my new little friends....

Do you want some cheese with that whine?

This week has been rough for Payton & I -- we've been 'kicked out' of our house several times this week -- for house showings. Payton is going through a very clingy stage -- hanging on my leg, whining and just being VERY demanding! One day, she whined for at least 8 hours! It was a very difficult day emotionally for me....

I just need some attention, mommy!

Keeping our fingers crossed....and saying a prayer

After 3 months of our townhouse on the market, we MAY have an offer today! The past couple of days have been quite hectic at our house...pictures to follow! Payton and I have been having to run out the house several times a day for possible showings, which 1/2 of the time never showed up (VERY frustrating)! Last night, we were supposed to have a showing from 5-6PM, so we drove around after work and got home at 5:55PM. The relator was still here, waiting for her clients -- they were stuck in traffice and hadn't been here yet! So, we grabbed some sweatshirts and headed over to the park for an hour -- it was a late night last night. Then, our relator called about 8:30PM and said their relator was faxing over an offer last night. I guess they still have some questions about taxes, but we should hear more today! So, keep your fingers crossed and say a little prayer that we will have an offer today!

I love to SWIM!

Aaron was able to get home early on Monday for swim class -- YEAH! (mommy gets to watch!)

Wondering what they're contemplating?

Payton LOVES her daddy!

Church Picnic

To complete the celebration of our 10 years as an 'official' church, we had a picnic today. We went right to the playground after 2nd service at church today. We had a LOT of fun with our friends!

Payton & Jeffrey -- making funny faces.

Payton & MacKenzie swinging. Payton has actually had a boycott on swings for the first part of the summer, but for some reason today, she really liked to be on the swing -- especially if her friends are there too!

Payton & Holly in the 'deep dark woods' (a phrase from Peep: http://www.peepandthebigwideworld.com/) (our FAVORITE TV show!) The big kids were walking on the path in the forest preserve, and Payton thought she needed to go too. She heard lots of new sounds, "Do you hear that? I think it's a bear." Payton was not as spooked as I thought she would be...I pretended that I wasn't a little bit scared, when I couldn't see the picnic area anymore...

a sample from the outdoor concert...

Outdoor Concert

This past week, we've been celebrating our church's 10th anniversary -- ALL week long! The music team hosted an outdoor music concert and we had a BLAST!! http://www.lordoflife.com

We sat on the grassy hill by our church ministry center.

Carley, Jeffrey & Payton being goofy!

Here's the band: Mister Scott, Chris, Brian, Tyler, Trish and Trina.

Fun @ the park!

Tonight, we met some friends at the park after work. Payton had a blast playing with some friends that we don't often see...

Here's Cooper (with his mom's feet there too!). His younger brother, Jack, was off on a walk with his daddy.

Payton & Cooper on the teeter-totter. Payton was having a BLAST! Cooper had a great big smile too!

Cooper is just over 1 year old, so he still needs some help from mommy...don't worry Cooper, you'll be climbing and jumping by yourself in no time at all!

We met one of my friends from work at the park. This is Matthew, he came with his mom, dad and new baby brother (3 weeks old!).

Payton squealed with delight chasing Matthew around the park! Matthew will be 4 in the fall and they really hit it off tonight!

dancing on Father's Day

Daddy got this silly card from my Grammy & Papa Bill, I really like it!

PRAIRIEFEST!

There is a local festival in our area every Father's Day weekend: http://www.prairiefest.com I am the outreach ministry leader for our church and I am in charge of the outreach for the festival -- we have a booth at the business expo, outdoor worship service and then walk in the parade passing out over 3,000 flyers and candy! It is always a LONG weekend, but so worth it in the end. (also, I don't work on Mondays, so I have a day to rest...)


Payton and her daddy at worship, listening to the children's message -- well, Payton is actually just waiting patiently for the cookies that Brian (the children's ministry leader) has promised!

They passed out yard sticks during the message for all of the kids to measure their daddy's eyes, arms, back and heart. I think Payton is a bit young to grasp that concept -- she would much rather walk around with her yard stick and poke someone! (we ended up having to take it away from her!)

Here are Payton's BESTEST, BESTEST friends: Ka-Ka (aka: Miss Karen), Mister Scott, Holly, Bradley (sometimes refered to as 'Buba') & her partner in crime: Jeffrey.

Payton & Jeffrey getting a ride in the parade -- it was over 90 degrees out there yesterday and these two kids were real troopers! (well, they really didn't do much work, just sat there at Aaron pulled them, but they behaved well)

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

I LOVE MY DADDY!

Artsy-Fartsy pictures...

I like to play around with my camera and do some artsy pictures -- with different settings on the camera. I would like to learn how to do more....but don't currently have the time.

Here is Holly, Mister Scott & Payton. We were all walking to Fay's BBQ at PrairieFest on Friday for dinner -- Aaron LOVES Fay's BBQ -- we go every year! Payton LOVES Mr. Scott -- it comes out more like, "misse Sot", but we all know what she means -- "misse Sot wait for Payton!" (she likes to refer to herself in the third person)

Here we are waiting to get her (late) 2 year picture taken! (I know I'm behind -- she's 26 months old now, but what's 2 months?)

The contemplative side of Payton...

House Update

Okay, for any of you out there reading this and interested in our house-searching expeditions -- here's an update: We decided to pass on the country house on 3 acres. We ended up getting a house inspection and there was just too much structural issues we'd have to address that we thought we just couldn't do it. It's still a great property on 3 acres for someone who has the time, money and resources to fix it up! So, with that house out of the picture, we were looking for another one that may peak our interest...and Aaron is really good at surfing the internet looking for a house that would meet his criteria (my criteria is VERY different from his -- I want a back yard and at least 1 tree...that's it!). He found one about 30 minutes west of where we are now, but still close enough to civilization and main roads. We visited the house today and I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT! (but, that's not really saying much -- it had a nice back yard and MANY trees, so I was happy!). Aaron was happy with it too -- an older house, ~10-15 years old, 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and decent sized rooms and a furnished basement. So, we're looking into some previous home inspections that were done (of course, it's not a perfect house -- we're batting 0 for 2 right now) and we're hoping to hear some good news about the condition of the house and we'll move forward in the next couple of weeks if all goes well.....say a prayer for us -- we are outgrowing our townhome by the minute! Poor Payton doesn't even know how to play in the grass...

A little stinker...

So, today I decided that Payton's haircut needed a little trim in the front. I was being awful daring and got out some scissors and thought I would try to trim it myself. Daring because, 1) I don't know how to cut hair and 2) in most recent haircutting experiences Payton acted like a fish out of water and a pair of scissors was the most deadly weapon you could imagine. So it came as a shock to me that when I asked Payton if I could "clip" her hair she said, "OKAY!" I then proceeded to clip the hair around her face so it matches the length in the back -- who knew she would let me cut her hair! She can turn on you as quick as a dime!!

HAIR CUT

Okay, so Payton was in DIRE need of a haircut and our most recent experience a couple of weeks ago was all but pleasant. So, we've been talking for weeks now about, "you'll get a sucker if you have a good attitude and let the nice lady cut your hair". So, I thought we were all prepared, but SURPRISE -- we have a strong-willed 2 year old on our hands! I decided to go to one of those children's places, because they let you watch TV while getting your hair cut and I thought that would entice Payton, but I was wrong. (she did okay there the 1st time). She FLAILED around like a fish out of water! We needed 4 people (including myself) to hold her down - it was not a happy experience. But, I had had enough of the crazy hair and knew that she needed it cut. After about 15 minutes of struggling and 1/2 of a head of hair all over her and myself, we were finally done. She ended up getting 2 suckers, because the first one was full of hair -- but, that didn't stop her from licking it! After it was all said and done, she said "Thank you" to the nice lady and we were on our way home to take a bath.




Green is my favorite color.


My mom even let me take the suckers into the bathtub (again, one of those battles I wasn't willing to fight).

After the hair cut....

MORE swim class...

Swim class...video

5 Little Fishes Jumpin' Out o' the Water...

In the spring, we signed Payton up for 4 sessions of a parent/tot swim class -- she DID NOT LIKE IT ONE BIT! "I don't like swim", "I don't like splash", "I don't like swim noodle", etc... So, when the time came to sign her up for 6 summer sessions, I had my doubts and thought long and hard about signing her up again, but Aaron and I decided that it was important for her to get used to the water and learn to enjoy being in the water. So, when we went this week -- what a surprise for all of us...she LOVED the class -- she was jumping in and out of the water, splashing, kicking and actually putting her head in the water trying to blow bubbles...Aaron and I don't know where this little girl came from. I think she's coming out of her shell.


"AAAAHHHH, this is SO much fun mommy!"

Payton actually let me hold her out in front of me -- last time she clung to me like a leach!

See me in my cute cover-up -- after a fun swim class, I am ready to go home.

Crazy HAIR and crazy STRAWS!

What a WILD hair-do! I woke up this morning after a VERY long weekend in not such a good mood. I actually woke up at 6:30AM crying. Mommy still doesn't know why I was crying so much -- probably too much cake at the parties this weekend!

" Mommy, I want ALL the straws!" (this was not a battle I was willing to fight today, so she got ALL the straws!)

Which one should I drink out of -- the green one, the yellow one, orange or pink one? So many choices....

with my Mae Mae & Papa Bob

After the Relay 4 Life and going to my Grammy & Papa Bill's house, we headed over to my Mae Mae & Papa Bob's house. It was a VERY busy weekend! One of daddy's cousin's graduated from 8th grade, so we went to that party (and had cake!). The only problem: I only slept for 1/2 hour in the car and my mommy was tired and crabby too!


This is me & my Mae Mae -- it was actually taken at my birthday, but I just hadn't posted it yet.

Here I am, getting ready to go home -- I'm in my pajamas. This is my Papa Bob & my Mae Mae.

with my Papa Bill

I went with my mommy and daddy to see my Grammy & Papa Bill this weekend. Grammy, mommy & I went to a graduation party for Noah (and had cake). My mommy used to babysit him and now he's all grown up! He plays in a band now, http://www.myspace.com/fickleslot . It was fun to listen to their music at the party -- a little hardcore for me, but my mommy said she liked it. My daddy and Papa Bill went to watch the dirt track race cars...I'm too little for that my mommy said.

Here I am helping my papa feed the goldfish in their pond in their backyard.

RELAY 4 LIFE!

This past Friday, I captained a team for the local Relay 4 Life. Our team consisted of friends from church and from work and together we raised almost $3,000 for the American Cancer Society. The event was from 6PM to 6AM on Saturday morning. Many of us stayed the entire time, stayed awake talking, eating and laughing! We are STILL tired and trying to catch up on our sleep today!


Our team: Lord of Life, "Step By Step for a Cure"

Payton helping Holly & Bradley carry the team banner.

My BEST FRIENDS: Jeffrey, Holly & Bradley

Mommy doing kick-boxing at about 4AM!! I needed something to keep me awake at that time of the night/day!

I like to talk...imagine that!

I think I'll call my Mae Mae or my Grammy....

"What are you doing? I'm outside having a picnic with my mom on the back deck."

"Yeah, I'm doing good, okay -- gotta go!"

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Here Kitty-Kitty...

Watermelon

My mommy & daddy LOVE watermelon and so do I!