cake). She liked it a lot at first, then immediately decided she didn't want the frosting on her fingers any longer.

Intrigued.

All done.

Grandpa had fun making funny sounds with his hands. Abby found this very interesting. I remember when my grandpa (my father's father) used to do the same thing with me.

More presents :)