Chicago

Luke had the day off work today, so we woke up and decided to take the kids on the train into Chicago for the day.  A great idea in theory, but with two kids in diapers, one nursing baby, and a five-year-old who wanted to make all the decisions, the day was a bit more work than we thought it would be!  Luke and I commented to each other a couple times that it’s more fun going to Chicago without the kids, but we created some memories and the kids did have fun.

Eagerly waiting for the train.

Watching out the window and meeting the conductor.

     

We explored Grant Park and found a nice bench to rest (this was Luke and my favorite part of the day).

The kids played at a playground, we ate hot dogs in the park, and we all cooled off at the splash pad in Grant Park.

And on the way home, Logan and Audrey thought it was the coolest thing to ride on the top of a double-decker train, even if they did have to share a seat.

Summer Shenanigans

Two weeks have past, and by the number of pictures on our camera you’d think it’d been months!  I don’t have the time this evening to give you the full rundown of all the pictures, but here’s just a sampling of some of my favorites.

My brother Darren and sister-in-law Rachel and their girls stopped through on their way from Michigan to St. Louis.  We went to the zoo and the kids played in the slip-n-slide.  Sounds like summer to me!

The next weekend we took a family trip to the beach.

And here’s a few more summer pictures to share:

(In this last one, Audrey found my mascara and thought she’d try it out.  Never a dull moment with her!)

10 months

Double digits?! I can hardly believe it!

Here are some of the new things Emily is doing:

- First word!  Drum roll please…… “Mama” 

She says it when I come into the room or when she wants to be picked up, so I’m claiming it.  After Logan’s first word of “Dada” and Audrey’s first word of “Hi,” I think it was my turn.  :)  I love it!

-She loves to clap her hands.  We think she’s starting to wave.

-She laughs more at Logan than anyone else.

-No teeth yet.  Daddy’s watching for that first one!  I’m still loving her toothless smile.

-Eating stage 2 baby food and just started finger foods (mum-mums and Gerber puffs) which she loves!  So far the only food she doesn’t like is rice cereal.

-Sits like a pro and is content for a half hour or more with a few toys in reach.  She’s a little scared to get out of that sitting position, though.  I think crawling is a ways off yet…

-She is an incredibly easy baby.  So passive, even when her older sister decides to feed her (a whole jar of squash while I stepped out of the room!), or her brother and sister wrestle her, or mommy’s not home to give her a nap in her crib.  She rolls with it.

We love you, sweet Emily!

[Photo credit: The Studio.  Emily’s 9 month pictures]

4th

   Happy Independence Day! 

We went to the Crown Point 4th of July Parade where the kids got full doses of loud fire trucks, candy off the street, marching bands, and heat!

And here’s our flag brownies that Logan and Audrey helped me decorate with blueberries and raspberries.  Yum!

Kindermusik Camp

Logan just finished up a week of Kindermusik Camp, so I thought I’d share a picture.  Logan loved going to camp every morning.  They did an hour of Kindermusik class, a water break, and then an hour of jumping and sliding since it was held at Jump Central, an inflatable jump place.  Much to his mommy’s joy, Logan really enjoyed the music part of the camp.  He came home telling me the difference between a quarter note and an eighth note, recognizing instruments played in music (flute, saxophone, double bass, vibraphone, organ, tambourine, piano), tapping out rhythms, and raving about his teacher, Miss Nancy.  Perhaps there’s a little musician in there after all…