Amelia in the Glamorama

I'll admit, I can't tell you exactly what a Glamorama is, but this is where we began our urban hike. It's right next to the fancy restaurant in Marshall Fields where we have been instructed to take our kids for Christmas, because they put up an enormous Christmas tree in the middle of the dining room. (It's also right next to the bathroom). 

Bob and Margaret grew up in Chicago and during our visit we saw a few memory rich places, including the house where Papa Mike and Grandma Alice lived and the playground where Bob proposed. (It was right outside our hotel).

First Train Ride in Chicago

I wish we had thought of taking the L into Chicago the night before when we were meeting Crystal, Tom and Kristen.  We drove, were an hour late and got our car towed within five minutes. 

Quinn's parents have some sense when they plan outings, and we all got on the train to explore downtown and have lunch before we all had to go home. Easy peasy.

Calvin, Bob and Quinn (who's sleeping standing up)

Calvin's Self Portrait

Amelia - conked out

Meeting new cousins in Chicago

Last weekend we went to Chicago for Papa Mike's funeral - he died last week. While we were there we got to see a lot of relatives on Quinn's side that we don't get to see very often. Here's a picture of Calvin and his cousin Jayden. As you can see, they hit it off.  Hopefully we'll be able to see them again soon!

Climbing the ladders at Bandelier

 We took Calvin to Bandelier National Monument a few weeks ago and he got really into climbing the ladders.

Afterwards we took him out for ice cream!

Coach Calvin

All the work trying to get Calvin to walk to the park finally paid off... He doesn't just want to walk to the park. He wants to run to the park. 

A few days ago we were all going to walk to the park, and take Calvin in the wagon. Instead of getting in the wagon, he said, "Wanna run," and just took off. We followed along, and he ran all the way to Fireman's Park, about a half mile away. 

We did it again today after dinner. It looks like these family runs might become a tradition. He likes it when we huff and puff like big fat old people, and he pretends to be all out of breath too. On the way home he rides on Quinn's shoulders. 

Move your legs...part two.

We went through more no-walking shenanigans on Sunday after church. I swear, he walks fine when I'm not in sight, but when I'm there he has to be picked up. So I tried walking to the car and waiting for him when he was with Quinn. He actually laid down on the sidewalk, refusing to move. Quinn threatened and delivered a spanking. Calvin cried. Then finally he let us lead him by the hand to the car. It took a half hour to walk 200 yards.

Use your legs!!!

We’ve been trying to discipline Calvin to walk by my side rather than have to be carried everywhere.  He’s 2 ½. He should walk.

Over the weekend I was trying to go to the post office, get some coffee and chocolate milk and then the two of us were going to walk to the playground.

When we left Starbucks my hands were full.  I had my iced coffee and his chocolate milk, which was splashing with every step. He still got underneath my feet and reached up so I had to pick him up.

It’s hard to get around him.  I carried him across the road and put him down.  He was just too heavy to juggle with drinks. He was crying and griping and trying to hit me or hit his head on the sidewalk.

I crouched down to his level and said, “I am not going to pick you up. The two of us are going to walk to the playground together. If you’re too tired to walk to the playground, you must be too tired to play.”

He still wanted me to pick him up.  I said that if he made me pick him up we would just go to the car and go home. We wouldn’t go to the playground at all.  It was his choice.

I started walking across the Fuller Lodge lawn.  He didn’t follow me, he just stood there, crying. Grrr.

I sat down and let him sit in my lap and calm down. He drank some chocolate milk. He said he wanted to go to the playground and I said I know. He has to walk.

Then Quinn called wondering if I’d eaten any lunch. He wanted me to come home and eat turkey sandwiches. I figured I wasn’t getting anywhere with Calvin so we might as well go back to the car and have lunch.

Suddenly Calvin decided he wanted to see the ducks. He got out of my lap and ran to the crosswalk.  I carried him across (we’ll work on street crossing later) and he walked down the hill to Ashley Pond. There he sat on the sidewalk to see the ducks.

They were on the other side of the pond.  From where we were we could see some enormous fish. I’ve always seen the minnows on the surface but I had no idea there were such big fish in there.

Eventually he was ready to go and he walked part of the way and wanted to be carried again.  I was getting angry because he’s so heavy and I end up looking like a bitch when he sits down in the middle of the road and I have to drag his dead weight to the other side barking, “Move it!” I can just feel all the eyes on me from the Starbucks window.

Finally I got exasperated and carried him to the car. He was upset when we got home and he realized that we never went to the playground, but we told him that he needs to walk.