Busy, busy, busy...

I can't believe it's been so long since my last post, the past few weeks have flown by.  It's hard to imagine, on the heels of a heat wave, but summer is going to be over before we know it.  I hardly know what to write about, so much fun stuff has happened over the past month.  Maybe I'll just give you a little list, then I can move forward without this overwhelming sense of responsibility to my three or four readers out there (yes, that means you).

Fourth of July at home with the in-laws, complete with local Parade.  Maggie even got a haircut in preparation for the event.  Wanna know a good way to get a kid to want to get a haircut?  Take her to the salon at Wal-mart... it's a whole store full of bribes.  The parade was cute, although SWELTERING.  We foolishly chose to sit on the sunny side of the street.  Parade participants were handing out ice-pops, so that combined with the ice cream and snow cone and popsicle that the girls had kept them cool.  Catie was super impressed by the horses and tried to crawl after them, reaching her chubby little arms out to them and yelling after them.  Those must have been the biggest dogs she's ever seen!

Baby shower in Iowa.  We got to see the mucho-preggers Auntie Jordan, who I am pretty sure Maggie thinks is actually Princess Aurora or Cinderella or something (she's blonde, she's pretty, and she's not a wrinkly old lady like Mama).  Maggie was very impressed by Auntie Jordan's house, which is currently chock full of not-yet-played with toys awaiting the arrival of baby.  Maggie showed her Aunt and Uncle how to use them, just so they wouldn't look stupid in front of the new baby.  Another highlight was the camper at Auntie Nana's farm.  It's like the ultimate playhouse I suppose - far more proportional to a three-year-old than to an adult.  Catie's favorite part was a loose meat sandwich at Maid-Rite.  That's my little chow-hound.

Beauty and the Beast at Broadway in Chicago.  You could just see the pride sparkling off of Maggie as she walked down the sidewalk in downtown Chicago.  She got to go to a big-girl show, and eat at a big-girl restaurant, and wear a big-girl dress.  Aside from asking questions throughout the entire performance, she did great at the theatre.  We'll definitely be taking her to see more.

We also had the completion of swim classes, the beginning of T-ball, a freak storm that had us without Internet for a week (argh!), couple trips to the "fun" pool, harvest time at Granny's garden (which means lots-o-canning and freezing), making a few new dresses for the girls, and of course, last but not least....

CATIE'S FIRST BIRTHDAY!  This one deserves it's very own post, so check back later to read all my gushing and mushiness about seeing my baby... MY BABY... turn one year old.