Revisiting Spring

I think every year I post something regarding 'spring has sprung'.  This weekend was the one that inspires that post.   There is always that turning point when winter is gone and spring is here.  This year it felt very sudden, maybe because the last month was so cold and the snow wasn't budging.  We enjoyed the weekend with classic spring/summer activities:  running, playing in the backyard, cookout and bonfire with friends, and a trip to the beach!

Pictures from Layla's Parent-Teacher Conference on Thursday last week.

Layla and Elena

Elena braided Layla's hair with the first flowers of the season!

Sunday's trip to the beach.  The kids had a blast playing in the sand and making a 'castle' with found rocks and sticks.  What a beautiful day to be out in the fresh air!

Let it Go, Let it Snow!

I've been slacking on the blog, life has been crazy busy with holidays and work and general  life stuff happening.  In recent events: Layla and I went to Frozen on Ice with our friends, Maddie and Emily.  The girls had an wonderful time and even us moms did too.  It was a lot of fun; we sang and danced and bought overpriced souvenirs.

Last weekend we went to lunch to celebrate the engagement of one of Jason's best friends, Kevin.  Afterwards we ventured to the new Maggie Daley park to go ice skating.  The kids had a wonderful time and we even got 'Uncle' Kevin out on the ice!

Jayden enjoyed skating, a lot, almost as much as he enjoys eating snow.  He slipped and slid all over, giggling and laughing the whole time.  Then I held him and skated and he kept yelling, "I skating, Mama, I skating". 

Layla (and I) experienced every possibly emotion as part of her skating experience: terror, (normal) fear, irritation, frustration and finally joy as she figured out she could actually skate if she stopped trying to run in place while gripping the rail for dear life.

The new park has been taking shape over the last year and the parts of the park are open. The new park area was existing but is all being "renovated and re-imagined"; it is connected to Millenium park by the Frank Gehry pedestrian bridge.  The skating venue is not a rink, but a 'ribbon' track.  It is very pretty and well done, though for our very limited skating skills, staying at the Millenium park rink might have been better.....

Here's a map of the park if you are interested:Maggie Daley Park and website for more pics: http://maggiedaleyparkconstruction.org/

It is snowing like crazy here and the wind is howling.  We are hunkered down and ready to eat junk food and root on the Seahawks tonight!

End of Year

Last week Layla had her Kindergarten social at her new elementary school.  She got to spend time in a Kindergarten classroom, with a buddy, while the parents got an introduction to the school from the principal.  She had a great time and saw a couple of her buddies from OA.  Here she is outside of the front door:  

Layla's class performed at the Kindergarten graduation/Spring Program last Thursday night.  It was fun and cute (aside from Jayden throwing up on me moments before it started). 

Look at these cute kids getting along and building a slumber party hide-out. 

 Our rug is here!  We really need a new coffee table, but things are looking a little more finished in the Family Room.

Gymnastics

It was our last gymnastics class Friday, I hope we will do it again.  Both kids really loved it and the teachers and facility were fantastic. 

Summer fun

Last day if school picnic with our friends and the off to the Dairy Bar to kick off the summer.  Layla just calls it 'the bar' which is probably bad for anyone overhearing our conversations. 

Friday Fun Days

Here is Jayden on 4/11/14, his 18 month mark.  He loves gymnastics class and especially swinging on the rings.  The parent-tot class has free reign of the gym. 

Layla is taking a class as well and having a blast.  We are in the gym at the same time and it is fun to see her doing all the activities.  She can walk across the high balance beam unassisted! 

 Enjoying a little fountain time at the Chicago Botanic Garden after gymnastics class. I thought this shot of the sun beam was pretty cool.   The only problem with our visiting the garden now is that Jayden tries to climb into all the pools and fountains.  Being a toddler he doesn't really like to be told no, screeching ensues. 

Things I can't explain

Another day, another story on the radio.

L: Mom!  They just said Washington D.C. That's where Aunt Rachel lives!

B: Yes, it is.  Did you know that is the capitol of our country where the President lives and our government works?

L: Why is it called that?

B:  It is named Washington for our very first president, George Washington.

L: Oh!  What did he wash?

Russia

Fortunately, on a regular day I don't spend a lot of time in the car.  When I do, the radio is usually not on because the kids are with me and they talk incessantly so unless I am playing specifically requested music that's all I can hear.  One day a couple of weeks ago NPR was on and Layla was picking up on some words.

L: Mom!  I just heard them say they are celebrating in Russia!  What are they celebrating?
(Russia is of special interest to her as of late since that is where Uncle Victor is from and the Olympics were held there.)

B: Well, they are celebrating but we don't really think it's a good think they are celebrating.
(This conversation took place as they were having fireworks in Moscow to celebrate the annexation of Crimea.)

L: Why, what happened?

B: They went to another country and said, "Hey, you Ukrainans: you are now Russian."  And we think you can't just go to another country and take it over. 

She looks puzzled and doesn't say anything so I continue on.

How would you feel, I ask her, if the Russian Army came to Glenview and told us we are now part of Russia instead of the United States.

L: I wouldn't like it.

B: What would you do?

L: Well, you know Mom I am in the Lord's Army!

Inspired

Layla has been inspired by a number of things as of late, not the least of which was the Olympics.  She especially enjoyed the ice skating and dancing, most notably Meryl Davis and Charlie White, as well as Gracie Gold and the other women skaters.

Last week while Jason was off work he took her to the movies (for the first time) to see Frozen.  It was a big hit with her.  They have been listening to the audio book at school so she was familiar with the story and has been singing the songs relentlessly. 

She continues to pester me about gymnastics class so we are signing her up for one beginning next month.  Jayden will take a tot-parent class at the same time; should be fun for all. 

Layla began her ice skating lessons last week.  It's the only class on our calendar for March, which is nice before we ramp up into spring sessions of swimming, soccer and gymnastics.  (Although Layla has no real regard for schedule and would not mind eating all her meals in the car while we shuttle her to a new activity every evening, we are trying to avoid it for the sake of our own sanity.)  She is in the "Snowplow Sam" class, level 1.  This class is for first time skaters and most of the kids spend more time sitting on the ice than on their skates.  There's actually only four kids and being my child, she is always at the front of the line talking to the teacher and telling the other kids what to do. 

Our girl is pretty steady on her blades already and walks, ever so slowly, around the rink.  She LOVES it, this cannot be understated.  Like a teenager she refuses to wear a jacket and only is wearing snowpants because they made them sit on the ice during the first class (right after it was cleaned and still wet).  Jayden loves to sit on a table next to the boards and bang on the plexiglass while screeching at his sister.  I am encouraged by the other parents who tell me that their kids passed to level 2 after the first session and those kids can actually skate, both forward and backward. 

Baby Talk

Our little boy is really starting to talk, as well as scream at us in the way that toddlers like to do when we cannot understand what they want/say/need.  He says a handful of words now:

Mama

Da

La-la

ball 

baby

bye

hi  (He says this so enthusiastically to other toddlers that it startles them, it is hilarious!)

all doh (all done)

bun (his bunny lovie)

doh (Dora)

tiss (kiss)

The last is the newest one, that just started over the weekend.  He spent about 10 minutes walking back and forth between Jason and I giving us kisses and saying "tiss, tiss" over and over.  It was priceless.  

He also started saying 'dis', which we thinks means "what's this?".

After his last bad cold and bought of bronchiolitis, he had to go back on the neb with some steroids and also wound up with a double ear infection.  This all happened while he was cutting two molars at once.  His fourth tooth on the bottom just made it's first appearance as well.

He was in great spirits this weekend, though, finally feeling better after all the meds and especially enjoys sled rides around the yard in our new March snow!  Here are a few pics from the first weekend of "Meteorological Spring".  This I learned on NPR this morning is a fancy way of telling us when it actually (usually) starts feeling like spring, so you don't have to wait for the Equinox.  Unfortunately, the 5" of snow we got on March 1 did not make it feel a bit like Spring.

Children who refuse to nap will be put to work in the Kitchen.

We made banana muffins, chicken pot pie and apple pie. 

Jayden helped by eating flour. 

New snow! 

Everybody loves a good snow angel. 

 Rides around the yard on the sled give Mom a good workout.

Trying to walk in the snow that is almost as deep as you are tall is tough.
There is a good layer of crusty ice that kept Jayden (mostly) 'afloat'. 

February Stinks!

February Stinks is the Evite title and premise of the party I am going to this weekend.  It does sort of sum up how we are all feeling about winter at this point in time.   Monday it snowed about 6 inches.  In expectation of the 43 degrees we were going to have Tuesday and Wednesday we refused to shovel.  This has worked out pretty well except for the last 5 feet of the driveway (closest to the garage) that gets no sun and is now a small skating rink.  No matter, the rain that has been falling all day today will be a nice layer of ice on everything overnight.

Life has been fairly uneventful since my last post, which was a month ago.  After the chaos of the holidays I am quite grateful for the quiet time.  We have been enjoying the Olympics as ever and Layla especially likes the ice dancing and skating, Jason and I have been following the alpine and ice track events.  Today, I took a break from work and watched the OT of the Women's Hockey final.  It was pretty heartbreaking.  How sad that a loss brings you a silver medal.  I hope they will be proud anyway.  It was obvious everyone put their heart and soul into the game.

Layla has been obsessed with gymnastics and dance as of late and looking into our options for gyms  has made ice skating lessons look reasonably priced.  I hope to woo her with some ladies skating tonight.  Ice skating class starts next week! I haven't signed her up yet......   She hasn't seemed interested in girls playing hockey, no dresses.  Some days I wonder where this girl came from!

Tonight I head to Kindergarten registration for our little fireball.  It's hard to believe how the time has passed.  I always wondered about the intense sentiment some parents have surrounding the start of Kindergarten.  And today I do feel a little sad and sentimental about it.  It is the start of her really growing up and away from us.  It is the start of the public school system which was clearly invented to be the biggest PITA imaginable to working parents.  Remarkably, the Kindergarten registration extends past 5:00 pm but that's the only thing on the calendar outside of business hours.  I guess they are trying to ease us in.

The best news of all is that Jason is going to be starting a new job soon!  Wish him luck on his new adventure.   He will be working downtown for a well-respected firm, it is a great step in his career.

Here are some cute kid pics to make you smile!

 Layla is ready for the date night with Dad to the Princess Ball aka Daddy-Daughter Dance.

Jayden is grinning at his sister after sharing with her his very first fudgesicle.

That is definitely something worth smiling about.  Plus he now has a stick to chew on.

Layla is working on her beam routine at one of the gymnastics gyms we tried out last week. 

I have been completely unsuccessful in deterring my kids from eating snow, especially the little one.  He will lay down on his belly and shovel it in if I leave him unattended (while I am locking the front door, for instance). 

When you find something red and messy, put it in your hair.  That's what I would do!

The snow continues!

The snow continues on here in Chicago-land where we are already well past our average snow fall totals for the season.   We had a bit of a reprieve from the biting cold and managed to get outside a bit this past weekend when Allie was in town visiting.

 Layla makes Aunt Audrey's meatloaf recipe, both kids loved it! 

Brunch and zoo with Aunt Allie and cousin Kate.

Allie and Layla building Cindarella's castle.

A visit to The Grove and a meeting with a de-scented skunk!

Apparently, a de-scented skunk is a lot like a cat.

Jayden's new train table from Aunt Allie. 

15 Months!

Our little boy is 15 months old today!  He has only gained a few ounces since his one year check up and it's no wonder: he is finally walking.  He took his first steps around Thanksgiving, but up until the last two weeks had only taken a few steps at a time.  Now, he staggers like a drunk from room to room saying, "Ball, ball" over and over looking for one of a thousand balls we have strewn about.  He makes it a habit to stash them under the couch, in the tupperware cupboard and so on, so he knows there is always one nearby.

He has new teeth coming in, one broke through this week and the dr. says his molars on the way.  I totally forgot about one year molars, so it was either very easy or very difficult with Layla since I have blocked it out entirely.

Lately, Jayden's favorite activity is to play in the kitchen sink or at the bathroom sink (where there are stools he can climb on) and play with the dishes or just turn the lights on and off repeatedly.  Good times!

Here he is at the Botanic Garden for Wonderland Express, looking into one of the conservatories. 

I love seeing his reflection in the window. 

Testing the strength of his stocking. 

At the doctor's office.  Of course, he wanted to be up in his own chair like Layla.

Stats: 32" tall, 24 pounds and 13.9 ounces.  He is right about the 78% on the growth chart.  

I read through the handout from the doctor "Well Child Care at 15 months" and my favorite part was under the "Behavior Control" heading: You need patience.  

He is definitely becoming a toddler and making his wishes known.  The cute baby phase is ending, the toddler tantrums are beginning......

Baby no more

Though he does still like 2 naps a day and is not yet quite walking (just a few steps here and there) there are some definite signs that our baby is not a baby anymore. 

Riding in the car at the grocery store with big sis. 

Opening and climbing into the dishwasher.

Standing up and turning around in order to shake the high chair. 

He thinks this is hysterical!

First haircut - Getting the apron on. 

Trim underway, no crying! 

Baby transformed into little boy, with hairspray to tame that mane.