Let the Sunshine In

Yesterday was absolutely glorious. Maybe not as warm as I would've liked, but we'll take it. We had lots of fun outdoors. Here are some of Joey's favorite activities ... and yes, we did them all!

The Dread Pirate Roberts

We've been visiting daycare once a week, so that Joey can play with his friends (and Mommy can have some adult interaction with the teachers.) This morning Joey had some fun with his pirate friends. And I can't believe all the boys are actually looking at the camera!

A Break in the Weather

The weather broke for a little bit yesterday afternoon, so we snuck out to do a quick walk/tricycle ride. We only got wet for a few moments. Not sure if we're going to be able to get out today, so I'm already trying to brainstorm what we can do. Maybe a trip to the mall and the indoor play area. I need to let him do some running around!

Mud Castles and Mud Pies

The rain stopped for a bit yesterday, so after our playdate with Grace and Cara, we decided to venture outdoors. Joey couldn't wait to use his shovel and bucket, but there's no sand in our backyard. Guess who likes to play in the dirt!

Fortunately, there's a small area just in front of my hydrangeas that wasn't too clumpy. (There used to be hydrangeas there, but we moved some two years ago, and I replanted more last year in my neighbors front yard.)

He would shovel it all into his bucket, and then try to make a mud castle. Too cute. It rained pretty hard last night, so not sure if we're going to play out in the mud (or sand at the park) today. But maybe it'll clear up for tomorrow?

Easter Shenanigans

We had a very nice Easter Sunday. Joey slept in a bit, and then he got to root through his Easter basket and do a little indoor egg hunt.

Yes, he got lots of bubbles. And money. Not too much candy, though. He doesn't know any better yet, so I figured why get him started?

While we were at Buszi and Grandpa's, Joey was of course restless. So we went to the park in their neighborhood. It's a little on the old side, but there are some fun things for Joey to do. Like ride a motorcycle!

There is also a play area designed specifically for younger kids. One of the sections within that area is all sand. Joey conveniently got some sand and water toys for Easter, so we might be heading back to Buszi's later this week. As long as the rain eventually stops!

Happy Easter

From our family to yours, have a wonderful Easter. And don't stand too close to the bunny. He might get you.

Holy Crowded Museum, Batman!

Joe had the day off yesterday, so we decided to take advantage of our membership to the Museum of Science and Industry. Unfortunately, it seemed like the rest of Chicago was there, too. We decided to target some of the boy's favorite places, and then make a beeline to the exit.

Of course we stopped at the tractor.

We also found this new-to-us area, the Idea Factory, which is essentially a small-scale version of the waterworks area in the Please Touch Museum outside Philadelphia. (I'm sure there are a lot of children's museums with a similar area; that's just the one I'm familiar with.) Joey had fun operating the magnetic crane.

He also tried to help Daddy "float" the balls over the cone. Unfortunately, he was just a little too small to be effective here.

He spent quite a bit of time working the gears, which would send the balls or cones up into the air. He even got into a little scuffle with a few other kids who just came in and tried to move this two year old. He stood his ground pretty well. No break downs, and we did eventually get him to share.

Coloring Easter Eggs

We went to Buszi's yesterday to start getting ready for Easter. There were lots of eggs to be colored, but first, there were cupcakes to frost.

I guess eating the frosting off the cheese spreader is ok. I mean, there's not an actual blade on the spreader, so it's really more a spoon, right?

Joey had a lot of fun with the actual egg coloring. I wrote everyone's names on the first set of eggs, and then Joey wanted the wax "crayon" so he could "color" the eggs, too. There are some that have a lot of artwork, and some with just a line or two. But he had fun!

He really liked putting the eggs in the different cups. He kept trying to put multiples in the same cup, but my mother-in-law was there to keep her eye on him. (She actually did most of the work. I helped dissolve the pellets and clean up, but she was really the one keeping an eye on the boy.)

He also couldn't wait to take the eggs out of the dye. I even had the foresight (eventually) to tape a little bit of the activities. He tried using the little wand, but eventually just went in with his fingers. I'll let you know how long it takes to get the dye off.

Happy (Belated) Birthday, Uncle Johnny

Wolfie and Joey

We went to visit Danielle and little Wolfie on Tuesday. Joey was fine before we left, but his stomach didn't feel so good while we were there, so we didn't stay long. He couldn't wait to hold his little cousin, though.

You guys know how it goes with kids and pictures. This is the best one. We'll keep trying.

Lunch with the Gang

We had another play date on Monday. This time our friends Jamie, Kennedy and Kristopher joined the usual crowd (of Cara, Grace, Nicole and Tano), since Jamie is off this week for spring break. We had a great time, and the kids loved playing together.

When lunchtime rolled around, Jamie brought out the picnic table for the kids. They all couldn't wait to sit at the table. That is, everyone but my boy ...

I think he misses sitting in a high chair, so any chance he gets, he takes it. The one good thing that came out of it was that he ate two bowls of mac and cheese!

Happy Tax Day!

Just a few images to get you started this wonderful tax day (which is a little later than usual thanks to the Emancipation Holiday in DC, in case you didn't already know).

There was another kids concert at Joe's bar yesterday. Here's Joey hanging out in his dad's booth (which is the only place he likes to be when we're there).

And this was the scene out my front window this morning. THIS MORNING. I thought is was spring?!?!

Easter Brunch

Every year, Joey's daycare does an Easter brunch the weekend before Easter. They serve pancakes and sausages (Joey's favorite!), have various games throughout the center, an Easter egg hunt, and of course, pictures with the Easter bunny! Joey was just as scared of the Easter bunny today as he was when we went last week to the mall.

But when the bunny took a break, he couldn't get into his chair fast enough! I managed to get one cute picture of him there.

They had a tattoo station ...

and a water table! (I think this was the highlight of the event for most of the kids Joey's age.)

Joey did much better this year during the egg hunt portion. He actually understood he needed/wanted to pick up the eggs. Well, first he wanted to play with all the toys that were in the playground. When I convinced him they were all wet and we couldn't use them, he finally started picking up the eggs.

I tried to get one picture of us together. But Joey was having too much fun playing with his friends and didn't want to stop moving. I'll try again next weekend.

Grandpa's Car

Right behind his tractor and tricycle, Joey's favorite past times is playing in cars. I mean, I think he could stay in them for hours if we let him.

He usually spends most of the time in the front seat, but by no means is that the only place he plays. He'll "jump" over to the passenger side and has been known to climb into the back to check things out (and maybe play with the buckles on his car seat).

He does love the front, though. Enough to even flash me a big smile.

Doesn't he look like he already knows what he's doing?

Running around in Circles

A little snippet of our outdoor adventures. We need to figure out how to bottle his energy!

Younger than Springtime

It was absolutely gorgeous here yesterday. Somewhere upwards of 85. And we of course spent most of the day outside. (Actually, we spent a good part of the day driving - downtown to visit the newest Burger and then stuck in traffic on the way home. But I digress.)

Someone was of course on his tractor.

And I also got him to pose for the camera. He didn't like it, but I got at least one good one out of it.

Outdoor Fun

It's been rainy here, it seems like much of the rest of the country (or at least the East Coast). Personally, I try to remind myself that it's good for the flowers and means I don't have to water everything, so in general, I don't mind it too much. For Joey, though, it means we don't bring the tractor up from the basement. Poor thing. It's a good thing we have plenty of other toys.

He had lots of fun on his tricycle. He actually pedaled on his own!

He also loves to play in the garage. While we were just hanging out, he looks up, points to the aluminum bucket and says to me, "Mommy, we need the bucket for when we go fishing." What? I mean, how does he know that? So I asked him. He said Buszi told him. Guess who lets Joey play in the garage?

The boy just loves being outside. And I plan on continuing to nurture that love for the outdoors. Can't wait for the 80 degrees tomorrow!

Look! Other Toys!

Yes, we do have other toys in our house besides the tractor. We just don't play with them as much as we should. I'm trying to correct that. We'll see how it goes. In the meantime, here are some of the ones Joey pulled out today.

This one was especially cute. When I walked into the toy room, Joey had his head inside the barn. He said to me, "Mommy, put me in there." He was trying to get inside the barn. I guess the whole idea of scale hasn't really set in yet. I mean, he knew he didn't fit, but he couldn't figure out why not.

A little later on he brought the CAT Uncle Ryan got him for Christmas into the living room. While the drill didn't work as well as it looks, he did have fun. I think he's getting the hang of turning the screws one way to loosen and the other to tighten. Not quite righty-tighty, lefty-loosey, but he's getting there.

John Deere's Newest Spokesman

So did you hear the one about my boy and his tractor? I thought so. But since that is pretty much all we do in our "free" time, that's what you're going to see more pictures of. These are especially cute (to me, anyway) because about halfway through our play time, Joey says to me, "Mommy, I need my headphones to cut the grass." Not that they plug into anything on the tractor, but Daddy wears his headphones when he cuts the grass, so Joey wants to wear his.

Yes, he has lot of fun on his tractor. On the plus side, today, when he was ready to come in, he said, "Mommy, the tractor needs to charge." So at least he understands the battery doesn't last forever, and we can always use that excuse when we're ready to come inside. At least that's what I'm hoping.

I Chase You

The Great Outdoors

Believe it or not, it was 72 degrees in Chicago yesterday. And we were outside to enjoy it. All Joey wanted to do, though, was ride his tractor.

Unfortunately, it eventually ran out of juice. (We hadn't charged the battery since Christmas.) But have no fear; we plugged it in overnight, and Joey was back at it this morning.  Definitely his favorite present from Santa. (And easily the best negotiating tool Mommy and Daddy have. After the Wonder Pets, of course)

Getting the Shot

We had another fun playdate with Grace and Tano (and Cara and Nicole). I keep forgetting to take pictures while the kids are playing, so I made them pose on the rocking chairs this time. And I only took one picture. I figured, every time I take multiples, the first one is always the best, so no sense frustrating them and us trying to get them to site still and look at the camera. Plus, we were all on our way out and ready for naps, so I figured they wouldn't last that long anyway.