Chicago Christmas

We had a wonderful time with family in Chicago over Christmas! Here are a few pictures of our time.
It was a blast to have the cousins together and to get to spend time with Harmony, Briant, Heather, Moises and Grandpa and Nana Walker. We missed Heidi, Bob and their family!

Truth be told...the flight with Juliette was long and hard work. Thank goodness for the IPAD. She watched a lot of Curious George, but it was still hard to keep her in our seats and out of business class if she got to go in the isle. Juliette was teething and had a cold most of the time we were there BUT it was worth it for sure. You can tell from the pictures below that Luca was all smiles. He loves to travel!

Highlights:
1. Playing in the snow and going on nature walks in the park across the street
2. Watching the kids play together
3. Going to the nature museum and going to an animal show
4. Going out for lunch with Harmony and Briant, and dinner with Heather and Moises (thanks for watching the kids- mom and dad)
5. The excitement of Christmas and the chance to spend it with our big family!
6. Going running John with his dad, and I with his mom
7. Lots of quality time together and the kids playing so well together!

Luca came home to a space room!


Some of my favorite quotes of Luca's

1. When he saw a deer at a nature park, "My wish came true"
2. When it was snowing Christmas Eve morning, "I have been waiting my whole life for this"
3. After taking a picture with Uncle Briant in his pilot uniform, "Please keep this picture forever"

When Juliette and mascara meet

This is what happened in a few quiet moments this afternoon...when Juliette found my make up bag. She was quick to say, "messy, I sorry mama, clean up"

Wonderful Visit with Josh and Annie!

 

Josh and I had a fantastic and jam packed visit. We went to pike place, on the monorail, space needle, electric trains at the Seattle Center, Merry-Go-Round, back to pike place. Then Sunday we headed to the mountains and went sledding then went on a ferry ride at sunset. Monday we went out for breakfast and to the airport! Wow, what a wonderful time, the kids played so well together and had such a blast! Thanks again for coming Josh and Anne!!! We are so glad you did!

Bedtime prayer

Luca and I sometimes pray before he goes to bed. (usually I do) Tonight when I asked him if he wanted to pray, he said, "yes but I will need some time to think about it".
A few moments later he said, "I am ready...God, .I am thankful for all the people in the world, and I like them all, just the way they are."

Along these lines:
Luca and I were reading a book about a boy in a wheelchair. I asked Luca...what could you do to be a good friend to someone who rides in a wheelchair? Luca said, "I would make sure he had one" I said, "where would you get it?" He said, "wherever I needed to find it"
This was esp. touching to me because I have a friend (that Luca has not met before) in need of a wheelchair and are hoping to begin a fundraiser for this young man.
More about that to follow...but then I said,

"I was thinking about recess time, you could talk to him or play a game with him, maybe? since he can't go on playground equipment and slide"
Luca said, "yes, he can, he can go on the slide"
I said, "how?"
Luca said, "you know, the teacher just carries him over to the top of the slide and he can go down backwards and he will fly right down the slide into his wheelchair, that I push to the bottom of the slide, he just slide right it. It will be so fun"

I had to laugh and love that Luca does not put limits on anyone or anything. He is out of the box thinking. He does this for himself all the time but it was really cool for me to hear him think it through for someone else who would do things, a different way than himself.

A few new pictures

Sorry, I haven't posted pictures in a while...here are a few as of late:

 The kids dancing

 Luca and Scarlett striking a pose