We're still here!

Wow, apparently the school year starts, and I start slacking on the blog! ALL of the pictures I have taken this past month are on my phone, which is new; so, I haven't uploaded anything to my computer yet!

However, we did get pictures taken for Charlie's 18 month, and we got the disc in the mail today. SO, I have some pictures to share! I'll share a few that weren't already posted on Facebook by our photographer. She's absolutely amazing! Being that Charlie is 18 months, he has A TON of energy. It was difficult to capture some good shots of him standing still, but she sure did it!

Minutes before we left for St. Charles, I threw my guitar and Tony's mandolin and ukelele into the car. Turns out, these are my favorite pictures of them all!

That energy I was noting earlier, it often brought him to get in the photographer's face! He loved her!

Daddy/Charlie shot. These two boys are just the most handsome boys ever! 

Momma/Charlie. 

Reading his favorite book. Aunt Laur and Aunt Jill gifted this to him, and it's read at least once a day. 

I read this book to Charlie when he was in my tummy. We still read it together often. 

Big handsome boy!

I bought Charlie a little matching shirt with me, and I thought Tony had the same one as well. He does, but it's just a few sizes too small...So, this turned into a momma/Charlie shot!

Cars/trucks/trains. We are obsessed with these! Luckily, cousin Harvey handed down a huge lot of them. As I type this, they are scattered around in every room of the house!

I promise I'll do more updating soon, life has just been very busy for us. It was a rough start to the school year for me, but it seems to be getting better now. (knock on wood...)

Eco Tri take 2

Now let me link you over to Tony's aunt Laur's blog. She also captured some great shots from the day!

http://lifewithlaurie.blogspot.com/2014/08/eco-smiles.html

Eco Tri

Every year, I post lots of action shots of the boys, Brian, Tony and Jon, participating in the Eco Tri. This year, I brought my camera but never took it out of the bag! Thank goodness for my wonderful in-laws who take great pictures! Take a look at my sister in law Mindy's blog to see how great our day was!

http://nothingbutnatalie.blogspot.com/2014/08/eco-tri.html

Milwaukee

We arrived in Milwaukee Friday evening. We had some supper with Kelly and bummed around a few shops. When we got back to the hotel, Charlie wanted to snuggle with me in my bed. He fell right to sleep! He hasn't done this since he was tiny! It was so fun to hold him like that. I did eventually put him in his crib, but I held onto that moment as long as I could.

Saturday morning was spent touring around downtown Milwaukee. The big stop with Betty Brinn Children's Museum. It was AWESOME!

My pictures are a little jumbled in order, so I'll just explain them all. 

Charlie driving a truck at the children's museum.

Looking out at the art museum on Lake Michigan. Beautiful!

Driving bus at the museum

Selfie in front of art museum 

The only way I could get him to lay still for a minute. A little Elmo on the iPad. First time I've ever used technology to aid me! 

Ready to start our day in Milwaukee!

Awesome Harley area at the children's museum

Kelly had fun too!

Sorting mail

Ready to work hard!

Playing in a little play area for toddlers

Sorting veggies

 Ball exhibit

 Watching the ducks on Lake Michigan

 Saturday night we didn't get very good sleep. My son was a little wired from all of our fun! Here he was Sunday morning

 and here I was. I was ready to get home and get a good night's sleep!

 It was SO much fun to see Kelly and explore her town! I can't wait to go back again!

Tony's Day Off

Every once in a while, Tony has a day off when nothing else is scheduled! We took advantage last week!

Before morning nap, we rode our bikes down to Florence Park. Swinging was a favorite!

After morning nap, we went to Soldier's Field to play for a bit. 

Today on Tony's day off, I took advantage and went into school for a bit. Love those little moments of me time!

Cedar Falls

I got a little head of myself with my last post! Last Tuesday, Charlie and I visited my cousin Hannah in Cedar Falls, IA. My aunt Amy and cousins, Meg and Kaylee, joined us.

Charlie was so happy to see Hannah!

We took a tour around UNI's campus and took a selfie in front of the fountain. 

My little "sister" 

The little ones

Hannah cooked us a delicious lunch, and we had a lot of fun touring around town!

LAX & the Dells

This past weekend, Charlie and I went to Milwaukee to visit my friend Kelly! She didn't get off work until 5, so I decided to leave early and make some stops along the way.

Our first stop was in LaCrosse at the Children's Museum. I've been there before with my friend's daughter, so I knew it was going to be a hit with Charlie.

This was where we spent the majority of our time at the museum: the fire truck!

There was a little toddler place. When we first got there, some big kids (who weren't suppose to be in there) were being pretty naughty and knocking Charlie around. After giving my biggest "mom look" and telling them they need to be careful, they found their way to another exhibit! 

Charlie then moved onto the Kwik Trip. Here he is in the truck while some other boys are filling it up with gas. 

Onto a little shopping 

and donut frosting

Now he's checking himself out

Building his own cheese mountain pizza

Downstairs there was a big train track. That kept him busy for a while! 

Eventually we moved on. He was asleep before I left downtown LaCrosse! He didn't wake up again until I pulled into the Dells. We stopped for some lunch. 

and shopping. There were little mechanical rides around the mall, so Charlie played for a bit. I didn't pay for them to work, but he loved it just the same!