What a long fun day....

On Saturday, July 11, Kevin's mother invited us to go with her and Elizabeth, Annabelle, and Luke to the Ravinia Festival for kids to participate in fun activities including a mini petting zoo. That Ravinia Festival was about Methodist Hospital Employees' Day where Kevin's mother works. Gabriella and her cousin Annabelle were getting their fake tattoos. It was Gabby's first time getting a fake tattoo. At first, she was like huh...what was that? Afterwards, she enjoyed looking at her cute spotted dog tattoo on her right arm. After in awhile, we walked around to see what they had and went into the cafe to eat lunch and ice cream. Afterwards, Annabelle & Gabriella enjoyed going into the bouncing cage with Gabby's father. At first, Gabby hated it but got used to it and laughed!

After these activities, we went to the pets area. We saw the colt, pigs, chickens, sheep, llama, goats, etc. Gabriella enjoyed petting them and feeding them the foods. There were a few sheep around Gabby with foods. Gabriella was crying because she couldn't get out of the way. She yelled and had dad helping her getting out of the sheep herd. Sheep must love her for foods. By the way, we all had a great time.

After a long day, Kevin, Gabriella, and I went home and took naps. After we got up from our naps, we headed to the swimming pool with the Dynda Family (Dzia Dzia, Nephew Tomasz, and Danuta). We had so much fun in the swimming pool! It was so relaxing and we enjoyed our time in the swimming pool.

Group Storytelling

On Tuesday, July 7th, after Kevin, Gabriella, and I settled down with our house, I was looking around the local library to find out if they have storytelling that kids can participate for the last few days. Kevin and I found one and went there on that day to check it out. Gabriella enjoyed it a lot. However, I noticed it was not the right group because other kids were way older than Gabriella. After storytelling was over, we asked the lady about the right age group that Gabriella can participate with other kids by her age. There was one called lapsit storytelling that is for newborn -2 year-old kids. We were excited and signed up for the next date in that right group. We were looking forwarded and checked it out later. Will post that with picture in new group soon. Here is the picture below of the first time with storytelling group (wrong group):

Happy Belated 4th of July

On Friday, July 3rd, My Dynda parents and nephew Tomasz came to visit us to celebrate the 4th of July for the weekend. They came in the morning. My father wanted to fix a hole under our porch and front walkway, and went with Kevin and Tomasz to the store to buy pipe and other items. We figured out why it had this hole since before we moved in: my dad said that too much water from rain came down from the gutter that caused the soil to sink and made it a hole. The men dug it up to make it path from where the gutter is to farther out on the side of our house. Afterwards, they attached the pipe to the gutter and put it under the front walking side to the farther side so the water would go out there. It worked great!! You will know what I am talking about after you see these pictures below. After they all were done working with it, they bought some ice cream from the ice cream truck that comes through the neighborhoods! How fun!

Hi Everybody!!

Tomasz dragged the pipe! What a Strong Boy!

Enjoyed push the stroller around.

Getting tan during work.

That Hole!

Dug path for pipe where water will flow through.

Ice Cream Time!

The next day, 4th of July, was not great because it was rainy and gloomy. In our neighborhood, they rented all of fun activities such as a giant water slide, bouncing, train riding, etc. for kids to play and celebrate 4th of July. Some of kids were still doing these activities during the rain. Wish Gabriella and Tomasz would join but would hurt them by slipping from the rain. It was no fun for kids. Other than that, we met new neighbors. Some of them did cook out some good foods even though we didn't eat them. During the night, we saw some fireworks in our backyard but it was far. Otherwise, we could see them.

Water Sliding

Hopefully, next year in 2010, we will do something fun and will able to see the fireworks that wont ruin our day like last time!

What a sticky!!

On Monday, June 29th, Kevin and I made breakfast for all of us. Gabriella ate toasted bread with jelly and other food. She used her hands all over on the jelly from the bread and caused such a sticky mess! It was hilarious: every time Gabriella signed "dad" her sticky jelly was on her hand that went on her head, including hair! Oh my gosh. She repeated doing it. I kept telling her stop doing that. Afterwards, she played with her hair by using her sticky jelly hand. Of course, I gave her a nice bath, and she loved it!

Bakken's 50th Years Anniversary

On Thursday, June 25th, Kevin went to pick up his brother Dan and nephew Daniel at the airport after they flew in from California. They came to attend Aunt Gail & Uncle Don's 50-Year Anniversary. Before talking about the anniversary, Kevin, Gabby, and I enjoyed our time with Dan and Daniel while they stayed at our place for one night.

The next day, we all went to Grandma Ruth's to see her, Morge Parents, and niece Annabelle. All of the kids, Kevin, and Dan were playing with the ball like soccer in beautiful weather! We all had a great time. Mom Morge and Annabelle were gone while the rest of us went out for lunch. Afterwards, Kevin, Gabby, and I headed back home. Dan & Daniel went with Dad Morge to Peoria to visit the rest of the family.

On Sunday, 28th, Kevin, Gabby, and I drove up to the Milwaukee to meet with all Morge and Bakken family to celebrate Uncle Don & Aunt Gail Bakken's 50-Year Wedding Anniversary. CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM!! We met everybody such as aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, etc. at the church for mass and watched Aunt & Uncle renew their vows. After the church, we all went to Aunt & Uncle's house for a small party before the reception. We all had a wonderful time seeing everybody, especially Bakken Family who we haven't seen for a long time since moving to Seattle, WA from Madison, WI. Also, the Bakken family haven't had a chance to meet Gabriella, but they finally met her for the first time!! After left Bakken's place, we went to the reception. It was very nice place and had a wonderful delicious dinner. Uncle Don gave a presentation about his 50 years life with his wife. At first, he introduced his granddaughter Katie that wore Aunt Gail's wedding dress!! Amazing! After a while, Uncle Don gave Aunt Gail a new gorgeous wedding ring! Aunt Gail was crying with joy after put the new wedding ring on her finger. It was wonderful emotion for them. Also, everybody enjoyed listening to each of Bakken children's presentation about their parents (our Aunt Gail & Uncle Don) with all hilarious, emotions and memories.

It was a long day!! We were exhausted but had a fantastic time there to celebrate Uncle Don & Aunt Gail's 50th-Year Anniversary!! Here, below, is a video of our long weekend with families! One last thing that I want to say is thank you to Cousin Theresa for sending me a few pictures: I didn't take a lot of pictures in Wisconsin since I was busy with Gabriella.

Pajama Party

On Monday, June 22, I gave Gabriella and her cousin Tomasz a bath together. They had so much fun. Afterwards, Gabriella and Tomasz wore their pajamas and ran around like it was party time!!! They went crazy. I made Gabriella calm down. Tomasz & Gabriella sat with their Babcia & Dzia Dzia to relax, and watched tv for a short time before Gabriella's bedtime. What a night!!

June Random....

There were a several random pictures from June while we visited our family in Peoria, IL. One of the weekend of June 19th, we celebrated my dad's birthday. We had a lot of relaxing, chit chat, play, etc. Gabriella had so much fun and had a lot of things to do with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Gabriella & Babcia

Gabriella & Dzia Dzia

One of these days, Gabriella loved to play with soccer ball and kicked it around at Babcia & Dzia Dzia's house. She ran around to kick the soccer ball. Wonder if she will become Pro Soccer Girl?

Gabriella loved to close and open the door like a peek-a-boo. She was so funny!