trick or treat!

this halloween was the best yet!

jack and emma were SOOOO into it – not only the candy, but the dressing up, handing out treats (jack was flagging people down yelling “come over here!”), the walking around, the saying “trick or treat, happy halloween!”, and everything in between.

I truly let them pick their own costumes, and i have to say that i am glad that they have not chosen to be anything too “store bought” thus far.  Makes it 1. cheap, and 2. easy and I actually really like the look of pulled-together, homemade costumes.   Jack came up with the Colts outfits last year, and this year he REALLY wanted to be a soccer player and never strayed from that.  Made it VERY easy on me as that is his soccer uniform from his city league, and we talked him out of getting “real” cleats until he starts summer soccer.  Emma was not very vocal about what she wanted, but we had this orange tutu from Aunt Kitten, so Mommy made the decision that she was going to be a Halloween Fairy with the addition of orange wings and a magic wand – she loved it and looked adorable!

We just re-cycled Jack’s skunk costume from 2008, added a bow to make her a Skunkette, and Soph was a cute little stinker!  She did great, and passed out in the Ergo (shocker) the entire 3 hours we were walking around!

This year was also super fun in our new neighborhood, which we have grown to love.  One thing that we like about many Chicago suburbs is that each community is so tight-knit.  And instead of large “subdivisions,” there are just rolling streets that kind of blend into each other.  So pretty, and it seems like each street is kind of it’s own “neighborhood.”  Well, we seem to have landed on a fun street with great people – Traver Ave is very fun!  We were with a group of about 11 kids, ranging in age from Sophia at 6 months, to 5th graders.  The kids ran ahead with we parents pulling up the rear pulling wagons – not for the kiddos, but for the beer coolers!  So fun.    We headed out for 3 HOURS (Jack was EXHAUSTED and could hardly hold his loot it was so heavy!) and then headed back to a house for chili and nuggets for the kids.  It was a cold, late night after the kids finally got to bed at 9:30, but SO FUN and made me realize that we truly landed in the right place.   Poor Jack, though, he is the ONLY boy – he will appreciate this when he is 15.  :-)

Jack also had a fun parade with school on Wednesday that the girls and I attended.  It was super cute, and he loved it, but did remark that it wasn’t a “real parade” since they didn’t throw candy and didn’t walk through all of uptown.  Hilarious.

 

And now that Halloween and October are over, and it was SUPER FUN but SO VERY BUSY, I have to say that I am ready and excited for some normalcy.  We have been on the go since the beginning of September with house hunting, packing, wrapping up city life, moving, starting school, a 10 day vacation, a wedding, kid swap, starting swim lessons, and now Halloween festivities.

I think we all need to get into our “new normal” routine in our new home – unpacking, getting settled, hunkering down for winter.  I feel like I am starting to breathe now and can catch up with everything and everyone….Ahh!  Life is great, but needs to SLOW DOWN a bit!  If I could lock us up in our house for a few weeks, I would do it!

Newest Swimmer

We have 2 more days of fun vacation, but here is our newest little swimmer...now adamant about "NO FLOATIES!"

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Jack’s 1st day of Pre-k!

Since we were moving October 1st (or hoped we were!), we held off on starting Jack in school until we knew into which community we would be moving.

So, when we finally found our home and settled on Glen Ellyn, I did a search and came across Westminster Preschool at the First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn.  I called and was SHOCKED that they had a 4 year old Pre-K opening!  Jack and I visited the next week and I almost cried with excitement – his teachers, Mrs. Black and Mrs. Carlson are so energetic and caring, and I loved the bright, warm feeling that the classroom evoked. 

He started last Monday the 1st and LOVED it!  Per his normal personality, he jumped right in with a smile, so excited to learn and make new friends.  Scott took the day off of work so that we could take him as a family and we ran some errands while he was there, so it was nice to have special Emma & Sophia time (Ikea!). 

I saw this idea on Pinterest (duh) to ask your child what they “want to be” on the first day of school every year.  I think it is so cute that Jack’s response was “a daddy who stays at home with mommy who works!”  Hilarious!  I thought he was going to say a Superhero…

  {too big}

So proud of our big boy and so excited for him to have a great year in a wonderful, nurturing environment.  Last week was “A” week, and he brought home several apple-themed projects, made applesauce, and had gym & music class.  He is simply giddy when I pick him up and can’t stop talking.  (I’m hoping this continues through 10th grade, right?)

Each student receives a tote bag when they start that they are allowed to decorate, so he chose to iron-on his name, a soccer ball, a baseball, and a firetruck on the back.  We are waiting on Phillies and Colts patches that he is also pumped about.  :-)

I can’t believe that I only have one more year until my baby boy is in all-day school – AHHHH!!!!!

THe last days…

The last few days for our family in the city were great.  We made sure to visit many of our favorite parks, favorite restaurants, take our favorite walks.  I REALLY hope that they (really, Jack) remembers part of our time here, and I think it really helped shape who he is.

{scootering through the city streets}

We knew that we needed more space, wanted the kids to have a yard, {hopefully} a slower pace of life, and room to run around, but there were just so many memories on that Old Town, Chicago block.

{Green City farmers market and our donut tradition}

Scott and I moved in together in May 2003, were engaged in our first apartment later that December, bought our first condo right down the street in 2004, came home as a married couple that October, hosted 5 Old Town Art Fair parties, bought our 2nd condo across the street (my dream home) in 2007, brought home our first baby Jack in 2008, brought home Emma in 2010, and finally brought home little sister Sophia just this past May 2012.  SOOOO many memories…

{goat cheese crepe and yummy coffee at Green City}

I do think that Jack will remember his first almost 5 years as a city kid and I am so glad that we gave them that experience.  I do have to say that I don’t regret anything in terms of “missing out” – We really did take advantage of a lot that living in a big city as a family has to offer – we took them to tons of parks, the beach, every museum, downtown, rode the train, festivals, theatre, libraries, restaurants… {their favorite playing spot – the alley}

I think it helped Jack and Emma to learn people, gain confidence in busy situations, and it helped me to be “thrown in” to several situations that helped me to gain confidence as a mom.  (when you are living in 1500sf with 4 people in the middle of a brutally cold winter, you either GET OUT and drag the kids to the Field Museum or you go CRAZY!)  I will always remember Jack as a “city kid” – navigating the streets on his scooter so deftly, riding the El, talking to everyone he meets, making friends so easily at the park – great skills that I hope he hangs on to.

{the “secret” park}

Scott and I cleaned out and fixed up our Larrabee condo last Saturday for our renters to move in that Sunday – as we were doing our final walk-through at 1am, we were emotional and talked about many of our “top” memories that we had there.  We just can’t imagine how it must feel to move from your “forever home” – the one where you raised your family for 15+ years, as being there for 5 was hard enough to leave!  When you bring your babies home, every inch of that condo had a great memory for us.

{our last night walk to our favorite neighborhood park – Bauler Park}

{Emma’s favorite “trick” – climbing the counters to retrieve her pacis"}

CHICAGO – Thank you for a wonderful 10 years! 

Backlog

Lots of fun posts to share soon... Our last days in the city, the BIG MOVE, Jacks first day of Pre-K, and how life is in the 'burbs...

Our Internet is fully on tomorrow and I will hopefully go to bed at a decent hour tonight, thus having the energy to upload pics and blog tomorrow!

In short...we love it in Glen Ellyn so far - very "easy", quiet, and life-changing to have a YARD. Jack entertained himself today by digging dirt for 25 minutes, emptying the trash, watching the Metra at the nearby park, and scootering up and down the safe sidewalks...


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Sophia mae – 4 months!

Our mellow, happy, blonde, big-blue-eyed baby girl is 4 months old – EEK!

Sophia is a true JOY.  Starting to show some outspoken personality, but really only when she doesn’t like something (uh, amazing, who WOULD like a toddler in their face 24/7?!), or is STARVING.  She lets you know with a hissing, cat cry that seriously hurts my ears. 

Current stats:

**Weight – 13 lb (50th percentile)   **Length – 25 3/4” (98th percentile)

Long and Lean, No Surprise There! 

**Size Clothing:  3-6 months, but she is long, so on pants 6 months only, some 9 month PJs (poor girl has 100% hand-me-downs from Emma – she literally has 2-3 outfits of her OWN!  But I am starting to get some “matching” outfits for the girls…I can’t stop myself!)

  Likes: 

**Snuggling with Mommy, Sleeping in Mommy/Daddy’s bed  (she is very spoiled)

**Her red-bird and pig toys, snuggling with her lovies – “Paisley” the Bunny from Caroline & Eleanor, and “Raffi” the Giraffe from Jack & Emma

**Putting EVERYTHING (mainly her fingers/hands) in her mouth

**Laughing at Jack and Emma, especially when they make funny sounds

**Having her neck kissed

**Watching trees move in the wind and being outside – there is so much to see!

**Bathtime – has a newfound like of splashing and watching herself in the mirror

**Paci – just like Jack and Emma, this almost instantly calms her down

**Having her face touched/held when she falls asleep or clutching my hand

**Babywearing – Soph ADORES her carrier (Ergo) and it still knocks her out for 2-3 hours every time she is in it!

**Swinging (just did it for the first time a week ago and she laughed SO HARD!)

 Dislikes:

**Newfound hatred for her carseat/being buckled in (uh, NOT a good thing for this traveling family!)

**Having a brother/sister in her face 24/7 – they love to kiss her, but sometimes ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

**Not being fed RIGHT when she wants it, especially in the car

**Not being held – Uh, sorry, girl, this is NOT going to happen – she gets really mad when I put her down at times…OOPS!

**Tummy time for too long – she does pretty well, but after awhile she just lays her head down and cries

 New Tricks:

**Holding/grabbing out for objects – this is SO FUN to watch!
**ALMOST rolling over back to front – Soph is trying SO HARD to make it happen!

**Taking her paci out and trying to put it back in

**Playing with toys/puzzles during tummy time – reaching out and batting at them

**Laughing out loud, recognizing our family and bursting into a huge smile

**Sleeping for all naps in Emma’s crib…she will be moving to it in month or so

**Sitting up – we need to find the Bumbo in storage, as she wants to sit up or stand most of the time

 Eating:

**Still nursing 100% and about every 3 hours, sometimes from both sides.  I actually spent my first real chunk of time away from her last month with being gone for 6 hours and she took a few bottles – did fine, even in hard-core Daddy style of cold from the fridge.  :-)  My body does not respond well to pumping, and I have an overnight with girlfriends this weekend, so I hope that I can have enough for her by then…

**Hoping to not start oatmeal/cereal until 5/5.5 months, but we will see how it goes.  I do think she has started to get a bit more hungry at night, so that might help push it over to not waking up at 4am and sleeping until 6am?

Sleeping:

**Goes down for “final” time around 8:30, occasionally wakes when we go to bed around 11 (basically eats asleep and goes right back down), Wakes up to eat around 4am, then again at 6am, and sleeps until 8/9am!

**For naps, Soph sleeps in Emma’s crib, as she is getting much more aware of sound and needs some quiet.  Or, if we are out and about, she has no trouble sleeping in her carseat or her favorite – the Ergo.

**At night, she is still beside us (uh, there is NOWHERE else to put her in our condo!) in the Rock N’ Play, but will be moving to the crib once we move and get settled.  I think we are all ready for that – so she has 1 month to truly sleep “through the night” so that I am not getting up and going into her room!

All in All, Sophia is very “go with the flow,” which is great, as we had a very busy summer and she pretty much was just along for the ride!  She loves to watch the world around her and just take it all in.  She is getting more very blonde hair and her eyes are still big and bright blue.  She has the BEST big, gummy, full-faced smile and I see a little dimple like Jack on the right side!   Sophia is also the tannest little babe – she has a beautiful complexion and her skin just seems to “glow” – can I get some of that?!

I LOVE the smell of her sweet breath – it is so weird, but true.  She is starting to lose her baby smell (SUCH a sad day for Daddy), but I am holding out hope that she won’t get any teeth until later like Jack & Emma, who didn’t get a tooth until 7 months.

I can’t wait to see what newness Month 5 brings…I’m guess more coordination, rolling over, and maybe starting to play in an Exersaucer?  Fun times!!!

We LOVE our Sophia Mae!

First Haircut

I took Emma for her first haircut yesterday, and in typical Emma style, she just sat there with no worries and a smile!














Just a little trim to get those tangly baby ends off and add some body - her hair is so fine! She probably took an inch off and added a few layers. Em was wondering where her hair was and said she wanted to take it home!

I'm sure it will help with the curl, and now we can really grow it out!

Big Girl!!!!


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Goodbye Grand City

Next Friday, after almost 10 years super-fun, super-convenient city living, the Walti crew is moving to the suburbs!!!!

With the addition of Sophia in May, things have been tight. A 1500 sf 2bed/2bath condo with no yard just isn't meant for a family of 5 with 3 kids! I LOVED (and still do - for 2-3ppl) our area and our condo, and am glad we are keeping it to rent out (we lucked out again with finding a great couple) maybe Scott and I will retire here! Our neighborhood is awesome, it is close to everything, and we will miss that convenience. We have lived on the same block for 10 years (3 places) and it will be very strange not to go down these very familiar beautiful streets.

These past 3 months of house-hunting has been probably the most stressful time that Scott and I have encountered - we are renting a house for a couple of years until we decide where we want our "forever home" to be, and the Chicago suburban market is low inventory and moves FAST!!! It was frustrating, but I think we ended up in a great place.

We are moving to a very cute community 35 min west of the city - Glen Ellyn. A cute Craftsman bungalow with a great yard (by Chicago standards), not huge but big enough, lots of character, a PLAYROOM!, and a very charming uptown. Jack and I visited what will be his Pre-K school today and I couldn't be more excited - it is adorable and gave me such a warm feeling. Jack is pumped; October 1st cannot come fast enough!

So just for fun, here are the Top 5 things I will miss about the city and the Top 5 things I am looking forward to in the burbs...

Top 5 Things I Will Miss in The City:

5. Great parks/playgrounds at your footsteps and in abundance.
4. Beautiful Lake Michigan and our wonderful skyline views.
3. Restaurants...never made it to Alinea, but will miss our faves - Twin Anchors, CBA, Uncle Julio's, Lou Malnatis pizza delivery, Pennys, Pockets...
2. Walking EVERYWHERE.
1. Culture and shopping at your fingertips - I feel very lucky that Jack and Emma have been able to experience museums, zoos, theatre, dining, festivals, etc. in the way that they have. And they love it.

Top 5 Things I look Forward to In the Burbs:

5. Awesome Park District programs and a better sense of "community." And a great YMCA with CHILDCARE!!!!!
4. Having a margarita at 6pm on my back deck with neighbors while the kids play in our fenced yard.
3. More easily accessible one-stop shopping - COSTCO and A MALL!
2. Community Pool!
1. STARBUCKS DRIVE THRUS EVERYWHERE!!!!!!

So, the next 10 days are going to be hectic. Packing starts tomorrow, during naptime and after bedtimes...somehow we will get it all done.

So excited that this process is OVER!!!!






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Freebie!

So we were walking home from Cultivate Festival (awesome) today and a lady literally got out of her Landrover, said to me "you look like a family that could use this" and handed us a tandem bike!


What?! So fun - cant wait to use it in the SUBURBS!

:-)

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Sunday {Monday} Snapshots

{Tuesday} -- A sweet sister moment (at 6:15am), Emma hangs out, Emma's routine at 6:15am - frozen go-gurt tubes while watching Max & Ruby


{Wednesday} -- Soph is now holding toys and she loves "red bird", Jack requested carrots, avocado, and cucumber for dinner, Soph hammering out some tummy time



{Thursday} -- face painting & snocones at Adams Park "Family Fun Fest", bike exhibit at the nature museum, Soph is starting to love on her lovies...


{Friday} -- a rainy morning spent at Pump It Up, Sophia playing with red bird, Emma making her daddy's lunch - loves to put on the mustard



{Sat & Sun} -- Squeezes for Pappaw at a last-minute visit, sleepy princess, Emma plays hide & seek with Daddy

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Sunday Snapshots

I have been thing a lot lately about how FAST it seems time is going - how is our newborn almost 4 months old?!?

So, I am going to try to snap a quick phone photo everyday of the kiddos to try and document their change, what they are enjoying; just everyday life!

Here is part of our last week-


{Tuesday} Put our condo on the market - mixed feelings!, Jack being silly, Soph in her fave sleeping time- 6-9am in our bed


{Wednesday} Jack hammering away at DuPage Children's Museum, Sophie smiles, Hollywood at the Botanic Garden train exhibit that evening


{Thursday} Swinging at the park (new fave thing), Soph wants to sit up!, Sleepover while Daddy is on a trip


{Friday} Beach Day with Tomlinsons & Ramsours!, Soph in her magical sleeping Ergo

Another busy/fun week ahead!

Summer Bucket List

This summer has been so great for so many reasons...Sweet Sophia joined us to kick it off and she has been along for the fun ride without a peep!

We have been able to have so much family time - Scott has taken a lot of time off, the kids and I have visited all of the grandparents, we have had great weather to spend outside...the good times go on and on.

At the beginning of the summer, the kids and I put together a Summer Bucket List. We have crossed off many of our activities, and still have a few to go before chilly October! They have lived crossing them off and trying new things.


We have:

-gotten ice cream on a night walk
-gone to a local sporting event (Indianapolis Indians game)
-built 3d structures w/ marshmallows & toothpicks
-attended a local concert (several)
-made a fort to read by flashlight
-had a sleepover in mommy & daddy's room
-water balloon fight
-mommy/kiddo date
-daddy/kiddo date (Scott still needs to take Emma out)
-attended a carnival
-visited a beach/lake (several!)
-go to a new local park
-visited a local farm
-visited local pool
-attended a free workshop at hardware store (jack and Scott love these)
-made banana bread
-read 50 books

Still to do:

-build terrariums
-fly kites
-go bowling
-make paper boats and sail at local pond
-find the alphabet around town
-nature walk and collect items of each color
-make homemade pretzels
-make salt water taffy
-learn and play a new outdoor game
-color cards for grandparents

Like I said, we have been busy and it has been fun!!!


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