Puppy Love.

It started as a simple idea, but then I couldn't find any Dalmation spotted fabric...So, we had to hand stitch every single spot on to the costume (and it took forever!). I want to be sure to thank the special people for helping me. Victoria cut all the panels out. Ashley helped stitch some of the spots on, my mom stayed up all night stitching spots on, and Chris watched Katelyn when we got home the next night so I could stay up all night stitching on spots and sewing it together. I'm super happy with the costume- even though I was a dim-wit, and closed my casing for the elastic on the hat. (Never to find the time to fix my error, but we didn't stay out in the cold long, so it was ok.)

 

 We hit up the neighbors to show off her costume, and to see thier grandchildren's costumes, and then set up camp to hand out candy. Chris had the fire pit nice and toasty in the driveway for us when we returned from showing Victoria how we Trick-or-Treat in the United States. Next year Chris wants to have an Apple Cider Bar set up.

I used Simplicity Pattern 1797 as a guide. A little tweak here-and-there never hurt no one. ;)

K's Birthday!

We celebrated K's first Birthday in Danville at Great Grandma's church. We loved the Minnie Mouse theme, and I think the guests did too! Our friend Lynnse made the cake, and proved once again just how talented she is. I had Katelyn's dress made just for her, and she looked like a superstar!

SUPER HUGE THANK YOU TOEVERYONE WHO CAME AND HELPED MAKE IT A MAGICAL BIRTHDAY!

Sadie Hawkins Dance

We've been busy. We went to another Colts game two-weekends ago, this past weekend Victoria went to the schools Sadie Hawkins dance, and Chris and I managed to leave Katelyn with a sitter for 2 hours while we stopped in for a friends graduation party....but...

This post is mostly about the Sadie Hawkins Dance....WOW!



Lil' Abner and the Sadie Hawkins Dance.

The dance where tradition flies out the window, and the girl asks the guy to the dance. It all started from a comic strip (read more here). But- I loved the movie, and I loved the silliness of the girls chasing the boys, and the boys trying to force a certain girl to catch them.

I'm not sure if it is WHERE or WHEN I grew up, but the Sadie's Dance was casual and the "couples" wore a matching shirt. Mostly, we all wore jeans and a basic top. I still remember spending hours at the mall with my mom searching for the perfect shirt that I'd want to wear as girl, and that would also be appropriate for my date to wear. Others had fun painting their matching shirts, but for whatever reason I decided these sweatshirts looked real nice.

 

(Yes, that's me! Hopefully the long blond hair gives me away! Though I do apologize for the poor quality)

 

Needless to say, I was blown away by the formal attire that Victoria and her friends wore to Sadie's. I guess growing up in Small Town Illinois didn't prepare me for the fact that the Sadie's dance just might be formal at times. The girls and boys were super cute all dressed up, and I loved that I was given a great reason to dig through the old picture box to find this picture and several others.

 

 

(Here is Victoria with her very stylish and fashion forward friends!)

 

I loved how great all the students looked, but part of me was sad that it wasn't the good 'ole hillbilly fun. Haha!

Picture Post!

Getting Ready to leave for Victoria's first NFL game!!

K assisting Daddy with lawn duty...



She's no fool. She knows the fun is all in the driving.

I love these two! I also love that Chris gets up with her in the middle of the night, so I can sleep.

Kissing daddy before he heads out the door for work!

Yum, Miss K loves her spaghetti!

We went to Garwood's Apple Orchard, and K picked her very first apple from the tree.

Victoria picked some too!
Chris made the most amazing Apple Pie ever with our apples.

There is nothing...

That this girl will not climb on! Yesterday I caught her climbing on her little play jungle toy (which is narrow and snake like,) SO, she climbed on it, and was stretched out with her hands on the jumper making herself be a bridge across the two. She is a monkey for sure.

A New Generation of CEC-ers.

 

We had a Wedding in Carmel for Ashleigh and Jon last weekend. We worked together at CEC in Kokomo, and they met there as well. I felt so special to be invited to attend...of course, I didn't realize I would be performing the "Bake a Cake" song at the wedding- but I'd say all the "old" CEC castmembers had a GREAT time doing it.

 

No, the wedding was not at CEC (Although, I see how you might think that) - We did have a few extra minutes on the way to stop into the old place and introduce both Victoria and Katelyn to the wonderful world of Chuck E Cheese's.

Hello Chicago

It was out first weekend with Victoria - Of course, we did the traditional first! CHICAGO, baby!

This is right as we left the the parking garage. So, really - It is Victoria's first steps in Chicago.

At the BEAN!

Other than the airport, this is Katelyn's first trip to Chicago too! We kinda stumbled into that darn rabbit hole like Alice in Wonderland! haha!

We searched and searched for a public bathroom without having to go all the way back to the park, so we found a hospital. While I was going, I came out and found them with masks on and a nasty stink in the hall. A homeless guy had walked through and he smelled sooo bad, the security guard came over and gave them each a mask to wear.

Beautiful! (I see Mickey Ears in the clouds!)

Victoria on the boat. We did the Architecture tour with Wendella Boat tours. It was nice.

Victoria with more Chicago behind her.

Katelyn and I enjoying the water. 75 minutes was just a bit too long to keep her crawling all over the place.

Family Photo!

After the boat we went to Navy Pier where we introduced Victoria to the nastiest elephant ear known to man. We promised her a delicious fair-style one next time. Katelyn was asleep most of the time we were at the pier, so we have to go back and ride the Ferris Wheel.

 

It was a super nice day.. little warm in the sun, perfect in the shade. We ate Chipotle and bought some ice cream from Walgreens. Lots of walking.

*Temporary Exchange Student*

 

This is Victoria. She is a Junior this year. Katelyn has really taken a liking to her too! She has had such a blast hanging out in Victoria's room with her.

 

Hosting was not something we were looking to do this year. We decided we really think it would be fair, since we don't know how much traveling she'll get to do with us having Katelyn, but....We were asked to be a temporary home for her. Of course, we couldn't say no, but now we are glad that we didn't turn her away. She is sweet and polite. Super, super shy (way more than Bela or Emilia), but....We have offered to be her home for a longer amount of time, but that is a decision for her parents and the organization to make. We have never worked with this organization before, so we would have to go through the application process to host her longer, and I know the coordinator has calls out for families already cleared and ready to go.

 

Unfortuantely, I was told this evening that she has a mandatory meeting on Saturday, Sept. 1 - so she won't be able to spend the Holiday weekend trip to Indy/Illinois to meet the family. She'll be staying with the program coordinator. (*tear*)

 

I'll keep you updated on if she stays with us or not.