Cousins!

Welcome to the family, little Lyra!

The Circus!

Another instance where having kids gives me an excuse to do something fun that adults don't normally do--the circus!  I loved the chance to take Finn to his first circus.  We started off by arriving early for the "sneak preview," down on the stadium floor.  After a while Finn decided he'd rather get a bird's eye view and we climbed allll the way to the top on the United Center, exploring before the show started.  Luckily Finn had his binoculars at the ready!  

When the circus started with a whole lot of music and marching and colors and spectacle, Finn was definitely overwhelmed, but eventually he seemed to really get into it.  He said he would not want to be a tight-rope walker, but did plan to be one of the guys who risked his life flipping around in the spinning wheels that traveled 50 feet off the ground.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Click here to see more pics!

Thankful

Today I am thankful for the little moments, the simple pleasures, that added up to a really good day:

-the boys slept until 7:30
-Finn enjoyed the parades enough that I was able to sit on the couch for a good hour and a half, watching, drinking coffee, and perusing the ads from the newspaper
-the neighborhood kids gathered next door and played for long enough that I managed to straighten the house, get the table set, and take a shower
-my black legging didn''t fall down as much, now that I shrunk them
-Wylie was as happy as I've ever seen him, playing in a box
-Finn proud to show off the chocolate covered pretzels he made
-holding my new niece, baby Lyra
-Jason not electrocuting himself with the electric knife
-Finn leading "Grace" before dinner
-Finn is thankful for his legs
-Wylie's first Thanksgiving and he gobbled up tons of turkey
-talking about Kindles with Dad, and anticipating getting one
-Mom and Helen cleaning like crazy in the kitchen
-chatting with Robyn about breastfeeding
-watching Joe be a dad
-ending the day with my favorite movie, Miracle on 34th Street

First happy bath together

Over the past few months I have tried a handful of times to put Wylie in the bath with Finn, but for an inexplicable reason, Wylie just cried until I took him out.  Finally, last weekend, he realized the joy of a big boy bath with his brother!

Hmm, Wylie's thinking, maybe this is fun.

Finn "washed" Wylie and I was amazed Wylie put up with it.

And "rinsed" him, too.

Success!

5Ks

Brookfield Zoo Run Run with Jason

Sunday, September 25

Results:  Very happy to have run the whole thing.  Slower than molasses at 38+ minutes.

Frank Llyod Wright Races with Erin McCarthy

Sunday, October 23

Results: 37:58, 12:13 per mile

Pilgrim Pacer Races in La Grange, with Erin 

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Results: 36:28, thrilled that when we finished, people were still behind us! 

Erin and I are ready to run!

"Go, Mommy, go, although this is really kinda boring."

Early in the run, looking good.

Finn joins us to sprint to the finish!

Michigan Avenue Lights Parade

We seem to have turned this outing into an annual tradition!  Wylie's first glimpses of Santa and he seemed mesmerized!  And maybe one of these years I'll figure out how to take better pictures in the dark so I can really capture the magic and beauty of the night!

A super-bundled Wylie.

Watching the street cleaners after the parade.

Standing

Out of nowhere on Sunday, November 20, Wylie pulled himself up and was standing.  Amazing, these milestones!

Random Finn

A few weeks ago Finn achieved a new first--First 911 call!  Luckily the police officer that stopped by to follow up was very nice about it and seemed to understand the idea of practicing for emergencies.  The next morning Finn "wrote" a sign to put on the door, telling the policeman there was no emergency here.

I borrowed one of Finn's picture books recently to share with my sixth graders.  When Finn noticed I'd brought the book back he asked, "Mom, did your kids enjoy Billy &; Milly, Short &; Silly?"  So sweet!

He has surprised us with a number of adult-esque phrases lately:

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"  Yet he never told us what he was thinking...

"I just realized something!  I forgot to give my friends their pictures."

On the way home from the Thanksgiving service the other night we got Finn a milkshake. The next morning he opened his secret door by the front door and started drinking it!

Thanksgiving Service

Finn's preschool puts on a Family Thanksgiving Service - in lieu of a Christmas pageant - to parade all the kids in front of their parents singing sing-songy songs with corresponding gesticulations. It's cute, almost embarrassingly so. Finn and his classmates spent weeks preparing - he'd sing some refrains during dinner with us to practice. In addition to taking some solace in the fact that he can in actuality follow directions, go with the flow, and sit still for some length of time - we've had our doubts! - most of all, we had a classic "that's-our-boy-up-there" prideful experience. Just grand.

Backstage.

On stage.

Typing for Dinosaurs

Finn and my conversation about dinosaurs this afternoon involved questions such as:

"How did Sue get to just bones, Mommy?"
"Where did Sue come from?"
"How did Sue die?"

Knowing diddly about Sue, I went straight to the Internet and at least was able to tell Finn she is 65 million years old and was discovered in South Dakota.  He asked to see a video of her discovery.  Such videos involved paleontologists talking, no dinosaur action.

So, Finn asked to see a video of real dinosaurs.  Hmmm, well, I tried to explain that dinosaurs walked the earth long before the invention of video cameras..."No, Mom, just type in dinosaurs!" 

Slices of the weekend

I sat on the couch reading my book while Finn played, quietly, in the playroom.  I honestly think that is the first time in four years that simultaneous mommy reading/Finn playing has occurred, for any sustained amount of time.  Eventually Finn came over and asked about my book.  As I stared at the page, reading silently, he said, "Well, read, Mommy."  I attempted to explain the concept of reading in ones head...

Wylie is now crawling from room to room exploring the house at his leisure.  So, we are stepping up the baby proofing and reminding ourselves to watch him more closely.  Jason stepped out the back door to tell me something and commented that Wylie was really on the move.  I asked with a bit of alarm, "Where is he?!  You won't let him fall down the steps?!"  Jason laughed at and was insulted by my alarm and continued our conversation.  A moment later, BONK, Wylie takes a header down one step onto the landing out the back door.  Neglegant parnets.

Jason's level of coolness has reached a new level, with his four-year old approved and applied tat!

My little Wylie does not nap for us as well as he does for Sammy during the week.  (So, instead of sleeping he is hanging out in his exersaucer, chewing on a pacifier, and chattering to himself as I type.)  Yet when I put him down for his nap he is obviously tired.  As I sing to him, holding him in my arms, he sweetly sighs and puts his head on my shoulder.

I am proud of us for finally making use of our apples this weekend.  Jason (and Finn) made apple pie and I made squash and apple soup.

Playing with color

It is Friday afternoon and Finn was pouring water into these cups for a tea party, so I was inspired to do an impromptu project with color. I really was just proud to have the energy and brain power to do anything more than find a show for Finn in the DVR.