Walking in a winter Chicagoland

Last week we headed to Chicagoland for five days. It was a jam packed trip full of fun, friends, and family. And of course cold weather. It's amazing how big of wimps we have become...but on the other hand, anyone would be cold when the high temperature of the day was 12 degrees!

We landed late on Wednesday night and all quickly fell asleep once we got to Grandma and Grandpa Harrer's house. We all woke early and headed to Chicago. After 15 years on the waiting list, Nick's name came up to purchase Cubs season tickets and Thursday was the day he got to pick them out. The Cubs let us in and we got to pick our season tickets out. Although it was 10 degrees, it was fun to wander around the ballpark and check out the different options. Ellie was confused that there wasn't baseball going on and she really wanted to see the Cubs...truly her fathers daughter. Nick picked out two seats in the front row of the upper deck just past the first base.


















I see many more trips to Chicago during the warmer months in our future...

Later that night we met up with an old friend for deep dish pizza, which we can never get enough of while we are in Chicago.









Friday there was plenty of time for sledding for Nick and Ellie. I didn't participate due to Numero Due but at least I got some great photos. Ellie loved going down the hill, even by herself, but didn't like the hike back up. Amazingly her size 2T winter coat that we bought 3 years ago for her still fit. We layered sweaters and hats and also had a pair of snow mittens from our Boston days to keep her warm.





















And of course after a long afternoon of sledding, we headed to Dunkin Donuts for hot chocolate...which Ellie has kinda become obsessed with.


Saturday...whoa...what a full day. We started out by meeting some old friends and their son (only a few months older than Ellie). First we met for lunch and then headed back to their place to hang out. They were generous enough to loan Ellie an old pair of snow pants that their son had outgrown, but which fit Ellie. Although just about the same age, their son is at least 6" taller than Ellie. The two kids played in the snow, throwing snowballs, making snow angels, and other typical kid behavior in the snow.












And it was all fun and games until Ellie got snow up her nose...



Then we headed back to Grandma and Grandpa Harrer's house for the aharrer family early holiday party. It was so nice to see family and cousins that we don't get to see too often. Ellie was so excited to see her younger cousins and they all had a blast.












Sunday was another full day. First there was holiday gift exchange with Grandma and Grandpa Harrer, then we headed to see Great-Grandma Kost for lunch and some quality time, and then we headed down to hang out with Aunt Cindy, Uncle Mike, and Cousin Tristan.



At lunch with Great-Grandma Kost, Ellie was a perfect kid. Of course she insisted on having hot chocolate with lunch. She and Grandma Kost had a great time teasing each other and making each other laugh. It's amazing what two people, born 85 years apart have in common (besides bright blue eyes) and can enjoy each other's company with such ease.



And if that wasn't enough, we headed down to see Cindy, Mike and Tristan for more presents, laughs, and good fun (and more deep dish pizza!!) Ellie and Tristan had fun together. Hopefully Tristan didn't pick up any for Ellie's bad habits.

















Monday was a rest day and then we headed home. I wasn't feeling too well on Monday and really took it easy, but Nick, Ellie and Grandma and Grandpa Harrer all had a relaxing day together.

We are happy to be home and back to warm weather (while Chicago experienced highs in the teens, it was in the 80s in Pasadena!). It was a whirlwind trip full of fun (Cubs season tickets!), friends, and time with family. Ellie loves her younger cousins and had so much fun with them this trip. Ellie also got some serious snow play time, which we all enjoyed but glad to only deal with the stuff now when we visit others. Next time we visit Chicago it will be warmer, the ivy will be growing in Wrigley and the Cubs will be playing!


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Its beginning to look like Christmas

This past week the winter holidays arrived at our house including getting the lights on the house and some early holiday preparations. But, everything about the weekend had to do about the holidays and getting ready for them.

Saturday morning we woke up early and headed to the zoo. We attended a special breakfast and event for members where Santa and his elves were also invited. It was a lot of fun and Ellie got some one-on-one time with Santa without rushing. They had a nice conversation and the elves were quite entertaining. We also enjoyed some carolers and a string trio playing holiday music. After the breakfast we partook in some holiday crafts and face painting. There was also a special visit with some reindeer. And as a bonus, we had all the rides on the carousel we wanted. It was pretty cold and rainy which put a little damper on things and meant that we didn't spend time visiting with the zoo's regular inhabitants. However, there was a close encounter with an armadillo for Nick and Ellie.

We then headed to the mall to see Frozen. It was a cute movie that Ellie really enjoyed. While we were at the mall, Ellie as astute enough to note that Santa must have travelled really really fast if he got to the mall before we did to spend time with kids there! And yes she spent some more time with Santa at the mall and we got a traditional Ellie with Santa photo. As expected she asked for the American Girl twins with the hair and their bed. Unexpectedly she asked for a butterfly Barbie. Santa wasn't quite sure what a butterfly Barbie was but was familiar with the American Girl twins and their accessories.

After we all returned home and had a good rest. It was time to deck the halls of our house. Slowly over the week we had been pulling out the holiday decorations and putting them up. But Saturday was reserved for the tree set-up and decoration. Ellie was quite excited and we all had a great time decorating the tree. Ellie actually handled a majority of the ornaments. But since we wanted some above 45 inches from the ground, Nick and I chipped in too.

On Sunday Ellie and I had invited a few friends (and one little brother) over for some cookie decorating. Ellie helped me roll out and cut out some holiday shapes like candy canes, gingerbread men, circles (ornaments), stars, and stockings. The kids did some decorating with sprinkles only on unbaked cookies which was quite fun to watch. For some cookies the kids were very diligent with their placement of sprinkles and were clean and tidy. However, for some others...including Ellie's candy cane, there was a superfluous amount of sprinkles spread onto the cookies. After the sprinkles only cookies were in the oven, some prebaked cookies were decorated with frosting and sprinkles. I'm pretty sure more frosting ended up in their mouths than on the cookies...but they had a great time. I was silly and ran to the store to pick up some snacks for the kids including grapes...however, I should have realized that the kids would snack all they needed to on the cookies and frosting/sprinkles. Then they played at the house for a little bit...totally hopped up on sugar. It was so fun to watch the kids work together and decorate the cookies. They all had a great time and it was the perfect group of kids. There was quite a bit of silliness but in the end they were all proud of their work and each walked away with about 4-5 cookies each to share with their families. 

So yes, our family spent the weekend getting ready for the holidays. We have a lot on our schedules still including a trip to Chicago, a family party, school holiday party, etc, etc all before Christmas Eve. But we are definitely in the holiday spirit now!

Numero Due: 25 weeks (and Happy Thanksgiving!)

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! We had a great one. Aunt Susu flew in from Cambridge for the holiday weekend and we all got to spend some quality time in Santa Barbara. Thanksgiving dinner was delicious. As usual I brought pumpkin pie, rolls, and sugar cookies to dinner (this year Ellie helped make/decorate everything). Aunt Susu and Grandma Pam took care of the turkey, stuffing, green beans casserole, and mashed potatoes. And there were three kinds of cranberry sauce. Nick got his canned, jellied, stuff. There was a orange-cranberry relish that is a family recipe and traditional cranberry sauce. New this year...roasted carrots. Ellie is kinda in love with cooked carrots (aka squishy carrots) right now and requested them for "the feast". So there they were.

And we were having such a great time nobody took any pictures. None. None of the turkey. None of the happy family. None. Despite the 8+ cameras within arm's length of everyone at the dining table there were no pictures taken. But the important thing is we all had a great time.

The whole weekend Aunt Susu had a little shadow. Everywhere she went Ellie wanted to be. Everything she did Ellie wanted to figure out how to do it. Ellie wanted Susus to play with her every moment she was awake. We found plenty of fun things to do including riding a miniature train, shopping, visiting with family, lots of eating, relaxing...all sorts of fun things. It was great.

And here we are 25 weeks pregnant with Numero Due. The internet says the baby is the size of a rutabaga, which I couldn't find at the grocery store to show Ellie. I'm feeling great albeit getting a little uncomfortable with the growing belly. There is a little bit of backaches by the end of the day, but nothing too bad. The heartburn is really bad, but it has been since almost day 1. Getting used to waking up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom is a shock to the system...yeah, I know I better get used to it because once the baby comes, blah, blah, blah...this is the second time we've done this. Numero Due is very active. I do feel like he is moving all the time. Nick and Ellie have yet to feel him move, but it'll be any day now, as long as we are all sitting still long enough for them to feel him move. Ellie has been asking some interesting questions about the baby and pregnancy and was really interested in the ultrasound pictures we brought home. I really haven't had much of an appetite (despite all the food I ate over this past weekend). Its weird how with Barca I had an unending hunger and appetite, but with Numero Due I haven't had much of one. Again, just another difference between my first pregnancy and this one. They really do feel totally different. Work is going well and I haven't let the growing belly slow me down. I think people are always surprised to see me walk onto a construction site or do field work. At least one thing is the same between pregnancies...they aren't slowing me down and I'm still rocking the pregnant belly and hardhat on construction sites.

A few weeks till the 3rd trimester and only 15 short weeks till the baby's due date. And yet there is so much to do. I know the weeks will go fast with all the holidays, Ellie's birthday, being busy at work, and getting ready for the baby. Its starting to get really exciting in our household.

Numero Due: Half-way There

We are now over 20 weeks along in the pregnancy which means that we are half-way there. This pregnancy really is different than my first one. I have a more astute sense of smell which is probably driving Nick crazy. And I don't really have a appetite. Also, this kid doesn't stop moving, I feel this baby move more than I ever felt Barca at this age. I'm also more tired, but that may have to do with the fact that I'm five years older or have a 4-year old to chase around.

We recently had the 20-week ultrasound where we learned that the baby is growing normally and is healthy. Numero Due appears to have a large head and short legs...glad even in uterine there is proof this kid is a product of me and Nick.



We also learned the sex of the baby. We are having a BOY!

When we told Ellie she is going to have a baby brother she was a little sad, she was really looking forward to having a baby sister. However, she quickly came around to the idea of having a baby brother...because he will be a baby and she loves babies.

We are all becoming more excited daily. As we are now in the second half of this pregnancy, Nick and I know what we have to look forward to...Nick and Ellie getting to see and feel Numero Due move and kick...and as much as he moves, hopefully they will have a chance sooner than later.

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