Daddy Daughter Dance 2013

Kevin and Caroline went to the annual Daddy Daughter dance again this year. I love that our community hosts this event and I think the girls really look forward to it.  What a great way for Dads to model how their daughters should be treated on a date!

 Dinner at Tsukasa

 Dancing.

 Ice Cream and goody bags

Chocolate is Love Choir Event

Last weekend, my Dad treated Caroline and me to the "Chocolate is Love" Chicago Childrens Choir event downtown. The different branches of the choir performed, and there were delicious chocolate confections to munch on.  We had a lot of fun.

Valentine's Day

I love holidays and love putting forth at least a little effort to make them special for my family.
For valentines day this year, we started the kids off with heart-shaped waffles and heart-shaped fruit kabobs.  Lunch was heart-shaped sandwiches, and dessert that night was heart shaped chocolate chip cookie bars (a favorite of both Kevin and the kids.)

My favorite thing that we did this year started the week before Valentine's day (which is when I found the idea. Next year, I'll start it on the first day of February.)  Every day or so, Kevin or I would post a paper heart on the kids' doors with something that we love about them.  Each day, they would get SO excited to run and see their new heart with what we loved about them.  It was such a great and concrete expression of what specifically makes each of them special to us.

What was even more touching, was when Caroline took this idea and pasted this on my door.

She cut out the letters M O M M Y and wrote something she loved about me on each letter.  It was the most special and heartfelt gift I have ever received!

After a day of school valentines parties, we visited Winchester House, a nursing home in Libertyville, and handed out valentines to the nurses and residents.  I was SO proud of my children for bravely handing out valentines to elderly residents, many of whom were in wheelchairs, and eating or being fed dinners that maybe didn't smell quite so appetizing.  It was more challenging than some of our past outings there, but they really pulled through.

Valentine's Dinner

Heart Alphabet Game

 Exchanging Valentines!

Exploratorium

We went to the Exploratorium in Skokie, an indoor playground, with Tia Erica, Sofia, and Eva. The kids had a great time climbing the giant jungle gym/slide, playing at the water table, and building with magna-tiles. We ended the evening at the California Pizza Kitchen and celebrated Clayton's half birthday - five and a half!.

 

The first big snow

Libertyville had its first big snow this week.  We actually had more than a few inches. The kids have been waiting since 2011 for this! We finally could go sledding and make a snowman!

 

Disney on Ice

Our family was fortunate to be invited to the Disney on Ice show this February by one of Kevin's work vendors.  It was perfect timing.  We were just at Disneyworld in December, so the kids are more familiar with the Disney characters.  In addition, I just took Caroline and Clayton ice skating, so they have more appreciation for just how hard ice skating actually is.
The kids loved the show, and Kevin and I were quite impressed as well. The performers were very talented and entertaining, and the choreography, lights, and special effects were first class.