Kohl Children's Museum

We're looking for new and fun things to do during the weekend since the weather is still cold and we can't play outside too much.  I've been wanting to test out the Kohl Children's Museum in Glenview for a while now.  I've heard good things about it and after experiencing such an amazing one in Greensboro while visiting Dan last year, I really wanted to go sooner rather than later.  The day had finally come where we went.

The kids loved it -- especially Myles.  Before we left, we ended up getting a yearly membership.  If we go a total of three times throughout the year, it's worth the membership price.  

Here's what our trip looked like -- 

The Car Room -

There was also a "car wash" they could go in and
get the blow of air on them as they're coming out.

The Doctor's Office -

Nora loved this place.

A real stethoscope! 

Video Calls -

They didn't know how to hang up
the phone - probably never saw one
like this in their lives.

With all the fun things to explore, it's
also nice to take a break and stand in
a box to people watch.

Land of Oz - 

a plinko type game

Music and Movement -

DJ Milo

This picture makes me think of a kindergarten hearing screening
when you have to raise your hand when you hear the beep.  So serious.

Of course he found the shoes you can
step into.  There's no place like home!

A drum!!
Those little colored pebbles at the bottom bounced around when
he'd bang. This was his favorite thing in this room.

Water World - 

This was, by far, Myles' favorite section of the
entire museum.  They had these waterproof
smocks to wear while they played to prevent from
a complete soaking.

Another mom said to me, "He learned really
quickly he needs the big net if he wants to catch
a ball." Yup - he's smart like that.

When we were all done, they had little hand
dryers to dry off.  Another big hit.

A digger!!

 Potbelly's - 

Surprisingly, this was Nora's favorite part.
I thought the grocery store would be but this
was the part she wanted to come back to before leaving.

She got to be a sandwich artist and the cashier.

Future teenage job?

Another favorite part of Myles', and as you could guess, many other kids. So they time it and give each group of kids 10 minutes at a time.  Works well.

Another favorite part of Myles', and as you could guess, many other kids.
So they time it and give each group of kids 10 minutes at a time.  Works well.

Shopping for produce.

He wanted to throw everything in his cart.

Time to check out!
My favorite thing about Dominic's was the check out beeped when
you scanned the bar codes on all the items.  Realistic! 

Face (Self) Painting -

When we got to this part I felt much, much better.  Throughout the museum,
I kept seeing kids with terrible face paintings and thought -- whoa, they
need to find a better artist for face painting.
I gave Nora an easy rainbow.

I gave Myles some whiskers.
Nora added some finishing touches.
(Side note: I have a really funny idea for next time.)

ROAR!

Be Mine

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wink.

Nora wanted to take some pictures with the kisses sign as well.  

As SOON as she got up, Myles ran into her exact spot and recreated her pose.
CUTE CUTE CUTE!

Brother-Sister poses!
I turned off the light after this picture so I wouldn't
have the glare on the sign but, go figure,
none of those turned out.  

It is hard to get a picture of both of them together.

But even if they aren't perfect....

I can't get enough pictures of them together.  

I love seeing their bond.  Nothing like it.

Saturday

Today, we took the kids into the city to see "Uncle's" new apartment.  (Nora calls her Uncle Greg simply, Uncle. It's no secret I kind of love it.)

It's a great spacious place with high ceilings.
Perfect - especially if you're three. 

And guess what... Uncle had Bubble Guppies!

Yesterday, I mentioned I was hoping the weather would cooperate... and it did.  After we got home from Uncle's and took a little nap we decided to go sledding again since it was supposed to rain the following day.

With Dan along, we could bring Rusty too.  I tried
bringing Rusty the first time but got SUPER frustrated
before we even got to the park so put Rusty back
in the house.  I think you can tell from all the running
that he was thrilled to be along.

And because Dan was along, I got to bring my camera and got lots
more pictures this time.  

Nora carrying up her own sled... her choice.
Dan came to me and said, "I don't know how we're doing
it but we're raising independent kids but we are.  I asked
her if she wanted to take her sled up or if she wanted me to
and she told me, 'I will Dad because I have strong muscles.
I love my muscles'."

Myles barely got his butt out of this sled.  I loved going down and getting
pulled back up.  When he'd get back to the top, he'd lunge his body
forward to help propel the sled down the hill.  

Best. Dog. Ever.

The rare occasion he was out of the sled.

She wanted to go down together. 

Down they go!  They loved sledding together.

When we got home, we finished watching Cinderella
from last night's movie night while drinking hot
chocolate. 

I'm so glad she's loving sledding now.  She's asked to go numerous times since - even since there's barely any snow left.  If we get anymore snow, I'll take them again.  It really helps that there's a hill within walking distance because I'll be honest... I don't know if I would go as much if there wasn't.

Sledding: Take Two

As you might remember, our last sledding experience (in Wisconsin) was a disaster.  Once down the hill for each was more than enough.  When we finally got enough snow to go sledding here, I wanted to try again.  There's a medium-sized hill in the park behind our house so I posed the idea to Nora (I wasn't going to get them all ready to go in all that gear if she wasn't even willing to try) and she was surprisingly excited.  I told her that this snow won't blow up in her face, which was why she didn't like it the first time.

I started off just pulling them in the sled around our yard -- last year, even this produced a crazy amount of tears.  They loved it so I pulled them across the park to the hill.

At the top of the hill and ready to go down!

This was about two-thirds of the way.
The hill is on the left hand side of the picture.
Looks small from here but I can definitely
say I got my work out in just pulling the
kids there and back.

We went down the hill many, many times
before the sun started setting which forced
us home.  Still smiling after shows how
much she loved it this time!

Pit stop to make snow angels on the way home.

I even got in on the action.
Haven't made a snow angel in years.

Then Milo laid down and tried it.
He had no clue what he was doing, he just
knew that Nora and I were laying in the
snow and he wanted to have fun too.

I don't have too many pictures of them sledding because I took them by myself.  I'm hoping the weather cooperates tomorrow so we can go again.  She's already asking to go again and to bring Daddy next time.

Photoshop Class

Photoshop seems so foreign to me.  It might as well be in Japanese.  I tried to figure it out on my own but it just wasn't working.  I wasn't good at it so I didn't have to motivation to play around.  And honestly, part of me thought you should just take good pictures and then you wouldn't need to edit so much. 

This year, I made a list of things I wanted to work on/towards in 2013.  Not resolutions, just small goals. Similar to the picture a day (Through My Picture Window -- missed only 11 days... not bad!)  Learning Photoshop Elements was on the list.

I still wanted to give it the good college try so Dan gave me the kick in the pants I needed.  He signed me up for a Basics of Photoshop Elements class through the park district.  He even downloaded the free trial of the latest version for me.  Good man, right?  Right.

I haven't had a whole lot of time to fiddle with it since the class (which has totally changed my mind -- editing, especially if you take good pictures... is worth it) but here are examples of a few that I've putzed with.

Before

After
I didn't learn much on how to color correct after the
first class but I did take out whatever that was on the left.

Before

After.
Played with the coloring and keystoning
(the first picture almost looks crooked
because of the door frame.  Don't worry,
I'll take care of that.)

 And last but not least --

Before

Take it from ok to great.
I also took out some chapped
blemishes around his mouth.

I obviously still need much practice.  The program is capable of soooo much - more than I'm willing to do.  I edited the last one a couple of weeks after the class ended and had to check my notes more than once... ok, way more than once.  I'll be ordering a highly recommended "how to" book on amazon because I know my notes won't help if I don't look at it for another month.  But I'm learning!

One thing checked off my Goals of 2013 list waaay sooner than I thought.

Lots & Lots

Our poor kids have been deprived of snow this year.  You wanna know why I know?  I mean, besides the fact that I've seen green grass all winter long until today?  Because every time we'd get a dusting of snow, Nora would proclaim how much show it was. 

She was in for the surprise of her lifetime when she woke up to four inches of snow this morning.  "Lots and lots of snow, Mommy!"  So we all went out to shovel and play.

What child doesn't sample the local
cuisine?
Just not the yellow snow, kid.

uh... not so sure.
Every time he'd get snow on his face he'd come to me with
the most still expression and grunt.  He wanted me to
wipe it off of him.  Yet he continued to try it despite my
best efforts to have him not to.

Pausing to look at the plane.

The street always looks so beautiful
with freshly fallen snow.  

Catching snowflakes.

On the hill checking out the geese that had found a
resting spot in the field behind the house.

Tromping through the snow.

After an hour of being outside we finally convinced her
to come inside for a snack.