Spring Break

So, it's been a while since a post from The Kelly's. This is mainly because it's been cold...very cold, and it's still not warm and it's April 3. Anyway, not too much goes on at the Kelly's when it's cold...we hibernate.

The kids had spring break last week though, so we got out a little and had some non-Spring fun. On Monday we checked out the Dave & Buster's in Orland and played some skee ball, air hockey, and other fun games for a couple of hours. Pat was able to come with us since he was working nights. The kids had fun.

On Tuesday, I took the kids ice skating at Rocket Ice in Bolingbrook. This was our second time there this year, so we knew better what to expect :) Only, this time we got there and had the place to ourselves for a while as opposed to the crowded place we experienced last time! It was great! Turns out everybody doesn't have the same spring break around here after all-whoo hoo!

After the ordeal of getting all our skates the right sizes and laced up with the giant laces we were off and ready! Ryan gets the skater with the most progress since last time. He was skating around without the little metal helper thingy and wasn't ready to go after we'd been there for 3 hours! Hannah and Josh did great too. We only missed Daddy (our best skater).

On Wednesday, Hannah had a Brownies outing to see Mr. Peabody & Sherman, so many of the moms came too and brought the siblings. We made sure not to sit by Hannah so she could have her space with her girls-lol! Everybody liked the movie as it was really cute.

That was the extent of our "out of the house" fun. Other than that, we just relaxed enjoying not having a daily routine for Thursday and Friday. We watched a lot of the kids' new favorite show on Netflix, H2O, a Mermaid Tale (or something like that), and I made two cakes for clients. We did go to Billy Boy's and had to devour some ribs on Friday night, and one of the weekend days was actually nice enough weather for the kids to go out back and play with their friends and ride their bikes, so that was an added bonus. 

H's Recorder Concert

If you've ever wondered what 40-some 3rd graders sound like playing their recorders together, well, wonder no more! I have captured this event for you on video, so you too can enjoy it. All kidding aside, they did very well! I guess recorders in a group have more appeal than a solo does...practicing...all.the.time...anyway-here you go!

H and Em

Let's Get Biking!

Yesterday we all went biking, piling all of our bikes (sans training wheels for the first time!) into the back of the van (they fit!!). First we tried a trail that we pass by all the time, the Spring Creek Greenway off of Bell Rd. It was such a beautiful day and so nice out. That trail was the little gravel, and it wasn't very flat. We worked those little legs out! Joshy was the only one who had a little whining to do, but he made it. Our new favorite trail was the one we found next in Mokena on LaPorte Rd, the Hickory Creek Preserve. It was all wooded and the trail was paved which was a big bonus. There was flat and hilly, so it was a good mix for our new riders. The highlight was when the kids spotted a deer, and she galloped across the path and into the woods in front of us. It was a great family day!! (Ryan wants to do it every Saturday and Sunday now) ;)

Block Party 2013!!

Our 3rd annual block party was a great success once again! Each year it gets better and better, I think. We had the jumpy house again, games and water attractions for the kids, and lots of food. We met a few new neighbors and hung out with all our favorite "usuals." Josh and Hannah helped make mini s'mores cups to take, and I made Aunt Judy's taco dip with Doritos too-yum!



First thing, the fire department came (relax, we invited them!) and gave all the kids fire hats and tours of the firetruck and ambulance. Ryan and Josh both got to work the lights and sirens on the ambulance too.

                                                                   Hannah and Sophia

The gang minus Addy and the Kolliniatus two

Leo "driving" the firetruck

the only time we hope Ryan is ever on a stretcher!

Drivin' the ambulance

Playing in the hydrant

Playing on the slide (that's the top of Ryan's head on the slide part)

Sophie

Dylan and Joshy

We had tons of great food that everybody brought:  ribs, chicken, brats, 'dogs, burgers, grilled nachos, chips, and treats. Later we had a big fire, S'mores, and a movie outside for the kids. I wish I'd gotten pics of that stuff! Anyway, we'll probably have another outdoor movie night before the summer is over and I'll get some photos then. Good times!

Storywalk at Sendra Park

On Wednesday, we went to check out the ribbon cutting of a new feature at nearby Sendra Park (first time there too) called a Storywalk. It was a partnership between the Homer Foundation and the Homer Library. I just found out about it earlier in the week since we happened to be visiting our newly remodeled library. Anyway, it's a book that is placed on signs periodically along a trail in the park and the point is to read each page and then do the fitness related activity that it states at the end of the storybook page. I wish I'd taken pictures of all the funny things they did between the signs, like walk like a zombie, do karate moves to the next sign, etc. It was cute, and they said they'll change the book quarterly too. Hannah and Ryan got to unveil the first storybook page...

It was funny because we had just gotten dressed quickly to get out to the park, and here they get in the paper with messy hair and play clothes...oh well! :) They got to get a temporary tattoo at the Bookmobile, play in the jumpy, make a craft, get a free water bottle, and more.

Here are a couple more pics I took...

the kids with the library lady

Zoo with the Mihalik's

On Tuesday, we went to Brookfield Zoo with our friends and neighbors, the Mihalik's. It was an overcast cooler day, but just right for a visit to the zoo with the kiddos. We got to see the cutest sloth bear cubs...




It was the first time we'd gotten to see any bear cubs at the zoo, and they were so cute and playful together...



The cool weather seemed to have all the animals up and walking around, like the tiger...





Beautiful Zenda the lioness...



Here's Hannah loving on Adeline...



And the boys posin' for a shot...



Then we paused for a picnic lunch in our favorite spot...



We checked out the woods, and the kids tried to "build a fire..."



Next they were off to "the workshop" to make dinosaur habitats with mud and other natural elements...











Addy played with a cute giraffe while the big kids played in the mud.



Then the turtles came out to play...





Can't leave the Play Zoo without a stop at the Animal Hospital...



What a fun day at the zoo it was! Seems each time we go, it's a different experience all together.