fun weekend

We had a really Christmasy weekend. Friday night was our town's tree lighting. We went and took the trolley rides around town. At the Dance Studio in town they had ballerinas dancing in the window and Mia loved it! The weather was perfect and we enjoyed seeing all the Christmas lights in town.

Saturday we got up early and took a hike in Izzac Walton - Dad walked with the girls and I took a nice trail run. Then the girls and I went to Mia's friend's Sophie's birthday party. Then we went to another tree lighting and our traditional Christmas kickoff dinner at the Flossmoor Brewery.

Sunday we officially became members of our church. It was nice to be welcomed by everyone and the girls did great when we had to get in front of the congregation! It was nice.

Mia has been so into the Nativity story (and playing with her Nativity playset) that on Sunday night we walked to a local church that does a live Nativity scene each year - they had real camels, sheep, a horse to carry Mary and told the story of Christmas. We waited in line for awhile but afterwards they had treats and crafts. It was so much fun and a lot of families we know in town where there. The girls had three late nights in a row but it was worth it.

Mia and her friend Jonah at Iron Oaks this week, we had a playdate there


Dad and the girls walking the trails at Izaac Walton





Mia watching the ballerinas

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Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! The girls and I went to Grandma's on Thursday to celebrate with my side of the family. We had a great time and the girls enjoyed seeing their great aunts, uncles, Grandma and Papo. We took a walk on the riverfront afterwards and feed the ducks. Mia made chocolate covered pretzels with cranberries on top that were a hit!








Friday we took the girls to Green Garden farms to chop down our Christmas tree. We took the hayride out to the fields then found our perfect tree. Dad chopped it down then the girls had fun pulling the tree in the cart! We went to the warming house for hot cocoa and cookies then visited the ponies and ducks. We brought the beagles with and they enjoyed walking around too - it was their first ride in our van! It was so nice to have the extra room for them to come with.









Saturday we got up early and went to the Beverly Hills Turkey Trot 5K. Beverly is a neighborhood in Chicago very rich in the Irish culture, really cute older home and HILLY streets! It was a perfect day for running. They had bounce houses and a nice playground so the girls really enjoyed that. Dad pushed the double stroller again and I ran alone. I ran my fastest 5k so far - 25:47. Still not the fastest but considering my first race this year was 31:10, much improved!! The course was really great, lots of downhills and lots of up but overall a nice run. Later we made our big pork and cranberry, mashed potato, broccoli and stuffing dinner and dad's pumpkin pie for dessert. We also made cookies (in honor of my dad) and after Annie was asleep decorated our tree (we started to in the afternoon but after Annie started to take off most ornaments, decided to finish after she was in bed) and watched our traditional Charlie Brown Christmas. Mia stayed up and had hot cocoa too.






Mia putting the first ornament on the tree - her new ornament of the year. Annie's new ornament is a green duck :)


Mia and dad set up the Nativity set today. Mia LOVES it and seriously played with it all day long! She went up in front at church today and helped put real hay in the manger for the first week of Advent.




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Mia's report card

Mia received a great progress report from her teachers today. I meet with them this morning for her first conference. Dad and I are very proud of her!

Some highlights from her report:
*friends with everyone. Very caring. Jonah and Jacob one day were fighting over to sit next to her at snack, so she took her chair and moved in between them.
*focused and detailed, has a purpose in her play and a plan.
*strong fine motor skills
*plays in all centers, will play with the cars, sensory stations, etc but does favor dramatic/imaginary play
*very confident, not afraid of adults, is the first to seek help for her hurt friends

Mia also has started to blend short vowel words (at home with mom and dad). She is really doing great and slowing moving from pre-reading into initial reading. She is recognizing sight words too. She has an amazing memory and recalls stories in sequential order.

Mia is doing good in ballet too. I really like the studio she is at as she is learning classic ballet and a lot of movements.



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Symphony

We did our annual trip to the children's show at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra this Saturday with Grandma. The story this year was "The Ugly Duckling". It was great! The girls loved it. First there where small groups that taught the girls songs and movements. Then we went to the concert. It was very well done and really held the kids attention. Then grandma took us out for lunch. It was a great afternoon and other reason we love living in a great city.

Mia petting the ugly duckling


At lunch





During the small group


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Early Thanksgiving

I'm so happy to report that Annie does NOT need to have surgery on her eye! Dr. Techo said that he must have misdiagnosed the cyst and in fact it was something else that resolves on it's own. The cyst is gone so we are very happy! That makes a very Thankful Thanksgiving for us.


Mia also received her first eye exam. She did great and has 20/20 vision.


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frienships

I figured Mia deserves a post all her own! She is really doing great in school and making lots of friends. On Friday for veterans day since she had no school we had her friend Jonah come over for a playdate. He has a little sister Eva that is Annie's age so it was fun for the kids. Later we had a playdate at Maria's house and the girls both had a blast and didn't want to leave!

Today at school, Mrs. Wexler told me that Mia was breaking Jonah's heart because she was playing with Jacob and not him. He was sad and moping around then finally asked to join them. Jacob was sick all last week so I know Mia missed him. But I am glad she is making friends. Sophie and Natalia and Abby are the girls she mostly plays with. Parents conferences are coming up - I am excited to hear about how she is doing.



We have been super busy. Last weekend mommy's friends/roomates from college came to Chicago to visit! Sara came on Thursday and stayed at our house (she finally got Mia to let her braid her hair, now Mia lets me braid and ponytail her hair all the time - yea for no knots). Then Amy, Amy and Stacy all came on Friday. Aunt Christie came to visit that weekend too. Mommy got to stay downtown with her friends and Daddy took good care of the girls and had fun with them. They had a blast playing with Aunt Christie too and Mia even watched E.T. on Saturday night. They kids came downtown to cheer my friends and I on as we all ran the Hot Chocolate race. Aunt Christie ran the 15K with Mommy and Stacy and we all finished with some good times. The other girls ran the 5k and did great too.

It was a super weekend and I hope my girls will have lifelong friends like mommy is lucky to have. You can never makes friends like you do from high school and college :)

Annie's 18 month check up

Annie is now 18 months old - and she is grows so much! She had her check up this morning with Dr. Roome and everything looked great. She is 31 1/2 inches long and 21 lbs 3 oz! Still a peanut but growing just fine for her frame. She is really such a sweetheart. Yesterday I was sneezing and she went over to the kleenex box, got out a tissue and wiped my nose. We have had colds like crazy this month with another round hitting us.

Annie is loving playing with her dolls, she has to take Baby Corey everywhere we go. She likes to have picnics and will call "mama" and pat the floor next to her so I can sit there. She loves playing Little People still and will pretend play and talk for them. She really has a mind of her own still and it gives her the cutest personality. She likes pointing to nose, head, mouth, teeth, feet, toes, tummy, etc. She really enjoys storyhour on Wednesday and is really social. She loves other kids and of course squeals when she sees dogs. The big thing now is taking drives in the neighborhood to see pumpkins and turkey blow ups - she is going to go nuts this Christmas!