You may have heard about the storm which arrived last Friday crippling the nation’s airports. We had been waiting for just such a storm all year long...

When Simon woke up to the snow he was beyond thrilled. Matthew took him over to the park across the street and they made snow balls. Simon LOVED the snow. He loved it so much that it is a little sad to take him away from winter. We'll get over that, of course, when it is 55 degrees outside and we complain that it is cold.

Saturday and Sunday we had to be out of the house for showings. Saturday we spent our time at the Shedd Aquarium. Simon is still disturbed by the idea of all that water and nowhere to swim but he sat still for the dolphin show and even seemed to enjoy it.

When Simon saw blue Jell-O in the Shedd Cafeteria he DEMANDED that he have it. After he finished his lunch, we relented.

Simon picked up one piece and immediately put it down on the table. He pushed it and it wiggled. He pushed it and it jiggled. He laughed and laughed. And when he calmed down, he put it in his mouth and deemed it unworthy of human consumption.

Saturday evening we wanted to go out but Simon insisted it was "too dark" so we stayed home and played with Legos. These days it is completely dark by 4:30 PM.

Sunday we spent quality time at the Museum of Science and Industry.

When Simon came home, he hung string and wires from the free standing lamp. He put various balls around the base and he found a star shaped key-chain and placed it at the highest point. When asked what he was doing he said "making Christmas trees!"

We have, up until this week, managed to mostly avoid the issue of Christmas. Apparently, we no longer have that luxury.