Our New Kitchen

Finally, here are pictures of our kitchen. This slideshow starts with before pictures. Very few pictures were taken in the kitchen. I searched for pictures that captured every despised aspect! Then you will see empty cabinets ready to for removal and demolition. Followed by a very detailed series of the work Eric did while we spent time in MN. I love how much brighter and cheerier the kitchen looks even in pictures. Notice the temporary melamine counters and dish bin sink. Details yet to be completed include counters, sink, undercabinet lights, pantry, dishwasher install, and spice rack (to be located where the chimney is exposed).

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The Night Before . . .

. . . our trip to MN and the kitchen demolotion. Here is Simon's "handiwork" at packing his suitcase that was completely ready to get zipped up. I probably turned around to grab one more thing. Oh, the little hands!!!!

Here is the stormy night sky as we left the restuarant the night before our trip!

Back and Forth

Norah's first swing at the Prairie Path Tot Lot (June 29, 2008). At first she just sat in the swing with no expression. Simon enjoyed pushing Norah and quickly got the hang of standing far enough behind the swing without getting bonked! Norah quickly learned to enjoy the swing. She can hang out just swinging back and forth for long periods of time. She truly enjoys being outside!

Round and Round

Simon can finally pedal for more than one round. He figured it out! He gained this skill just before our trip to Grandma and Grandpa's in MN. Now he can pedal around the block! This short clip also captures the joy of his bicycle horn that was a birthday present.

Video taken July 5, 2008

This is how much he likes his helmet!!!

Pickle Juice

This one is for you, Aunt Christina!!!!!
Aunt Christina enjoys drinking "pickle juice", and Simon eagerly tried some when we ran out of pickles. He did not seem to mind the sour taste!

Our July 4th Festivities

We once again enjoyed the Hinsdale's 4th of July parade, followed by lunch with Grandma and Grandpa. Then we enjoyed the late afternoon and evening with friends barbecueing and playing. The night ended by walking to watch the Lombard fireworks. Norah stayed at the house with our lovely hostess and her sleeping daughter. Simon was bothered that Norah was not with us. He kept wanting to walk himself to the house to get her. But once the fireworks started, he enjoyed the show. This year the best fireworks were the ones that looked like "popcorn"! It is so much fun enjoying July 4th with a parade, hot dogs, and glow sticks! Life through the eyes of little ones is a blast!

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HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY!!!

We joyfully celebrated Simon's 3rd birthday! We had a great big June birthday bash at Uncle Gordon's pool to celebrate the family birthdays from late May to the last day of June. That includes Eric's brothers Craig and Gordon, Eric's Mom, Eric, and of course Simon! We had a blast splashing the afternoon away, dining on delicious food, and of course cake and ice cream and presents! (The birthday bash was June 21st and Simon's birthday was June 30th.)

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Where it going?

Many of you have heard us talk about our kitchen remodel project. Well, it is finally here! I am am packing up the kitchen, then packing up the kiddos and myself and heading to MN while Eric works on the kitchen. I will avoid having kids around without a working kitchen and he will avoid having a little shadow and helper constantly around the corner - or under foot.

A couple of days ago I started to pack up the kitchen. Simon kept asking me what I was doing. I always answered "I'm packing up the kitchen", which prompted the response of "why". I usually said something like Mommy's getting a new kitchen or Daddy's fixing the kitchen. One time he said "kitchen broke?" and I said yes; because if you look back to the posts of "the sticky" one will realize my kitchen is broken. He then proceeded to rattle off in question "cabinets broke", "counter broke", "sink broke", etc. I guess he will now learn the difference between fixing and improving.

But the sweetest moment was this afternoon just after his nap. He walks into the kitchen and looks right at me and quietly asks "Mommy, what you doing?" I said "I am packing the kitchen". He then questioned "where it going?" How adorable is that!!! His frame of reference is if we pack, we go somewhere. I didn't have the heart or energy to tell him it's going to the curb.

I am so curious to what he'll say when we come back home and the kitchen is completely different. Will keep you posted.

The Roll Over Struggle!!

Oh, the struggle to roll over! The video was taken on Friday, June 27th and Norah rolled over from her back to her tummy on Sunday, June 29th. I have yet to capture the complete roll over! She doesn't move when I am taking the video, and when I look back I missed the event!

Now my worry is Norah rolling onto her tummy when sleeping, especially when "back to sleep" is preferred for rest and slumber!!
And this is why!!!!!

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Did you notice the swirl of hair on the back of her head? We affectionately refer to her spot of hair as a donut or an ampersand.

Mee - Waukee Zoo

Simon was more than excited to go to the zoo for many weeks. We told him that we were going to the Milwaukee Zoo "four sleeps" in advance. He kept saying "go to zoo now". So, we made a paper chain to count down the days to zoo day, he cut off a link each morning before breakfast. He asked numerous times a day, and I kept saying "are the links gone?" and he kept saying "no", so I kept saying "not yet, when the links are gone we will go to the zoo". After only "one sleep", he took himself to look at the zoo chain and engaged himself in the previous dialogue when the zoo was mentioned. Milwaukee is a 1 1/2 hour drive and he looked so sullen and sad after about 45 minutes of driving, as if he did not believe us! But when we arrived, he was soo excited, so happy, so fun, and so good! We had a marvelous time at the zoo and definitely want a return trip!

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Big Bugs

We went to the Morton_Arboretum on Daddy's birthday and enjoyed the Big Bugs, by sculptor David Rodgers, on a lovely evening walk (before the mosquitos arrived). Evening was a relaxing and peaceful time to enjoy the arboretum and we had a great time. Enjoy snapshots of our nature visit and perhaps feel you have sneaked/snuck away from the busy-ness of life.

(Do you sense a theme of a few weeks delay to share our life moments? Life has become busy!!)

Summer Fun

Norah's new little trick. Her feet are often found in this position in the stroller!

Doesn't an ice-cream sundae at a soda fountain just scream summer?!? When Simon finished every last bit, he said "go home now".

Lucky Strike

We had a ball bowling on Father's day! Bumper bowling is sooo cool these days. When it was Simon's turn, the bumpers came up and when he was done, the bumpers went down! It was amazing to see that a bowling ball rolled at 2-3 mph could actually knock so many pins down. Mommy's goal when bowling is to always break a score of 100, and she did accomplish that feat! Even little Norah joined in the fun!!!

Me Henk Hurts

One of Simon's early favorite books was about jungle animals that made noise. The giraffe page was obviously quiet. Daddy made up something that the giraffe might say, and it is now a common saying in our house. I love Simon's version as you can hear in this clip! (I suppose an interpretation would be helpful; "me henk hurts" translates to "my neck hurts".)