Cheese Balls & Halloween!

Pa knows how to make friends....Julia sat in the shopping cart hugging the HUGE container of cheese balls while Pa pushed her around Target.  She was so excited when Pa opened them after they checked out!

Not sure that she was too happy when she had to share (not that there wasn't plenty to go around!)...

I even bribed them both with candy so that I could get a picture of them together...that idea didn't work and this was the best I could get!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Birthday Ma!

Jack never misses an opportunity to assist with the candles!

Fall Fest

Saturday we went to Fall Fest at Jack's school/church.  We had a great time watching Master Ron the Christian Entertainer, playing games and making crafts!  Julia was enjoying a snack and lounging in Daddy's lap during the performance!

Halloween at Daddy's Office

This morning we went to Elmhurst for the Halloween parade at Daddy's office.  J & J couldn't wait to spin in Daddy's office chair!

Neither one of them wanted to hang out with Tony!

I think we had our fill of cookies...

...lunch and snacks too!

Preschool Halloween

Round #2 of the ape for Jack (it still fit from last year and he didn't seem to mind...so that's what we went with!).  Jack had a preschool parade this morning and tons of Halloween activities...and he came home with a bag of treats (that he couldn't wait to check out!)....

Miss Julia while Jack was at school...

Lincoln Park Zoo - Chicago

We had another fantastic fall day so we headed into "the city" for another adventure!  We loved Lincoln Park Zoo - it's located in the heart of Lincoln Park (what a fantastic area!) and is one of the oldest zoos in the nation (it was founded in 1868).  There are some fantastic views of downtown from the zoo.  Jack was in love with the penguins and monkeys.  We didn't see Julia's favorite...the pigs...she made "oink oink" noises for part of the drive to the zoo (maybe next time Miss J)...

Morton Arboretum

It was a beautiful fall day to visit the arboretum!

We took a bike ride around the pond.  Jack was the only one that ended up riding all of the way around, Julia ended up walking her bike.

We took a walk and did some exploring!

Played in the tree house...

Jack and Daddy went in first (as the entrance suggested that it was not for toddlers) and here is Jack being ever so cautious as he is walking on the bridge...

Since Jack got to go Julia NEEDED a turn too and I think Jason has a hard time keeping up with her...

Julia was not nearly as cautious as her big brother...sometimes this girl has no fear!

Jack's favorite thing to do at the arboretum...the BIG maze!

It's Nice to Share...

We are lucky that J & J are very good at sharing with each other (most of the time!)...

Friday morning they were pretending to make a cake and sandwiches (and getting a lot of the dishes dirty in the process...just like real cooking!)...

Pumpkin Patch Party

On Sunday we went to the Pumpkin Patch Party at our realtor's office.  Jack and Julia enjoyed the popcorn, pumpkin decorating, face painting (we opted for hand painting), petting zoo, pony rides (ok...they didn't actually ride...we wouldn't want mom to be allergic to the kids on the way home)...

Jack taking a rest...

Julia showing off her "hand painting" while shoving popcorn in her mouth...

Our masterpiece pumpkin that we all helped decorate!

Wisconsin here we come ;)

Our first trip to Wisconsin (it's about 1 hour 20 minutes from Naperville) resulted in a visit to the Jelly Belly warehouse and the outlet mall.  Jack LOVED the Jelly Belly sample bar!

Monkey Party?

I check on J & J every night before I go to bed and this is how I found Jack last night.  Looks like he was having a big monkey party in his bed!

Snack Man!

Jack was so excited on Tuesday...it was his first time being the class snack man and he also got to bring a birthday treat (he choose crayon popsicles!)...

He was so happy after school and he loved showing off his birthday crown (don't mind my horrible picture)!

Birthday Bash - Sunday

The third day of festivities...opening more presents!

Jack loved his new tools!

Birthday cake and doctor's kit...

You have to love the tool belt!

Julia got right to work with Jack's new screwdriver (too funny!!!)...

Sometimes the box is more fun...

It may be a party, but there are still chores to do!

We ended the evening (Jack's actual birthday) at Choo Choo Johnny's...

Birthday Bash - Saturday

The Birthday Bash continued on Saturday with a trip to the Honey Hill Orchard (about an hour from Naperville).  Jack couldn't wait to pick raspberries...we ended up with 2 pounds of very ripe raspberries that needed to be eaten the same day so I ended up making raspberry jam (super yummy!).

Julia loved picking raspberries; however, her pail needed some extra sorting (she wasn't too choosy when it came to the berries she put in the pail...along with a few leaves and stems in her mushy mess).

Jack loved runny around in the maze and his favorite escape was a Jack-sized exit...

Little Miss Julia...

Ma, Julia and Pa...

We didn't go to the actual pumpkin patch (we had too much fun picking raspberries and we will save that for another adventure), but they had a display near the raspberries...

We couldn't leave without having cider and donuts...

Jack's sugary face!

We ended the evening with a little cake and ice cream...

Jack was even kind enough to let Julia have a chance with the candles...

...and he quickly switched to the other side of the table to get next to her and assist!