O for 2

Vroom Vroom

2012-02-13T15:06:00.002-06:00

These little cars, the wheelies ramp, and Zig the Big Rig, are in constant motion at our house. I don't think there is a surface they haven't been on. It's a wonder I haven't tripped on one....yet!

Mr. Fix It

2012-02-09T16:43:00.001-06:00

Solo Debut

2012-02-07T21:20:00.003-06:00

During the ballet segment of Olivia's dance class, each student gets the chance to perform a solo dance. It helps them work on their confidence and also etiquette- they cheer and applaud for their fellow dancers, they wait quietly and take turns, and they have to be brave. I think you can tell from Olivia's smile that she is having FUN!

Going Global

2012-02-06T12:49:00.004-06:00

We live in a house full of maps. I have no idea why it took us this long to get a globe. Olivia is constantly asking where stuff is.

Where is Paris? (the most commonly asked question, thanks to Fancy Nancy)

Where is Venice? (from the book Olivia goes to Venice)

Where did you and daddy get married?

Where is Ana from?

Where is the North Pole?

What's that blue line? (the equator)

Where is Adelaide, Australia? (because of the Ghan Train....this deserves it's own separate post someday, hopefully with video)

Where is Arizona?

Where is the farm?

Where did you live when you were first married?

The list goes on and on. Alex gets in on the action too, and he loves to listen to all the conversations. I really need to get a picture of Matt on the sofa with the kids when he is explaining all sorts of stuff to them. They listen so intently, and he explains so well.

5 Senses

2012-02-05T13:22:00.001-06:00

Olivia is learning about the 5 senses in school. Her teacher even let the students borrow her camera to use the sense of sight to take a picture in the classroom. Hopefully, I will be able to share what Olivia took a picture of later.

Old Photo Friday: Happy Birthday, Abby

2012-02-03T06:00:00.001-06:00

Happy 11th Birthday, Abby!

(These photos are from Christmas 2005)

Sleepy Head

2012-02-01T13:30:00.000-06:00

Asleep on my shoulder as we head out to pick up O from school

Choo Choo in my TuTu

2012-01-31T19:25:00.002-06:00

Today's theme at Olivia's dance class was The Little Engine that Could. They we're chanting "choo choo in my tutu" and "I think I can, I think I can". It looked like this was the most fun class to date!

Share Bag Continued

2012-01-30T21:07:00.002-06:00

Olivia's teacher just shared this video. Things changed a little bit since we rehearsed at home, but overall she did a fantastic job!

Sneak-A-Peak

2012-01-30T19:54:00.003-06:00

photos taken by Olivia's teacher

Olivia with her book buddy

Olivia's class is working on a special project with their book buddies. They are talking about what makes them unique and special, like snowflakes. They are writing a book and illustrating the book as well. Olivia is excited about this project and we can't wait to see the finished project. Stay tuned!

Beauty Shop

2012-01-26T19:35:00.003-06:00

Alex: 2.5 Stats

2012-01-24T19:00:00.003-06:00

Weight: 33 lbs. (75%)

Lenght: 36 inches (50%)

Head: off the charts

The two and half well visit, is basically just to touch base and make sure everything is going well. Alex is doing great and although I'm nervous to even type this, he is healthy. He hasn't been on any of his breathing meds in awhile (so long that I can't even recall). Hopefully we won't go back until 3!

P.S. I just have to mention that Alex at 2.5 weighs more than Olivia at 4. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before he is towering over her too!

Right Now

2012-01-24T12:51:00.003-06:00

They love to build "communities".

They play together so well. When they get going, it's so fun to sit back, watch, and enjoy. I could listen to their conversations and giggles forever.

Alex: 2.5

2012-01-21T20:01:00.004-06:00

Dear Alex,

You have changed so much recently. The biggest change is your vocabulary. You speak in sentences and have no problems communicating with us. You have some articulation issues, you don’t make the s and f sounds and sometimes you drop a syllable, but you are making huge strides. You still receive speech therapy weekly but we are looking forward to your evaluation in February.

School has been another big change for you. Words cannot express how much you love school and how good school has been for you. Lately you have been volunteering information about your day and relaying stories about what happens. The other day you told me that you counted in Spanish and then you actually did it. You were very proud of yourself, and I was very impressed.

You very much enjoy playing at home. You can self amuse and you play with a variety of toys. The train table is by far your favorite, but the kitchen is a close second. Playing with the dolls and playing doctor also make you happy. You are the best playmate Olivia has ever had, and you indulge her in all her crazy games.

You give great hugs and kisses. You adore your sister. You thrive on the predictable and the routine. You are a happy, easy-going, sweet, and loving little guy. You bring us pure joy. We can’t wait to see what the next 6 months has in store for you.

All my love,

Mommy

P.S. Stats coming Tuesday

Sledding at Oz Park

2012-01-21T16:30:00.005-06:00

Alex flying down the hill all by himself! Squealing in delight the entire time!

They only went down together once, but they smiled the entire time.

Olivia eventually (all on her own) learned to get the sled going and then jump on. She was so proud that she could do it all by herself.

This is the third year we've attempted sledding at Oz Park. Matt and I thought we'd be there 20 minutes max, but after an hour and half, and four mitten changes, we had to tear them away. Olivia would have stayed all day (Alex was getting pretty tired) but we could tell it was getting time to go home and recharge. She immediately asked if we could come back this afternoon. I'd say that's a fun way to enjoy the snow!

Trains, Trains, Trains

2012-01-19T14:45:00.003-06:00

I must admit, that sometimes I think about putting the train table in storage, due to space constraints, but then I think of his smile and his laugh and I just can't imagine him without his trains.

Snow Globe

2012-01-18T15:18:00.003-06:00

Olivia has been talking about all things winter at school this month. She has been especially excited about her snow globe. They have been working on them for awhile, and she finally came home with it today. She wants to put it in her bedroom. She will be celebrating her winter themed month by concluding with a Hibernation day. She will wear her PJ's to school and eat bear food (berries, honey, and graham crakers) at snack. Such fun!

Hard Work

2012-01-17T19:48:00.002-06:00

Sneak-a-Peak

2012-01-13T21:06:00.002-06:00

All photos taken by Olivia's teacher

Olivia's school has been talking about Martin Luther King, Jr. Olivia has been very interested in him. She told us that he has "4 names, just like me, because I'm 4" and that "he was an important guy because he believed in fairness." The school also had a assembly to honor his birthday.

Let it Snow

2012-01-13T20:25:00.003-06:00

Olivia laid down EVERYWHERE she could find fresh snow!

Once dressed properly, Alex loved the snow!

For Christmas, Olivia and Alex gave Matt a snowman in a sack. Olivia has been dying to use it!

On December 1, Olivia declared "It's winter now, where's the snow?" She has wanted snow in the worst way. It's a big change from previous winters, where she has lasted 5 minutes and whined the entire time. She couldn't wait to go out. She did not want to come inside. She was beaming the entire time! Words cannot express how happy this made me and Matt. Seriously. Alex was very hard at work. Shoveling every inch of the walkway. He kept telling us he was making roads. I'm glad he has quickly overcome his fear of the snow. I'm looking forward to many more snow adventures.

Old Photo Friday

2012-01-13T15:30:00.002-06:00

December 12, 2010

I'm hoping to get some snow shots this weekend, but until then here are some shots from last years first snow fall. Alex wasn't walking yet, and although he can walk in the snow this year, he has requested that I pick him up. For some reason, he is very scared of the snow. Olivia definitely seems more into it this year. There might even be some sledding in our future?

Share Bag

2012-01-12T14:01:00.002-06:00

Today was Olivia's turn with the Share Bag. Everyone in Olivia's class gets a chance to take home the share bag for one night. They return it the next day with something to share with the class. Olivia was very excited about this. She said she wanted to take Jingles, but then this morning she was wavering between her Rapunzel wig, mermaid Chloe, and some others, but ultimately she decided on Jingles. She will get the chance to stand up in front of her friends and answer questions about her item. I can't wait to hear about it!

Color Me Mine

2012-01-08T19:26:00.004-06:00

While Matt, Andy, Sully, and Grampy were at the Wolves Game, Sarah and I took O, Alex, and Charlie to a paint your own pottery place. Charlie had been once before but this was a first for us. Olivia selected a piggy bank, and Alex selected a bowl. They are excited to see the finished product next week!

We're having a heat wave

2012-01-05T13:23:00.001-06:00

We played outside this morning to enjoy the sunshine and 40+ temps!

Half Pint New Years Eve

2011-12-31T20:14:00.003-06:00

Words cannot describe how much O enjoyed being fancy!

The kids plate: gouda mac n cheese, turkey meatballs, fruit and veggies

There was just something special about watching my little ones drink out of goblets

Unfortunately, Alex got a little scared after everyone yelled "Happy New Year" and clapped and toasted. He was really upset, but he did settle.

We celebrated New Years Eve at Chalkboard restaurant. They had a special half pint NYE with a toast at 6pm. It was perfect for our crew and it felt very festive!

Winter Wonderfest

2011-12-31T13:14:00.002-06:00

I apologize in advance for the quality of the pics, but it was too fun not to blog about!

O seated next to me on the ferris wheel....her first ferris wheel ride!

Matt and Alex on the ferris wheel

We headed to Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier this morning. It's been on my radar for awhile, but I wasn't so sure about it for our two. But the second we got there, I knew they would love it. Olivia immediately headed for the ferris wheel and hopped right on. She loved it! Alex was still and solemn, but I'll take not crying as a good sign. Olivia and Matt immediately went on the Himalaya next, and I wasn't sure how Olivia would respond to it because it it super crazy fast, but she continued to surprise me and she LOVED it! I mean, really, really loved it. She is now an official fast ride junkie. The smile on her face was ginormous! Then they went on the tilt-a-whirl, and it was another success. Alex was not tall enough to go on those rides, but he and I rode the train ( 3 times) and he was in heaven. We also watched the ice skaters, went in the bouncy houses (Alex had a blast chasing Olivia) and went on the Himalaya again. I'm sure I've already forgotten some things, but I think this is going to become an annual tradition for us!

Prince Charming and Belle

2011-12-31T12:39:00.000-06:00

Sometimes it is absolute craziness around here!

Happy Birthday, Chelsea

2011-12-29T20:14:00.002-06:00

Chelsea is Alex's teacher...who he talks about All. The. Time.

I have no idea when her birthday is.

Returning to normal

2011-12-28T13:31:00.004-06:00

We've all had the stomach flu (I hope to blog about this later. It was too epic, not to blog.) but we are starting to return to normal activities. It should be no surprise that our first outing, was to test out Matt's Christmas present...AR.Drone!

Like mother, like daughter

Alex was a little unsure of the airplane.

Matt was in heaven!

I'm quite surprised that Matt has lasted this long to try out his new toy! (Although, he did admit to testing it out for a second in our living room.) He even let me try to fly it and it's pretty amazing. As a side note, during our outing I also got to play with my new Christmas toy....a new 50mm lens for my camera and I'm totally in love!

Wakey, wakey sleepy head

2011-12-26T21:39:00.003-06:00

Merry, Merry!

2011-12-25T20:33:00.004-06:00

Above: right after O opened her present from Alex, she automatically hugged him

O received some lip gloss from Santa

Above: Alex had plenty of help

Above: yes, I know it's out of focus, but I just love this picture

We had a truly wonderful Christmas. It was a leisurely morning at home. The kids were beyond excited when they saw that Santa had actually been here. He even ate the cookies and milk. It definitely is about the kids and the kids are what make it memorable.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T20:40:00.002-06:00

Guess who has finally joined "team Abby"? He's in. Hook, line, and sinker.

Ready to leave Gramma's and go home and get straight in bed.

I always wish I had more pictures- pictures of me and my sisters, my mom, the food, the gifts, more family members, and so on. But, this is what I got. We had a tons of fun and we feel very blessed.

More baking

2011-12-23T20:15:00.004-06:00

Above: Edamame Hummus

We delivered this cookie tray to our neighbors.

Above: Santa's favorites....Brown Eyed Susan's

We baked all morning and we are looking forward to sharing the labors of our love!

Day 4: Second Annual Go to Work with Daddy

2011-12-22T14:15:00.002-06:00

Talking the El

Lunch at Potbelly

Olivia was beyond excited to go to work with Matt just like she did last year. They rode the El in and then Alex and I joined them a couple of hours later for lunch. She had an absolute blast!

Day 3 of break

2011-12-21T21:23:00.003-06:00

While Alex was at school this morning, Olivia went to Gymnastics Camp. She did lots of stuff including snack and a craft. She looked exhausted and asked to go back, so I'm assuming she enjoyed herself.

We've begun baking

2011-12-19T21:57:00.002-06:00

Olivia sampled one candy, and then was all business. On the other hand, after Alex had one taste, he wanted more!

Day 1 of Christmas Break

2011-12-19T14:22:00.003-06:00

Above: the only siblings and the only boys

Ready for the 4-D Dora show

Above: On rainy days at school, Olivia runs laps around the track in lieu of movement outdoors. When she saw this "track" she took off running.

Below: She is trying to convince Alex to get some physical activity with her.

Some of the moms from Olivia's school planned an outing to the Shedd Aquarium this morning. It was so fun to see Olivia with her classmates. At first she was a little torn between wanting to walk with me and Alex, but then she decided to join her friends and walk with them. It was a great way to kick off the break.

The Gingerbread House

2011-12-18T22:10:00.004-06:00

Olivia has very fond memories of decorating our gingerbread house last year, so we decided it would be fun to do again. It certainly was fun, but we have no house to show for it. The house collapsed before I even got to snap a picture of it. Alex kept saying, "Oh no. Oh no." and Olivia kept saying, "the candy is slipping off". We did have a lot of laughs. Don't worry, we are going to be better prepared for next year.

Holiday Concert

2011-12-16T15:29:00.003-06:00

Matt has been crazy busy at work this week and we all really missed him. Olivia kept her fingers crossed that he would be able to make it to her concert today (at 1:45) and sure enough he made it. He actually had the whole day "off", so after we dropped the kids off at school, he and I went out to breakfast....on a Friday. It felt super indulgent!

The holiday concert went smashingly! Olivia looked a little dazed, but I know she was singing in her own quiet way. She was very excited to finally perform the songs that they have been working so hard on. Her instrument was the sticks and she did very well. The music teacher explained how difficult it is for the children to have instruments in front of them and have to wait to play them, and also how much they have to listen and pay attention to know exactly when to play their instrument. Olivia of course had already explained this to me, and she knew when it was time to pick them up and play. It was such fun and I know we will be attending many more holiday concerts as the years go on.

Teacher Gifts

2011-12-15T13:00:00.004-06:00

I wanted a project that the kids could get completely involved in, and this was the perfect one. First they decorated the containers with all sorts of stickers, then they filled them with M &M's (two scoops each, to be exact), next Olivia cut all the ribbon and I assisted tying them on with the poem. The poem read:

Green is for the inspiration you give me each day.

Blue is for your patience in showing me the way.

Orange is for your warmth and caring style.

Yellow is for the way you always make me smile.

Red is for my life that you have touched this year.

You place knowledge in my hands,

that melt into my heart and live forever!

You're a "Magnificent" & "Marvelous" Teacher!

Thank you for being my M&M!

We made a total of 9 teacher gifts, and the kids can't wait to pass them out!

Meet Pete

2011-12-13T21:05:00.003-06:00

Pete is our Elf on the Shelf. This is the second year he has returned to our home. In typical Alex fashion, he is unsure of Pete. In the beginning he would always say "no HoHo man watch me", but now he eagerly looks to see where he will be in the morning. Olivia is very excited to see where he will be in the morning. One morning he was on the Christmas tree, and it really upset her, so needless to say, Pete has not returned to the tree. She often reminds me to tell Pete about her good behavior. Pete is a fun tradition that I hope will continue for many, many years.

Dentist time

2011-12-13T13:29:00.003-06:00

My little bookworms in the waiting room.

Smelling the different flavors of cleaners. Ultimately, she chose birthday cake.

Alex, who will be going for his first check-up in 6 months, stayed glued this stool the entire time. That's not even our stuffed animal.

Olivia had a good check-up. Dr. Kristen did have to do a bit of scraping from Olivia's bottom front teeth (which Olivia did not like), but other than Olivia got a good report. Her "binky mouth" is correcting itself nicely, and good eating habits (no juice, no gummies) are paying off. Should be interesting when we go this summer with Alex!

Special Event

2011-12-12T16:08:00.003-06:00

Today I went in to Olivia's classroom and read Olive, the other Reindeer, and then I made "reindeer food" with all the kids. Olivia was overjoyed that on today's schedule it said "special event"! I'm not sure who had more fun, me or the kids?

All Aboard

2011-12-11T14:27:00.003-06:00

Today, Grammy and Grampy joined us at Wonderland Express at The Chicago Botanic Gardens. This is our second year going, but their first. We enjoyed all of it, but some of the highlights were the carolers (which Olivia could have watched all day), making snowflakes out of coffee filters, making bird feeders, participating in bingo, "snow" falling indoors, and seeing Santa driving the train. It's really starting to feel like Christmas!

The Feast

2011-12-09T20:16:00.002-06:00

Olivia's early bird class prepared a feast for their families to attend "at night" (5pm). Olivia was so excited about the feast, I thought she might burst! The kids made everything for the feast. The invitations, the table cloths, the candle holders, the decorations, and the food. Olivia was so happy to show off her room. It was the best feast we've ever been to!

Sweet slumber

2011-12-07T13:40:00.002-06:00

Santa!

2011-12-06T12:54:00.002-06:00

Olivia is completely in to all things Christmas this year. When I told her we were going to visit Santa she got very excited. She even said that last year she didn't want to sit on his lap, but she wanted to this year. When we first saw him she wanted to know where the Elves were. I explained that they are very busy in the North Pole making the toys. Then she walked up to him and started talking to him right away. I wasn't sure if she was actually going to sit on his lap, but after she warmed up a little bit, she hopped on for a quick picture. Just like Olivia in the past, Alex became hysterical crying at the very first sight of the big man. Needless to say, he was glued to my side the entire time. Olivia was sure to tell Santa what Alex wants for Christmas.

Muy Bien!

2011-12-05T13:14:00.003-06:00

Today was visitor day at Olivia's spanish class. I was amazed to hear her speak Spanish. She has really caught on in a short amount of time. Miss Tatiana speaks only in Spanish, and most of the time I had no idea what she was saying (and I took two years of high school Spanish), plus they sing a lot, so that helps too. Even Alex got into it. He was repeating words by the end of class. It was fun to see her in this environment.

Progress Report

2011-12-02T13:34:00.003-06:00

Although Alex's school does not do parent teacher conferences at this time of year, they do a progress report. Here are some of the things they had to say about Alex:

"Alex has adjusted very quickly to being in school. He even explains to other kids now that mommies come back when we eat. He play really well with all of his friends."

"Alex loves to read at school!. When he shows any signs of being sad at school, he can almost always be distracted by a book. He is really beginning to talk more at school. It is always such fun to listen to him talk about his day with his mom at pick up."

"Alex can usually recall the events of our day and share them with his mom at pick up. He has incredible self-control and is so good about waiting for his turn. He is pretty quiet about it, but we hear him say his letters and numbers and identify shapes and colors."

"Alex is such a sweet little boy. He is becoming so much more comfortable in the classroom with his teachers and friends. He is pretty quiet, but always willing to answer questions and eager to participate in games and activities. He plays really well in groups and on his own."

Budding Artists

2011-11-30T20:17:00.003-06:00

Olivia has had a student teacher in her classroom for the past 6 weeks, and her last day is Friday, so Olivia decided to paint her this watering can as a good bye token. Alex who is also quite crafty, jumped at the opportunity to paint.

Thankful

2011-11-28T15:13:00.001-06:00

Completely adjusted

2011-11-26T21:42:00.002-06:00

Alex is completely adjusted to school. He loves going. He is singing the songs at home. He is super proud of his art projects. It only took a month to adjust, but now he is a pro.

Gobble, Gobble

2011-11-26T21:27:00.005-06:00

Uncle Mark carving the turkey

Olivia and Charlie were in the dark, with the door closed reading.

All the boys enjoyed some football.

I love this pic of Sarah. It's her.

Thanksgiving day was all about rest and relaxing. The food was delicious, and the conversation was delightful. I am thankful for the wonderful day we all had.

I have a little secret....

2011-11-23T20:38:00.004-06:00

...I don't like thanksgiving desserts. I don't like pumpkin pie, and I don't like apple pie So, I decided to make my own dessert. Olivia was very willing to help!

While the bars were baking, we made place cards.

Guts

2011-11-22T19:16:00.002-06:00

Alex is her biggest fan!

The teacher told us that doing the somersault on the high beam "takes guts, and uses guts". Olivia was super proud of herself. She improved each time she did it, unfortunately my videotaping did not, so what you see here is her first try. She smiles through the whole class!

Parent Conferences

2011-11-22T12:54:00.003-06:00

This morning Matt and I had our parent teacher conference with Olivia's teacher. She had glowing things to say about Olivia. Olivia's teacher really gets Olivia, and that is important to us. She talked a lot about how much Olivia has blossomed so far. That although Olivia began her year more reserved with her classmates and teachers, she is now very comfortable and confident within the classroom setting. During circle time, Olivia is very observant and engaged with whatever activity they are doing. She listens well when others are speaking, and is beginning to participate more. Her teacher hasn't noticed any particular friend or friends that she has paired up with, and we all agreed that this is a good thing because sometimes it can be excluding of other friends. She plays with all the different friends in her class during different times and activities. When she is playing with classmates, she uses kind words and exhibits an overall friendly, patient and respectful demeanor toward others. Her teacher also noticed that Olivia is always observing and taking in everything. (Spend any amount of time with O and you'll notice this too). Her teacher's goal for the rest of this year is to keep supporting her growing confidence with new people and situations, and nurture her love for learning and school.

Rapunzel

2011-11-18T13:55:00.003-06:00

Olivia received the Rapunzel braid from Gramma and Poppa for her birthday. She also received some birthday money and we let her pick out what she wanted. She chose the jewelry and shoes. She is quite a sight.

We've entered the two's

2011-11-17T13:08:00.003-06:00

You know, those two's. The ones that aren't that much fun. Some might say they are terrible.

She's Back

2011-11-17T13:01:00.001-06:00

Olivia is feeling better, and Alex has discovered LOUD!

Sick Days

2011-11-16T14:24:00.002-06:00

Olivia has been home sick all week. She has been running a fever off and on since the weekend. When we were at the doctor for her check-up, the doctor thought her throat looked yucky, but the step test came back negative. Most likely she just has a bug. She misses school and her friends and asks everyday when can she go back. She was very sad when she found out she missed an A day....book buddy day. She really doesn't want to miss yoga tomorrow, so let's cross our fingers.

Thankfully they have each other. It has made being sick more bearable. All the new toys Olivia received for her birthday have helped too!

Olivia's 4 year old stats

2011-11-15T22:02:00.003-06:00

Weight: 32 pounds (25%)

Height: 39 inches (25%)

Blood Pressure: 72/40

At this doctor's visit, I was really struck by how old Olivia is getting. The doctor spoke directly to Olivia and asked Olivia questions, as opposed to asking me. It was cute to hear Olivia answering the doctor's questions. The doctor and Olivia talked about good eating habits, the importance of getting plenty of rest, and listening to mom and dad. Olivia looked very proud when she volunteered that she takes yoga. It was good visit and we don't have another check-up until she is 5!

Rocky Mountain Express

2011-11-13T13:54:00.002-06:00

This morning we took the kids to see Rocky Mountain Express at the Museum of Science and Industry in IMax. It was AWESOME! (As a side note, my dad used to take us to the OmniMax at the museum, and I loved it. I think we saw just about all of them.) The scenery is breathtaking, and the trains are mesmerizing. We all loved it. It's 40 minutes long, or as we learned, about 2.5 miles long. It was also near and dear to our hearts, because the movie showed Lake Louise in Banff where Matt and I had our babymoon. You can see the movie trailer here. I wouldn't be surprised if we see the show again before it leaves the museum in March.

Charlie and Olivia's 4th Birthday Party

2011-11-13T13:19:00.005-06:00

Olivia instantly glued herself to Abby.

Olivia and Charlie did really well taking turns...in the beginning.

I'm sure you will be seeing this Rapunzel wig in more posts....she wears it non-stop.

She has named the doll, Abby.

Yesterday, we gathered at Sarah and Andy's to celebrate Olivia and Charlie's 4th birthdays. It was an absolutely perfect party. We all enjoyed pizza, cake, present, and of course, good company!

Sneak-a-Peak: Olivia's first field trip

2011-11-11T18:46:00.004-06:00

All of the below photos are from Olivia's teacher....

All month long, Olivia's class is talking about farms. Charting the class's favorite farm crop was one of the activities they did this week.

Just a random one from this week.

First bus ride.

Olivia had her first field trip on Thursday to Wagner Farms in Glenview. She was super excited, and I'm still being filled in by dribs and drabs as time passes and it settles in. So far she has told me about making butter by shaking it, an animal named Olivia, and taking corn off the cob. She was completely wiped out by the end of the day, so I'd say it was huge success.

Our visit to school

2011-11-10T08:37:00.005-06:00

Olivia got to stand on her chair while her friends snag to her.

Above: Mrs. Beights "the photographer"

Below: the teaching assistants

Matt read Roly, Poly Pangolin by Anna Dewdney

Olivia loved showing us around her classroom. Part of the days schedule was her Birthday.

This is how the students check in every day.

Daily jobs. Olivia was able to read each of her friends names, and describe each job.

Above is the linear calendar, part of Everyday Math. They talk about home days and school days. November has a lot of home days because they have no school the week of Thanksgiving.

Olivia's school encourages parents to come in a read a story on the child's birthday. Olivia was SUPER excited about this. We were too. Olivia wanted Matt to read to the class, and she sat on a special stool directly next to him while he read the story. Half way through the story, she leaned over and told Matt to ask if anyone had questions at the end of the story. Sure enough when Matt asked, they all raised their hand. It was so cute. It was definitely one of the highlights of her birthday...for all of us.

Olivia's Birthday

2011-11-09T19:52:00.004-06:00

In this house, we celebrate birthdays first thing in the morning. Olivia awoke to a decorated dining room with gifts and "breakfast cupcakes". She loved the flower puffs...I knew she would. She's a girly girl. She exclaimed that the cupcakes "were exactly what I wanted", and we never talked about them at all. She received a new outfit, a stuffed dog named Cookie, a necklace, and a Kai Lan animal set with books. She was overjoyed about each gift. Tonight as she was going to bed she asked if she was still going to be 4 tomorrow? So sweet!

Happy 4th Birthday, Olivia

2011-11-09T06:00:00.001-06:00

Dear Peanut,

We've called you that for a long time, because for so long you seemed so impossibly tiny. But you've always been an enormous presence in our lives, and you've never been shy about making yourself heard. Its hard to believe that you've been in our lives for 4 whole years now - it seems like only yesterday we were sitting at Prentice, wondering how we would ever manage to take care of you by ourselves without constant support from people who actually knew what they were doing. Some of the days in these past four years have seemed very long indeed. Even now I vividly remember watching TV with you at 1 in the morning so that your mother could get just a few hours of sleep. But on the whole, the years have gone by all too quickly.

As you turn 4, we can't believe what an incredible little girl you've become. You're such an incredibly active, inquisitive, smart, caring, and thoughtful little person. We love how you play with your cousins, how you take care of your little brother, and how much you love school, books, and learning new things. It always amazes us when other people tell us what a shy, sweet, and polite little girl you are. Not because we don't see that ourselves when we're around new people, and not because we sometimes see someone who speaks stubborn as a second language. But because we always see you as such an incredible bundle of life, energy, creativity, and joy. Around us, you have such a big personality and we still wonder how we ever manage to keep up. It would be impossible to list all of our favorite moments from these past 4 years, so I'll just try to list a few - laughing on the hotel bed in Amelia Island, riding bikes on the lakefront, watching the model trains at the Museum of Science and Industry, sharing cupcakes at Sweet Mandy B's, walking to the pool in Arizona, doing art projects at the kitchen table, throwing away your binkies, riding on the El, going out to breakfast on Sunday mornings, watching you splash in the pool in Florida.

You made us into a family and have brought us incredible joy and happiness these past 4 years. We're so excited to see what the next 4 years brings. We worry all the time that we will let you down or steer you down the wrong path. But we know that you'll show us the way.

Love,

Daddy

Our urban adventure

2011-11-06T21:49:00.003-06:00

Between all the moving it was nearly impossible to snap a picture, but I couldn't resist sharing. The kids were so darn adorable. Olivia was talking a mile a minute. Pointing out all the places she knows, and Alex was soaking it all in.

(Taken while waiting for the El)

We've had a fab weekend. I don't have a lot of pictures to show for it, but trust me, we made the most of every minute of it. I knew we had to get out and enjoy the perfect weather before it is gone. Saturday we went to the Brookfield Zoo, where we all enjoyed the dolphin show and Tropic World. This morning we did some cleaning/ organizing around the house and after naps we took the El downtown. The El ride itself is a blast, and then we walked by Macy's to gaze at the Christmas windows. We headed north over the river (we even saw a police boat that turned on the lights, honked and waved for us!) and ended up at Grand Lux for dinner. It was the perfect end to our weekend.

Sneak-a-Peak

2011-11-04T21:30:00.002-05:00

I just know that Olivia is singing away here in this picture

With her book buddy

I love that Olivia's teacher shares pictures so that I can get a sneak peak into Olivia's day.

Progress Report

2011-11-02T14:04:00.003-05:00

Today Alex began his second month of school. Matt said Alex was crying at drop-off, so I was a tad worried that we still weren't over the hump, but when I picked him up he was so

H-A-P-P-Y! He usually looks completely dazed when I get him, but today he ran to me with a huge smile and hugged me so tight....I loved every minute of it. His teachers said he had a great day. He played and participated. He even went down the slide at Pump It Up. His daily report said he was, happy, busy, and active, and that he listened all of the time. He gave them big hugs and then insisted we call daddy on the "pink phone" (my cell phone) in the "dar" (car). After we called daddy, Alex kept saying "me happy, daddy happy, mommy happy" also, "me miss mommy, mommy leave, mommy back" and, "me miss daddy, daddy leave, daddy home".

Giggle Toes

2011-11-01T21:45:00.002-05:00

Olivia is loving her tap, ballet and gymnastics class. Today in the tap portion of class, they performed solos. The teacher said they were working on being brave, etiquette, and cheering on their friends. In the gymnastics portion of class the theme was Balancing Betty and Stable Able: See them Balance, See them Beam!

What did Alex do during class? He laid on the floor directly next to me!

Trick or Treat

2011-10-31T21:25:00.005-05:00

Our first stop on our trick or treat route was to Grammy and Grampy's

The tiger and SpiderGirl

Trick or treating is hard work!

Charlie and Alex were quite a pair

We had a trick or treat date with our cousins. It was a blast!

Let the festivities begin

2011-10-30T19:47:00.002-05:00

We had a Halloween Eve party with our neighbors. None of the kids made it all night in their costumes, but they all had tons of fun playing.

3rd Annual visit to Bengstons

2011-10-29T21:53:00.005-05:00

Olivia made sure to let us know that she wanted to go all by herself.

The pig races were a lot more fun that I imagined

O was not tall enough to go down the slide by herself, so we went together.

Alex, who was already wheezing long before we ever got to the farm, did not go in the corn box.

Olivia could have stayed in the corn box all day long.

The playground is a new addition, and it is the best playground ever!

We made our annual visit to Bengstons Pumpkin Farm today. Unfortunately, Matt had to work, but we took tons of pictures, and texted him along the way. The rides are tons of fun, the pig races were a hoot, and the new playground and corn box are a blast. We packed a picnic lunch and then headed home. Days like today confirm why Fall is my favorite season.

My Little Conductor

2011-10-29T15:34:00.002-05:00

Alex is very careful and cautious as he slowly pushes his trains around the track....over and over again. He gets very frustrated if the train comes apart or gets off track. If the track comes apart, he instantly comes to me and repeats "broke, broke, broke" until I put it back together. I'm excited for the days with less frustration, but in the meantime I love watching him play.

School Parade

2011-10-28T13:02:00.004-05:00

Olivia's Early Bird teacher....Little Red Riding Hood

Olivia's paparazzi....Daddy and Alex

The Headmaster of the school

All four of Olivia's teacher were a different color crayon

The head of the lower school

The custodian...Mr. Old School

Olivia was going to be Spider girl, but in the last week, she changed her mind and really wanted to be a ballerina. She tells me she is going to be Spider Girl when we go trick-or-treating. It was a fun parade and I especially like that the entire school gets really creative with their costumes.

Downtime

2011-10-26T21:54:00.003-05:00

This is Olivia's current obsession. I saw it at Michaels for buy one get one, so I grabbed a couple. Little did I know it would be such a hit. She hasn't been interested in playdoh lately, so I wasn't sure, but this stuff is great. I can't quite describe it. It's a lot softer and easier to work with than modeling clay, but it doesn't crumble like playdoh. Anyway, she really likes it.

Alex loves "reading" books with the LeapFrog Tag Jr. His favorites are Winnie the Pooh and Dora.

Happy 38th

2011-10-24T08:00:00.001-05:00

38 reasons....he’s the One

He is my best friend

He gave me Olivia

He gave me Alex

He unconditionally loves me

He works like a dog for us

He is crazy smart

He supports and encourages me in everything I do

He always says exactly the right thing

He is calm...always

He makes me laugh

He takes risks in ways that I would never

He loves my crazy family

He cried when Olivia and Alex were born

He does not judge

He is beyond thoughtful and considerate

He calls his sisters-in-law, his sisters

He is my rock

He has very simple needs

He will eat anything except cooked salmon

He maintains friendships from high school, undergrad, and law school

He includes the kids in everything he does, big or small

He reads everything

He has an amazing memory

He turned our cross country drive into an adventure

He loves to travel, but is also happy at home

He surprises me with flowers

He always says good night, even if he’s not here

He doesn’t care that I have on my pj’s by 6pm

He puts himself last

He gives good advice

He is a man of few words

He tells it like it is

He is funny

He is a movie snob

He told me upfront that he is not a mind reader

He gets me

He is the voice of reason

He does the right thing

The weekend in review

2011-10-23T19:36:00.007-05:00

It was a jam packed weekend and I tried to capture most of it. Olivia and I made a cake for Matt's birthday. She is at the age where it is really fun to bake and cook with her.

We carved a pumpkin

We played outside as much as possible

We went to Matt's parents Sunday morning for birthday breakfast. It was totally laid back and we all had a great visit. The kids always enjoy playing outside and at the neighbors jungle gym.

Alex immediately goes straight for the trains.

The neighbor's slide is super duper fast

Some other things we did this weekend that are not documented in pictures....

Matt and I went out on a date

All four of us had an awesome time at Clover Playlot

We checked out Sarah and Andy's progress on the house

We had a delish family dinner followed by cake and presents

We live for weekends around here, and this one did not disappoint!

Bunk beds?

2011-10-20T18:51:00.002-05:00

The kids, Olivia especially, have a fascination with bunk beds. Today they were pretending the stairs were their bunk beds.

Outtakes

2011-10-19T14:03:00.004-05:00

I had high hopes for this setting. The lake in the background, the beach grass, and the awesome canoe to perch upon. The color palette was beautiful. My littles had a different idea.

My one and only goal last weekend in Michigan was to get a photo for the Christmas card. You know, the one where their hair is neatly combed, they have perfect smiles on their face, it looks effortless and not posed, and ideally it is an outdoor shot with great light...Ha! Above are some of the photos I took, needless to say I did not get "the one". Not even close. Both kids were too busy to sit still. It was nearly impossible to get both of them looking in the same direction...forget getting them to both look at the camera. I'm hoping that it will happen- I've had a little talk with myself about expectations. Thank goodness this is my hobby and I'm having tons of fun shooting my favorite subjects!

So many books, so little time

2011-10-17T19:38:00.002-05:00

Today after school we took advantage of the Early Childhood Checkout program at Olivia's school. It's an opportunity for the parent to go to the school library with their child and check out a book. Olivia loves going to the library and so I was excited to go with her. It was neat to be on her turf and have her show me the way to the library. Mr. Gall, the librarian, is the best! He knew how to read Olivia and he got down to her level and engaged her. He asked her what kinds of books she likes to read. He got out his iPad and he and Olivia looked up some options. He involved her in the entire process. In the end, she picked Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy. I can't wait to see what she picks out next week.

There are moments....

2011-10-17T13:21:00.005-05:00

Today on the way to school

(Olivia has a rainbow heart sticker over her mouth...I don't ask why)

...when I feel like a referee, but more ofter than not, there are moments when they are the best of friends.

A fun Fall weekend

2011-10-16T12:51:00.006-05:00

This would have been the perfect first ferris wheel experience, but due to the wind, it wasn't running. Hopefully next year.

Is it just me or does Alex look old?

Alex walking along ( like a pro) sipping his sample of apple cider.

We discovered (once we were at the bottom of the hill that leads to house) the golf cart had a flat tire. It was team effort getting it back to the house. Matt and I pushed it up the hill, Olivia sat on the floor and held the gas pedal down and Alex sat very still and supervised.

We headed back to Casa Bonita for what will most likely be our last visit until next year. As I was uploading pictures from the visit, I was struck by all the things we had working against us. Terrible wind, ferris wheel not working, flat tire, blowing sand, not making it to the carousel in time, and no fire due to the wind, but this was probably our best trip at Michigan yet.

After unloading the bags, we headed to the Jollay Apple Orchard. We took a tractor hay ride around the property and then stopped to feed the animals. Olivia loved putting the quarter into the machine and getting the food, and Alex loved feeding the sheep. We then picked some apples and went through the corn maze. Our last stop was the market where we sampled cider and bought doughnuts. After rest time, we went to the beach, where I was determined to get the Christmas card photo (more on that later). The kids had a blast running and playing in the sand. We then headed to St. Joseph to go the carousel, but we forgot about off-season hours, and they were already closed. Thankfully, the kids didn't mind. We stopped at our favorite pizza place and then it was back to the house for bedtime. We woke up to rain, but we didn't have any high hopes for today. Olivia and I are going to make Grandma Jean's apple sour cream coffee cake today with the apples we picked!

Friendship Painting

2011-10-14T19:34:00.003-05:00

This note was attached to each of Olivia's painting....

During the friendship unit at school, each student chose a friend to paint a picture with. First, they initiated the project by asking a friend, "Will you paint a picture with me?" The two friends then talked about what to paint, and the rest was all about the process of their art. Many songs were song while painting and wonderful conversations had. Once dry, the pair of students discussed how to share their very special piece of art.

Olivia chose to paint with Conor. Olivia first said she wanted to "cut it in half." However, Connor felt he wanted to "make a copy." When posed with this predicament, Olivia looked at Conner and happily said, "Ok."

Emily chose to paint with Olivia. Olivia said "I want to make a photo of it." Mrs. Beights clarified and asked, "Do you want to make a copy?" Olivia said "yes" and Emily said, "And I want to do that , too."

Leo chose to paint with Olivia. Olivia first said she wanted to "cut it in half," to which Leo responded with, "Ya."

School Photo

2011-10-13T18:37:00.002-05:00

The flyer from school says "It's not only about how they look today....it's also about how they will remember it tomorrow."

This picture captures O. I imagine her teacher working hard to get her to smile. I imagine O feeling like she wants to get this over with. Let's just say I'm glad I went with the free package!

The best medicine

2011-10-12T13:00:00.003-05:00

Olivia reading to Alex during a breathing treatment.

Although I have no pictures of it, today was Alex's second day of school. He was very excited to go and again he was completely fine with us leaving. His teachers said he cried off and on the whole time. They couldn't exactly say what, if anything, triggered it. They made a point to tell me that he is very well behaved and a good listener. When I picked him up, he seemed fine and I couldn't tell that he had been crying, so I think that's a good sign. He picks at his lunch and I wouldn't say he doesn't like it, but he doesn't devour it like I thought he would. I think next month will be better because he will go twice a week, and he will really get into a groove, but overall I think he likes it more than he can us with words.

Giggle Toes

2011-10-11T19:53:00.005-05:00

Below: Alex was glued to this window. He thoroughly enjoyed the show.

Above: O in her tap shoes and leg warmers

Above: A little yoga between dance and gymnastics

Above: After Olivia did this flip, the teacher looked at me through the window and gave me a big eyebrow raise. The teacher had to help most girls with it, but O just flipped over on her own.

Above: After she bounced off the springboard and onto the mat, she would giggle to herself

I think we've found our class. We've sampled lots of classes and while we liked most of them, this seems to really suit O. It is Tap, Ballet, and gymnastics. She said her favorite part was the gymnastics. The teachers were so kind and amazing, and I just loved seeing O grin from ear to ear during class.

Fall Festival

2011-10-09T19:59:00.005-05:00

Sarah invited us to their neighborhood Fall festival, and I'm so glad she did. All the kids had a blast! I'd say the highlight was the horse drawn hayrack ride. Sarah knew everyone there, including numerous students, and it was nice to meet some of her neighbors. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. It was a great way to end the weekend.

Alex's first day of school

2011-10-05T13:12:00.002-05:00

Above and below: At home with his backpack

Above: washing his hands with Matt

Above: eating lunch

Above: ready to go home

Today was Alex's first day of school. Matt and I took him in, washed his hands, and said goodbye. Then we left. Alex was totally fine. No tears and no looking back. He just went right to playing. When I picked him up at lunchtime, I could tell he had been crying because his face was a little red and blotchy, but he was sitting calmly at the table eating his lunch. His teachers told me he cried about halfway through the day and when they tried to pick him up he whimpered no. But otherwise he had a good day. He seemed excited to tell me about his day....about painting his hands, about signing spooky wheels on the bus, and playing. He gave his teachers hugs and we came home. I'm glad it all went well, and I'm excited for him to go back.

Remember when

2011-10-03T13:52:00.003-05:00

she was just a baby and....

I thought she might never sleep

I thought she might never stop crying

I thought she might never give up her binkies

I thought she might never go to anyone else

I thought she might never let Matt put her to bed

I thought she might never take a bath without screaming

I thought she might never eat a vegetable

I thought she might never make friends

I thought she might never go to the doctor willingly

I thought she might never play independently

I thought she might never have a decent hair style

I thought she might never play at a park

I thought she might never enjoy having a babysitter

But she does all these things now. She did them when she was good and ready. Our little girl is almost 4 going on 8. She is strong willed and has very strong emotions. She has a wild imagination. She is growing and changing every day....more rapidly than we ever imagined.

Wrightwood Park

2011-10-02T14:38:00.002-05:00

After a full week of rain, we tok full advantage of the beautiful weather this morning and headed to Wrightwood Park.

Family Fun

2011-10-01T19:28:00.005-05:00

Jane (my mom) and Kitty (my aunt, Jane's sister)

Uncle Bill and Aunt Kitty

The planning started months ago- all of my mom's siblings were coming to Chicago. This only happens for weddings, and we are done with weddings, so this was a big deal. Unfortunately, for various reasons, it fell apart at the last minute, but Kitty and Bill from Arizona were still able to make it. We had a blast visiting with them. Even Olivia and Alex warmed up to them quickly. We enjoyed the beautiful sunshine (which we haven't seen all week), the delicious food, and catching up. It's always good to reconnect.

Gettin' ready

2011-09-30T13:06:00.004-05:00

Alex just lounged on the mats.

Since Alex will be going there weekly, I thought we'd go check it out. He wasn't that into it, but neither was Olivia and now she's a pro. I'm sure he'll grow to love it too.

"I think"

2011-09-29T20:43:00.004-05:00

Me: "How'd you learn that, O?"

Olivia: "you know how I learned that? I think."

Tonight she just did this. Maybe she's not all Matt after all. I was exactly like this as a kid. She's pretty close to doing a headstand too.

ABC-123

2011-09-28T19:54:00.002-05:00

That's Alex laying down on the carpet. Not a great picture, but you get the idea.

Alex starts school next week, and we thought it would be a good idea to stop by this week and meet the teachers. Just like with Olivia, we've been "talking it up" (which really helps) and he seems excited. He was little confused today...he kept asking for his backpack, but when we got in the room, he sat right down on the carpet and soaked it all in. I think it's going to be really good for him.

Let's play ball

2011-09-26T15:12:00.004-05:00

Unfortunately, this is the best pic I took of Abby...the fence was throwing me off.

Sunday we watched Abby play her first game of her traveling team. We were all very impressed with the team, but especially impressed by Abby. She is a natural athlete. Olivia and Alex had tons of fun. Alex loved flirting with all of Abby's friends. Olivia was quietly thrilled to be in the presence of Abby. We can't wait for more games in the nicer wether.

3 weeks in

2011-09-23T20:00:00.003-05:00

Olivia at the library

All the letters in the alphabet can be made using big stick, little stick and big C, small c

With her book buddy, Shay

Charting

Working with magnets

Olivia has just completed week 3 of school. We are all settling into a nice routine and she seems to be enjoying herself. Book buddies is her favorite, but she also loves going to the library. Her teacher sent me an email this week and said "She has done a great job with sharing and listening, and likes to help others when she can. Throughout our afternoon, Olivia enjoys creating art, dressing up, playing in the sand and listening to stories." This week they have been talking about families and Olivia drew a picture of her family that will go in her portfolio. I don't get a ton of details from Olivia, but she is all smiles when I drop her off, and she is all smiles when I pick her up.

We want Gymbo!

2011-09-23T19:42:00.002-05:00

The kids are still loving Gymboree. Today during open play time, they had a special craft planned. The kids decorated paper cups, scooped dirt, planted a seed, and then watered it. Both the kids were excited about each step. Alex is getting more confident and as you can tell in the above video, he really concentrates on walking up and down the steps with no hands. He is so proud of himself!

Alex wakes up from his nap

2011-09-20T19:00:00.004-05:00

This is a typical scenario of me waking Alex to go pick up Olivia from school. He usually gets almost 2 hours of nap time, but he would prefer to sleep much longer.