China Doll

Mila's Grandma Lynn visited last week.  We always hit up her favorite Windy City hotspots when she's in town (Terry's Toffee, shopping on Armitage in Lincoln Park, Big Star...) but one afternoon we decided to do something different.  We made the trek to Chinatown.  Mila took in the sights and begged for (and subsequently received, sigh) a cookie from a slightly scary looking bakery.  She also screamed at the top of her lungs when an elderly man made (what I guess was supposed to be) pigeon noises at her for about 60 awkward seconds.  We walked through Chinatown Square and down Wentworth Avenue drinking hot tea and pointing out ornate and odd knick-knacks in shop windows.  It all made for a fun afternoon together, and some great photographs too! Click on the collage for a closer look. 

Singing In The Rain

What do you do while caught in the rain on a walk around the block?  

Why, duck under a stoop and burst out in song, of course!

And for Daddy...

Quick & Crafty

Behold a dose of cheap fun for toddlers 

who are busy, busy, busy all day 

and barely give Mommy a minute to breathe let alone blog:

 Be a rebel and ask for paper bags at the grocery store 

instead of bringing your usual 100% recycled tote

 bought with proceeds supporting your local leprechaun foundation.

Cut out the side with the handle and allow your child 

to scribble, paint, smear or doodle on the blank side of the bag

...whatevs occupies them long enough 

for you to read just one chapter of Gillian Flynn's latest novel, 

Gone Girl.  

These pictures were snapped during the approximate

twelve seconds Mila and Harry waited patiently for the paint to dry.

Fold the bag in half with the paint on the outside.  

Staple edges and cover with masking tape 

to make sure it's double secure 

and won't cause a minor poke of the finger,

 undoublteldy ensuing in a major Hello Kitty Band-aid crisis.  

At this point you have a "satchel" your dear child

 will just love to stuff and re-stuff with take-out menus, coupons, 

your car keys, that receipt you've been looking for,

 and goldfish crackers. Lots of goldfish crackers. 

Water Babies

MQ and her best pal Ash spent most of the weekend 

splashing around together on Ash's deck....

 These two take their water sports seriously!

Rocky Mountain Memories

Last weekend we attended a friend's wedding
in Ft. Collins, Colorado.  We used the oppourtunity
to take a good old-fashioned family vacation.

  Here are a few highlights:

 Mila loved playing with water balloons 

at Chris & Elisa's welcome social.

Waiting patiently for some pool time.

All dressed up with somewhere to go.

 Be quiet, the wedding is about to start!

Window shopping in Estes Park.

 Playing the ultimate tourists--

enjoying Laura's chocolates on a bench.

 Mila got a little crabby because we said NO to this 

"Cool Story, Bro" trucker hat.  Hilarious.

 One of so many breathtaking views as we headed 

into Rocky Mountain National Park.

Good times along Trail Ridge Road.

 Trail Ridge Road took us up, up, up

to 12,000 feet above sea level. Gulp!

Joel remained 100% calm on the drive

...can't say the same for the passenger.

 We spotted magnificent wildlife above the tree line.

 Mila, craning her neck to see the mountain peaks. 

 Looking pretty in charming Breckenridge, CO.

 The gondola ride was a hit with all of us.  

Trekking up to the Red Rocks Amphitheater. 

 The best way to travel :)

We listened in on a band warming up 

for that evening's show.

 On our last day we rented a Surrey

 in Denver's Washington Park.

Like riding this surrey around the lake, 

vacationing with a two year old

 sometimes felt exhausting, but oh so much fun.