Chicago In September

Chicago in September

We spent the last Saturday in September making memories in Chicago.

It was a beautiful day - 

the sun was warm,

the wind felt good,

the food was delish,

and the kids were awesome.

3 things I should have done:

1. Worn a pedometer.  We spent the entire day walking and I would love to know how many miles we walked.

2.  Kept a talley of how many times we heard "You have a beautiful family!".  Stranger after stranger after stranger took the time out of all of the hustle and bustle to tell us that our family was beautiful.  We heard a few "congratulations" and many "awwws" with tilted heads.  

Not only was it a 'feel good' booster, but it was very cool to see and hear all of the kindness. 

3.  Brought my camera!  Taking pictures in Chicago is one of the funnest places to take pictures and we forgot our camera.  Boo.  Thanks to a decent camera on my phone, though, we were able to capture a few of our favorite moments from the day.

Mason's favorite part of our day in Chicago was riding the huuuuuuge ferris wheel at Navy Pier.

It took 7 minutes to ride this 150 foot ferris wheel.

The kids loved it!

(i get nauseous just looking at this picture)

Makayla's favorite part of our day in Chicago was the horse and buggy ride.

We took a ride down Michigan Avenue and down Lake Shore Drive.

Here's Makayla posing with Salt, our horse...and poor bubby, I wanted to rub his shoulders when we were done.  

It was magical.  

In the past, I've always said a horse and buggy ride was romantic, but now after seeing it through the eyes of my kids, I can say it's also magical.

...and obviously, by the looks of Mia's arms, it was a pretty exciting time!...an

My favorite part of our day in Chicago was playing on the beach at Navy Pier.

There's just something about sand, water, and the happy squeals of my kids that makes my heart go pitter-patter.

With the warm sun beating down on us, my kids' blonde hair glowing in the sunlight, and seeing their smiles as they splashed through the water...I'll never forget that moment.

Daddy's favorite part of our day in Chicago was eating the Chicago-style food.

With lunch at Portillos (where we got Chicago-style hot dogs) and dinner at Ginos (where we got deep dish pizza), we got our fair share of yummy, delicious food.

...and besides our favorite things of the day, we also got to

drive under the city (creepy!),

watch all of the entertainers on the streets (mimes, dancers, singers, musicians),

enjoy a water taxi (mason thought it was pretty cool to ride a big boat in the city)

We got to hang out at the pier (watching big boats & little boats, watching birds glide over the waves, and one of mine and Makayla's favorite things to do - people watch)

We had a wonderful time yesterday spending the entire day together - no agenda, no schedule, nobody to meet, nowhere to go...

just being.

just having fun.

just experiencing.

"And that's the wonderful thing about family travel: it provides you with experiences that will remain locked forever in the scar tissue of your mind."

-Dave Barry

I will never look at the ferris wheel on Navy Pier the same again without being reminded of Mason's excitement and awe...and every time I lay my eyes on the beach at Navy Pier, I will see my children in there 5, 3, and 10 month selves running through the water and playing in the sand.

Life is good.

Mason Is THREE

Happy THIRD Birthday, Mason Allen Curry!

goodness!  you are so handsome!  those beautiful blue eyes, your kissable round cheeks, and that dimpled little chin i fell in love with the second i laid my eyes on you...

you  make my heart flutter, mason!

 TWO was a big year for you -  

You graduated from diapers to BIG BOY UNDERWEAR!!

(this picture is so cute, i couldn't resist!)

and

You became a BIG BROTHER!!

 

It was this past week that I kissed my two-year old little boy goodnight for the last time and went to bed that night dreaming of waking up to a three-year old little boy.

TWO has been a year full of fun and growth! - Growth for you (you've grown to be such a smart and extremely independent boy) and growth for mommy (raising a boy is muuuuch different than raising a girl! you educate me daily, son)!

To celebrate your birthday, we took a family trip to Grant's Farm -

This picture reflects you perfectly - such a goofball and always one to bring us laughter.

You got to feed the goats at the farm -

Here's another picture that represents you so well - 

you are so tenderhearted.

I look at this picture and I can still hear your little voice and see the look in your eyes.

As you fed the goat with one hand and petted his head with the other, you looked into his eyes and said "Here you go, bubby"...and every once in awhile, you would bend down to kiss him (ick). You are such a kind and gentle soul, Mason.

You also got to ride the camel.  You're THREE now, so you got to ride the camel by yourself.  You didn't need mommy or daddy to ride with you.  THREE brings on new opportunities and a whole new look on life...like riding camels by yourself and participating in a Mad Mud Dash (a one mile mud run obstacle for kids) - something that we are going to do next month that requires you to be 3 to participate!

...you're growing up!

Anyway, 

You were completely embarrassed riding this camel and could barely lift your head from the bar for me to take a picture!

  

We had a great time celebrating your birthday at Grant's Farm...and we had a lot of fun watching you open your presents.  You got a bike with a Cars helmet and a vacuum cleaner!  You were ecstatic to open the vacuum cleaner and all you kept gasping was "It matches Grandma's!!  It matches Grandma's!!".  You love vacuuming. I  keep saying that you are going to make a great husband one day!

Look at you, Mason!
I get to see this face everyday!
I get to look into those eyes everyday!
I get to stare in awe at you everyday!
I get to kiss those cheeks everyday!

I'm blessed to call you mine!! 

I loved watching you turn 3 

and I'm looking so forward to watching you grow and learn this year.

You, Mason, are my one and only little big boy.

I love being your mother and I thank God every day that you are my son.

You radiate so much joy and happiness...and you are a gift to everyone that you meet.

*may all of your dreams and wishes come true*

Love,

Mommy

Mia At 10 Months

You, Miss Mia, are 10 months old today!!

I know I say this every month, but I cannot believe how fast time has gone.  In the blink of an eye, you've gone from newborn to 10 months old!  Whewie!  Your first birthday is creeping up on us...

This past month was a big one for you!

You discovered how awesome crawling is.  

You crawl anywhere and everywhere!  

I'll find you under the art table chewing on play-dough crumbs,

I'll find you in the corner of the kitchen munching on a stale cheerio,

I'll find you by the living room windows sucking on the curtain string.

So...not only do you love getting around on your own by crawling, but you looove to put things in your mouth!
With all of Makayla and Mason's little toys, it's a lot of work on mommy and daddy to continuously keep our eyes on you...and your hands...and your mouth!

Not only have you been busy discovering our world on all fours this past month, but you have also been busy poppin' teeth through!

Your two bottom teeth are the cutest little things to look at!

So, besides keeping us on the go with your mobility and filling that gummy smile with pearly whites,

you've spent the past month...

swimming,

watching hot air balloons high up in the sky during our annual balloon festival,

singing and dancing (you love to sing, bounce, and shake your booty),

and talking.  

You talk all of the time.  You babble constantly and mimicking is one of your favorite games.  You love to repeat and you love patterns.  Also, I swear you can say "Hi, Daddy" and "I'll get it!!".  I think know I'm the only one that ever hears you say those phrases, though...!  

You are such a beautiful, beautiful baby girl!

You are a JOY and you make our hearts so happy!!

Thank you for the past 10 months.

She's Five

To my Makayla -

From ONE...

To TWO...

To THREE... 

To FOUR... 

and now FIVE!! 

Five years old!!

It all kind of felt like a dream to me...is my baby girl really turning 5 already?!

but after celebrating for a week, it's now become a reality.

A reality that makes me smile...that makes my heart content.

To celebrate your 5th birthday, 
we started off by getting your ears pierced!
(and you didn't even cry!)

You look beautiful and so grown up with your earrings...

 but I'm definitely going to miss your clip-ons!!

You got to have a girl's day/night with Grandma Allen!

You took a river boat ride on The Spirit of Peoria (where you ate a milky way and drank a pepsi), went shopping for a birthday present (where you picked out a baby doll), and then you went back to grandma's house for a slumber party (where you whooped her butt in the game of Memory).  

You were spoiled.

We had a birthday dinner at your favorite mexican restaurant where they threw a sombrero on your head, sang Happy Birthday to you, and served you us fried ice cream.  They love you and have loved you since day 1, where they (the mexican restaurant) sent me a dinner in the hospital the night I gave birth to you.

You were completely embarrassed and tried to hide behind the table while they sang to you so the only picture we could capture was one with only the tip of your sombrero!

And, finally, we had a pizza party with friends from your preschool class.  

It was so fun to meet and watch you play with some of your new friends that you've made over the past couple of weeks!

Oooh, Makayla! - I've had an amazing five years with you!!...and I could get all mushy and gushy right now, but I won't.  Especially when I ask you questions like what your favorite thing was about being 4 was and you answer me with "loving you"...you saying things like THAT can really make me all kinds of emotional, 

but...

You're too happy.
You're too excited.

You keep asking me how big you look.

You feel like a "grown up".

You keep taking Mia's hands and saying "Look, Mia.  I'm five, now!".

You have a skip in your walk.

You can't take the smile off of your face.

It's been too much fun watching you turn five!

...and I don't want to take away from the excitement and joy by wading in tears of sadness that

my.baby.girl.is.growing.up.

...

So, all I am going to say tonight is -

You, Makayla Ann, are my heart and soul.

...and I'm so thankful that I get to spend my life with you.

here's to everything you are and all that you have yet to be

I Love You

xoxo

Mommy