Big Transitions For A Big Boy

This past Saturday we moved the crib out of Ryan's room ... And the full bed from the guest room in. He woke twice during the night crying and both times said he wanted to come in our room. He fell asleep again on his own, in the big boy bed, and woke in the am with a big smile. Sunday night he didn't wake at all. Last night he got me up a bit before 5am to go potty, tried to convince me to stay and sleep with him, but then fell back asleep in his bed and woke a few hours later.

Today, to add to his big boy status, he went to school wearing his big boy underwear (vs a diaper). He was beaming with pride all day.

Now if we could only stop the temper tantrums and insistence he be carried all the time ;)

Trimming The Tree

The one thing I realize year-after-year ... its hard to let your kids help trim the tree.  They place all the ornaments in the same spot (about 3.5 feet from the ground and on the same branches as one another).  They love doing it and its hard not to smile as they ask about each ornament we pull out, or start to remember ones from previous years.  However, the perfectionist inside almost dies as they clutter them all together on one branch ... knowing that this tradition is just for memories and as soon as they go to bed I'll be removing every ornament they placed and putting it somewhere else :)

Holiday (Model) Train Outing

In past years we've trekked out to the burbs to check out a pretty extensive indoor holiday "railroad garden".  While the kids think its pretty cool ... its actually quite an expensive outing ... and they dont think its that cool.  So this year we decided to try something along the same line within the city, which also is a little cheaper (aka: free!).


We took an outing to to the Lincoln Park Conservatory, which had a couple trains running in a holiday-type scene.  It turns out it was a good choice.  Although there were only about two trains (compared to the 12 in the burbs) it was plenty.  Ryan found the two fascinating and Brooke was bored within minutes.  Both kids actually found the "fern room" to be the most entertaining - it had a wild/tropical feel ... and miniature hidden dinosaurs :)  We then took the money we saved and enjoyed a nice lunch.  Everyone was happy!

To complete our holiday-themed day, we concluded the evening by starting to decorate the tree :)

Holiday Parades!

Last weekend we went downtown to see the Magnificent Mile Lights Parade. It was cold and packed ... but the kids were thrilled. Both spent the parade up on our shoulders to ensure a good view. At the end of the parade we were both a bit sore, but the smiles on the kids faces was well worth the effort!


We followed up last weekend's parade with another parade - different state ... and MUCH different atmosphere. Here we were one of maybe 40 or so spectators, viewing 5 or so floats, and yet with equally excited kids.

  

This time we brought along Uncle Tim, Aunt Jackie & Cousin Gavin.  While Brooke and Ryan appreciated the blaring of the horns and sirens of each police car and firetruck, Gavin increasingly wondered what cruelty we were subjecting him to.  We walked away with a ton of candy, a Santa sighting, and a little bit of Christmas spirit ... Gavin might not have been quite as moved by the whole event.  Perhaps next year they'll join us again and he will get to give our small town festivities another chance :)