Ellie's 6 Month Photoshoot and Stats

My sweet girl is now 6 months old!  She is seeming so 'grown-up' :)  Definitely not a newborn anymore...she's sitting up, army crawling and 'talking' lots (she is doing m's first, do I hear "mama" first!)

Height: 26.5" (76%)
Weight: 16.04 lbs (52%)

Festivals, Fairs, and Parades..oh my!

After having kids, I have become much more aware of community events and activities.  This summer, in-between traveling, we managed to attend quite a few.  One weekend in particular, we went to both the Dakota County Fair and the Irish Fest.  Both were fantastic and I'm looking forward to making both an annual event!

Last weekend, I took the kids to the Firetruck Parade in Burnsville.  Quite impressive!...25 minutes or so of a continual parade of firetrucks with their sirens blaring.  Both Nolan and Ellie couldn't take their eyes off it!

Ellie and Grandpa Hickman watching the High Kings at the Irish Fest

Grandma Hickman

High Kings...so good!!!

Nolan's opinion... :)

Watching the firetruck parade...sporting their ISU gear to support the ISU vs. Iowa game!  AND...look who is sitting up!

Labor Day Weekend 2011

For Labor Day weekend, we headed down to Ames.  We arrived Friday night, after a road-trip where Jason tried to do a fantasy football draft...NOT recommended.  On Saturday, we were expecting our usual beautiful, sunny weather for a fun day of tailgating before the first ISU football game.  It didn't even cross my mind that it could rain!!!  Well, it did...ALL morning and afternoon.  It didn't just sprinkle...it went from a hard rain to down-pour and back to hard rain.  By the time the game started at 6 PM, it had stopped, but the kids and I never made it that long.  Yes, we are the crazy parents who tried to take their kids tailgating.  Huddled under a drippy tent, the thought that we were stupid for taking our kids out in that weather definitely crossed my mind!  After only a few hours, there was a slight break in the rain and I took that opportunity to start walking back to my parents house.  Jason stayed to enjoy the first ISU win of the season!

Sunday was a relaxing day...Jason went to Des Moines to do yet another fantasy football draft and I spent time with my parents and a visit from my Aunt!  That afternoon, my friend Katie and her daughter came to town to visit and so I could take pictures of M.  It was one of my first photoshoots since making the decision to try to photography a bit more than just hobby!  I think they turned out beautiful...but I definitely think my 'model' had a big part in that!  I am starting a blog specific for my photography and will hopefully post that soon!

Monday, Labor Day, we spent the morning with my sister and her family and my parents.  The boys played together and later, Nolan and Papa rode bikes together in the driveway.  It's always hard to leave after a fun weekend, but it was time to head home.

On our way back to Minneapolis, we stopped in Clear Lake to visit with Jason's sister Karla and brother-in-law.  We were excited to hear that Anne, Justin and Dave were also there!  It was a sunny day...but extremely chilly.  Nolan and Maya didn't care.  As soon as we were at the lake, Nolan playing on the beach and Maya was chasing her ball off the dock.  Nolan didn't play too long, but had a great time splashing his aunts!

It was a really fun weekend...however, when we get home from a long weekend away, I really wish I could take a 'staycation' at home!!

Heading out to tailgate!

Everything in 3's!...all 3 had to help Grandma stir the orange joice

Nolan learned how to "cheers!" with his cousins :)

Still doesn't get the 'pedaling' concept...but has fun!

Oh no, full toddler behavior kicking in!...tree climbing :)

I had his swim-trunks, but knew he wouldn't last long...took the lazy way!