It's been a while...

So, I was reminded today that I am really bad at keeping up with this blog.  It's true and I apologize.  I will TRY to do better.

Life has been somewhat uneventful the last few weeks.  Work has been kind of stressful, though.  I had to plan and execute my first event last week.  It went well, but I am so glad to have it behind me.  It involved me giving a speech, which is always nerve-racking.

This weekend we went to Michigan with the "other Murrill's".  Dwight Nelson was finishing up his series on "Angels" and Mark really wanted to hear it.  Mark was also craving his favorite sandwich from Baguette de France, so we loaded the cars and headed to Andrew's.  Church was nice and we had a lovely picnic after.  We visited the neatest carousel, saw Korine (Mark's cousin), visited with the Paradise's, and although I would love to say we ate a yummy sandwich at Baguette, I would be lying.  It turns out that with summer hours, it isn't open on Saturday night:(  We didn't figure that out until late Saturday evening.  Oh well!  It was a nice trip.

I have been doing some major crafting lately.  With the tight budget, I am finding new and creative ways to do gifts.  Here are a few baby shower gifts I have made...

       

Tonight, I finished up my Mother's Day gifts.  I will post those later.

So, "Potato Potluck" is this Saturday.  Mike has been the ringleader of this little shindig, but we are housing the event.  The guidelines state that all dishes must be made up of at least 50% potatoes.  I am making potato soup and, if I am able to track down the recipe, potato chip cookies.  If you know me at all, you know that this potluck is pretty much the highlight of my year.  Potatoes are my favorite food ever...hands down.  On a more somber note...I just read that breast-feeding moms have a harder time metabolizing carbs and will sometimes hold onto weight from carb consumption until they are finished breastfeeding.  *Insert deep sorrowful sigh*

My baby turned eight months old yesterday!  Can you believe she is practically one?!!!  Where has the time gone?  Motherhood has definitely changed me for the better.  I feel so complete now, and Mark and I have never been closer.  It's definitely been a good year.

Here are a few pics from the last few weeks...enjoy:)

Supporting the Bulls

My first event..."Volunteer Recognition Banquet"

Such a sweetheart

Bathing Beauty

1st Carousel Ride

The Murrill's 

Domino's, you can make the check out to Stephanie Murrill

What a wonderful weekend we had!  After church on Sabbath, we came home and had lunch with Mike, Melissa and the boys.  I realized that a nap was definitely in order, and my amazing hubby took care of Monroe while I took a little siesta.  Then after a relaxing afternoon, that included playing a few board games and lots of laughter, we all packed up (in one car) and headed to Geneva, Illinois, for some ice cream.  Yes, I said one car for the lot of us.  It actually was a surprisingly uneventful trip, but I can't imagine one much longer.  With three cars seats, it gets pretty cramped.  And from Melissa's and my experience, when one of our kids starts crying, a trio is quickly assembled, or at very least, a duet.

Geneva is the cutest little place.  It has one of those fun downtowns with unique shops and amazing restaurants.  We had a great time enjoying the sights and our yummy ice cream.  (I sampled banana chocolate chip, but decided on coconut almond, as I am sure you were all dying to know.)  After pizza, we called it a night.

On a side note, if you have not tried Domino's new pizza, you are truly missing out.  Mark my word, you will not regret it.  The garlicky crust melts in your mouth. As a kid, I remember Domino's pizza tasting much like cardboard smothered in oily cheese.  No more, my friends.  And for pizza's at $5.99 a piece, you can't beat it.  You are probably wondering at this point, if Domino's is paying me to write this.  No, they are not,  but I am hoping they catch wind of this shameless promotion and they send a little checky check my way... fingers crossed.

The next morning was Easter and did we ever celebrate.  Mike and Melissa hosted a lovely Easter Brunch at their house.  Everyone brought amazing food and the kids had the greatest time dying and decorating eggs and later, an Easter Egg Hunt.  It was one for the books.

The weather has been Florida-esque lately(in a good way), until today.  We woke up to crazy thunderstorms, which was kind of fun.  Monroe came in my bed and we napped for a bit this morning to the sound of thunder and rain.  Ahh, I love being part-time and getting to have these experiences with her!!!!  There is nothing better than napping with your little girl.  Well, if Mark could have been there as well, that would have been the cherry on top.

Here are a few pics of our weekend.

Monroe and Daddy on Sabbath Morning after a great night's sleep!  Yes, she is back to her normal sleep schedule!  What a blessing!!!

All ready to go to Church!  Dressed in my Easter/Amish outfit:) 

I love my baby girl! 

The Murrill Girls and their babies in Geneva

Ready to walk around Geneva

Easter Brunch Spread...yummy

Dying the eggs

Monroe taking part in Easter Brunch

The gang, getting ready to find some eggs.  And Monroe with a bucket on her head...

Project Update:  I started sanding the pink dresser yesterday.  I also removed the random screws and the hardware.  The process is a slow one, but hopefully a fun one.

RoRo Gallery

We had our first 75 degree day of the year!  It was amazing...Monroe misses the snow, I guess.

Hanging out with Uncle Krose.  He came for a house hunting trip!

The sun made her sleepy!

These pics made me smile.  She is such a big girl now.   

A very good Friday...

Melissa and I had been talking for awhile about getting together to go to Goodwill to find some old furniture to refurbish (this was before I came into such great luck...see previous posts).  So anyway, we thought it would be fun to go today.  It just so happened that Mark and Mike had the day off from work, and they took the kids to the park, while we went shopping.

Boy was it fun.  We actually found a few different furniture items that were contenders, but after walking around for awhile, we put it all back.  We did, however, find some other "treasures"!  Melissa snapped up the greatest Banana Republic Blazer and shirt, a Lucy sweatshirt, a frame, a brand new shower caddy, some fake flowers, and the cutest little tea/jam holder.  

I walked away with a brand new pair of snow boots for Monroe, an Ann Taylor dress, and an adorable shirt.  I also made a little investment.  I happened upon the same exact SIDS Prevention baby monitor that I have.  My mom and dad got it for us, and I know it was pretty pricey.  To find one for the Goodwill price, was unheard of.  I went ahead and bought it and stuck it on craigslist.  Hopefully, I can make a few dollars on the deal.  I'll let you know how it turns out.  I also put our big old black hutch up on craigslist.  It is a huge monstrosity and we really don't have a place for it anymore.  It used to house our television, before we got our new tv.  I am really hoping we have some luck selling them, and fast. 

After shopping, we had a lovely lunch in downtown Elmhurst.  I love that place.  The little boutiques and restaurants reminded me very much of Park Avenue in Winter Park.  I loved that area in Florida.  

We then headed to the park to meet the boys.  What we found was the funniest sight!  Poor little Max had lost his binkie on the trip and was happily sucking on Monroe's bright pink one.  Monroe was sockless, shoeless and dirty. And poor Mason was sporting a load in his diaper that size of Kansas!  It was hilarious.  The dads really did do a great job and we were so thankful to have a little girl-time.  We took the kids home while Mark and Mike played a quick round of frisbee golf on their walk home.  They also made a quick trip to the Ducati dealership.  Mike has a motorcycle and I really hope that Mark isn't getting any ideas!  They are known as "murdercycles" in my home:).  

Since Mark and I got married, we love just driving around on Friday evenings, looking at houses and the such.  We hadn't had a chance to do that since we arrived in Chicago, so last night we took advantage of the lovely evening.  It was super relaxing and we really enjoyed ourselves.  

So, that was pretty much my Friday in a nutshell.  I will post some pics of our amazing goodwill finds later.  

The baby that came to live with us last week...

So, I started to wonder if someone swapped Monroe for another kid.  The last five days have been horrible!  She yells her head off when we try to put her to sleep and will wake up in the wee hours of the morning to continue her yelling.  We couldn't seem to figure out what was wrong and were at our wits end. Then yesterday, I started noticing her shaking her head in a weird way.  My neuroticism  really came to the surface and I had convinced myself that Monroe had something horrible.  I did some online searching today and found that sudden irritability and shaking of the head in infants is a tale-tale sign of an ear infection.  We are headed to the doc a bit later today.  Pray that it is just an ear infection and nothing worse.  

FYI-  I have to admit something...I convinced Mark to go drive around the neighborhood last night to see if there were any other treasures.  No luck, though. I am keeping my eyes peeled:)

Love,

Phyllis