Visiting Grandma

We spent last weekend visiting Chicago and Wisconsin. We started off visiting Grandma & Mike up in Cedarburg. We had a great time eating, chilling, working in the woods, and just catching up. 

Only at Grandma's house do you get root beer floats for breakfast!

Aaron thought it was hilarious to be sharing a seat with Olivia while he at his breakfast tostadas. 

Emily out in the woods. 

Log rolling

Clearing out some branches

Bear monkey in a tree

Emily in a tree

Kyle clearing

3 monkeys in a tree

Strong man Jeff

Kyle log rolling

Emily helping Mike

Brothers

Kyle & Aaron are forming quite a sweet brotherly bond. They are more often than not the best of friends. Of course they have their not-so-brotherly moments, but they are sweet to one another and play nicely together these days. Kyle is Aaron's favorite mode of transportation. 

No nap?

So we tried a few times for Aaron to skip nap time or at the very least have quiet time in lieu of naptime to facilitate better night time sleep and preschool transition. Not sure it's working so well...

The first day, he said he wanted to try no nap, but ran to his room at one point and then emerged about 3 hours later after a rocking good nap. The next day he did great missing nap. We were at the pool so he was super active during that time and very much awake.

The next day: blinds open, books to read, coloring / activity book to play with and totally passed out. 

The next day: Fell asleep in the car and through a quick shopping trip. 

The next day:

The kid sure knows what he needs! 

Aaron & Daddy

Aaron and Daddy having a nice morning hug before work. 

And some serious conversations too. 

"Look at me, I'm a work dude!"

Basketball star Yoda

When you are 4, you may wake up each morning and put on a costume and wear it all day. And you may just be Ninja Yoda. And so you may just play some basketball as Ninja Yoda. No big deal. Love his personality.

Being 4

It's pretty rad being 4. You can climb up the fire pole at the children's museum.

You can have sushi lunch with Mommy (all Aaron's choice). 

You can go ice skating during the summer.

Boxes are loads of fun. 

Birthday redo

Since I was unable to move or stay awake on Kyle and Emily's actual birthday, we had a birthday dinner redo tonight. We made a nice dinner and had some cake (actually fruit pie but it is cake enough). Happy 10th + almost 2 week birthday Kyle & Em! We love you! Actually, this is nearly the time when Kyle came home from the hospital as he was released at 2 weeks. Em had another 3 weeks to go from this point. 

Happy day

Around lunch time today, Aaron and I had the following conversation:

Aaron: Mommy, can we have a happy day with Daddy?
Me (not sure specifically what he is talking about): What do we do on a happy day?
Aaron: it's the one what I have beer pop.
Me: Ahhhh happy hour root beer.

He has good time / day sense too because we have previously done this on Wednesday. And what do you know, today is Wednesday. And so Jeff met Aaron and myself for a happy hour. And Aaron had his "beer pop".

Chicago

We took a trip out to Chicago for a wedding, birthday party and to visit family. We saw many people over 5 days. 

This was around 4am heading to the airport. We are way too awake for that hour of the day for an insanely early flight. 

All dressed up for the wedding. 

All my siblings at the Cubs game. And an honorary brother.  

My siblings. 

Jeff and Pete with the birthday boy, GT. 

The kids had a great time with Papa & Kari while we were at the wedding. 

Emily with Caper and Berkley

We also went up to Madison to check out Josh's new restaurant. It was a day trip so it was a long day. Kyle and Emily so rarely snuggle with one another that we had to document them sleeping in the car on one another. 

Aaron did some hand weights with me after my run. 

Our flight home was a connector, but was delayed just enough to get us on the direct flight. That gave us a few extra hours in the airport to pass which was very pleasantly done so in the club lounge with some free passes the airline had sent a few months prior. The kids were pleased with the extra screen time and snacks available, not to mention the comfy chairs. Lucky kids. I remember when my dad would take us in the airline lounge before flights. We felt like royalty with all the food and drink available. 

Kyle & Emily start 5th grade

Today is the first day of 5th grade for Kyle and Emily. In keeping with some trend not requested by us, once again in an odd grade year, they are in the same class. Preschool was always together. First grade we ended up requesting together after circumstances necessitated it. Third grade we requested separation when moving here but they were assigned together anyhow. Fifth grade they were put together again. They are both happy with their teacher so we are hoping it will still be a great year even if they didn't get the separation they would have liked. 

So on the first day, we went for muffins together. 

Birthday ropes course

Happy 10th birthday Kyle & Emily!! For their celebration, they went back to the Greensboro Science Center to do the ropes course. When we saw it the previous week, Kyle was intent on doing the ropes course and was disappointed we couldn't do it right then and there. They brought our best friends her in NC to the course and had an absolute blast. 

I was supposed to go as well and hang with Aaron on the ground (he is too young to be allowed on the course), but I threw out my neck and could barely function so I stayed back with Aaron.