Hailey @ 10 Months Old

Dan

Dan thinks there’s a better way to label these posts to make sure it’s clear how old Hailey is and what timeframe we are describing.  So just to be clear, Hailey hit the 10 month mark on 7/12, so here are our observations and memories from when she was 9 months old 🙂 Our smiley […]

Read More

A Prayer for Owen Meany

elaine

It has taken me most of this year to get through this one, simply because of it’s length and my lack of free time. I read about a third of this, another fabulous work by John Irving, via paperback, about a chapter on my Kindle, and the rest I listened to via the audio recording, […]

Read More

Red Beard Irish Ale

Dan

This is meant to be an easy drinking, well balanced red with a little extra color to show it off.  The Carared is the namesake. Ingredient rundown: American 2 row for economy (so maybe this is actually an American red…) Carared for a deep red color and to add a little body and malt aroma […]

Read More

Independence Day

elaine

Hailey’s first Independence Day was spent at a play date in the morning and at Cameron’s first birthday/Independence Day party.  I have never seen so many coordinating babys, toddlers, and kids.  This was quite a sight for the newer parents in the group since we all realized this is what our social lives for the […]

Read More

Cedar plank grilled pesto salmon

Dan

This is by far one of our favorite dishes.  It is simple, easy and delicious. 3/4 lbs salmon fillet (with skin) 4 oz pesto (we cheat and use Christopher Ranch brand store bought pesto) 1 cedar plank Coarse salt and fresh ground pepper Soak the cedar plank in water for at least one hour. Preheat […]

Read More

Iron House

elaine

My book club pick for the year was Iron House, by John Hart.  I picked this book in a quick Meijer run at about 6 AM back in December when Hailey decided it was time to rise early on a Sunday. I had heard of the author, and his last name stood out in my memory […]

Read More

Hailey @ 9 Months Old

elaine

Here we are again, right on the cusp of the next month, trying to remember the prior month.  If it weren’t for phone cameras and Facebook, we would not have any idea when Hailey did what. Metrics Height: 26 1/4″, 25% Weight: 16 lb. 7 oz., 25% Head Circumference: 17″, 25% We have been a […]

Read More

Hailey @ 8 Months Old

elaine

Hailey has become much more willful in her 7th month. She’s learning how to express what she wants and what she doesn’t want to do. Crying has changed from a signal that something is wrong, to an indication that she wants something. The upside to this is that  nothing makes you feel better in the […]

Read More
Life

Derby 2013

elaine

This has been a fun Derby week for the Hart family.  It is weeks like this that remind us how much this town as grown on us. Elaine and Hailey headed to Dawn at the Downs Wednesday morning with the work crew, enjoying breakfast at Millionaires row and then watching the horses work out on […]

Read More

Hailey @ 7 Months Old

elaine

What a big month for our baby girl!  She now sits, crawls (3/30, 6.5 months), and pulls up.  This all happened about halfway through the month, right after they occasionally started putting Hailey in the bigger infant room at day care.  I think she wanted to be like the bigger babies and get her move […]

Read More

Roadtrip North

elaine

Hailey’s first trip to Mundelein finally came in April.  We had postponed a couple of times due to our streak of illness.  Our trip was definitely a roadtrip because it involved an overnight stay in Lafayette due to Elaine’s crusty eyes.  Then we had a couple extra nights in Mundelein due to Dan’s GI bug. […]

Read More

Duck Wheat Ale

Dan

With this, I am attempting to stay as close to a true Witbier as possible.  The only divergence from the “standard” is adding a little more bitterness with hops.  This should get me closer to my goal of a “chewy” wheat beer. Tasting notes: This turned out great!  On a hot summer day, with a […]

Read More

Wild

elaine

This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys “finding yourself in your 20s” stories or who really loves hiking.  Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail is such a genuine work and you just can’t help but like this chick.  It makes me want to hoist my backpack and hit the trails.

Read More

Hailey @ 6 Months Old

elaine

Half a year down for our little one.  This just gets more fun as each month goes by, even with a sick baby.  All we’ve been doing is exchanging random illnesses since February.  I think Mom and Dad have had it worse.  Little Hay-Bug is much less bothered by it all.  The poor little girl […]

Read More

Hailey @ 5 Months Old

elaine

Five months down.  Here’s the latest on Hay-Bug: It is so fun to think about all of Hailey’s mundane firsts and superlatives: the coldest day she’s ever experienced, her first fire drill, her first time getting kicked out of a bar, etc. All along, Dan and I have really had to resist the urge to […]

Read More

Double Cross

elaine

I read James Patterson’s Double Cross since I have this obsession with crime/serial killer books.  But I’ve gotta say, I would much rather read something with a little more flair in the writing.  Any recommendations on good crime reads?  I have enjoyed the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series as well as Darkly Dreaming Dexter, […]

Read More