Bapa's (translation: Grandpa's) Birthday

Grandpa Emil's birthday was Sunday, happy birthday!  

Some pictures from the past week are below.  Not much new news to report other than Luke's talking explosion.  He repeats almost everything we say now, and is getting slightly better at pronunciation.  He also is starting to have verbal manners.  When we give him something he says "Tank you" and when accidentally hitting me with his toy today he said "sowwy Momma".  He also tells us "I love you", which really warms the ole heart.  

Dinner with Grandma & Grandpa on Monday night

Halloween costume day at music class.

Indian Summer - a gorgeous warm night we enjoyed outside.

hard to ride the big wheel on the grass...

Luke wanted all of us to wear helmets

Visit to the Botanic Garden on Saturday

Last weekend that the train garden is open until May.  It was spookified, see the cobwebs?

Luke's hat matched the volunteer train masters, this volunteer was showing Luke the different train cars.

Nice sunny day, even if it was only 45 degrees.

Isolene made this car out of a diaper box, then Matt turned the box inside out and into a fire truck so that Luke could  color on it.  Luke loves his fire truck

Vroom vroom!

Matt carving his pumpkin, an Elmo holding a pumpkin!

Visiting G&G B for Grandpa's bd.  Had to wear his overalls and sit on his tractor to be like Grandpa.

Walking in downtown Downers Grove after breakfast to see the Halloween theme painted store windows.  Ben and Matt used to paint windows when they were kids.  

Luke has started to learn how to "fake smile" when asked to smile for the camera - a turning point in a child's life I think:)

birthday present - tractor made out of spare parts

We went out to the Lake Forest Beach tonight to see the 15 ft waves, a result of Hurricane Sandy that impacted the East Coast so much over the last 24 hours.

Out for sushi after our beach visit.  Luke likes miso soup and sushi, but I think mostly likes the chopsticks.