Paint Evanston Purple!

Not only did Ryan get a new job in Evanston at Rotary Int'l, but I got a job for the City of Evanston. We are now true Evanstonians! In the spirit, we helped paint Evanston purple. We got our shirts and went the pep rally downtown, and took this picture in front of Jude's favorite water fountain. Then we even got his picture taken with Willy the Wildcat. That weekend, Ryan and his parents went to the Notre Dame game, and I got the honor of taking Jude to his first football game at Ryan Field. He LOVED the game. He didn't sit the entire time. He kept standing on the seat so he could watch the game (and the cheerleaders). To top it off, he got to take home purple bear, and ride the choo choo train. It was a perfect day. I know there will be many more footballs games in our future....

Summer 2010

We had a great summer - perfect weather and lots of fun activities. Jeff, Amy, Garrett and Aislinn came to visit. Transformers was filming and we had a great time seeing the fake cars on Michigan Ave. We went to the zoo and loved seeing the animals - the actual animals... not the kids. We spent a lot of time at the beach - building sand castles and jumping up and down in the waves. Jude even found a spot that he calls Papa's rocks (for Grandpa Hall).

Anderson vacation to Florida

Okay... I promise, I do work. Just got lucky this spring and got to tag along with the MN Anderson's vacation to Florida. They were nice enough to stop by Chicago and pick up me and Jude (sorry Ryan!) We had a great time going to the ocean in St. Pete's and then, of course, to Disney! Jude and Malia (or MoMo) were inseparable. They just had the best time. Which meant, we all had a great time, too. Even Grandma (or stinky Great Grandma (not as mean as it sounds)) got to come with! Even the car ride ended up being a lot of fun. Just nice to spend time with everyone.

Vacation to Surf City!

So... I know it has been a while since I have posted anything new, but I have just been busy running around with this big boy we have now.... Jude, or JuJu as all his friends call him at school is just growing up everyday. Anyway... here are some pictures from our family vacation this spring. We went to Huntington Beach, CA and got to stay at a great hotel (thanks Butler Rubin!), visited our friends Chris and Scott, made sand castles, saw dolphins and seals, visited Laguna, San Diego Zoo, and Del Coronado... It was a GREAT vacation!

Candy, Choo Choos, Earrings, Parks.... more, more, more

Cousins hugging

Getting ready for earrings


Ridding the Choo Choo

Grandma pushing the swings


Big boy slide

Favorite hidding spot

Dying eggs - messy!
I found one! (or two)

What a pair!
What a pair!


SOOOOOO excited! Horse ride

The family

The whole gang

Well, as you can see we had quite the good Easter. Filled with family and fun! Even during the rain storm with the umbrella flying off toward the lake, we were still able to laugh and have a good time. My niece got her ears pierced, we dyed easter eggs, hunted for Easter eggs the Easter bunny hid (at church AND at home!!!), took a carriage ride on Michigan Ave and along the lake, road on a Choo Choo train at Navy Pier (all by himself - tear....), played at the park with Grandma and Grandpa on their way back from Florida (still jealous), visited Chinatown, and just all around had a great time with my sister. And Jude had a great time with his cousin - the two were inseperable - good and bad... Hope everyone had as good of an Easter as we did.

Almost spring...

Well, time has once again flown by. Jude is just more amazing every day. He can understand us and talk back to us (which isn't always a good thing). No mommy is now the newest and best thing to say. Although, all of the times I have heard that were wiped away when he grabbed my cheeks last night and said that I had an owee on my eye and leaned over and kissed my eye.... seriously - so cute! He's favorite new show is Punky - not joking about that one. Which I LOVE but Ryan isn't so happy about (but I hear him humming the theme song when he doesn't think anyone is listening, and see him laughing at the jokes under his breath). The weather has been nice this week so we have been going to the park, with Stich of course, every day after work. Other than just enjoying all of the little moments, we have had a great end of the winter - my brother and sister-in-law came to visit in January (during the big Viking game - not the one where they blew it - the one before that), we went to Ohio for a late Christmas (Jude loves his Hooters...), and then traveled to Minnesota for my birthday (Jude and Malia made stuffed matching Pandas and got matching strollers - thanks, Shelley!). Here are a few pictures that I had on my computer - I will try to add more later! Happy almost spring to everyone (although it is going to snow tomorrow - stupid midwest!)

Christmas pictures

Here are some of the pictures from Christmas. Oh, and the new addition to the family - Fin the fish.