A Weekend with Grandpa and Grandma Hanson

Grandma and Grandpa Hanson came to visit last weekend. Lauren was so lucky to have them spend time with her Friday night and Geoff and I were lucky enough to get a date night in! We had a fantastic dinner of lobster and even saw a movie. I know Lauren had a blast playing at home with Grandma and Grandpa.

On Saturday morning we went to the pool. It was a bit overcast, so not crowded at all. It was perfect for Lauren swim around, explore the splash park, and go down the slide. For me it was wonderful to have three other adults to help lift and play with Lauren. I actually had some time to relax at the pool!







Lauren loved playing on the slide with Grandpa and Daddy. She loved splashing and swimming around with Grandma too.

On another note, school started again this week! Overall the week could not have gone any better. Much better than last year when Lauren came down with a fever, causing me to miss some of the first days and Grandpa Hanson to travel back over here to be with Lauren because Geoff was traveling on business.

Lauren's transition back to Mariah's house each day has been seamless. I give Mariah all the credit for that. She makes her house so fun and inviting that Lauren can't wait to get dropped off each day. In fact, there were even two days when I was ready to pick Lauren up and she still wanted to stay and play. As a parent, that makes having my daughter in daycare so much easier.

Lauren has also started potty training this week. We have lots of Elmo stickers for her to put on her chart after she goes on the potty. Those stickers make all the difference! So far she is learning pretty quickly and going potty is still fun. Another credit to Mariah for that one!

Last Week of Summer Vacation

Well, it's back to school for me tomorrow and back to daycare for Lauren. Geoff even has a new train schedule that leaves earlier and gets home later that begins tomorrow. I guess it's a big day in the Hanson Household! We sure did have a wonderful summer and really made sure to enjoy this last week without schedules together.

Monday started with a visit to a toddler splash pool. Of course, I didn't discover this pool until Monday, but sure wish we spent more time there throughout the summer. The size was perfect for Lauren and there was even a little frog water slide for her. We will for sure be back next summer. Geoff was able to get home a bit early Monday so he took Lauren for a bike ride while I prepared dinner. What a marvelous Monday!

Tuesday was another terrific day! Lauren went to Mariah's house in the morning while I took care of some needed appointments before returning to work. Once I picked Lauren up from Mariah's Nest I told her we had a special surprise planned. Lauren and I were headed downtown to spend the evening and night with Daddy at the Palmer House Hilton hotel. Geoff was in Chicago all last week working on a new project and needed to spend the night Tuesday for work purposes, so Lauren and I joined him.


After we checked into the hotel and met Geoff, we walked over to Millennium Park to enjoy some family time.




Lauren was in love with the fountain, but looks like Geoff got dizzy pretty quickly.




After spending some time in the fountain, we found a nature hour filled with music, plant discoveries, and stories. Lauren was intrigued with the magnifying glass, but didn't quite understand how to use it to investigate the plants further.




After a wonderful morning in the city filled with shopping, music, and even more children's activities at Millennium Park, Lauren and I headed home for lunch and naps. Our town had a Bloody Mary Fest at the local Farmer's Market Wednesday night. The best part was each booth was willing to give me virgin drinks free! There were at least 20 bars and restaurants there sampling beverages. What an exciting event for our town.




Our farmer's market is closer to an evening dinner market than a typical morning farmer's market and so we spend many Wednesday evenings there in the summer. Lauren decided she wanted to try corn on the cob and simply took it off my plate and enjoyed a few bites. After she realized how delicious this corn was, she was very reluctant to put it down. I think Geoff and I shared just a few bites and Lauren ate the rest!




Just before leaving the market for the evening, Lauren and I were comparing the size of our feet. That was quite an ab workout for me, but Lauren just kept giggling and love it, so of course I complied!


2010-2011 school year, here we come!

More Michigan Fun

Lauren and I were fortunate enough to spend all last week at Mammie and Papa's house in Michigan. There are always so many people to see and fun adventures to be had. Here are a few of our activities from last week.



No, this wasn't from last week, but from almost two years ago when Geoff and I brought Lauren up to CMU (where I went to undergrad) for the first time.


Here's a photo of Lauren and I at the seal last week. At least this time she kept her eyes open.


Lauren and I went up to CMU with my good friend Sara, who I met up there while going to college, and her three daughters. This was the best photo we could get of the four of them at the seal. Guess they are curious little ones.


One evening we went to the Kent County Youth Fair, where I used to exhibit my arts and crafts and put on clowning and puppet show performances in my younger years. Lauren loved looking at all the animals even though she kept her hand over her nose in the barns. Then Papa wanted to take her on a horsie ride. I really didn't think she would go, but Papa was right, she was excited and really enjoyed it, as long as Papa was next to her!



Lauren's Great Gram and Papa Bruce came over for a visit one day. It was so nice of them and great for Lauren to spend some time with them. We usually only see them at holidays when it's so crazy with lots of people, so nice to have a "down" day together. While eating lunch at a restaurant Lauren did get an entire glass of freezing cold ice water dumped on her head by the waitress. After a few screams and lots of crying, Lauren handled it better than most of the adults. :)




Mammie purchased this fantastic kitchen and two tubs of toys to go with it before we came for our visit. Lauren LOVED this kitchen and I bet is still having dreams about playing with it.



Lauren turned into one dedicated little chef!

Our Little Flower Girl

Last Saturday Lauren had a chance to be a flower girl for the second time. This time she was able to walk up the aisle on her own and didn't need Daddy to pull her in a wagon like at Aunt Stephie and Uncle Jon's wedding! My cousin Sheila got married and Lauren was fortunate to be part of such a beautiful and special day.

As her mom, I was really worried she wouldn't walk up the aisle, but she did. About a quarter of the way up the aisle she turned around and was looking for Grammie, but then Grammie turned her back around and she continued up the aisle.

Then about half way up, she decided to stop and pick up some flower petals instead of dropping the ones in her basket. She did finally make it up to the front though and then did a fantastic job of sitting with Mommy and Daddy during the ceremony.

We are both so proud of what a wonderful job Lauren did as one of Sheila and Dustin's flower girls.




Here's Lauren getting a pep talk from Grammie and the other little girls who were in the wedding before the big event.


A proud Mommy and beautiful flower girl after the ceremony.


Here was Lauren's breakfast of champions before the big event. She was so excited to be able to sit in a big chair in the hotel room. Aunt Stephie came up with the idea to put this little table right in front of Lauren and she loved it. I guess all a little girl needs is some independence, a blueberry muffin, and a cup of milk before a big day.

Little Lauren's Big News!

As you can see, Lauren is thrilled to share the news that she will be having a little SISTER in early December!









Geoff and I opened the envelope as part of our pre Bon Jovi concert celebration. The note said, "Congratulations! You are having a beautiful baby girl."



Profile picture of me alongside the Chicago River.

Night Out for Mommy and Daddy!

For my 30th birthday, my parents and Geoff got me tickets to see Bon Jovi at Soldier Field! What a fantastic gift!

Geoff and I decided to make a day and entire night out of it by going downtown around noon on Saturday and then staying over night at The Wit (one of the hip newer hotels in Chicago). Aunt Stephie and Uncle Jon were kind enough to help us out by watching Lauren all day and night Saturday and even Sunday morning!

We had a blast!



As we were walking around Saturday, we saw the set for Transformers 3, which is being filmed in Chicago. I have never been so close to an actual movie set before. It was pretty interesting.



A view of the set from the top of our hotel. There's a bar up there called, The Roof (appropriate) where we had pre-concert cocktails and a light dinner.



Kid Rock opened up for Bon Jovi and while on stage he called out some Blackhawks players who showed up with the Stanley Cup! Kid Rock put on a wonderful show. I was really surprised at how talented he is.



My man, Bon Jovi! The concert lasted for about 5 hours and Bon Jovi sang for almost 2! Quite an accomplishment for a man his age.



Bon Jovi and Kid Rock even sang a few songs together.



The two of us at the concert.