Mommy's Birthday

Today was Mommy's birthday so we celebrated by doing a whole bunch of things with Grace.

First we went to Pump It Up for a play date with Grace's friend Natalie. It's a big room filled with giant inflatable stuff to play on and lots of obnoxious kids who aren't my own.

Grace going down the big slide.

Grace and Natalie sharing the car.

Slowly climbing her way up to the big slide.



Grace going down the big slide.


We also ran into Grant who is another friend from day care.

After nap, posing with Mommy for her birthday picture.

Next we went to the mall to go to The Painted Penguin where Grace painted a dog.



Here is her final masterpiece.

Then, after a quick trip to the bookstore, we went out to dinner at a Hanakawa where Grace ate quite a bit.

This is Mommy's sushi dragon.



Grace started eating with chopsticks...



...then proceeded to eat with her hands.


Eating a really big noodle.


Grace liked looking at the fish in the lobby. The water is so shallow in the pond that the fat fish in the bottom of the picture was always sticking halfway out of the water.

Helping Mommy blow out the candle on her birthday cupcake.

It's not a parisian. It's a jumpsuit. My grandfather in Florida wears them all the time because he's too lazy to put on pants!

Grace just got back from a trip to Florida with Mom, Baba, and Papa.

Swimming by herself with the tomato.

Building sand castles at the beach.

Standing in front of the Seaside post office.

Playing at the park.

Saying goodbye to the "hop hop" that came with the house.


Playing Hot Potato in the pool.


Papa trying to take a picture.

A Trip to the Water Park

Grace's New Shirt

Uah! I hate shopping! I'm bored, my feet hurt, I'm too big for the choo-choo train...

The Happiest Place on Earth (If Earth were located at the Corner of 1st and North Avenues in Melrose Park)

We had to pick BaBa up at the airport today so we took Grace to Kiddieland for the first of what will probably be many times.

The sign


On the carousel


A rare picture with Dad in it


Excited to be getting on the choo choo


All aboard!


Riding the flying elephants with Mom


In the ferris wheel with some other kid


Some conductor looking dude fixing and cleaning a train


Riding in her pimped out dune buggy


I think that kid behind her is trying to shoot her down


We felt sorry for the workers who had to listen to the kids ring those bells over and over and over again


Getting ready to launch her flying saucer


She chose to ride in the back seat of the helicopter


Coming very slowly down the tube slide


We can do this at a McDonald's for free but this is where she wanted to spend most of her time


Moments before she got lost/stuck on a portion of the track where we couldn't see her


Starting to tucker out a little at this point


One of the last rides she went on


Making a big jump



Finally making it back to the beginning of the ride

You can't have Thanksgiving without turkey. That's like Fourth of July without apple pie, or Friday with no two pizzas.

Grace's Third Fourth of July Celebration

Waving her flag.

Waiting for the Vernon Hills parade to come by.
A big loud fire truck.

Mommy had to help her get all the candy that the floats were throwing.

A really bad Blues Brothers impersonator. I don't think Jake had a mustache.

For some reason, this parade needed a zamboni.

Watching the lawn chair drill team.

Nothing says Happy Birthday America like Batman and the Joker.

After an hour + of squirt guns, Little Miss WhereverI'mFrom, and cheesy politicians, it was time to sit back int he chair and relax with baby.

After the parade, we went to the park.

This is the reason we go to this park.

After nap, we headed over to the Mundelein Munch to go on some rides and have dinner. This is Mom and Grace on the bee ride.

Grace riding in a pink car.

Having ice cream while waiting for the fireworks to start.

Throwing her little plastic dinosaur around while still waiting for the fireworks to start.

Finally the fireworks started but she was a little scared at first and had to sit on Mom's lap.