Time to update you on what I've been up to lately, which is to say a lot!
I get to dress myself, and this is what I chose one day. Mom thought I looked just like a little school girl, which of course was adorable. This outfit was one of my better choices. I have also worn patterned socks with sandals, patterns that don't match, pink with red with fuschia, and yesterday I even wore a coat to the park in 92 degree weather. Have I mentioned I'm fiercely independent and Mom and Dad realized long ago that letting me pick my clothes was one way to make their lives easier. Plus what harm is there in it. Mom gets funny looks when I wear a coat or stocking cap to the park or a helmet while I walk, but who cares, I'm 2!
Helping mom make pancakes for dinner one night. I LOVE LOVE LOVE to help her in the kitchen, whether she wants me to or not.
Do you like this picture? I took it. I have taken a serious liking to photography lately. I grab the camera any time I can and take pictures. Mom has turned the camera on before to find 20 + pictures I have snapped without them knowing. They are not always so clear, but this one sure was. I guess I'm a scrapbooker in training. Whenever Mom and DAd are watching a movie and there is a framed picture like this in the house they always ask who took that picture. Pay attention next time you watch a movie there are always cute couple's pictures, many of which are situations you wouldn't usually have someone else photographing, and now we know. They must have had a young (2 year old) photographer in their house.
The first weekend of May we went to Dixon to surprise Grandma for her birthday. Bakka arranged to have us all at the Wine Bar she likes to go to with co-workers. Yes, that's right all us cousins got together at the wine bar. I enjoyed some water and popcorn.
Once us kids got restless at the wine bar we went on a walk to visit Uncle Brian at the fire station. He got called in and since it was only a couple blocks walk we went on a field trip. We sang songs on the way there. Uncle Brian acted like it was no big deal, but I think he secretly loved having us all come visit.
Yep, this picture says it all. Molly holds on for dear life, Carly stands up like a rebel, while wild Emily drives us around. Can you imagine what I am saying, "Be careful Emily" I'm sure I was trying to take the wheel from her and drive safely. If you aren't familiar with my backseat driving, well it involves me saying, "Be careful" an awful lot.
That same weekend Mom ran in her first half-marathon. She was running it with her friend Abbey and Abbey's uncle Mark. Abbey had bronchitis that week and was unable to finish the race, what a bummer after 12 weeks of training. Mom finished in 2 hours 16 minutes and 40 seconds. While she ran Dad and I slowly got up at home, got dressed, ate breakfast, drove 45 minutes to the finish line and waited. I even got to cheer and high five other runners before mom finished.Mom said it was a really bad run for her, but at least she finished, and didn't walk.
Here we are waiting for the bus to take us back to our car. Dad and I got mom a 13.1 magnet to go on her car. She was very excited.
The finisher's medal. Someday I think I'm going to run races too. In fact there is a race later this month with mom's running group that I think I'm going to run.
A couple weeks ago the Schahls came and stayed overnight with me. We went with Mom, Aunt Kim and Aunt Jen to the DuPage Children's Museum. It was a fun girls day.
The water play was a big hit, but the Schahl girls insisted on not wearing the smocks that keep you dry. I was dry, but Carly and Molly were soaked!
Aunt Jen taught me how to blow the huge bubbles.
Here we are before we left the musuem.
We then went to lunch at Potbelly and then to a place called Cookie Dough Creations where you can get ice cream or cookie dough, served like ice cream.It was delicious.
The next day we just hung out at home. One of mom's coworkers got a new office chair and they all decided that Mom should get to take the box home for me. It has been a hit ever since. I have colored on it, painted it, and hid inside of it. If you're looking for something fun and inexpensive get a box.
Before the girls left for Dixon we enjoyed a snack. We were going to go across the street to the park, but we each insisted on sitting in a stroller, which made it very difficult to go to the park, because while Aunt Kim packed up the car my Mom couldn't possibly push 3 strollers. Instead we had a snack and chatted. Luckily I had three strollers so we all had one.
we moved the box onto the 3 seasons porch so I could paint while Mom cooked dinner. Mom thought that was a great idea.
Since Abbey was unable to finish the half marathon with mom she quickly signed up for another half marathon 2 weeks later. Mom, me and two of her friends went to cheer Abbey on. We made signs. Here we are with Abbey after the race. Abbey and I love to stretch after races so I helped her yet again. I should really start charging a fee for my services. I have to say the sign I made, got a few people choked up at mile 9. Mom said she would have if she had read that sign. I guess running a race is an emotional thing, I'll find out in a couple of weeks.
Well that is it for now. I hope everyone has a nice long weekend. We are doing some work around the house this weekend, including painting the living room and putting up new curtains. I wonder if mom knows that I plan to "help" her paint. I mean I have been practicing on my box a lot lately.
Kayleigh and I at the museum.
Here I am showing Daddy the inside of the train at the museum. He didn't fit as well as I did.
This was a really cool mirror tunnel. How many Daddy's and Cassidy's can Mommy handle :)
Kayleigh's parents were very smart and told us we should do water play at the end of our trip to the museum, and they told Mom to bring me a change of clothes. It was soo much fun, we didn't want to leave that area.
I was not really sure about this boy here. The water play area had tons of things you could hook up to spray water all around. In fact I got drenched when some little boys set up the tubes to spray in my direction.
Getting my hair dry before heading to the bathroom for a change of clothes. I was completely drenched by the time we were done. I wonder why I even bothered with the smock?!?
The weekend before the museum trip I went with Mom, Aunt Jen, Ellie, Isaac, and Gramma to visit Aunt Kim, Uncle Jason, Carly and Molly. It was sooo much fun. Gramma got a little sick of hearing me say, "Be Careful Gramma" as she was driving. I yelled it from the way back of the car. I heard the rumble strips on the side of the road and I was fearful. I was just advocating for my safety, something Mom and Dad have already taught me. Don't worry Grandma I also tell mom to use two hands when driving, you're not the only one I worry about my safety with.
We took a trip to House of Bounce, and I liked it even more this time. Mom and I climbed up and down things. It was quite a workout.
Just climbing out of the bouncy house. Good thing I let Mom put pigtails in my hair.
In an effort to keep all kids happy (which is difficult when there are kids from 1 1/2 years old to 15 years old) we went bowling. It proved to be fun for everyone involved. We all played one game and it was just the right amount of time. Here I am sending my ball down the lane. I was pretty good at this bowling thing. I'm going to have to take Daddy next time to show him my skills.
Here is our whole group, we had two lanes. The adults were on one lane and the kids on the other.
All of us little kids liked to help cheer each other on. It was hard being patient when it wasn't our turn, so we got good at cheering.
This was my ball, isn't it nice. When it was all said and done I had the highest score for the kids side and Mom had the highest score for the adults side. Watch out world, the Gerken's are forces to be reckoned with.
Have I told you how much I love my mom and dad and I want to do everything they do, talk like they talk, wear what they wear, go where they go, etc. Well while Mom and Dad were making dinner one night I grabbed mom's coat and put it on (she's supposed to hang it up, right Dad!), grabbed her bag and said I'm going to work. I also like to wear Mom's shoes, take her keys and head outside to go to the store. I'm getting to be very grown-up.
