A Happy 4th of July weekend!

We hope everyone had a happy 4th of July weekend!

We invited two families over to our house for a pre-parade breakfast on July 3rd. Both families have little boys the same age as Andy. After breakfast here, we walked 2 blocks to the Brookfield parade (a typical small-town affair, but great fun nevertheless). Andy could be seen bopping to the music, which made Mommy especially happy when it was marching band music!

One family came back to our house after the parade for some slip-n-slide fun. Both boys loved playing in the water. Then after Andy took a much deserved nap and Daddy inflated the pool, we hosted the other family for more water play. Every bath toy was in use! An outdoor pizza dinner with our friends and then it was bedtime. The booms and bangs of fireworks did not wake Andy up (unlike his parents who were awakened at 2am).

We went to an outdoor festival the evening of the 4th but Andy didn't stay up for fireworks (next year). Then on the 5th, Chris grilled yummy shish-kabobs for lunch while Andy played (in his clothes) in the pool. He had so much fun - tried to capture his laughs in photos . . .

Recent Adventures

No photos to share this time, but we have had some adventures recently:

- we drove to North Canton, OH this past weekend for a nice visit. It was the first time we were at Kris's parents' house since Christmas and this time we celebrated Kris's Dad's and Grandma's birthdays. Andy did well in the car for the 7-hour drive, but had to make a few more stops on way home since he didn't nap well.

- Andy rode the L for the first time on Tuesday, June 29th. Kris and Andy, along with another mom and boy, went downtown for Taste of Chicago. Chris met us for lunch. Lots of fun and cheescake on a stick! Andy LOVED jumping in the bouncy houses.

It's summer for little boys

A sure sign of summer: scuffed knees! Andy fell today at a bubbles playdate we hosted in our backyard, but it must not have bothered him because he didn't cry or fuss. I didn't even notice until we came inside to wash up.

We saw Ralph again!

Ralph performed at the Brookfield Zoo this past Sunday and we were there! Andy enjoyed himself, even though photos don't show him smiling. However, Ralph performed at 2pm which is prime naptime for us so by the end Andy was pretty spaced out.

Andy did muster some energy for playtime on the nearby playground during intermission.

Toward the end of the concert it began to pour. We quickly took shelter under a tent with a lot of other families, but some braved the rain to hear Ralph (who kept on playing!).

Happy Memorial Day!

Andy, Chris and Kris spent the Memorial Day weekend in Cedarburg, WI at the home of Chris's brother and family. The weather was great so we were able to play outdoors - including flying kites and playing in the kiddie pool!

On Monday morning we all enjoyed the town's holiday parade.

4 days in Kansas City

We just returned from a quick vacation to Kansas City. We flew out Saturday morning and returned Tuesday evening. Kris's parents joined us there. Chris's main goal for the trip was to eat BBQ so our first stop was for BBQ at Oklahoma Joe's. Pulled pork was good.

Chris and Tom visited Jazz Museum and Negro Baseball museum; we all had dinner at Winstead's. Next day saw us at Union Station where Andy had a blast at Science City.

That evening we went to Arthur Bryant's for more BBQ.

Monday had us roadtripping first to Lee's Summit where there was a children's activity center and then onto Independence for the Truman sites.

This is what Andy thought of the Truman Library

Kris and Chris went out to dinner at Jack Stack Monday night for Chris's birthday. Kris loved the burnt ends and had no trouble declaring this her favorite. Chris liked the lamb ribs. Next day we went to WWI Museum and Hallmark Visitor Center.

First haircut (by someone other than Mom or Dad)

Andy had quite an adventure today. We drove about 20 minutes to Yorktown Mall where there is a Snippets, a hair place specifically for kids. He was able to select which chair he wanted (plain, taxi, horse, or train). No surprise he chose the train! A smock was put on him and the cutting began . . .

He did really well - razor give him some pause, but no panic. Loved the spritzing of the water bottle to wet his hair. He got a little impatient at the end (especially as Mommy asked that the bangs be trimmed once more), but all in all, did great. Afterwards, they offered him a sticker, which he took, but he was much more interested in their fire extinguisher!

When we left Snippets, we walked around Yorktown Mall where Andy got to ride the train. I was nervous he might get scared being in a car without Mommy, but he loved it - even climbed out all by himself at the end.

We played on the indoor playground after our train ride. And, to finish off the adventure, we had lunch out in the food court where Andy enjoyed some Arby's roast beef.

Gettin' around

Andy took his first Metra ride on April 29th. Liked the bounciness of the train.

Then on May 2 we (and by "we" I mean Chris) reinstalled the car seat so Andy would now be riding forward. He doesn't look so impressed in the photos . . .

Fun with visitors!

Grandma Sue came to visit for a few days in end of April. We had lots of fun together: we went to the park, a toy store and out to lunch. She also came with Andy to his Friday morning Park District class where she proclaimed him "the star"!

Two days later Grandma Emmons, Aunt Heather, Gavin and Renae came to visit. We went to Monkey Business, the park and to the children's museum. Andy discovered the drinking fountain!

Gavin and Andy had fun at the park in the afternoon.

Happy Easter!

Easter Bunny brought Andy a basket full of fun things: new bath toy, books and cookies! The photo is of Andy enjoying one of the oatmeal raisin cookies.

Andy's first time wearing a tie!

In the afternoon we went to Doug and Jim's for yummy ham dinner. Andy enjoyed seeing his cousins Walter and Steven.

That's a big shirt you have there

Two of us thought this was funny - one did not. . .

Museum of Science and Industry

On Tuesday the 30th, Andy, Grandma Emmons, Grandpa Emmons and I went to the Museum of Science and Industy - it was Andy's first visit there. One of our first stops was the kids' area where Andy took to the water table.












Then we went to look at model trains, which Andy loved (and so did Grandpa!)

Second Egg Hunt and Bubble Extravaganza

This Saturday morning, we took Andy to his second egg hunt. This one was outdoors and although the weather was cold, there were probably over 80 kids just in the under-3-year-old hunt. Andy was quite content with the two eggs that he "found".

After the hunt, we played at the park for quite a while, followed by a visit to the Easter Bunny! This was Andy's first time meeting the bunny.

On Sunday, we fired up the grill (even though it was still cold outside!) and Uncle Doug and Uncle Jim came over for dinner. I brought out the bubble machine Andy got for his birthday last year and he squealed with delight. I wasn't able to capture the giggles in the photos, but I have a feeling we'll be seeing this toy a lot this summer!

First Easter Egg hunt

Braving the falling snow, we went to Brookfield's Easter Egg Hunt this past Saturday. Andy participated in the Under-3 Hunt. Well, as you can see in the photos, "hunt" might be too strong a label, but he had fun taking apart the plastic eggs.



Our favorite moment (and one I wish we had on video) was in the middle of the commotion of kids running around to find and open eggs, Andy spotted a fire extinguisher on the far wall of the VFW hall. Walking around shrieking kids and kicking aside eggs and candy, he marched with determination to cross the room and point out his find.

We are attending another egg hunt this coming weekend - we can only hope that this one will have a fire extinguisher too.