Our night in Chicago pt 2

After our wonderfully restful night at the Palmer House we went to Navy Pier's Winterfest. It was this huge room with tons of rides, jumping castle stuff, ferris wheels. It was kid heaven. They had ice skating, as you can see, and we all tried it. Parker was going by himself the entire time. Bailey and I did okay as long as we were holding hands and close to the side. I don't have pictures because as we were taking this one a worker was telling us you can't have camera on the ice. Oops. Holden went around once and he was done. I was proud that he did that much. They had pictures of the Hockey team up so he said he wanted to "be hockey". Brayden also did well. Probably the best out of all of us in the end. Go Brayden!

Parker and Bailey went on this obsticale course way up in the air. Brayden could barely watch. They did great! This was such a fun outing. We will definitely do it again next year. Hopefully it won't be 0 degrees when we do it and Holden won't throw a fit, in the cold, as we walk to Macy's trying not to abusing him in public, next year. Nightmare! Other all it was a great time!

Our night in Chicago pt 1

We stayed in Chicago Monday night before Christmas. Brayden had us staying that the Palmer House, which is a really old, cool hotel. Tons of stars entertained in the ballrooms of this hotel.

We stuck in the Empire room which is were most of the entertaining happened as you can see!

Brayden read the kids a Christmas book that night, to be consistant with our 24 nights of reading before Christmas.

This is were Parker and Bailey wrote Santa a letter and both changed their minds about what they had asked Santa for a week and a half ago. Nice.

And this is the 45 foot tree in Macy's in the Walnut room. It's a gorgeous tree and a wonderful setting to eat in, but the food was so so and the service was lacking. You pay for the ambiance.

Nexted years Christmas present

Attention Dave and Carol!!!
Brayden asked me to take this because we was feeling bad that you haven't gotten him the HUGE stuffed animal like me and Bailey have gotten in the past. You know how fond he his of the large stuffed animals. He'd like to add this unicorn to his Christmas list for next year!

Christmas Sunday

Here we are in our Christmas Sunday best! Aren't we cute. Where's Brayden you ask??? He was still sick from the game. He wasn't able to go to church with us, so as you can imagine Sacrament meeting wasn't pretty.

Jazz Vs Bulls

Brayden and Parker got to go to the game last saturday. Yeah, for them and Yeah, for mom for being so cool to buy them tickets! They had a great time, despite Brayden getting sick at halftime. He was sick with a tummy bug the entire next week. He still can't even think about eating Hot Dogs.

Braydens new glasses

We got Brayden some new glasses and he wanted to be just like Dave he said.

Lincoln Park Zoo

Sleding at the Zoo

You can see the Lions lounging behind her

Ice sculptures behind Parker, they were amazing.

So we ventured into Chicago on a day when it was in the single digits cold. We are true Chicagoans or just stupid. It was still fun to see the lights at the zoo. They had trees that changed with the music and a man making ice sculptures with a chainsaw. Amazing. Fun times.

Christmas events continued with Santa

We went to an amazing party this weekend. We saw Santa! Which was great. Holden was a little shy at first but he warmed up. Parker and Bailey did not sit on his lap but they were sure to tell him what they wanted.

They had games and entertainment for the kids. This is Holden mad at me for checking up on him. He's Mr.Independent.

We had a carriage ride to our car in the end. Holden had a smile from ear to ear the entire time. He was so cute.

Parker and Bailey made a Gingerbread house completely on their own. Then they thought I was the best mom in the world because I actually let them eat it this year.

Fun times in the land of the freezing! The high is 15 degree's here today! Lucky me. Really it's lucky Brayden that I agreed to come to the land of the freezing.

Christmas events

This isn't Christmasy but I had to brag about my kids eating abilities. They will eat anything! This is Parker eating calamari! With the tenticles and all. Bailey and Holden eat them too but I didn't get a good picture of them. Champs, it's our families favorite resturant!

Bailey's 2nd grade Holiday program. She did great!

Gingerbread houses at the Ray's. We had a ton of fun making our Choo Choo with Holdens girlfriend Wucy and the cutest twins in the land.

Decorating the tree

Parker and Bailey helped me decorate the tree. They did such a good job! We were almost done, however, and it toppled over. We were all so upset. After Brayden came in and calmed us all down we go the tree back up and only lost a few ornaments. It's a great tree, thanks to Parker and Bailey's help!

Thanksgiving with the Virginia Smiths part 2

Friday we went to the top of the John Hancock Building. You can see the lake in the reflection in the picture behind them a little.

I just though this was so cute. My big brother and this 7 and 3 yr old sons

and here he shows his maturity.

Pretending to be a window washer

He's just so cute. This was Dad's dream sightseeing event. They had these headsets they gave to make you all knowledgable about Chicago history and landscape and they had informational plaques everywhere. I highly recommend this to everyone. We liked it better then the Sears Tower.

at the bottom they had a village with trains and Santa and all that. Very cute.

After that we went to the Shedd Aquarium and saw a Dog Show. Yes a Dog Show at the Aquarium were my over worked brother fell asleep with the kids pet the dogs. Then we went to the Children's Museum the next day. They headed back on Saturday and we were all sad the rest of the day. We had a great time and hope they come back soon!!!

Thanksgiving with the Virginia Smiths part 1

Justin found his big stick on Lake Michigan

Wilmettes version of wave jumping

Pretty girls!

Kindred spirits, they have the same shirt and didn't even know it. Both their mom's must frequent Target!

We had Troy, Tammy and the kids here for Thanksgiving. We had a ton of fun and only lost 3 kids for 20 minutes in Chicago. And Justin wasn't even in the mix. We lost Alyssa, Madison and Bailey in the Shedd Aquarium. I was getting a little nervous after 10 minutes but they were found and all was well. I knew Alyssa who is almost 13 would know what to do.

Leaves, leaves, and more leaves

Leaves,


Leaves,



and yet more leaves. They are really never ending out here. I knew there would be a lot but man! We even bought a leaf blower because we were so overwhelmed with our beautiful leaves. It was a gorgeous fall though! I love the fall, not so fond of the winter so far.