Chicago Children's Museum

In our efforts to do something new on this year's trip to Chicago, we took the kids to the Chicago Children's Museum. It was like a day with Isaiah's therapists! LOL - lots of great learning experiences for both kids. :)

Every once in a while I take a good picture that I am proud of. The light was just right in this one!

Practicing for home, right?!

Gone fishin'!

Hey, Mallory - who is your bus driver?

It's Isaiah!

Water tables were lots of fun...

That's a nice look for you, Seabaugh.

(That's Isaiah concentrating just behind Mallory.)

An intent little builder...

In the end, we thought the children's museum was just okay. I've been to the one in Appleton, and it has just as much cool stuff as the one in Chicago. (Maybe even more.)

- becky

The Hancock Observatory

The week between Christmas and New Years, we took our annual family vacation to Chicago. (I'm a little behind in my blogging - obviously.) Isaiah and Mallory are good little travelers! (At least when the trip gets started...)

On our first night in Chicago, we ate dinner at the Weber Grill restaurant - YUM! Then we bundled everyone up and walked down Michigan Avenue to the Hancock Observatory. I prefer to go up during the day because I can get better pictures. But, if we were going to fit it in on this trip, it was night or never.

Navy Pier

Lakeshore Drive

Daddy and Mallory cleaning the windows. :)

Don't you love the huge BBQ pit on the building? They actually cook on large BBQ grills inside.

- becky

Customer in Training

When we go to Festival to get groceries, Mallory insists that she push the shopping cart. She actually does a really good job! This is one of the few times lately that she listens and follows directions - LOL!

So, where is Isaiah? He absolutely loves going into the Tot Spot. There are tons of fun toys for him to play with, and we can check on him on the monitors throughout the store. FREE childcare while you shop. An excellent idea, if you ask me! :)

- becky

Weather Discussion

Whenever I have the kids in the car, we talk about what the weather is like outside. (I guess it's the teacher in me, finding those teachable moments!) I was just chuckling inside when I took the kids to school this morning.

Mallory: It's kinda raining outside.
Me: Well, it's foggy.
Mallory: It's froggy outside!
Me: Not froggy - foggy. (Mallory refers to Kermit the Frog as 'Froggy'.)
Isaiah: It's froggy outside!
Mallory: No, Isaiah - fooooooggy.

It was so cute the way she stretched out the word 'foggy' and corrected her brubby. :)

Another proud moment - last night, Isaiah went up to Mallory and said, "Mallory, do you want to play with Brubby?" (Brubby is Mallory's nickname for Isaiah.) This was so exciting to hear! Isaiah is really growing in his autism. He's been asking us to play, but for him to ask another child (even though it was his sister) this was just another step in the right direction. :)

- becky