Frosty

Well, we finally got a significant amount of snow. After a long afternoon of sledding we headed home to make Mason's first snowman. He had a blast helping make him and finding odds and ends to use as his eyes, nose, and mouth. He also did a great job finding sticks in the yard to use as arms. Here he is posing with "Frosty."

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Holiday Photos

Our little daredevil took a nice tumble the day before our photos this year, but boys will be boys. Here are a few...

                                               

Overnight Downtown

We spent the night downtown with Mason to have some holiday fun! We started out at Navy Pier and made a penguin, Popcorn, at Build a Bear. Mason quickly discovered that Santa was there and insisted on seeing him. After Santa we had lunch at Bubba Gump before heading to Winter Wonderfest. Mason had so much fun there!! He got to ride the carousel, ferris wheel, and train. They had an activity area for kids with tunnels to crawl through and a "snow ball" fight dome. He had a blast on the inflatable slide and even found a way to get me to take him ice skating for the very first time (he actually did quite well, all things considered).

Talking to Santa's elf

 Getting Mommy with a ball

Ice skating!

 My elves

Our next stop was the Chicago Children's Museum and then off to the Hard Rock to spend the night. After checking in we went to see the windows on State Street and grabbed some snacks at the Kris Kindle Market. We also stopped to see the lights on Michigan Avenue.

Gingerbread house at our hotel

The next day we went to the Museum of Science of Industry to see the Charlie Brown exhibit and check out the Christmas Around the World trees. Mason made sure to visit all of his favorite exhibits and absolutely loved the floor piano in the Charlie Brown exhibit.

The usual favorites

Blackberry Farm

Blackberry Farm had its Polar Express train this past weekend so Auntie Erica and I took Mason to check it out. We rode the train, had cookies and hot chocolate, and even got to see Santa! Cecily, Jake, and the girls were there too so Mason got a chance to see them!

He loved the helicopter

The Polar Express

Petting a pony

 Cookie time...

 and then hot chocolate!

 So excited to see Santa!!!

Santa

We took Mason to see Santa this past weekend. We've been making the trip about this time every year since he was born so we decided to carry on the tradition. This year Mason was talking the whole way there about getting to see Santa so it was extra fun for all of us. He was more patient waiting in line than we expected and did a great job on Santa's lap. He was, however, concerned about another child crying during the time the photo was snapped!

Halloween Festivities

Mason got extra use out of his costume this year. He got to wear in to the Halloween festivities on the cruise, trick-or-treating in our downtown area, to the town Halloween party, and trick-or-treating on Halloween night. We went to Grandma Monica & Papa Gene's house to trick-or-treat again this year. It was a much different experience than last year. He was able to walk door to door himself this year and say trick or treat. He did a great job! Our biggest problem was keeping his hat of his costume on. We told him that people wouldn't give him candy if he didn't have it on so he'd put it on before he rang a doorbell and then take it off as he left!! 

On the hayride at the Naperville Halloween fest

 Visiting Frank at Grandma's