Riverwalk Park

I have heard all kinds of good things about the big park at Naperville's Riverwalk, so on Friday afternoon we decided to check it out. It is big and it is really fun! It has a soft spongy surface instead of those wood chips that most parks have (Evie always brings a few of those home in her shoes). We had so much fun there that we came back Sunday morning with Daddy! He was equally impressed and we think it's the best park EVER.

Friday's visit:

Sunday's visit:

Cosley Zoo

We have discovered Wheaton's awesome (and free!) Cosley Zoo. It is beautifully landscaped, as you will see in the photos below. There are tons of trees and the pathways are brick. This zoo reminds me of the "Children's Zoo" section of Brookfield Zoo - mostly farm animals and birds, but you can get closer to the animals here.

There is a huge duck pond with about 30 ducks, all different breeds:

You can walk through the barn or view the animals outside. Here are the kids by the cows...Evie and Gavin didn't think much of them, or the horses either, until one cow and one horse pooped in front of us. Then the twins thought they were really neat -they kept pointing at the poop and giggling!

I don't think this coyote had been fed yet - he was pacing and staring intently at Gavin!

If you look on the left side of the photo below, you will see a deer lying down. You really can get pretty close!

Here is the small reptile area which has a few frogs and snakes. Evie and Gavin wanted to see each one:

Cosley Zoo also has story time and toddler programs, so we will be going there often!

At The Park With the Uncles

Uncle David and Uncle Brad live just a couple blocks from a great park, and on Monday we finally made it over there to play. Evie and Gavin had a great time swinging, climbing and just walking around a park that was new to them.



Uncle David had to try out some of the play equipment as well!

Evie and Gavin are wearing green beads that Auntie Clare brought them for St. Patrick's Day...it was one of those early mornings where I had to bring out a "rainy day" toy and I didn't care which one it was!

After we left the park ,we went to David and Brad's house to meet their two cats. The twins actually met them last summer but I'm sure they don't remember! But the cats were not in a social mood...here they are hiding under the bed!

So Evie and Gavin amused themselves by looking at Uncle Brad's comic book heroes statue collection:

The twins were thoroughly worn out after all that activity, so we headed home for naps to get recharged for the rest of the day!

Happy Birthday to Grandpa Vic!

On Sunday we went over to Grandpa and Grandma Cordes' house to help Grandpa celebrate his birthday. Grandpa did have to grill up cheeseburgers for all of us, but he didn't mind! Evie loved eating potato chips as soon as we arrived:



When Gavin got a little restless, Uncle David brought out his iPhone:

...and when the iPhone got old (hard to believe), he helped Gavin walk up and down the stairs:

Silliness is contagious! Uncle David and Uncle Kevin accesorized with wrapping paper:

Evie and Gavin helped Grandpa open gifts:

Gavin was especially fascinated with Grandpa's new Ironman watch:

Evie and Gavin petted Auntie Di's new cat garden statue:

This video is for everyone who thinks Evie is just the daintiest little girl ever:

A Colonial Breakfast

On Saturday morning we had breakfast at Colonial Cafe in Naperville. We met Nana & Grandpa Cermak there, and Evie and Gavin had a great time coloring while we waited for our order. They were entertained for probably 15 minutes, which is an eternity when you're 23 months old! I will brag and say that they were perfect angels at the restaurant (no tossing open coffee creamers this time)!

Here's a short video of Gavin coloring:

Here's a short video of Evie coloring:

Evie ate eggs and tasted pancakes and toast. She felt so happy with such a full tummy that she just had to sit on this cow before we left:

Later on, Gavin woke up from his nap before Evie did, so he and Grandpa played ball in the backyard:

Gavin's been throwing overhand since he was 15 months old, and by now he can throw things pretty far. Here he is tossing the ball to Grandpa:

Gavin had a GREAT time giggling when Grandpa would hand off the ball to him and make "the Rocky" sound:




Gavin is laughing so hard he can't even stay standing!

Resting With Daddy

Evie and Gavin have learned the phrase "take a rest." They will lay their heads down on the floor, on a pillow, or on Francis, for about 5 seconds and that is their idea of a rest. I find it REALLY cute to watch! Here are some of their rests with Daddy:

Little Rockers

Francis found this cute little giraffe rocker for Evie really cheap on Craig's List. The first day we had it, she wouldn't get on it but she would pet it on the head. The next day, she was bold enough to climb on.

Of course, we had to get a rocker for Gavin as well, but in a bigger version. So he ended up with the larger Little Tykes Rocking Puppy (courtesy of Auntie Clare!):

The rockers keep them entertained for little bits of time throughout the day. I think that if Gavin could tip his rocker over backward, he would have already done it. Thanks to the Little Tikes brand for making a fairly stable rocker! Here they are in action:

Uncle Kevin's Truck

Last weekend, Uncle Kevin was able to bring his work truck home. He doesn't usually get to do this, so we headed over to check it out. Gavin and Evie love to point out trucks, big and small, whenever we drive anywhere.

The kids were very interested in the door:

Evie and Gavin also love Auntie Di's blue Miata:

This is my favorite picture: tiny Evie next to that huge truck. She is just a little taller than the tire!

The kids got bored with the vehicles pretty quickly, and then we went inside to play with the cats. That's always a big hit with everyone (yes, the cats do enjoy their human "cousins")!