More sweet brothers...

Hanging Around

Owen's been sharing toys with baby brother. How many cars can you find in Ben's chair? And, will he still be willing to share his toys when Ben actually cares???

Opening some Valentine's and snuggling on the couch

and on the chair

Owen modeling his new apron from Grammy. Don't you love his matching hairnet? It is actually the butterfly net from Elefun, but he loves to wear it on his head for some reason...

Baking some banana bread and trying out the apron

Delicious!

The usual suspects eating some pizza at a Superbowl party

Enjoying some cake at Andrew's birthday party. I can't believe Owen will be 3 in less than a month!!!

Making mailboxes at the Valentine party

I made Ben's ( I love art projects, so if Owen isn't very into it, I never mind finishing up :o) )

All of the kids are looking at the camera... amazing!

Ben enjoying the Valentine's Day Party...

After they ate lots of treats and played their little hearts out, we unleashed the kids in Melissa's back yard. They had so much fun! Owen loved pulling the sled :o)

And riding in it, too!

Father-Son bonding... And, for the record, Mike dressed him. Tennis shoes and socks and bare legs...

Ben before Church... I knit his hat and it is starting to fit :o)

Gym class at the YMCA... It's only about 3 blocks away so we almost always walk which is great! I can't wait until the weather gets a little nicer so we can start walking more!

They absolutely love it!!! It is pretty much unstructured play time. The perfect winter activity for little boys who live in small condos! I don't know why we didn't do this sooner!

Some live action from gym class...

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This video is a little long, but I just wanted to share Owen's giggle

Ben also very much enjoys the class


Last week, Owen had a pretty bad cold. We mostly stayed in and he spent a lot of time laying on the couch. I knit him this hat before Ben was born and he wore it for 3 days straight. He didn't even want to take it off when he went to bed! It is getting a little small. I think I'd better make him a new hat soon!


He did have energetic bursts... (again, he was disappointed because he didn't get any milk out!)


I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but while I ran to change Ben while Owen was in the tub, he dumped about half a bottle of Mike's body wash and then half a bottle of my body wash in. He smelled very fresh after that bath!


Everything is more fun in a box! Very silly!

Ben and Lola snuggling on the couch



What a little sweetie! And, he had just had a bath so he smelled heavenly!


I'm not lying, though it doesn't seem like this could possibly be true! Ben was 2 months old last Tuesday. Time sure flies when you're having fun :o)

"We are adventurers!"

Sometimes Owen proclaims this when we are playing! I always think it's kind of funny! Here are some pictures of our winter adventures around Chicago... When I take out our new (well, actually gently used) double stroller in the snow, I feel like quite the adventurer! It handles wonderfully, even in 5-6 inches, for the record.

Here are Owen, Eliza, and Andrew taking advantage of free day at the Field Museum. I didn't take too many pictures but the kids had a great time. They especially enjoyed the dinosaurs and the play area in the basement. If you get there early enough, you can get metered parking spots about a 3 min walk from the museum that cost $1/hr. A wonderful and cheap way to spend the day!!!



We also went to free day at the Museum of Science and Industry. Another very fun day! Parking costs$16, but it is easy and close to the museum entrance. Owen loved the tractor and combine. Just like Pa's!

Baby chicks

They have an awesome, huge model train which the kids loved!!!

Owen and Eliza, flying to Grandma's house!

Owen the construction man...

Another "adventure" in the city... afternoon tea at the Peninsula! Apparently that is where all of the celebrities stay when they visit Chicago. So fancy and fun! We went in honor of my friend Liane's baby to be! Amazingly, we found street parking across the street from the hotel on a Saturday afternoon! The food was delicious and amazingly, we all went home stuffed and didn't even eat dinner. I guess we got our money's worth!

Another little Catholic

Ben was baptized today and Fr. Tom said that he is now a "Child of God." Here are some pictures of Ben's big day...

Ben, modeling his Baptism outfit... A hand-me-down from Owen, but winterized with a new sweater I whipped up just for Ben :o)

Here Ben is with his Godparents... His Uncle Alex and cousin Rachel Conklin


Ben, enjoying a pre-baptismal snack. Don't you love my "fancy" hooter hider?!

Ben and I with Grammy and Auntie Emmy

Owen looking stylin' as always!!!

Ben, Mike, and Mimi


Owen joined us on the alter. When Fr. Tom asked what our baby's name was, Mike told him Benjamin James and Owen said "No, it's Benjamin Button." He really thinks that is Ben's name! He didn't say it too loud!


Being anointed with oil... great for baby dandruff!

The Walsh Gang (Owen is modeling the new rosary Fr. Tom gave him)

The Lakofka and Conklin Clan

The Schieber Fam (minus Sam who is in Spain)

Owen was about done by this time! The Baptism was right in the middle of naptime!

Thanks for everyone for coming into town and to Ben's Baptism and the celebration! We are so lucky to have such wonder families who would travel to Chicago in February!