Go Cubs!!

We attended our first Cubs game this year on April 18. We got dressed in our Cubs best...and then got bundled up at Wrigley Field. We lasted seven innings! The Cubs were winning when we left...but just couldn't hold on.

DuPage Children's museum

Elmhurst Academy had a free night at the DuPage Children's museum just for the students! We had so much fun, especially because the museum was practically empty! For those with children in the area, this is a really great museum for kids!

Making music by banging on a pink tank!

Mooo!

J-Ma and Papa Pete came out to Illinois for Easter. We had a lot of fun. Elsie showed off two of her favorite things: blocks and belly buttons!

We went to a small zoo near our house. I was so impressed with our little Elsie when she saw the cow and said "Moo!" What a smart baby!

When we got to the sheep and the 3-day old lamb, Elsie said "Moo!" And the pigs? Also "Moo!" OK, so not the genius baby I first thought. But I am thrilled that her favorite farm animal is a cow!

Elsie says quite a few words now in addition to her signs. And by "words" I mean sounds that are similar to the actual words that only Mom and Dad can decipher. We love it! Some of these words include: hat, help, sock, duck, arm, eye, up, banana, an coat.

Happy Easter!

Our Easter morning started with a few surprises from the Easter Bunny. Elsie knew just what to do when she saw the Easter eggs in the living room - she immediately got to work picking them up and placing them in the basket. Then, she dumped the basket out and tried wearing it as a hat! Elsie also really enjoyed her puzzle from the Easter Bunny!

Elsie had fun opening presents from Grandma Jan and Grandpa John. She especially enjoyed decorating the pony with the ribbons!

It was a gorgeous day outside, so we took a nice family picture with J-Ma and Papa Pete, who were visiting for the holiday.

Elsie spent the afternoon hunting eggs and kitties! She just threw each egg into the basket, breaking most of the shells, and prompting us to enjoy some tasty egg salad sandwiches for lunch!

Happy Easter everyone!

Kristi meets Lasse

I was recently in Europe for work, and I used the opportunity to see Antonia and Thommi and meet their son Lasse (4.5 months). Jack did a wonderful job with Elsie for the long week (thanks to some help from his Grandma Jan!).
While in Bamberg, Germany, the weather was gorgeous and we went out for a long walk and coffees!

Key West with butterflies and Bullards

While we were in Florida, we spent a day in Key West with Uncle Pete and Kate (who were also in the Keys for vacation). We started off the day in the butterfly conservatory. There were so many butterflies, birds, and fish! Elsie really enjoyed chasing after them. We really enjoyed chasing after Elsie (of course, there was a "no grabbing the butterflies" policy!).

One of the butterflies landed on my hand!

We stopped into a shop for some key lime pie (and to warm up a bit - it was 57F!). Elsie's jacket matched perfectly!

Elsie took her first silly tourist photo, posing as a mermaid! We enjoyed some eclectic tapas for dinner under the heat lamps. I realize now that I see this great picture of Pete, Kate, and Elsie, that we failed to get a family photo! I guess we will just have to go back for another visit!

Our first family vacation - Key Colony Beach, FL

We took our first family vacation the first week of March to Key Colony Beach, FL. We had a wonderful time!! We stayed at Aunt Kaye and Uncle Wally's condo right on the water! We caught every single sunrise while we were there. I guess Elsie was just too excited to sleep in! Elsie loved playing out on the balcony in her pajamas as the sun rose.

It was a bit cool, so we stayed bundled up. But it was just so great to see the sun!! This was the first time Elsie was really walking around outside, with all of the uneven ground! We went to the park several times. In addition to the standard swing, Elsie is now big enough to climb around on the playground equipment. She was also very excited to learn that you're allowed to touch plants and trees when they are OUTSIDE. (Elsie knows not to touch our one house plant.)

We went out to the beach a few times. Elsie was not a big fan of the sand. She liked the water, but as soon as it rushed out, she began to cry because the sand got soft and she started to sink in (or because the water was really cold?). If she got sand on her finger, Elsie would hold it out for one of us to clean off. We also had fun swimming in the heated pool a couple times.