I'm Back!!!

Yes, it's been a L O N G time since I posted. The kiddos and I went back to good 'ole Chicago for a couple weeks, and honestly I have not been very motivated since returning home to blog. Guess I'm kinda in a slump, and need a little push to get back in the swing of things. I was talking to Ryan last night about it (the fact that I haven't felt like blogging at ALL lately), and he made a really good suggestion. Instead of approaching blogging as a brag-book for my family, I should just try to use it as an online diary of sorts. In other words, I don't have to always put up pictures of my kids or try to show them off......I'm gonna try to be completely real and open, exposing my thoughts and feelings (uh oh!) and not just talk about what went on during my day (don't worry I'll still have to put some pictures up!). There is a blogger I have found online that is a prime example of this....here's her site. I absolutely adore her candidness and honesty. Currently she is posting about how her and her husband met, and the whole saga of their relationship before they got married. Very good reading....she's not hiding anything! While some bloggers choose to use code names and are completely private (understandable!), I get so refreshed by her openess. So hopefully this will motivate me to keep up with my blog more often, and won't be as hard for me to find things to talk about. What do you all think? Comments welcome....

But first....I have to show some adorable pictures from our trip. (Okay, I just completely contradicted myself....but HAVE to share!). We had a blast visiting with Gta and YaYa. I LOVE seeing the boys interact with my parents. They are both soooo great with kids. In fact, here's a video proving my point: (Oh, I'll warn you I'm laughing very LOUD in the background the whole time)


I was also able to visit with lots of friends from my childhood, high school, and college. It's fun because they are all just starting to have children now (I feel like a pro with my third child already...hehe). Now they can fully understand what my life has been like these past four years. Until you have children it's hard to imagine the lifestyle change. Anyways, it was very surreal to have my kids playing with my friend's kids.....very very weird but cool. Here's a couple pictures:

Ethan sitting next to Alyssa (Marnie's little girl)

Sissy with Angelina (Tara's daughter...they are six weeks apart)

Sissy with Conner on the left (Jackie's son) and Jason (Nicky's son)


Another highlight from the trip was getting to spend so much time with my sister and her two boys. I wish we lived closer to them. My boys loved hanging out with Jacob and Bretter.....especially since Aunt Kerry has a pool in her back yard!


My cousin Lora and her family live in DC, but were passing through. What a special treat to see them! I was in her wedding 16 years ago....how times have changed since then.....here is a picture of my sister, me, and Lora (yes I chopped my hair!)

LOVE this picture! Lora's daughter Summer holding Elise:

Also got to eat some super delish food! Nothing beats Chicago food....Portillo's, Lou Malnatti's, Culver's, Jimmy John's, Bakers Square, I could go on and on.
The boys were able to experience so many wonderful things with Gta and YaYa: going into Chicago to the zoo and lakefront, the children's museum, walks down the riverwalk, the library, dunkin donuts, bike rides, a neighborhood festival, I could go on and on!
Thanks Mom and Dad for a wonderful, memory-filled time!

Hangin on YaYa's stairs eating ice cream....doesn't get better than this!

Going on a bike ride with Gta...all three kids in tow!

So long for now....