take me out to the ball game

the boys’ school gave out free tickets to watch the kane county cougars play ball on sunday.  toby and simon, hearing they were going to a baseball game, apparently thought they would be playing.

 

earlier this week, simon discovered toby’s riverside fire department helmet.  any kittens in trees?

 

 

 

 

 

 

simon and toby are wearing their didi (younger brother) and gege (older brother) shirts here.  it may be the matching outfits, but aren’t they beginning to look alike, or is it just me? ;-p

learning to walk

here's evidence of how fast simon moves on his own. (note that in this video, taken a few weeks ago, he signs and speaks PLEASE.)

here's footage of simon up on his leg for the first time since bringing it home. he hasn't quite found his sea legs (or land legs, as the case may be).

and here's footage of simon earlier this week at his first prosthetic follow-up. there was talk among the prosthetists and PT about simon's in-toeing. they concluded it was the inevitable consequence of his anatomy (no hip!). in fact, at home the next day we discovered there was a loose pivot in his leg. a little wrench action...and voila!...he walks a lot straighter now. more video footage soon...

(and don't be surprised if he's running next time!)

easter at the zoo

we realized we were in trouble this morning when we pulled up to target to discover a completely empty parking lot.  uh oh…closed easter sunday!  however, we’re fortunate to live very near brookfield zoo, which is open every day of the year.  so that’s where we spent the afternoon today.

 

hopefully the boys’ stroller isn’t hiding the beautiful floral butterfly in the background.  (yes, i know i generally am not a butterfly fan, but to have created such a thing entirely out of flowers…that’s worthy even of my admiration!)

 

i was afraid we might not get the boys back (toby, because he seemed lost in reverie; simon, because i feared he’d be eaten!)

the hamill family play zoo has lots for the kids to do.  the boys petted a bunny, planted marigold seeds, and, as evidenced here, painted their faces.  (actually, i painted simon’s face, but toby created his motif all by himself!)

irresistible faces…even with the pox!

spring holidays

first came passover…the spirit of our seder is best summed up by this first photo (note the firetruck in toby’s hand and, even more strangely, the spoon dangling from simon’s mouth!)

it was definitely our intention to ‘get it right,’ so to speak – the haggadot and seder plate all made it to the table – but this year’s seder was especially relaxed – the dog bone substitute for a shank bone provides ample evidence!

speaking of dog bones…check out fred’s new do…he got his summer shave just in time to look nice for the holidays…of course, our neighbor mocked him as he barked menacingly at her through our fence while wearing this easter egg bandana

after passover came easter and, with it, egg dyeing…

 

…and ‘peeps’ eating.  (how guilty does simon look devouring his?)

 

when it comes to the spring holidays, we’re definitely an equal opportunity family! ;-)

visit with family

our aunt dina had to be out in chicago recently for work.  luckily for us, she had the brilliant idea to bring nana and cousins julia and marigo along with her.  these are scenes from their visit.  as you can see, we had a great time.

 

  

   

    

target photo shoot

we had our first family photo shoot today.  thanks to our great-grandma ‘nana’ and cousin marigo for joining in the fun.  more photos from our family weekend – including a wonderful seder with grandma ‘nani,’ great aunt dina and cousin julia - to follow, but please enjoy these photos for now.

      

look what i can do!

  i can stand without support!!!

it’s raining eggs!

the easter bunny visited the riverside public works building today.

  

he kindly flooded the building with easter eggs.

easter egg hunts were carried out by age (e.g., under 2s, 3-4 years-old), so simon and toby collected at different times.

 

“dad, did i do it right?” simon seems to ask after what we assume was his first easter egg hunt ever.

toby inspects one of simon’s eggs, finds it to be USDA choice, and vows to fill his basket with more of the same.

go, toby, go!  don’t let those other kids take your eggs!!!

  

“you’re mine, little egg!”

“ooh, and your friends, too!!!”  toby fills his basket with more eggs than any of his competitors.  parents offer OOHS and AAHS as he passes by with his very filled basket.

the contents of the boys’ eggs?  some candies (already hidden from them here at home) and two prize tickets – one in simon’s basket and another in toby’s!  each hunt had 10 ticket-filled eggs, and our boys were lucky enough to each find one.

toby enjoys his prize – a nice memory of having visited with the easter bunny.