Happy Fathers Day!!

The Father's Day weekend extravaganza was simply amazing. Everything began on Friday night with a trip to Ravinia to see the Doobie Brothers. I should say hear, instead of see, as we don't sit in the pavilion, but choose to sit on the lawn and picnic. Emily had a great time and so did I. They played a great set. We went with our friends Mary & her daughter Katie, and while we were there, ran into some other friends. If you have ever been to Ravinia that is pretty impressive, if you haven't you probably don't care, however to offer some perspective, the Pavilion seats 3200, the lawn seats quite a few more. It should also be noted that Emily started working on her second tooth during the afternoon, and that continued into the early evening while in the car going to Ravinia.

Saturday dawned bright and beautiful, and we were all up very early because our first Daddy/Daughter swimming lesson started at 8:00 am and we didn't want to be late. We got Emily ready and headed off to the Centre of Elgin for our class. There were a lot of people there, and once again we ran into someone we knew, one of our neighbors from down the street was there for an adult class (not a swimming lesson though, I think it was a form of water based exercise). One of the lifeguards started reading off names to split everyone into their respective groups, Emily was the first name called. Most of our class was infants, like Emily, so I am not really sure that anyone "learned" anything but we all had fun playing in the water. After the swimming lesson was over, we had to rush off to make it to the massage appointment that Christa & Emily had made for me to celebrate Father's Day, and make my back feel amazing. Once we were finished there we went home to take shower's, and bath's and get ready for Daddy/Daughter pictures. We would also be taking Emily's official 6 Month portrait. We had a lot of fun at the Picture People and Emily took some great pictures (as usual); she just would not stop smiling the whole time. The only downside was that when we wanted to get pictures of her grabbing her toes she wouldn't do it!! All morning long, even during swimming lessons, Emily was playing with her toes, all afternoon after the pictures she wouldn't let go of them, but during the session . . . toes? what toes? The evening finished with a dinner at Pilot Pete's with Grandma Kathy & Auntie Mandy.

Sunday was another beautiful day. I was able to sleep in until after 10:00, while Christa looked after Emily. Once we finally got moving, we went out to brunch and had a terrific meal. From brunch, we did a little letterboxing and then went to the Brookfield Zoo to visit Joseph's bear and meet a letterboxing friend, FungusWoman, whose letterboxes we had been seeking. We left the zoo a little earlier than expected because it seemed like a thunderstorm was rolling in. We parted ways with FungusWoman, and headed to the car, and then no storm ever showed! That was a real bummer because we were really having fun with FungusWoman, and the zoo was open late and the animals were all really active. That is when the zoo is at its best, oh well, maybe another day.

That was the end of our Father's Day extravaganza, Emily had a doctor's appointment on Monday which we will write about on Friday, see you then. (You know how we like to keep you all in suspense . . . Ha, Ha, Ha!)

"Woo-Hoo, I get to go swimming!! Come on, Daddy, quit standing around and get your suit on!"

Sitting on the wall, waiting to jump in.

Taking a little break, while Daddy listens to the instructor's directions.

Look at Emily go! She's quite the little mermaid.

Floating on her back. Emily really liked this.

Getting a little comforting from Daddy after having swallowed a mouthful of water.

Here we go again, her face is back in the water. She's trying so hard to get that little duck!

She got it!!!! Yay, Emily!!!!

Sitting with Daddy at Ravinia, checking out her new surroundings.

Getting some hugs from our friend, Mary Kennedy.

Hey, what are the odds that we'd see Chewski at Ravinia, not to mention, on the next blanket over?!

We also saw some of Grandma B's friends, the Francois Family (Steve, Sylvia & Sean). Emily was not happy at this moment because her Tylenol was wearing off and her mouth was sore from her SECOND tooth coming in. Poor little girl.

Laying on the blanket, playing with her toys, waiting for it to be time for some more Tylenol.

The Tylenol has kicked in and Emily & Daddy take a little nap before the concert starts. (Notice, Emily has had a costume change. She got all ready for bed so we wouldn't have to change a sleeping baby after the concert.)

Emily & Daddy get their groove on during the Doobie Brothers' set.

"Hey, Daddy, you have a water bottle here. Can I have some?"

"Aunt" Chewski had these really neat clapping hands. Look in the picture below to see why Emily was so enthralled by them.

At the Picture People, we found Emily's pictures on the wall in the frame that they were making last month. How cool?!

The little star (Em-Joy) poses next to her picture.

The photo shoot began with Daddy/Daughter shots. After all, it was Father's Day Weekend.

After the shots with Daddy, Emily told him that he was cramping her style and she wanted some solo shots. If you click on this picture, you can see the 2 (count them 2!) new teeth in this cute little smile.

Tell me she doesn't look like she's up to something in these 2 pictures. . .





Wearing her pretty "Blue for Joseph" dress for her 6 Month photos. She's also laying on one of the blue blankets that would have been Joseph's. We thought that it would be a very neat addition to the 6 Month picture.
Look Grandpa Jerry, she's wearing her bracelet. It's also not falling off this time!



Later, at Grandma Kathy's, Emily gets a manicure.



Now sitting in high chairs (when she's not asleep and in her car seat), Emily made herself very comfortable while Mommy & Daddy ate their brunch at the Apple Villa.




"Pink Monkey" was one of Emily's gifts from Mommy & Daddy at her 6 Month birthday party. Emily liked having her attached to the stroller.




Emily & "Pink Monkey" were having a staring contest. Pink Monkey won because Emily was soon distracted by something that Daddy was doing. Silly Daddy.

Nibbling on the Zebra ribbon on her new tabby blanket that Grandma Kathy made for her. Appropriate ribbon choice, since we were at the zoo.