4!

We welcomed this beautiful girl into our lives 4 years ago today.

She fills my heart with happiness. She loves for me to read her books and then nap right next to her daily. Today, we went swimming and she just started swimming next to me and taking breaths and swimming some more. She's fearless but still so sensitive and wants confirmation that she's doing the right thing or doing a good job.

She is so inquisitive. We talked about not saying "why?" when someone asks her to do something. She said, "okay mom." Later that day she said, "but if you ask me to build a bird house then could I say 'why' because I don't know what you mean?" She is so smart and constantly leaves us looking at each other in amazement. She is the best big sister. She loves Friday night movie night. She loves attention. She loves family night (and really gets on us if we don't have an activity or treat:) And...and...and...and...! We love this girl forever. More birthday pics to come.

Who wouldn't love waking up to a room full of balloons. Credit for balloon blowing to Brad. I had to get that 4 shirt done and wrap some gifts. We started this at 9:45 pm!

Lately, well for a while now, Chloe is obsessed with dance. She takes a free zumba class at our gym and did gymnastics but she has this concept of "ballet" really in her head. So I am teaching her (Thanks Barbie for teaching me the ballet positions and terms) some sweet moves and she teaches me. This day was so funny I had to video it. Somehow she conveyed to me that she wanted to learn a dance and then she kept practicing the dance. She even told me to show it to her a couple of times and then she would do it by herself. See for yourself. I love the curtsey and kisses at the end.

Chicago

What a birthday to remember forever. On Wednesday we went to the airport to pick my mom up for the weekend. Brad and I drove seperate cars because he said he had to go run some errands after we went to dinner and I didn't think anything of it. We got to Steak and Shake and were just ordering when I turned around and saw these two pretty faces. I shrieked with delight, i'm sure. My two cute sisters (wish our Mandy could've come too) came with my mom to give me the ultimate surprise and then during dinner they surprised me again. I was told we would be spending two nights in Chicago together. This was quite the shocker and pleaser to me. I haven't been away from Ezra since he was born and only been away from Chloe once since she was born. Pure awesomeness.

So we spent a couple of days in Bloomington. I think Chloe would've died if she didn't get some Grandma Ruthie time. This way she was the center of attention for two days and then she got all of her dad's attention for the whole weekend.

I really think Chicago is such a fun place to go. And the people are really friendly.

We had to experience a subway ride. And I think I laughed a little too hard when we took a cab and 3 of us jumped in the back and emily had to ride in the front seat. I'm so immature.
We walked and shopped and didn't have a schedule at all.
The view of us and the city in the Bean.
Weber Grill.
We saw a show. This show was awesome. I've been listening to the music on itunes.Another fun restaurant.

I'm glad we got to go to the art museum. Art History was one of my favorite classes I've ever taken.

Love this VanGogh.
I've always loved this painting. And now I have been inspired to start reading Agony and the Ecstacy. It's a big big book about Michelangelo one of my favs.
And then they had to go home and I drove the 2 hours back to Bloomington alone. It was so fun to be with my mom and two wonderful sisters. It meant soooooooooooooo much to me that they would come all this way to spend some time with us. I love when people get to see "our life over here" for a day or a week. Thanks again guys. And my Brad. What a guy. They were walking up the path holding hands when I came home. I met them and saw them holding hands and Chloe skipping and laughing. When she saw me she ran, fast, straight into my hugs.