What a weekend!

Wow, what a weekend! We are so exhausted we are still recovering. Mitch could only muster up enough energy to lay on the couch and watch all 12 innings of the Twins game last night, ha ha. Really though, we had a great visit with Dave and Tootie and we couldn't have asked for better weather. On Friday Dave, Tootie and I took Leah to an orchard. She showed them the animals, and the tractors and she picked out a few little pumpkins. We got to enjoy apple cookies and cider for a snack before heading home. On Saturday we went to Philly. The weather didn't look to good but we just got sprinkled on for a few minutes then the sun was shining the rest of the day. We went to Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and the home of Betsy Ross. Grandpa Dave showed Leah how to dunk her fries and chicken nuggets in ketchup at lunch time...so now she is a pro. After the dowtown historical tour we went to Eastern State Penitentiary...one of America's first prisons...it was creepy and interesting. Leah did pretty good considering it was such a long day.

Sunday she didn't fair as well, but she was a trooper. We left the house around 9 am on Sunday and caught the train from Princeton to NYC, once in New York we hopped on the Subway and went to Brooklyn's Battery Park where we caught the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and then on to Ellis Island. Dave, Tootie and Mitch went up the Statue of Liberty while I stayed on the ground with Leah. I let her out of the stroller on the grassy area where she chased the ducks for a bit. Then it was back on the Ferry and off to Ellis Island. From there we took the ferry back to Battery Park...I think this was where Leah had the most fun. It was a gorgeous day and thankfully I had packed an extra outfit. Leah played in the water fountain for over a half-hour. She was SOAKED!!! But she had a lot of fun...then it was back on the subway to Penn Station where we caught the 6 o'clock train home. I think we were all tired out by the time we got home.

On Monday Dave, Tootie and I took Leah to the aquarium. She had fun showing them all the fish. She loved watching the seals with Grandpa Dave and she even got a souvenir stuffed penguin.

Besides that Leah had fun making chocolate chip cookies with grandma and grandpa while Mitch and I went on a date. And Leah and Grandpa snuggled on the couch and watched Toy Story 2 one morning. You would never know that she hadn't seen them in 6 months...she warmed right up to them like she sees them all the time. It's difficult living so far away from family. But we sure do love when they come to visit. It was a great visit with The Schultz grandparents! I think my parents are coming the end of the month, and my sister will be here for a few days post-Thanksgiving. Before you know it Christmas will be here!!!

Free Fall'in It

Now that summer is over, I am having a hard time trying to figure out what to do on the days that Leah and I are home alone together. We were in a really good routine the last days of summer. We would get up, have breakfast, watch Sesame Street, Go to the park, come home and have a snack, she would nap and then we would have lunch. After lunch, she would play with toys for a bit, we would go out and play in her little pool, she would come in and have another snack and then go down for another nap...by the time she woke up Daddy would be home!!!

Now that the weather is getting cooler, our schedule is all over the place. The mornings almost seem to chilly to go to the park, so we have been venturing out in the afternoon, but what else can I do to fill the days. We read lots of books, play with puzzles and toys, but I feel like she is getting bored here at home with me...SUGGESTIONS PLEASE!!! The last 2 weeks were especially tough, with Mitch being gone on his Colorado hunting trip. It was so nice to pick him up on Saturday and have him home with us yesterday. On Friday we had a WONDERFUL visit to the aquarium with our friends Kathleen and little Ryan. I wish we could have stayed longer, but Leah crashed!!! If only we lived closer and could do playdates more frequently. I am going to start looking into Kindermusic and Gymboree...anything to get us out of the house, or else this fall will lead to a really long winter. Here are some pictures of Leah's first try with play-doh and coloring.

Little Matty got married!

So I have been on hiatus for the last 2 weeks. I went home to Illinois the end of August to spend some time with family and friends, and to help my family...well, mostly my mom, get ready for my brother's wedding. My parents graciously planned and paid for my brother's wedding and I am so glad that they did. It was truly a wonderful celebration for Matt and Cynthia and a day that I hope they will never forget. Matt and Cynthia make a wonderful couple, with a beautiful family. I have really enjoyed getting to know Cynthia, and am so excited to have her as a member of our ever-expanding family. Congrats to the Newlyweds!!!

It was great being home, because I had babysitters on hand...something I am lacking in New Jersey. My friend Rachel babysat for Leah on Tuesday while I got my hair done, and she was brave enough to watch Leah and Colby while we were at the wedding reception. Thanks so much, Rachel. My new sis-in-law Cynthia and brother Matt watched Leah on Wed. night while I went out to dinner with Rachel and Andrea...we chatted for hours, it was just like old times minus the alcohol. We are much older and wiser :) On Thursday I went out to the river with my cousin Paul and Spencer to see my Uncle Dave and Aunt Althea...There are no words to describe how much Leah despised the sand. To say that she HATED it would be an understatement. Her tears were quickly dried when Uncle Dave gave her some fruit chews and Althea rocked with her on the "porch" swing. On Friday Leah and I got to have a playdate with my cousin Tiff and her two kids, and I was watching Colby, so we definitely had our hands full. Melissa came to hang out so that was nice, and she saved Leah from being run over by that crazy "Dennis-the-menace" Preston, lol!!! It seems that no matter how long I am home for there is never enough to time to visit and catch up with all my loved ones, but I am grateful for the time that I had with the ones that I did see.

So it may seem that I had a lot of people babysitting for me, but I got to do a bit of babysitting myself. My mom had Colby Saturday night (8/30) while Cynthia was having her bachelorette party and Matt was at work. I certainly got a little taste of what it will be like to get 2 kids ready for bed. Then on Monday, mom has Macy and Colby all day...it got a little chaotic with all 3 of the grandkids at Grandma's all day. On Friday I watched Colby most of the day, while Cynthia was having her trial hair run before the wedding. Needless to say I really got to experience what it was like to have 2 little ones, at least for short periods of time, and I think I did okay. Bath/Bed time was definitely the roughest part of the day...THANK GOD I have such a great partner in Mitch. Leah did really good with Colby. She would try to give him hugs and kisses. She would pet him like a dog, she got really good at pointing to him and saying "baby". She only tried to sit on him in his bouncy seat a few times, so I have high hopes that she will be a great big sister. It was a great trip home. I'm always sad to leave, and it makes me look forward to the next time.

Shoe Fetish!!!

Oh my Leah, She is truly a girl after my own heart. She has discovered shoes. Last week she kept going to her room and pointing up to the top of her dresser...this is where the shoes are at. I kept trying to bring her back to the living room and her toys to play, but she kept returning to her room eventually having a temper tantrum. As she sat on the floor crying, pointing up at the dresser, she lifted her foot and wiggled her toes..."Shoes" I said, "Do you want your shoes?" I got some off the top of the dresser and set them on the floor but that wasn't good enough. She got even more mad as I walked away and when I looked she was trying to put them on. I sat on the floor and put her shoes on and she got up and smiled...happy as a clam. Now we can't start the day unless we have a pair of shoes on. When she doesn't have shoes on she tries to put my shoes on, or even funnier...Mitch's shoes. She is getting so grown up, bless her heart she tries so hard to put her socks on too. Yes, my girl loves shoes. And I couldn't be happier!

The Best

So I have to give my wonderful husband, Mitchell some props. Last week, he threw me a surprise party to congratulate me for graduating with my masters. I never saw it coming. I was utterly clueless...which is normally not the case! He had asked me 2 weeks before hand if we had any plans, had me call a few friends and make arrangements. We had wanted to have a cookout with friends for Leah's 1st birthday, but the trip to the hospital 2 days before that put a hault to that plan, and everyone is always so busy in the summer. We figured that as long as everyone was around it would be a great chance to get the grown-ups and kids together for a "play-date" we had the grill fired up and the baby pool's inflated. Imagine my surprise when there were balloons, flowers and a cake FOR ME! I probably don't say it enough, but God gave me a wonderful gift when he brought Mitch into my life. He is a wonderful husband, father and my very best friend.

Aqua girl

Trying to touch the starfish (above)
and playing in the seaweed with daddy (below)

Two weeks ago we had the opportunity to take Leah to the Aquarium Adventure in Camden. It is right on the river across from Penn's Landing in Philadelphia. She is really into animals and tries to mimic their noises. Granted, you can't really do a whole lot of mimicking of fish :) but she had a great time quacking at the ducks. We ended up getting the "Family Passport" So that we can get in with 4 adults, 4 children and discounts on parking, food, etc...every time we go. We figured that if we go just 2 more times and take some guests once, it has already paid for itself. I can't wait to have a playdate their with some of our friends. It will also be nice for when we have out-of-town guests...and I am sure grandparents would enjoy taking Leah too!

Leah did great despite missing her morning nap. We thought she would sleep in the car on the way there (it's about an hour) but it didn't happen. She is so curious and get's so excited when we leave the house. Once you put her shoes on she heads for the door waving and yelling "buh-Bye" behind her. She must be talking to the dogs :)

I think she enjoyed almost all of the exhibits and we heard "ooohhh" all day long. The only time she clung to us was when we saw the hippos and when we were in the shark tunnel...I think they were just too big for her liking. Can't wait to go back soon.

My Best Friends Wedding!

Okay, so technically it was my little sister's wedding, but I consider her both...my sister and my best friend. It's rough living so far apart from one another, I in New Jersey, and she all the way out in Arizona. It was great that we were able to fly out to Arizona for a week to be with her during such a special time, but really...I didn't see her at all. I guess that's because she was doing "wedding stuff" and hanging out with all her child-less friends, while I stayed in a house with my brother, Cynthia and their 2 kids, cousin Tiffany and her 2 kids and of course my niece Shelby, charming husband and adorable Leah.

Anyway, the wedding was so wonderful. I don't think they could have found a better setting than the Oro Valley Church of Christ nestled in the Catalina Foothills, and the ceremony was so touching. What really got me was my father's tears. It was crazy...Jer started down the aisle with Laura and choked up and on cue, you could hear all the bridesmaids behind me start to sniffle. Laura was the most beautiful bride, Jeff should consider himself lucky. I consider myself lucky everyday. Laura is the best when you need a laugh, and great when you need a shoulder to cry on. I am doubly blessed...she is my sister and my best friend.

Family Vacation and I mean FAMILY!

Wow, We just returned from the most exhausting vacation I have ever been on. And even though 2 days later I still feel like I am recovering, I wouldn't change a thing, well except maybe add more family to the mix :) A lot of my family headed west for the weekend. My baby sister Laura got married...FINALLY, after 20 months of being engaged and lots of planning. Anyway, we had the wonderful experience of sharing a home with my brother his fiance and their kids, my niece Shelby who came to babysit and my cousin was just across the street with her 2 kids. Their house wasn't very kid-friendly so they spent most the time with us and it was GREAT! It seemed like pure chaos when I was in the midst of it all, but thinking back to my times as a kid being with our BIG family and all my cousins...I think those times were pretty chaotic too. I have to wonder how my grandparents raised their 5 boys and then would take in a truckload of grandkids for the holidays?!? Anyway, we were in Tucson, Arizona and boy was it hot, but it was a dry heat and Mitch finally agrees with me that the dry heat is more tolerable than the humidity after 2 days playing golf with my dad and the guys (I think he was nervous about this, but he did great, and I am so proud of him). On Thursday morning he got up early (7 am) packed up the kids and went to the Sonoran Desert Museum in Saguaro National Park. It was 3 hours of walking talking and viewing the wildlife. It was HOT but the kids were such troopers we really had a good time. The rest of our time was really spent enjoying the pool. I will post more later about the wedding, but here are some pictures of the kids.