Sunday Afternoon at the Zoo

Yesterday afternoon we were looking for something fun to do. We didn't want to spend any money so we decided to take advantage of our Minnesota Zoo membership!

We packed a picnic lunch and ate it in the parking lot before heading into the zoo since we got there right around lunch time!

Once inside we saw tons of animals but, of course, Amelia gravitated towards anything in water. We spent a lot of time looking at turtles, fish, empty tanks and more fish. She did not give up on the "empty" sea otter tank and it paid off!


He came out of his cave, swam to her, did a somersault and swam away!

To take a break we rode the monorail.


Amelia enjoyed looking out the windows and I think she saw a couple of animals but mostly she just looked around and said, "wow!"

When she saw the leopard napping she thought it sounded like a good idea:

Riding on a wolf with her zebra:


There is a "splash pad" near the monorail where kiddos can run around in their swimsuits and cool off. We avoided it one time but on our way off the trail it is near Amelia noticed it and had to go. We debated, tried telling her not today but in the end we gave her the go-ahead. Once she heard, "ok" she was gone!


She had an absolute blast!


Once we were done at the "splash pad" we got Amelia changed into her spare clothes and a new diaper and looked through one more area of the zoo before heading home! Amelia fell asleep super fast on the ride home:


We had a fun day and can't wait to go back!

Oh!

Amelia says "yes" now...only to her "yes" is "OH!"



We think she associates "yes" with "oh" because it usually takes us a long time to figure out what she is trying to tell us/ask for and when we finally figure it out we say, "oh! You want (blank)." I love how big her eyes get when she says "oh."

Wisconsin Dells

Tuesday and Wednesday of this week Amelia, myself and my parents met some cousins in Wisconsin Dells! Before our cousins arrived we went on an Original Duck tour!



Somehow Amelia managed to fall asleep part way through the tour!


We stayed at a hotel that had a huge indoor and outdoor waterpark included as part of your room cost. Amelia had a blast in the kiddie areas. She was not a fan of anywhere she could not touch but had fun in wading pools and on kid waterslides :)

I didn't take a lot of pictures because I was playing with kiddos and was wet most of the time! I did get at least one picture of each baby though:


One of Amelia coming down a waterslide for the first time:


Unfortunately her Papa fell over on the last turn so I really only got a picture of his leg in the air...

Amelia and her cousin P had a blast together. We aren't around small kids often and when we are it doesn't go great usually but Amelia loved hanging out with her cousin.


Watching them interact with each other was the highlight of the trip for me.

Amelia was wiped out after our overnight trip and so is this mama.

26 Years

Last week was my 26th birthday. We celebrated it a little early so Jason could join us! We had dinner with my family and they got me an ice cream cake! I think the design on it was a little more for Amelia's sake...


Yep, I had a Dora cake this year :) Jason had it personalized...



The following night I had a taco pizza with Jason's sister before she left for Mayo. On the night of my actual birthday my dad wanted to do dinner so we had half-price schnitzel and appetizers at a local German restaurant.

The Twins/Brewers game earlier in July was my birthday present from my family but they also got me a Coach purse. Now I am cool like my mom and sister ;)

I don't feel like I have aged a ton in the past couple of years but at the same time I feel like time is flying because Amelia is getting so big so fast! It's funny how my age seems to stand still but to me she is aging so fast!

Meet Ah-Huh

Amelia has a new friend. She named him Ah-Huh.


She got him from Marie's wedding! He was the centerpiece of my family's table at the reception. We had to get him a covered home because of curious cats.

Amelia is in love with this fish. She stares at him at great length:


She even tries to give him her other friends:


Last night before bed she ran out of her room, down the stairs, got her stool and stared at him a little longer.

Welcome to our family, Ah-Huh.

Mr. and Mrs. Howard!

Over the weekend I was maid of honor in my friend Marie's wedding! We started our day bright and early at the salon. I had never had my hair done before so I wasn't real sure what I wanted done so I gave my lady a few ideas and she created this:


I was pleased with it and it held up all day, night and overnight! The next day I pulled 28 bobby pins out of my hair and it didn't move too much because of all the hairspray!

I drove two other bridesmaids to the church (a 45 minute drive) and poor Nicolle was stuck in the backseat with 4 dresses draped over her lap!


We were the first ones to the church so we decided they'd put make-up on me for the day. I never wear make-up. I don't even own make-up so this was a big deal! In fact, here is my "make-up bag" that Lisa made me for the day so I wouldn't feel left out:


The lone item in it is the lip gloss given to us by the bride! Here is me with actual make-up on:


They did a great job I think! I didn't feel like myself at all!

Before the ceremony we had some time so we got a picture of all the pregnant bridesmaids together! I am 7 months and the other two are 6 months!


The bride and her mom before the ceremony:


The ceremony was beautiful and Marie is married now, crazy!


Our limo was waiting for us outside the front of the church:


This was my first time in a limo and they can get a little cramped! Lisa and I indulged in a celebratory glass of champagne on the ride to the reception:


Yes, we drank it. No, we didn't feel bad!

Our ride to the reception got a little complicated a few miles from our destination. Our driver hit a 15-year-old riding her bike in a crosswalk. Someone saw it coming and yelled, "stop!" just in time for us all to look out the front and see it happen. Trust me, that is something you never want to see happen. I felt so sick for a couple of hours. By some stroke of luck the girl walked away from the accident and as far as we know she is going to be fine.

I was kind of a dud at the reception because I am not a big dancer :( I wish I was because everyone was having a blast! I had fun watching them though. Plus, it felt good to sit and have my feet up after the long day :)

Amelia was at the reception briefly and wanted nothing to do with me so I tried to bribe her with glow sticks:


They thrilled her to death but she still was Papa's girl and wanted nothing to do with me!

Jason and I:


Marie and Jordan are in Maui on their honeymoon now and I can't wait to hear all about that! For now, I am going to get some rest :)

Set-Up and Rehearsal

This afternoon we helped set-up the reception hall for Marie's wedding tomorrow. Tons of people came to help. So many in fact that there were times when some of us had nothing to do!

I really liked the centerpieces that Marie came up with:



The rehearsal tonight went smoothly and we had a grill-out at a nearby park after. Other than the heat it was a great night!


The entire bridal party:


Tomorrow is Marie's big day!

Pregnancy Update

I am 27 weeks and 5 days pregnant so it seemed about time for an update before I hit the third trimester!


Things are going well. We are having some heat this week up here. We are under an extreme heat advisory until mid-week and it has not been fun so far. Today the heat index was up to 111! Last night I felt flu-like and it was likely from the heat.

My cravings this time have been salads and most recently stuffed peppers! We made some two weekends ago and I am thinking we will make them again before North Hudson's Pepper Festival where I will have them yet again!

Here is a comparison picture:


I think I look pretty much the exact same size as I was with Amelia at this point with baby boy!

Marie's Bachelorette Party!

Saturday night was my friend Marie's bachelorette party in Minneapolis.


We met at a hotel downtown, hung out for awhile and then went to dinner at the Rock Bottom Brewery.


After dinner we headed back to the hotel for a bit. We played a guessing game where we each brought a pair of underwear for Marie and she had to guess who brought each pair.


She actually did very well at it somehow! She guessed almost each pair correctly!

Marie with her maid and matron of honor:


Jason's sister Liz and I:


Group shot before we headed out "on the town":


We had quite a long night out. Lisa and I (both pregnant) somehow managed to tag along until after one in the morning. It was fun watching everyone have a good time and celebrating with Marie but I can tell you that bar-hopping downtown is not high on my list of things to do again soon! Especially on such a sweltering evening! It was definately a new experience.

All in all, it was a successful night. Lisa and I headed back to the hotel and talked for a bit while we waited for everyone else to get back. Then we ate Marie's cake and had some snacks before bed.

Fawns

Yesterday afternoon we had a couple of fawns in the yard! One of them was much more adventurous that the other and I was able to get a good shot of him (of her):


This is the only shot of the two of them I got:


There really are two there, I swear! The second one is on the left in the shadows. If you enlarge the picture it may be easier to see!