More Chicago - Yay for Parks!

One thing I've noticed around here is a huge lack of parks in comparison to the Chicagoland area. They're everywhere up there. But - I suppose the weather's much more mild. Afterall, who really wants to go down a slide or swing in 100+ degree temperatures. Not me certainly. Maybe that's why you see so many pools and water parks down here...

Madelyn hasn't been on too many swings. I hope you get the sense of how completely happy and delirious she was in this one.

R & M. They're the same age {R is actually 2 weeks older.} We've decided they'll be lifelong pals. Just wish we lived closer to one another.

Going down one of the slides. I personally can't wait til she can do this herself - slides aren't made for mommies and daddies. {Should have tried to get a picture of Daddy & Madelyn on the twisty slide - funny stuff!}

Madelyn & Big Bird cruising in the HHR. Still not sure what HHR stands for or how Chevy came up with it... It was an interesting car.

Where we've been...

Yes, it's been over two weeks since our last post. But trust me when I say this, it's been a little crazy around here. We've been sick, we've been traveling, we've been tired, one of us has been teething, one of us got three fillings... New daycare. New toys. New books (for all of us in one way or another.)
Madelyn has some new fashions from her birthday:She already knows how to pose for the camera. Kathy Ireland look out! {And thanks Auntie C!}


In preparation for our trip, we had lots of laundry to do. This is someone's idea of helping...

Our first day in Chicago we went to a Schaumburg Flyers baseball game. We all sat out in the lawn section and I'm pretty sure it was somewhere between 65 and 70 degrees that night. BEAUTIFUL! Madelyn hung on til about 9, and we headed home for the night.

Thursday was a day in Evanston {Go 'Cats!} and the North Shore.

And what trip to the North Shore would be complete without some Portillo's Chocolate Cake?!

Ice cream before dinner

Around this house, we like our Blue Bell. Truthfully, I'm looking forward to the day when we go visit the creamery in Brenham. I'm pretty sure I might be their biggest fan {although I might like all of their flavors if they would just eliminate the whole fruit-in-ice-cream thing.} Anyway...

Madelyn's last day at her very first daycare *sniff, sniff* was on Friday. This is huge because the most wonderful three women took care of her for over 9 months! We're missing them already, but are hopeful that this new place will be great and help her make some friends close to home. So, to celebrate her last day and because I can never say no to ice cream, we had some ice cream {with sprinkles!!} BEFORE dinner. I know - I'm setting a terrible example, creating a monster, etc, etc... You can punish us both because we loved every minute of it!