Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Just wanted to take a second and wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Our dinner reservations are at 5:00 this evening at Lawry's, and you can all imagine how excited we are. It's the meal Joe and I look forward to all year. Andy and Sarah and my brother are joining us, and then we're headed to Jeremy's apartment after dinner for dessert.

The rest of our weekend is pretty packed. We have Nadia's last gymnastics class tomorrow morning. I say last because it's the last one that I will get to join her in. She's a big girl now, and will go to class without me. It's sort of bittersweet because I'm excited for her to be able to be independent, but a little sad that she's really no longer my baby. Tomorrow night we will hit the zoo for the opening of Zoo Lights. Luckily it won't be nearly as cold this year as it was last. On Saturday, the kids have pictures at the mall, and then on Sunday, Isaac gets to go to his first class! We signed him up for Gymboree, and now that he's so mobile, I think he's going to have a lot of fun. He's really into other kids, much more than Nadia ever was, so the social aspect of the class is going to be even more important for him. Finally, on Sunday afternoon, Nadia is going to her first "tea" party. She gets to bring a "friend." She chose T-Rex. I can't wait to see pics of the two of them dressed up and enjoying their tea together!

Oh, and because I can't resist the chance to share a few pics, here's what else we've been up to recently.


This is Nadia teaching Joe how to hop like a frog. She loves the game. Joe, not so much, but he's a good sport anyway.


This was taken this morning at the park. It's an absolutely beautiful day today, and we tried to take advantage of it by going on a walk and playing a little at the park. Joe would have preferred hanging out in the house, but I drug him out anyway.

Last weekend we went downtown to see the the windows at Macy's and to check out the toy store. It was really cold and surprisingly crowded, but Nadia enjoyed herself. We didn't dine in the Walnut Room because the wait was nearly an hour and a half, but maybe someday we'll get to experience lunch under the big tree. I did have the most delicious sandwich and ice cream pie in the Frango mint cafe, though.

Here are Joe and Nadia on the brown line to downtown last weekend. It's always such a treat for Nadia to get to ride the train. She loves it!

Just a random picture of Nadia playing dress up at playgroup a couple of weeks ago. She thought she looked like a "movie star!"

We miss you all and can't wait the few short weeks until we are all together!

Crystal

Ugly Holiday Sweaters

So, I was wondering...

Does anyone have an ugly Christmas sweater that Callie and I can borrow? because we were going to make cheesy picture for Christmas. If anyone has a sweater that we can borrow that would be great! just let me know!!!!

Twilight- Literary Crack

So we are within 48 hours of being able to see the film version of the extremely popular book "Twilight". In case you are not as fortunate as Katherine and I are to have already discovered this book to put all other books to shame, you should probably start reading. Forget about everything else, hire babysitters and call-in sick to work. It is completely possible to read this book by Friday. Be warned that once you pick the book up, you will not be able to put it down until you have finished the entire series. You can all thank me later.

More Halloween- More Tiny Pinskys

Just thought we would share our own little Wonder Pet (Tuck the Turtle) and our little Chicken. The kids and I ventured out with some friends to some shops in downtown Ann Arbor for some early trick-or-treating. Then I wrestled them down for naps so that I could re-dress them later and send them to strangers houses to ask for candy. Does anyone else find this to be a strange tradition? Well, strange, but delicious!

so from what I get from the blogs and talking to various people it sounds like the concenses is to go ahead and continue the gift exchange. If I am complete off base let me know soon. I will pick names in a couple of days and email each of you your secret santa person.

Love you all
MOM

Ok so I think I reposted Crystal's blog I'm sorry. I wanted to say the the kids are really cute but I have to admit I don't get the cheesy poffs reference. I must be really out of touch. OH NO!!

Happy Halloween from Chicago!

I just wanted to share the Halloween photos of the kids, in case you hadn't seen them on Facebook. We didn't end up trick-or-treating yesterday, but did go last weekend down in the Square. Nadia is still so focused on the task of trick-or-treating that she has very little energy at the end to be excited about the loot. Next year will be different, I'm sure.

As for the costumes, none of the adults had a clue who Nadia was, but we heard lots of, "Mommy, Mommy, it's Linny. It's Linny from the Wonder Pets!" As for Isaac, it was the opposite. The kids didn't recognize him, but the adults LOVED his costume.
Joe was a little disappointed that the hat and mittens that he had custom made were lost by the postal service, but the hat my mom found at Wal-Mart for $1 turned out perfect. The mittens were a little less than ideal, but didn't seem to take too much away from the overall look. The Cheesy Poofs box was the icing on the cake. So perfect. Oh, and Nadia didn't really eat the celery. I do give her a little credit for at least taking a little nibble, even if she did promptly spit it right out. I'm sure that only the Michigan crew will understand the significance of the celery, but it too definitely completed the look!