The Skokie Exploratorium

Sylvia and I have found another winter play space, thank goodness. We are frequenting the Evanston Library and the Ridgeville Community Center weekly, but now we've also discovered the Skokie Exploratorium which has Sylvia's favorite, a water play station. It also has puppets, indoor slides, an art center, story time, and lots of cars to drive. We met up with Lily and Victoria to play last Friday. Sylvia didn't want to leave when it was time to go.

Lily and Sylvia play in the kid fountain with their rain gear.



Sylvia mesmerized by the water...thinking of ways to get something like this in our home.




Sylvia and Lily sitting on the toddler sized sofa before story time (they didn't actually sit long enough for story time or this photo).

Happy Valentines Day

Today Sylvia received a Valentines gift from Dede and Papa - a pink apron and cards with recipes. She immediately put them to good use by cooking up something that involved a knit cap, a plastic bag, and a little piece of cracker (dagu, as Sylvia says).


Chewing up the cracker.


Making sure the cellophane bag is fresh.

Hope everyone had as much fun on Valentines Day!

Behind the Scenes

This weekend Sylvia helped out on a film shoot that Chris was working on. Friday night the whole (small) crew traveled south to Morris, IL to a lake house where we filmed all night until 5am Saturday morning... outside. Sylvia was allowed to stay indoors and catch a few z's.

The next day was another full day of shooting outside.

Sylvia tries not to slip

On Sunday it was out to Palatine for more shooting - this time indoors. We were lucky to have had the mild temperatures on Friday night, because Saturday night and Sunday the temperature plummeted. It was a brisk -5 degrees on our way to the shoot Sunday morning.


Sylvia helps prep the camera.


Sylvia prepares to take measurements for focus

At the end of the day Sylvia decided she liked being in front of the camera more than being behind it.

My Valentine Bakes

Sylvia and I (self-confined due to the snow) baked Valentine's cookies today. She poured flour and sugar. And did the decorating. I manned the oven. The best part was that not only did Sylvia get to wear her favorite outfit (her thermal underwear) for the event, but she also got to eat a lot of the dough.

The Latest Fashions - Watch Out Vogue

Well, the latest hot items in Sylvia's drawers include the Target thermal underwear, her bee bib size 0-6 months (but, she swears it still fits), and the winter hat a la faux pink pig-tales. She is currently in love with these items and found them in the clean laundry pile. I washed the thermal underwear after she insisted on wearing it 4 days in a row. I guess we are starting up the next cycle.
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She was already dressed for the day, but we ended up changing into the thermal underwear after a bit of heart wrenching, lay flat on the floor and sob display. Sometimes, it's easier to give in...

Papa's Birthday Weekend, Part 2

Dede and Papa sent us a few photos from their camera, so we thought we'd share them.

Sylvia Plays a Tune for Dede


Sylvia and Papa play at the condo


An interesting contraption at the Kohl Children's Museum


Watching the ice-skaters at Millennium Park


All bundled up

Papa's Birthday Weekend

This weekend Papa and Dede came up to Chicago for Papa's birthday. It was pretty cold and snowy, but we managed to get out and have some fun.

On Saturday morning, we all headed to the Kohl Children's Museum. The museum, as Sylvia learned, does not display children in glass cases but offers kids a few dozen themed interactive play areas. Sylvia drove cars, played drums, danced with streamers, took care of animals at a veterinary hospital, captained a ship, talked on a phone, shopped in a grocery store, and ate pretzels all while other kids dashed about.

Playing a drum.


Shopping for produce.

Saturday night all five of us went out to dinner at the Italian restaurant Campagnola where the staff worked diligently to meet the demands of a 16-month-old customer.

On Sunday, after a nice brunch, we all headed down to Millennium Park to see an 'ice painting' exhibit and all of the ice skaters.

Chris, Sylvia, and Darcie in front of the Bean


A reflection of the whole crew in the bean.

It was a great weekend, and Sylvia had a blast with the grandparents.