Chicago - Jan 2015

We had an opportunity to go down to Chicago to be with Grandma & Grandpa Van Ackeren for a Saturday afternoon.  We drove down during Owen's afternoon nap and by the time we were looking for parking he was waking up.  Perfect timing. 

Our plan was to go to the Chicago Aquarium, but once we got there we noticed the line coming out of the building was ridiculously long and the wait to get in was I think around 1 1/2 hours.  So, we skipped the aquarium and went for an early dinner at Rainforest Cafe (thinking Owen would love all of the animals).....We couldn't have been more wrong. 

Our nice hostess sat us right next to 2 animatronic elephants which started moving and making noises about.......every 7 seconds.  Owen never got used to this and got a little freaked out each (and every) time it happened.  So, he decided he wanted to spend the vast majority of time instead in the gift shop downstairs where everyone took turns watching him while the rest of us ate. 

Walking back to a taxi after finding out that the aquarium just wasn't going to happen

Entrance of Rainforest Cafe

(Grandpa's butt is now very wet from sitting on the bench.)

As you can see, Owen will not sit in his chair and one of the infamous elephants is in the background.

A little happier with his frog hat

Loves Grandpa

Indoor Backyard

This is a nice little play area for people in Wisconsin (i.e. cold weather folks) to take kids to run around since outside is not as much of an option in the winter.

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Motorcycle

Against my better judgement we bought him a motorized motorcycle which he surprisingly rode very well. 

 

 

And some videos....

 

 



 

 

 

Christmas 2014

Normally in the morning, Emily gets Owen up out of bed while I go in the shower to get ready to go to work and take him to daycare. Since today was Christmas, obviously, I didn't have to go to work so in this video Owen is 1st of all happy to see Daddy.....and then he notices his train set (from Grandma Humes) that is up and ready to play with. 

Here are some pics of Christmas Morning:

Playing with the Train

 

Opening his stocking from Santa

 

Opening his MANY (maybe even too many) Gifts

Another one

 

Never too early to start practicing football

 

Having a good time with Mommy

 

On Christmas...kids are obligated to having hugs with Mommy

 

 

Huge vertical car race track from Grandma & Grandpa Van Ackeren

Brutus the Christmas Elf

We decided this year (and each year following) to do the Elf on the Shelf tradition.  Owen absolutely loved finding him each morning (carefully hidden up and out of reach).  Here are a couple videos of him finding "Brutus". 

 

 

The Dude's Laughter is my Best Medicine

Owen has an infectious laugh.  I defy you to watch these 2 videos without at least smiling.  The 1st video is showing him watching Curious George at the Xmas Tree Farm and how he climbed up one of the Xmas trees and knocked them all over.  The 2nd video is a video with Chip & Dale in it.  They are in a Xmas tree and creating havoc all over the place.  The Dude loves slap/stick comedy.  Can't wait to introduce him to such comedy gems as Monty Python, Dumb & Dumber, and Napoleon Dynamite.  They are right up his future alley.  

 

 

 

 

Booty Shaker

I wonder who taught him to shake his booty?