Road Trip --- Peewaukee Lake Here We Come!

Yay...Olivia's first trip to Peewaukee Lake was two weeks ago (one of many to come) with Auntie Carrie...Chad couldn't join us since he was on call, but us girls had a wonderful time!

Not only did we get to spend several days with Auntie Carrie, but Scott and Diane were up there too. Our excursions included a wooden boat show, a great art show, evening boat ride for, finished up by a LONG day of outlet mall shopping!

First boat ride on Peewaukee Lake!

After two days of crying when Scott got "too close" Olivia opened up and they were best buds!

Auntie Di!

While we were there Olivia started pulling up too...she's almost a pro now! ;) Olivia is so on the go...she doesn't crawl on all fours (due to my house being all hardwoods - she'll crawl on all fours if there's carpet), but gets around EVERYWHERE with two arms and a leg...it's pretty comical how she gets around.

Forgot to mention...Olivia LOVES peas! Well...at least being silly with them ;)

Auntie Carrie...if you don't put that camera down I'm going to get you!

It was such a fun, relaxing time to catch up with great friends!

Cards vs. Cubs Take 2 --- St. Louis Style!

Okay, I'm so far behind in postings...so prepare yourself, here they come!

Last Cards vs. Cubs series was in St. Louis and Olivia had her opportunity to go to yet another game...her first one at Busch Stadium! Our friends Justin and Sarah invited us to join them and other friends in a suite (thankfully...it was literally 100+ degrees that evening) and we had a wonderful time! To top the night off the Cards won too!



Olivia has met Alex for the first time...give it a little time, but I think they're bound to be great buds (round two with hanging with Alex to come this Sunday).


(Photos to come...my camera battery is dead!)

Story Time And Just Being Silly!

Friday night Olivia was FINALLY feeling 110% better...we got knocked out with a hefty cold about a week and a half ago...first time Olivia has been sick and I don't want to see that again anytime soon! She was being super silly playing on the floor, crawling all over the house and playing the music on her new kitchen (she loves this toy...highly recommended)!

Mom, don't you think I can take this off now???

YESSSS...It's OFF! I'm having a really hard time keeping bows on Olivis right now, as you can see!

Dad, don't you think it looks better like this?
Mom, did you get a picture of my new kitchen...make sure you get it!

I see you....


Mom, if you don't put that camera down I'm going to get you!

After being silly and taking a bath Olivia had story time with Chad...she a) loves our bed and b) gets so excited when it's story time! (story time we need to do more often, but we fit it in when we can). I didn't have any photos of this yet, so I couldn't resist the two of them cuddled up in our bedroom reading books..seriously, how cute are they?!?!

Mom, what'd I say about that camera...

Botanical Gardens With Friends!!!

This past Wednesday we made a trip to the Botanical Gardens to visit the children's area with Andrea and Keily...it was so much fun! (for those of you that leave in St. Louis, Monday and Wednesday's are free and children under 3 are free everyday into the children's area). I had never been in the Children's area...it's HUGE with great things for kids to explore on...obviously Olivia just took it all in, but Keily was ALL OVER the place and LOVED it!

We will definitely be back to try this out with Olivia next year for sure!

Da-Da!

Yes, that's correct...Miss Olivia is now saying Da-Da! I got so excited that I think I scared her - ha!

Earlier today when I got home from being out, Chad said..."I think she said Da-Da..." my response, "really?" Chad, "Sounded like it..." So, when I heard her say it tonight (just me, Chad's at a dinner) I kept repeating it and she would say it right back to me...it was pretty comical...however I said it she would repeat it right back to me that same way, UNTIL I started getting too excited and then she looked at me like I was crazy!!!

Olivia is also VERY mobile this week...still not a full crawl, but her legs are flying everywhere and she pulls so hard with either her forearms or hands it's crazy. She definitely has the army crawling thing down for sure! I think Chad edited a video, if so, I'll post it.

Family Time In Naples

The past week we spent time down south with part of both sides of our family (My parents, Tyler, my Grandpa Kamman and Chad joined us for the weekend!) in Florida...we all had such a wonderful time!

Olivia LOVES pool time with the "Granny"...they're best buds!


O and Grandpa Vasel...he loves playing with Olivia in the pool!

Olivia's partner in crime...Uncle Ty!

Olivia has become quite the little swimmer....she puts her face in the water, kicks her legs and splashes...she prefers to be on her tummy versus her back AND she does NOT like the Gulf or the sand, but loves it on a sheet on the beach.

Kick, kick, kick! O:"Mom, are you getting this?!"

Nap time after pool time...she slept in her stroller poolside most afternoons...thank goodness for the breeze!

Playing with her new beach toys thanks to Target's $1 department!

Mommy and O on the beach

Daddy trying to talk her into going into the Gulf...not happening! He tried 3 times with the same result...upset Olivia!

Our little Beach Bunny!

Although I don't have photos (bad me!), we got to me Charlie Ritchey for the first time and he's the cutest little boy ever! Adrey is getting so big and he's a GREAT big brother...Leah, I'm so happy for your whole family and I'm so excited I got to see you all, Erin and FINALLY meet Jen! I'll be back in October!

Tyler and Chad had a great time together too...wrestling in the pool, working out in the morning and jet skiing in the afternoon. I have to say that Tyler is VERY good with Olivia and today,her first day not seeing him in a week, she missed him...either that, or she's not feeling very well! (ha! just kidding, Ty!). She spent the evening with him on the pullout couch in the den...Ty watching movies and Olivia playing on the bed....it was their ritual before she went to bed.

Me:"Guys, get together so we can get a nice photo for your mom" Result = This!

It was a wonderful week of fun in the sun...Ty, I'm so glad you got to "meet" Naples!

7 MONTHS OLD!!!

Sunday, the 18th, Olivia turned 7 months old...I can't believe how fast time is flying by! Olivia's so active...scooting (trying VERY hard to crawl), rolling everywhere, eating fruits and veggies now, trying to start a sippy cup, but it's not going too well (she doesn't quit grasp the concept). And, we have 8 teeth...I think there are more trying to break through!

The photo above is all three of us on Sunday in Naples...we had a blast with our little fish!