Lincoln Park Zoo

We went to the Lincoln Park Zoo on Saturday and boy, was it fun...and FREE....(except for astronomical parking, but that is besides the point) This zoo is awesome. It was great weather and Ryann is at that magical age where she absolutely loves animals. We spent a little more than 4 hours roaming the zoo from end to end. We had a Blast and I am so glad we went. Our time in Chicago is coming to an end and I feel like we really have made the most of it. We really have loved our time here.It was so good for our little family. We feel so incredibly Blessed for this opportunity. What a Fantastic city! The only thing left on our list of things to do is a CUBS game..which we are going to on April 27 for Mark's 30 Birthday:)

Here are some pics of us enjoying our day at the zoo...








The meerkats...my favorite

Ryann, trying to wake up a sleeping aardvark

When Ryann was a baby, I never was told that Ryann looked like me. Everyone said she looked exactly like Mark.I agreed, she did. I still think she looks more like Mark. However, it is nice to now see more and more of me in her...like our hair color...my natural color (have not had my hair highlighted in about 2 years,trying to embrace the fact that I really am a brunette)Here we are, admiring a giraffe and an ostrich

Ryann and her love for fish

Sweet Smiles

At the store yesterday, the check-out man asked Ryann how old she was. Ryann replied, "I am sixteen." WHAT?!? Where did she get that? I realized later, that we watched parts of Sleeping Beauty recently and Princess Aurora says she is 16. Her interchange with the kind man reminded me that time is passing WAY too quickly. Sometimes I would like it to stop and she can be my cuddly 3 YEAR OLD. Forever.

5 Things...

5 THINGS I AM LOVING RIGHT NOW...

1. Ryann and her love for Taylor Swift: Yes, I realize Ryann is three, not 13, but she already has an affinity towards Taylor Swift. I, too, heart Taylor and went through a period where I listened to her cd on repeat for about a month. I had no idea what kind of affect that had on Ryann UNTIL...we were playing with playdough and Ryann holds up a piece of playdough to her ear and sings in toddler speak,"she's on the phone, it's a typical Tuesday night..."hahaha. Everytime we hear a Taylor Swift song on the radio, Ryann says (not prompted, I swear): "That's Taylor Swift, she's my girl."

Ryann in her TSwizzle shirt she got from her Aunt Sarah for her birthday.


2. The Duggar Family: say what you will...I know they are controversial...yada yada yada...I ABSOLUTELY love them. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. I love every single episode and think they are the nicest people on the planet...next to my sister. I talk to Mark ALL the time about them (which he loves (insert sarcasm)) and create scenarios in my head in which I could meet them. sad,I know. I am in awe of how they present themselves in the media and how they represent their unwavering Faith.

I love that Dolly is with the Duggars in this one...love both so much!!


3. Sunday School Toddler Crafts
A recent conversation with Ryann while looking at her craft (pictured below)
me: "Oh, Ryann, I love your craft...what did you learn about today?"
Ry: "Esau, Jacob, and Isaac"
me (bursting with pride over the fact that Ryann just named three characters from the OT): "Wow, are those three people Esau, Jacob, and Isaac?"
Ry: "No, they are you (pointing to the hairy one), me, and Prince Charming (mark)"
me (pride bubble busted)

me (esau), ryann (isaac), and dad (jacob)


4. TRADER JOE's: this grocery store is the bomb. OBSESSED. Delicious and affordable. Yum Yum, we love everything about it. Dallas NEEDS one STAT.



5. A date with Mark on April 23: We are going to be in Seattle by OURSELVES April 23 for a job interview and I am so giddy that we get to go on an actual date sans Ryann. A huge thank you goes out to my gracious parents for making the trip up here to watch Ryann while I accompany Mark to Seattle. Don't get me wrong,we absolutley love our daugther to pieces, but we have missed having the occassional meal by ourselves. I think I will actually wear a dress...watch out.

Tourist Fun

One of my favorite pictures of Ryann to date. Totally captures her personality!

The last full day my family was here, we ventured into the city again. We enjoyed an Architecture Boat tour of Chicago that was fabulous. Chicago really is such a Beautiful city.





After the boat tour, we enjoyed lunch at the Navy Pier


Looking at the sites on the way back to the train

Birthday Girl (um, I mean princess)

Ryann's Birthday is April 4, same day as Easter this year...which made the day super duper special. We love our little 3 year old so very much. She is such a creative little lady, who wants to be called a different princess name every day. One day she is Cinderella, the next Snow White, etc. True,this gets very very old...However, Mark is always "Prince Charming" and I am usually, "Your Highness" (which never gets old) We cherish our little princess so very much and are enjoying seeing her grow up before our eyes...way. too. fast. She has a tender heart and an amazing memory. She has committed several Scripture Verses to memory and I cannot wait for her to "get" what a lot of these verses mean. She is truly a gift.
Hard to believe that this teeny tiny baby...

...Is now this Little 3 year old GIRL

Here are some pictures from our fun-filled day:
I started a new tradition this year. I hid all of the wrapped presents,decorations/balloons from Ryann. After she was asleep on her birthday eve, I decorated our little one room kitchen/living space. Her face when she entered the room the next morning was so precious. She actually did a dramatic gasp and said, "For, me!?" So cute. Think I will do that every year now.





After a great Easter service,(side note: this small, sweet church we are visiting here really has the warmest people we have EVER encountered, has taught/convicted me a ton on how to treat visitors...will blog about this later)we boarded an East bound train to downtown.
Once we got there, we had her Birthday lunch at Giordano's Pizza
Ryann, trying really really hard to hold up 3 fingers





After our pizza lunch, we walked the long walk to the aquarium, taking in all the city sites along the way.BEAUTIFUL day.





The Shedd Aquarium was really unbelievable. It had beluga whales, sea lions, tons of sharks, penguins, etc. However, we had a hard time tearing Ryann away from this one:


Ryann loved her Birthday Easter cookies



A foreshadowing of Ryann as a thirteen year old


Ryann enjoyed opening all her gifts


Tired Princess Mommy


Finally,Princess Mark got to open his present from my parents

Thank you

My family(minus Sara and Jason, who were missed terribly)came to see us this past weekend.It was the perfect weekend to come because it was Easter and Ryann's Birthday. We had such a great time and we are so thankful for them making the long trek up here. I needed the visit from loved ones, thanks so much for the fun time and for your loving encouragement.


Thank You, Tiko


Thank You, Lulu


Thank You, Pappy

Saturday in the Park

These are pictures of Ryann playing at Grant Park. We are so incredibly thankful for our little girl. Her adaptability and acceptance of Change has blessed us beyond belief.God has given us such a special gift. Hard to believe she will be 3 years old one week from today!