1000th post!!!!

When I started this blog back in April of 2005 I had no idea what I was doing. I still don’t really know what I’m doing, but hopefully it’s a little more interesting now than when I was posting my latest knitting project. I for sure never thought I would have written 1000 posts about trips, kids, favorites, rants, raves, and everything in between.

I knew this monumental post was coming up and I wanted to do something special. So I’m combining two of my favorite things: mascots and a giveaway!! I know I posted some of these in a mascot recap a couple years ago but there have been so many more and they all need to be at home together in one compact (not really) post. As for the giveaway, leave a comment and tell me which is your favorite and I’ll pick 3 winners at random and send them MY favorite something. I haven’t decided yet. But just know it will be awesome.

And now, since there are so many, I have divided them into categories for you. :)

First: FOOD!

I’ve been trying to nail this guy down for years. Who knew it would happen at our local Culver’s on a Friday night family dinner date? Probably my most cherished mascot picture. He’s just so cute and delicious.

Moving onto: ANIMALS!!

I loved Hello Kitty as a kid, and now Summer loves her. Well, the idea of her anyway. She wasn’t going anywhere near her when we spotted her at the Cedarburg Strawberry Festival. Love this picture.

         

And lastly: PEOPLE/MISC!!

I am so sad that this picture is so crappy. Lesson learned: take camera everywhere in case of mascot sightings!!

I’m not quite sure what it is about a poorly paid intern in a goofy costume, but I just love them. Maybe one day when I’m old and bored I can get a job as a mascot. How sweet would that be?

So don’t forget to leave a comment and tell me which is your favorite! I’ll give you until Friday July 29 at 10:00 CDT to enter and then I’ll randomly choose the winners. And no anonymous entries! How will I know who you are if you win??? If you want an extra entry you can like me on Facebook or Tweet about this entry or blog about this giveaway or send me flowers or come pull the weeds from my front flower beds. Just kidding. Just leave a comment.

One entry per person. Odds of winning depend on number of entries. Prize value undetermined, but probably not more than 5 bones. C’mon, it’s coming out of my own pocket!

Here’s to another 1000 posts!

Dream come true!

I don’t think it’s any secret that I love Britney Spears. I remember the first time I had heard of her: I was walking around Downtown Disney in Orlando and saw her Baby, One More Time album cover on the side of Tower Records. Then at Grad Night at The Magic Kingdom she was performing on a little stage by the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. She was wearing yellow bike shorts and a hot pink sports bra. This was right after her alleged boob job and when she stop singing all you could hear were the chants from the crowds going “t*ts! t*ts! t*ts!” We watched for a few minutes then made our way over to watch Less Than Jake. Good times.

Anyway, despite being America’s Sweetheart turned America’s Train wreck, she’s made a pretty amazing comeback, like 3 times over. And I never stopped loving her. Sure, I prefer Oops and Toxic Britney over If You Seek Amy Britney, but she really can’t do too wrong in my book. So when I learned she was playing at Summerfest I knew we had to go.

Jessie and the Toy Boys and Nicki Minaj openend, who were pretty good. I was so excited and giddy waiting for Britney to come out, and when she came out I almost cried. Almost.

Was it the best concert I’ve ever been to? Nope. She lip synced almost all of it I’m pretty sure, but she was smokin’ hot and her dancing was fab and the sets and effects were super cool. She sang some older stuff but a lot of stuff from her new album, too.

I really regret not being able to see Michael Jackson before he died, and I feel like poor Britney is one of those people to die an untimely death as well, so I really wanted to see her in concert before that ever happens. (Which I hope doesn’t, but don’t all those child stars seem to just self destruct???)

It was an interesting crowd…I’d say the majority of the people there were my age. I don’t know what I expected…maybe a younger crowd? And a lot of dudes, too. In fact, there were 3 guys sitting right behind us in muscle tanks, who looked like they just finished their GTL for the day who knew every. single. word. And they sang every. single. word. And they would say things like, “Oh, she always does things like that!” or “Britney loves her ______”. They totally knew  and loved their Brit Brit!

I used my ancient point and shoot camera, which is held together with medical tape, so I apologize for the less than superb picture quality.

 

As we left Summerfest we caught a little bit of America (classy guys), Dashboard Confessional (just as whiny live), and Alkaline Trio (pretty good). I saw one guy hurl in a trashcan and plenty of thongs and mullets. That’s how you know it was a successful Summerfest!

Here’s hoping Justin Bieber makes it to Summerfest next year! He’s got a new album coming out in the fall, and that means a tour, and you better believe I’ll be there!!!

2 1/2 years old?!

2 1/2 going on 20, I swear! She is miss independent for sure. She loves to do things all by herself and gets pretty testy if she doesn’t get her way “RIGHT NOW!” She talks nonstop about everything and anything, and if she’s not chattering away she singing. Always singing or humming—no doubt gets that from her dad. Her favorite songs to sing are “Twinkle, Twinkle”, “Bingo”, “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man”, and “Happy Birthday”, just to name a few.

She, for the most part, gives hugs and kisses willingly and is very loveable. She insists on giving Hannah hugs and kisses before her naps and bedtime, and she is forever covering Hannah in piles of toys and books.

She could eat fruit (watermelon, strawberries, blueberries) all day long and has probably eaten her weight in Goldfish crackers 10 times over. She still loves milk and drinks it all day long. Most days she double fists it with a cup of water, too.

She knows almost all of her letters now and is starting to learn the sounds they make. Her favorite sound to make is the “f” sound.

She is very set in her routines and has an amazing memory. We were at the zoo a couple weeks ago and I gave her some fishy crackers while we were looking at the penguins. The next time we were at the zoo looking at the penguins she asked for fishy crackers. It’s also crazy the routines she has with different people. When we have our babysitter Ashley watch her she always wants to watch Finding Nemo with her and then asks to watch Justin Bieber on her phone. She never asks us to do those things.

While she is currently in a “testing her limits” stage, she really is a sweet and fun girl to have around. She’s very helpful and loves to help me cook in the kitchen.

Half the time I look at her and wonder how in the world this little talking person wound up in my living room. But even when she tests my patience until I’m sure I’ll never have any again I can’t imagine life without her. She makes us laugh more times than she makes us frown and I’m so glad she’s ours. We love you Summer!

11 months!

Another month has gone by! Hannah has quite the eventful month. She now rolls from her back to her belly! I’ve never actually witnessed it, but I find her on her belly in her crib quite often. She can’t roll from her belly to her back so she usually whines for me to come rescue her after she wakes up from her naps. She also now is swaddle-free! Perhaps these two events are related….who knows. Either way, it’s been a long time coming, but I was just too lazy/scared to try going without it. I should have known she wouldn’t have cared. She played with her blanket a bit in the beginning but now she just snuggles right up to it and falls asleep.

She loves to wave, clap, and blow kisses.

Still no teeth, which means I get to enjoy the gummy smile a little longer. She found her tongue the other day. She sticks it out halfway and then moves it back and forth and back and back and forth. It’s pretty funny.

She loves to sit in our little pool in the backyard and splash around and try to eat the pool toys. She’s really a good sport about sharing it with her big sister, who splashes her and pours water on her head.

And she really does just adore her big sister. I think the feeling is mutual. Looking at the pictures from this past month I feel like she doesn’t look like my sweet baby anymore, but more like a little girl. This makes me so, so sad. I wish they could stay so small and sweet longer. We just love you so much, Hannah!

Independence Day Festivities

This Fourth of July weekend consisted of 2 parades, 1 evening of fireworks, 1 barbecue, some water fun for the kids, and a whole lotta fun. The kids loved the parades, as usual, and we had perfect seats and weather for both of them. Grandma Evelyn flew in late Sunday night, and even though I don’t have photographic evidence, I promise you she was present and had lots of fun!  

      

Hope you had as good as holiday as we did here! Hooray for America!

Milwaukeean

I have been the lamest blogger lately, and I hate it. I blame it on Harry Potter, really. See, I’m rereading all the books in the series in hopes that I’ll finish in time for the release of DH2 on July 15th. I’m only on the beginning of book 5 so I really gotta get crackin’! Anyway, I spend my evenings reading instead of on the interwebs when I would normally be blogging. So, blame it on the Harr-harry harr-harr-harcahol.

I’ve been in a rather reflective mood as of late. We are coming up on our 7 year anniversary of living in Milwaukee. I’ve never lived 7 years in one place in my entire life. I maxed out at 4 years in Florida where I went to all 4 years of high school. Having lived in more than a dozen states in my life I’m always a little stumped when people ask me where I’m from. Having lived almost a quarter of my life now in Wisconsin, if and when we ever move away I think the answer will have to be “Milwaukee” when I’m asked that question in the future. That’s crazy.

We viewed moving to Milwaukee as a new and exciting adventure and were optimistic in what our new future would hold. We have not been disappointed. We have made so many amazing friendships, many of which I know will last a lifetime. We have seen many of our friends come and go, leaving us to pursue degrees and other job offers. It gets harder and harder the longer we stay here. Having always been the one to come in go growing up, it’s interesting to be on the opposite side. Two of my very best friends are leaving Milwaukee for greener pastures and I’m honestly devastated and heartbroken. They have both seen me at my worst and still love me. I love their families and love their children as my own. These two women will never have any idea the impact they have had on me and my growth not only as a person, but as a mother as well. I love them dearly, and even though they may be far in distance, they will never be far in my thoughts. I’m sad I won’t see their faces regularly, and I’m sad Summer is losing two of her best friends.

Even though I’m losing two friends, I am so grateful to know that I still have SO many more that are here! I seriously feel bad for all of you who aren’t friends with my friends, they are the best. And if you are friends with them, then you know how awesome they are. I really have incredible girlfriends.

I think what I love so much about living here is the diversity of friends that I have. I love all of the people in our ward congregation and have made friends with so many amazing women that I never would have thought I would befriend. Professionally, I have worked with great women and even though I may not see them all the time whenever I do it’s always so good to catch up. And of course there are my Kohl’s girls, there from the beginning and will be there till the end.

I know this is some serious cheese happening, but I just had to express how blessed we’ve been. We moved far from family into the unknown, and were welcomed by the Midwest and its hospitality. And on beautiful summer nights like tonight, after watching a parade with dear friends and my precious family, I can’t help but reflect on how much our Heavenly Father has blessed us. We have a home, health, friends, family, and freedom. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Milwaukee is my home.