U2

Saturday, September 12 we went to the U2 concert at Soldier Field with Brian and Cari. Our seats were in the nosebleed section but it was so worth it.

"The Crab" - this is what all the media people were calling it. It takes 2 days to assemble and 3 days to disassemble.

Bono on the big screen

It's Salsa Time

Check it out at my recipe blog...
http://karleneskitchen.blogspot.com/

or click on the link above

Words by Hannah

1. Hi / Hello
2. Buh Bye /  Bye-Bye / Bye
3. Yes
4. No no no
5. Puppy
6. Abby  (Grandpa & Grandma Westlund's dog.  Every dogs name is Abby for Hannah)
7. Bah bah (bottle/sippy cup)
8. Sissy
9. Mama
10. Mommy
11. Daddy
12. Dada
13. Nemo
14. Elmo
15. Poo poo
16. oow
17. Eew eew
18. Nigh nigh
19. Uh-oh
20. Choo choo
21. Dude (Thanks to her uncle Kevin who taught her that one.  Seriously, so cute when a 18 month old says dude )
22. Mine
23. Oh yeah
24. Shoes
25. Cheese
26. Baby
27. Peek a boo (which sounds like teek a doo at a times)
28. Pacie
29. Blankie
30. Let's go
31. I don't know
32. All done (with ASL sign)
33. More (with ASL sign)
34. Marco - Polo  (Grandpa Todd taught her while playing the game with Kaitlyn)

A Day Out With Thomas

Kaitlyn likes Thomas the Tank Engine but not a huge fan. She watches PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) daily, saw all the commercials promoting "A Day Out With Thomas" at the Illinois Railway Museum all summer long, and wanted to go. We went on Saturday August 21 before school started.

We took a ride on this original electric 1922 "El" train. In the picture above of Hannah, you can see the LAKE 4410 in the upper right of the window. This car originally ran on the yellow line (which is now mostly the red and purple lines) to Evanston.

These seats bring back not such fond memories of taking Metra train into the city everyday for 3 1/2 years.

Kaitlyn and Daddy

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Who's on your belly??

Watching Thomas go by.
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HELLO, THOMAS
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Steam engines - the wheels are bigger then Brian
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On the passenger train pulled by Thomas
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Thomas pulling us.
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Thomas built out of Lego's

Kaitlyn doing cheeky eyes like Thomas.

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And to top it off the museum is in Union, IL, which is not far from Brian and Cari so we were able to have dinner and hang out with them for a bit.

The girls had fun playing with their Wii Fit 

Attempting downhill skiing

Hannah had fun with the Rock-Band drums

What a terrific ending to a fun filled day! Even though Brian forgot the stroller and I quickly realized all those times I saw parents with those child harnesses and thought they were crazy, those are for dogs not children. Boy was I wrong, those are made for children like Hannah. She loves her independents and hates to hold your hand. I would have done anything for one of those that day and may just need to buy one.

In case you've never seen one. I just googled and they are cheeper then I thought. I can pick one up at Wal-Mart for $9.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Kaitlyn started 1st grade Wednesday, August 26.

The night before the big day, we laid out her clothes and painted her fingernails and toes to match the color of her shirt. She was so excited for school and didn't seem nervous at all. I think the prayers the night before and the morning of calmed her nerves as well as mine. I love this pose with her hands in her pockets.

Yuck, rain of the 1st day of school!!

The picture on the front steps will become a tradition for the first day of school pictures starting now and going forward. My mom did this every year and it was great to see how much we changed each year.

First Grade                                            Kindergarten

At the bus stop with her friend Abby.

Line up for the bus. Brian and I said our goodbyes gave her hugs and kisses. I was holding back tears as she barely looked back. She was much more confident this year, I was so proud. Now if her nails are still long when she gets home I will know she wasn’t too nervous for her first day. When she was little and would get nervous, she would pick at her palms. Last year it escalated into picking and ripping her nails off. This summer it stopped or more that it was a fun stress free summer break.

The wave goodbye from the window of the bus. I was choking back tears when the bus pulled away. I cannot believe my baby is in first grade and gone all day. The bus picks her up at 8:15 with school starting at 8:40 ending at 3:30 and home around 3:45, that's 7-1/2 hours. I kept my day busy with appointments and errands so not to think about how much I missed her. Poor Hannah missed Kaitlyn so much she was miserable and whining all day for "SISSY".

Excited to be home and to get out of the rain. NOTE nails are still intact therefore a great first day.

The Girls Portraits

I recently had the girls portraits done by a awesome photographer Amanda Singleton in my church ward. As you can see by the updated blog header photo and the girls pictures on the side they turned out beautiful. Amanda was amazing as Hannah would not sit still for a second yet she was able to get some great shots.