Donuts Please!!!

We love the Corvallis Farmers Market. We always find the best fruits & veggies. And the girls like to enjoy the donuts...yummy!!!

Oregon Bound

It's vacation time...yippee!!! Our annual summer family vacation is underway. Let's bring on lots & lots of Oregon summer fun!!! Papa & Nana we'll see you soon!!! We "heart" summer time in Oregon :)

The Crab Dance

The Princess Ariel dancers are doing the "crab dance" with Sebastian from the movie The Little Mermaid.  If you look closely there are little crabs on the floor :) So fun!!!

Girls & Goggles

Princess Swimsuit Check!!! Goggles Check!!! Gracie, Josie & Caitlyn are ready for the pool :)  Caitlyn's brother Jake decided he didn't want to pose for a picture with these 3 goofy girls!!!  Our first summer pool outing was so much fun.  We will all sleep good tonight :)

Wrigley Field Suites

I've been going to cubs games since I was a little girl.  And I have sat in many different sections ALL OVER the field.  As a child, I sat in the "Family Section" with my parents.  Out of college, I sat with my girlfriends (and of course my siblings too :) in the bleachers & I was a regular Friday afternoon "Bleacher Bum".  While in the work force, I sat in many "rooftops" with clients which was a unique experience to watch the game on a rooftop outside the field.  And now I share season tickets with my brother & sister.  But last night, I experienced a first...I sat in the WGN Private Suite right outside homeplate.  What an amazing view of my favorite field. And I finally experienced the most talked about dessert cart that I always remember watching go by as I peered up to the suites as a little girl.  The chocolate cake, carrot cake & peanut butter cup popcorn certainly did not disappoint me.  Thanks to my friend Whitney who's hubby works for WGN & got us into the suite.  This cubby girl has almost seen it all :)  World Series...yes, I'm still hopeful :)

Ballet Camp

It's week 3 of summer vacation & Gracie & Josie are doing a dance camp together.  Josie is especially excited to go to camp with her big sister this week. And her friends Ellie, Siena & Linden are joining them.  Gracie is beyond excited to take the lead on helping them with their dance moves.  The theme is Ariel & Tropical Fun....an absolutely perfect theme for the start of summer!!!   So they are dressing up as Ariel & dancing to songs from the movie The Little Mermaid.  And it's so fun to see them to be in camp together :)

Spares & Strikes

Today we enjoyed a morning of family bowling...nothing like a little family competition :)

Smores Smores Smores

Smores by the fire pit...yummy, yummy, yummy!!!

Summer Slumbering at the Zwiefelhofers

Today we enjoyed a fun-filled summer day with Uncle Joel, Aunt Katina & Cousin Zoey.  The girls enjoyed lots of tire swinging, bubble blowing & water splashing with Zoey's new snake sprinker :)  Hot dogs & chips were a hit for dinner. Along with pink lemonade with fancy umbrellas in the cup!!!  What a fun day for all :)

Friday Summer Fun

Slip-in-slide, hot diggity dogs & ice cream cups...another fun friday at Jens' House :)  We are loving all the summer fun!!!

21st Century Girls

One of the dances they learned this week :)

Go, Fight, Win

Week 2 of summer kicks off with Dance/Cheer Camp for Gracie with some of her friends.  Ms. Schwinnen who teaches 3rd grade & who also use to dance/cheer for the Chicago Bulls Luvabulls is teaching the camp at school.  What a great way to get into the school spirit & practice teamwork.  The girls have been learning cheers, making banners & creating cheerleading journals all week.   And she has been practicing her cheers & dances too in anticipation for today's final performance for the parents.  Go get em' Gracie :)

Bon Voyage Claire

Tonight we went out to celebrate our friend Claire.  Five years ago, we were all brought together by our first borns.  Oh the memories we have together over the years.  Our "Mommy Night Outs" won't be the same without you but we look forward to a our first "Mommy Night Out" in the future in San Francisco.

The Big Performance

Choreography by Gracie Rothleutner

Schubert Steet Band

Our beach day got rained out but it wasn't a total washout. The girls decided to play dress up & form a band with their favorite friends Ellie & Sloane.  Now introducing...The Schubert Street Band :)

Bunk Beds...Take 2

It's bedtime & Gracie requested a few more pictures of their new bunk beds.  And she wants to make sure that I get the new bedding too. Oh this is so exciting for them!!!  Sleep well girls :)

Roof Top Fun

Today after Gracie's swim lesson, we enjoyed hot dogs, chips & smoothies on the roof deck at the club.  The girls also enjoyed some play time on the new outside kids space :) We love Chicago!!!

Encore Swimming

Showing off her front & back stoke too :)

Our Little Swimmer...7 Weeks Later

Wow...out little swimmer has sure progressed the past 7 weeks.  And she absolutely loves swimming too & is fearless in the water. I can't believe how long she can hold her breath. Today on the way to her lesson, she thanked me at least 3 times for letting her take swim lessons.  Her swim teacher says we may have a future swimmer in our family :)  Go Gracie & keep up the good work!!!

Bunk Beds!!!

After being on back order for almost 2 months...today was the big day as the bunk beds were finally delivered around lunch time...yay!!!   Even though I told Josie they'd be coming sometime before her nap (you gotta love the 2 hour delivery window) she must have asked me about every 5-10 minutes when they were going to arrive :) Thankfully Gracie was at dance/cheer camp so she wasn't around to ask me too.  The girls were VERY excited about their new beds.  And they played for hours this afternoon in their NEW ROOM & they were even ready to go to bed early!!!  Ohhh it's so fun to have a new bedroom :)  I can only imagine all the fun that's ahead.

The Three Ariels

90+ degees in Chicago...a perfect day to enjoy the pool at the neighbors.  Thanks Mandy for a very fun time & I love that our little princesses are all were wearing their Ariel Swimsuits :)

Starbucks Who?

Who needs Starbucks when you have your own little Barista at home :) And she makes the best vanilla lattes too!!!

Happy Father's Day

We love you daddy!!! Love...Gracie & Josie

Friday Sangria Soiree

My friend Jen hosted the first of many Friday Sangria Soiree's as we decided to call it.   Her backyard is set up with multiple pools, water tables, a sand box & lots & lots of bubbles.  And while the kiddies play, we catch up on our week with a glass of Sangria.  What a fun way to spend a Friday afternoon with some of my favorite friends. 

Friday Playday

Josie & her friend William enjoying donut holes & playing house in the backyard playhouse. How cute are they!?!?!  They were having quite a conversation too but of course stopped talking when I walked up....ooohh if I only knew what they were talking about :)

We love you daddy!!!

One last "squeeze" for daddy's birthday :)

Happy Birthday Daddy

Since Daddy was traveling for work on his birthday, we celebrated his birthday today.  We surprised him with lots of decorations & yummy cupcakes. In his favorite colors pink & purple :)  The girls each got to pick out a balloon for daddy.  Gracie picked out a blue one that said "Happy Birthday".  Josie insisted on a Strawberry Shortcake balloon because as she put it "She can have it when daddy is done with it!!!"  Smart girl :)   We took daddy to dinner at one of his favorite restaurants Sapori.  Happy Birthday Daddy!!!

Lincoln Park Zoo Camp

Today was the first day of Lincoln Park Zoo camp.   Gracie is very excited to go to the zoo every day this week to learn all about some of her favorite animals.  First up, they get to watch the trainers feed the seals...oh so fun!!!  She is also very excited about her camp t-shirt, camp backpack & special camp water bottle :)  She's doing it with several of her friends so it's sure to be a very good time. Pictured above is Gracie & her friend Finley who only lives a few blocks away from us so we get to walk to camp together.  So fun to live so close to the Lincoln Park Zoo!!!

The Girls Scream For Ice Cream

The perfect ending to the weekend...chocolate ice cream!!!

Princess Pool

90+ degrees in Chicago today = perfect day for a pool party!!! So while at Target I told the girls they could each by one new toy for the pool.  And we came home with a princess pool so all of our princesses & princess barbies would have their own pool to swim in :)  Smart negotiating skills by my girls since we already have 2  pools!!!  But how could I resist...it's adorable isn't it!?!?! And ALL the princesses enjoy splashing in it too.  It was well worth it :)

The Finale

Great job little kitty cat dancers :)