new favorite snack

wasa crispbread topped with cottage cheese. super easy and the cottage cheese helps with the dryness of the cracker! i copied this from janetha!

dance your heart out

trying to get a cute pic for her valentine's day card:

sesame street live

for emerson's birthday, she so kindly invited us to sesame street live!

we had brunch at hell's kitchen. sounds strange for a three year old's birthday but was actually cute inside, had live jazz, good food and the servers were wearing their jammies!

we had fifth row seats!

cookie monster was singing about how cookies are a "sometimes" food but fruits and vegetables are "anytime" treats. whatever!

it was so fun when the characters came and said hi to the kids in the audience!

the girls had a great time! happy birthday, sweet emerson!

saturday sweets

first i couldn't get donuts out of my mind...i think i had three.

and the next weekend it was cinnamon rolls. fortunately only three came in a package so i had my one and they were gone.

i thought i had fulfilled the cravings but looking at these pictures brings it back!!

mall walking

i love that natalie completely dresses herself. and then i just have to laugh at what she chooses. two hats, one for inside and one for outside. and two pairs of striped mittens for the same reason.

since it's so cold here, people take advantage of walking indoors. currently the temp on my computer is -15 and the wind chill is -25. i wish i didn't have to leave the house today!

i think it's rad that i get to mall walk at mall of america. that it's just normal to me when it's otherwise a world famous attraction.

i took other pictures but then realized it just looked like any other mall. except that it's huge. it's really clean and beautiful inside. it has every kind of store...h&m, american girl...even repeats of stores. a few caribou coffees and orange julius'. roller coasters of course. and gigantic lego structures. and it smells soooo good! pretzels, cinnabon,  cold stone....oh my!

one of my friends came here for a date with her hubby. they had dinner at one of the nice restaurants, rode roller coasters and then had dessert! so fun!

and the appple store...

is right across from the microsoft store.

one lap is .57 miles. not bad for some good exercise!

wii boxing

playdate with ozzy!

 natalie is so good, she can play backwards!

fun for dads too!

notice natalie on the drums!!

not a fan

i think everyone is sick of this winter weather.

i'm probably going to regret saying this but,

minnesota weather isn't that bad.

it's just that the season lasts so gol dang long!

last year was a "no snow march" (which was a first since the 1800s) but i'm hoping for the same again this year!

but it is the season for hot chocolate with marshmallows which is a fave of my little one so i guess that means taking the good with the bad.

this shirt did not stay white.

but then...i'll take the bad with the good!

syrup

this is what happens when you leave your child and syrup unattended:

11 on 11 :: January 2011

i have to give a shout-out. my friend mandy had the best ten on ten. she started her day pregnant with one son, and ended her day as a mama of two boys! i love that she was able to document a before and after day-in-the-life of her newest arrival. so precious!

a guest post by rebecca of HALO

Something in the Air

There is definitely something in the air during the Holiday season, stretching from November to beginning of January with New Years Resolutions. In our industry, it is an exciting time when many donors make the decision to give until it hurts just a bit.

This New Year, many of our supporters are increasing their involvement in HALO by signing up to support a specific need each month.  We call these people “Guardian Donors” because they are looking out for the future of HALO children, much like a parent or guardian. A monthly gift commitment takes discipline and sacrifice. That sacrifice may be one less dinner out, one less new outfit, or one less new CD. Whatever it is, that change in habit makes an impact on a child in need. The commitment to make this sacrifice each month helps us rely on our supporters and plan for the future.

Sharon dancing at the HALO Girls Home, Uganda

My favorite part of this job is watching a child transform from being in desperate circumstances to having a solid belief in his/her self worth and future. My second favorite part is witnessing the joy of the donor when he/she realizes this transformation has happened because of them.

What helps me get out of bed every morning and rise with a smile on my face is the faith I have that we are truly making a difference. Far more than what I ever imagined. The obvious help we give the orphaned children of HALO is comforting and rewarding. However, it is the transformation in the mindset of able supporters that truly makes me realize that the power of HALO is infinite.

If you are interested in learning more about our guardian giving programs click here.

chicago - urban baby

one of my favorite restaurants in chicago is Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder. i love the pot pie style pizzas but once JR tried the grinder, he's never gone back. i've had bites of his sandwich, which were amazing, but love the pizza too much to switch.

it is a quaint little restaurant with a host who works every single night and has a photographic memory. the waiting area is so small that the wait of people pour out of the restaurant onto the sidewalk and on most nights has a two hour wait. no reservations btw. the host doesn't write anyone's name down yet he remembers the exact order that guests arrive and the wait time he told you is always accurate.

we always start with the mediterranean bread that is a huge flatbread, larger than the plate it's on, and you rip off bite-sized pieces. we also love their salad and dressing. mmmmm

nat was being goofy and putting it all over her face.

trust me, if it weren't a dining faux paus, i would do the same!

okay maybe not in my eye though.

if you look closely you can see the crumbs and seasonings all over her face! what a mess!

love it! miss it! can't wait to go back!

we stayed with courtney and john who have a cat, pandora, that natalie looooves!

i think pandora loved the attention.

and was fortunately very patient with the smothering snuggles!

the next morning we took natalie on her first L ride.

she loved it but i was bummed about the trip because i left my gloves on the train! ugh!

we went to macy's which is the former marshall field's.

the window displays were a disappointment and the indoor christmas tree was huge but not as big as JR remembered when he was a kid. doesn't that always happen?!

JR lived on the 48th floor of the west tower of marina towers back in 2001. we looooved being at this location.  

so convenient and so much fun!

lunch at M Burger. it was small: about 10' x15'.

JR said their burgers were small too! it's true. okay they're not that small - it's just that we can eat a lot!

nat's first cab ride!

one of her first baby books was a board book called Urban Baby that tells all the things a baby would do in the city. i was so proud that with no effort, she had done all the things in the book except for take a taxi. i know it was only kansas city but it's still urban. there's no need for a taxi in kc (except for after a bar) so we had to do it in chicago! she loved it.

christmas eve was spent with the gasparys. since we only had a mini tree up in our apartment, i wanted to take advantage of the beautiful tree in their home. however, my subject had more fun being uncooperative!

big puffy heart this one!

i love that natalie is such an animal lover. and isn't this lab/shepherd puppy sooo cute?!

the feeling's mutual!

i can't even remember if she had dinner. i think she just went straight for the cupcake!

being silly with uncle joe!

after the gaspary gathering, we drove to the brackers (courtney's parents) in elmhurst because that's where santa knew to find natalie.

ketchup? what?!

these expressions are the best!

mormor made natalie her special stocking!

but just in case we weren't prepared with our own, grandma sue also provided a stocking for the little princess! wow was she stocked up!

natalie got lots of goodies between her two stockings and didn't even ask about opening presents!

these jammies were passed down from my sister whose four kids all wore the same pair!

i love that because i was behind the camera, aunt courtney is the one in all the pictures! yay - none of my christmas morning self is documented!

after church natalie changed her clothes and wanted to wear her butterfly shirt so no cute christmas outfit here.

this is the kitty piano she asked santa for. it really came from nana and papa and she LOVES it. we've already changed the batteries once and i think they're meowing to be changed again...

she has learned all the songs on it, loves to play the music and sing in the microphone. i love hearing her sing and i love that it boosted her confidence about doing it more often!! (in front of people other than me!)

whoa! look at all those gifts! only two of them are from us - she was spoiled by our friends!

littlest pet shop!

darling rain jacket from aunt courtney and uncle john!

i read on someone's blog that they have their kids make a christmas list of 1. something they want (that comes from santa) 2. something they need (from parents) 3. something to do/make/assemble (craft, legos, puzzle, etc.) and 4. something to read. then those are the four gifts they get (besides from other family or friends.) i love this intentional list and think it's something i'd like to try when natalie is old enough to choose those things.

more littlest pet shop!

it's a pillow. it's a pet. it's a pillow pet!

i loved that tina's gift from her secret santa was a botox certificate and the game operation!! hilarious! (she really asked for the botox (doesn't need it in my opinion!) but i think the game was the perfect touch! ha ha)

oooh i spoke too soon. i am captured on camera.

oh yeah, there i am again. naps aren't just for thanksgiving, right?!

mmmm john made prosciutto-wrapped asparagus!

and the girls played in the snow!

megan was so kind to feed natalie her christmas dinner - strongly encouraging her to try all the food i put on her plate! it's so great when it's not coming from mom!!

yay - the big kid table! we had so much fun and loved getting to do something different for christmas - celebrating with our other family! (instead of being front and center i should have gone back between liana and ras. whatev.)

megan stayed over and played with natalie all the next day. it was so nice having a live-in playdate! i think someone was on to something with... siblings!