Day at the Zoo: Part II

Okay, so maybe it wasn't really a day at the Zoo! But the whole weekend felt like a 3-ring circus, LOL!!! I went home to help celebrate my sister's bridal shower, and while I was there we squeezed in a baby shower for my cousin Tara and a bachelorette party for my sister. Honestly, after the weekend I'm feeling old. It seems that when I go home we always try to cram so much stuff in since I don't get home much. I am looking forward to the day when I can come home and just RELAX!!! I have a feeling it's going to be a long time before that happens.

I flew in on Thursday afternoon. Tara, my wonderful cousin, picked Leah and I up and took us home. Grandma Carol (Gia) took Leah and Macy to the pool while I got my hair done. I sure wish I have pictures of Gia trying to control those two at the pool, but anway. On Friday I had my online class for the U of I. Then I went to see Baby Colby. Friday afternoon Laura's in-laws flew in from NY, so we had dinner with them. Saturday we got started bright and early. Grandma Schaumburg, Aunt Sandy, Aunt Jane and Heather all came to the house to visit before the shower. I left and met the other bridesmaids to get set up. The shower was great fun. It was really nice to see all the family and friends, especially Laura's bridesmaids that I haven't seen in years. After Laura's shower was the baby shower, which I must admit, I didn't quite make it too. I tried but after bridal shower clean up I got to the baby shower and it was over, so I just went to Aunt Trina's to visit and gave Tara her gifts. Then I got 30 minutes of down time (just enough to wash my face and change my clothes) and then we were off for the bachelorette party...Like I said, I was exhausted and it all made me feel old ;) Anyway here are a few family pictures from the weekend. Even though I was worn out, I wouldn't change a thing. You can't put a price on time with your family and friends!

A Day at the Zoo!

Last week Mitch and I were fortunate enough to be invited to the Philadelphia Zoo by our dear friends the Brueggemeiers. Mitch and Shawn work together at BMS. They came to dinner and met Leah when she was about 5 weeks old, and while they were expecting their own baby. When Amanda had Matt in August we went and saw them in the hospital. Amanda and I then found a Baby and Me class that we went to together for about 2 months. We have become great friends, and we just know that Matt and Leah are best buddies. Anyway, they have a season pass to the zoo which allows them to bring in guest for free...WOO HOO!!! I think we are going to look into Aquarium passes so we can return the favor. But anyway, we went on Sunday the 14th...It was the first nice sunny day we had had in awhile. I wasn't sure if Leah would like it or not being so young, but she LOVED it. She was quick to pick out all the animals. She would point to them and make all sorts of noises in her excitement. Matt did too!!! How did our kids get to be so smart??? The kids were both great, a couple of real troopers. Neither one fussed and they just watched the animals in awe. Amanda says that in the picture above we are saying the same thing...something along the lines of "OOOoooOOOooo, look at the Camel." Can't wait until next time.

The Flamingos were toward the end, Leah was
getting tired. But she still enjoyed watching them.

If you look carefully in the background you can see a Tiger.
There was also one up close to the glass that Leah had her eye on.

Swimming Fool!

We finally had a day that was nice and warm enough for Leah to play in her pool. This past Friday it was warm and sunny, unlike the rain that we had for 6 straight days before that only to be followed by afternoon showers and storms all day Saturday. Anyway, she LOVED it. This isn't her first time swimming. She has been in 2 hotel pools before, but this is the first time we could just put her down and watch her play. She seemed to think that the water in the pool was quite the refreshing treat. She kept trying to drink it with her hands and then later with one of her water toys. It was pretty cute, but then again, we always think that she is pretty cute.
Lately, she has been trying to make a mad dash for the outdoors when ever we open our back screen door to the deck, which wouldn't be a big deal if there weren't 3 steps down to some slate slab stones at the bottom. Mitch built a gate to keep her contained, only to have her figure out how to unlatch it and open it after 2 days, Yes, 2 days so now we have resorted to putting big objects in front of the gate so she can't escape. That one keeps us on our toes, but boy do we love her!

This is Leah testing us, trying to see if we will
stop her from opening the gate. I think she
really just wants to go get back in the water!

Fun with Family

On June 4th my sister Laura arrived in New Jersey. As fate would happen, my sisters fiance is from New York and his mother recently relocated to New Jersey. When her future in-laws decided to have a bridal shower for her in New York it worked out perfectly for us...we didn't have far to go. After my new nephew was born on June 5th, my mother and our very dear family friend, Cece, jumped in the car and headed East. They got to New Jersey on Saturday afternoon. It's always great to see familiar faces, and Leah LOVES to have company. She turns on the charm and is a total "ham" for whoever will look her way. My mother really enjoyed taking pictures of Leah on Sunday morning while we were getting ready. Don't ask me where I was (probably showering) but she was able to snap pictures of Leah running around with condoms...yes, condoms and also this one with a tampon. My mom thought that these would be great additions to her baby book. Thanks mom!

On Sunday morning we drove about 2 hours north, up to Port Chester, New York for my sister's shower. Susan and Valerie (Laura's future mom-in-law and sister-in-law) put together a wonderful party in Laura's honor. It was at a great Italian restaurant, and the food was great.

This picture shows off Gia Carol's handy work. My mom was giving Leah a bath on Saturday night. She turned to get the towel and Leah stood up in the bath and went right back down. She bumped her right eye pretty good. She had a nice shiner. It looked much worse on Monday and without a doubt it was more painful for Gia Carol who will never live it down ;)

On Monday before Mom and Cece hit the road and before Laura got dropped off at the airport Grandma got some shopping in. Mom got Macy and Leah matching dresses for the wedding rehearsal at Gymboree. Leah and I go back to Illinois next week so we can have Laura's shower with all our family and friends back home. It will be nice to see everyone...most of all I'm looking forward to getting my hands on that new little nephew of mine, Colby.
Cheers and Have a Nice Weekend!

Colby James

The New Happy Family
~Matt, Cynthia and baby Colby...we need one with Macy in it too!

I'm an Auntie!!! My nephew Colby James Myerscough was born on Friday June 5th. Cynthia was having a scheduled C-Section, but it was still very exciting. My parents went out the the hospital and got to see him when he was just minutes old. He was 7lbs 11 oz and 22 1/2 inches ...he is a LONG baby! I can't wait to get home and see him. I can tell from the pictures that he is cute and adorable and perfect, even though he looks like Matt :) I am going home on Thursday June 18th, it can't come soon enough. My sister is getting married in July so I will be home for her bridal shower and bachelorette party. There is lots of good stuff going on in our family. Colby is a blessing. All the up-coming weddings are blessings and we have so much to be grateful for. Matt is going to be such an amazing dad. Cynthia has a four year old daughter Macy, and she has been good practice for him. I am going to enjoy watching him grow as a person and a father.

Visiting Maryland

Memorial Day Weekend we went to Maryland to see Laura. Fortunately and conveniently, the University of Arizona woman's golf team made it the the NCAA championship that was being held there. We got to go out to dinner with the team. We went to a Japanese Tepanyaki restaurant. Leah loved it!!! She just smiled at the Japanese chef and kept waving at him, and he would wave back and say "Hi baby" It was fun, but when it came time for him to do some tricks, Leah just wouldn't cooperate. I guess she didn't feel like trying to catch the flying pieces of chicken in her mouth. The next day Leah greeted the team at the hotel when they returned. We were on the 8th floor and Leah and I were playing in the hall...from the bottom of the atrium the team heard her and looked up. They waved she waved, it was good fun, then Leah got to go swimming in the pool. Aunt Laura has asked us not to publicly post pictures of her in a swimsuit, so I will refrain. It was great to see family. Even if it was just Laura ;)

This weekend Laura's future mother-in-law and sister-in-law are having a bridal shower for her in New York so we will have company. Laura comes on Thursday (tomorrow) and my mom and her friend Cece are coming on Saturday. Mom's got to stick around town. My nephew is being delivered Friday morning...YAY!