Cheezborger cheezborger cheezborger

This weekend I had my usual Friday off for the first time in 3 weeks. David and I celebrated with a little parent and tot Mandarin. This week we learned words for various sea creatures, so we are all set for a trip to the hai (ocean). I continue to be totally impressed by how much I'm retaining (I can only imagine what is sticking in David's younger, more plastic brain) and by how much fun David has. Language Stars, everyone. Sign your kids up!
Saturday we hit Sox park for a season ticket holders' do. We got to eat free food (that was the first thing on David's agenda), walk around the warning track and check out the visitors' dugout and club house. There was more to see and do, but there's only so much even our sports enthusiast two year old would tolerate. David had a lot of fun playing catch with Kevin in the visitors' bullpen as well as various other spots. He also climbed in and out of almost every locker in the club house.
David's White Sox highlights: stuffing his face, the visitor's bullpen, jumping in and out of lockers


I enjoyed the numerous soaps, lotions and gels available to the players. I can only imagine what kinds of lightly scented moisturizers they have for the manly men in the home club house. Also of note: boat loads of junk food.

After a nice long nap that afternoon, we hit GG's block party. There was a fire truck and a never ending supply of food. Bet you never could have guessed that.

David and Grandpa salvaging spilled bubbles. David devouring his ice cream cone.

Today we took David on his first Chicago boat tour. It was not just any boat tour--it was a canine cruise. Mercury Cruise lines periodically opens their 90 minute river and lake tour to well behaved dogs and their humans. Pete and Snoopy do not qualify as well behaved, but David liked being on the boat with the other puppies. I think he really had fun being out on the water, too. After our boat ride, we hit the original Billy Goat's Tavern for some cheezborger cheezborger cheezborgers and (no fries) chips.





Last but not least, we trucked out to St. Charles this afternoon to hang with Kate, Josh, baby Zach and Nate, Charmaine and Evie. David and Evie were really cute together, and I think both the grown ups and kids had a really nice time.

After a weekend like that, if David doesn't sleep in tomorrow morning, I give up.

Early intervention

Yesterday David put on a show for the developmental and speech therapists from Illinois' early intervention program who came out to do a follow up evaluation. We are pleased to report that, at the age of 29 months, his expressive language is at the 30 month level and his receptive language scored at the 33 month level, making him normal and age appropriate. I guess we can stop obsessing over his speech. For now.

David's Taste tally

Since my last post, we have been rabbit free and David has been to the Taste of Chicago 3 more times to bring his grand total to 6 trips this year. He sampled from 51 servings of 48 different items from 33 booths. (Did you think we weren't keeping track?) If he doesn't have type 2 diabetes, it's not because we're not trying. My mom will be happy to hear that he loves Rainbow Cone and actually pointed to the booth on Saturday and said, "Have it this!" And have it he did. I think a trip to the south side for some ice cream is in order with the SC GPs come to town in August.

David stuffing his face with some delicious corn. He insisted on being the one to hand over the tickets at every booth.

Enjoying more tempura and some Eli's cheesecake with Great Grandma Lil

We spent this weekend in Galena with Great Grandma Lil, whom we are trying to get David to call GG because Great Grandma Lil is way too long, and Grandma and Grandpa Maas. Saturday was rainy and cool, but David amused himself playing "hockey" with his plastic golf clubs and foosball. We also made a brief trip into town where we hit the highlights: the awesome popcorn store, Poopsie's, and Chef Ivo's where Chef Ivo himself was so enamoured by David and his orange crocs that he gave him a very large M&M cookie. Today we had much better weather, so we went out on Grandma and Grandpa's boat before we hit the road for home.

David playing foosball and relaxing on Grandpa's wet hammock

The sunglasses lasted just long enough to take this picture

And last, but certainly not least, David pulled Jackie boy's hands off on more than one occasion this weekend. He was so so very proud of himself. This is for those of you who know Jackie. Enjoy.

Summer in the city

Until today, we've been enjoying some nice summer weather. We've spent quality outdoor time with friends and neighbors. (See pictures from Gus's 3rd birthday and our trip to the zoo with the lovely Veda and Neena below.)

David has been enjoying his swimming lessons with Alma and sports class with Kevin. Last night was baseball night, and Kevin said he got impatient with the throwing and the catching and starting chanting "Hit! Hit ball!" half way through the class. He hit the ball well off the tee, and they even let him use an aluminum bat.

Today was another story as we enjoyed a high of 65 (the coolest start to July in 79 years according to the-weatherman-who-is-never-wrong Tom Skilling). I never imagined when I signed David up for swimming lessons that it would be too cold to go in the pool in July. I really should know better after living here for 11 years, but denial is a powerful force. And for those of you who are wondering (Mom and Dad), I have been very civil to Kevin today despite these unfortunate weather circumstances.

We've been enjoying perhaps Kevin's very favorite summer event this week--the Taste of Chicago. For 10 days, the streets in and around Grant Park are closed and filled with booths representing 50-something local restaurants. We go early and we go often. This year David is old enough to understand what the Taste is all about, and he LOVES it. The kid is a pig. He will eat anything and everything we put in front of him. We still have trips planned tomorrow and Friday, so the final tally is not in, but these pictures are of him eating alligator sausage on a stick, ribs, a popcorn popsicle and a Maxwell Street burger (which is topped with onion and two different forms of pork). He has also sampled tempura, vegetarian bbq, cornbread, spinach pizza, chocolate banana eggrolls and probably a couple dozen other things; and he leaves downtown saying "Eat!" No doubt he is Kevin's son.

Bunny update

There are apparently more baby rabbits to be had in our yard. This morning I noticed Snoopy lurking around the dining room table with two little ears sticking out of her mouth. Miraculously, she dropped the rabbit, and I managed to get both dogs outside. I returned to find this little guy pressed as tightly as he could into the corner of our dining room under a chair. David and I swept him into this bucket which we placed in the bushes out front.

Kill da wabbit

I had planned to put up a post of David's first three (of six) trips to the Taste of Chicago and some other stuff tonight. We got home late from Uncle Dave's game, and then the dogs killed two baby rabbits in our back yard. So tonight's activities are more carcass clean up focused than we had originally planned. I suppose we should be happy they didn't bring them in the house. I will leave you with this cute picture of David assisting with dinner earlier this month and try to post more in the next day or two.

Block party weekend

Well, I have now accidentally broken the news of Dave and Katie's engagement to Aunt Fran, Rich's sister who lives in Rome (nothing like telling a nun about her nephew's engagement via a blog post entitled "Holy crap!"), and to one of Katie's co-workers when I called to sign up David for another round of Mandarin classes this fall. Let the record show, I asked permission before posting anything, so I don't think my big mouth is the issue. This time. Also, hi Fran! Thanks for checking in on us. Can't wait to see you next time you visit or (even better) next time we're in Italy.
And now on to the uninteresting minutia of our lives. It was block party weekend. We could not ask for better neighbors. They are such a fun group of people with really great kids, and lots of them. This weekend, we barricaded off the street for Saturday and Sunday. Fiona told anyone who would listen that she could cross the street without having to ask permission. We rented a bouncer, which David loved. I was impressed with how careful the big kids were when the little ones were in there jumping. They would even pick David up and let him dunk the ball in the oversized inflatable basket. There were kiddie pools and junk food galore, and miraculously there was also sunshine and warm weather for what felt like the first time all year.
Sunday a fire engine came in the morning. David refused to hold the hose and put out the fake fire but did enjoy getting in the truck and wearing his new plastic fire hat. Grandma and Grandpa Maas came over to celebrate Father's Day and so did Uncle Dave. A good time was had by all, except perhaps Dave who suffered through an endless barrage of (my) wedding and engagement questions.
Saturday: in the bouncer, chillin with Olivia and Jackson and with the ladies in the pool

The neighbors were impressed with David's swing (here beating on the pinata) and his ability to ride a two wheeled scooter. Also pictured, David and Olivia playing hockey-football.

Sunday: checking out the fire engine

Playing catch with Grandpa. Demanding that Pete lick his face. With Grandpa and Daddy.