Legoland

We stopped in the Lego store along Michigan Ave while in Chicago. It was a mini Legoland, but they had some pretty cool Lego structures.



Here, Malcolm ran away from R2-D2.




And then he tried to grab Darth Vader's light-saber. He should have just used the force.






He liked the dinosaur because now Malcolm "roars."





Then Malcolm sat with this elderly lady and they got to chatting. (Wonder what he's telling her?)

Takin' in the Windy City

Auntie Laura and Uncle Mike were in Chicago for a few days so Nonna, Papa, Malcolm and I drove down for a day to hang out with them. Our day around town was a bit chilly and overcast, but we didn't have any rain and, of course, it was windy.






Malcolm had plenty to keep him visually busy in the big city. He pointed out flowers when he saw them. There were lots of tulips. He saw tall buildings fade into the gray and foggy sky.



He saw pigeons so close to him that if we'd let him, he could have touched them. (Yuck, no.) He found the noisy trains interesting as they roared on the tracks above our heads. And there was no shortage of people watching. Here he thinks he's a big deal walking through the lobby of the Palmer House.





And with all of that going on around him, he needed to refuel (like at this diner in his first booster seat)...






...and then needed to take a nap (which he started by get cozy and dozing off on Mike's shoulder) to make it through the day.








Once Malcolm was awake, the group headed to Millennium Park and The Bean!












Malcolm liked The Bean...

...and his reflection...

...and kids.

Then we hit the shops to get Laura some new shirts. ("Hi," Poppy!)

Laura and Mike helped Malcolm get ready for bed. Malcolm was pretty tuckered out by the end of the day and slept all the way home. (As did Papa. I had to down a cup of coffee to make the drive.)

Chicago, we'll be back!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Malcolm offers to help Daddy plant his birthday lilies.


Malcolm likes the garden and the garden tools. Malcolm also likes to chew on mulch and eat dirt. His word for flower is "lala."



Some of these things are more helpful than others when trying to work in the garden.

Malcolm minute 13

Just Malcolm being Malcolm.

Happy Easter

Malcolm celebrated his first Easter on his feet. So he used them for an Easter egg hunt.

But first he needed his basket and the rules.







He caught on quickly. The hunt is on!



He found them all (and probably hid a few).


Malcolm also received a basket full of goodies in his clothes nest (the clothes nest is a Schlomer tradition).






And his goodies needed to be taste tested by Mom and Dad (a Grunze tradition).



Along with the tasty treats (I know, I tried them), Malcolm got a bottle of bubbles and a cool ball.


Malcolm loved the bubbles, but it was pretty windy so they moved fast.


Malcolm also loved the ball (which he was always poised to throw, but never really did)




AND he seemed to like this rock just as much.

Out and about

Malcolm's been getting out and around town. Here's what he's been up to lately:



At the zoo with the cousins, Evelyn, Claudia, and Roy. And Tigers.





Dressing like Daddy with their black shirts and blue jeans. Lookin' good!








At Monty's for breakfast with friends, Goldie (almost 6 mo), Jodi, and Yogesh. Guess Malcolm needs more salt.







Catching a slide and a swing at the park.


And, of course, just looking cute.

Poppy on the beach

This isn't new news, but still exciting news - Laura and Mike are expecting in August! (A baby, yes. Expecting a baby.)



So when Laura was with us in Florida, we got our first glimpse of "Poppy." Here Laura and Poppy are hangin' at the beach.




Back home, Mike gave this bunny a trial run at getting dressed in the attempts to prepare for their new arrival. Not bad. Though it was reported that Mike pulled the bunny's ears through the shirt to get it on.


(Hope they know that they won't be able to prop their child on the back of the couch for pictures.)


Malcolm's looking forward to his new cousin!

Take me out to the ballgame

While we were in Florida, Malcolm and the family went to his first baseball game in Sarasota for Spring Training to see the Rays and Orioles. (It was a bit of a blow out.)











We're not sure he ever really "watched" the game. Instead, he seemed more interested in watching people. But he got into the spirit and participated by eating (on O's) while we ate peanuts. He left his little pile of uneaten O's on the ground right next to our peanut shells.




He just seemed most happy exercising his new skill in walking.

Spring Break 2010

So off to Florida we went for Spring Break 2010 - our first family vacation.

We stayed in Northport, FL at my parents' friends' vacation place. (You know you're in a warmer place when two of the outside walls of the house open up completely to the backyard.) It was great to get some fresh air, warm sun, see the ocean, and even catch a nap.

Some days were sunny. Some days were chilly. And one day it rained. But we managed to have fun with everyday.


We strolled along the coast in one of the small towns and stopped to play in the park.












Malcolm was able to get out and about to practice his walking around. He also swam with Mom, Nonna, and Auntie Laura in a pool, which he didn't seem too thrilled about doing.













But he did love the beach. It was too cold to enjoy the water, but Malcolm didn't care because it was the sand he loved. We think that he must have thought that it was cool that he could move the ground with his hands.

And when we couldn't be out and about, Malcolm found plenty to do indoors like



play with Laura,










nap with Papa,









snack.





We had a wonderful time and look forward to the next trip.