time flies

that was then...

dec 18, 2005

this is now...

august 25, 2007

stelly loved getting to play with you maddy, syd, and colby! thanks for visiting!

hugs and kisses from us all

big girl bed

this month has been a month of "bigs" for little stelly. big girl potty, big girl panties, big girl bed... and it has made mommy quite sad. i cried like she was leaving for college when we took her crib down.

we decided to opt out on the toddler bed thing and just move her into a twin bed. these are the before lights out pics. as you can see, she's very excited to be in her big girl bed!

and after lights out when we checked on her a few hours later this is how we found her sound asleep...

ain't no party like a detroit party

recently i read an article that told us michiganders to come on and just admit that we like saying we're from metro-detroit b/c it gets a rise from people. the article made me laugh b/c i think how many times after saying where we live, we've gotten the response (and you can imagine the facial expression that goes w/ it), "oh. is it really as bad as we hear it is?"

i must admit when we first moved here i thought i had traveled back in time to an era where bruce springsteen's music was the rage, chunky oak furniture was the decor of choice, and mesh shirts were en vogue. the past five years have made me grow to appreciate this area though and the occasions are less frequent when i double-check the calendar to make sure the year really is 2007 and not 1987.

so, we are kind of proud to say where we live and yes, we must admit, it is fun seeing how people respond. here are a few things we have enjoyed in and about the city and that we submit to nay-sayers as we try to convince them that no, detroit really isn't as bad as they've heard it is...

(why do i start w/ food first?!)

1. andiamo riverfront

2. coach insignia

3. atlas global bistro

4. small plates

5. hockeytown

6. greektown

7. mexicantown (lupitas, el comal, xochimilco...)

8. vicentes cuban food

9. the newly constructed riverwalk

10. campus martius park

11. superbowl XL

12. tastefest

13. belle isle

14. fox theater

15. detroit institute of the arts

16. pistons, tigers, red wings, and even the lions

17. detroit zoo

these are just a few of the things we've enjoyed in the "D." more recommendations of things to see and do in the city from you native detroiters are appreciated too. i know the eastern market is top on our "to do" list before fall.

with aunty jenny at the riverwalk

clown at the arab and chaldean festival in hart plaza making a ladybug wrist balloon for stell

playing in the fountains at the riverwalk in some of our recent visits

with joy and lisa at hart plaza

all grown up?? well, kind of!

here stelly is sporting her new "bob" haircut and going potty on the big girl potty! she has done great and is such a big girl - almost! i guess "big girls" don't usually suck their thumbs, but that's just fine. she's still our baby, after all!