Halle is one!!

Halle turned one yesterday! We've had a great time in Chicago celebrating her birthday. Here's a look at our time in Chicago with both families...







And the big party...







And Memorial Day...

















Yes, she totally ate corn on the cob! And the last few, my friend took- she's a photographer, the last one is my fav!
Brian and I head out on vacation on Sunday and then we'll head back to IN. It's been so nice to get away and do see our families and friends. I can't believe that my little girl is already one years old!

In Transition...

Well, Sunday was our last day at the church. They gave us a great farewell. We're kind of in a weird in-between state right now. We're leaving today for a few weeks for vacation and celebrating Halle's 1st Birthday!! All 3 of us are on antibiotics for sinus infections- fun, fun! When we come back we'll packing up- well Brian will be studying, I'll be packing and saying our final goodbyes. We will pull out for KY on June 30! So we'll be seeing ya'll real soon! Off to Chicago!

Brother Bear!

This weekend, my brother, Quinn came for a visit. We're really excited because he will be moving to KY too! He got a job at Asbury College which is right across the street from the seminary. We can't wait to spend this next year with him. It will be great to have family so close. And, he is the best uncle in the world. He loves Halle so much and is so great with her.

Here's a shirt Quinn brought that he wore when he was a baby!






And a picnic at the park...

Cookie monster

This is Halle enjoying a cookie last week from my great friend who wanted to buy her a cookie. Thanks Aunt Kris! As you can see, she thoroughly enjoyed it.

This Weekend's Festivities...

Brian is turned the big 3-0 this weekend! Yes, I had to share my first Mother's Day with him, or he had to share his 30th with me! We really spent the whole weekend celebrating. I took him out for his birthday dinner on Friday night, Saturday we had a big birthday cookout for him, and Sunday we spent the day with some family and relaxing. It's a pretty big milestone for him and it was fun celebrating his life together!






Here's what Halle did all night...





Mostly ate rocks- silly girl!



On another note, we pretty much sold our house. So many prayers have been answered to get us to that point. It didn't play out exactly how we would have hoped financially, but we are thankful to have sold it and hopefully we'll close in the next week or so. Here's me removing the sign from our yard!



And a little entertainment...

A game of tag

Apparently there is such a thing as "blog tag." Yep and who would have thought that I would be tagged. Thank you Keetha. :) So I'm participating- here's what I have to do...

Four Jobs I've Held

1. Babysitter- mostly for a family of 4, I practically raised their children. Learned a lot about mothering

2. Salon receptionist- at a very ritzy salon where I grew up- dealt with a lot of classy people

3. Jo-Ann Fabrics- I wanted to die bc I had to work there for like 2 months to make money. I was thoroughly embarrassed to hang out with fabric all day. But really it wasn't too bad. And I can successfully navigate through a fabric store now.

4. Waitress- best way to make money. Lots of work, but lots of fun!


Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over

1. Little Women- always gets me in the Christmas spirit
2. Willow- need I say more?
3. The Notebook- great for a good cry
4. Diary of a Mad Blackwoman- funny and deep



Four Places I've Lived

1. Naperville, IL- from 4-18
2. Holland, MI- Hope College- woo-hoo!
3. Grand Haven, MI- post college-marriage
4. Marion, IN- or Mar Vegas as some call it



Four TV Shows I Like

1. America's Next Top Model
2. The Bachelor
3. The Hills
4. The Biggest Loser


Four Favorite Foods

1. Chicago Style Pizza!
2. Mexican- chicken enchiladas in flour tortillas
3. Chicken Kiev's
4. Brownies


Four Places I'd Like to Be

1. Strolling in downtown Holland, MI
2. Beaching it or boating in Grand Haven, MI
3. Gazing at the mountains in Colorado
4. Watching the stars with my husband anywhere!



Four People I Tag

I will not tag anyone- not because I'm not into games, but because I don't really have anyone to tag!!

So there you have it!

And here's my favorite picture of the week..

Halle's first Zoo trip

On Thursday, Halle and I went with a bunch of other moms and kids to the Ft. Wayne Zoo. I think the trip was definitely more for me, than for Halle. I was so disappointed that she hardly noticed the huge sea lion staring right at her, or the orangutan in front of her. Nope, she just did not appreciate the caliber of animals she was able to see. I say this all jokingly- I realize how little she is. But it was a fun trip to hang out with friends and walk around on a nice day. We even took a log ride on a little river, which you can see- Halle was not in the mood for smiling.







And after a long day, she was fast asleep...




And for fun, here's more of our walker. I promise I won't paste any more videos of her walking, but it's just so cute!

On the move!

All of a sudden today, Halle has started to take off. I'd come in the room and she'd be walking somewhere! At the library, she walked from the table to a book shelf by herself. We're so excited that she's gained more confidence and that she's pretty much our little walker!

11 months!

Halle is 11 months today. I can't believe it! It's so crazy to reflect on her life so far. It's been flying by. I'm sad that we will be leaving her place of birth. We will have many great memories of the first part of Halle's life here. It's so strange to me that soon we'll be in KY and it probably won't even phase her that she's living in a completely different place. It's kind of refreshing in a way, as it will probably be hard enough for Brian and I to adjust. We are excited though. I can't wait for all of the new things we have to look forward to living in a new place. I think Halle will get pretty fond of horses living around so many of them! Her grandpa Bradford said he'd buy her one someday. I hope he's ready!

This is Halle this morning reading her very favorite book, "Where is Baby's Belly Button?"

The new cam

Some pics with the new camera and a few videos- Hopefully not as blurry as our old camera.






Isn't she just too cute in her Cubbies outfit! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

Happy Birthday to me!

What a wonderful day! The weather was perfect- it made such a great day for a birthday. Brian definitely tried very hard to make it a special day. He did a great job! 26 years old! Wow!

I got these...



And, we went out to a romantic dinner at a place called Matteo's in Noblesville...





And then Ice Cream, bc I didn't have time to make myself a cake. Sad! :( My first b-day with no cake. I think I'll make one tomorrow. I also got... A new camera!! We're trying to real the manual right now. I can't wait to use it. And I got a new bathing suit. I've been trying to find one for the past year, so I'm very excited.



And here's me trying to make Halle look like a flower. She did not cooperate. Oh well, it was worth a shot.