Xmas 2011

The Browns have had a very exciting weekend! Yesterday, we went to see Santa Claus on the CTA Holiday Train. We rode the train into the city and had lunch at Nookies (also known as Milkies and Snookies). Ben and Leify both loved being on the train! Mom and Dad loved having brunch in Lakeview!

Upon returning home, Mom, Ben and Leif rushed directly to a friend's birthday party, where Ben got to eat pizza and cake and ride around the gym on a scooter train!

The best part of the weekend, though, was of course Santa's early visit. Thanks so much, Santa, for agreeing to visit Ben and Leify's house a week early. They just loved the toys you brought! Especially the Handy Manny build and destroy crane and city hall.

Check out photos of our adventures here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/alevybrown/2011_SantaTrainEarlyXmas?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCNL5uue33--M0gE&feat=directlink

Love,
Mom

Check out some videos from this morning below (more to be added as we upload them):

God's House

Yesterday, Ben and I were playing at our neighbor's house and she had a Noah's Ark toy.  After ascertaining that Noah's Ark carries animals, not pirates, Ben really wanted to hear the story.  I told my version.  During lunch, we found another version on the iPad and read it together.  Ben continually asked, "What did God say?"

When we finished reading, Rosie had arrived to babysit.  Ben wanted to read Noah's Ark again, but I had to take the iPad with me.  Ben's solution: "Rosie should buy her OWN iPad so we can read Noah's Ark." 

This morning, he was again asking about what God says, and what we say to God.  When I dropped him off at pre-school (in a church), he wanted to know if it was God's house.  We talked about churches, synagogues and mosques all being God's house.  Thanks Ben for the great opening to talk about different religions, gratitude, and prayer.

He is also really into the "worker candle" in our Hanukkah book.

So much fun to be discussing big questions with Ben as we launch into an interfaith season of holiday celebrations. 

Love,
Mama