Spring

We are so desperate for dry warm weather!  In the meantime here is a little bit of what we have done to occupy our time.  Since we have had lots of rain (record amounts) the kids have really enjoyed examining all of the worms!

Since the kids have rain boots, why not let them play in the puddles.  Or in this case, the pond that formed in our backyard after the non-stop rain!

Brandon and I attended the St.Jude Gala and enjoyed an adults night out and came home with tickets to the Indy 500!

Grant continues to do swim lessons, although this week's lesson did not go well.  I am not sure what is going on with our little man, but we are going through a rough patch.  He gets very upset about very small things (well small things to us, probably not to him!) and it takes him a long time to calm down.  Long story short, he watched this week's swim lesson from the side lines.  Hopefully next week will be better.

The kids started soccer this week.  I had the start time wrong (we were a few minutes late - oooppps!), but it was freezing cold, so it was ok that we were outside for a little less time!  They play at the same time, but are divided into groups by age.  This week I hung with Grant and he did great.  No meltdowns and he wasn't super clingy.  He looked up at me many times looking for a high-five or a thumbs up (which I was very happy to give!).  Brandon watched Elizabeth and she had a lot of fun too.   They both have friends in their group so that added to the fun.  Fingers crossed for warmer weather next week!

Elizabeth has her first T-ball practice this weekend.  Brandon is going to take her.  I can't wait to hear how that goes!

A few funny things the kids have said this week...

Elizabeth: "Mommy, why do we celebrate Jesus' birthday on Christmas?"
Me: "Because that is when he was born, the same reason we celebrate your birthday in August, that is when you were born"
Elizabeth: "So the Easter Bunny's birthday is on Easter?"
Me: "I have no idea when the Easter Bunny's birthday is.  We celebrate Easter because Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead, remember that from Sunday School?"
Elizabeth: "oh, ok"

Me: "Grant your room smells" (and not a good smell, it really stunk!)
Grant: "Hot Dog tooted"
Hot Dog is his stuffed dog! I love that he is starting to verbalize so much more...I think we might have a funny one on our hands!

The Circus!

Mimi invited us to go to the circus that was in town this week.  We really weren't sure what to expect.  She joked that this might be like the balloon festival (see http://2littlechiefs.blogspot.com/2011/07/balloons-in-park.html)  I promised we would tell everyone it was wonderful no matter what!  Luckily, I didn't have to fib, it was good.  The kids were really into it.  At one point Robin asked me if Grant was OK because his mouth was hanging open.  "Yep, he is fine, he is just trying to figure out how he can do this trick at home!"  It was a Chinese man balancing vases on his head.  I kid you not, last night he comes downstairs balancing a box lid on his head!  The only con of the experience was the weather.  We have had a couple of beautiful spring days, but spring being, well spring, those days didn't last.  We have entered back into a cold snap and we were COLD at the circus.  Elizabeth commented at dinner, "I didn't want to say I was cold because I didn't want to have to leave!"  The circus was in an outdoor show arena.  It was covered, but the wind was whipping through the sides and keeping a nice chill on everyone.  The kids had a blast and that's all that really matters.  Thanks Mimi for the adventure!

Girls Day

Elizabeth and I have decided to make our dentist appointment day into Girls Day too!  She is done with school at 11:30 and our appointment was at 1:00, leaving just enough time to have lunch and do a few errands.  She requested we go back to the "teapot restaurant, you know the ladies lunch place"  I picked her up from school and off to Maria's we went.  We got seated and she whispers "Mommy, there are boys over there."  I look and there is a table with two men.  "It's OK honey, boys are allowed to eat here."  I guess I shouldn't put too much emphasis on this tea room being a spot that ladies like to lunch, because apparently men enjoy it as well!  Her drink was served in an adorable tea pot and her eyes just lit up!  There is also something very special about putting sprinkles on applesauce :)  She insisted I take many pictures of her.

Pouring the "tea"

Ready to drink the "tea"

Notice the pinky finger is sticking out!

We had a lovely lunch.  It is so special for the two of us to spend this time together.   We headed to the USPS for a book of stamps and  got a special snack at the grocery store and then went to dentist.  Good news, she still has 20 teeth and no one had any cavities!

Grant's First Swim Lesson

We have been anxiously awaiting the return of Coach Aaron for swim lessons.  Grant had his first lesson with him this week.  He was really excited to go and once we got there he got a little nervous.  His bottom lip was quivering and he was fighting back tears as I plunked him into the water.  He did fine when he was with Aaron, but wasn't so content to sit on the steps and wait for his turn.  He wanted to get out of the water and have me hold him.  After about 10 minutes we convinced him it would be warmer if he stayed in the water on the steps.  He had a short moment when he fussed a little, but then he was totally fine.  He has told everyone that he has been "whimming" (the way he says swimming).  We will see how round 2 goes next week! Good job Grant!

Spring Break

My mom had an idea to escape for a few days over Elizabeth's spring break.  We had a whole week of no school, dance or swimming and as it ended up speech got cancelled too!  It was Wednesday and Elizabeth had declared that she was not a fan of spring break because she missed all of her activities.  Her timing was perfect.  "How about we go to Chicago? Now, your bags are already packed, Ima is on her way over."  Her response was "Let's get moving!"

Slightly blurry, to protect the innocent, but two ladies in the family sleep exactly the same way with an arm over their head!

We tried to keep our shopping even with kid activities.  Our first stop was Ikea - my happy place.  We tried to check them into the kids play area, but they were booked.  We shopped for about 45 minutes and then tried again and they had room for them.  The kids were thrilled.  They think it is great fun to be dropped off and to get to play.  Elizabeth was an awesome big sister and even helped her brother go to the bathroom.  I got a few things for Grant's room and other random Ikea items that I just couldn't live without!  Next we checked into the hotel and checked out the pool.  We did a little shopping at Oak Brook, had dinner at PF Changs and then headed back to swim.  In my rushed sneaky packing, I totally forget that Elizabeth loves her goggles and really only puts her head in the water if she has them.  She did a lot of back floating and back stroking!  Grant was fine in the water as long as he was clinging to someone's hip!  Time to get this boy into swim lessons!  The kids got to pick out a new friend at Build a Bear.  Welcome "Hot Dog" and "Cupcake" to the Pauli family!

Hot Dog getting ready to be stuffed

Checking the stuffing!

Grant picking out Hot Dog's Heart

Giving Cupcake's heart a kiss

Hot Dog gets a bath

Ready to go!

We went to Woodfield mall the next day and they have a great play area for the kids.  It was looking like it was going to be a warm afternoon so we headed to Brookfield Zoo.  It was a quick trip, but the kids really enjoyed it.  The Tropics building with the monkeys has always been my favorite and they did not disappoint.  Just ask Grant and he will tell you "monkey spit - not nice!"  Luckily, the monkey wasn't spitting at us, just a fellow monkey.  We went back to the hotel to swim again and then went to dinner.  My mom and I think it was best Mexican food we have ever had, and it wasn't just the margaritas that were good! Uncle Julio's was  the name of the restaurant and I think I enjoyed it more than PF's.

On our last day we started with a wonderful breakfast at a nearby restaurant and headed to he DuPage Children's Museum.  We were there for over three hours and the kids didn't ask for a snack once -  that's how entertained they were.  It is not a particularly large museum, but it has so much offer.  I think the giant "Light Bright" exhibit was their favorite, but they enjoyed so many other things too!  They are the perfect age for children's museums and this one ranks right up there!  We ate at McDonalds and headed home with two tired kiddos.  Grant took a great nap in the car and Elizabeth happily watched a movie in peace.  It was just the mini get away that we needed.  Great idea Mom! Thanks for letting us tag along and for letting me drive ;)

The giant Light Bright - the kids tried to fill every hole!

Fun with shadows

More fun with shadows

He could have watched 

Easter 2013

We had breakfast, hunted Easter eggs and still left the house by 8:00 for 8:30 church service.  We had an early morning!  The Easter Bunny had thought it best to hide the eggs inside the house given the chilly temperatures outside.  The kids had a great hunt and even shared their eggs - it was very sweet.  I remember they shared their eggs last year too.  Too bad they can't keep sharing spirit up year round!  Elizabeth got some pretty cool Croc rain boots.  Grant seemed just as thrilled with new swim trunks and  a bubble gun.  

 

We made it through the entire church service with the kids and Grant even went up for the children's sermon.  I couldn't see them, but apparently, Elizabeth had her arm around him the whole time (melt my heart!).

We had lunch with my parent's and joined Brandon's parent's in the evening.  It was a great day and we are now ready for some warm weather the kids can use their spring toys (bike bells!) and wear those new spring outfits!