Summer is Over and Fall Fun Has Begun

As I tend to say in each blogpost, "these past few months have went by so very quickly."  The months of August and September have been no different.  During the month of August Amber was home with London for most of the month.  It was nice to have a lot of time to spend with London before the craziness of the new school year began.

On August 2nd John and Amber attended the wedding of a family friend (Lauren and Evan) in Milwaukee.  The wedding was a beautiful affair and we had fun catching up and dancing.   While Mom and Dad were away London stayed home with Auntie Michelle for a girls day.  They went to visit Auntie Michelle's school, saw some friends and went shopping.  After the wedding Amber's Mom, Stepdad and Grandma came to Janesville for a weekend visit where we went to the Farmer's market and out for lunch downtown and enjoyed the breeze and sunshine out on the deck.

John and Amber at Lauren and Evan's Wedding.

London all ready for her girls day with Auntie Michelle.

On Sunday August 4th we headed to Milwaukee to take London to her very first Brewer Game.  The Brewers won and it was a beautiful day.  John, Amber, London and Becky all had a very good time!  That night we stayed over in Milwaukee at Uncle Adam and Becky's new apartment and although Becky had to work the next day John, Amber, London and Uncle Adam all headed to the Wisconsin State Fair.  It was a very fun day of seeing the animals, eating great fair food and looking for treasures in the Expo Center.  We all headed home to Janesville exhausted!

Amber, John and London at London's first Brewer Game!

Brewers Win!

London being a happy corn cob at the Wisconsin State Fair.

John and London listening to music at the fair.

Practicing her football skills at the fair.

London loved looking at the animals at the fair.

The next week in August we relaxed a bit at home and during that week London began to officially crawl.  It is amazing to see first hand how much your child grows and how much pride you feel in your heart when you see them successfully learn a new skill.  She's such a natural at moving around now that she's getting into trouble all the time!

The next week Amber and London traveled to Appleton to visit Great-Grandma Betty, Mom Diane and Stepdad Steve.  They also got to spend time with cousin Riley and a large group of family friends.  On the way home from Appleton we meet up with John and Michelle in Madison and after Michelle, Amber and some other friends visited the Wollersheim Winery for a tour and tasting we all headed to Michelle's friend Hywania's pool for a nice swim.

In Appleton watching Riley's swim lesson.

Enjoying the pool with Grandma Diane.

Pulling herself up to stand (this is the second time she ever did this, the first time was the night before in the bathtub...)

Ready for a swim with Auntie Michelle.

Swimming in Hywania's Pool.

The ladies after the wine tour and tasting.

The following weekend we headed up to Stevens Point.  London spent the night with Grandma Mary and Grandpa Mike while John and Amber headed to Eric and Samantha's Wedding in Wausau, WI.  We had a great time catching up with our old college friends and Eric and Sam make such a wonderful couple.  London had a fun day with Grandma Mary visiting Auntie Jeanette and going on walks.  Unfortunately for London and Grandma Mary though London's top two teeth decided to come through that night and London was not the best sleeper that night for Grandma.  The next day we all headed over to Greg and Ellen Kaye's to have brunch and visit for a bit before heading home to Janesville.

Amber and John at Eric and Samantha's Wedding.

Amber and Jen catching up at the wedding.

John, Greg and Briton at the wedding.

London and Grandma Mary.

London trying out her new toy from Auntie Jeanette.

The next week Amber officially started back at work for the 2013-2014.  This is the year that she will get a music room and although conditions are cramped for the beginning of the school year once the new wing is ready to move into the 7 and 1/2 year wait for a room will be over!  Back to work means that Jen (our sitter) and her girls Ale and Brooklynn get to spend time in the afternoons with London which London just loves!  We are so lucky that our daughter is so loved!

During Labor Day weekend we went out to dinner with Michelle and the VanDenLangenberg's and then went to see the Aqua Jays Ski Show on the Rock River and afterwards there was a great fireworks display.

Amber, John and London waiting for the ski show to start.

John, Michelle and London waiting for the ski show to start.

The next weekend Amber and John headed down to Chicago to attend Jen and Jimmy's Wedding (John's cousin is Jimmy).  While we headed to Chicago, London stayed in Janesville and Grandma Diane, Great-Grandma Betty and Cousin Riley came down from Appleton to babysit.

Michelle, John, Amber and Mikey heading out to see Jimmy and Jen get married.

Jimmy and Jen saying their "I Do's."

Amber and John at the reception.

Today we headed to a pumpkin patch and farm in Fort Atkinson, WI for London's first farm/pumpkin patch experience.  She had a great time going through the corn maze, petting the animals and picking out her favorite pumpkin.  We are all excited for even more fun fall activities to come in these next few months!

London standing by the bee hay bale.

A baby goat eating London's pants.

London petting a 1 month old kitten.

London picking out her favorite pumpkin.

The perfect pumpkin for our perfect pumpkin!

I think that's all for now.  Until next time, Go Pack Go!

London's 8 Month Photo.

London's 9 Month Photo.

Sweet Summertime

It's hard to believe that August is just around the corner.  As with most of this year the months of June and July have gone by quickly and eventfully.  Amber officially finished the school year on June 11th and then started Summer School on June 14th.  Summer School will be finished tomorrow (July 31st) and although it's always nice to teach something new, she teaches 1st Grade Math during Summer School, and the hours are shorter it will be nice to have just less than a month to get ready for next school year.

During Father's Day weekend we headed to Stevens Point for John to participate in a golf outing with friends.  They won the outing and we spent the rest of the weekend relaxing and spending time with John's parents.

London with Grandma Mary and Grandpa Mike in Stevens Point

London with John and Uncle Mikey in Stevens Point

The next weekend we traveled to Appleton for Amber's Mom's Wedding.  Diane was married to Steve on Sunday June 23rd in Menasha, WI.  The wedding was beautiful and we had a great day of celebrating with friends and family. 

Diane and Steve are officially married.

Four generations of first born women (Betty, Diane, Amber and London)

The Okray Family

The whole group (Amber, John, London, Steve, Diane, Adam, Betty and Becky)

The day after Diane and Steve's Wedding John, Amber, London, Betty, Adam and Amber's cousin Riley headed to Green Bay to spend time with Amber's cousin Jodi, her kids Abby and Brynna, Amber's Godmother Janet and husband Dick and Amber's cousin Leanne and son Alex.  We went to Bay Beach for the day and had a blast!  London went on her very first carousel ride and train ride.

London and Mom on the pink elephant on the carousel.

Dad, Mom and London on the train.

Mom and London on the train.  She loved it!

While we were in Green Bay we set up a photo session with Paul for London's 6 month pictures as well as some family pictures.  Here are just a few:

The very next weekend the church near our house put on it's yearly Freedom Festival.  They have an amazing fireworks display that they set off in the field across the street from our new home.  Michelle came down to Janesville for the night and we had amazing front row seats and as always the fireworks were great.  London loved the fireworks!  She was mesmerized by them.

London and Auntie Michelle at Freedom Fest.

London, Mom and Dad waiting for the fireworks to start.

Freedom Fest Fireworks.

London's first fireworks!

On July 4th we celebrated our 4 year wedding anniversary.  We spent the day with friends Melissa and Andy and their daughter Abbie and headed to Milton to see the 4th of July parade.  After an afternoon rest we headed out with friends Ladd and Betsy for dinner at El Jardin (a tradition of ours).  All in all it was a very nice anniversary.

Abby and London at the parade (it was hot in the sun)

London waving her American Flag at the parade.

The next weekend Amber and London headed to Appleton.  London stayed with Great-Grandma Betty and Grandma Diane while Amber headed to Green Bay to spend some time with her St. Norbert College music girl friends.  It was Amber's first night away from London and everything went very well and as always "us girls" had a wonderful time!

Mallory, Amber, Justin, Cristina and Amie

This past weekend Amber traveled with London and Michelle to Burr Ridge, IL for John's cousin Jen's bridal shower.  It was a nice "girl getaway" and London behaved very well.  She got to meet a lot of people for the first time and it was nice to catch up with the cousins.

London with Grandma Mary and Great Grandma Antoinette

London with Great Grandma Antoinette

Jen and Jimmy with Great Grandma Antoinette and some of the cousins.

When Amber and London got back from Burr Ridge John, Amber and London all headed to the Rock County 4H Fair.  We had fun listening to the Beloit-Janesville Symphony Orchestra, seeing the animals and having some yummy fair food.

London looking at the baby pheasants.

London listening to the orchestra.

John, Amber and London listening to the orchestra.

London and Daddy at the fair.

During these past two months we have seen London grow up so much.  She is getting very close to crawling and as soon as that happens everyone better watch out!  Here are London's 6 and 7 month pictures:

Until next time.  Go Pack Go!