The best $83 I have ever spent!

The perfect morning. Just think about it for a minute, close your eyes and imagine what the perfect morning looks like to you. This morning came pretty darn close for me. I started the day heading out to the DMV to re-up our liscense plate (only a few days late). Meredith and I shot up 47 and into Woodstock (home of Groundhog Day) and straight in to the cashier, and back out again in record time (about 3 minutes). This done, we truned to head home when I thought that we should probably go at least drive around the square. We have had a few nice days in square park so I thought what the heck....It turned out to be the best choice of the month. They were having thier farmers market complete with farm fresh produce, meat, and cheese. Meredith and I hit the Starbucks on the corner for a Strawberries and Cream frappuccino, and an old fashion (glaze donut). Then around the square and to our favorite park bench. All of the sudden we heard music. Meredith said "Let's go Daddy" and pulled my hand toward the center of the square. We found a spot and sat and listened to the music for about an hour. She danced and smiled and hugged me and had a ball. At one point she looked up at me (while dancing to Elvis's "I'm all shook up", smiled and said "Fun Daddy, yub you". This image is permanently imblazoned on my mind and in my heart. The only thing that would have made it better would have been to have Alicia there with us. That would have been the perfect morning. At the end of the day the bills, the jobs, the car trouble, all fade away, all you really have is family.

Illinois State renewal fee- $78

Strawberry and Cream Frapp-$4.19

Dancing with your daughter in Groundhoug day Square- priceless

Looking pretty for the Beach

Any young lady wants to look her best on vacation and our little Mer is no exception. Here she is a few days before vacation, getting her first haircut. She was great and loved driving her "Taxi". This place rocked by the way, it had a play area for the kids, car/horse chairs, and video screens to play your favorite videos...we chose Dora, all for only $16 plus tip. After arriving at the beach she insisted on painting her toenails. What a glamour doll. I think we've hit another milestone or two.....and we couldn't be more proud!

The Shedd Aquarium

We took a trip into Chicago to go to the Shedd Aquarium before our season pass runs out. Meredith was much more interested this year. She really wanted to see "sharks" which she has a love/fear relationship with. Surprisingly her favorite part turned out to not be the sharks. She loved the penguins and the stingrays. There is an area where you can go out and walk on top of the stingrays and see them through a clear floor. Meredith loved standing on the stingrays. She even laid down on top of them to get a better view. Funny, last year when we went this was her Grammy and Poppy's favorite area too. She gave the stingrays lots of love! She also enjoyed touching all the plastic coral in the place. We had a great day in a great city, by the way our beloved bears won the final game of the preseason after we left 16-10...I think that we may have to go into to Soldiers Field every game day for good luck.

Sun, Fun and Our Babycakes

We took a much needed vacation to Tennessee to visit family and went to the beach in North Carolina. We were in the car for over 20 hours of driving. Meredith did really well on the trip, only having meltdowns a couple of times on the really long days.

We celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary while we were in Tennessee. We left Meredith overnight for the first time without either of us. She did fine, we were more concerned than she was. She had a blast playing with cousin Seanie, Grammy, Poppy and Aunt Kim.

We went to dinner at the Old Hickory Steakhouse in the Opryland Hotel. We both had the best steaks we've ever had! We stuffed ourselves on steak, a cheese course, french onion soup, asparagus,
pomme frites and chocolate cake. After dinner, we walked around the hotel and relaxed.

After a couple of days in Tennessee, we went on to Sunset Beach in North Carolina. We spent a week there vacationing with my family (minus Mindy and Nate). It was overcast as we crossed the one lane bridge onto the island and the weathermen were predicting rain. We got lucky though and it only rained a couple of times at night.

We went to the beach everyday about midmorning. Meredith loved playing in the sand. She loved trying to help all her cousins dig holes. She was fearless about picking up little fish, crabs and bugs. YUCK! She doesn't get this attitude from me. She also enjoyed the ocean, once Mike took her out beyond where the waves would crash on her. She had fun jumping over the waves. She also liked to sit at the edge of the ocean and let the waves crash over her feet.

One day we walked all the way to the end of the beach to look for shells. We did eventually find some shells. On the way back, Meredith fell asleep on Mike's shoulder. When we got back to our beach chairs, we all took a little rest under the umbrella. It was one of the most peaceful, quiet times we had on vacation. Mike and I will never forget this special time being at the beach with our baby girl.