Many Apologies...

Dear Miss Kathy, Miss Katie & Caroline,

I am sorry for my behavior yesterday. I was a tad on the cranky side. All of the tears and tantrums weren't wasted though, I am the proud new owner of a front tooth! It was lovely meeting all of you.

XOXO - Addie Leigh

Dear Stalker 1 and Stalker 2, ( AKA Nonnie & Katie)

My mommy would love for you to send her copies of pictures taken at your house. Thank you for your hospitality yesterday... your selection of toys and books were great fun!

Sincerely - Addison

Trip to TH...

Dinner with Grampy & Grandma Newton
Afternoon of fun with Caroline

Addie and I headed to Terre Haute Monday afternoon for a photo shoot with my good friend Kathy McCloy. I think I packed every possible prop, dress and tutu imaginable for this photo shoot. Hey, she only turns 1 year old once you know! I packed the van up with hair bows, baskets, quilts, bubbles, even a 3 1/2 foot red firetruck and rocking chair! I tell ya folks, I don't know how stage moms do it. I don't have it in me. If Addie ever wants to enter a pageant, Little Miss Sunshine is on her own!

While out shopping Tuesday afternoon, we ran in to Katie and Caroline Kenworthy! We met up with them over at Nonnie's house for a quick play date. Caroline was absolutely beside herself with excitement that she had a playmate for the afternoon. I think she thought Addie was a life-size baby doll or toy of some sort. She was hilarious!

Addie had visits from lots of Nana's friends and we got to see most of our aunts and some of our cousins while in town.

A Day at Lake Santee...

Today was the most gorgeous summer day. We spent it at Lake Santee at Pete and Kathy Gray's lake house. Pete took us tubing and Addie loved it when the boat went real fast, she has a lot of her daddy in her! We ate, visited, fished and boated all day long. It was so relaxing and fun. Addie was on her absolute best behavior, she just really enjoys being outside... thank goodness, because her mommy and daddy live to be outside!

I don't need no stinkin' spoon...

Rav-i-o-li, Ravi-Ravi-o-li
Rav-i-o-li,
That's the stuff for me!

GI Jane...

I have been calling Addie "GI Jane" lately, because she still isn't crawling. She army crawls everywhere like she is training in an Army boot camp. This morning, I converted her walker into a scooter. It is now her new military assault vehicle. She sits down and scoots herself all around the house. I swear this child will do anything to avoid crawling on all fours. She is standing and walking (with assistance) with greater confidence and strength each day. Just today she was standing against the couch and kept letting go... such a brave little booger!

(Photo Side-Note: She is wearing my favorite pjs... frogs in tutus!)

Wedding Anniversary...

Emily, Matt, Doug & Angie

We celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary last night. It's tradition to dine with the Ahlfelds, because we have the exact same anniversary. Emily and I have taught together for 6 years and Matt and Doug coach together. This year we chose Benihana's as our celebration destination. We had a great time and the Mohitos were perfect. Hopefully the 4 of us will be sipping Mohitos at a different destination for our 10 year anniversary, say on a cruise ship... Emily and I are crossing our fingers!

A Visit From The McKnights...

Mitch, Addie, Sarah, Ian & Meredith
Addie, Sarah and I all have big birthdays this summer

Angie 8/3 30th

Sarah 8/3 16th

Addie 8/4 1st

We had a great visit with Christy and the kids on Monday. I can't really call them kids anymore, because they have grown up so much. The McKnights have been visiting family and friends all around Indiana for the past week. The boys have been looking at colleges and trying to decide where they will be headed in the next year. We were happy that we got the chance to get together before they headed back to Savannah.

Swimming on Sunday...

I can kick and swim around the pool all by myself like a big girl. This new turtle is so much fun, once you get the hang of it. You don't have to tell me, I already know that I'm hot snot!
Turtle tries to be cool like me... keep trying buddy!

My mom and dad are the coolest! We went swimming twice on Sunday. They said we had to make up for some of the rainy, cold days in Michigan. Fine by me!

Baby Addie is Soo BIG...

I can't believe that in 2 short weeks my baby girl is turning 1 years old! I was really upset about leaving her for 4 days for my CO trip, but knew she was in good hands up in Michigan. When we arrived Sunday night she was already asleep, but I couldn't resist getting her up in bed with us. We just snuggled and cuddled before putting her back down. I couldn't get over how much she had changed in 4 days. Physically she was longer and slimmer. My little butterball seems to be shedding some of her baby fat... sniff, sniff. She was doing all kinds of new things and couldn't wait to show me.

Here is a list of her latest and greatest tricks:

1. No bottles, we are sippy cup central.
2. Goes to bed right after bath and pjs, no bottle required and she is sleeping 11-12 hours straight!
3. Gives high-fives when asked... it's so cute!
4. Favorite book is So Big. There is a pop-up Baby Elmo at the end that she goes nuts over. She also turns all the pages in her board books as we are reading.
5. Favorite TV program is Sesame Street. She can't say the words, but I swear she counts right with them when doing numbers. It just sounds more like "da, ba, gah, la."

Addie's Michigan Adventures...

Wrestling a black bear Wine tasting with GrMa & GrPa Reusser
An afternoon of boating on the open water
Driving the new family size ATV... F-U-N!!!

Back To My Baby Girl...

Nana, Addie & Grampy

enjoying the beach in Michigan

I left Vail at 3:30am... sure craziness that I will never do again! My mom and dad, who are the world's greatest parents, picked me up in Indianapolis and drove me 8 hours to be with Doug and Addie in Michigan. We arrived in a torrential down pour that night, but woke up to great weather the next morning. We got a chance to enjoy the beach, boat and wave runners. Their last day there, the guys went golfing and the gals went shopping. We all met up at Antlers for dinner.

Thanks again for everything Mom and Dad...

I LOVE YOU!!!

Introducing Mr. & Mrs. Mark Ernst...

You may kiss the bride!
The happy couple!
A Good Combo: Beautiful & Yummy
I'm liking the cake cutting teamwork!
Mark slam dunks into Gina's face!

I'm glad I had a chance to take some of these pictures, because to be honest I don't remember a lot about the first half of the wedding reception. I was too nervous about giving my speech!!! I was a wreck.

For those of you who know me well, you know that I don't do public speaking. I hate it! I opted out of a very easy A in speech class in high school, because I feared speaking in front of my peers so much. You will never see me behind a podium running for public office... it ain't gonna happen! My voice cracks and I get mystery red blotches that resemble poison ivy all over my upper torso. It's not pretty.

First off, I'm flying into Denver and realize that I neglected to print the speech off from my computer at home... poop! I get the speech rewritten and leave it in the wedding coordinator's car trunk... double poop! Then I find out that the best man is such a good speaker that he is winging it and doesn't need note cards... showoff! At this point I want to curl up on the floor, in the corner of room and suck my thumb!!!

Well, folks I get a HUGE pat on the back. My speech ROCKED!!! I used inner strength and whit I didn't even know I possessed. I brought up big bangs, 90210, NKOTB and many more embarrassing memories. I even had a good balance of laughter and tears from the crowd. I hope Gina realizes that I wouldn't do this for just anyone!

LYLAS Gina LuLu

Goin' to the Chapel...

Make-up... check!
Sash... check!
Beautiful Bride... check!
Good Lookin' Wedding Party... check!

(Angie, Matt, Gina & Milan)

Gina's wedding party got ready in the most unbelievable condo located in Beaver Creek. It was 3 stories, decorated in a very classy "lodge" theme and retails for several million dollars. I am still stunned at how magnificent this place was... it was the perfect mountain-side castle for our princess bride to get ready in. Gina and Mark were married at the Beaver Creek Chapel. It is located next to a cascading mountain stream and for lack of a better term, beautiful. It's the kind of place you walk up to, and it makes you want to get married all over again!

My favorite part of the service was when, Gina slid Mark's ring on his finger and said "HAH!" Kind of like, "I gotcha now buddy!" Everyone laughed out loud because it was SO GINA!

Day of the Rehearsal...

Gina Lou and Unnamed China man Angie & Desiree
Daddy Jimm and "Bear"

We spent the morning shopping in the village before heading to Beaver Creek. We all got pedicures and manicures before the rehearsal began while sipping bubbly and eating munchies. The rehearsal dinner was at The Lodge of Vail... WOW! It was the best dinner I have had in a long time. They had three different stations set up with meat, salad and pasta. Personal chefs made your dinner to order.

I ate so much, I was worried about fitting into my dress the next day. Being on vacation, I had every intention of going out afterwards, but no one had a wheelbarrow for me to ride around in. I surrendered and accepted defeat and crashed in my PJ's at the condo by 10:00pm... rock star, I know! But we had so much fun anyway just staying in and catching up. Us girls, talked and laughed until 1:30am.

Vail, Colorado...

The Village
View Outside Our Condo!!!

These two pictures don't do Vail any justice what-so-ever. It is one of the most refreshing and breathtaking places I have visited. There are fresh water streams and rock pools everywhere with cobblestone walkways and mountain trails. Walking through the village, I felt like I was in Switzerland. The shops and boutiques are all very artsy and ridiculously over-priced, but sooo cute. The pubs and restaurants all had outside dinning and were very inviting. My only regret, is that I didn't have Doug and Addie with me. Little girl would have L-O-V-E-D all the rock pools and fountains.

We're BAAACK!!!

It's Sunday morning and we are realizing that we have been gone for a week and a half!!! Lots has happened since we last posted a blog. Stay tuned for updates as I work with all of our pictures.

Too Cute, To Not Share...

I was giving Addie a bath this afternoon. I always comb her hair when it full of shampoo bubbles. As I was lathering her up with her baby soap, she picked up the comb and started rubbing it behind her ears and along her bangs. She tilted her head to the side and just smiled. Of course being the proud mom that I am, I would clap and say "comb your hair" and she would do the whole thing all over again. Too stinkin cute and clever for words!!!

Justice League Wannabes...

Captain America - He's the people's choice!

It's OK to laugh out loud... I am!!!

Happy Birthday America!!!

Addie 11 Months Old on the 4th of July!!!

Happy 4th of July...

We spent our 4th of July with the Warners. We met up at the Noblesville town parade and had a cookout afterward at our house. Doug & Scott let off fireworks in the backyard with our neighbors. We had a great view of all the local fireworks celebrations from our deck... it was quite a show!

1-2-3 Swing...

Bella's BBQ...

Addie, Fallyn & Bella

Look at us, we're SOOO big!
Play time is so much fun
Jumping in the jungle

Well, my buddy Bella threw another great backyard BBQ for all of her friends... she must be taking tips from her mother! She had snacks, all kinds of food and a wonderland of toys set up for all of us to enjoy. Thanks Bella for being the "hostess with the mostest."

A Saturday Swim With Cassie...

Check out my new bikini... Eat your hearts out boys!!!

Downtown Landscapes...

In the middle of "the wedge" at the NCAA Hall of Fame
Along the canal
Angie's favorite fountain
Doug's favorite fountain

Doug works 1/2 days on Fridays. We love that our family gets to spend this quality time together each week. We decided to go downtown to the NCAA Hall of Fame and walk the canal. It was an absolutely gorgeous afternoon to enjoy beautiful downtown Indianapolis.