Boston 2015 Visit with Dave, Karen and Zac

We juggled our summer vacation plans around and ended up shortening our trip to Boston. Despite that we were still lucky enough to visit with a few very special friends. Here are some photos of David and Karen and their son Zac who is Lillian's age. Karen is pregnant with a little girl due in January!

Just two kids eating bananas.

Will you zip my sweater?

Simon playing Badminton for the first time. LOVED IT! 

I'm a big kid with a big kid grin!

Hose is hilarious!

Croquet!

Simon teaching Manners At Dinkel's

Simon to lady behind the counter: Can I have a chocolate doughnut?
Emily (whispered reminder to Simon): Did you forget a word?
Simon: With sprinkles!!

Playing Together

Kids have started playing together really well. Favorite thing to play together is Doctor. They both like being the patient almost more than being the doctor. 

Lillian helping Simon put away the Dinos so they can play dr. 

Shot in the belly.

All better... Get up, my turn.

Eating machine.

Lillian is practicing to be an eating machine like her brother. She eats her mean and then when Simon is done she goes to his place setting and finishes his leftovers. 

Morning jam

Kids have been really into music lately. We have an almost daily jam session where Simon distributes instruments and makes up long songs. Don't worry, there is plenty of dancing too.

Comic creation

Jessie and Simon made this comic together! 

Weekend fun - ice cream making

We made homemade ice cream on Saturday. Lillian tried to feed Maddie a fake fish before the ice cream was ready. Maddie wisely decided that she would not eat what Lillian offered.  The ice cream was hand churned and while delicious, was too much work to make more than a serving or two. When the kids are older and can do 100% of their own mixing it'll be easier.

That is a gallon ziplock of ice and salt, with a quart ziplock with half&half, vanilla and sugar.
Rolled in a dishtowel for 5 minutes and then we had ICE CREAM!

Park in the morning.

Simon has taught Lillian to push him on the swing. She tried it on the slide too. What a good sister!

Simon Says Part 6

Simon [at 5:45]: Daddy, I have a weird smell in my nose. I think I need to read books.

Simon [getting dressed]: You know why I like underwear?? Because when I sit on the ground it keeps my butt warm.... and the carpet is bumpy and it is nicer with underwear.

Zoo Keeper [at Meet An Animal talking about mammals]: What special thing does a mommy give her baby that daddies can't give their babies?
Simon: PEANUT BUTTER!

Daddy [during post-bedtime meltdown]: Simon, you don't have to cry.
Simon: Daddy, I have to cry - there is just too much sadness.

Alan: Simon, Do you think I'm old?
Simon: Oh no, Daddy, you are not old.
Alan: Is Mama old?
Simon: Oh yes.

Simon [to Alan during dinner]: My body is different from yours because it needs more desert.
Alan: Haha!!

Preface: Hamilton is Simon's school and they recently sold shirts with their crest on them (we each got one). Simon has started looking at signs when we drive and he really likes the hospital
Simon: Daddy, I like it when you wear your hospital shirt.

Lillian Says

Lillian is so verbal and saying so many fun things that I am starting to log them....

Alan and Lillian were walking down the street and saw a lady walking two biggish dogs.
Lillian points to them and says: "AH! So much doggie!"

When she wants you to pick her up or take her from someone else she'll look at you and say: "I take you"  (which is what you'd say if you were going to take her!)

Running to you after hearing thunder: "I scared!"

Quick Visit to Arizona, Long Kid Weekend in Chicago

I took a quick trip to Arizona this weekend and visited Dad and Kiki. While I was gone Alan, Simon and Lillian had an amazing time. They went to a birthday party on Saturday with face painters, ballon shapers, spoorts and water slides! Sunday Simon went to a baseball game with Joe and Lillian played in the water with Amy. Great weekends.

Playing Catch Simon's Tongue

Sooo-Man!! (Translated: Suuuuper-Man!)

Dr Haircut

She is a climber!

Tired Simon.

Tired Lillian.

Sunday morning grocery shopping with a little love tossed in.

Baseball game with Joe.

The girls! 

Many more weekend pictures after the jump...

Jenn & Simon date

Hi all! I have posted in a long time but I had a lovely date with the big 4 year old Simon last night and wanted to share some photos! 

We went up to Andersonville (my neighborhood) and stopped into a toy store then on our way to ice cream we ran into this little puppet show. 

Simon loved it! He tipped the puppets and danced along. 

Then it was time to eat all the red ice cream in Chicago. 

The ice cream place had some hopscotch for us to exert some of that ice cream energy. 

After ice cream we stopped by the farmers market to sample every thing they would let Simon sample, a local book store to read some books, and found these lions to hug on. We had a great time and spending time with this sweet boy is one of my favorite things. I need to take Lillian out for a girls day soon :)