First Visit to the Morton Arboretum (Rolling down hills)

This weekend was beautiful (70+ degrees) and we took full advantage by spending a ton of time out at parks. Saturday and Sunday we did local parks, baseball, football and a Simon play date (Lillian wasn't feeling well Sunday morning so she snoozed).  Monday, because it was a holiday for the whole family, we took the day to do a little nature adventuring and went to the Morton Arboretum for the first time. It was such a great time. A little under an hour away and it's huge, with walking paths, large fields and a pretty great children's area. We actually never made it to the walking paths because we got distracted by the hills! The kids learned how to roll down a hill and then spent a ton of time just being kids. At one point Simon took off his shoe to pull out a rock or something and Lillian stole it and ran off while he hopped after her. Lots of laughing all day. We'll definitely be going back.

Children's area
(that is Simon walking across and a stranger at the bottom)

Tossing the football around.

Lillian's collection of 'acorns'

SO Dirty!

SHE HAS HIS SHOE!

Who will be faster?

Rock Band

We've started playing rock band as a family. I was astonished to find that Lillian knows all the words to Bob Marley's 3 Little Birds. Kids love it and it's a great cold weather family activity.

Story Telling Simon

Simon has been learning a ton in Kindergarten. He can count to 100 a few different ways, write the numbers to 100, he has learned 20 sight words and has started composition classes. Below is the first story he brought home. Beginning, middle and end of a story with illustrations.

1) Simon and Mom are in the forest and we are playing.

2) I got lost in the forest.

3) Mom found me. 

Lego Batman Movie! (Simon's first in the theater movie)

Took Simon to his first movie - Lego Batman. He loved the experience. The screen was huge, he ate so much popcorn and generally enjoyed everything. Had a bit of trouble remembering not to talk, but I still have that same problem sometimes too. 

Dinner out with the family

Everyone loves mexican! 

Hamilton Hop 2017

The Hamilton Hop is a fundraiser for the 8th graders' trip to Washington DC. The 8th Graders throw a dance party for Pre-K through 5th graders. The kids have a blast running around and eating all the popcorn they can shove into their little mouths. 

This year, Simon ran in and knew a bunch of kids and was immediately leading a dance train and generally having a blast. But Lillian didn't really know anyone and the kids she asked to dance with her all shyly ran off. When Simon found out, he left his friends and spent the rest of the night dancing with her. Made my heart warm. 

Here are some photo booth pictures of the event. 

Dancing together.

She fell and got run over so was sad, I cheered her up though!

Funny Faces!

Lillian crashing another family's photo.

Just Simon and Lillian. He's trying to play with her.

Random January Video and Pictures.

Lillian cooking muffins with Alan.

I gave her a chocolate cookie. It's gone.

3 separate illnesses in January. Terrible health month.