More Travels!

Just when Jack and I had gotten used to being back home, we went straight back to the airport and flew to Milwaukee!! My friend Kara received an amazing Christmas present from her good husband, Steve... a ticket for me to come and see her! Who wouldn't want me for a Christmas present? :) So Jack and I packed our bags again, kissed Justin goodbye for the second time in February, and set off for Milwaukee. We flew into the Chicago airport which is pretty close to them. It was SO MUCH FUN! I haven't been able to really hang out with Kara for that long since we lived together. We stayed up late every night and talked each other's ears off, just like we did when we were roommates. I loved it. It made me realize how much I have missed her all these years. Thank you Steve for thinking of me!

On Saturday, Steve, being the generous man that he is, volunteered to watch Jack and Hallie all day while Kara and I roamed Chicago. Besides being FREEZING cold, we had so much fun. Chicago is HUGE and there is so much to do. The picture above is the side of the Chicago Tribune building which has rock and concrete and different materials from places all over the world.

This is the lake where it runs through part of the city...to give you a little idea of how cold it was.

We walked through Millennium Park. This was one of four huge ice sculptures they had in an outdoor art exhibit. I'm not sure how they colored it but they were huge and looked really cool in real life.

This is an enormous, reflective bean that sits in the middle of Millennium Park. I'm not sure who would ever think to build an over sized bean in the middle of Chicago but I think it was an awesome idea! I love how you can see the buildings in it.

We went to multiple art exhibits, walked through a wedding, ate some good food and of course did some shopping! Thanks Kara...it was awesome! I can't wait to go back when it is WARM, and I can show Justin everything that I saw!

Milwaukee Children's Museum

Kara has a pass to a children's museum close to their house and it is awesome! Jack and Hallie had a blast. They could have stayed all day if we would have let them. I wish I could turn my whole attic into something like this. I loved it! There is an infant area where everything is soft and cushy, so even if Jack fell or hit something it was soft and didn't matter. It was great.

Hallie was so cute with Jack the whole time we were there. She took care of him and always made sure he had his binkey and helped me give him a bath every night. She did get a little jealous though when Kara and Steve would take care of him. "My Mommy!" or "My Daddy!" was said a few times. She even put Jack on time out once for crying in the car! It was so funny. She is a cutie pie!

Gotta love that face! :)

Hallie and Kara

Wow...

Okay, so I might be a little bias, but can you not say that these are so dang cute!?!? I just need Angie to come and live with us so she can just follow Jack around and take pictures. I hope she doesn't mind me sharing these two with everyone. If you want to see more, you will have to go to her BLOG. I cannot wait to get these printed!! Thanks Ang...you are just too good!

A MUST SEE

Last night we went and saw Wicked at Cleveland's Playhouse Square Theater. It was AMAZING! If any of you don't know the story or have ever heard the music, you need to get it!! It is so good. There were nine of us that all went together and everyone loved it. I have been preparing and listening to the music for months now, making sure that I knew all the words to the songs! I just can't tell you how good it was. I was loving every second of it. Even the boys thought it was so good. I just can't stop thinking about it....it was so awesome!!! I can't wait to see it again!

Thanks Justin!

Justin gave me a huge surprise for my birthday and sent Jack and I to my parent's house for a week. It was a blast! It is so nice to see family after being so far away. The traveling part of it is not my favorite. On our way there, we got to the airport and told us that there was a huge storm in Chicago where we were supposed to have a layover. They gave me the option of flying through Phoenix instead. Last time I checked, that isn't exactly on the way to Seattle. We took the offer though, knowing that we probably wouldn't even make it out of Chicago that day. Needless to say, it took us 16 hours to finally get there!! That is a long time to hold a baby on your lap. :) And did I mention that on the way back, Jack had a COMPLETE BLOWOUT?! Poop everywhere! From the top of his back down to his socks. That was super fun to clean up on an airplane. It was worth it though!! We miss you guys already. :( My mom and dad just hate the fact that Jack lives so far away. I don't think they care quite as much about Justin and I, but to see Jack, I think they would do just about anything.

This is Riley's funny face...what a goof ball!

I have been wanting to get a picture of Jack and his great Grandma's and Grandpa's. This is my Grandma and Grandpa Brownell. It was nice to see so much family!

Little bathing buddies.
I love the straight smile from Jack. Riley was always insisting on taking care of Jack. He would make sure he had a toy and kept trying to keep him entertained. Angie has been trying to explain to him that "Baby Jack" had to go back home, but he still thinks that he is going to be coming over soon. Sad!

I love this face!!! He was feeding himself a ritz cracker. What a mess! Jack had fun seeing his Grandma's and Grandpa's, Aunts and Uncles and definitely all the COUSINS! Justin missed us at home but felt better after Jack talked to him on the phone. It was so funny to see his response when he heard Justin's voice. He loves his daddy.

Grandma Gorrell... another Great Grandma. :) We hope you can make it to our house sometime soon!!

There is something about this little guy that makes you want to squeeze him!


Over all it was such a fun trip! I was able to do so many fun things, including a slumber party with my older sister, Angie and brother, Scott. You are never too old for slumber parties, I say! I can't wait for the next time we get to see everyone.

Baby Hayden

Well, as you have noticed I haven't posted in FOREVER!!! My wonderful hubby surprised me last week and flew me to Washington so I could see my family and my friend Stephanie's cutie pie baby boy!! I was so nervous she wouldn't have the baby while I was there but she was nice enough to have him the night before we arrived! If you want to see some pictures of him that are so stinkin cute, just go to my sister, Angie's blog.

He is ADORABLE!! He has the tinniest little face. He looks like a little doll. They named him Hayden Matthew - so cute. Congratulations Steph and Matt!! You did good!

My Mom and I took Jack to the hospital to see Hayden and they were friends at once! :) I think Jack has been waiting for his friend Hayden to get here for a while now. Jack looked like a monster next to this cute little baby though! It is amazing how fast babies change in only a few months.

I was also lucky enough to see my good friend Andria!! We have been trying to see each other for a while now and it never works out. I am SO GLAD that we were able to finally be in the same place at the same time. I miss Andria and Stephanie already. We have so many funny memories together. I think I need to make a new post and share some pictures from memory lane. :)

Way to go Jack!

This just happened over night

Commissioning

This Saturday, Justin was officially commissioned into the United States Air Force. We had to meet the guy at a really random place because he has been really busy, I guess. We met at this big motor cross night that the Air Force sponsored. We got there just as the tractors were finishing up the course.

I set Jack up on this counter top in the suite that we were in to take a picture and he was not happy. He was really scared of the loud noises that the tractors were making. I LOVE his face in these pictures! They are priceless!! He is not big on loud noises. He hates our vacuum too. He crys every time we turn it on. Notice the squash that he spit up on his sweater...story of our lives!!! I cannot wait for him to grow out of that never ending stage!!

Poor Jack...

This is Justin repeating the oath.

The guy who performed the commissioning was so nice. He has been in the Air Force for 23 years and has loved it. He had lots of good things to say to us and gave a big congratulations to Justin.

I am pinning on one of his gold bars that actually go on his uniform ( I know you are all dying for a picture of that! Don't worry, I will post as soon as he receives it!) . Jack is making a pretty good double chin. :)

This is the certificate that he received.

Random Pics

We found these glasses at JoAnn's and Jack thought it was hilarious to have them on! I should have bought them... they were only a dollar! :(

Wearing Dad's hat while eating dinner in his new high chair. This purchase has been long over due!

Being naughty and climbing onto the shelf. His face looks pretty innocent though!

Justin's little buddy Jackson. Without fail, every time you tell him to smile for the camera, he closes one eye. And notice he is still wearing his church tie with his PJ's...he refused to take it off. :)

Mom's sunglasses...he LOVES glasses.

Making Progress

So far, Jack has wanted nothing to do with any kind of food that has more texture than just plain baby food. At first, I would put something on his tongue and it would just sit there. He refused to even close his mouth if he had something in it. Eventually it would make it's way to the back of his mouth until he gagged on it! Now if I give him something he will make a face of utter disgust, but at least he will chew on it and somewhere around five minutes later, it will eventually be swallowed.

This is when I gave him a piece of bread.