Super slider

Slides are for climbing up......and of course sliding down......and for basking in their red plastic glow!

Photo ops

Extreme close-up!!!Strike a pose!!!...and my personal favorite, Tickle Monster!!!

Wheeeeeeelbarrows and other yard chores

Stephie is making one of Daddy's life-long dreams come true: a kiddo to help out with the yard work! First came some extensive wheel-barrowing......and then some raking.Good thing Mommy stocked up on wipes to clean up after a hard day's work!

Stephie's stuffed animals

Stephie's latest hobby is carting around stuffed animals. She alternates between the pink doggy that she sleeps with, to the yellow doggy that comes with her on stroller rides (no, Sammy, this doggy is MINE!)...
...to stealing other people's bears. The stuffed animals are good for a few minutes before they are ruthlessly cast-off. Ouch!

Forest Park comes to Chicago

Thanks to Mommy and Grandma Julie's dumpster diving at the Jewel Box last spring, a little piece of Forest Park is now in full bloom on Daddy's new berm. Stephie explored the beautiful landscape today with the help of Aunt Hilary and Aunt Leena.Pretty!

Stephie's first crafts project

This morning while Mommy was at work, Stephie helped Aunt Berta work on a t-shirt quilt for Uncle Ken's retirement. Well, okay, Stephie ran around like a mad woman, ate four meals, and napped for a paltry half hour while Aunt Berta tried to work on her quilt, but same thing, right???

Sweet Tomatoes

Stephie and Mommy picked Daddy up from the train for what is becoming a very common Friday night activity for us: dinner at Sweet Tomatoes. Though riding backwards in the car seat is getting a little bit boring.....Stephie soon perked up once she saw where we were going.
She decided to "dine in" before taking a spin through the line......and then settling down to her usual variety of food there: peas/corn/pasta/breads/muffins/beans/noodles/broccoli/cauliflower/raisins/eggs/croutons/etc. However, Stephie got an extra special treat at the end of this meal: a baby ice cream cone!