Racing home from Dinkel's

On Tuesday both kids were up extra early. We decided to celebrate Veteran's Day by going to Dinkel's. Simon wanted to race Lillian the whole way there and back.

Sleepy kids

It's not often that I can sneak into Lillian's room and get a picture of her sleeping, she is a very light sleeper. Simon still sleeps like a rock.

Colleen's pre-birthday breakfast

We went over to Colleen and Joe's house for a Pre-Birthday celebration. The kids loved playing with Bailey Dog and of course loved breakfast! Such a great morning!

Hanging with Bailey

Lillian would sneak up and then touch Bailey's tail
then RUN AWAY LAUGHING!

Watching football.

Lillian was so tired on the ride home!

Saturday Morning: Breakfast and the Zoo

On Friday Simon asked if we could go out to breakfast and see the tigers at the Zoo. Since we didn't have plans for Saturday morning Alan and I decided that was a great idea. We went to Yolk (new restaurant in a location we've been to before which is on the way to the zoo).  Everyone loved the food. Lillian said hi to every waiter, waitress, bus boy and patron that walked by.

Coloring!

Hi Everyone!

His face when I asked him to smile.

Mama: No, Simon, a real smile.
Sigh

I think she's getting tired... but still waving.

There go the sea lions.

Lillian loved the sea lions too!

Climbing.

Exploring the area and saying hi to all the people.

This is primarily Lillian walking around. She pauses to dance because the guy she is looking at is playing music on his phone. Toward the end of this I also backed up and you can see the contraption Simon climbed through. It was a bit of a maze so Alan helped Simon navigate. 

Here she is watching the turtles.

Simon's Art

Simon's class has been working on how to draw what they are picturing in their head and not just "scribble scrabbles".   They've talked a lot about how to draw people and making sure you include important parts like head, feet, fingers, etc.  So lately Simon has been wanting to practice that all the time on his whiteboard in the kitchen.  The other night he and I drew for a while together, and he made a couple of fun pictures.

First he drew "Baseball Dracleah" (I'm guessing he heard about Dracula in school?) that he had first started talking about earlier that day while watching baseball with Mama. This one he did completely by himself.

The beginnings of Baseball Dracleah

Now that Baseball Dracleah has hands, ears, and a bat (under his ear), Simon started drawing a pitcher in the background to throw to BD.

The finished masterpiece

As soon as he was done, he immediately erased it (glad I took a picture). Then he and I worked together on a new picture that he called "Sam Francisco Mean". The blue marker is from him, and the black from me. But everything I drew was reviewed by him, and had to be redone if it didn't meet his standards, so he gets full credit for this one as well.

Today with Jessie

Lillian ate a banana that she held the peal for today. The whole thing! YUM. 

Lillian, Lillian and Jenn

Jenn came over on Sunday and we went out to take some family photos. Afterward we went out to dinner. Lillian has been teething fiercely and at the same time started becoming very independent. She chews on everything and really likes to walk places. If you're holding her and walking she'll frantically sign down until you let her walk on her own. Keep a good grip on her hand because she will usually wonder over to a tree to see if there is anything over there that she shouldn't touch so she can touch it.