Chicago in June

 At the beginning of June, we packed up and headed to Chi town with some friends for CrossFit Regionals competition.  Tony qualified and our bestie Megan did too.  We left the kids in MN thanks to Tammy keeping them safe at night and over the weekend and our friends the Namo's for taking them for two of the days too.  We were in chicago for about five days, as the competition lasted for three of those days.  Unfortunately, it definitely did NOT go as planned and both Tony and Megan received DNF's (did not finish) for one of the workouts on the first day for different reasons, both involving minor injuries that kept them from performing the task.  Sucked. but we still had a ton of fun walking all around Chicago.

The competition was held at Navy Pier right downtown, so we got a hotel as close as we could so we could walk (without totally breaking the bank at least)

 And we walked A LOT.

 Tony and Megan spitting off the bridge. (just kidding..or am I)

 We stayed right off the Magnificient Mile!  Would have been cooler if any of us really felt like spending time and money on shopping.  But we did see the Burberry store decked out in total Burberry plaid!

 Pretty church.

 Do I really need to explain this?

 We stayed basically across the street from Sprinkles Cupcakes.  Binging ensued. Really only two cupcakes, but still.

 Lobby of our hotel.

 The part of the competition that they got to actually compete in. Jackie

 Notice the sweet name placards that each athlete got.  Yeah, we took 'em home.

It was awesome to explore the city and see some good competition, even if we did spend an extra 4-5 hours hanging at the airport because Spirit airlines is the worst.

May

 May finally gave us some warmer weather to soak in.  Evie celebrated by reenacting The Sound of Music.

We broke out the sunglasses and headed to the great outdoors!

 We got in some activities at the farmers market.  Painting their own flower pots and planting some marigolds!  Too bad that morning happened to be frigid.

 Later that week at the zoo was wonderful!  A big moose came to say hello.

 And Elijah has been honing in his monster truck drawing capabilities.  He's getting pretty good, I'd say.

April

April brought more adventures! The kids and I ventured to VA to visit my family.  They are always excited for the airplane to Papa's house.

 Evie got her own suitcase to pack.

 Walking around old town Manassas.  Evie glammed it up on a sunny day.

 Part of the reason we headed out east was for me to get certified as a CrossFit trainer!  It was fun and went well and I passed the test.  One of the course instructors there that weekend was Camille Leblanc-Bazinet.  This may not mean much to the non CrossFit world, but to those who know about the CrossFit Games, she is a big deal. Elijah was just excited to be in the gym.

While I was in the class, Papa stayed with the kids.  He taught Evie how to play bowling on his phone.  At the end she says "I spared! I spared!" she is very excited.

 We visited the carousel at the zoo! Please take note of Evie waving in her sunglasses again.

 These two.

This guy.

 Evie taught Grandma how to use her camera.

 When we got back, Evie had a late birthday present waiting for her from Aunt Wendy! A cute little cupcake kitchen.

March

 In March, this girl turned 3.

 We had an awesome little party at the gym where we just invited whoever could come, set out a bunch of food, rented a boucy house and called it good.  Also our friend Megan made this crazy amazing cake for Evie which I will proudly admit I ate for breakfast and after dinner and probably around lunch time for the following three days.  and I will take credit for her turning her amazing baking skills into a little side business while she works through school.  Ok maybe not, but lets just say, if anyone that comes to the gym has any sort of celebration, there is a Megan cake there. or no one goes.

It snowed in March. To be expected.

Evie expressed early signs of either hoarding, or some sort of unhealthy emotional relationship with food.  or she just afraid I would eat all the cookies.

February

 So lets do the past months recaps over the next few days.  In feb, we were lucky enough to be invited along to stay with friends in the BAHAMAS! woop.  Needless to say it was beautiful and warm and beachy.  Everything a girl could want in the dead of winter in MN.  We walked on the beach, snuck in to the Atlantis Resort, ate seafood, went swimming and did some workouts.

The kids stayed in MN with Papa Mickey while we escaped the cold!  Evie tried on her big girl underwear.

 Elijah helped me make some valentines for various people (like Daddy, Tammy, and Papa)

 Papa did some magic tricks.

And then we also played at our friends house.  This one is the game where elijah rolls the ball through the tube, they laugh, then he rolls another.

February, we just tried to survive.