Recent Activities

Between blizzard snowed-in days, freezing temps, sleepless days & nights, here are pics of some of the fun we've been having (click on the pics to enlarge):

Kohl Museum playdate with Liam & Eli.

Oh, can't visit here enough!!

Just found another fabulous indoor/outdoor play zone- a local nature center.
They have animal attractions outside (including hawks, foxes, owls, bald eagle), live indoor animals (fishes, snakes, squirrel, turtles) and a preschool nature play area.
Love it. It reminds me so much of the day-camps I used to go to when I was young.

The preschool play area has a magnetic fishing pond (both of my boys enjoy it), a fox den, eagle nest, animal puppet theater, puzzles, books, stuffed animals, etc.
We will probably visit this place at least once every two weeks!!

Pinecone birdfeeders!
I've been wanting to do this since like November.
All summer/fall long we collected pinecones on our 'hikes' and I used them for Thanksgiving and Christmas decorating. Figured this would be a good end-use for them.
E loved pouring the birdseed.

We went to a firestation playzone. E has loved firetrucks for the past year, and I've missed two firestation open houses so I really wanted to get him to see some firetrucks.
Lots of fun activities for the kids, and they even had a real fireman there to talk to kids and dress up in uniform so they aren't 'scared' if there is a real issue.

E went to his first concert- Laura Doherty, a local Chicagoan kids' musician.
I thought he'd be dancing around like crazy as he does at home, but I think he was a bit overwhelmed. Can't wait to take him to see Ralph's World!

Thought you'd all get a kick out of this pic (for those of you who know I've been a vegetarian for more than 15years). Ha. I thought this apron was one of the coolest presents I ever received when I was about 8. It also came with all kinds of stuff for a Chicago-style hot dog stand. Anyway, B got me to cook up my first meat dish (for HIM) in many, many years, and I just thought it hysterical to put this on. The little apron is my inspiration to make one for E & C during the upcoming months.
I've also been doing lots of baking with the help of my little sous chef: pancakes (freezing & eating batches), cookies, and cupcakes, puddings/jellos- YUM.