It's been a while.....

So it's been a while since I've blogged, mostly because we have been busy getting "back to reality" like my last post said & because I'm trying to take full advantage of the beautiful fall weather here in Minneapolis before winter hits! :/   But here's a little bit of what we've been up to:

Ella continues to grow and become more "active" each day!  She's really determined to crawl, apparently she's decided the army crawl is not as efficient as a regular crawl would be. She's trying to pull up on everything & loves it when we hold her fingers so she can stand like a big girl or jump up & down! She is such a happy and fun baby! Her expressions crack me up! Her smile is infectious! Definitely a mommas girl :)  We started music class last week and she LOVES to shake things now. Maracas, eggs, bottles, keys.....everything gets to "shake shake shake." She has started doing her own laundry, although she prefers to pull it out after I've folded it....but she's learning right? She loves to put on her Sooner gear & cheer for OU! While she can't quite say Boomer Sooner.... Jon is convinced she knows what it means, as she smiles SO big every time we say it!  We recently took Ella on a trip to the local apple orchard where she fell in love with apples (she literally ate one to the core) and to the Como Zoo.  We also joined the Sea Life aquarium at the Mall of America and she loves to look at all the pretty colorful fish!

Morning playtime in our jammies! 

BOOMER SOONER!

Helping with the laundry..... or shake-shake-shaking it all up :)

Look at those teeth :) 

Wild Child--It' a little too early for music class mom! But I'll shake my scarf :) 

I've been busy doing a little bit of everything & enjoying my new mommy friends!!  We've recently decided to try a weekly meal exchange program where we each cook 4-5 portions of 1 meal and then get together at someones house to play and exchanges the meals! Therefore my week of dinners is already done :)  This was our first week- and so far YUM! It's so nice to have such a supportive & encouraging group of new friends! Plus all the little ones love to play, pull, & terrorize each other! Since this is my favorite season- I've decorated for fall and constantly have my pumpkin candles burning! Like I said earlier the weather has been amazing here and the trees are turning beautiful shades of orange, red and yellow! We love taking walks around our neighborhood or around the various lakes!  My craftiness has kicked in and I have taken on the task of making Superhero costumes for the babies in our mommy group! Can't wait to see them all in them! And of course I'm baking up a storm as usual! Pumpkin breads, cookies, chex-mix (Jon is very happy), and trying out new meals! 

Never too early to start her off with an LV :) 

BOOMER SOONER!! 

Fun times at the apple orchard (Ella was less than amused at the tractor ride)

Jon is enjoying his time a the "spa VA" hospital.  (They call it that because the hours are much much much more reasonable-  it's a government hospital)  And we are enjoying being able to see him more! His weekends when he isn't on call are spent playing with us, eating Chex-Mix and watching FOOTBALL! He is a happy man! 

Daddy & Ella at the apple orchard

At the Como Zoo seeing the Polar Bears! 

So that's what the Krazy Kirklands have been up to lately! Never a dull moment for us! We are heading to Chicago tonight to spend a long weekend with friends, for Jon to attend a conference and for mommy & Ella to shop!  Then NaNa comes next week to visit Minneapolis!! Life is good!  

Something tells me she is going to be trouble....

But with this smile I'll forgive her