End of Summer - Park Edition

We wrapped up the last weeks of summer by visiting lots of parks! Some were repeats, some were brand new and some were just ones we hadn't made it to yet this year! 

We ended up at Farmington Park - aka "The Blue Park" after finding the first park we walked to (Walnut Ridge - aka "Dark Green Park") had been torn down for renovation! ;)

Central Park in Downtown Naperville with Daddy while I was working! The girl give the best smiles for daddy! 

Knoch Knolls Park with Daddy!

Meadow Glens Park, right down the street from the Elementary school the girls will go to. This was a whole family park adventure!

We discovered Heritage Creek aka "Rainbow Park" and it became a favorite for us girls!

Last but not least, The O'Connor Residence Swing-set! :) 

What a fun end to summer!

New Camera

As much as I love the convenience of cell phone pictures, I started feeling like there were so many instances in which I wished I had a good non cell phone camera! So, with the encouragement from Nate, I put my birthday money towards the purchase of our new camera. Nate did a lot of research and found us an awesome deal on the camera and accessories we wanted! I definitely have a lot to learn, but here are a few pictures I snapped today (my first day with the camera in use) just messing around with it!

Jemma Turns 2

Jemma's 2nd Birthday started out right away with presents!

We had to head out pretty quickly after for Jade's Sneak Peak & Meet the Teacher at pre-school, and then I had to go to work. So the girls spent the rest of the afternoon with Nate, and I met them at All Aboard Diner (the Choo Choo restaurant) for dinner!

We had such a fun day celebrating this big girl! You may have noticed she is wearing the vintage dress that I wore at 2 years old, and that Jade wore on her 2nd birthday! Flashback to that post here!

Happy 2nd Birthday sweet girl! You make each day brighter than the last. You are so smart, sweet and hilarious! We couldn't love you more!

Princess Aurora Birthday Party

I gave Jemma several options for her 2nd birthday theme, however it should come as no surprise that Princess Aurora was the winner! The day was just perfect, and Jemma was the most beautiful princess!

Lunch was baked mostaccioli, fresh fruit and french bread!

Present time with a 2 year old, and an eager 4 year old big sister is a bit chaotic, so good pictures are hard to come by! Here is a picture of her VERY generous, unopened haul!

She enjoyed looking at the cards almost as much as opening the presents!

Cupcakes for dessert. Yum!

Weather cleared up enough for some time outside! Chalk and rides in the viper with cousin Michael were a hit!

A big thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating Jemma's 2nd Birthday, and a big thank you to those who sent gifts that couldn't be there! Love you all!

Summer Happenings - July

Little recap of some of our July summer happenings!

Date with mommy to Chuck E. Cheese for games!

Followed by lunch at the mall food court!

....and a ride on the carousel!

Haircuts and suckers!

Braids!

Countless evenings playing outside!

Jade loves riding her tricycle!

Park days!

Playing on the swingset with daddy!

Lookin' cute!

Cheese! :)

Jade Cheer & Pom Camp

Jade had a blast with a 4 day Cheer & Pom camp through the Naperville Park District! An added bonus was a friend from preschool, Natalie, who was also doing the camp! On the last day, the girls performed their cheers. Here are a few videos! :)

Fun With Chalk

One of the girls favorite things this summer has been drawing with chalk! A few weeks ago, I got in on the fun and draw all the Bubble Guppies & Mickey Mouse Clubhouse characters at the request of Jade! It was a lot of work, but the girls loved them!!

Sweet Jemmy!

Jade drawing a rainbow!

The Bubble Guppies! 

Minnie & Daisy!

Mickey & Pluto!

Daddy got in on the fun too, and drew Goofy! :)