8 Really is Great!

My little boy just keeps getting bigger - today Sam is 8!
We had a busy day planned, with a trip to the National Weather Center in Joliet. We saw lots of weather measuring equipment like a rain gauge and a weather balloon (the meteorologist assured us it is not big enough for a toddler to ride in) ~
Satellite images~
This is where they decide to play with our minds. Actually, they were quite busy today, preparing for the Blizzard of 2011, on it's way in. We're expecting the most snowfall since 1978!
Can't get enough of the "action" ~
Check out those blue skies behind us. Not a flurry in sight~
We stopped for a birthday lunch (it's Joshua's 9th, as well) at a little BBQ joint I found. It was small, but the food was great, and there were lots of cool pics on the walls of blues greats~

Even with only 10 of us, Jacqueline made a cake for each birthday boy (pistachio, and chocolate pumpkin) ~
Nine is fine~
I love his smile~
Someday the boys will get to blow out their own candles again, but for now they accommodate their little sister~
Quite a birthday - an awesome field trip, good food, and great friends~

Islamorada

We went out for Sam's surprise birthday dinner tonight - Grandma came with us, too. Sam was thrilled with Scott's choice of Islamorada (inside Bass Pro Shops). Charlie gave Sam a firecracker as part of his birthday gift~
They have a giant fish tank (so clean!) that occupied the kids while we waited for Grandpa and Pam to show up~
My adventurous eaters enjoying some alligator~
It's a pillow, it's a pet....
It's a pillow pet!
Love this kid~
Warming up for a week (or more) of blowing out birthday candles~
Tomorrow morning, my Sam-bones turns 8!

Music and Art

We saw a wonderful performance at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra today. The Peseks came along, too. Photography was not allowed inside the theater :( What a beautiful old building. And what an amazing show! Mary and I had to step out for quite a bit, but the boys loved it. Conductor Delta David Gier explored rhythm from the dances of the Baroque era through the complex beats of contemporary music. We heard Bach, Rameau, Mozart, Berlioz, Bernstein and Bartok. What a treat~
Because we were so close, we couldn't miss an opportunity to visit one of the world's finest art museums. Finally, the armor has returned!!
Just in time for our study of the Middle Ages~
They don't have as much of the collection displayed as they used to, but we are happy they share any of it with us peasants~

The boys especially liked this piece - monkeys playing various instruments, including both a cello and a set of bagpipes~

Charlie loved this goblet~
The Crucifixion, Francisco de Zurbaran~
The Assumption of the Virgin, El Greco~
Irreverent Mary~
The boys loved these paperweights. I found over 30 pictures of them on my camera after we got home~







We wound up our trip in the Kraft children's area. The entire museum is such a great place to explore - we are so blessed to live in close proximity to so many amazing museums!
After searching for our car for 20 minutes in three different parking garages, we finally made it home safe and sound :)

Inked

Markers + benign neglect =
Little Miss Kat Von D~
Also, we check out a lot of library books, and don't keep them well-organized.

The Little Snowgirl

Some friends from church invited us to skate on their backyard pond today. Even though it was cold, Mary had a blast running around the frozen pond~
Mary with one of the other little girls~
The boys had a great time skating, but I couldn't get any pictures because my camera kept focusing on the up-close snow.

12,312 Meals Packed!

We spent another afternoon at Feed My Starving Children. As usual, it was great fun while serving others~
Rice! Soy! Chicken!
I can't say enough great things about this organization (praying over the food before shipment) ~

Can't wait to do it again!

Pow Wow @ Awana

It was "Native American Night" at AWANA. Charlie was too cool to dress up, but not Sam~
On the warpath~