Weekend recap

This weekend was pretty low key. We started out Friday with lunch and some play time at Rani's. Ellie is still so scared of dogs! She did not want to go near Rani's dog and was very scared. I'm not sure why, since we have Meeko and nothing bad has ever happened with a dog. Saturday we met up with my mom's friend and did some shopping at Mayfair and Sunday was a resting day. Sunday night is when it really hit the fan. Jack starting puking around 10pm and didn't really stop all night. Jack and I were up pretty much all night. I felt so horrible for him and there wasn't much I could do. He was so tired in between puking, he would just pass out. Monday he didn't puke at all, but he's at it again today.  I'm hoping he gets better really fast and no one else gets it!! Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Sometimes Ellie likes to sit in Silas's high chair.

Lucy is trying to snuggle in with Ellie.

Lazy Meeko

Bummer

So, last week our window cracked. It is a stress crack because it was super cold and windy. Luckily Nick found the distributor that put it in and they are going to give us a new glass, but we have to find someone to put it in. I'm annoyed that it happened to this window because I had all of these windows tinted about 5 years ago. This room gets so hot in the summer and the tinting really helps. Not sure if I'll get it tinted again because I got blinds last year and it seems to help keep the sun out too.  Since I took the picture, the crack has grew another foot! I just hope we get the new window before the whole thing just falls out of the house. Now that would be a big bummer.

It's this window :( I guess it's better than the top one.

Ellie tries to help Jack

Ellie is trying to help Jack get ready for their bath. He's pretty quick, but she manages to get his pants off. I think it's really funny when she tries to get his diaper off! Next time I'll try to capture her 'helping' Jack get dressed. This doesn't go as well and usually ends in crying and bruises.

Oreos or memories??

Fridays are meant to spend time with Ellie and Jack.  This also includes cleaning, organizing, playing, watching tv, running errands, grocery shopping, etc. I like to clean, so I usually don't mind this task, however it is really difficult with a 3 year old and a 1 year old. It is nearly impossible to clean when they are around. I even try to bribe them with going downstairs to play or even watching tv! Does anyone else feel this way with tasks? 

• I can't clean the toilets or the bathrooms because then Jack wants to play with the plunger or Ellie wants to squirt the windex everywhere (including Jack's face).
  
• Vacuuming is impossible. Jack LOVES our vacuum. We have a house hold vacuum, which is a long hose and he likes to play with the handle and brush part. He uses it as a weapon or to try to 'play' with Meeko. Meeko HATES the vacuum, so he just bites and tries to attack it.
  
• Washing the dishes is hard too, because Ellie likes to help and then after about 2 minutes she has to take all of her clothes off because they are wet and we have a small splash pool.
  
• You can forget about washing the floors; they will follow me around and will leave feet and paw marks everywhere.
  
• The one thing I don't really enjoy but have actually started to is laundry. Ellie is just so cute when she tries to fold and help me. I use to hate this, but it's not so bad. Ellie is so smart. She knows what clothes belong to who and she tries to fold it. It's pretty cute, until she wants to 'try' on all of her clothes that we just washed! ugh. LOL. 

I really do get some stuff done when I clean, but I've let go that my house will never be perfect. It's okay though, I have a new attitude about this and it is pretty much what this cute little sign says:

Weekend Recap

We were going to go skiing on Saturday, but it was too windy, so we went to Schaumburg. We stopped at REI and I found Jack some really cute snowpants for next year that were on sale and Ellie got some blue gloves. She likes them because they are blue. We also stopped at a couple other outlet stores, but never made it to Ikea. We had lunch at Portillo's. YUM! and then some treats at Mitsuwa. Ellie loves white ice (that's what she calls vanilla ice cream). 

Random photos from last weekend...

snoozing

hanging out 

eating ice cream with daddy 

eating lunch with Ba-ba 

mmmm. spaghetti! 

hanging out with Big Teddy 

My buddy, Jack.

Jack is the best little boy. He's so silly, loving, curious and happy. When I think of Jack, I just think of pure happiness. He is always smiling.

The best of 2012

 I know I'm a little late on this, but here are the high lights of 2012. Most of them are 'firsts', so even more special!

1. Ellie goes skiing for the first time!

2. Jack eats food for the first time!

3. Jack starts to crawl.

4. Wendi and Nick get married!

5. Jack and Ellie take a bath in the big bath tub!

6. Jack learns to walk.

7. Ellie turns 3 on July 20.

8. Baby Silas is born on August 21.       &                  Jack turns 1 on August 23.

9. Ellie and Jack go on their first bike ride together.

10. Ellie and Jack go trick or treating as a Black Hello Kitty and Green Dragon.

11. The family takes a trip on an airplane to Arizona!

12.  Christmas is so fun this year!

Ellie goes skiing

Nick and I took Ellie skiing on Sunday at Ausblick. It's so nice that the hill is so close to our house. It was really busy with kids and families, but we got a table. She was so excited to go and we went down 5 times in a row!! She did really well despite not having the ski tips. Ski tips are used so she doesn't cross her skis. I bought a new harness this year, so I don't have to borrow anyone from the ski school. You have to use a harness because it helps getting her on the chair lift and holding her.

 Ellie had a really good time and I think she felt really special because it was just her dad and I. We brought ham sandwiches (Ellie's favorite) and had a nice lunch too. We probably took about 12-14 runs with her and by the end she was ready to go home and see Jack :)

Ready to go home!

Terrible 2s or 3s?

This picture displays # 10 from the list.

I don't know who made up the term "terrible twos", but they were off by a year. Ellie wasn't crazy until she hit 3. Sometimes I blame it on her brother or that she's a girl, but that's wishful thinking that Jack won't go through these stages either. Now I have to say Ellie has been very nice lately and hasn't had too many breakdowns, but it boggles my mind how up and down she can be. It kind of screws with your head.

Some of these freak outs can be triggered by the oddest things. Some of these include:

1. Her sock is not on right.
2. Her hat is on 'upside down'.
3. She wants to turn the light on.
4. She isn't allowed to jump on Jack's head.
5. Jack is looking at her.
6. Her hair hurts.
7. Her shirt is hot.
8. Her socks are hot.
9. Her shoes are hot.
10. Everything is hot.
11. Her undies are on the wrong side.
12. Her rice is yucky.
13. She needs a towel to wipe her face. A fresh, warm, new one.
14. Her yo-yo got on the table.
15. Baby (Jack) has yo-yo on his eye and on his hair!!
16. She wants to take a bath, not just put her jammas on her dirty body and go to bed because mama is tired.
17. Me-me (Meeko) licked her.
18. Me-me is naughty.
19. Baby (Jack) hit her.
20. She has to poop.