Holiday Messages

Jack wants to wish all of you a wonderful holiday!

Wonderland Express

We took Jack to the Botanical Gardens last night to see the Wonderland Express, a huge train exhibit with Chicago landmarks. Jack was so excited that he kept asking for the choo-choo's all day. When we got there, he insisted on holding Nana and Papa's hands.The first exhibit was a gingerbread village with a train and as Jack walked up he was in such amazement all he could muster was "WOW!" In this picture he is trying to get a picture of his Rudolph shirt from Nana and Papa that actually lights up!
Jack LOVED it all!
It really was incredible. they constructed the skyline of Chicago!

Too Much of a Good Thing!

Mommy didn't plan things out very well last week when she scheduled cookie decorating at our house on the same day as Jack's school holiday party. Jack and his friends decorated, i.e. ate spoonfuls of frosting, in the morning.
In the afternoon, Jack ate powdered sugar cookies and cupcakes...

In the evening, he projectile vomited all over the kitchen!!! Mommy gets the "Mother of the Year" award!

Zoo Lights!

We took Jack to Zoo Lights at Lincoln Park Zoo again this year and he loved it! The zoo does such an amazing job covering every tree and the kids are truly amazed.
This was the first year that Jack was able to ride the choo-choo all by himself and he was so excited. Mommy and Daddy couldn't get over how grown-up (and cute!) he looked going around the track with all the other big kids.
Of course Jack insisted on getting a picture in front of the cow!
And we couldn't leave without a picture in front of Frosty the Snowman!

Hot Coc-@#&$

Jack has discovered a new snack that he loves--hot chocolate! The funny part is that he can't really say it correctly and ends of swearing every time he tries to say "hot chocolate". See for yourself...

Uncle Mark and Aunt Sarah FINALLY Come to Chicago!

Jack's Uncle Mark and Aunt Sarah finally made it to Chicago for a visit, and Jack had the best time. He really loves them (and it has nothing to do with the fact that they came bearing gifts like these maracas)!Jack and Uncle Mark were best buddies all weekend long, probably because Uncle Mark is so goofy and played with Jack's toys too!
Jack loves his Aunt Sarah too. She gives the best hugs :)
Jack was sad when they left and kept asking for them. Yesterday I asked Jack who was coming over to play because his friends were coming for cookie decorating (more on that later!) and he responded, "Mark and Sarah!" When I told him they weren't coming over he got a very sad face and said, "why Mommy?" Guess we'll have to go to New York very soon!

A New Baby!!!

With 4 feet, that is! This our new puppy Wrigley. She is a goldendoodle (golden retriever poodle mix) and she is super sweet.She is fitting into our family quite well and Jack and Milo are adjusting to having a little sister. They both think they are in charge but what neither of them realizes is that Wrigley will grow to be 55 pounds!!!
Jack calls her "Rilly" and he absolutely loves her.
She is a great addition to our family but Mommy and Daddy definitely feel like they have 3 small children right now!

The Future Mr. and Mrs.

When we were in Virginia, we FINALLY met Jack's future wife Maya Grace. She is the daughter of one of Mommy and Daddy's friends from high school and Jack was smitten. I mean how could you not love this face?At first Maya was not quite sure what do with Jack's obvious feelings....
but she eventually came around and the love grew!
After all that hugging there was nothing left to do but DANCE!!!

*Note--notice how much taller Jack is than Maya. Maya is only 4 months younger that Jack but because Jack is super duper tall, he kind of towers over her :)

The Next Tommy Lee...

Jack loves music, especially if he is the one making it. He frequently takes a pan and wooden spoon to make his own drum and proceeds to march throughout the house saying "March one two, march one two".

A few weeks ago we went to Pottery Barn Kids and Jack discovered the love of his life...a full child-sized drum set. He quickly sat down and picked up 2 pencils from the desk next to him and started banging on that set as if he'd been doing his whole life (all 27 months of it). He even knew how to use the pedal and to bang on the cymbal. Mommy and Daddy literally had to pry him off of it.

Mommy really thinks Daddy should convince a certain man in red to bring the drum set on Christmas morning but Daddy says that's just asking for trouble!

Thanksgiving

Sorry it took us so long to get these blog entries in. As you will see over the next few entries, things in Casa Spillman have been CRAZY!

We spent Thanksgiving in Charlottesville with Nana, Papa, Uncle Dwayne, Aunt Tricia and Chyann. Chyann is one of Jack's favorite people and when we are in Chicago he talks about her everyday. She will be in 5 in January yet they play like they are the same age and get along so well. Jack really looks up to her and wants to do whatever she is doing and she is so sweet and patient with him.

Daddy and Mommy have been wondering lately why we continue to spend money on toys because it is very obvious that all kids need for a fun time is a hardwood floor! Here Jack and Chyann are taking turns pushing each other across the floors at Nana's. As you can see, Chyann didn't move very far!While we were watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, Jack and Chyann decided they wanted to play with makeup. Jack had never done this before and he was super excited to be pampered!
This is what happens when you let a 4 year old and 2 year old (and Aunt Tricia!) play with makeup...
Before dinner we took some time to take some family pictures. Unfortunately Nana and Papa were preoccupied so they didn't make it into any of them but here is a great one of the Mullins family.
Jack refused to look at the camera because Chyann was outside too so I don't think its frameable :(

Magnificent Mile Lights Festival

Sorry for being MIA the past few weeks. We have been super duper busy including a week-long trip back to Virginia , but we are back and have lots to catch up on!

Right before we left for Virginia, we took Jack to the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival which included a huge parade sponsored by Disney and a big fireworks display. There were over a million people there (think a smaller version of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade) and we were about 40 people deep...However, thanks to Daddy being super tall (6 ft 3 inches to be exact!) Jack had the best view around!
He loved every minute of it!