Deb's Wedding

My step-mom's cousin Deb got married on Saturday. We attended the reception - all four of us. We weren't holding our breath that we'd be able to stay long. We just played it by ear.

Carolyn was such a trooper. She was supposed to take her 3rd nap on the way to the reception but chatted the entire drive. She got so tired made obvious by her constant eye-rubbing and red eyes. But she never cried (except when Cousin Linda was holding her and started laughing too loud).

And Eleanor was pumped up by us telling her about how she'd be able to dance at the wedding. That girl loves to dance! Once the music started, there was no getting her off the dance floor. You wouldn't have known it was her first wedding reception the way she picked-up on the chicken dance and hokey-pokey! Even Carolyn in her exhausted state watched Eleanor in awe and just laughed and laughed :)

Eleanor was so excited that her friend Brody would be at the wedding. All day she talked about how she was going to dance with him.

When the music started for the Chicken Dance, Aunt Julie asked Eleanor if she wanted to dance. Of course she did. Julie took her out to the dance floor. I'm embarrassed to say I had my doubts, but Eleanor proved me wrong and quickly had the dance down!

Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah (twist, twist, twist, twist). I told you that girl can dance!

Riverfront Park

Saturday was just a beautiful day. It was close to 80 degrees so I took the girls to the park in Niles. Matt and I took Eleanor once last year and she loved it. So I knew she'd love it even more this year.

As we walked toward the play area, I noticed the leaves changing across the river. The perfect spot to get a picture of the girls.

Eleanor was by far the smallest kid out there. Even the younger kids were bigger. But that doesn't hold her back one bit. That girl has no fear.

Eleanor loves to swing 'super high'. Even Carolyn was able to partake.

I think she like it :)

I know Eleanor did!

Carolyn is 6 Months Already!

Our little baby celebrated her half birthday on Friday. I really can't believe it's been 6 months already since she came into our lives, but then again I don't remember not having her in our lives either. It's a funny thing.

Little facts about Carolyn:

• What Carolyn Loves: Her big sister, playing on the floor, eating
  
• Carolyn's Favorite Food: Everything she's ever tried (peas, squash, sweet potatoes, bananas, apples, peaches, rice cereal, breast milk, etc.)
  
• What Makes Carolyn Giggle: Everything Eleanor does, getting tickled on her belly
  
• Carolyn's Exercises: Rolling over, toe-touches while on her back, arm and leg extensions when excited

Our girls! This captures them so well! Eleanor loves to hug on and get in Carolyn's face. And lately Carolyn's been good at grabbing her (usually her hair) and her tongue always seems to be out when she's happy.

The rest of the pictures may be view at Picture People.

Congrats Abbi & Andre!

One of my IU girlfriends got married Saturday in Indy. Abbi and Andre were married in the Capitol Building which was a very beautiful and unique venue. Cocktail hour and the reception immediately followed at the Artsgarden which is a seven-story glass enclosed structure located above the intersection of Illinois & Washington streets.

The happy couple, Andre & Abbi

Our group, front: Matt, Tara, Kelly, Darren; back: Jan, Michelle S, Michelle K

The girls: Caroline, Michelle K, Michelle S, Tara & Kelly

Matt & I on a much deserved night out away from the new home construction and the girls

If I remember correctly, Matt and/or Darren or both, trying to be funny told Jan, our German friend, that it is US custom to take the large slotted box. If he took it outside, they would meet him. Taking the cash, while giving him all the checks. Looks like Jan got busted :)

Eleanor Goes Campin'

Over the weekend, Matt and I went to my friend Abbi's wedding in Indy so Eleanor went camping with Grandpa Buddy & Jaja (and crew) at Potato Creek. She seemed to have a great time, especially with her friend Brody! I hope someone will send me pictures soon to post. All I have is her pre-campin' picture.She was very excited, as you can see in her picture. Aunt Jennifer just gave her the new rolling Barbie bag which came in handy.

More pictures to come...

Eleanor & her friend Brody enjoying a nice lunch of turkey, grapes, and cheese.

Looks like the paparazzi found Eleanor despite the remote locale and the big shades

Eleanor's Picnic

After work & daycare the other day, I let Eleanor play outside. When I went out to check on her, this is what I found.

If you look closely, you can see each plate, dish, utensil, etc is lined up in a perfect serpentine. Quite strange. I mentioned this to Matt and he seems to think she gets it from me. Something about being meticulous on where things go, etc.

When I asked what she was doing, she replied, 'Having a picnic." Of course!

Eleanor and Casey - her favorite baby

Eleanor is getting great on her trike - peddling and steering, the whole bit. As you can see, she even takes Casey for rides :)

The Proof is in the Pudding

McCain and Palin killed themselves last night. Thanks mainly to Katie Couric, it was a day when the industry did its job well and served the voters of a troubled nation with a revealing look at two if its candidates. Like her or not, Couric performed her job (unlike the McCain's advisors who recommended her in the first place) and asked the tough questions that needed to be asked of a person who could be our next veep. If people think Couric was tough, wait until Biden gets a hold of her. McCain advisors have to be crapping their pants.

COURIC: You've said, quote, "John McCain will reform the way Wall Street does business." Other than supporting stricter regulations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years ago, can you give us any more example of his leading the charge for more oversight?

PALIN: I think that the example that you just cited, with his warnings two years ago about Fannie and Freddie--that, that's paramount. That's more than a heck of a lot of other senators and representatives did for us.

COURIC: But he's been in Congress for 26 years. He's been chairman of the powerful Commerce Committee. And he has almost always sided with less regulation, not more.

PALIN: He's also known as the maverick though. Taking shots from his own party, and certainly taking shots from the other party. Trying to get people to understand what he's been talking about--the need to reform government.

COURIC: I'm just going to ask you one more time, not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation?

PALIN: I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you.

View the complete transcript. I will say, I feel sorry for Palin. She's had so much information thrown at her in the past 3 weeks. And you know she was flattered to be asked to join McCain on the Republican ticket, but you have to know your limits. It's like joining the swim team and not knowing how to swim.

Then comes David Letterman who is down-right hilarious after McCain snubbed him. Letterman tells audience that McCain called him today to tell him he had to rush back to DC to deal with the economy.

Then in the middle of the taping Dave got word that McCain was, in fact just down the street being interviewed by Katie Couric. Dave even cut over to the live video of the interview, and said, "Hey Senator, can I give you a ride home?"

Earlier in the show, Dave kept saying, "You don't suspend your campaign. This doesn't smell right. This isn't the way a tested hero behaves." And he joked: "I think someone's putting something in his metamucil."

"He can't run the campaign because the economy is cratering? Fine, put in your second string quarterback, Sara Palin. Where is she?"

"What are you going to do if you're elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We've got a guy like that now!"

NOTE: Sorry, I had to get that off my chest. In the future, I will go back to using my blog for posting about my family. Mainly Eleanor and Carolyn!