Fall - Winter 2011

Here is our Fall and Winter. We ended the summer and started the fall with a trip to Kentucky, had our first block party with a visit by the fire department. A trip to Michigan to see the colors change on the tree. Dressed up as a spaceman for Halloween. Celebrated Jude's 4th birthday with a gymnastics party. Had fun in Ohio for Christmas and celebrated New Year's in Disney! What a great year. Hope next year is just as exciting!

Summer 2011

Well - here is Jude's summer. We got to visit with friends and family a lot. Went to two weddings. A picture next to the Metropolis Taxi cabs. A new friend, Aiden, at the Apple Holler. Cubs game. Lots of concerts in the park. Parades. Saints game. It was a perfect summer.

So, yet again I have failed to keep up the blog. But here are some photos from Christmas through beginning of April 2011 showing what we have been up to. At Christmas we went to Minnesota and Jude got to be part of (really sneak into) being in the Christmas pageant as a sheep in the manger. He loved every second of it. I think the performer in him is coming out. While we were in Minnesota, we laughed at my parents for having so much snow, and then beginning of February we got hit with a blizzard. Work even closed for a day! Then end of March we headed in the car with my parents to Florida for some Disney, Harry Potter, and beach. It was fun to get back to Ft. Lauderdale and see our friends and old places. We couldn't tell what Jude liked more - making sand castles and splashing our feet in the ocean (mommy's back will never be the same - holding him over the water), or going to Disney and meeting all of the characters. We even got to ride the fire truck when we walked into the Magic Kingdom. What a once in a lifetime opportunity. It was like the guy was waiting for us when we got in, and asked if we wanted a ride to the castle. Ahhh.... of course! Jude and Malia (my sister and her daughter met us down there) loved ringing the bell. It was magical just as Disney says! :)

Happy Halloween! To Infinity and Beyond!

After going through Captain Hook and Pooh Bear, we finally decided on Buzz Lightyear. I got to sneak away from work for a little bit and help take the kids trick-or-treating at the hospital. It was so much fun to see the kids and spend that extra time with Jude. Then we had a great weekend of carving our pumpkins, more trick-or-treating and stopping by Mel and Bucky's for some extra candy. SUGAR! Jude had a great time, and wouldn't go to sleep that night, but it was all worth it. Ryan just wishes that he would have practiced with Jude a little more to grab the Reeces Peanut Butter Cups rather than more suckers. I was just hoping for more chocolate. Now only a few weeks and the big boy will be three!