The GAM's Spring Sale

It was the Gurnee Antique Market's first sale since we took over ownership and I'm happy to say it was a huge success!  We did a lot of advertising to drive customers to the big event and Matt did a ton of work leading up to the sale getting everything ready and then worked the whole three days, too.  It turned out to be the best sale since 2008!  Yay!

We had a nice weekend.  It was pretty quiet with Matt at the sale for much of it, but Claire did get her first ever haircut!  

Here are a few more recent kid updates.

- Claire started swimming lessons a few weeks ago and she LOVES them.  It is our special Mommy/Claire time every Saturday morning, which she loves, and then she gets to go swimming, which she also loves.  We had her in the Level 1 class since it was her first time taking swimming lessons, and she is in there with all the babies!  Ha!  She is super advanced compared to those 6 month olds:)  No matter!  She loves it and will move up to Level 2 next session.

- After our FL trip when we didn't have the baby monitor for Luke we retired it at home, too (I know, our 4 year old no longer has a baby monitor, big news!)  Its just that we had gotten used to seeing what he was doing in there, and he had gotten used to being able to "talk" to us from his bedroom.  So now if we wants something he has to get out of bed and come out and talk to us.  At first this was crazy talk to him, but now he's used to it and every so often we'll be in the family room watching TV and he'll peek around the corner and just be standing there shyly.

- Meanwhile, Claire is still in her crib in her room with monitor.  I'm holding on to her being a baby as long as possible.  She likes the lamp to be on very brightly now every night, which is so strange to me and I keep trying to turn it off after she falls asleep but she would protest so loudly if she woke up and saw it off that I stopped trying.  

- Luke is obsessed with long carrots.  They are his favorite snack these days.  He likes to peel them with the peeler himself and he especially likes the ti-colored ones that Matt gets for him sometimes.  

- Luke has been collecting things from outdoors and stashing his little treasures in his desk drawer.  When we got back from Springfield Luke started emptying his pockets and I swear he had 20 acorns in his little pockets.  It was like a clown car of acorns!  They all went into his drawer of "his collection".

- Claire gets easily scared now by loud noises.  Like if Luke makes a "roar" sign pretending to be bear, Claire is legitimately freaked out and runs to the nearest adult saying "scary!".

- Luke has started giving the thumbs up sign instead of speaking when he agrees with something or likes something.  For example I told Matt how well Luke did at helping me set the table, and I looked at Luke and said "Right, Luke?  You were a big help!" and he just smiled and flashed us the thumbs up signs.  I don't know why I think that is the cutest thing ever.

Pictures from the week (I'm so far behind in the blog, this is the week of April 20th)!

New "How to shop" sign and maps

New Help pull cords

We had an ad in Chicago Magazine (not sale related, but I put it in here anyway so you can see our brand look)

C at swimming lessons with the babies

That is her perma smile at swim class 

At the mall getting ready for haircuts

Luke is an old hat at this, he did great

Claire was unsure at first, but then was really into it.   She did awesome!  Her hair is so cute.  She really liked the movie/police car chair/lollipop treat combo.

More mall fun 

Food court meals are always a novelty

Mall play area next - can you tell it was a cold, rainy day out?

Saturday night we had a fundraiser for Luke's school and I won this beautifu piece of artwork in the silent auction.  Luke was so into the space unit that this will be a nice memory of this part of his life, and his little friends!  These are solar systems that they painted on these window panes.

Welcome to "Claire's Cabin" the companion to "Fort Dukerson".  Matt is still putting it together, but it is super cute and the kids love it.

Luke's Parent/Teacher Conference

We had Luke's parent teacher conference this week.  His teachers are big fans of his!  He loves school so much and has done awesome this year.  His teachers said multiple times how smart he was and how good he is at retaining information, processing it and applying it later.   He continues to be a leader in their class, always ready to keep the group discussions going, ready to bring new ideas to the table and suggest things to his classmates.  The only thing they said he needs to work on is that he wants to take over sometimes when playing.  I guess that leadership thing can get borderline bossy!  But he gets along with everybody and is kind and respectful.  They commented on how much he has matured since last year, that now he is able to say his lines on stage in the school program and not be nervous, he's not concerned about clapping anymore, etc.  This year the class spent a lot of time learning about deep sea and space, as well as learning about art, early Spanish lessons and learning how to write letters/numbers.  Luke is now able to write all of his letters and numbers by himself, which is awesome!  We're really pleased with his preschool.  Not only does he seem to be thriving socially, but he has learned so much too.  I didn't think my 4 year old would be writing all by himself already, nor did I expect him to know things like all the planets in the solar system (and about 10 facts about each one), for example.  We're so proud of our little guy and hope this trend of loving to learn and positive feedback in Parent/Teacher conferences continues long into his future!

First trip to Lamb's Farm this year.  Straight to the mini golf.

Rode the little train, too, of course.

Playdate with Olga & Tonya (and their families) on Sunday

Taylor, Luke Drew, Sophia and Claire

Luke's loving the selfies lately

RIP Matthew Eichinger

When we returned from Florida we learned that Matt's cousin Matty had passed away.  Sadly, Matty had cancer as a young boy and through complications with an infection following his treatment he suffered cardiac arrest which left him with permanent brain damage.  Although he lived far longer than originally expected, it is always hard to lose someone you love.  We went to Springfield, IL to attend his funeral and honor his life.  I had only known Matty as an adult, and it was bittersweet to hear more about the many years of his life before his illness when he was a rambunctious and mischievous little kid.  His family had all of his favorite things collected and many wonderful photo collages, it was a very lovely celebration of him.  Rest in peace, Matty.

Trying to entertain the kids at the funeral home during the wake.

Stayed overnight at a hotel

We all slept in the same bed - a little too cozy for a real good night's sleep.

Claire & I took Spumoni for a walk on Sunday

It was a nice sunny day, not actually that warm but the hose still was a fun diversion. 

Luke has been having fun putting gravel in this fertilizer contraption and spreading it around the yard.

Easter

We returned to the Midwest just in time for the Easter Bunny to make an appearance at our house.  Since we got home from the airport after our delayed flight at past 2am Easter morning, Mr. E. Bunny didn't have a lot of time to hide the plastic eggs and baskets:)

Luke showing Claire what is in her basket - Mickey magnets

Claire looking in Luke's basket

After being outside every day in FL, they wanted to go right outside when they woke up.  Claire took her baby Minnie out for a ride in the wheelbarrow.

Finding eggs

Easter celebration at Donna & Emil's

Easter egg hunt!

We told Luke he could wear any shirt he wanted under his nice Easter sweater.  He decided on this tank top muscle shirt under his sweater, but as soon as we got there the sweater came off.  Not really the Easter finery look we were intending!

Claire's cute Easter dress came from G&G Mackus - the same one as PJ!

Second annual bounce house Easter appearance for the kids to play on

Nice to see Spring flowers!

Reading a book to me