Walker

Well Henry is now offically a walker. He has decided in the last week that walking is his preferred method of getting around. We went out to eat with the Greens a few nights ago and we were talking outside afterwards while the kids ran around. Henry didn't want anyone to hold his hand, he wanted to go like the other kids did. Audrey told me the other day that he was trying to run. He was throwing himself forward, but kept falling down. It is only a matter of time.

Build-A-Bear

Build-A-Bear opened recently in our mall and Audrey has been wanting to make one. Tonight we decided to let her do it. She named her bear Ariel Laila Drozd. She said that when she is wearing her Ariel costume she will be called Ariel and when she is wearing other clothes she will be called Laila. I have no idea where she got the name Laila. We don't know anyone with that name and I don't think I have ever even mentioned that name to her before. I asked her, but she says she doesn't know where she learned it. She tried to talk her daddy into lots more clothes and accessories. Bitty Baby (named Violet) and the Bitty Twins (named Jack and Julia) already have a more extensive wardrobe than I do, all I need is to be buying clothes for a teddy bear too!! Audrey told me that her bear eats porridge for breakfast and fish crackers for a snack. Seems logical enough :) Making a wish on the bears heart Ariel Laila gets sewed upThe grooming station - a bath and a brushThe dressing room - the Ariel wig cracks me up!And here she is!

Chiefs Game

Ready to go to the game!
Homer the mascot helps
with the starting pitch
Little Fans

On Wednesday we went to a Chiefs game. The kids had never been to a game and it had been a couple of years for Jason and me. The Chiefs are the minor league baseball team here in Peoria, they are the minor league team for the Cubs and Ryne Sandberg (Jason's hero) is their manager. We had really good seats. We were the very front row over the home dugout! It worked out well because the kids could get up and stand and look around instead of have to be in the seats all the time. Someone was there from the Pekin Times newspaper and took a picture of Audrey and Henry and the ball that was thrown up over the dugout to them. The guy took our names but said he didn't know if the picture would run or not. I had my friend Ange, who lives in Pekin (a neighboring town to Peoria), check and they were the feature photo on the front page. It is a really cute picture where both kids are looking out onto the field and Henry is clapping and Audrey is dancing (go figure). Audrey was so excited when she saw it. They both wore their Cubs hats to the game but didn't leave them on so they didn't have them on in the picture. Probably better anyway because I'm not sure we would have been able to see their faces as well if they had on the hats. Anyway, we all had a good time. It was perfect weather and it was free hotdogs and peanuts night. Audrey ate 2 1/2 hotdogs (just the dogs, no buns) and ice cream. I don't think we will be able to afford taking her if it isn't free hotdog night :) Audrey will only eat the hotdogs and Henry will only eat the buns so really it works out great!

Splash Down

Our church rented out the Splash Down water park last night. It figures that after being so hot and humid, it would really cool off last night. Everyone was chilly but only the adults admitted it :) We would take Henry out every once in awhile when his lips started to turn blue and wrap him up. He would scream and want to get back in. It was a late night and both kids fell asleep on the way home. Today it was unbearably hot again.

Grandpa's Hat

The Fair

The Coles County Fair has always been a big deal with my family. I lived so close to the fairgrounds and I don't think I have missed but maybe 1 year since I was born. Audrey had a great time riding rides, watching bull riding, eating a pronto pup, cotton candy and drinking lemon shake-ups! While we were watching the bull riding Audrey said "YUK, What's that smell?" I told her it was manure, to which she replied "or bull poop". Henry had a great time riding the carousel. He started to scream when the ride was over and he had to get off of his horse. Of course, Audrey wanted to go on the Ferris Wheel. Jason isn't fond of heights, and therefore isn't a big fan of the Ferris Wheel. I ended up going with Audrey and I have to say that I think I liked it more when I was a little kid. I don't know what scares me more, the fact that Audrey seems little enough to slip under the bar or that the ride is set up and torn down every week by people that don't appear to be the brightest. Audrey, as usual, was fearless. She told me that she was sure she would be fine on the Ferris Wheel by herself, she didn't need anyone to ride with her.