Florida for Thanksgiving

I guess it has been almost two weeks since we jumped in the van and headed to Florida. Nic, Jack, and I left on Tuesday the 13th for some family time before the holidays. Over the weekend we drove over the W. Palm Beach to visit Adam and Cara. We stayed at their amazing condo and hit up the beach as soon as we arrived!

While we were there, we went out on a dinner cruise/casino boat. It was really fun! Cara's pastor's wife watched Jacklynn for the night.
Nic's parents came down Monday to Naples where we all spent Thanksgiving together. The weather was perfect the entire time! (Making it difficult to adjust to the dreary, rainy, cold Indiana!)
Jacklynn was a little unsure about the sand and the waves. The wave was definitely waaaaaaay to close in this next picture!
We went out one night for dinner...it seemed to be your everyday meal, but turned into one of the funniest experiences of the trip! This next pic was taken at the restaurant. In order to get Jacklynn to look, Cara was doing cheers and yelling and making us all laugh harder than Jack! Oh the things we do to make kids smile! Then the evening turned rough as the food did not settle well in anyone's digestive system! Wow! Or shall I say Wahoo! (The name of the place!) Needless to say there were multiple sprints to the bathroom that evening!
Thanksgiving dinner was very satisfying for Jacklynn...
It was an awesome much needed vacation! And if anyone is keeping track, we sold our house while we were there and have to move out in 2 1/2 weeks. Exciting, but stressful! Oh and we found out the day before we left that we are having another girl! Life is good!

Happy 50th Birthday Dad!

November 7, 2007 was my dad's 50th birthday! Jacklynn and I flew out to surprise the family a few days before. We visited his office for a birthday lunch. The nurses wore all black...they even called his patients for the day and had them wear black in honor of the big day! Then there were pictures of him in all the elevators and exam room doors! It was great!
For dinner, we all went to this really nice restaurant in Manitou Springs (Just outside of Colorado Springs). My brother was really into this family picture...if you can't tell!

Jacklynn's favorite part of travelling is playing in the suitcase while mom unpacks!
Oh and I must add my sister Jenni competed in the Miss Teen Colorado Pageant the week before we got there. Out of almost 500 girls, she finished in the top 15! Way to go Jenni...I have been trying to post a picture, but it will not work!

Garage Doors of Indianapolis

Check this out! My father-in-law's business (where Nic works as well!) was featured in a prominent garage doors magazine. It is a great article! The Garage Doors of Indianapolis article starts on page 22 through 35.

Happy Halloween!

We had a pretty fun Halloween! We started off the day downtown at Riley Hospital. Jacklynn participated in the Babytalk Research study where they observer the hearing of normal children in order to compare the results to those with cochlear implants. It was a pretty fun and interesting experience! She even got her very own "Baby Scientist Degree" from Indiana University! Go Hoosiers!
Then it was Becky's (Nic's mom) birthday as well so we took her out to lunch and then to Pottery by You. It was so fun! Jacklynn was such a little artist with her very own apron! She was a little confused though as to why I was painting her hand...

but it turned out pretty cute!
The finished project...well before the kiln!

For trick or treating, we headed up to Nic's cousin Shannon's house where we met up with all the kids! Lauren and Jillian are the butterflies. They belong to Andy and Jenni Keller (Andy is Nic's cousin). Then Sophie is the turtle. She is Jason and Shannon Pongratz' little girl (Shannon is also Nic's cousin. And then the Elmo is Scott and Erin Pongratz' little boy Tyler. I can't wait to show them this picture when they are all friends and 16 years old!
Jacklynn was a little unsure of her position in the wagon, but she held up like a trooper. I want to know what she is thinking about Snow White talking to her in this picture...:)

The wagons being pulled by Jason and Jenni.


After trick or treating, we headed back to Nic's parent's neighbors house for a bonfire. There we met up with Kayla and Emma...Jacklynn's favorite 4 year old twins!!
It was a great day! And I think it is safe to say Jacklynn made the most out of her first Halloween, don't you?!

Fall Festivities

Sorry about the break in posts...things have been a little crazy since we got home from Colorado. First off, we put our house on the market and have been averaging about 10 showings a week. Second off, Jacklynn was sick for about 3 weeks with everything from throwing up to thrush. She is thankfully all better now though! And finally, we have a crawling 9 month old...this means things are a little more hectic around the house! She is a healthy 9 month old though. We found out last Thursday at the doctor she weighs 22.8lbs and is 28.5in tall.
This past week or so we had the chance to enjoy some fall festivities! It was great! We took a trip to the Stonycreek Pumpkin Patch with Masie, Cara and Becky, Aunt Tut and Katie. These next pictures were on the hayride and then picking out the pumpkins!


Jacklynn's first pumpkin...purchased by Aunt Tut! Thanks!
The discovery of hay...

I think I like this...
Double fisting...
It's kind of all over me...
Oh well!

Then on Saturday, we went to our friend Noah's 1 year old birthday party! Jacklynn really liked her new princess chair and Noah didn't seem to mind that she was sitting in it. She actually shared her toys with her too! Happy Birthday Noah! (And good job on the party to the mother of Noah! :))

The whole family dressed up for Lisa and Todd's Halloween costume party! Jacklynn was a little unsure of the face paint daddy was putting on her...

Put she turned out to be a pretty cute lion!
Cara and I were Britney Spears and Kevin Federline. Oh my! We were limited on our options...but if you can't tell Cara is bald and I am just ghetto! I think my pregnant belly adds a nice touch to Kevin's look, don't you?! Then Nic was Dr. House, Becky was a pig, and I am not sure what Cecil is!
This last picture is of Cecil's mom in the middle and then brother Adrian on the left and sister Tammy sitting on the floor. Grandma Anna really got into her witch costume! I was pretty impressed...and almost frightened!