Another fun filled weekend

This weekend we went to Ohio to visit Ryan's family, and to go to a friend of the family's wedding (Ryan's family and this family grew up together, it was one of their daughters a little younger than Ryan)- Congrats, Stacey and Greg! It was great to be able to visit everyone again. Grandpa watched Jude (and Stitch even!) Saturday morning so Ryan and I could lay out and swim in the pool! That felt SO good- just soaking up the rays and just being able to swim again. Then Grandma tried taking Jude around to show him off to everyone, but no one was home. But boy, did she make up for that at the wedding. There were several other babies there, but I don't think anyone was as proud as Grandma Hall. Then, on Sunday, we got to visit Ryan's cousins and there babies. They were so tiny- I almost forget that Jude was that small. We tried getting a picture of the three of them all together on a blanket. I am curious about how that turned out. Jude was quite a bit bigger, and much more mobile (I wouldn't say he was actually kicking them, but pretty close- opps!- the boy just wants to move)

Jude is SO close to crawling. He can get on his knees up or on his shins pretty well now, but just is nervous about moving forward. I was helping him do it the other day, inch by inch, and he was smiling the whole time. But that wears him out (can you imagine being in the push up position like that for that long?). He is also pulling himself up really well. I just hold his hands and he does the rest of the work. I just can't believe how quickly he is growing. Daycare sent home a note that said "Jude wants to walk, slow down Jude!" Oh, and I have another good giggle story... He has a teething ring that I balance on my head (thought of this when we were bored on the car ride back from Ohio). Then I just tilt my head forward, the ring falls off, and I catch it, and Jude just CAN'T STOP LAUGHING. Then I was putting it on his head and when it fell off, it was just as funny. It was even funny on Stitch's head!

Just some quick info on me and Ryan.... I am back at dance class. It feels really good to be back out moving and dancing. I feel like I am on So You Think You Can Dance :), other than I can't even walk the next day. Ryan is auditioning like crazy - he even got an audition for the show The Beast with Patrick Swayze. Keep your fingers crossed. His Time Warner commercial is on tv now (it was even on Fox during the All Star Game the other night!!!), and his new one for Papa Murphys should be airing pretty soon.

Hope everyone is having a great summer. I can't believe it is already almost the end of July! Time is just flying! Hopefully we can get a little more beach time in. Oh, and merry Christmas in July!

Wrigley and the Family visits

We have had a busy couple of weeks. My parents came in to visit for the 4th of July. We met them in Lake Geneva on Friday and had a great time. It is a really cute place. Ryan said he even forgot he was in Wisconsin (no offense, to those people in Wisconsin - we have just learned to not care for it so much when we have to drive through it all the way to visit in MN). Jude even stayed up late enough that night when we got home to see the fireworks over the lake. He did fall asleep in the middle of them, but he seemed to like the first half. Saturday we went downtown shopping, of course, and then even had time to lay out at the beach. (We spent 1 1/2 hours- Ryan spent 4 1/2- guess who got a little burnt?) Then Sunday we had our tour of Wrigley. It was really cool, and Jude was perfect during the whole 2 hours! It was a perfect weekend.

Then this weekend, Shelley and Malia got last minute good ticket prices to come and visit us. It was really nice to see them. On Saturday, we all went to the Kohl's Children's Museum. It had rooms for the kids to play in with a different theme- water room, art room, a fake Dominick's grocery store, a fake potbelly, a baby nursery, cars, etc. They even had infant areas for little babies, too. I can't wait until Jude gets bigger so he will enjoy it more. Although I think he liked pushing the button and watching the balls shoot out of the cannon. Sunday we went shopping downtown and got to take Malia to the American Girl (and Shelley to Tiffanys). We played at the park in Evanston, and even got to watch BB10 once the kids went to sleep.

Next weekend we are visiting Grandma and Grandpa in Ohio for a friend of the family's wedding. Hopefully it will be good weather, and we can lay out (although, someone who won't be named probably should wait until the peeling stops at least). After that, we will only have about a month before we head to California!

Oh- and one good Jude update: The other night we were just sitting down for dinner, Ryan left to wash his hands, and Jude was in his highchair. He sneezed, and I turned my head quickly toward him and said "bless you." And I guess that was the funniest thing he had heard in a while, because he started to laugh harder than I have ever seen. His face was turning red, and he could barely catch his breath. Ryan walked back in wondering what happened.... I had to explain not much, other than Jude thought his mom was very silly. He kept going for so long that we even got the video camera out to capture it.

Have a great 4th!

Jude is going to have a fun and exciting weekend ahead. Grandma and Grandpa from MN are coming in tomorrow and we are going to meet in Lake Geneva. None of us have been and thought it might be nice to try out (and Grandma said if it was good enough for General Hospital people (it is on the show) then it is for us). Then we are going to just have fun on Saturday- we will see what we are in the mood for- most likely...going downtown for shopping. Maybe the Taste if it isn't too hot out- I can't do hot AND crowds (unless it is Disney). Then on Sunday, Ryan, Jude and I are going to take a tour of Wrigely Field, and stop at Murphy's Bleachers for pizza and a beer (not Jude, of course). That was Ryan's Father's Day gift- he doesn't like too much more than Wrigley. It is supposed to be nice weather all weekend- Finally!!!!

Malia celebrated her 1/2 birthday at Build-A-Bear. I got lots of pictures and look at them everyday. I also always check up on my other God Daughter, Aislinn.... I can't believe how much she has grown- she is pretty much the same size as Jude, but 4 months younger! She will be the basketball player and Jude will be the gymnast! Or they can just both be astronauts. Garrett called Ryan the other day and informed us of his booger. It was pretty funny. Oh-and Malia called Ryan to say hi..... note to Jeff, Amy and Shelley- have them call ME next time.

Jude got to see his "aunty" Antigoni this week. She was in town to visit- and we LOVE it when she does. We just don't get to see each other enough. We just have to keep working on her moving to Chicago.

Hope everyone has fun, but stays safe over this weekend. I don't want to hear about any drinking and driving... cabs, Metra, el, are all great options. (sorry for the comment- have fun but be smart) :)

Oh- and Jude is posed like George Costanza did in Seinfeld. He had rolled over when we were changing him and both said that he looked like George. Had to capture the moment and share with everyone. Plus, he likes pretending he is celebrities.