Proof

My mother always plays 20 questions with me about whether or not I am watering my outdoor plants, some of which we planted just this Mother's Day. Here you go, Mom: proof that this stuff isn't dead and rotting.

My hydrangeas (blooming!)

Mouse-ear hostas (blooming!)



Driveway pot/flowers

window box impatiens

Nigh Nigh!!!

We had a low-key but very fun weekend: we did dinners with friends, completed some projects around the house (and the rental house that we are getting ready for new renters...which we haven't found yet!), and enjoyed some pool time. Griff was very, very into being a daddy's boy this weekend which was so cute, but made me tear up a bit when he was so sad to see Ben leave again for Bloomington tonight. This trial had better be over and SOON.

I took zero pictures (in fact I have no idea where my camera even is at this moment) but did nap a couple with my phone as Griff and I were coming home from a couple errands this evening. Griff started chanting "NIGH - NIGH, NIGH - NIGH!" The boy loves his sleep (just like his daddy). So he had a quick bath when we got home and his bedtime wish came true.

The Twelve Months of Griffin

I took a picture on Griff's "birthday" every month with his onesie stickers until he was 12 months; Grandma Kris took those pics and made this collage for Griffin (I took a picture of the picture, so it's not great quality). One of each month, with his newborn pic in the middle. When Ben gets home this weekend we are going to hang it in Griff's room. It's the perfect way to see how he changed each month. And I still love his frequent "pose" with his arm up. Always red-carpet ready! :)

Best Neighborhood in AMERICA!!!

According to today's Daily Herald, Good Morning America has chosen the historical neighborhood surrounding Schwarz & Pucci (West Dundee, our main office) as the best neighborhood in America! GMA will be broadcasting live from our neighborhood on July 1, 2010. Make sure to DVR GMA on July 1st!

Luke's Birthday Party

Long time no post...I left my camera at the Lacke's after Luke's birthday party (I left it at Ty's bday party, too, there's a pattern). Anyway two weekends ago we had a great time celebrating Luke's 4th birthday...we started out at the petting zoo where we had a private tour and then headed to Luke's house for fun, food and games. We had a great time.

Griff and Ty happy to see each other -- that was their first week apart since Ty left school!

All of the kiddos. You don't see Griff? That's him on the ground melting down. :)

Griff's favorite: the 2-week old piglets. They were quite adorable..almost enough to make you not want to eat pork anymore...that is, until we had the most fantastic pulled pork last weekend at Nick's graduation party. Yum! This caption just became a bit macabre.

Hungry, hungry goats!

Best seat in the house

Nic, Luke the birthday boy, Ty and Kevin

The boys playing house

Night, night Ty! Time to close up shop...

Ben getting excited for "pin the badge on Woody or pin [something] on Buzz" (I'm not so up on my Toy Story 3 trivia so I don't really know what exactly the kids were attempting to pin on Buzz)

Ben demonstrating Griff's excited face

Birthday Boy giving it a shot

Two Peas, Still!

These two really love playing with each other. And I know I've posted a lot about Griffin's speech, but I've not yet got it on good video. But at the end of this one, you can hear Griff say "BALL!" as he discovers the Mickey bouncy ball that Claire got him last week under the table.

Phone Clean-Out

My "real" camera is not always readily available so I've snapped some cute shots with my phone. Not the best quality, but I do have a few good ones to share.

Griffin is VERY into feeding himself now, such that he often refuses to eat if he can't do it himself. He also does not like his food cut up for him, and he always wants to eat from the "big boy plate" (where everything is not cut up, just like mommy's and daddy's) as opposed to HIS plate where I give him his cut-up, smaller portions.

Griff is also loving walks...when he sees the stroller in the garage he gets so excited...and he laughs at the dogs throughout the walk. Recently he has been insistent upon holding the leashes as we walk, too. He loves his doggies, you know, and they just CAN'T get away!

He likes to wear mama's pool hat!

At work in mommy's babysitter - a box full of packing peanuts!

All done.