Random pictures

Ok, it's that time again. Time for me to post more random pictures. 

Cookie, Cookie, Cookie

Me and Stitch just hanging out.

Did I get it?

One of the many yummy meals I prepare for my family. I took a picture of this one because it looked really good. (it tasted really good too)

Tj looks 12 in this picture.

I only want the red ones. Can I get some help?

Areya playing sticker tag with herself. Tag you're it!

What do you mean we are going to look at more houses?

The many faces of Aniela!

Swimming to the pool

On Monday we went swimming at the pool in our apartment complex. Areya met a little friend about her age and they had a great time swimming together with their live jackets. 

This is how Damian spent the whole day. On the phone, he refused to get in the water.

Aniela loved the water so much that she did not want me to hold on to her. She really wanted to give it a try all on her own, just like her big sister. She also tried jumping out of her tube so many time that I finally gave up and just took her out.

After a few hours we were all ready to go (except Areya) and so I got out the camera and took a few pictures. I even got one of myself. (well my shadow any way)

Memory Game

OK, this looks like a lot of fun... So everyone who visits my blog, please do it!!

Here's how it goes:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! If you don't have a blog you can still leave me a comment! My blog allows anonymous comments so just tell me who you are in your comment.

2. Next (if you choose to), re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you, or I will try to e-mail it back to you.

Lake Michigan

Today we got up early and look at some more houses. We found one that is big and has a huge lot but it needs some updating. It is a little over priced so we are trying to decide if we want to put in a offer or keep looking. Damian really likes this one but he is so indecisive, we may be looking for a while. 

After we were finished looking at houses we went to Lake Michigan. It was really windy and kind of cool today so it was really not the best day for swimming. I guess that's good because we did not take our swim stuff.  

We let the girls play in the water anyway and they had tons of fun. Good thing I had a extra change of clothes in the car. 

Aniela was so funny, she kept getting handfuls of dry sand and then would throw it into the water. 

Areya was have fun finding rocks and throwing them in.  She also loved to run from the waves.

Aniela had no fear, she kept running straight into the water.  Most of the waves were bigger then her but she did not seem to mind.  It took all of us to keep her in the shallows.

By the end both girl's lips were blue and they were shivering. I think that the wind made it a bit to cold, but we all had a great time.

Happy Birthday Dziadek!

On Sunday July 20th was my father in-laws 55th birthday. We took him out to dinner at Chili's and Areya and I made him a cake.  She was so excited to plan his party. She made decorations, and inventions and had every thing planned out. To bad Damian had to work that day and we don't really have anyone to invite over. It was a nice thought though. 

Dziadek with his grand-babies. 

(Grandpa in Polish)

House hunting sucks!

We found the house of our dreams. What do you think? Beautiful isn't it? Too bad it is just under $7 million. I wish we could afford something like that, but sadly no. We are stuck with the fixer uppers, because everything here is way over priced.

Can I tell you how much I hate house hunting! We have been look on-line then driving by to see if it's even something we might be interested in and to see what the neighborhoods are like. It's hard to know what cities to look in when you have no clue any thing about them. We found a few with great big yards but what we found on the inside was scary. You would not even let your dog stay there. Yeah they were that bad, and the crazy part is that they wanted over $250,000 for them. I am so sick of looking and the fact that we have nothing after 2 1/2 weeks really sucks. We don't even have one that is a maybe. It's a big fat NOTHING! Let's hope we have better luck this week. I will let you know.

Bad stuff comes in 3ies

They say the bad things happen in 3ies but for us when it rains it pours. We have had a long hard two weeks. 

First Areya got bit by some thing and her eye got really red and puffy and very swollen. It got so swollen that she almost couldn't see out of it. 

Next we missed the fireworks because the city does them the night before the 4th and we had no clue. So I went to the store to get some to do at home and come to find out they don't sell fireworks in Illinois. How crappy is that? Not much of a 4th of July for us this year. The city did have a festival and live music at the park so we went down to see what it was all about. They had food, rides, games and music.  

While we were there Damian called to tell me that he was in a car accident. (Great, just what we needed.) Lucky for us he was not hurt but the car is totaled. We are still waiting to see (from video cameras at the intersection) who's fault it was. Both Damian and the lady who hit him said that their light was green. 

From the pictures it does not look that bad but the axle is bent and the car is not drivable. We had it looked at to see how much it would cost to fix the axle and it came to $800, which is a crazy amount of money to pay if we are not going to keep the car, so we decided not to get it fixed right now. That leaves Damian without a car and I get the lucky privilege of driving him to and from work everyday, which sucks.

A few days later Areya had the BBQ blow up in her face and burning her hair and face. She was helping my father-in-law start the grill so we could cook dinner. (He is from Poland and does not really know how to work a gas BBQ)  I guess when he went to lit it Areya was a little to close and it caught her hair on fire. She got burned on her face and nose and it also burned her eye lashes off.

Damian told me that it was not that bad and would not let me take her to the hospital, so I cleaned it, put ointment on it, and hoped  for the best.

The last thing (hopefully) was Aniela's arm getting dislocated. It happened while we were at the lake and the kids were playing in the water with their Dziadek (grandpa). He was holding Aniela's hand helping her walk when she fell, he pulled up on her arm to help her back up and POP. She started screaming her head off and no one knew why. I took her to see if I could calm her down but nothing helped. Then I noticed she was not using her left arm. I tried to move it and she screamed even louder. So we pack everything up and went to the ER to get it put back in.  It's crazy that they cry and cry and then after it is back in it's like nothing even happened. 

I am so grateful that none of these thing were worse then they were. It sucks that they happened but I also feel blessed that they were all minor accidents. I guess the lord is looking out for us. 

Vote for Aniela

Ok everyone I need your help! I entered Aniela in a baby photo contest and she needs your vote. Go to the link below to vote for her. After you register you can vote once a day everyday until they pick a winner. 

https://www.greatamericanphotocontest.com/voter1/index.aspx?referid=EmailFriends&p=646505&x=.jpg

To find her picture log in then go to the search page. Type in her name and select the state. (for those of you that don't know we live in Illinois) You will see her picture and a a vote button, push that and you're all done. Nothing to it!

Thanks for your vote!

Back to Illinois

On Monday we were scheduled to fly out at 4:50 p.m. so we had a little time to kill before we went to the airport. Brandi and the boys were out of town for most of the week and we were only able to spend a little time with them so we went up to their house to let the kids play in the sprinklers and just enjoy the beautiful weather.

Aniela was still not feeling 100 % better and was wanting to be held. So we all had pretty wet laps by the time we had to leave. 

I never knew it would have been so hard to say good bye again. Living with Heston, Brandi and the boy was such a great time in our lives and we all really miss them. 

I am really starting to hate goodbyes. It was so much harder this time because I know that we will not be going back anytime soon. I never knew how hard it is living away from your family and friends. I always thought that it wouldn't be a big deal because you can call them or get on the web cams with them any time you want. I guess the hardest part is not being able to go and spend the time together or to just give each other a hug. (and if you know me you know  I love hugs)

 

Here we are on the airplane on our way home.

A big thanks to everyone for a great time. Thanks to Tj & Shaylee for letting us stay at their house and for Mom and Dad for hosting the may BBQ's. We really did have a great time.

WE LOVE YOU & MISS YOU ALL SO MUCH! 

Utah trip day 7

On Sunday we went to my mom's house to celebrate Britton's birthday. We had all the family over and had a good old back yard BBQ.  The kids played in the swimming pool and we all had a really good time. 

Happy Birthday Britton!

Here we are enjoying the food and conversation.

Brandi really, really enjoying her food. I think most of the pictures I got of Brandi she was eating. I wish I could eat like you and stay that skinny! Brat!

The older kids doing fireworks.

Tj, Deklan, Areya and Acaseya

Utah trip day 6

On Saturday we had a picnic at the park across the street from my parent's house. Mike and Kim drove over from Provo and  spent the whole day with us. Cody (Lacy's husband) flew in on Friday night and he was there too.  We ate all the summer favorites like hamburgers, hot dogs and watermelon. Than to burn it all off we played a game of kick ball.

  

Yep that's my little piggy helping herself to the watermelon. She kept looking up to see if anyone would care but no one stopped her so she kept eating.

Lacy and Areya just hanging out in the shade.

Shaylee was not feeling well so she and Aniela took a little nap

The stomach flu made its rounds through our family. Ida had it before we arrived then Aniela got it, next was mom, then Shaylee, then Matt, Mike, Cody, Areya and even Brandi who we only saw a few times.

Tj playing 500 with Kim and Cody.

Here's kick ball.

After everyone was pooped out from kick ball they took a walk down by the river. In Matt's and Areya's case in the river. She sure does love the water.

That night I got a few friends together for a girls night. Brandi was sweet enough to let us have it at her house. (being that I don't have one any more) Thanks B for letting us hang at your crib!

What did we do for girls night? What girls do best of course................. Talk and eat a lot of junk food. We ordered a pizza and the plan was to play games but we never shut up long enough to get one started. 

Here's my girls; Shaylee (sister in-law) Amanda (best friend for 12 years) Lacy (my cousin on my mom's side) Me and Brandi (my cousin in-law who lived with until we moved to Chicago)

It was amazing how well everyone got along, no one really knew each other so I thought it might be a little uncomfortable for some but it turned out great. Thanks everyone for coming I had a great time and it was so nice to have time for the girls without kids to worry about.

Amy (my brother Matt's girlfriend) also came for a while but had to leave before the real fun started.

A big thanks to my Mommy and Ida for watching the girls!