Good News, Bad News

The bad news: the same icky illness I had back before Christmas has continued, and I have been very delinquent in my blogging. The good news: because of said ickiness, I have taken very few pictures, so you're really not missing much.

Here are a few from Christmas (Yes, Christmas - it was only a month ago. January, could you get any longer?) and our visit to Chicago and Michigan.On Christmas Eve, we met some friends to go ice skating at Centennial Park. Noah and Ben hung in there for a good 15 minutes, before deciding they were more adept at drinking hot chocolate off the rink.

Ben and Kira trying to maneuver around the rink. Darn ice is so slippery!Dressed and ready for Christmas Eve service. Hmmm, how much longer will I be able to get away with dressing them in dorky matching sweaters?Ben decorated these cookies for Santa. We wrote him a note then headed to bed to wait for Christmas morning ...The MUCH anticipated hole puncher. It was top on his wish list, and Santa came through. Noah and Ben are great little helper chefs, now complete with aprons. Noah rocks out to "The Reindeer Song," aka Rudolph.

The next day we packed up the car and headed for Indianapolis, then Chicago, and finally Michigan. It was so much fun to be back in Chicago - first time the boys have been there. Our first stop was our old neighborhood. We had lunch at our favorite diner and then went to check out our old apartment.

Noah and Jess in front of our apartment building. Like everything else in the world, they have been converted to condos, but basically look the same.

Noah and Ben had to take some time to play in the snow.

Then we headed to Navy Pier.

God forbid we ever go anywhere and not find a train to ride ... twice.

Goofy boys at the Children's Museum.

Walking to dinner on the Magnificent Mile.

I don't have many pics of our time in Michigan, but it was so great to be home and to spend time with family. Despite the frigid temps, the boys did get out to play in the snow a few times.Getting a sled ride from Daddy in Booma and Papa's front yard. Being the complete and utter wimp that I've become, I took this through the window from inside the warm, cozy living room.

More Holiday Cheer

Wow, Christmas Eve is upon us and I have been very slack in updating the blog with all of our holiday festivities. We've been quite busy spreading and soaking up Christmas cheer. Well, actually, for the last week, I've been very not busy. I've been in bed with a stomach bug. I'm feeling better now, but the computer is still a bit nauseating, so forgive me for not providing too much commentary. Just here come the pics ...Christmas PJs!

We anticipate that some year, the annual picture with Santa will not need to be a family portrait. No luck this year. In fact, Noah still wasn't too sure sitting in my lap ...

And we finally made it to ride the looooong-awaited Macy's Pink Pig with friends Ava and Eli.

Ben made Christmas cookies at his cooking class ...

Last week we had a playgroup holiday party at a fun ice cream place that has old cars the kids can climb on ...

The boys each had Christmas programs this year. Ben sang in the church choir (light blue shirt in back row) ...

And Noah was a shepherd in his school's Christmas Nativity ...

Last Thursday, Jess took the boys and Ava to the town square bonfire and marshmallow roast ...

They met another good friend, Kira, there.

Best buds.

'Tis the Season

Yesterday, the holiday season kicked into full gear at our house. We made the annual trek to the tree lot to pick out our 9-ft. gem. (Jess did not appreciate its height as he was hefting it into the house, but it looks great up and lit and decorated!)

Then we headed to the Post Office so the boys could mail their letters to Santa ...

Hmmmm ... naughty or nice?
The jury's still out on Noah.

Earlier in the day we went downtown with pals Ava and Eli and their Mom and Dad to see the Children's Christmas Parade. Despite the COLD weather, the kids had a ton of fun watching all the floats and marching bands.
Ava and Ben
Noah and Eli (too cute in their matching coats)

The kids loved the giant balloons ...
Mike, Ava and Eli's dad, told me this was "Word Girl" - I found it funny that he knew.
And that classic kids' character, the Fidelity Bank lion.

Noah high-fives an elf.

This Thanksgiving

Again this year I am overwhelmed with the blessings I've been given. I have so much to be thankful for - my beautiful family, our health, and the wonderful people who fill out all the corners of our lives.

We were so glad to have the opportunity last night to serve, as a family, the families of the Nicholas House, a local homeless shelter. The boys jumped right in.

And, a different kind of blessing ... I am thankful for this occurrence this week: I left Noah with my brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and a friend of theirs on Monday to run to the grocery store. When I got home, I asked how he did. They nonchalantly said he was great - played with his toys, ran around, went poopy on the potty ... uhmmm, WHAT?!? He's NEVER done anything on the potty, and he waits until I'm gone to just announce that he has to use the potty, as if he does it all the time?! More funny, they said he asked them to leave the bathroom so he could have some privacy. When I heard about it I did the whole crazy-Mommy-happy-dance, clapping and making a big deal out of it, and he acted as if he just wanted to play it cool, like he does it all the time. Strangely, he asked to do it again later that night. Nothing since, but boy am I thankful for that surprise accomplishment!

Happy Thanksgiving, Everybody! Hope you enjoy all your blessings, big and small.

The Dream

I had to post this story because it's just so Ben. As we were leaving the park this afternoon, heading to our car, Ben started telling me about a dream he had last night (this has been a hot topic of his for a few months now). I believe it involved a police car and a magic phone and maybe a rocket, but I soon found the conversation going something like this:

Ben: There was a police car that had to drive up onto the grass ... (insert LOTS of details) ...

Me: Mmm-hmm.

Ben: And then ... (lots more details) ...

Me: Mmm-hmm.

Ben: And then ... (barely stopping for breath between run-on sentences) ...

And this carried on the whole way home. Finally, as we were pulling up to the house, he said, "Actually, I just really love talking. (Giggles) I just really love to talk."

Indeed, little man. Indeed.

Halloween Fun!

We had a fun-filled Halloween week with our little train conductor and firefighter!

On Tuesday, we had a Halloween playgroup party. These are most of our playgroup friends, but getting a shot with everyone is becoming virtually impossible.

On the big night itself, Ben and Noah's friends Ava and Eli came over for the REAL fun ...
Trick-or-treating!
The kids, of course, dove in as soon as we got back home.
And Noah was sorely disappointed the next morning to learn that he wouldn't be having candy for breakfast.

Earlier in the week, he had been dying to ride a pony at our church Fall Festival, but we decided not to wait in the mile-long line ...

Looking longingly at the ponies.

To his delight, there were also pony rides at Ben's school Fall Festival that we went to yesterday, so he got a chance to saddle up ...

and he LOVED it!

Seeing little brother do it gave Ben the courage to give it a try. He also loved it, and claims that his was so big it wasn't a pony, but a horse.

I love the unabashed joy that 4-year-olds have when they see a friend. Here Ben greets his classmate Sydney.

The petting zoo is always a favorite with our guys. This piglet was too, too cute. The boys said they'd be willing to take it home and share their bedrooms with it.

Noah wasn't so sure about brushing this napping donkey. He kept "shh-shh-ing" everyone who came near it so as not to wake it up.

'Til next year, happy Halloween!