Make A Wish

Throwing coins in fountains at Yorktown Mall (pavers supplied by Daddy!). Hmm - what could they be wishing for? Dylan - a visit to DuPage Children's Museum, that cool Lego toy from Target, time with Grandma or Nana, a new garage door on our house (yes, really). Elle - stickers, meeting Elmo in the flesh, a puppy.

Hello, Sunshine

Hello, Sunshine - that's really what Elle's shirt says. :)

Christmas in April

Elle finally got her Christmas present. :) Shipped last November, we saved it for outdoor use, and put it together on one of our first warm weather days. She loves it. Favorite activity? Climbing through the back window.

Start Playing Your Violins (And Then Put Them Away)

Are you near your Kleenex box? Every year, Dylan's preschool goes to Tivoli Bowl -  the very cool,  oldschool bowling alley in downtown Downers Grove. Dylan had the best time last year bowling with his class, talked about it all year, and then waited with much anticipation for the promised next outing. The day finally arrived......and he woke up with pink eye. After the official diagnosis from the doc, the conversation with Dylan that followed went down pretty much like you'd probably predict. Not...well. It broke our hearts to keep him home on the very day he'd been anticipating for such a long time. So, of course, we assured him that we ourselves would take him there as soon as he got better. And that we did.

If you look closely, you'll actually see a family there (mine) standing under the sign. (I am totally getting recruited for my photography skills.)

Dylan, in all his glorious preschool form. Side note - bowling was one thing that Marc and I had never done together. Until now!

Spring?!

This picture absolutely represents the spring we've experienced. The proof is evident that it's spring: our daffodils figured out, somehow, that it was indeed time to make their annual appearance. And yet it remained winter coat weather for the better part of April!

In Like A Lion....

Spring came in like a lion, all right. Chicagoland was pounded with rains last month, causing major flooding in areas, including Downers Grove. This picture is of the Belmont underpass, just blocks south of us. (1 block from Dylan's school!) Nobody was harmed, but of course the cars were gonners. Our house (basement) did get hit, as did many others. :(

Which One Is It?

This photo from last month just cracks me up. And I'm not sure exactly why. Is it Dylan, who just fell? (I admit, I do have a "fall" sense of humor.) Or baby Elle, just hanging, staring at him? Or the fact that they are both big poofballs in their snow pants? Or the fact that this "scene" just seems to be happening on its own - Elle, hanging there, helpless, staring, and Dylan, on the ground, wiping out, staring back...and seemingly nobody to help. Or maybe the fact that this playground scene should really be happening in the summer, not when there's 6 inches of snow on the ground. Or, I dunno, maybe the gigantic red ball to the left adds something? I don't know, but something about this photo just cracks me up. 

Getting Back In The Game

Well, good golly -where do I begin? I noticed my last post was from August 2012. It's no wonder I haven't posted anything since.  In September of 2012 I started working part-time. One would think 11 hours/week wouldn't affect home life too much, but, honestly, it does. It has been a balancing act, and very much a learning curve as I discern how to cram in all the things I normally would have taken care of at home with those 11 hours. In the process, a few things have been lost, such as getting ready for the day without simultaneously bathing the kids, meal planning, staying in close touch with people (sorry, um, like, everyone)....and blogging.

But I do miss it. I think of articles I'd love to write, pictures I'd love to post - on a daily basis. Finally, I decided - I'm just going to get back in the game. But without feeling the need to update ya'll on the last 8 months that I failed to "post." I will just resume my blog, as if nothing was ever missed. Ok? Ok.

The Simple Pleasures

One thing I love about kids is how little it takes to keep them entertained at times. These days, a ride on Dylan's "new" (ahem, Craig's List) Toy Story bike with training wheels is what keeps him happiest. And Elle is a big fan of the wagon, so we take many-a-stroll around our neighborhood.

 Elle loves her wagon rides!

Off they go!

Zoo Week

Papa and Nana took Dylan to the Brookfield Zoo for his first time ever!

Then mamma went the cheap route, and took the kids to Cosley Zoo in Wheaton.  :) (Perfect for the preschool age, for all you local mammas!)

I feel like there's probably some good caption for this picture.

Touch-A-Truck

A few pictures from Touch-A-Truck event in July....

Peek-A-Boo!

The Crawling Ceremony

Elle started crawling in June while we were in South Dakota. (My mom got to see her do it for the very first time!) So when we returned to D. Grove and saw Marc's parents that first week, we immediately took them downstairs to have Elle "perform." :)

She headed right for the tunnel tent.

South Dakota Trip

A few pics from our trip to South Dakota, to celebrate my brother's 40th...

My immediate family, at Ryan's party.  :)

My sister Nicole and her son Nathan at the zoo.

It doesn't get any better than a 9 month old's bod jammed into a pink tu-tu swimsuit!

D was sooo excited to bring his rolling suitcase into the hotel the first night.

We spent the first night camping. D is "helping" Grandpa with the campfire.

Contemplating. (A 4-year old has a lot to think about, you know.)

6 a.m. walk to the park in our PJ's. We had to get out of the camper asap to let the rest of the fam sleep.

 Grandma with 3 of her youngest grandkids.

 My fabulous nieces and nephews.

 A little Grandpa time.

 Flying high at the zoo, with Daddy.

Sporting her new Janie and Jack headband.

With Great Grandpa and Grandma - how special is that?!

10 Months of Pics, in One Post

Ready? Here we go:

 Family picture

 Dylan's first day of preschool.

 Giving some big brother love.

Astronaut for Halloween.

 Happy 5 month old.

 Happy 4 year old.

 Best buds.

 Happy St. Patty's Day!

 Sporting a bow. :)

 Beach Day.

Mother's Day.

A Little Catching Up To Do

Our time with Elle started out a little bumpy, as we had some health scares that landed her in the NICU at 10 days old, followed by a return hospital visit the next weekend. All is well now, praise God. But let me tell you, we went through the scariest, darkest moments I have ever been through in my life. There is so much to share, and I hope to write about it in depth some day. For now, I'd like to share 3 big take-aways:

First - I learned that, as much as I try to control my life, I am, ultimately, not in control. In our scariest times, the times we are most unsure about things...we must call on God, who is our immovable Rock and Fortress. HE is the one who is in control -sovereign over everything. And He is love, and He can be trusted. He is unchanging. He never ever changes! 2 Samuel 22:3: "My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior..."

Second - I connect in a new, deeper way to my mom and my precious sister Valerie, who died 3 days after birth. I had heard stories of my older sister all my life, and what those days and moments were like in the hospital. I thought it was playing out before my eyes, with Elle. I now grieve as I think about sweet Valerie, and for the utter heartbreak and loss my parents went through. I will talk about and remember my sister more often now.

Third - I have a tender place in my heart for parents who have babies in the NICU. There are no words to describe what it is like saying goodnight to your little one and having to leave them. Especially when their health is up in the air. It is a scary time. May Jesus' peace that passes all understanding play a special role in those hospital rooms.

Introducing...

On September 15, 2011, God blessed us with our precious baby Elliana Jennifer Caifano. We couldn't be more in love.