MawMaw and PawPaw visit IL

The following weekend in June we were treated by a visit from Grandma and Grandpa from Colorado! They got in Thursday evening and boy did they wake up to a happy girl on Friday! Teagan warmed right up to them and thought it was extra special they were staying in our home for the weekend! We didn't have set plans but played in the backyard lots, attempted the pool but got rained out (twice).  My dad grilled some amazing shish kabobs and we made a chocolate cake.  Glen Ellyn was having its annual cardboard boat regatta on Lake Ellyn so we headed over to check out the event and visit the park. Teagan was intrigued by the boats and the people rowing them. I must admit it was a sight to see as some boats sailed to the finish line while others crumbled and the passengers bailed. It is so fun to watch her in brand new experiences as she takes it all in and gets excited as it starts to make sense. She thoroughly enjoyed having Mawmaw and Pawpaw on the playground as well! We went to Tap House for dinner and then pawpaw had to leave the next morning. Sunday was spent lounging around, a little pool time and early to bed to prepare for the week...and a trip to Pelican Lake for the 4th! It is crazy to think that is the last visit we will have with them as a family of 3. The next trip will be to meet the new baby and celebrate Teagan's second birthday! 

Springfield Summer Visit

Oh the hustle and bustle of summer is here! We have been go go go buy looking back at the calendar, each summer activity makes me smile as I recall the memories. I snuck away for a night at the end of June with Teagan to head to Springfield for cousin Bridgette's bridal shower and a quick visit to mom and Grandpa on the farm. It was fun to briefly see the Richardson ladies and celebrate Bridgette as the bride to be. We also saw the Tapocik family, Michele and Jacob along with Terry and Debbie Knox. Grandpa Richardson and his farm instantly bring back memories of my childhood in the pool and running around his house and property like it was some magical land! Teagan was an angel and equally enjoyed her visit to the farm! 

Hoot Hoot

I would say parenting is one of the most challenging yet rewarding jobs on this planet. Every day is different and unpredictable but the love shared simply can't be summed up into words. I always write about the fun things we did because there is no sense in dwelling on the daily battles and challenges. After all, reasoning with a nearly 2 year old is like...well, there is nothing like it. But this one needed to be documented. 

I had bought this hooded owl towel to make bath time a little more appeasing to Teagan. Some days she loves it, other days it is pure torture. Well, it worked....but she wants the towel BEFORE bath. As soon as we get ready for bath she starts chanting "hoot hoot" over and over. We tried telling her last night she gets it after we scrub in the tub.  It turned into all out hysterics...thrashing about, screaming, kicking, etc. It only lasted a couple minutes but it was the worst tantrum Rick and I have witnessed to date...over a towel. We got her to calm down and nicely submit her request "hoot hoot pwease" and life was good.  All Rick and I could do was laugh...which is terrible but sure beats getting frustrated. Maybe she is just that vain...I mean look how cute she is in the towel...

Water Girl

We made out first pool visit of the summer this past Sunday and boy did somebody LOVE it! Teagan first was intrigued by all of the kids but soon discovered steps in the water that led her to a world of new discoveries.  Most importantly was a water slide! It took one time of Daddy giving her a nudge to go down, with me playing catch at the bottom, before she was saying "again?" as soon as she reached the bottom. Rick and I couldn't get over the squeals of pure delight each time she did it...My guess would be at 25 times up and down. It was funny to watch her learn to walk in deeper water. She would tumble face first all the way under and come back up laughing as she wiped her hair back. We tested out water wings and she didn't seem to mind. They actually allowed her to float solo as we stood in the deeper water. We jumped off the edge and watched people go off the high dive. It felt so good to be weightless with this growing belly (31 weeks). As we dried off, we got mango sorbet and nachos! Fathers Day was a good mix of outside time working/playing in the yard, a couple errands and then pool and a grilled summer dinner on the deck! We ended the day with an after bath Skype with Mama and Papa in Colorado! Teagan loved showing them her cars, truck, new books and of course her jump moves...sprinkled with lots of kisses!

XO, 

EAT

Memorial Day 2013

Summer is here! We headed to the lake house for the unofficial kick off to summer and to open up the cottages and get the dock and water gear in. Ironically, it was warmer 5 hours north than it was at home. We enjoyed temps in the low 70's and lots of sunshine! I think a small piece of Teagan fell in love with it up there. She was there last for her birthday and Aunt Jen's wedding but this time around she had a little better grasp of what the lake was all about. She was in non-stop exploration mode! We played with nature, dug in the sand, threw balls to the woof woofs, went on walks, went on a paddle boat and grandma's speed boat to watch daddy barefoot ( he is nuts the water was still COLD), we went to Aunt Kims and to a craft fair. It was an active weekend full of new experiences! She even slept on her new tot cot like a big girl!  We went to the resort down the way where they had all sorts of fun playground equipment right on the water. We played and then took her pants off to see if she wanted to dip her toes in. It wasn't long before she was knee deep in throwing rocks with daddy and even sitting down (diaper and all!) in the water. It was adorable and so much fun! Teagan really enjoyed spending time with Aunt Sandy too...she lives there now so they don't get to see each other as often. They warned right up and were best buds all weekend!

She proved to be a good traveler by car and once again doing well on a flexible schedule....ie, late nights playing until well past sundown! 

We are looking forward to the 4th of July weekend when the exploration will continue! I know it made Rick so happy when he realized I enjoyed going to a place so special to him with lots of fond memories. He now gets to see that in Teagan too! 

XO,

EAT

Splash Park

We hit up the splash park for something fun to do yesterday. The temps were in the 80's and it was the perfect day for some water fun! At first Teagan only wanted to be on the wee - swings, slides, climbers. I roped her back into the water area by asking her if she wanted to ride on the choo choo they have in the park. She was sold! She loved every bit of it....running in and out of the water, laughing, sticking her hand, face and feet in the bubbly fountains. She then joined in the big kids who were hiding in the train from the dragon and another girl who was the conductor and Teagan was the passenger. She would say "attention passengers are you ready for the ride" and T would respond "ready!" with pure delight! The splash park and soon the pool will definitely be summer favorites! 

Graduate

We wrapped up gymnastics this week and it was fun to look back and see what tricks Teagan learned in the class. By the end she was able to climb the obstacles, jump into the ring, swing from the rings, hold onto the uneven bars, climb the mini rock wall, do a forward roll and walk the balance beam with assistance!  It was the perfect class for her and we will definitely be participating in the future. On the way out we saw neighbor Steve who was showing his police squad car to some preschoolers who were learning about safety. Teagan wasn't impressed with the car but she did get a Glen Ellyn police sticker!