Rainy Days!

The weather has been coldy and rainy these past few days. We've tried to make the best of it and get out and do anything we can think of to keep entertained. Plus Chris worked from home so we HAD to get out of the house. We went to the Khol's Childrens Museum with our friends Marla and Hana. It was a really cool little place. The kids loved it and got absolutely soaked in their Waterworks exhibit, and it was nap time by this point. Hana kept us entertained on the way home by singing "Wildthing", and "It's My Party & I"ll Cry If I Want To".  Caleb got a pop-up cabana for the beach and to take on vacation that he uses as a tent and a place to store all of his cars. After the big storm yesterday morning we went outside to play in the puddles. Emmit handed down his rainboots that fit Caleb just right, it was the perfect time to try them out. I had to show him how to stomp around in the puddles and he looked at me like "You're really going to let me do this Mom?"

His cabana, only Oso is allowed in there

Purell Anyone?

Let me start off by first saying DO NOT buy tickets to the Animal Expo! What we thought was going to be an educational experience with hands-on exposure to exotic animals turned out to be "Hey if you own a reptile bring it to the mall for everyone to see! We'll throw out some plastic chairs to sit in and charge you for it." Caleb did enjoy it and some of the animals were cool (that they took out of plastic tupperware that they were stored in) so that's all that matters. Definitely wasn't worth the drive or the shower that I had to take. 

Caleb wating patiently

Caleb and I petting....I'm not sure what it was. Looked like a chipmunk.

He was IN LOVE with this prarie dog!

A monkey, wearing a diaper, on a leash. Enough said.

A gigantic yellow snake. We did not trust the "handlers" of the reptiles which is why Chris has a death grip on Caleb's arm.

This guy has a GF with a matching smaller iguana she carried on her shoulder. True Love

Tortuga ride, poor thing was terrified!

They had an abundance of hand sanitizer, which was thoughtful. Amy, he has his pacifier in so he doesn't put unknown obejcts or his hands in his mouth. I'm sure you were wondering! Hopefully we have something more exciting in the weeks to come. Stay tuned!

Me, Myself and I....plus a little Caleb

We had Girls Night this past Thursday at the Little Mexican Cafe. It was so nice to have adult conversations, eat dinner and it actually still be hot when you took that first bite and not worry about hands a faces to wash afterwards. We did a pretty good job of keeping our little ones out of the conversation as well. A lot harder than you'd think but we got the job done. It was fun seeing the other side of the Mommies too, and meeting new friends along the way. The asterisk means their ego is prego! :)

Mindy, Catherine *, Amanda *, Me, Mackenzie and Marla

Me, Mackenzie and Marla

Mindy, Catherine and Amanda

 Caleb has discovered a few new things. He just figured out that he can stick tihngs under his chin and carry them around. So naturally that's where everything goes these days. He's tried his cars, pens, the remote and last night at dinner he tried his quesadilla. He's getting pretty good at it. Eventually he won't need his hands for anything, who does when you've got a massive grip with your chin? We are working on Lilly's leash now so he can take her on walks himself. He also likes to hide in the cabinets while I'm cooking dinner. He'll climb in, shut the door and I'll start calling for him like I don't know where he is. He finds this hillarious for some reason and you can hear him giggling inside the cabinet. Then he checks to see if I'm looking and then slams the door open as hard as he can and jumps out. This is apparently the best thing that's ever happened to him, I have to admitt I think it's pretty fun too!

He's very serious about this in the bath tub               Okay, not so much! :)

Where's Caleb!?!

Meet the Rubb Runners! I did the race for brain cancer this weekend at Soldier Field. We were up and at em' EARLY that morning, no really...like 5:30 a.m. I didn't do too bad. I got 16th for my age group, don't ask I'm not telling, out of 140 and finished 228th out of 1,162. My friend Amanda owns Rubb BBQ, the best little BBQ place in town, hence the name Rubb Runners incase you were wondering. Her father fought the fight against cancer, twice, in his life so it was great to have his two daughters (Amanda & Melissa) and his granddaughter (Brighton) at the event and I was proud to be apart of their team. We missed Chris's Walk-N-Roll this year, mainly because I really wanted to sleep in and plus the weather has been really cold again. We were bummed because we really wanted to Roll this year instead of Walk since Caleb loves riding in his seat on the bike. There's always next year.

Me, Amanda, Melissa, Julia and Brighton in the stroller

Fun & Friends

Chris and I took Caleb down to the beach on Sunday for a bike ride along the lake. We stopped and let him get his toes in the sand and run around for a bit. He threw the BIGGEST fit we've ever seen when it was time to go. People probably thought we were baby snatchers they way we were hurrying trying to get him in the seat and take off. Don't ask me why, but on Monday I had the bright idea to go for round two. We went back to the beach but took along a few supplies, or what I like to call distractions, his bubbles and trucks. He just played and played and played. Then when it was time to go he got in his seat and didn't make a peep. Success!

Digging a road for his trucks

Skyline view from the Lighthouse, Chris said "This almost makes it worth going through winter here."

Love baby toes, especially in the sand

Thanks to Daddy, now we don't like getting dirty

Nice walk on the beach

Cool benches that are painted

Today the playgroup Moms had a bridal shower for me. We have such good friends in our neighborhood! Caleb LOVES all the kids to play with and is totally wiped out when we get home. We had lots of good food, fun games and awesome gifts! A big thanks to all my girls who helped put it together. Much appreciated! Chris had to come and help us bring everything home in the wagon, luckily we were just around the block.

Amanda made the centerpiece with the tupperware and cupcake holder we had on our registry. She's so creative! She filled the containers with cupcake ingredients.

Caleb helping me with presents. He was really looking for food, it was lunch time.

Mommas!

Amanda and Brighton

Eggs! Candy! Sunshine!

What a GREAT weekend we had! Saturday was full of sunshine and warm weather. We colored a few eggs that morning for the Easter Egg hunt. Hopefully next year it will be more fun because Caleb just wanted to drink the dye and could care less about the eggs that were laying around in the yard to find. He just wanted to blow the bubbles he got in his Easter basket. Yes, he got his Easter basket Saturday because I can not hold off on giving presents. I get too excited. O'well, Chris and I had fun coloring the eggs and eating Caleb's candy. Later in the afternoon we went a LONG bikeride along the lake, it was so nice to not have winter jackets on. I'm probably going to be chastised for saying this but it was nice to wake up Sunday morning and not have to get dressed up and rush around trying to make it to church on time. We had a good breakfast and went to the park and played all morning. We even did a little bouldering on the climbing wall the park had. Caleb was going down the slide by himself, on his belly! He's such a daredevil, and it's scary. Once he found the sandbox though it was all over. He loves gettting dirty and making a mess. Chris hates it and was following him around the park brushing him off whenever he fell or got dirty. He is going to love it when we go on vacation in 6 weeks, not that I'm counting down, and he has all the sand he can handle. Hope everyone had a great Easter weekend!

They're looking for four leafed clovers. Caleb will do whatever Daddy is doing!

How about I knock these off the counter with the tongs?

Our masterpieces, Mommy, Daddy, Caleb, Caleb's 1st Egg, My Mom is Hot & Lilly Stinks!

Bubbles!

You want me to pick all these up....No thanks!

More bubbles!

Busy Busy Busy....

We headed down south this past weekend. There was a lot on our agenda for the small amount of time we were there. Chris and I had a few wedding vendors to meet, pictures to take and cake to taste. Luckily everything went smoothley. Now if June 11th will go that way as well we will be all set. We also had our nephews 1st Birthday party to attend. It was a big hit, Caleb loves being around little kids and there were plenty there. Also, Uriah (birthday boy) got a pony for his birthday. I'll say it again...a pony.....for his 1st birthday! He is head over heels for Solo (ponys name) and Caleb screams bloody murder if you get him near a horse. So he wasn't to excited about that. After the fiesta Chris and I had a double date planned. We went to Thunder over Louisville with my sister and Mario. It was quite the adventure getting there, and coming back. The firework show was pretty awesome though! The weather today at my Moms is supposed to be 80, and we woke up to snow on the ground. Bummer! We are making the best of it though. What else can you do? What's that you say? Move? Exactly what I was thinking....

Caleb and Erin playing around at Lucilles

Birthday boy and his Mommy! It was a Mexican themed party.

His Ice Cream cake, I don't think he liked the cold!

Caleb kissing on his cousin Rayleigh. Can't take this kid anywhere.

Uriah getting his pony Solo!

Amy and Mario at Thunder

Chris and I at Thunder

Our view

It was a really good weekend. It went by way to fast and now it's back to reality. We've got a few races to run and walks to walk for the fight against cancer, and a couple parties planned for May. Then it's wedding and vacation time. I'm counting down the days. If it's still cold in Chicago by then, I just might have a new address.

Lions, Tigers and Bears.....and two 1 year olds!

We had more visitors this weekend. My sister and nephew came up and stayed a few days. Caleb is absolutely heartbroken to see his cousin go. He follows him around wherever he goes and sits by the door while he naps. It's so cute. We had a busy little weekend, wagon and bicycle rides, Lincoln Park Zoo, window markers and cookin out! Oh and my sister and I had a girls night out! You could tell we were a little rusty when we came home by ten o'clock. With their busy schedules and the distance between us it was good to catch up and let the boys play. Our little house looks  like a tornado went through it, toys are everywhere and we've somehow lost a few cups in the debris. Uriah is turning 1 this week so we will be home for his party, wedding stuff and of course Thunder Over Louisville! It's the biggest firework display in the world along the the Ohio river. Actually I don't know if it's the biggest, but it's the biggest I've ever seen. It'll be Chris's first time going and I think he's going to love it! So more updates to come! Hope everyone enjoyed the awesome weather, even if it was for just one day!

getting some fresh air...still a little chilly

The boys had a candlelight dinner, they were mesmerized by the flame

Last minute play session before bed

The beaver dam exhibit,  minus the beavers. They didn't care

Our little picnic spot

Uriah stretching his legs and eating an apple

sister sister

Their masterpieces. These markers are the coolest thing