Mothers Day 2010

On Mothers Day we continued our annual tradition of hosting both sets of parents for brunch. I made mimosas and Todd made fresh fruit salad and french toast. Mmmm! Nathan was completely wound up and ecstatic about the fact that all of his grandmas and grandpas were there!

Grandma Nancy and Nathan

Dad and Mom

Todd working his magic in the kitchen.

The Mothers Day present that Nathan made for me at daycare. He's so talented! :)

Reading a book with Grandpa John.

Showing Grandma Gail how his truck works.

My second Mothers Day!

Hug attack!!!!

Happy Birthday Todd!

My sweet husband turned 32 on May 6th. On the evening of May 5th, his parents and grandparents came over to celebrate with a steak dinner and yummy cake. Entertaining at home is a great way for us to maintain the parenting and socializing balance, as Nathan can join in the party until bedtime, and then we are able to hang out with the grown-ups after he goes to bed. Plus, having people over is great incentive to clean up the clutter around the house! :)

Grandma Great showing Nathan the game that she brought for him--it plays a song and shoots little plastic balls all over the living room. He loves it!




Dinner time!


The very yummy birthday cake from local bakery Confection.



Nathan was a big fan of both the strawberries and the cake.


Firing up his new buffer.


Nancy and Dan


Basil and Florence

Welcome back Florence and Basil!

Last week Grandma and Grandpa Lewis made their way from their winter home in Florida to Michigan. They always time that trip so that they arrive for Todd's birthday. It was so wonderful to see them in person after a long winter of chatting on the phone and via email. I think they got a kick out of seeing Nathan running around and interacting with them--he's so much more fun in person than in pictures and video! Nathan of course was in heaven to have a whole room full of people to entertain!

Nathan loves to give kisses--all you have to do is ask!

Comparing Grandpa and Grandma's storytelling styles.

Cruising the Neighborhood

In the Eastern Time Zone, Nathan wakes up early in the morning. In Chicago, which is on Central time, he woke up really early! Luckily there was a Starbucks and McDonalds a few blocks from Stu and Erin's new place, so we exited the apartment as quietly as possible and grabbed some breakfast. After eating we spent some time exploring the neighborhood. Nathan pointed out all the cars, splashed in every puddle and had fun at a playground that we stumbled across.

When it was a little more reasonable hour for a Sunday morning, we made our way back to the apartment and then went out to brunch with Erin and Stu at The Sunrise Cafe, which is a great little diner.

Lincoln Park

After our trip to the zoo we decided to head over to the adjacent park so that N could run around a little bit.

I love this pic of Stu and Erin.

Nathan had to come and check out what's going on.

Nathan loves his aunt and uncle!

The theme of the weekend for Nathan was "Bus!" Every vehicle larger than a car was deemed to be a bus, and Nathan loved all of the traffic in Chicago as there were so many buses! He spotted these two "buses" from across the park, and he and Stuart had to go and check them out. Much to Nathan's disappointment, the trucks left just before he could get to them.

Although he doesn't have a lot of patience for long stretches IN the stroller, Nathan had a good time exploring the stroller from every other angle.

Can you spot the baby?

Checking out the buckle ("BUCK-oh")

Taking a turn in the driver's seat

Some photographic evidence that he actually did sit in the stroller for a moment! :)

Lincoln Park Zoo

On Saturday morning we loaded into the car and drove to Chicago to visit Stuart and Erin. They just moved into a new apartment that we wanted to see, it was a beautiful spring weekend, and it had been way too long since we'd spent time with S and E.

Nathan "helping" Daddy and Mommy pack for the trip.

We started off the afternoon with a delicious BBQ lunch at The Smoke Daddy. After stuffing ourselves with brisket, cornbread and mac & cheese, we headed over to the Lincoln Park Zoo. Stuart, Todd and Nathan went back in September while we were all in town for Erin's bachelorette party festivities. N slept through the entire experience though, so as far as he was concerned, this was his first trip to the zoo! He loved it--pointing and exclaiming over all the animals, watching all of the other kids, trying to escape from whichever adult was trying to hold his hand or attempting to get him to stay in the stroller!