Happy Birthday daddy (+2 weeks!)

Our last day in Chicago was spend hanging out at Grandpa Mike and Pam's house. Amanda was back from her out of town game and Great Grandma Lawrida was there too!



Oh and Ozzie. We must not forget the "puppy". (and Grandpa Mike said "I know what I can get them for Christmas...." NO! NO! He was joking. Wasn't he?! Yes. Yes....)

So we visited, played with dog, watched your Uncle Jared's favorite movie when he was little (Toy Story!).....Grandpa lit some candles on Daddy's cake. Woo hoo.



Yeah, we were worried we might have to get a permit for all those candles (I'm one to talk!)...



Ah yes, this was just after Zoe went nutso. You two didn't really nap for 2 or 3 days. This is NOT good. I spent time just before this trying to get you to nap. Zoe kept asking for her blankie (in her hand) and grabbing my hand to take me somewhere. But she'd get frustrated. I tried to lay down with her in Jared and Amanda's room, but that just made it worse. "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" _SO_ tired. So, so tired and little vocabulary and actions to communicate this. Oh, I felt so bad, but felt totally helpless. It's amazing how much you two have learned. And I'm amazed at how much you CAN do now. Little sponges (which means we better watch it!)



But a cuddle from Daddy helped. And a helping of cake (SUGAR!) made you forget it for awhile.



Meanwhile, Barb and Roman were admiring the outfits they'd coordinated for the day. :)

Thanks Uncle Dan!

A couple of weeks ago your uncle Dan left a message on our home answering maching (Yes, I understand I'll probably have to explain what this was...). He offered help with any gardening/yard/landscaping work ("I need a project").
Mama's not one to let that one pass by. So he came over one afternoon to do a walk thru of the yard. Your dad is the main gardener and has a good eye for plants. So does your uncle Dan. Your dad showed him some pictures of trees we admired on one of our walks in Chicago and Dan identified the tree (Eastern Redbud).

Not one week later he showed up with 3 of them! He found them on clearance at Lowe's and stopped by to put them in the ground. Wow!



For the first time this year the kids spend a good 5 minutes in the yard NOT touching the dirt. They have a warm up period of shyness. Brief. Temporary. Zoe's giving the gardener and the dirt some space.
See?



Of course then they meandered to another area of the yard. They like to pick these flowers. Zoe was pulling petals a la "he loves me, he loves me not..." (good practice for an upcoming flowergirl ;)




But as soon as that hose came out, Uncle Dan had two new helpers. Oh good. Water and dirt make mud.



It's funny how it was so cute the first time around. Now there isn't a time that goes by that one (usually both) aren't digging in the dirt.



And mama must remember that YES it is fun (and only take them out if they're going in the pool, thru the sprinkler or straight into the bath).

the first foray to Lake Michigan

So after our "nap" (does 15 minutes in the car really count?), we took a walk in Lincoln Park.



To the beach.



Overcast, yes. But did that really matter?



No!



Sensing a theme.
The backyard (dirt!) or the beach (dirt with style)



And no, we didn't really expect you'd stay clean and dry in these clothes ;)

Since we're heading out to GJ squared today (grandparents J & J) I figured I better finish posting from the last trip out there.




Oh so much to explore. Who knew a wood pile would offer entertainment?



Why?
Buggies.



Our lives start to feel like a nature program, except at the end of our interaction Zoe says "bye bye" and waves.



I don't think they did that on Mutual of Omaha.

While Roman napped

After visiting Shannon on her walk (two stops), the four of us headed down to the lake.
THE lake.
Zoe woke up when we stopped, but Roman slept a little more.
My chance to get some closeups, the dash made a nice stable resting spot for the camera :)









BTW I really, really, really wish I knew more about photography. (Gee imagine that...Grandpa Jon being a film/video guy his entire career). I was looking at a blog earlier today that had some AMAZING photos. Good light, clearer than clear pictures. (I mean isn't this site great?)

Of course I have the mini "you'll never be that good" conversation in my head, but I know that's a load of hooey. One can be. Some day....But sooner would be better than later, no?

still day 2

We got to do a little walking around a beautiful Chicago neighborhood. (Where we took some pictures of a tree....something to show your Uncle Dan and ask what it is....)



Grandpa Mike got to escort Master Roman.



And Roman got to show Grandpa some bugs.



Stop, drop and....



...inspect closer.
Oh boy!

Day two*

One of the reasons we went down to Chicago when we did was to support your aunt Shannon when she did her first annual (wink) Avon walk for Breast Cancer. 39.2 miles over two days. Way to go ladies - that's an amazing feat! I told Shannon if she did it again I would seriously consider doing it as well. Good motivation to get in shape. I did do the MS bike tour, but that was a good 40 pounds ago (very scary, I know).


Shannon (right) and Jamie, one of her teammates. BTW your dad helped design/order those shirts - a big hit. Shannon and Team came up with the name. Sorry if it's NSFW, but come on... There are a lot of creative team names. It's good to have a sense of humor.



Barb and Jake came down with us to one of the "cheering stations". The walkers started at Soldier field and made their way up to the northern section of Chicago. This particular stop was right by a train (not an el, daddy informed me b/c it wasn't elevated at this point). I had fun pointing that out to you every time you went by. "Train!". Reminded me of the announcer at the Saints baseball game. The baseball stadium is near some railroad tracks. When a train passes, he announces it. Kind of like the dog in the movie "Up" who says "squirrel".
Try randomly announcing things some time. It's kind of fun.
I digress (and that's the point)




Ta da! And Ashley joined us as well. Of course your Grandpa Mike and uncle Jared (that still sounds weird) joined us as well....


**Day one also included a late night stop to see your Grandpa Mike. You two were out, out, out, but we DID stop and say a few words to him...

first stop

We made a stop at your Great Aunt Barb's new digs. She, Ashley and Jake just moved in a couple of weeks ago.



Zoe, helping Barb with the camera. Poor Barb couldn't get a clear shot. Your were nicely posed, but that camera went off a second later (when you're on your way to the next thing!) I know how that goes!



Roman, working his charm on Barb and Ashley.





And try as I might, I couldn't get a shot of Ashley, Jake, Roman and Zoe. It became musical "chairs". Zoe with Ashley, Roman with Jake. No, lets get up and switch. Geesh, you'd think they'd been stuck in the car all day ;)

Jake was itty bitty when I first made the trip down with your dad. 2003? Wow. 7 years?!

'otel 'schmotel

We thought we'd split up the trip a bit, so we left mid afternoon Thursday and stayed overnight in Madison.
Not so sure this was helpful at all. We got there at about the normal bedtime for you two, but you weren't exactly in the mood to go to sleep.

To the pool!



Which was impossible for picture taking. It's a bit different than the last time we went to a pool. You weren't so mobile! You wanted to go in the mini pool (aka whirlpool) but it was too hot and I actually read the sign this time. No little ones. Pools will be fun in a few years.

Meanwhile, back at the room you found something fun to play with.



Yeah, I'm not so sure MY sleep number is the 20 or so you got it down too. Looks like Zoe's is in the 70s.




But of course Zoe thought this doubled as a phone. "hello?"

On the road

OH, blog ye space neglected by your mama (althought in the future that is a moot point, it's all done then)

Your Grandma Candy spoiled you again. I think your dad's question of "how much do those go for at your work..." to her kind of provoked it. Manipulation? Perhaps. I'm not getting in the middle of that one.
Dual dvd players for the car. Well single dvd player with dual monitors.
SCORE!





On the way down to Chicago: Cars. Several times.
I know it is probably not proper parenting, but the tv is a nearly sure fire way to get you two to settle down. Opiate, masses. Anyone?

What would a trip thru 'sconsin be wihtout a stop for CHEESE?



Num num. Roman walked dad over to this spot at the edge of the parking lot. Much like a section in our backyard with a section of the tree the neighbors cut down this spring. A nice spot for resting :)

BYF - Back Yard Fun

I am officially making a new label for some new posts. I think the title says it all.
These were taken just before our Chitown Suarez. A rare moment were Daddy and the gibblets got to goof off outside between the time Grandma J left and Mommy came home. Growing up forces you to forget how fun it is to get your hands dirty and explore. I remember studying pinecones and pinestraw and tree sap and rocks in the first apartment where my mom and I lived. Watching these two that day, brought me back to that first "hands-on" experience.