Last Weekend of Holiday Fun

We had just a few more precious days of Ben and Linda time left before they went home, and we made the most of it.  Theresa and Jesus came over for a visit one evening, and we even got to have a double date with them one night when D&E watched the kids.  Really fun!

The Monday after they left was the usual let down of post-post-holiday back to your routines blues…made even worse by the "polar vortex" that came with it.  Chicago experienced record lows, with schools and businesses closed on Monday and Tuesday due to the -50 wind chill/-19 degree weather.  The high of the day didn't even reach 0 degrees.  Luke was actually excited to go back to school after having off for 2 weeks and having spent a lot of the past week inside at home because of the snowstorm, but his school was cancelled too.  Just as well because both he and Claire were still sick, and maybe even getting worse.  Their hacking coughs were awful to listen to.  Going on two weeks of illness, when will it end?

Isolene lets Luke play outside by himself in the backyard if he stays where she can see him.  This is him doing a snow angel.

Meanwhile…Claire playing inside where apparently it is toasty warm.

Dinner with Theresa & Jesus.  It snowed again that night so it took them 2 hours to get to our house from the city!  The lengths they go to see Ben and Linda are a testament to Ben and Linda's awesomeness.

Jesus continues to be the baby whisperer:)

Great times hanging out with everyone

I often think I  have the best husband ever.  When I see scenes like this, of him and her sleeping together in the wee hours of the morning I think how lucky I am!

Four course meal, yum!

Playing with her new Simba toy from G&G Mackus

Getting in some more sledding with Luke while B&L packed to leave.

buddies

Luke and wanted to get into Claire's crib with her and they proceeded to have what I think may have been their first wrestling match as brother and sister.

Get him!

My car temp when I got to work on Monday, January 6th, -15.

Poor sick baby.  She would only sleep resting on somebody, not in her crib, when she felt so crummy.

My Dolly

Luke has been super duper into coloring lately.  He colors everyday with his crayons and I am pretty impressed with his newfound ability to stay somewhat in the lines.  His coordination and control are really improving.