New Camera

After seeing some of our pictures from the circus earlier this year. Aaron had decided that we needed to upgrade our camera a little bit before we went to Florida. I, of course, would not argue with that!! So we did get a new one-nothing too fancy-but definitely better than our last one. We were taking all kinds of pictures trying to figure it out and get the hang of it. Here's just a few of the good ones :) These are from June-so just a couple months old.

Lining up the trains at Grammy's house. She was refusing to look at me while I was taking pictures.

Focus

She's so cute!

I love this-reading the comics :) She'll be doing the crossword before we know it!

Hanging out on the deck (I love this outfit!)

Emily absolutely LOVES to go to the park!!!! On the days I work-Aaron will pick up Emily from daycare and they usually go straight to the park-nice Daddy/daughter time!

Her favorite is the swings-she always wants to go high!!!! She could swing all day!

Still working on the monkey bars-not too much longer though!

Still can get good pictures-even when she's refusing to smile or look at the camera.

Playing at the pool.

Emily dresses up probably 15 times a day. She'll say "Look at me, I'm a princess!" Cinderella is her favorite still. She has to have her crown and her shoes too (accessories!!!). Super cute too when she asks Daddy to dance with her while she's all dressed up. That'll bring sweet tears to your eyes!

Disney/Beach vacation (322 photos), by Sarah Walter

There's a whole bunch of pictures here from our trip to Disney World and to Daytona Beach with Crystal and Katlynn. We had a great time!!! Emily absolutely loved flying on the airplane! We expected her to be scared-but that plane didn't get up fast enough for her! It was such a good way to start our trip! Emily wasn't too fond of many rides. She really enjoyed seeing the characters and getting them to sign her book. She did want to ride the merry-go round a bunch of times too. Emily ended up getting an ear infection while we were out there-which made her kinda grumpy a little bit-she was a trouper though! She suffered through fevers in 95 degree weather....what mean parents we are!! Lots of Motrin and Tylenol! We had a great time at the beach too-sun, sand and relaxation. Doesn't get too much better than that!
All the planning, sweating and money spent on this trip was so worth it. Just to see the look in her eyes and to hear her talk about the things that we did! The vacation was totally about her instead of Aaron and I-but it was so worth it! Already planning our next trip! :)

Random

Just a few random pictures from this summer.

This was the March of Dimes walk in May.  Most of the group of people from work that were there.   It was a nice day-and a great turn out of people!! 

I just think this is so fun!  Little Mommy!

Cutie!

On the playground at the mall.

A friend of mine had her 30th birthday party.  They rented a party bus, drove around Columbus, we got to go out-and the bus took us back home!   So much fun!  

Tiffany and I.

Tiffany, me, Jenny, Jen, Angel and Skye (birthday girl!)

Same picture different camera.

It was so much fun!!  Well deserved night out!  

Visit to Wisconsin

Over Memorial Day weekend we went to Wisconsin to visit with Aaron's brother and his family.   It was so much fun to get to spend time with them.  That was one benefit of living in Chicago-we were so much closer to them!  We always have a good time when we're together.  The boys get to play some golf-and the girls get to shop :)  We drove up this time, stopping to pick up Aaron's mom on the way.  It was kind of a long drive-but Emily did good!  Dramamine was on board of course to prevent any car sickness.  It helped Emily, and therefore Mommy too, get some sleep in the car!!  We got to be there for Jack's first Tee-ball game and also for his preschool graduation too.  Emily and Jack had so much fun together too.  They got along so well.  Jack was such a good sport with Emily.  He happily played with her, and willingly shared his toys with her.  It was so fun to see them playing together!

 

Emily actually posing for pictures in Grandma's backyard.

Emily absolutely LOVED riding in Jack's cars.  He was so nice to drive her around :)

They drove the cars all around all weekend long.  

Jack at his Tee-ball game.

Emily playing in the dirt at the game.  Oh well-it kept her occupied.

They had their own little band.  I love Emily's cheesy smile here!

Such a big girl heading in for Jack's preschool graduation.

Congratulations Jack!!!!  

Of course more driving the next day. 

It gave us adults time to sit, talk, relax (maybe a few drinks enjoyed too!).

Emily actually got on the little 4 wheeler all by herself as we were getting ready to go to Jack's graduation.  Everyone was loading up the cars, we looked up and said "Where's Emily?" and right on cue you see Emily barreling out of the garage on the 4 wheeler-she ran right into a large flower pot that they had out on the driveway and knocked it over.  Thankfully she didn't get hurt-just her pride.  She was a little startled.  We all thought that it was pretty funny though.  Right as we asked where she was she comes out-as if it was staged or something!  She was talking about it the rest of the day too.  She learned her lesson!

So, after that, Aaron was helping her to do it by herself.

She was able to get the hang of it-she could barely reach the pedals!

Once again-Jack was so sweet to help her.  

We propped her up so that she could reach the pedals on the Jeep.  She looks all grown up.  Yikes!!!  Flash forward 14 more years!!!

We hardly have any pictures of us anymore.....so here's a self portrait....not the best-but it's us!!

We went to Build-a-Bear.  It was Emily's first time.  Jack is a pro.  Emily was so excited!

The look on her face as they filled up her little lamb she pick out. 

Of course-more riding.  

He's such a cutie!

Cheese!!

Not sure what she's doing exactly.

Emily and Jack holding hands at the zoo.

As we were loading up the car to leave-Emily sleeping through it all-what a fun weekend!

We had such a great time!  We were lucky to have decent weather.  We got to do a bunch of fun stuff and also got to relax and just spend time together too.  It was great!  We can't wait to see them again soon!!

Circus

We got to go to the circus!  We had a great time!  We got there early and got to go see all the animals before the show.  We also got to go down on the floor to see a bunch of performers before the show too-it was neat to see them up close-Emily was in awe!!  

Twisty twirly light up thingy-$22

Cotton Candy-$12 (can you believe it??!!)

(At least it came with a hat)

The look of pure joy on her face-Priceless  :)

Tigers

Elephants

Family self portrait.

We decided after seeing these pictures that we had to get a new camera before we go to Disney in July.  Aaron's been on a mission to find the best, most practical camera (in our price range of course).  He gets to look into the technical stuff-and I get to play with a new camera!!!