Nemo Slide

We got Madison Claire a Nemo Slide for her first birthday and we just used it a few weekends ago for the first time. She *loved* it!! Look at these cute pictures and the action shot video...

Getting ready to slide!

Helping with the water hose

Social butterfly - waving to the neighbors

Yay - such fun!

Action shots!

Nanny Annie

We celebrated our one year anniversary with Nanny Annie on Tuesday, July 13th. It is so hard to believe that it has been one year since I went back to work. It's also hard to believe that one year ago, we didn't know Annie. She has become such a huge part of our life over the past year that it is really impossible to remember a time when she wasn't a member of our family.

I remember when we interviewed Annie she sat right next to me on the couch and we just immediately connected with her. Little did we know then that she would be such a blessing to our family. I hoped that we would be able to find someone that we would feel comfortable being with Madison Claire all day, every day but never dreamed we would find a friend. I think that I love having Annie here just as much as Madison Claire does! We have fun talking about Madison Claire, shopping, watching the Vampire Diaries & the Bachelorette, talking about life and cleaning up. I think Annie is really part nanny, part personal assistant and all friend! She certainly helps me keep my life organized & on track. I think she can pick up my house in less than 15 minutes!!

I also know that without Annie, I would not still be working. She makes being away from Madison Claire bearable because I know that she is in such good hands. Annie sends me pictures via text message every day when I'm traveling so I can see Madison Claire. Hands down, she is the best. THANK YOU ANNIE for everything that you do for Madison Claire, for me, and for our family. We love you and can't imagine our life without you!!

Annie's first day!





Madison Claire says "don't go!!!"
Annie's Mini-Me


Had to get one cranky shot so we all remember she isn't always an angel!



Annie's real life American Girl Doll :)
July 13th - one year!!

Goodbye Brad & Whitney!!

Our good friends Brad & Whitney are moving to Birmingham. I want to say BOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO but I know that they are excited about it so I'm trying to get my happy face on! We had a fun couples night out at Arrington Vineyards to celebrate. Here we are just the girls...the guys were there too!

Claire Bear at the Beach!

While Ryan and I were in Chicago, Madison Claire Bear was down at Panama City Beach with her Nana, Papa Gary, Mimi and Papa Steve. I think they all had such a good time!!! I'm sure Madison Claire was SPOILED rotten!!! Here are some precious pictures they took of her down there...so precious. Thank you grandparents!!!

So happy!!

Concentrating very hard on that water!

Clap, clap for Madison Claire

"OOOOH!!"

Already bossing the boys around

She *loves* the beach!!!

Chicago!!!

Ryan and I celebrated our 6th year anniversary in Chicago and had the most amazing time! We went on our 2nd Top Chef Tour so had some amazing meals, walked more than we ever have in our lives (we think we walked about 25-30 miles), shopped, chilled, talked, and just enjoyed being together in a great city! I am so thankful to be married to such an amazing man - we have so much fun together and this trip was one of the best! The pictures below tell the story:

On the plane

At Frontera Grill...the first stop on our Top Chef Tour

Waiting in line at Frontera...we got there at 4:30pm and there was already a line

Ryan with Rick Bayless in the background - we were so excited to see him!!

The best dessert we had the whole trip - amazing berries, cream & shortcake...yum!

Friday we walked over 5 miles from our hotel to Wrigley Field

I thought this was the green monster!! Ryan had to tell me the green monster was in Boston...oops!

We had great seats right on the first base line!

The sun was beating down on us during the game - all I could think about was the horrible tan lines I was getting that were NOT going to look cute with my dress for the next night!

Once people started leaving, we were able to move up into the shade

My colleagues Tom Bivens & Kelley Clark were there so we got to see them at the end

Ryan's tan line

My tan line...ouch!!

After the game we went to a place called "Hot Chocolate" for dinner & dessert

We were seriously drinking hot fudge disguised as hot chocolate...so yummy but man it was rich. It tasted like we were drinking the inside of a molten lava cake...like our server said, "this is no nestle quick"

and if drinking chocolate wasn't enough...this is what came next!

Our bill - "mac & cheese, hamburger, hot chocolate, chocolate #1, and a PB cup"...seriously....we probably gained 10 pounds!

Check out all of the James Beard Awards...

Our anniversary morning...we had our ritual of morning oatmeal and a chai tea latte at Starbucks

At Bandera on Michigan Avenue for our anniversary lunch. I posted this picture on Facebook and our friends the Ashby's surprised us and bought our meal...THANK YOU ASHBYS!!! What a special treat!

The Macho Salad - I've been remembering this for the last 3 years since I had it in Phoenix with Lauren Brennan

Shopping on Michigan Avenue - what a great anniversary treat!

Our anniversary dinner at Spiaggia...nominated for Best Restaurant in America this year by the James Beard Foundation

Notice that my hair is always over my shoulder to cover my tan line from the Cubs game!

The view out of our hotel room

Brunch at the Bristol on the 4th of July

We went walking to Grant Park & Millenium Park during the day...it was gorgeous but SO HOT!

Cooling off at Starbucks

Next up...a late lunch/early dinner at Giordanos

We got this picture via text from our parents on 4th of July...we missed our Madison Claire Bear!

The view outside of our room of people lining up getting ready for the fireworks over Navy Pier...it was a madhouse out there! Look at all of the cars that had just stopped on the road.

We had a perfect view of the fireworks from our hotel room on the 26th floor of the W!!! Hearts...appropriate for our anniversary!

The Stiernagles were in town visiting some friends so we got to see them for about 30 minutes on Monday morning...so fun!!!

At Blackbird for lunch...probably our least favorite meal

After lunch we went to Navy Pier

On the Ferris Wheel

We walked 2.5 miles along the lake to go to this Natural History Museum...we got there 15 minutes too late!

Our last night in Chicago

We weren't sure where to go but ended up deciding on Joe's Seafood & Steakhouse and it was great!

King crab legs...they were the biggest ones I've ever seen!

We were supposed to get 2 free waters a day but they NEVER repenished them! Finally the last night they brought us a whole case...Ryan was so happy to get his waters!

Love that Ryan's only purchase from the trip is in a bag that says "I just got a bargain"

My shopping bags...not so much a bargain!!