Birthday cake

The boys are always wild to make me a birthday cake, but it's tricky for Matt to make anything interesting with them helping. So this year I made my own spiced sweet potato birthday cake and turned it over to them with a cake decorator full of frosting! They got to make me a cake, and I got a yummy birthday cake.

Self portrait

This is Jack's self portrait that was hanging on his locker at parents' night tonight. I love that it is so modern yet still looks just like him!

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Sweater weather

We had our first fall weather today, which allowed me to bust out this ridiculously cute sweater I have been saving for Cate.

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Great playground

This morning, Ellis, Cate, and I went with our playgroup to check out a new park here in Chicago. It is called Adams Sangamon park and it is one if the coolest little places I've ever seen. They have created an interesting landscape of hills and valleys - even in the playground area - and the playground has lots of levels and interesting climbing structures. Ellis was in heaven! When we go back I'll take more pictures - I just got one of Ellis and Cate in this bowl swing.

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Flag football

Jack is in a junior flag football league this fall.  He is in the 5-6 year old division and his team is the Lions.  All the teams have their own jerseys in the colors of their corresponding NFL team.  Here is Jack in his Lions jersey before his first game of the season.  It was pouring rain and not very warm, but the kids played anyway.  Jack is very proud of playing football and has been trying very hard even though it is all new and a little challenging for him.

Finally peaceful

Cate had a rough night, until I finally gave up trying to sleep. Now that I'm sitting up next to her she is miss peaceful.

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Happiness is...

...being naked and having your big brother helping you.  Cate loves it when Jack helps her stand!

Firehouse visit

We got to visit a firehouse in Chinatown with our playgroup. Ellis thinks sitting in a fire truck is serious business.  The woman in the picture is our good friend, Emily Fong.

The little girl in the mirror

While we were in Vermont, Cate and Granddaddy were always talking about the little girl in the mirror.  Cate is very fond of that little girl.

Summer in Vermont

The kids and I spent 6 weeks in Vermont with my parents this summer.  We all had a great time!  Here's a slideshow of some of the highlights:

Tink's kittens

Our foster kittens are two months old and almost ready to go back to PAWS for adoption.  They are shy little things even though we have handled them almost every day and their mother is super friendly and snuggly with us.  We are having them spend their days upstairs so hopefully they will be less jumpy when they go to the adoption center.  They are really fun and playful once they get past their shyness.  They love to chase a string and will tumble in and out of my lap when they are playing.  Cate loves to sit with me and watch them tumble around.

Gody's visit

Gody stayed with us for a few days and took some really great pictures of the kids with his fancy camera.

We had fun taking Gody to the Museum of Science and Industry:

Cate's Baptism

Cate was baptized at Rockefeller Chapel on campus.  Both of her grandmothers were there for the lovely service.  She wore the same gown that we used for Jack and Ellis.  The boys were a little wild so we didn't get any pictures of the whole family.

Getting dressed at church:

With the grandmothers:

Ellis before the service:

In the pew:

End of year party

We took the kids to the end-of-year party at the Family Resource Center on campus.  The boys had a fabulous time in the big caterpillar bouncer.

Jack and Cate:

At the party:

Jack emerges from the caterpillar:

We did it!

The University of Chicago is beautiful in the summer!  I can't believe the colors in this picture.