Downtown days!

We did a lot of fun things this week! On Tuesday, Ben spent the day with us (yea, summer!) and we spent the morning at the Museum of Science and Industry (free day!). We spent most of the time there in the "train room" where they have life size trains, airplanes hanging from the ceiling and a huge electric train display of the city of chicago. The boys were mesmerized, especially our train fanatic!! Then we went over to the farm area where they have a John Deere tractor and a combine. Samuel got to go inside both of them while Zakkai and I played in the "Idea Factory" (a place designed just for little kids to explore and have fun!) Z spent most of the time inside a play house opening and closing the shutters. He did NOT want to leave and when I tried to pull him out, he grabbed on to the side of the door and hung on:) And if you've ever heard him scream...he did that, too.

After the museum we went and had lunch down by the lake. It was a BEAUTIFUL day: mid-70's, sunny, very slight breeze...ahhh... It was a great day together! And then on Thursday, the boys and I did one of S's favorite things and rode the train downtown to the Family Fun Festival they have everyday during the summer. From 10am to 10:45 they have someone come play kids songs and all the kids can dance and sometimes they pass out maracas. We went with two friends and their little ones, Aislinn and Heather. After the concert, we went and let the kiddos splash around in the fountain. They had a blast!!

Samuel said some funny things this week (as usual!) We were on our way to the park to meet somebody and he looked up at me and said, "Mommy! I saw some dancing lions! Are there anymore dancing lions?" I was so confused and didn't know what he was talking about until he said, "There's another one!" and pointed to a dandilion:)

Then later in the week, we were having a discussion on full names. I went through what his full name is (Samuel Benjamin) and then said, "Zakkai's full name is Zakkai Nathaniel Thomas." Samuel looked up at me and said, "No, his name is NOT Zakkai Na-Samuel, mommy!"

Today Zakkai said please for the first time! We were at breakfast and he was demanding "more" as usual so I said, "Say, Please!" and he signed it and said in a high pitched voice, "Pwee!" Then he was so proud that he proceeded to say it about 14 more times! He also learned the word "bubbles" today! Zakkai is such an independent little man. He has such definite opinions on what he does and doesn't want. He is as happy as a clam until you try to redirect him from what he was doing! He and Samuel have so much fun together even though they are so different. Samuel gives lots of kisses to his "bruvver" (and that's when he's not pushing him down...) they have SO much fun together that we had to put up a partition in their room to separate them at nighttime because they have been keeping each other up giggling and being ornery. Little monsters!