The Engstrom Family: 2011

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Key Lime Cove

Both Talia and I had the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah off, so we booked an overnight trip to Key Lime Cove in Gurnee. We LOVED it! There are big slides (and one that looks like a toilet bowl), little slides, a giant bucket that pours out water, a lazy river, a wave pool, a regular pool with bball hoops, and a small fountain/small kiddie pool. It also has a few great restaurants and an arcade, which Giana continually called Chuck E Cheese! We were so happy that the Lipani's were there as well and we all had a great time! Here are some fun pics:

playing air hockey...

with Talia

Apple Holler

We headed back to Apple Holler in Wisconsin for a wonderful day of apple picking and all around good fall fun! We were so happy that the Miller's and the Benko's were able to join us. We had a great time.

Giana, Talia and Taylor

Talia's first bite (her tooth is wiggly, so she has to bite from the side)

Giana's first bite

isn't she so cute?!

The Miller's

The Benko's

me and Giana

Kenny and Talia

Taylor, Talia and Giana

the family by the pumpkins--so cute!

Monday, August 22, 2011

Off to Kindergarten

Oh my…how did we get to this day?

My (oldest) baby isn’t a baby anymore.

She’s not a toddler anymore.

She’s not even a preschooler anymore.

She’s a Kindergartner.

Talia, you’ve grown up so much! Not just in the obvious physical ways, but you are a girl now. No traces of babyhood or toddlerhood are left in you. You’re a girl now.

So many new adventures await you in school. When you walk out of those doors in June, you will have learned so many things that you had no idea about as you walked in the doors today. And even when you finish Kindergarten, there’ll be even more to learn. There will be so many books to read, so many words to write, so many math problems to solve.

I pray for you this school year, Talia–that you’ll grow smarter in mind and stronger in heart. And through all of this growing that you’ll grow closer to God and that you will feel his love for you in new ways.

Enjoy every day, little one. You were probably more ready for this step of the journey today than I was. I sit here crying and typing while you’re frolicking and chatting. You’ll get me through this somehow.

I can’t wait to hug your little girl body when you leave school every day. I can’t wait to hear all about everything you do each day.

I’m so proud of you, my Kindergartner.

Friday, August 12, 2011

So that my brother doesn't delete my blog...

SORRY that I have not been blogging. Summer is always very busy and the girls are up later and that means less time for me (if that is possible) and therefore, less time doing things I like to do--like blog about our adventures. So before Eugene deletes my blog from his bookmark bar (like he told me he was going to do...), I am going to try to update you all on important April-August happenings. Have fun!

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Wisconsin Dells-2011

We headed back to the Dells again this year for a couple of days with Grandma Lynne. Auntie Diane was supposed to be with us, but was unfortunately in the hospital. We stayed at the Polynesian and the girls had a great time.

Giana loved the little baby swings

Talia loved the slides and even tried a big tube slides

Going out to dinner

We had a nice few days away...hope to go back to the Dells again next year.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Sweet and Sassy

A few of my friends from my Tuesday playgroup decided to have a great "girl" day at Sweet and Sassy in Oak Brook. The girls got their hair, nails and make up done, and all had a great time! Here are some pics from the day--so cute!

here's a before shot: