Snow Days!

It's pretty rare to get a snow day in Chicago, but when 14 inches of snow was headed our way, school was called off. The snow began Thursday evening and continued well into Friday and then off and on throughout the weekend. The kids couldn't get their snow pants on fast enough Friday morning, and we spent the weekend playing in the snow, shoveling, sledding, shoveling, hanging out at home, and shoveling.

Working on Valentine's Day cards. 

These guys logged hours in the snow this week.

Watching the first snow flakes fall on Thursday night, just after finding out that school was cancelled for Friday.

Beginning our snow day right.

The snow kept coming and coming...

If only they could get ready for school as fast as they put on their snow pants Friday morning.

Maeve mostly ate the snow.

City-kid sledding.

Snow days are exhausting.

Who's this guy?!

Time for real sledding!

Maeve got tired of sledding.

So we watched the dogs play in the snow.

Ella made an ice cream machine using snow. Maeve was her first customer, and she wasn't fooled by snow covered in sprinkles. She wanted the real thing. 

Jack and Dad enjoyed some bro time at the top of the Hancock building.

The best (and most expensive!) hot chocolate they'd ever had.

It was a little foggy, but Jack was still excited.

Maeve trapped Jack under a clothes basket.

A stop at the Lego store after the Hancock. Jack enjoyed these Lego ladies. 

He named that one, "Stacy."

Looking up toward the top of the Hancock.

Catching Up

It's been a couple of weeks since we posted anything, so we're catching up with lot of photos. I was out of town last weekend, so Jeritt and the kids packed in the fun with a movie out, baking cookies, basketball, and dinner with Abbie, Bernice, Clay, Jeff, Kristin, and the kids. Nearly a week ago already, we welcomed our new baby niece/cousin, Lucy Elizabeth! Abby, Brian, and Maya grew their family with another baby girl, and we're in love with her already:)

Her hair is a representation of the night she had. 

Maeve has been struggling with bedtime lately, so one night her big sister let her sleep in her bed.

Jack bossing Abbie around while they play trains.

What's this? A washing machine, duh.

Poor Maeve has been accompanying me to lots of furniture stores lately. 

I may have created a bad habit with my phone...

Coloring during a lunch out with Abbie.

Only 14 more years until this is real!

Patiently watching Ella and Jack swim.

Jack had pajama day at school last week. Look for him and his pig in the right corner.

A day off school for Ella (teacher in-service) meant a trip to Sweet Mandy B's!

Girl's trip to Target!

Checking out the Valentine cards we bought for Jack.

Getting sleepy...

Brushing her hair after a bath.

Movie Time!  Maeve was excited for her first movie theater experience.  

They all did great. 

Making serious faces to show off the amazing three amigo chocolate chip cookies. 

Jack was showing Maeve the furnace pipes. 

We took our neighbor some of the cookies.  They invited us in to climb on their new rock climbing wall. 

These guys are getting to be regulars at Starbucks.

Doctor Jack. 

I missed the photo of the hug but thankfully Maeve wanted a goodnight kiss as well. 

Fun at Little Beans. 

Jack made a pretty awesome lego house. 

Fun at the park. 

Future basketball star.