Fire Trucks and Sandboxes...

Nonna Barbara and Papa Mo came for a visit this past weekend. It was so much fun!! We didn't really do anything touristy, but really just enjoyed each others company and Owen. Summer came to Chicago for at least one day, and then kind of went away again.

I apologize for the really long post, but there was so much fun to share:)

Friday
On Friday I worked from home which was great since it was such a nice day. During lunchtime, we went for a quick trip to the park.

Owen loved getting pushed on the swing by Papa Mo.

Owen also enjoyed playing with the Buzzy Bee they got him from New Zealand.

And playing with some blocks.
Saturday
Owen got a sand table from Nonna and Papa that the boys put together. Owen wanted to be part of the action.

At first he wasn't too sure about it since he's not a big fan of sand...

But once he got past the sand, he really got into it. I think he'll really like it. It hasn't stopped raining here since so we did not get to play with it more.

Owen is also excited about the tulips growing (finally) in the backyard.

Getting caught doing something he wasn't supposed to be... (climbing the concrete steps)Milk...Ahhh

But, the BEST part of Saturday was that Nonna and Papa babysat so Brett and I could go out with some friends. It was so great to have a FREE babysitter and to be able to get out and enjoy friends and some adult beverages. Thanks again!

Sunday
We were kind of lazy on Sunday morning and hung out in our PJs relaxing. Owen and Papa Mo read a book about a fire truck. Owen has a really funny way of saying truck. He drags it out so it sounds like truuuuuck. Like he's from the backwoods somewhere. Not sure where it came from but it's hilarious. So of course we make him do it all the time.

Owen calls Papa Mo "Papo" and it's really sweet.

Here Owen points out Papo's body parts.

We managed to pull it together while Owen was napping and decided to go for a walk once he got up.

2 Crazy GuysWe recently bought Owen this push car for neighborhood walks. All the kids have one so we of course had to get one too! Papa Mo put it together for us on Friday. Owen thinks he's so cool, and he is!We got trapped out in the rain so we waited under the 7/11 awning for it to stop.

The real fun began though when we stopped by the firehouse to look inside. Owen, Papa and Nonna had stopped by briefly on Friday while I was getting a pedicure but they didn't have a camera so they didn't spend too much time. The fireman said they could come by anytime. Sadly all the doors were closed because of the rain, but I figured if we peered into the windows, perhaps someone would see and let us in. And they did!!!

It was so cool. Owen and Brett got to sit in 2 trucks, they gave Owen his own fire hat while Daddy put on the real hat (which was so heavy!), a fire safety coloring book and crayons. Everyone was in awe. They were so nice to us. They even turned on the flashing lights.
These next two pictures might be the sweetest pictures ever.There was a ladder truck.
And a regular fire engine. And an ambulance.

Cool lights!

While we were there a call even came in!!!

And we finished off the day with more reading.

It was such a great weekend!!!

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Things Owen did this week:
-He's really begun labeling people (mama, dada, papo)
-Making all kinds of silly noises
-Repeating everything and trying to say all kinds of words
-Really into petting the cats (when he can catch them)
-Getting really good about being able to answer questions
-Started telling us when he poops (I am under no delusion that this actually means he will potty train soon)
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Dotee Doll

My Aunt Lu makes these cute little things called Dotee Dolls. I asked her to make a little boy and it came in the mail today. It is ADORABLE!!!
It has two little trucks, two kitties, sock monkey beads, Owen's name and a wrapping paper tube. If you remember around the holidays, the wrapping paper tubes were the highlight of the season and he loved to chase the kitties around with them. So cute!!

Thanks Aunt Lu. This is SO adorable.

Happy Easter!!!

Happy Easter and Passover to those of you out in blog land.
We had a great weekend just relaxing and hanging out. Although the weather in Chicago is still quite cool, at least it was sunny!

Today Owen opened his presents from the Easter Bunny (a.k.a. My mom and Brett's mom). He got some Easter little people, monkeys and a bunny that he likes to carry around and say "Hop Hop" to.

Gifts from the Easter Bunny

Proof we went to Church and got dressed up. He was NOT going to sit still after church.

Eggs and a Monkey

After church we had a great day talking to Nonna Barbara and Papa Mo on the new webcam. It was SO fun!!!

This week I found a site called giantmicrobes.com. They have all kinds of diseases/microbes translated into plush toys. They are hilarious. And I think that every scientist's kid should have one! We got the common cold (virus) and a petri dish full of eColi (in honor of what Brett worked on while getting his doctorate.) Owen thought it was pretty funny as you'll see in this video.

Here is some recent artwork for your viewing pleasure and Owen's latest classroom newsletter. This month's theme is the Earth.
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Things Owen did this week:
-Repeats a lot more words
-Says "Ribbit"
-Does the arm movements and words to "Row Row" row your boat
-While we were on the way to work this week, I beeped at a person not going at the stop sign and said "Go Lady." Out of the backseat came "Goooo." Oops.
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Fun at the museum!

This weekend Nonni Pat (Brett's mom) and Gigi (my mom) came into town to visit. Brett and I were supposed to be getting away to Vegas, but had to postpone the trip because airfare was ridiculous. I refuse to give the airlines $600 a piece for a ticket that takes me somewhere in the US. We could have gone to Europe for less than that!!!

So, we made the best of the weekend and had lots of fun. We took Owen to the Chicago Children's Museum for the first time. I was a little worried that the activities might be too old for him, but they had 4 areas that were especially for kids under 5 and they were great! We really only went into 3 because the last one was art and getting messy and Owen had enough already at this point.

The first area was called "Big Backyard." It had all these cute leather flowers and screens with butterflies and rain on them. Owen could not get enough of the butterflies as you will see on the video:) Also on the videos, I realize that poor Owen is getting direction from all 4 of us at once. Something to work on or his little brain is going to explode eventually!

There was a fun shoe to crawl around in too!

Outside of the Big Backyard area was a truck. Of course Owen had to get in and drive it.

The next area had a CTA bus you could drive in along with a car, grocery store and climbing area that had a kitchen at the top. Owen really enjoyed getting to drive the car and sit in the bus!

Daddy and Owen on the bus

BUS!!!!! (Owen likes to yell it whenever he sees one)Hanging out in the car

Washing the car


Running around on the climbing area

Owen managed to find a truck in this room too. He's like a magnet for these things!
The last room we went into was called "Treehouse Trails." It was a really cute outdoorsy area with a fishing stream, tree to climb in, a tent, a canoe and a treehouse to climb on.

Owen went straight for the water of course as soon as we got in there. They had these adorable little raincoats you could put on the kids to keep them from getting too wet.

Here fishy fishy

Owen and Daddy fishin'Owen and Nonni Pat fishin'

Climbing around in the tree

Playing in the treehouse with some of his biggest fans

Slidin out of the treehouse

Overall a great weekend was had by all. It snowed here again today. It's miserable. I can't stand winter anymore. Somebody make it stop please!!! Where is this thing called global warming...