Rock candy rocks!

After a week of forming (or fermenting, maybe...ha!) our rock candy was complete. The kids had fun finally breaking into their rock candy creations. Dad and I had a great time...cleaning up!

HubbaBubba!

DAD-THE BEST BUBBLEGUM BLOWER EVER!!!

Tate is carefully measuring out his bubblegum ingredients for Dad.

Data collection

Tate is very serious about his data collection for his bubblegum science experiment. Our awesome neighbor, Marcine, participated in blowing bubbles for science sake. Tate was very polite after he was done, offering to clean up her "used gum wads" off her table.

Tate working hard for his team as a member of the "Wolfpack".

Tate the Great

Tate is a menace on the court! Look out- here comes Number Seven!

Marissa-n-Dad

Red Dinner

We had our annual Red Dinner with jello and heart shaped pizza and tomato salad and Kool-Aid. We played HEART bingo, made "I love you because" boxes and opened our stockings. It was lots of fun!

Bumblebee

Garett is a huge Bumblebee Transformer fan. What is better than Bumbleebee made from auto parts? Garett was in his glory!

A Button huddle before walking into the Auto Show. There were just a few rules to go over.

Dad- feeling a little exhausted.
Tate- feeling a little happy.

Tate running after geese next to Soldier Field.

Marissa and Dad at the Planetarium.

Bubblegum

Tate's bubblegum experiment is to see if all bubblegum is created equal! More on this to come...

Brothers gotta hug!

Go Beavers!

Here are some pictures of Dad (asst. coach) and Garett (basketball player) during their first game. It was an action packed white knuckle game which ended in a wee bit of a loss. Not to worry, we came back the following week and tied 4-4. Go Beavers!!!

Parners in Blanket

Garett and Marissa love to be snugglebugs!

Teamwork

The boys were scooting their way across the island using muscles that none of us knew they had. They demonstrated amazing teamwork and coordination of effort.

Marissa and I walking to the island.

Posing

Garett wanted to pose for some pictures all on his own.

Cold

Ice walking

We walked to the "island" in Island Lake. No small feat for me given my fear of falling through ice. Kevin assured me that I would not go through, but if I did- he had his cell phone to call for help. Great comfort, eh?

Snowballs

A picture of Kevin and I (taken by Tate) as Garett unexpectedly pelts us with a snowball!

Pinewood Derby

Pinewood Derby. Tate took 2nd place this year after his 1st place performance last year. We were actually super happy with his great success given all the drama that unfolded this year in creating it. His theme was UK basketball. Annddddd....Tate advanced a year in Cub Scouts. He is now a Bear.