With the temperatures soaring nearly 20-degrees above normal and much colder temperatures on the horizon, we decided to take the opportunity to spend one last evening on the riverwalk. Typically we’ll head down to Washington Street for dinner, often winding up at Potbelly’s. This evening, Suzy packed us a “dinnertime picnic” and so we ate at a table in one of the numerous gazebos overlooking the river.
Following dinner, and a brief game of “tag” between Annalise and Sean, the family headed down to our favorite spot to feed the duckies. Perhaps the geese have already flown south for the winter as there were only ducks around — which was a great thing as the geese tend to be much more aggressive and “crowding.” Afterward, we ran around the “labyrinth” for a bit then loaded up into the wagon and headed back.
Yesterday Mommy and Aunt Bethie took Annalise and Sean back to Kuiper’s Family Farm for more apples (yum!) and another photo shoot in the pumpkin patch. Annalise and Sean picked these two pumpkins out to bring home. Today, Annalise wanted to decorate the pumpkins with stickers. As she was decorating the big one, she said that “this one is for Grandma”.
“they are going to be so happy when they come home” –Annalise
When she was done, she said she needed one for Papa, so she decorated the small one for Grandpa. She was very happy with her work (she even let Sean help, a little) and said “they are going to be so happy when they come home”.
Last weekend, Grandma and Grandpa Jaromin paid us a visit…and unfortunately brought along the remnants of Tropical Storm Lowell and Hurricane Ike with them. Nonstop rains and regional flooding meant a weekend spent indoors. We therefore decided to spend as much of the last weekend of the Summer outdoors. One of our favorite Sept/Oct. destinations is Kuipers Family Farm in Maple Park, IL. So, after a very hot and therefore very short, Saturday morning spent at Johansen Farms in Bolingbrook, we decided to head out a bit farther to Kuipers. We invited our niece Keara along for the trip - the kids had a great time. I’m sure we’ll be back again soon!
This year’s family portrait at Kuipers…
Here’s Keara “washing pumpkins” with Annalise and Sean.
Here’s “Farmer Sean” working the fields
These sheep and goats really swarmed…we had to stay close to keep them from knocking him over. Sean loved petting and feeding the animals.
Sean’s recently begun walking around, spontaneously counting to 5. We spent last evening at the Dupage Children’s Museum where the kids had a blast. When he wasn’t counting, Sean enjoyed singing into a cylindrical block “microphone”. In fact, Sean’s quite the musician. For months now, we’ve been trying for months to capture him singing and playing the piano at home. Unfortunately, the singing typically stops the instant the camera comes out. Here’s our best video to date.
Sean’s first Christmas was fun for all. First we flew out to Buffalo on the 21st to celebrate Christmas early with Grandma, Grandpa, aunts, uncles, and cousins (Daddy’s side of the family). Sean had fun playing with everyone. We made it back home (barely) and celebrated Christmas in Naperville with more aunts, uncles, and cousins (Mommy’s side of the family). After months of cruising along furniture, walls, Mommy and Daddy’s legs, etc, Sean finally took some independent steps on Christmas morning at the Harveys. YEAH!!! Good job Sean! It was a long day, and Sean crashed early (around 6pm) but we all had a great time.
I had a great time this weekend, visiting with my Grandma and Grandpa. They took Annalise and I for walks every day, and we played all the time! Here I am practicing my sippy cup with Grandma. I can’t wait to see them again. What’s this “Christmas” thing they keep talking about? It sounds like fun.
Looks like Sean’s not perfectly happy in the crib Dad made for him. Yesterday morning (10/31), Mom found him crawling on the floor of his room…and I’m absolutely certain we put him to bed in his crib. I’ve lowered the crib mattress down one rung to its lowest point. I’m betting on 6 months max before he manages to climb out again — and we’re forced to “surrender” and move him into a toddler bed. Fortunately, unlike his sister’s crib, Sean’s crib is a three-in-one convertible.
