Baby of the Month!

Maddi was baby of the month in December. So cute!

In other news, she started crawling on all fours recently. Time to baby-proof...

Lots of Relaxing

Life has been so crazy that we spent this weekend relaxing. On Saturday night our good friends Andy and Jill came over with their baby Lily. She is 4 months old and cute as a button!

Maddi and Lily enjoyed playing together

Maddi is really hitting a lot of milestones:
-puts her arms in the air when you say "so big"

-she also started crawling for real

Crafty Weekend

This weekend I attended my second Chicago Craft Social. Once again, it was a blast. You pay $25 and you get to try 2-3 different crafts out. I love it because I can learn several different new craft techniques that I have never tried before. And who doesn't love an afternoon of crafting!

First up is making a Zinc Frame. I guess this is a popular, but expensive, find at antique stores so we learned to make our own.

You start with any frame and some aluminum foil. First, you Mod Podge the frame and then cover with foil.
Then, you cover with foil and Mod Podge over that.

Once it is dry, you take a mixture of amber acrylic paint with one drop of black and water, and paint it all over the frame. Once the frame is covered you blot with a paper towel to get the metal look.
And, voila, you have a zinc frame. Fun!

The second project I did was paper silhouetting. I really like intricate paper cutting so this was a nice craft to try.

Here are some examples from the expert at our table. Amazing.
To create the silhouette, you start with a photo (I used one from our wedding) and black out the parts that you want to cut. It's important to leave some detail so it looks like a photo when you are all done.
Then you cut out with an exacto and flip over. It actually turned out surprisingly great for my first try! This is definitely something I would do again.
The last craft I participated in was making clay pendants. What made them so unique was the decoration of the pendant. We used windshield glass found on the side of the road. When melted down, it turns a beautiful blue-green. They were mailed to us after being fired and turned out quite nice.
Thanks to Brett for letting me out of the house to participate in this great afternoon!

It was a special treat especially given Brett's physical state. Last Tuesday he sprained his ankle pretty badly during Basketball. Let's hope he gets better soon:(
Gross, I know.

I'll leave you with this shot of Owen playing his Thomas game, courtesy of Papo and Nonna Barbara, on the computer. He can navigate with the mouse and follow directions so well. It's crazy.

Tricks and Treats

We received some FABULOUS post-Christmas goodies from my Aunt Lu and her husband Ed. They always outdo themselves on their gift packages to us. This time it came in 4 boxes and was more wonderful than ever.

Owen got a Thomas Train book with little bitty trains.

And a cool dragon.

This awesome Woody and Buzz poster.

A dinosaur DVD.

A cool buzz figure.

And a Santa pez dispenser.

Maddi got a princess book.

And a monkey blanket.

And here is where the true craft presents begin!

Maddi and I both got these great ear warmers. I remember sending my Aunt a pattern a few months back but totally forgot about it. These couldn't have come at a better time because it's freezing outside.

My Aunt also made me these really neat fingerless gloves.
I also got these sweet penguin coasters. Love them!
She also made Brett this really soft, warm hat.
And, for the piece de resistance, she sent both of the kids needlepoint birth announcements. They are beautiful and are already hanging in their room. It is such a special gift we will treasure always.

Maddi has started doing all kinds of tricks.

saying no

She also started pulling up and has 4 top teeth coming in. It's been a busy time!

Florida

We spent the long weekend in Florida and had a blast! Unfortunately Brett couldn't join us but myself and the kiddos still managed to have a good time with Papo and Nonna Barbara.

Before we left though, the kiddos received some fabulous post-Christmas gifts from my Aunt Liz and Uncle John. Owen was absolutely beside himself and took everything he received with him to Florida.

Thursday
On Thursday we arrived. We just relaxed and enjoyed ourselves.

Friday
Friday morning we headed down to the outlets in St. Augustine so we could get clothes for Maddi which was her Christmas gift from Papo and Nonna Barbara. It is SO much fun picking out clothes for her. So much fun, that poor Schmoo passed out on the ride home with goldfish in his mouth and hands...
After shopping we hung out and enjoyed being with each other. Owen especially enjoyed Papo's airpline rides.

Saturday
After a busy day of shopping, we decided to hang out and enjoy the nice weather. While I know everyone from Florida was cold, us Chicagoans really enjoyed the 50 degree weather!

Papo and Owen enjoyed a nice breakfast together

Shortly after breakfast, Maddi and the grandparents took a snoozer. Guess a day and a half of us did them in. I can relate. So, Owen and I went outside to enjoy the sun and look for lizards and frogs. There wasn't a whole lot of wildlife out due to the cold but we did manage to find one lizard and a bunch of ants.

Out on Papo's dock in the marsh, Owen enjoyed looking at some dried flower pods and dumping the seeds.

Once Papo woke up he joined us outside and watered the plants with Owen. Note, Owen is in a t-shirt and light sweatshirt. Papo is in a wool sweater and flannel shirt. I rest my case.
Maddi woke up and went about being cute.
In the afternoon, Papo and Owen made bread together. It was yummy!
Then, Owen and Nonna Barbara looked at her shell collection.

Owen learned to "listen to the ocean"

Maddi did some of her own learning which included learning to sit up from laying down. Yeah Maddi!

Sunday
On Sunday we went to the Jacksonville Zoo which is absolutely the most wonderful zoo in the country. We made sure to hit up all of our favorites. We rode the train and saw lots of animals out and about.

Maddi enjoyed her first train ride

We even saw the new baby giraffe!

Another one of our favorites is feeding the Lorakeets. Owen got in the action this year even though it took him a few minutes to warm up to the fact that a large bird was sitting on him.

After the birds we took a few rides on the Merry Go Round.

Maddi seemed to enjoy her first ride

The zoo got some new additions, penguins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They have a fun lower area where kids can go and watch the penguins under water.
After the penguins we went to feed the giraffes. It is my favorite exhibit.

Owen is having fun on the elephant statue

Later in the day we had lots of fun playing together at home.
Owen found some "minerals" thanks to Nonna Barbara. She saved herself after telling Owen we would go to Mineral City after his nap, only to find that Mineral City didn't actually sell minerals, but was really an interior design shop. He still talks about it but I think she redeemed herself with the loot she found him to play with.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Maddi clapping
Eskimo kisses

happy baby

patty cake

tickles


Maddi on the move

Papo feeding Miss Maddi

Both kids really enjoyed Papo reading to them every night at bedtime.

Monday
Unfortunately we had to fly home to Chicago. We had so much fun and it was so hard to leave. Thanks for a great time!