Shedd Aquarium during the holidays

Today I took the boys to Shedd Aquarium to meet a friend and her kids. We haven't been to Shedd since Spring and Zack was so excited! We were able to watch Fantasea the dolphin show. Santa even made a special appearance on a boat! Zack also got to touch a starfish - very exciting for the 4 year old! The sea turtles were a highlight for Alex.

Lincoln Park Zoo Lights

We braved the cold on Saturday night to enjoy Zoo Lights at Lincoln Park Zoo. We quickly made it all around the zoo and into a few exhibits in record time. The boys were both troopers!

Winter Wonderland at Navy Pier

Connor and Zack

Alex and the Snow Fairy (I LOVE this picture)

Zack having a blast

Connor, Zack and Lindsey (Connor's babysitter) on a ferris wheel

Alex in a snowball pit

Every year my girlfriend Brandy and I take the boys to Winter Wonderland at Navy Pier. We love the torture! Think crowded carnival with an indoor ice rink and lots of holiday flare and you get Winter Wonderland. They boys love it and we'll continue to torture ourselves year after year all in the name of Christmas fun!

Santa and Mrs. Claus at Navy Pier

I took the boys to see Santa at Navy Pier last Friday. Zack had a letter for Santa as was very eager to give it to him. Santa said he remembered Zack from last year and Zack seemed very amazed. I decided to spare the crowd of people in line the shrill cry from a one year old and I just joined the boys with Santa. No tears!

Preschool Christmas Party

I had the pleasure of going to Zack's preschool Christmas party last week. The kids did a wonderful job singing Christmas carols to us. Zack's "job" of the week was grace leader. He led the entire party in saying grace before we enjoyed our yummy snack. He did such a fabulous job!

Children's museum fun!

The boys love to go to the Children's Museum to play on these cold winter days. We try to go at least once a week. The water room is definitely a highlight!

Our front yard

In our dreams - ha! This is a tree at a home near Zack's school. It is absolutely gorgeous. As you can see, it has thousands of lights and also beautiful ornaments.

We LOVE snow!

Zack loves to be outside playing in the snow. This is a picture from our first snow storm. He and his daddy built a pint sized snowman in the back yard. This was a very wet snow and we discovered the hard way that his coat (as adorable as it is) is not waterproof. Now, Zack has two winter coats!

Two boys, a tree and a camera = Impossible feat!

The PERFECT Christmas Tree

Z inspecting trees

Alex and Daddy trying to find the perfect tree

Alex checking out the reindeer

Alex helping decorate with daddy

Z decorating

Decorating a tree with a 4 and 1 year old is both exciting and terrifying (if you're me and LOVE our ornaments). Zack tore into the ornament boxes at incredible speed. I tried to hide my terror and kept telling myself over and over again that the ornaments are just "things." After all was said and done and a couple ornaments lighter, the tree looks amazing and Zack and Alex had a blast.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Alex eating Grandma Nene's famous jello salad.

Best buds and goof balls - Jacob and Zack.

Dance party - post Thanksgiving feast.

Zack and Great Grandma Sue in an intense game of war.

We traveled to Iowa for a very fun Thanksgiving. We spent Thanksgiving Day at my sister's in Iowa City and the weekend in Cedar Rapids at Grandma Jude and Grandpa Scott's house. Thank you to everyone for hosting us and stuffing us with yummy food!