What's been Happening

Three months have passed since my last post and many things have been going on. Kaleb had his 5th birthday, finished Pre-school. He enjoyed this year very much, loved his teachers and his favorite subject was learning spanish. Tyson is our adventurous one even though he is our more shy child. He has caught on to the fact that our family is working on their Spanish and now asks how to say almost everything in Spanish. If he learns a new word he will ask how do you say it in Spanish. Erich finished his first year of Law School. He got a summer job doing research for a Patent Law Professor and can do all the work online, which has helped since we have moved out of our apartment in Chicago to save money for this last month before we go over to Spain. We are staying with my Parents and the boys have been enjoying being with their Grandparents. My sister Jennie visited for 2 weeks so the house was full with Children, but the boys loved waking up and having cousins to play with. Here are just a couple random pics. Can't have a post without pics.

Kaleb and Mrs. Munoz

Kaleb and Tyson looking out our front window our last

week in Chicago.

Can you see that little fish Kaleb caught while fishing with

his cousins and Grandpa.

Viva Espana!

We are so excited to share the news that our family will

be spending the next school year in MADRID, SPAIN. Erich

will be working towards a LLM (Masters in Law) in European

and International Business Law at the University of Pontificia

Comillas. . We are thankful for this wonderful opportunity for

our family.

Philadelphia

To continue with some pics from our trip out east we visited the 5th largest city in the United States, Philly. We absolutely loved it. There were so many wonderful historic things to see and museums for us and the kids. So to start off we took the boys to the Please Touch Museum, which was exactly like it sounds, everything was hands on. There was a really cool Alice and Wonderland exhibit with the tailored bushes forming a maze and areas where the houses got smaller as you walked to the door. There was a rocket launcher exhibit that was so much fun the boys stayed there for quite a while. We were also able to visit Independence Hall where The Constitution and The Declaration of Independence were signed. It was an amazing feeling to be in that original building where many great men walked and formed the laws that govern our great country today. Then we ventured over to see the Liberty Bell with its crack and all, Benjamin Franklin's grave site. We had to try a Philly Cheese steak in Philly and I must admit I actually liked the burger Kaleb and Tyson got better. I like Philly Cheese Steaks, but I can't say the one we had was that amazing. Another Museum that we visited was the Franklin Institute that was a great mix of things for adults and children. It was a huge museum with so much to do. Inside the museum there was a full size steam engine which the boys loved, you could walk through a human heart, feel electricity pass through you, and lots of other fun exhibits. At the end of one of our days in Philadelphia I told Erich I had to run up the Rocky stairs. If any of you have seen the old Rocky movies you know what I am talking about. So we drove over the the Philadelphia Museum of Art and I got out of the car and ran up the stairs and when I got to the top I threw my hands in the air. It was great. The boys thought I was crazy and asked me when I got back in the car "Mommy why did you just run up those stairs?" I of course replied because Mommy is crazy. We had a couple fun days in Philadelphia and I would definitely recommend visiting that city if you haven't already. Here are quite a few pictures of our family enjoying our time in Philly.

Civil War Monument as you enter the Museum District.

Franklin Institute

Independence Hall. They were restoring the tower while

we were there so that is why they have the picture of the

tower over all the Scaffolding.

City Hall behind us it was a beautiful building.

That chair is the original that both George Washington

and John Hancock sat in.

Please Touch Museum

New York City!

Erich had his spring break from school this last week so our family took a trip to the East Coast and spent time in New York City and Philadelphia. It was a wonderful trip. We started the trip off by going to the Big Apple. Some of the sites we visited were Central Park, FAO Schwarz, Grand Central Station, Patsy's Pizzeria, The Empire State Building, Time Square, Rockefeller Center, and we had a picnic dinner on the steps of The New York Public Library while we watched people walk up and down 5th Ave. New York was a wonderful place, crowded with business men in there 3 piece suites, tourists, and as we walked down the streets we definitely stood out. We probably only saw 3 or 4 strollers all day and no other double strollers. Luckily at the Empire State building they were very accommodating and we actually got to go to the front of the line, but at one point walking down the street I starting laughing, because you could just see the crowds part to let our double stroller through. I told Erich it was like parting the Red Sea. People probably thought we were crazy, but the boys and I had a wonderful time in the city. Erich and I decided Chicago definitely has more families wondering around and we don't feel like we stand out so much. Chicago is the place for us, but New York City was a great place to visit. Someday Erich and I will go back and hopefully visit some of the museums and go to a Broadway Show, but all in time. Those things just don't work with a 4 and 2 year old. Here are some pictures from New York City.

Central Park.

Great Pizzeria that one of Erich's friends suggested we try.

We loved it. Of course I have to discuss the debate between

New York Pizza and Chicago Style Pizza. Erich and I both

came to the conclusion that there is no comparison since the

two pizza's are so different. Both are delicious, I would just

say it would depend if you want a meal in one slice go for

Chicago Style Deep Dish, but if you want something thin

crust go for New York. The pizzeria was great and the pizza

delicious.

So beautiful. I couldn't believe the architecture in this train

station. It really made me feel like I was back in time. This

was actually one of my favorite things we saw. So Grand and

Beautiful.

Top of the Empire State Building.

The New York Public Library.

Time Square.

The Fam!

Tyson Potty Trained!

I can't believe it my little man is potty training. Last Saturday Tyson wanted to sit on the potty so I let him and he actually went potty. We were all so excited that he wanted to try again later that day and of course I had to let him so he sat down again and Viola he went potty again, so now I think maybe he is ready to be potty trained. We take Tyson out to target to pick out new underwear and potty treats. We are all about bribing. I can't say that the first couple of days went that great and I was regretting that spontaneous decision to start potting training, but yesterday he only had one accident and today none. It is one of those things I was not expecting to do so soon, but now that we are in the middle of it I am excited that we will not have anyone in diapers in this house. Whoa. It is amazing how two children can be so different. Kaleb showed no interest and I just had to decide to start with him and he wasn't even that excited about picking out the underwear and treats, but Tyson is all about it and so excited when he keeps his pants clean and goes on the potty. If you can' t tell by this post I am excited for my little man. Go Tyson.

December Activities

We have kept busy this month with Illness and some fun activities we could get in while we were all feeling okay. Winter with children is definitely a time of runny noses, coughs, throw-up and many more unpleasant things, but thankful we have Christmas Time to look forward to and many activities that go along with that time of year. Some of the things that we were able to do over the past month are:

1. Sing along on the Washington Square with a visit to tell Santa what the boys wanted for Christmas and a horse drawn Carriage Ride.

2. Playing in the snow making snow angels and having snow ball fights.

3. Visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo all lit up for Christmas.

4. Christ-kindle Market at the Daley Plaza which included lots of delicious German food and beautiful Christmas ornaments and decorations.

5. Church Christmas Party where we were able to watch Kaleb and the other children act out the story of Jesus Birth.

6. Visit home to the Shurtleff's for an early Christmas before they ventured out to California to visit Ben's Family and meet the new grand babies.

7. Christmas Morning with Erich's Parents at our Apartment in Chicago.

8. Visited Erich's Parent's in Peoria where we went bowling, saw 2 movies, and unfortunately were sick again.

9. Celebrated Erich's 28th birthday!

10. Back in Chicago to Celebrate the New Year and had a visit from Geoff and Ashley.

11. Saw my brother Aaron and his family for a night and had fun seeing them home for the holidays. They haven't been home since they moved away after they got married.

So lots of fun times and lots of time with Family. It was a wonderful December and wonderful Christmas. I wish all of you a Happy New Year and hope that it is filled with Joy and Happiness.