Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

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This year we did Thanksgiving here in Gurnee with just our crew. Just because attendance was smaller in comparison to previous years we saw no reason for the menu to suffer in diversity or quantity. We studied our Food Network favorites for yummy and kid-help friendly ideas, picked one here, one there to create our Thanksgiving masterpiece. I am now happy to describe it in all it's glory being separated from the event, leftovers and their accompanying "all turkey-out stage" by a few weeks.

The main event was of course a turkey. A 22-pounder stuffed with garlic-herb butter medallions under the skin and smeared all around it to make for crispy, brown skin. Lemon wedges, garlic cloves and stalks of rosemary, thyme and sage stuffed the interior to capacity. Roasting kept it moist and also allowed for puffs of deliciousness to permeate our afternoon in the kitchen. The kids all had a part in the remainder of the menu. We presented the cranberry walnut cocktail in individual glasses but left the orange vodka out of the recipe. Wine and Kiddy cocktails started mid-afternoon and continued well into the night. You know that last glass you don't have because you have to drive home? We DRANK it! Perennial classics of green-bean casserole and fruit salad neared perfection. A decadent cheesy twist on mashed potatoes left little reason for salt or butter but was not without a wonderful gravy. Jen's famous bacon brussel sprouts were as spectacular as always (and I HATE brussel sprouts FYI). Pumpkin pie made from scratch for dessert and a couple cups of coffee as we sat around the table and went around the table to declare what we were thankful for. Nobody was in a hurry to leave (since bath and bed followed) and hearing one another's blessings recounted reminded us each of another thing we had left out of our thanks list and required additional circles around the table. What followed was a week of yummy leftovers and frequent happy reflections to our first Thanksgiving on our own.

Manja

Manja

Jen decided, for one reason or another, that she deserved some sort of a break. If she had made some sort of substantial contribution to the family as of late I would agree. Whatever.
-the above is written with HEAVY sarcasm, no hate mail please :-)

Jen was thrilled to be invited to the Nerheim girls luncheon including food and cooking tips featuring the owner of Manja , who was recently named as a contender for the White House chef position. It did take a little cajoling to get her to just leave and enjoy herself. I am not a babysitter after all, Daddy can handle it Jennifer.

The Girls

The Girls

"Women and girls rule my world, I said they rule my world" -Prince (slighty changed)

Here are the three Lallo princesses.

I am in BIG trouble.

Christmas lights and pigtails

Christmas lights and pigtails

Even though I pick on her about it, I actually really like that my wife is COMPLETELY nuts when it comes to the holidays. She did her best to hold off on Christmas music, tree and decorations until after Thanksgiving. Since our storage space is limited to the garage, we have come to realize the percentage of boxes dedicated to seasonal decorations is quite high. One thing is certain every year, if I want to see happy wife, simply put up Christmas lights on the house. Simple equation.

Also in this album is Cassie who's hair just passed the threshold to allow for pigtails. Knee-weakeningly adorable!

Lanie Lo

Lanie Lo

Names for Elena Lauren as of now:

Jen and I generally go with Lanie or Laners.
CJ: Lanie Lo
Maddie: Elena
Cassie: Laylala Lauren

Here she is in her first of many photoshoots by herself.

Cupcake Alligator

Cupcake Alligator

Our friends Joan and Tony, who we have been lucky enough to cross paths with for many reasons this past year, are simply wonderful to our kids. Joan saw a project in a magazine that she thought would be right up the Lallo kid alley. They came over with the instructions and every ingredient needed (that took most of their afternoon to find) to create a Cupcake Alligator. Baking projects are HUGE with Jen and the kids and this was Lanies first exposure to this favorite activity. Everyone gets to help with each step and there are few limits on snacking as long as there is enough to finish the project. Thanks again to Joan and Tony. It was delicious and a ton of fun!

Presents

Presents

Outfits for little girls, especially for a newborn, all have a similar response when you first see them. First, you can't believe something that small is intended for a human baby. Then, you realize it may in fact still be a bit too big and needs a few weeks. You picture her in it nonetheless and let out a small, two syllable sigh/ooh cross between "nuh-uh" and "awww". Thank you to Jerry and Jill for the adorable baby clothes and for the gifts for the big kids. Too, too kind. Love you guys.

Can I Hold Her?

Can I Hold Her

There are some aspects of having 4 kids that actually make things easier. Getting the baby happy is a little more difficult than keeping her there but if she is clean and fed Lanie loves nothing more than just being close to one of us. All three kids choose holding Lanie over most any other activity which is a huge help when a five minute break to finally load the dishwasher is a necessity.

Lanie

Lanie

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Like a missing puzzle piece or a pivitol chapter in a book, Lanie seems to have brought us all together and it just makes sense that she is here. So far, she is a wonderful and beautiful baby.

CJ, the prince lion cub looking over his kingdom, seems to walk taller and prouder in full knowledge that the "big" in big brother has just grown in significance. He brought Lanie's picture to school and enthusiastically showed all of his friends and teacher.

Maddie, who has been offering to help with everything around the house since she could walk and talk at the same time has taken the role of nanny and been and indispensable source of help since Lanie arrived. She has matured right in front of us. Bittersweet.

Cassie, who in all honesty had us a little worried about her response, has managed to be a big sister and remain our little baby all at once. She has had no problem with sharing Mommy or Daddy and loves the new baby that we are pretty sure she thinks was specifically for her.

Jen, my lovely wife, has amazed me once again with her confidence and strength in dealing with not only the delivery but the crew as a whole. We are a lucky bunch to have her as our family CEO.

Me? I am a happy dude. I love seeing the world through the eyes of my kids and I really love the constant tweaking and discussion between Jen and I with our parenting style. I am a little apprehensive about the teenage years as my past experience with earning the affection of teenage girls had less success than one might hope. :-) Let's hope I have picked up a few things in the last decade plus.

Summary: Welcome to the family our precious little princess!!

Home Together

Home Together

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We are a family of six. I feel the need to type that twice but settled for just saying it out loud. We have 4 kids ages 5 and under and they all have their special roles and individual personalities but seem to understand even at this young age the meaning and collective function of a family and their parts in ours. Indeed, this is just the beginning and we have an unfathomable journey ahead of us but we plan to keep rolling with the punches and banding together to absorb any impact or equally distribute any blessing with perspective, love and humor. Thank you to every member of our proverbial village, you know who you are.

Visitors and Departure

Visitors and Departure

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The Lake Forest hospital is indeed fantastic, beautiful and accommodating but just not home. You could probably understand Daddy wanting to get out of there but even Jen was itching to get some form of normalcy. We decided to leave after the minimum 24 hour stay and get busy incorporating Lanie into our routine. We enjoyed the famous Lake Forest complimentary dinner for Mommy and Daddy and selected the filet mignon with all the sides, dessert, and some long awaited Cokes for Jen.

Our friend Joan and cousin Lori both graced us with quick visits and presents for Lanie just before we headed out. We packed up the room and our girl and went home to start our new adventure.

Sibling Visit

Sibling Visit

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MASSIVE thanks to Mom and Dad for making the time to entertain and care for our treasures in the middle of there own significantly busy schedule. Between moving out, moving in, visiting Uncle Dan across the country and not to mention a couple things called jobs and their own life in Michigan, what a load off to know we were leaving the punks with someone who could handle all of them at once and most of all WANTED to. They also left us with some wonderful meals that have been extremely helpful in our first days back home.

Bumpa and Aime came into town Monday evening to help with our three handfuls during our hospital stay. We called home and told each one about their little sister. They have been WELL versed in the entire process by a very honest and informative Mommy so their was little mystery but plenty of magic. Lanie welcomed their visit in her first two hours on the planet and they were simply taken with our new addition. They just wanted to hold her, talk to her or about her, take pictures of or with her and claim their stake in this tiny miracle. We have one fantastic family.

Elena is Born

Elena is born

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Another tally mark in the long list of "things I don't know how my wife does", Jen gave birth to our fourth child and third little girl.

We were admitted at 7:30 Tuesday morning to Lake Forest hospital and seemed to make little progress extending through to early afternoon.

3:00pm = 3 centimeters
4:00pm = 4 centimeters

A quick check around 4:30 and Jen was at a 7. Within 2 minutes she insisted they look again because something big was happening. "Oh, there's the head." the nurse announced and both the room and staff around us transformed fashion and function to deliver a baby. Dr. Huang (pronounced Wong), as matter of factly as we had become accustomed to with Dr. David, took her position and she and Jen talked through all of two and a half pushes before we had another heartbeat in the room. Elena Lauren had arrived at 4:43pm on Veterans day. As Aunt Kate pointed out "...she'll never get a birthday card in the mail on her actual birthday..." but our jump from family of 5 to family of 6 is a HUGE blessing.

CJ - Homework Hero

CJ Homework Hero

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The kindergartner has been enthusiastically doing his homework since the beginning of school in addition to the projects and phonics Mommy has him doing. Spaulding School congratulated these motivated youngsters with an award in a special assembly. Jen and the girls were able to go and support big brother.

Note: An unintentional mode switch left all pictures with a yellowish hue. We removed the color and brightened the highlights to make them a little easier to look at.

Fall Fun

Fall Fun

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Digging through the ever growing bin containing costumes of Halloweens past, freshly fallen leaves and the feeling you are bending the rules because the sun has gone to bed and you have not.

Elena Lauren Lallo

Born November 11th at 4:43 pm.

7 pounds 4 ounces and 18.5 inches long.

Little Lanie and Mommy are doing extraordinarily well. Thanks to everyone for checking on us. Love to all.


Note: This post was sent from my mobile phone. I am not sure why it posted twice. I will leave them both to preserve the comments.

Elena Lauren Lallo

Born November 11th at 4:43 pm.

7 pounds 4 ounces and 18.5 inches long.

Little Lanie and Mommy are doing extraordinarily well. Thanks to everyone for checking on us. Love to all.

Pumpkin Fun

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We didn't want to let the fact that she hasn't actually arrived yet prevent Lanie from enjoying Halloween. Mommy came up with the idea to decorate her tummy as a pumpkin. Looking good Lanie!! Can't wait to meet you!!

Mason is 5!!

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Just in case "someone's" arrival interfered with our weekly schedule we did not tell the kids about cousin Mason's birthday party at My Bounce Place until we were almost there. He and CJ are only 6 months apart and have a TON in common. I decided to force myself to have a little fun for the kids sake (wink, wink)and join the craziness. We made it through the entire party and loved seeing the fam again. We have had calls from every relatives household in Illinois assuring us that they will rush to our side when Lanie decides to arrive, no matter how inopportune the time.

Kids Halloween Parties

Jen, Cassie and I were able to join Maddie for her school Halloween party, watch the parade, sing songs and even help with the games. Jen, Maddie and Cassie were able to join in on the fun in CJ's class.


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Bumpa and BB surprise

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Maddie was so excited to find out there was a special package at the post office just for her. Bumpa and BB had sent her a fun little Granny's purse/storybook and cute shirt. Both girls have had a blast exploring.

Neighborhood Trick or Treat

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Trick or treating in our community was scheduled for the 26th (sounds much less ominous than the 31st). We end up throwing away the majority of our candy every year and we already had the Viking Park trick or treat so we hit each side of our street and returned home to partake in the handing out of tricks and treats.

Chuck E Cheese and Birthday morning

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Another installment in the "Maddie turns 4" ongoing celebration is a visit to Chuck E Cheese. We packed them up and told them we were going to pick out rugs for the house, an outing met with little fanfare. We pulled up to Chuck E Cheese amidst screams of excitement and spent a few hours enjoying pizza and family fun. The virtual roller coasters were especially a hit. We headed home for ice cream cake and presents for the 4 year old. Morning brought the tradition of breakfast by request compliments of Mommy and a final small present from us.


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Rainforest Twins

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We always have fun at Rainforest Cafe but this time in particular our big two were in a zone all their own. We just put their car seats back together in the van to prepare for Lanies arrival and they were all about being teammates. To see them laughing and sharing private jokes you might mistake them for twins.

Viking Park Trick or Treat

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Halloween seems to be suffering an identity crisis. There is little consensus on the time or even date to celebrate. The bonuses are multiple uses of costumes, multiple opportunities to get candy and the fact that Halloween can last weeks. Viking Park set up a really cool community trick or treat with character stations throughout. The kids were able to hang out with everyone from Elmo to the Incredibles. Snacks and hot chocolate were provided at the end to warm little tummies.

Maddies First Haircut

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Mommy took our big girl for her first haircut. She was so proud and excited. She had her little head tilt and rotate down pat by the time Daddy got home. She is really good at taking compliments, she has plenty of practice. :-)

Maddie and Elizabeth

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Elizabeth has rarely left Maddies side in the past weeks. Here is one of their adorable matching outfits. Another MASSIVE thank you to Grandpa and Grandma Worden for giving Maddie her very first American Girl doll.

American Girl Store

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We kicked off Maddies' birthday celebration, heading to Chicago to allow her to explore the new American Girl store in Water Tower. We gave her $150 to find a play set and some clothes that she and Elizabeth could wear (matching your American Girl doll is apparently a big deal). CJ saw the sign in the distance and pointed it out to his sister. We entered to find the first of two MASSIVE floors packed chock full of a truly unique experience. I found my awestruck gaze matched by most Dad's in this place that is custom made specifically for little girls. Matching outfits in both doll and girl sizes and every situational and occupational play set imaginable was merely the beginning. There was a beauty parlor for your doll to be bathed, hair washed and styled and nails painted. There was a hospital for little friends who lost a tussle with the family dog to be repaired and restored and a full banquet hall to host tea time by appointment several times a day. The goodie counter featured pink, pink and more pink sweets and chocolate for all to enjoy, which we did. Her purchases included some adorable outfits, a sleepover set and a kitchen bake set for her and Elizabeth to enjoy.

Braeburn move and "before"

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Aime and Bumpa have been a constant source of help over the last few years with a house remodel, move to Illinois and a phenomenal staging of Roosevelt Ct. to help us sell it. We were thankful for the opportunity to repay their help if even on a smaller level. We made it a fun day and filled the top floor since it was already carpeted and the big kids took turns riding in Grandpa Georges' pickup truck with Daddy. Here are some "before" pictures of the interior.

Mandi and Dan's Shower

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A major "milestone" Jen wanted to make it to was Mandi and Dan's couples shower. She and her doctor(s) decided that since we were going back to where we already delivered our previous 3 we would be fine. She had put so much work into this party we wanted to enjoy the benefits. Food, music and company were all fantastic. Kind of strange to be the "out of towners" at these events. Wonderful to see everyone!

The Woods

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The kids made it a priority to map out every square inch of the woods behind Aime and Bumpa's new house. The girls really enjoyed it but CJ especially found his bliss in the dirt, leaves, branches, sap and fresh air.

Farmer's Market

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We have a few specific Muskegon attractions that are missed across the lake but we make a point to visit whenever possible. Meijer (only for the Peanut-Butter Chocolate Ice cream, uh trust me), The Station, G&L, Fricanoes and the Farmers Market for our beloved Cheese Lady. We have found a nice Farmers Market in Kenosha but the Wisconsin domestics simply cannot compare with her offerings (the previous is to be read with an upturned nose and the snooty accent of your choosing). Follow the Lallo readers in West Michigan should make a point to visit her newly opened store in downtown Muskegon.

Maddie and Aime's birthday

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4 years ago Aime was given a pretty big birthday gift of her first grand-daughter. She has been generously sharing her birthday ever since. Grandpa and Grandma Worden had been working on her birthday surprise for a while and were really excited to give Maddie her very own American Girl doll. Maddie has named her Elizabeth Madeline, a shuffle of her name Madeline Elizabeth. Thank you Grandpa George and Grandma Doris for a wonderful party.

House and Kids Cabin

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In a whirlwind chapter totaling around 30 days, Mom and Dad Doctor pulled the trigger on a FANTASTIC house off Forest Park in Muskegon. Their amazing talents for making a house a home and cozying up every corner will be fully documented on this new blank canvas. We couldn't resist a late night visit to check it out and compare to the pictures. The kids were surprised to find a little cabin all for them in the backyard as a housewarming gift from Grandpa and Grandma Worden. DE-struction has begun and you have to admire their vision because the changes are pretty extreme. It will be awesome to see progress in huge chunks when visiting Michigan.

CJ and Mommy Field Trip

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Jen braved a crew of kindergartners in her eighth month when she accompanied CJ on his class trip to Apple Holler. She relayed to me later the unique "bug on the wall" experience of seeing the big man in his everyday element. He has a LOT of friends from his own class, other classes and even other grades that he sees on the playground. He is quick to grade most experiences as "really cool" or "really boring", not much in between. We think he is "really cool".

Halloween Costumes

From Halloween

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We were due for a final shoot of the kids while there is still only three of them and decided we couldn't pass up capturing their Halloween costumes. They are all such hams it can sometimes be difficult to get them all to make a "nice" smile rather than goofy faces. We ended up catching some wonderful smiles AND some great personalities.

Lake Michigan

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Cousin Steve invited me to join him, Mike and another friend out on Lake Michigan for the last fishing outing of the season before the boat is pulled out. It has been a lot of fun getting closer to family out here and finding we have a lot in common. The only thing I ended up catching was some pretty awesome pictures of the sunrise. A very different experience on this side of the lake. Thanks for the invite fellas. We'll rip some lips next year.

Couch Cuddle

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Cassie is our little love bug, designated family herder. She is always asking the family to hug or kiss each other or in this case to join her cuddling on the couch. Looks like plenty of room for Lanie to join them. We hope they will always be this close.

Maddie and Jen Field Trip

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Jen was so excited to be able to join our big girl Maddie on her very first field trip. The destination was Susannah Farms, where the kids enjoyed hay rides, pumpkin picking, animal interaction and a corn maze in which Jen and Maddies team won first place. The girls came back giddy and recounted the entire outing to the family over dinner.

Halloween DressUp

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Final selections have been made!! Lallo kids Halloween will feature the characters of Harry Potter, Dorothy, and the Wicked-ly adorable Witch of the West. They wasted no time acting out their characters and posing for pictures.

Bikes and the Park

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The goofs are getting pretty mobile on their bikes and scooters and are wearing rings in the driveway. The park is only a couple blocks away so it is a nice break from practicing turns. Fall weather gives little excuse for not getting out of the house. Slap on a hoodie or a jacket and get out in the fresh air!

Apple Pickin'

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Sunday morning of our packed weekend we headed back to Apple Holler for their featured pickins. Macintosh, Golden Supreme and Cortland were sampled plenty but worked hard for. We all scouted and climbed to fill our half bushel with tasty treats. Jen was ready with several apple recipes including a FANTASTIC pizza, bread and apple sauce. We hope to fit in at least another trip for more before the weather turns.

Night Time Corn Maze

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Jen always talks about simple night time surprises that left indelible memories of fun and spontaneity from her childhood. We have found that adding that unexpected twist can make a fun activity unforgettable, for the kids and us. When we told them to get dressed for a quick drive, they didn't know we had already packed flashlights and coats. We pulled back into Kroll's Farm as the sun was setting. The corn maze is open until 10pm and going through at night is one of their most popular times. We were given instructions on navigating the 4 acre maize maze, including escape routes and how to play the educational game within the maze. Cassie spent most of the time in a backpack with Daddy and the two big kids took turns navigating through the 9 foot tall corn on a crystal clear night using flashlights and the moon and stars. We collected clues for later questions and kept score with punches in our score cards. Almost a full hour later (which is about average) we emerged to applause. The kids talked excitedly for most of the short ride home but asked if we could skip books and just let them go to sleep. Um..no problem. What a great night!

Krolls Farm

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Another stop on our whirlwind full on embrace of autumn was a local family owned education farm. It must have looked awfully fun just upon pulling in because they all shouted their excitement. CJ added "I almost did a happy-cry". Wow, that took a minute to let our own happy-cry pass. Cassie, our future veterinarian, was in her element with all the animals around. She has NO Fear! Even after a rooster took a nip at her finger she just giggled and said "He got me!" They BEGGED to go in the huge corn maze but Mom and Dad said not today while sharing a little wink. If they only knew. :-)

To be continued.....

Kenosha Harbor Market

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We enjoyed a gorgeous fall day by heading once again to Kenosha and visiting the Harbor Market. Fresh bread, cheeses and ready made egg rolls were featured at a family picnic. The kids were excited to browse through Halloween costumes for the first wave of selection (we prolong the process due to many, many mind changes in the past). Maddie has not wavered but CJ had it narrowed down to his top 3. Stay tuned!

Kenosha Beach

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WE FOUND SAND!!! We have previously lamented the absence of nice white sand beaches this side of the lake that don't carry a $1000/yr price tag for a pass. Just 15 minutes north, just into Wisconsin, we found a gorgeous beach surrounded by the harbor city of Kenosha. Being an unplanned trip we let the kids jump in Lake Michigan in their underwear. Jen and I sat in the sand and enjoyed the view while the kids spent almost two hours playing in the sand and water.

Back to School Blast Off

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The Gurnee School District had a Back to School Blast Off party for students and parents. Quick album of snacks, the "dancefloor" and the birds-nest play area. Ending with family movie night and sleepover.

Blowing Bubbles

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Jen and I can remember the feeling of accomplishment and the hours of entertainment blowing bubbles gave us. Maddie actually got the hang of it first and shared the secret with her brother. We had to clean the mirror after some trial and error but we soon had some impressive size from both. On to Big League Chew. They still sell that don't they?

Work and Play - Chicago Indoor Racing

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OK, I assure you I am not losing touch with the "Follow the Lallo's" readers. I try not to stray from the formula of our wonderful kids having fun. So, if you will indulge me yet another time I will make it brief and get back to the usual. I have been fortunate to represent my company on a project for GE Healthcare with an incredibly culturally diverse and motivated team who's unofficial slogan is "Work Hard, Play Hard". They make switching contexts very easy and epitomize teamwork without the usual hotshots. I am really enjoying the opportunity and environment although the first few weeks were "drinking from the firehose" as it was explained to me. Anyway, one of the "play hard" portions was brunch at the Signature Room at the Hancock Building in Chicago followed by Chicago Indoor Racing. You could call it Go-Carts but that would fail to describe how serious these things were. Phenomenal! One team member utilized his weekend racing experience(with full size cars) to completely dominate. I like to think I led my weight class. :) Pictures are courtesy of Aruna Talaptra, a wonderfully talented photographer and fellow team member. Thanks again for the invite. I am told next up is White Water Rafting or paintball.

Lambeau Field!! Packers vs. Titans

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I am not a huge fan of televised sports but I REALLY enjoy going to a game in person. Uncomfortable seats, $5 dollar beers and all. Kim and Steve offered 4 tickets to us and I was pleased to be able to combine business with pleasure. A couple clients, my boss and I made our way FAR north to Green Bay for the Packers vs. the Tennessee Titans. This was the same weekend as the Harley Davidson birthday celebration so it was difficult to obtain lodging to say the least. I think there were 4 bikes for every car on the road that day. One of my clients is from Israel and was quite unfamiliar with American Football. I did my best to relay what I picked up being a 2nd string lineman and special-teams player in high school (which meant a LOT of observation). We both missed the second touchdown because we didn't want to miss our chance to keep the beach ball in the air. Thank heaven for instant replay. I have been to quite a few football games through the years including one right on the sidelines at Spartan Stadium and a few at U of M's "Big House". I would have to list Lambeau Field as a "must see" for even a casual football fan. This place was packed full of energetic and friendly Packers fans. Even a few Jets #4 jerseys were met with mild grins. Nate and I finished the night at a family friendly Howard Johnsons featuring bar games, mini-bowling and plenty of fried food options. Thanks again to Kim and Steve for the great opportunity. Pics are from my phone, not great quality.

Maddie's Surprise

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"This moment deserves your full attention, for it will not pass your way again." -Dan Millman

Six Flag's hours have trimmed down so a super late night would only be possible on the weekends of October's Fright Fest. We didn't want another week to pass without Maddie getting her individual outing so as we were preparing for an average Sunday dinner we asked if she wanted what we were having for dinner. She is seldom excited about eating (NO idea where she gets that) so she responded with a halfhearted "yes". "How about you and Daddy get out of here, get some Burger King and hit Six Flags for the night?". After a precious jaw-drop of disbelief she let out a "whooo-hooo", which is Lallo-kidspeak for yes. CJ first grunted in opposition but quickly remembered it was her turn so joined in excitement for her evening plans. We would be returning after everyone was asleep so we said goodbye and moved quickly to fit in dinner and as many rides as possible. She shares Mommy's love for the repetitive, circular type rides that turn Daddy's stomach but I was so happy to bring out those dimples and throaty, boisterous laugh that I barely noticed. We fit in the Double-Decker Carousel, the Hometown Fun Machine, The Whizzer, The Jetsons, the Jester's Wild Ride and the Big Easy Balloon ride. She rode on my shoulders as we ran from ride to ride and her squeals of delight provided a siren to part the crowds. We went home to a pregnant Mommy (who could use an outing like this herself but avoids thrill-rides for obvious reasons) and Maddie recounted the outing minute by minute. An ice-cream treat punctuated the evening and our happy big girl went instantly to sleep.

Skidouts and more school

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School marches on. CJ and Maddie are getting the hang of their weekly schedule. The kids are fine of course but Jen is trying to keep her reactions in check. Being a full-time Mom means a lot bigger goodbye when the kids get to school age. It hasn't been much difference for me except my days working from home are a little quieter. Our weekends are declared sacred for family time and resetting for the week. A lot to get used to.

If you will recall in previous posts, CJ has only been riding a two wheeler for a few months now but has moved on to stunts. He loves to "off-road" down the hill and into the grass. He can pedal while standing to give himself some extra "umph". He can even maneuver a small ramp or obstacle course. Hours of entertainment have been provided by perfecting his skidout as evidenced by literally hundreds of 3-6 foot black J's in the driveway. Check out this quick video of our stuntman. Next up, Wheelie? We may have to run that by Mom.

Labor Day Weekend

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We had a 3 day holiday weekend to fill and could think of nothing more gratifying than a good old relaxing family weekend. Art, baking, games, bike riding, etc. We took a trip to Maddie's preschool playground to get her used to it and heard some screeching and crashing. We walked across the park to see a crash-up derby across the street at a body shop. We weren't sure how "official" it was but everyone was wearing a helmet and someone was starting a repave job on the other side of the lot. We maintained a safe distance and proceeded to watch about 18 "car accidents" in a row. When only one car was left moving, a winner was declared. Gotta love free entertainment, eh? We finished the evening with the The Chronicles of Narnia and a sleepover. Wonderful weekend.

Maddie's Meet the Teacher and 1st Day

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precocious:
Part of Speech: adj
Definition: pertaining to uncharacteristically early development, esp. in maturity
Synonyms: advanced, bright, fresh, gifted, intelligent, premature, sassy, smart

Yup, all of the above. Our oldest girl could not be more ready for school. She is actually a bit disappointed that she doesn't get to go every day all day like her big brother. She literally hit the ground running to the door and couldn't wait to get started. CJ is generally pretty tight-lipped when it comes to recounting his day but Maddie would fill 3 hours to describe two hours of school each day if you let her. She is bright-eyed and confident, fun-loving and sweet. In light of the above definition, perhaps just a tad "sassy". Hopefully that will cut down on the worry in a few years (fingers crossed). If she is anything like her Mommy, she'll be able to fend for herself. :-)

New Schedule

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The "silver lining" in CJ being gone all day is the opportunity to embrace individual time and relationships within the house. The girls get a lot of time to play, sing and bake. They have a ton of fun together. Cassie asks Jen at least a dozen times during the day "Where's CJ?" When he rejoins them for the afternoon, Cassie shows him just how much she misses him with a MASSIVE hug. Maddie's preschool schedule take her out of the house for two hours on Tuesday and Thursday (busy days for Jen) and she and Cassie have really delighted in their one on one time.

Kim, Steve, Stosh and Ellie

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Even though we moved to Gurnee in December of last year, we had yet to see Steve and Kim's house. Stosh and Ellie are adorable and fun and happen to match up fantastically to the Lallo brood. Ellie is so sweet to Maddie and Cassie by entertaining and sharing with them. Stosh and CJ love to be boys together (which CJ needs more of) and Stosh also shares some pretty impressive toys (that iCoaster is AWESOME!!). Steve and Kim are just spectacular people we are proud to call family and friends. They share a lot of our philosophy and priority when it comes to their family so they are wonderful to be around just talking and having a chill evening. Steve offered me the reigns of his tractor for a kid tour of the neighborhood while Jen and Kim hung back. Fun in the pool and a phenomenal spread that they just "whipped together". We're next guys...the bar has been set high.

Shedd Aquarium

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Gurnee is supposed to be "just 45 minutes north of Chicago" according to the Six Flags ads. However, our visits this summer ranged from an hour to almost 2 and a half hours due to the construction traffic. We decided to brave that possibility on the last free weekend before school was in full swing for most of the state. Aunt Mandi had generously offered us some All-Access passes to Shedd Aquarium and we were extremely grateful and excited to have a reason to head into town. We never "go till we drop" on any family adventure so we always leave an undiscovered section of destinations to further explore on our next visit. We failed to anticipate how many people would have the same idea for filling said weekend. We watched the dolphin show from below which was really cool to see. We leisurely hit a couple favorites and called it a day. Shedd is planning a huge remodel so it may be a while before we return. Many thanks to Aunt Mandi for thinking of us.

Maddie Dentist and the Girls

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Several months ago, during our visit to Disneyworld, Maddie fell and chipped a tooth. We were advised to keep and eye on it for activity or discoloration but otherwise just wait it out a few years until she lost the tooth. We noticed a blister on her upper gum and had it looked at. We went to a Pediatric Dentist in Lake Forest that was highly recommended and not only did he fix her infection, he free-handed the missing portion of her tooth. The staff does a wonderful job with kids, allowing them to get used to the environment and pick out a movie or video game to play on a big flat screen after picking the ketchup, mustard or pickle chair. Maddie is so mature for a 3 year old that we sometimes forget she isn't CJ's twin. She drew compliments from Dr. Joe and staff for being a fantastic patient. After the gas wore off, without provocation, she explored the now familiar jagged edge of her front tooth that was obviously more bothersome than she let on and exclaimed "He fixed my tooth!!" Happy girl makes for happy Mom and Dad.

CJ in Kindergarten

q9 CJ Kindergarten

and

q11 Kindergarten Week 1

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(The first album is finding out who his teacher was and the second album is Week one.)

Big milestones always bring the realization of how fast life moves with these kids and how happy we are to be blessed with them. First laugh, first word, first step...they just keep coming faster than you can do each one the justice of documenting and appreciating. We now find ourselves with a kindergartner. Half day kindergarten is not offered here so Jen and the girls have had a pretty tough time adjusting to his absence. Week one is in the books as of this writing and he comes back noticeably older and more independent with each day. We are dazzled by his excitement for learning and bewildered by his ease in transition to new experiences. Echoing the message of "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" that we read to our little cubs on the eve of his first day. KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

Bumpa and BB visit

q6 Bumpa and BB Arrival

It was the morning after our Cousin sleepover. Bumpa and BB arrived in Gurnee early Sunday morning and our exuberant kids met them at the door. We were dumbfounded that Bumpa was minus more than the cumulative weight of all three kids. They both looked FANTASTIC!! I think I had better pay a little attention to my own diet before they start bringing me old pants. We are all so proud of him and BB for this accomplishment. We acknowledged the poor timing for Mom's significant weight loss as compared to Dad's ratio. What an absolute life change. Way to go you two!!

q7 Independence Grove and Bills

One huge but welcome adjustment was the approach to food. Yummy snacks, appetizers and food generally took the forefront when we were with my side but Mom and Dad split everything they ate and most times had leftovers. Still, we took them to a few of our favorite places which included good eats. We started at the Avalon which boasts and impressive Greek-based menu, super kid-friendly staff and unbelievably fast service for such a made to order menu. We went back to the house for some fun, rest and conversation before heading our for the evening. We were so excited to share Independence Grove with another set of visitors. It is such an impressive place and the weather made for a beautiful walk for us and ride for the big two. We finished the evening with another excursion to our new favorite pizza place, Bill's. I had to work the next day so it was goodbye for me but the kids and Jen would get to see them in the morning. I was reminded again of Dad's triumph when I was able to fit my arms around him hugging goodbye.

q8 Bye to Bumpa and BB

The next morning Bumpa and BB stopped in for some parting giggles with the grand kids. They went to the park where Bumpa and BB joined them on the swings. We all had a great time and are looking forward to the next adventure together. We love to have visitors as our upcoming arrival of Elena Lauren will likely keep us a bit homebound for a while. Thanks again to Bumpa and BB for a lovely visit.

COUSIN NIGHT!!!!!

The days are getting shorter, Kindergarten and preschool are on the horizon, we are enforcing a regular bedtime to get in the groove and picking out school clothes and supplies. In short, Summer is almost over. We asked the kids if there was anything fun they had not had a chance to do this summer. "SLEEPOVER!!" was the emphatic answer. We let them take control of the invitations, activities, guest list and gift bags. The result was a 7 kid sugar-fest and sleepover (A.K.A. Sugar-Crash). The somewhat short notice left us minus a few cousins due to previous plans but given its resounding success we certainly plan to do it again. The youngsters began to arrive around 3 on Saturday with toys, treats and sleeping bags. We started with the sprinkler and some T-Ball.

q2 Cousins Arrival and T-Ball

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We then distributed canisters of Silly String for the next phase. In the hands of our partiers the nozzle was like a video game gas pedal inasmuch that they pressed it down and didn't let go until game over. The largest ball of silly-string after clean up garnered the reward of 1st Water-Balloon pick in the next game. Mabel took the prize and an especially large water-balloon. It started as a simple toss back and forth between partners but when the first balloon popped it was every one for themselves.

q3 Silly String and Water Balloons

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We moved onto treats and cupcake making to induce a few sugar buzzes. Quite a creative group we had here. Cookies, cupcakes, Puppy Chow and "decorations" that failed to make it to their intended cupcake served as appetizers for the Hot Dogs on the grill, baked beans and chips. Each family left with their cupcake creations to bring home and share with Mom and Dad the next morning.

q4 Treats and Cupcake Making

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"Summer, summer, summer, summer...."

For anyone not "in the know" this is the first scene in High School Musical 2, a new favorite in the Lallo house. After some outside antics with glow sticks and fireflies the crew came inside and used the aforementioned chant as their request for evening entertainment. Great group participation in the musical numbers and dances. This movie is geared toward a younger crowd than is implied by the title and is surprisingly entertaining even for the adults. Anything is better than Barney but even Jen and I find ourselves singing from these soundtracks. A few especially fidgety and giggly little girls fought sleep a bit longer than the rest of the crew but eventually all were peacefully sleeping. A heartfelt thank you to Chris, Mabel, Ellie, Stosh and all of their parents for their part in a wonderfully memorable "End of Summer" sleepover.

q5 Fun at Night and Sleepover

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Hangin' with the Scroggins

p10 Hanging with the Scroggins

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"Cousins Night" was approaching, but not fast enough for our 3 participants. They were more than excited to have Chris and Mabel hanging out for a few hours. Some fun dress up and adorable cuddling and naps.

Trip back and Bill's Pub

p9 Trip back and Bills Pub

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The Lallo tribe headed home somewhat early to give ourselves as much Sunday together as possible before we were back on our weekly routine. One of the couples we were fortunate enough to spend some time with at the wedding was Jen's friend Jen Daly and her boyfriend Eric. Eric had grown up near our new home and recommended a pizza place not far from us. We have tried a few recommendations and been pleased with all of them taste-wise but this place was FANTASTIC!! Great pizza, family friendly and a bunch of entertainment for the kids. I defy anyone to not have fun at a place that lets you throw peanuts shells on the floor. Not that the simple act of littering is fun in and of itself but it lends to an attitude of calm that makes a dinner out more than just a meal. We were still on our way home and our two dogs had to hang out in the car (it was a cool night and we left the windows down, no worries) while we ate. When we exited Bill's Pub, we saw that the rear slider on the van had failed to close and had been left wide open on a pretty busy street. The possible scenarios piled on with every step toward the van but found our faithful pups greeting us from their seats with just as much confusion over their apparent freedom as we had fear of it. Such good behavior earned them the majority of our leftover pizza and a new policy to verify that door actually CLOSES next time.

John and Amber's wedding

One of my last single friends tied the knot last weekend. He and his bride brought together a ton of fun people from across the country for a spectacular event. Friday started with a round of golf at Moss Ridge where I was lucky enough to share a cart with my buddy Brian. He has been in LA for a few years now and is working on "Heroes", one of my favorite shows. It was great to catch up and make each other laugh a bit. I miss that dude. That evening brought us to the church to rehearse the next day's affair.

p4 John and Amber Rehearsal

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Following the rehearsal, we traveled to the McLaughlin residence for an exuberant shindig. We were joined by some sensational friends and the couple of honor gave personalized gifts to the wedding party. Amber explained that John had put a ton of time and thought into his gifts of custom made beer mugs relating personally to each recipient. Mine was a picture of an epic night in Chicago when John lived on Armitage and several of us joined in an enthusiastic lip sync of Fred Bear. It also made reference to the nick name "Hic-Hop" that John had given me years earlier when I was a fan of both country and rap music (eh, still am, aren't I mysterious?). We had a really fun table and Jen caught a few pictures of laughter brought on by Brians tendency to say REALLY loud what most people are thinking, a British pronunciation of "ad-VER-tisment" and (I am told) my gay laugh. Hey, it seemed funny then.

p5 John and Amber Dinner

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Of course, a beautiful ceremony. It went off without a hitch and produced Mr. and Mrs. John McLaughlin, man and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Lallo looked pretty dern good too I must say.

p6 John and Amber Ceremony

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The festivities culminated with an opportunity to celebrate the new couple and the beginning of their adventure together. Brian had a slam dunk of a Best Man toast (while minding his bookmark - wink, wink Brain) and we were once again blessed with a spectacular table to party with. The reception eventually gave way to dancing and we felt this milestone was worthy of the famed (or infamous) Kid and Play kick step. John's wedding-ready state of health seemed to survive the tomfoolery a tad better than mine. I have concluded that I need to stop dancing at weddings or get in a shape other than pear-shaped unless I plan to mar someones special day with a dancefloor collapse.

Congratulations Jamber (check out the pics to get that reference) and thank you for including me in your special day! We hope you are having a wonderful honeymoon.

p7 John and Amber Reception

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Swimming and Baking

p3 Swimming and Baking

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We had a wedding weekend in Muskegon for my friend John and his now wife Amber and were going to be away from the kids for the majority of the time. Jens sets the bar pretty high for frequency of activity and inclusion in the kids everyday life so Bumpa and Aime had plenty of stuff planned for all. The little crazies took a lot of pride in helping with the desert, enjoyed swimming and lounging around the pool and Bumpa introduced CJ to his first bike jump.

Punks are Insane!!

p2 Punks are Insane

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Having kids so close together sometimes results in overlap of toy/space/time desires, tiny tiffs and a TON of noise. It also makes way for teamwork, imagination and some of the funniest moments of our life within the simplest of activities. I hope they, along with Jen and I, will always be each others favorite toys.

Aime visit

p1Aime visit

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Bumpa had some fun barbershop events planned so Aime was free to choose her entertainment for the weekend and to our delight she chose us!! She hopped on the Muskegon to Milwaukee Lake Express Ferry and drove about 30 minutes south to join us for the weekend. She is certainly no stranger to spoiling. She joined Jen and the kids for a Friday Kids Concert at Viking Park, bought treats, taught them SlapJack, and played at the park. Saturday was another visit to Independence Grove where we rented Surrey bikes for all of us and rode a magnificent 3-4 miles around the lake and grounds. Jen and her Mom topped off the evening for a much needed and way too infrequent break for Jen from Mommy duty. They drove into Chicago for a nice dinner at Bistro 110 and saw Wicked which will be leaving Chicago in January. Thanks for an extraordinary weekend Mom/Aime!!