Monday, July 27, 2009

The trips we've taken in the past 2 months:

The past two months have been super busy, we've tried to cram everything in, because our thinking is, this is our last summer here, so we need to see everything that's within driving distance while we're here. So we have. And it's been crazy. Ok, maybe not everything, but a lot. So here are the trips, and later I'll post the fun things, (and our trip this past weekend to Nauvoo for Pioneer Day), that we've done here in Champaign.
(Believe it or not, there are fun things to do here!)


For Father's Day, we went to Indianapolis for the weekend. We left Champaign while the tornado warning sirens were going off, and as soon as
we got into our hotel room in downtown Indy, the sirens started going off again. The tornado had followed us there, and the whole time driving we had some crazy weather. But the next day turned out beautiful and we had a great time! We went to the NCAA Hall of Champions and the Zoo, where they had a great dolphin show! Unfortunately, shortly after arriving at the zoo, in the middle of the dolphin show, our camera died. But we still had fun!
The dolphin show
The bears

The monkeys (Audrey's favorite)

Playing at the Hall of Champions
On the bridge connecting the Zoo to downtown
For the 4th of July weekend, we went to Springfield with some friends for Lincoln's 200th birthday celebration. It was so awesome, visiting the places where Lincoln had been, he was such a great man. We had a great time with our friends, even if the fireworks did get rained out on the 4th. We ended up coming home early on Sat and had a indoor BBQ at our place, complete with sparklers, and the next day they did the fireworks. Luckily, we could see the fireworks from our backyard, so it worked out perfectly!
Lincoln's tomb

Outside of Lincoln's tomb (it's really impressive)

"Lincoln" giving a speech on the steps of the old capitol
(Steve was experimenting with our camera)

Our family with Lincoln

The Ladies of our group with Lincoln and Mary Todd
l-r: Me and Audrey, Melanie and Paige, Stephanie and Ellis

Our group on the lawn of the Old Capitol watching the totally awesome laser show
(I'm a bit sacrcastic :) I think the laser show was made in the 90's, but the Cold Stone ice cream made it totally worth it) It really was fun

Standing in front of Lincoln's house

The exact desk in the exact place in Lincoln's room that he wrote "A House Divided" on

Watching the fireworks on our lawn


Steve's a co-pres, with our friend James, of the Federalist Society in the Law School, and as a result, he was able to go back to D.C. for a Federalist convention, and had a great experience!


He met Orrin Hatch, a Federalist Soc. member

and Justice Clarence Thomas, of the Supreme Court, also a Federalist
Our friends, Greg and Katie, invited all of us law school friends to go camping at Greg's parents' farm in Northern IL, and let me just say, it was Awesome! His family has this huge farm (that's been in his family since the mid-1800's), and in the middle of the corn fields, they have this grove of trees with this large field mowed down where you can camp. Greg and Katie planned and did everything, the food, games, and even fogged the place so there were no bugs. It was completely perfect! Thanks so much you guys, we had a blast!
Daddy, Auston, and James playing some 'tunes 'round the campfire

Mommy and Audrey

Ring around the rosy....

We all fall down!

Taking a walk through the grove

Swimming at Greg's parents' house, the perfect way to end a camping trip

Holding Auston and our friends' baby, Liam

Playing basketball
(I think Audrey's about to commit a flagrant foul)


Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Utah: Part Two...

So big! Swinging at Gma and Gpa Rogers' house


Riding Lady, my parent's sheep, she is so sweet, Auston loved her! Muttin' Bustin' here we come! (It's where all the little kids ride sheep at the beginning of Strawberry Days Rodeo in PG, in case you were wondering)
Swinging at Gma and Gpa Ririe's house
Gpa Ririe

We went to Gardiner Village with our friends, Andrew and Missy, and the kids loved the petting zoo!


We went to Idaho falls for Dave (Steve's brother) and Britten's sealing. It was so beautiful, Congrats you guys! Here are 10 of the 13 grandkids:
Audrey with Taylor and Hailey
(poor Hailey broke her leg, but she got to get a cute pink cast)


We were able to stop in Rexburg and see my brother Seth and his cute family
l-r: Audrey, Paige, Auston, Ethan, Cole, Olivia, and baby Hazel

Yellowstone and all the buffalo


Old Faithful


The Stroller Brigade at Yellowstone:
Auston, Hailey, Taylor, and Audrey

Monday, June 1, 2009

Here's what we've been up to...Part One...(warning: lots of pics!)

This past month has been pretty busy, with Steve doing finals, getting together with friends before everyone leaves, and then going to Utah for two weeks. Busy but so much fun! (Except for the finals part :) ) Oh, and our anniversary was thrown in there also, which was fun too :) Here are some pics of all the fun we've been having!


We had a BBQ with the J. Reuben Clark Law Society (the LDS students) at Prof. Stancil's house. We're really going to miss all of our friends, the Parrys, Andersons, Logsdons, Watkins, and Gutkes, who have graduated and are moving away to start their real-life adult lives :) Congratulations everyone!Here's a picture of our last girls night out all together. Every week we'd get together for a movie night and/or craft night, and we had so much fun!
Playing on the computer: Laney, Auston, and Audrey
Steve's up-to-bat in the law school softball tourny
Watching Daddy play softball, one of our favorite things :)(It was a long day)
Where's Auston and Audrey?
Caught ya!

Little Miss Cool
Just like his dad, he can sleep anytime, anywhere!
UTAH
After arriving in Utah, we went swimming at our neighbor's pool and we had so much fun!
Audrey found the googles and loved having them on! She didn't even try to take them off :)
For Steph's (Steve's sister) husband Spencer's birthday, we went to Crown Burger and a Bee's game in Salt Lake, and had a blast! Here are the four cousins who were born within six months of each other: Audrey, Hailey, Auston, and Taylor. They're quite the troublemakers when they all get together!
Audrey couldn't stop dancing, everytime a little clip of music came on, she'd start shaking! It was pretty darn cute when her cousin Taylor joined in!


With Aunt Stephy
The Pink Ladies: Hailey, Gma Rogers, and Audrey
There will be more pictures to come in the next couple of days. Our camera broke, so since I don't have any pictures besides the ones from our trip, I'm trying to stretch these out till we get a new one. Recommondations on which camera to get?