Beth and Joe went to Italy for 2.5 weeks and we got to have Connor and Juliana for two days and two nights the last weekend before they came home. We had a lot of fun with them but unfortunately the weather wasn't hot enough to go to the pool like we have originally planned so we had to improvise. We were also sad that we couldn't fit all three car seats in one car so anywhere we went, we had to take two cars and Madelyn always wanted to ride in Connor's car so Juliana and I were always without two-year-olds which she was sad about but I was okay with :) Juliana and I did have fun listening & singing along to Madelyn's music together CD. Juliana loved the "Trot Old Joe" song. I think it reminded her of her dad.
Friday night, my parents brought Juliana and Connor (and all their stuff!) to Chipotle where we ate dinner. Just as we were ready to leave, we realized that we couldn't find Juliana and Madelyn. After some searching outside, we found them looking out the window in the back of the store, phew! Of all times for them to be quiet! Then we headed home and put everyone to bed early even Juliana, who was falling asleep as I read to her. The kids were exhausted from their grandparents house. Connor's been afraid of being alone so we tried him sleeping on the bed
in Madelyn's room. Since they are used to sleeping with other kids around at daycare, we thought it might work. They did okay until about 2 am when each one kept
waking up the other one. Brian ended up going to sleep with Madelyn and Connor came to sleep with me which worked out okay for the rest of the night.
Saturday, we decided got up and went to get muffins on our bikes at a local bagel shop. Brian took all three on this bike with one in the kangaroo seat and the other two in the trailer. It was pretty funny seeing all of them on his bike but it was fun. Then we decided to go to the SciTech museum downtown Aurora. I had remembered it fondly from when I was a kid so I thought that it might be fun for the kiddos on this cold day. When we got there, we were surprised to find it was a free day! Luckily it wasn't too busy. Juliana seemed to like the science exhibits but liked the 3 wall-mirrors the best--she spent probably 30 minutes just looking at herself in all the different directions. Madelyn and Connor liked the rocket launcher, the photo wall and the kids area where Connor built a house with large blocks. Brian even got us a special treat of popcorn for snack!
After nap, we decided to go hiking at a local forest preserve. First we tried hiking in the woods but we were being attacked by the mosquitoes so we settled for hiking up a big hill and around the lake. Madelyn wanted her blanket so we were at our cars when Connor announced that he was going to climb the big hill and proceeded to walk towards and up the hill no matter how much we yelled at him to stop. He even crossed a small entrance road. He pretty much got up the hill before Brian running with Madelyn caught up to him. What a little stinker! Needless to say he loved climbing the hill. Brian, Madelyn and Connor climbed the hill again after Connor promised to "stop his feet" if Brian asked him to. Juliana and I took Leia for a walk around the lake while they climbed the big hill again. After all that hiking, the kids were in need of a bath. They always love taking baths together in our big tub! Saturday night we decided to try Juliana and Connor in the same room but Connor also woke up around 2 am. Oh well!
Sunday morning Connor and Juliana helped me make waffles. They were a great help and did a good job taking turns dumping in the ingredients. Then we went to a fun park by our house. The park is neat because it's unlike most playgrounds because the slides are built into the surrounding area. The kids had fun and had no problem squishing all three of them into the wagon. We put the kids down for an early nap in hopes that they would get some good sleep before heading back to grandma & grandpas. We were surprised that neither Connor or Juliana wanted to go back to grandma & grandpas--a place they usually love since they get lots of treats (I am happy to say that Juliana asked for no treats while at our house!). Connor was obsessed with a ride-on musical toy so much that we brought it to my parents to appease him! Juliana didn't want to go because she was going to miss Leia. She loved helping feed her, throw balls to her and walk her.
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| All the kids reading their books! Beth would be proud! |
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| Madelyn obsessed with Connor's water bottle |
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| Telling the Green Monster to "GO AWAY" |
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| Digging for bones at SciTech |
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| Snack Time at SciTech! |
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| Connor and Juliana playing with the water guns their parents gave them that day along with a note |
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| Connor climbing the big hill all alone! |
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| Connor! |
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| You can barely see him way on top of the hill! |
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| Madelyn, Connor and Juliana on the big rock on top of the hill |
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| Running down the hill: Leia, Juliana and Connor |
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| Three in a wagon built for two! |
