Thing finders

Reading Pippi Longstocking and just finished the Thing Finder chapter. No old men but cool bolts, buttons and coffee.
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Still christmas in wicker park

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Museum of science and industry

This one will never get old!
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Paper Dolls

Jules and Nata made a couple the other day after they learned about it from Ruth and Grandma Sue.

Chocolate teeth at the Shedd Aquarium

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MLK event at the art institute

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Onstage for Ava Gomez's birthday

Birthday at Beat Kitchen.
Biggest pinata ever + cake.

My Bagel Assistant

She went to sleep Friday talking about getting bagels and woke up Saturday asking when we could go get bagels.

Where is cousin Fletcher?

We found his street.
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2010 Calendar Stars

Jules and the kids on the 2010 Rainbo calendar. Cobbled together with some shoddy Photoshop work by Dad.

More Legos

Julie and Elliot finished the Harry Potter castle yesterday. So, today, I pulled out our childhood Lego castle so that the "bad guys could have their own home." Nata found a girl Lego who became Ginny Weasley and all went well.

A few missing pieces after 20 to 30 years is to be expected. That just led to the need for extra creativity.

3D Art for the New Year

Elliot built his first diorama over break. Dog pooping on the lawn and pigeon poop on the roof of our house.

Also, we finished building the Hogwarts Castle today.

Nata and her "seven sisters" are all about braids these days.

Final Christmas

Grandma B got Lincoln logs. Jules and I had our doubts and were proven wrong.

The Zindane t-shirt from the Bean was a riot. Not sure she knows that Zidane was thrown out of his final match for headbutting an opponent who said nasty things about his mother or sister.

The snow fort has a headroom problem but it is conceptually very sound.

More Xmas

Two rounds of presents - morning at home, afternoon at Grandma Bonnie's. Santa was on his game this year - Harry Potter Legos and a big dollhouse both were hugely popular.

Christmas dinner at Bonnie's was lovely as usual. Hard to go wrong with parmesan crusted beef tenderloin.

Back yard sledding was also worked in somehow.

Jules and Nata schussing on cross country skis

A few minutes before Dad knocked them both to the ground and gave Nata a rough whitewashing. She bounced back like a champ. "Let's go again!"

Sledding Round 2 and treats

A few inches of fresh lake effect snow and a clown car full of family again today. Jules and I got in a little loop on the cross country skis too. We spilled three different drinks at Letizia's after the adventure.

Last sledding and first gifts

After sledding, the kids each opened one present. They were pleased.

Then sledding

Nice conditions at Humboldt Park. Light snow and temps in the upper twenties. The quad set the distance record. Natalie took her first runs alone and LOVED it (two thumbs up!). Elliot was even nice enough to haul her back up the hill at the end of the day. Grandma Bonnie got some sweet runs in too.

Christmas Eve

Bean and Bonnie joined us for fun today. We started with cookie making. Decorating went well with sprinkles all over the floor and mouths filled with red dye number two.

Round two was marshmellow holly wreaths made with corn flakes. This is a classic midwestern dish handed down from Great Grandma Maxine. Let's just say they taste a lot better than they sound.

Santa at the grocery store

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