Warm Days and Cousin Time

These past couple weeks have been unusually warm for us here in Chicago!  Ever since we moved back from New York actually the winters have been really nice- definitely not what we remember from our time here before (as seen here) And the kids and I definitely get a little stir crazy being inside all day so ANY time we can head outside in 40 degree weather (heck even a 35 with some sun warrants a walk!) we do it.  It really is the little things that can make a difference with kiddos these days :)  

And I've been pretty bad about celebrating holidays.  My mom was so good with us- she always bought those window clings and had cute little Valentine's baskets set up for us in the morning.  This year- I went out to Target the morning of Valentine's day (my mom was actually here to help me haha) to get the kids a couple little things. #momfail  I actually just started this thing called bullet journaling that I am hoping will help me to plan better!  My friend mentioned it to me the other week and ever since I've been looking into it and organizing some things I hope to do- mainly long term goals.  Anyone who knows me knows I am super detail oriented, but usually I just have a weekly mindset, not monthly.  Hence the last minute gifts lol

Speaking of gifts, we decided with my brother and his family not to get any Christmas gifts for the kids but get together instead and do something fun!  And it was such a great idea!  They drove up to Chicago and hung out with us for a couple days and we went to a place called the Tree House in Lake Zurich and then Chic fil A for dinner :)  It definitely is a blessing that we live close enough to do these short trips - we were able to see our cousins a couple times a year growing up and it was so fun!  Here's some pictures from the last couple weeks :)

Oh and I forgot to mention that Cole is SUPER into books right now!  It's so cute and fun to cuddle with him while he hands me book after book.  I'm hoping this interest keeps up until we are on a plane for 20 hours in the next couple weeks!