Abby and her shoes...

Abby loves shoes. Today she actually ran from the U Village playground into Hanna Anderson and stopped only when she got to the table full of shoes. She then picked each of them up and said "shh" (that means shoes) and tried to put them on her foot. It didn't work because she already had shoes on, but still, it was pretty funny. Yesterday she got to wear her dress up shoes for the first time. It was a big day... and she sure did look cute!

dress up

Abby is obsessed with my shoes, purses and glasses. She also has a new tutu and if you'd like to see her show off her twirling, running and jumping skills then come on over, she'll put on that tutu and she won't stop twirling!

Watch me twirl! It's so cute to watch her twirl, she puts so much force into it.



Hmmm... what should I try on next. Mom's glasses always seem so fun...


Until I put them on... how the heck do you see through these things Mom?!

Date Night

I know I haven't been sharing any of my favorite date night spots, but I got behind and it just seemed like too much work, but I had a salad on Tuesday night that spurred me into telling you all about a spot that I just love. It's called the Volunteer Park Cafe. It's on Capital Hill. It's a charming old store that was converted into my perfect kind of restaurant, great food, my favorite kind of atmosphere (it's casual and unpretentious, yet feels like someone really thought about the interior and decor - and there's outside dining).

I found this place because a friend of Charlie's told me about their cookies and now Abby and I frequently go to Volunteer Park, check out the really cool conservatory, play on the toys, walk around and check out the koi pond and dahlia garden and then get a cookie, but now I love Volunteer Park even more because it offers 3 possible reasons to go: 1) apparently they have amazing brunch - I can verify that the menu looks good, but haven't tried it. 2) The cookies and coffee are really good and if you have a little one, the cookies + coffee and the park make for a fun afternoons and 3) the dinner is really great and if you go you must order the bread salad. Hands down the best bread salad I've ever had.

summer fun

A few exciting things to report:

Abby is now quite the climber and among other things, Abby can now climb onto the couch by herself, so that she can look out the window with Sammy whenever she wants!


The Zoku quick Popsicle maker I bought and Christmas and never used, is finally in regular use and a BIG hit with Abby. Here she is eating both mine and her Clementine-Watermelon-Papaya Popsicle.



Check out Sammy and her new do'. Doesn't she look beautiful?


Here is Abby proudly showing off our herb & flower garden. We are both proud, me for actually watering it and Abby for listening to me and not picking all the flowers.


Eli loved his birthday present! A big truck and a couple hot wheels t-shirts.


I jumped the gun and bought this sprinkler/pool thing for Abby last year, of course she hated it then (what was I thinking?) but now she loves it. Woo-hoo!


And no picture can really show you this, but I'm working on getting a video, Abby LOVES to make animal sounds and is obsessed with trying to say cockadoodledo. It's hilarious to watch her try over and over. She loves to look at this Curious George book with a barnyard scene and little pulls for each animal and their sound. So far she has Moo, Meow, Woof, Baa, and Whooo down, and like I said, is desperately working on cockadoodledo.

What a difference a week makes...

Last weekend we were cold, wet and miserable on our adventure at the ocean. I could probably try to be a little more Pollyanna about it, but seriously, it rained, never really got above 55 degrees and I couldn't really get passed that. We ended up heading home a day early. The bottom line is Seabrook is cute and a great place for kids, but probably not worth the drive considering there is NOTHING to do but go to the lovely beaches or parks, but good luck doing that when it's August and COLD. Sorry, I'm just a tiny bit bitter about the whole thing, especially since this weekend it will be perfect there. Oh well, as you can see Abby enjoyed herself and really, isn't that the only thing that matters?

Pre-Vacation Excitement

We went on a little Target shopping spree for our big family trip to the Ocean. it's going to be a balmy 54 degrees and drizzly, anyone want to come along?? I'm sure we'll have a great time, despite the weather - it's Sammy's first vacation and Abby got some new sunglasses and sand toys. What could be better?