Weekend pictures

Practicing eating popsicle and Simon shared with her - Lillian discovered that they are super cold.

Simon flying a kite!

Lillian this week

Lillian and Alan stayed home this past week. Here are a couple pictures that Alan sent me of Lillian.

It was very warm a few days - look, no leggings!

Eating is so funny!

Until you are ALL DONE!

Checking out her new batman socks she got from Jenn.

Simon and Emily to Arizona April 5-11

Simon and I went to Arizona, just the two of us, for seven whole days. As soon as we arrived Simon jumped around on and off rocks and did some gardening with Grandpa Bart. Simon must have spent an hour showing me the proper way to jump off a rock (while I dozed in the sun).

The first couple days there I had to work in the morning and Grandpa Bart took Simon to the club and they established a routine - first play golf, then eat lunch, then swim, then rest, then eat dinner and go to bed. Every day that they went to the club they spent an hour at the driving range!  Simon just totally loved golf. Tuesday they went and got Simon his very own properly sized club and he is so proud of it! Simon is pretty good at golfing - which is no surprise since hitting balls with sticks is one of his favorite things to do. The swimming was a hit too, but golfing was the best thing on the trip. Simon didn't mention baseball once!

We had such a wonderful time. Simon didn't want to leave and I totally understood not wanting to give up vacation. Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa Sweeney, for such a great trip!

Johnny Workerman came out the first day to help Grandpa Bart take out some flowers.
Simon then spent an hour showing me the proper way to jump off a rock. 

Simon and Grandma Kiki showing off some mad puzzle skills.

Grandma Kiki, Grandpa Bart and Simon all golfing.

First putting lesson.

He LOVED hanging out with Grandpa Bart.

Spent hours in the wading pool just splashing and enjoying himself

This is representative of Monday, Tuesday, Thursday AND Friday.

Warming up with Grandpa Bart after swimming his heart out.

Reading books with Frankie Dog (the book talks about dinosaur predators)

Guess who are the predators!

Snuggling with Grandma Kiki

Showing off his golf swing!

Arizona Railway Museum and Park

While Simon and I were in Arizona, Grandpa Bart and Grandma Kiki took us to the Arizona Railway Museum. There was a really great train ride that went around the whole property, by a couple playgrounds and through a tunnel! Simon was so very excited while we waited in line. We also went through some restored rail cars (Simon went quickly) and then saw a bunch of model railway sets that Simon could have looked at for a few more hours. It was a great excursion! We will definitely go back next time we are in Arizona.

The whole group, Simon couldn't take his eyes off of everything else long enough to look at the camera.

In line waiting for the train (you can see a bit of it behind us). Simon is SO excited.

Such a happy, excited kid!

Finally on the TRAIN!

Selfie on the Train.

Looking at the train after we rode it.

Looking at the model trains.

Best view is from up here!

We had a picnic snack here and Simon became one of the Family Circus kids.
They will have a Family Circus Museum opening nearby soon.

Simon Says Part 5

Daddy: Simon, why are you wasting all that food?

Simon: Oh, don't be sad.  I'm just going to throw it in the trash and you'll never see it again.

Daddy: Yes, that's wasting it

Simon: ... I'm ok with that.

Simon (singing the alphabet song): "Now I know my ABC's, next time won't you sing with me?"   Sing with me is just pretend, it's part of the song.  You don't have to really sing.

Daddy (after accidentally bumping Simon's sore toe): Oh - I'm sorry, Simon!
Simon (very seriously): Dad.  Sometimes you're great, and sometimes you're bad.  And that was bad.

Simon: We read a witch book at school today!

Daddy(making a Dad Joke): Oh, which book?

Simon (a little confused): We read... a witch book.

Daddy: Yes, that's what I'm asking.  Which book?
[this goes on for a bit]

Simon (giving a dirty look as he gets up from the table): Ok, I'm done with talking.

Simon (trying to give a compliment): Mom, you run as fast as an old guy!

Simon (walking out of school, at the TOP of his voice): EXCUSE ME SKY, CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE ME SOME MONEY?!
Random lady on sidewalk: If that works, please let me know.

Simon: It's so dark that I think the dogs have turned into wolves.

Daddy: And what's the first thing we're going to do when we get home?
Simon: Walk in.

Simon: Let's play Jack and the Beanstalk.... I'll be the bean.

Weekend Fun

Alan and I had a great and productive weekend with the help of all Chicago based sisters and Jenn. We redecorated Lillian's room, hung a few things on the wall in her room, talked through and measured for furniture in in the basement tv room, guest bedroom, and Lillian's room. We also ordered blinds for downstairs, black out blinds for the guest bedroom. (All future guests make a happy noise!)

It was also very social time since we got to see the Chicago based sisters and Jenn! Some pictures below.


Occasionally Alan will turn Lillian upside down which she finds HYSTERICAL. When I ask her to turn her pacifier upside down she did this:

I had just sung the ABCs to Lillian and she is showing off her own singing:

Where is Simon?

Snuggles!

Auntie Colleen and Joe brought Easter Baskets when they came! They had toys and fun and CANDY! Simon was very into the candy but I made him wait until after breakfast.

(This is how we eat candy at our house. Pull out a plate, put all candy on the plate and eat until you want to be done. We did this for halloween and it really worked well. There is no playing while eating candy because I do not want to find chocolate in my rug or jelly beans stuck to my couch. )

Simon digs into the chocolate bunny that Auntie Colleen and Joe brought him.

WHAT!? It is hollow!

Plays like a flute!

Yes. Yes, he likes chocolate.

Lillian on a morning walk - saying birds!

Lillian is almost a year and a half (just 3 weeks shy) and she is a communicating machine. She has been amazed with her recent forays into the outdoors and LOVES birds. We dropped Simon off at school in the morning and then she and I took our time walking down the sidewalk to get home. Here she is saying Car, Birds and making her hysterical surprised face.