Pretty in Pink

No words, just cute kids!!

Conor Visits the Dentist

Last week, Conor made his first trip to the dentist. We prepared him by reading The Berenstein Bears Visit the Dentist. He did great!! He had no problem getting the xrays taken, getting his teeth cleaned, and of course loved watching a movie while he waited for Daddy to have his turn. He was beyond excited to show me his new Toy Story toothbrush when he got home!!

Snow Day

On February 2nd, we had a 3rd worst snowstorm on record in the Chicago area. There was a lot of snow, temperatures were frigid, but the blowing winds were the worst part. In fact, it blew so much that although the snowfall was only between one and two feet (nothing compared to the MN Halloween Blizzard of 1991!), there were drifts of five feet in some places. I was actually a little disappointed. Maybe it was the snowstorms of my childhood in MN, maybe it was the fact that the wind blew so much snow out of our yard that we could still see our sidewalks and didn't have to brush any snow off the car despite the fact that pickup trucks across the street were nearly buried, or maybe I am just tired of winter. BUT, I did have a snow day from work...something I never ever thought I would get when choosing to work in healthcare. I mean, people get sick and hurt even in the snow, but I won't complain! We spent a lazy day inside in our pajamas, drinking hot chocolate and just hanging out. Even got a nap in with the kids. Daddy and Conor played outside in the afternoon but didn't last too long because that wind was bitter.
Making snow angels

The buried pickup trucks and mailboxes across the street

Snow blew in between the screen and the window and stayed there...on most of the windows

Princess Ball Castle

For Christmas, Aunt Leah (and Uncle Andy and Cousin Carmen) gave Riley a princess castle ball pit which we finally inflated within the last couple weeks. The kids have a "ball" playing in it..pun intended. Thanks Benedicts!!

C-O-N-O-R

I didn't know that Conor knew how to write his name until he did this on a picture he colored at home last weekend. (He thought he ran out of room for the R.)

Pink Eye

Even though Riley had pink eye last week and her eyes were all red and puffy from constantly rubbing the goop out, she didn't stop smiling. After the first dose of eye drops (which she HATES!), we noticed improvement right away. But I am a rule-follower, as well as a health care professional, so the poor baby is getting the full course of drops three times a day for a full week. Sorry sweetie!

Toy Story 3 on Ice

We took the kids to see Toy Story 3 on Ice with their friends Madelyn and Noah.

The show started with the original Disney characters, Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy skating around to introduce the show.
Conor was mesmerized from the beginning. When I asked him his favorite parts, he said "All of it" and "the skating". He did not like Zurg, because he was too scary. Conor thought he was going to blow real fire. But he was very brave and really seemed to enjoy the show.

Even Riley did very well and paid attention for the most part. She only got a little fussy when she was hungry, but I came prepared for that. By the end, she was a little tired, but she was a trooper.

Not easy to get a good picture with all 4 of them after the show.
This is the best we came up with.

Thanks for the fun outing, friends!!

Signs of the Times...

Both kids playing on their computers...
We received an ad in the mail for a Disney credit card and when Conor saw the Disney logo and different characters pictured as possible card options he got excited, so I let him look at the paper. There was a pretend paper credit card and he wanted to keep it to play pretend with it.

Later in the day, we mentioned to him that Barney Live was coming to NIU (if you don't know how much Conor loves Barney, refer back to his Christmas wish list). He was so excited and said that he definitely wanted to go. So in a effort to teach him about rewards and consequences, we told him that if he was on his best behavior, and was respectful, and listened, and obeyed, and, well, you get the idea....that we would buy him tickets. Without pausing for a moment, he said, "That's ok mom. I can just buy them with my credit card!!" This kid doesn't miss a beat.Riley is still crawling and cruising everywhere. She is starting to stand on her own for a few seconds, but once she realizes it, she promptly sits her bottom down. She has no interest in walking on her own yet.

Swimming Lessons

We have resumed swimming lessons after taking more than a year off--not intentionally, it's just that every time I went to go sign up, I had just missed the deadline and the next registration period hadn't opened up yet. Unfortunately, the baby classes were full by the time I remembered to sign up for this session so we were unable to get Riley started, but Conor was able to get right back into it. He is so excited about it. He really loves the water. I know Riley will too...as soon as she hears the bath water running, she speed crawls into the bathroom and practically tries to launch herself into the water...clothes and all, if she could!
Waiting for lessons to start

Campout

Conor and Daddy had a campout in the basement one night. They put up a tent and got sleeping bags and blankets, although only their heads really fit inside the tent. They had popcorn and watched a movie and had a grand old time. In the morning though, Conor left Daddy down there to sleep and came all the way up two flights of stairs to snuggle in bed with me. He sure loves his mama!!

Playing in the basement

Conor used some soft blocks and took out the center shapes and stuck them on his hands and feet as his hockey pads and skates, then -- since he broke his hockey stick -- used a plastic golf club to play hockey. I didn't even plan for Adam's Blackhawks "shrine" to be in the background :)
Riley has moved up to the next size of clothing. She is now wearing 12-month clothes, that means time for a little shopping spree and the lucky little girl gets a whole new adorable wardrobe :) This little fleece outfit was supposed to be pajamas for Easter, but it fits her now and is cold enough outside that we decided to just let her wear it. And although the tag said sleepwear, it seems like more of a daytime outfit. She is still as smiley as ever.

On a cold winter's day...

One day when Conor was supposed to be sleeping...in his own bed...we heard him running around and then it finally got quiet. Figuring he had finally fallen asleep, Adam went up to check on him and found him "hiding" under the sheets in our bed, all tangled up, but fast asleep, legs hanging off the edge of the bed and all.
Here are some more random photos of the kids throughout the month of January.

One more set of presents

We had a few more presents from Riley and Conor's godparents, both of whom spoiled both the kids!! Here are a few pics of their smiling faces. No more presents please...we have no room in the house. Time to donate a few of the forgotten ones I think. Man, these kids sure are loved!!