Happy 4th of July!

We had a great time in Chicago! Ava loved it and can't wait to go back!! :)

We drove up on Thursday and checked into our hotel - The Millenium Knickerbocker. It was REALLY nice! Thank you Priceline! The room was pretty small but we managed.



Our friend Jason lives in Chicago so we met up with him and went to eat at The Cheesecake Factory. YUM! Travis even liked it though he didn't get to go to the sushi place. Sorry dear! I'm not 'there' yet with sushi!



Mom and John arrived Friday on the Amtrak and hung out with Ava while we were at the game. :) I officially take TOO many pictures and Travis is officially too tall (or am I too short?). I think I've said this before but it's hard to take vertical pictures of us. Notice his head is usually cut off! (below)

Before we left...Don't you just love Ava's outfit?? And of course, the bow!



Our view from the rooftop...



Some shots from the game...we had a lot of different groups of friends there. We had SOOO much fun!



Happy 4th of July...



We hung out at Kim and Craig's when we got back. Somehow these are the only 3 pics I took--even though I know I just said I officially take too many pictures. hmmmm...

I'm so cute!!!!!!!!

Cousins

Here are the pics from lunch with the cousins. :-) The girls stopped by the house first and we were cracking up at the 3 carseats! So we had to take a picture.

Reddington - Dasani - Ava

The babies and their mommas. :)

Megan - Abi - ME

Megan is married to my cousin though we consider each other cousins and Abi is my cousin. Our other cousin Brock's fiance is also having a baby - due early Sept. Lots of babies in the Bettis fam!

Random...very random

Well, Ava is 5 weeks old today!!! I have been enjoying every minute with her and when I'm sleep deprived I remind myself that soon I'll be at school wishing I was with her. I know I'll enjoy going back to work because I do love my job, but it's going to be hard at first! I can even say I haven't minded doing the housework, keeping the laundry done (giving Trav a break from his 'job' of laundry), and doing housewifey type of things. haha! And really, I can't complain too much in the sleep dept. Since I don't really plan much before 11:00, I can go back to sleep til about 9:00 or so, which I usually do! Last night she slept from midnight to 4:30am and then from 5-8. This was what I was greeted with when I started talking to her in her crib when I went in there. What a sweetie!!!











Yesterday, my Aunt Deb, cousin Abi and her daughter Dasani, and cousin Megan and her son, Reddington came up for lunch. I'll post pics soon! We went to Olive Garden and then did some shopping. Megan had this necklace on from Lisa Leonard online (www.lisaleonardonline.com) and I LOVED it so I just ordered one for me. :) Thanks for the coupon code Meg!!! Mine will say "Our Family Travis Stephanie Ava" I can't wait to get it!

Tonight we are having a date night! My friend Nanci is coming over to babysit. Yay! We're going to see Transformers. Travis has been dying to see it! I liked the first one so I'm sure it'll be good. Then tomorrow I have to finish laundry, pack and prepare for our Chicago trip. We leave Thursday and then have the rooftop Cubs game on Friday!!!!!! It's been planned for MONTHS and I can't wait! Being away from Ava is hard--I have a hard time having fun because I miss her but she'll be with Grandma Holtman in the hotel or out and about in Chi-town. :) Then it's to Kim's pool for the 4th.

Lemonade Stand Pie

This is the YUMMIEST recipe - especially for this hot weather we've been having - (and this is coming from a chocolate lover). I got it from my BFF, Anne.

Lemonade Stand Pie

1/3 c. Country Time Lemonade drink mix
1/2 c. cold water
2 c. vanilla ice cream - softened
1 tub (8 oz) cool whip - thawed
1 Graham Cracker Pie Crust

Place drink mix in bowl. Add water. Stir until dissolved. Add ice cream. Beat with electric mixer on low speed until well blended. Stir in whipped topping. Pour into pie crust. Freeze 4 hours.

Enjoy!!

4 weeks old!

Ava is 4 weeks old already!!! I got the Pottery Barn chair--yay! I love it. Now I can take her pic each month to see how much she's grown. I was cracking up when I took these--she was just hanging out.

"No--I will NOT look at the camera!"

"Oh--ok!"

Bathtime

Ava had her first real bath! She loves it--despite the evil eyes she's giving the camera! hehe! Usually she just lays there enjoying the warm water. :)

Father's Day Pics