Last day at Computer Preschool

Today was Hannah's last day at the Computer Preschool Academy. You're probably wondering why is it her last day? For those with children, you will probably understand how difficult it is to find quality childcare. Even then you often wonder if you have selected the best place for your child. We like her teachers very much and they do an excellent job with Hannah. They all love her so much and have taken very quickly to her in such a short time. But we struggled with whether the Computer Academy was the best environment for Hannah. Anyway, we are fortunate to find another center very close by so we can continue to walk her to school. She will be starting at the Hyde Park Development Center on Monday. This preschool is closer to the kind of place we wish to send Hannah while we are working/going to school. We hope we have made the best choice for Hannah and our family.

For her last day, her teacher Ms. Sherry, brought cupcakes and ice cream. Ms Sherry even gave Hannah a doll (Pretty Petunia but we are calling her Patty) and Hannah's favorite, a DUCKIE! Her classmates even made her a poster with all their handprints to remember her time with them at the Computer Academy. After all this, Tim and I felt a little guilt for taking her away from this place.

Snow melting

The snow is finally melting away and the temperature slowly rising (well at least to the 30s). We are looking forward to the spring weather when we're not so gloomy inside the apartment all the time and we can get out to enjoy all the parks in the neighborhood. To get started, Tim and Hannah have been having dates at the park after school. She likes running around and sliding down the slide.
Tim has to help her to the top of the slide, quickly position himself at the bottom of the slide and get ready to catch her as she zooms down all the while trying to get a picture so I can see it. Here are a few pictures from their park dates this past week.

iPod, Peapod...

Everyone knows what an iPod is, even Hannah who is borrowing Mommy's shuffle in the picture. But what is Peapod?! It's the ONLY way to shop for groceries when it is waaay too cold outside! I love Peapod! All you have to do is click on the items you want to buy. They have everything that a grocery would have, all the brands you like. Click, click.. pick a time for the Peapod man to deliver and voila! Your groceries are delivered to your kitchen! You don't have to worry if you will be able to carry all your groceries in one trip or how you are going to get 3-6packs of cokes and laundry detergent in one trip!

BLIZZARD!!!

We experienced out first blizzard in Chicago! It was so snowy and windy that Hannah couldn't even walk to school! Here's a few pictures I took b/c I haven't seen this much snow in my years living in Tennessee.





So what does Hannah do when there's a blizzard outside? Eat cake and ice cream!!!

We finally left the apartment!!!

Daddy getting Hannah ready for the cold! New snow pants!
Waiting for the bus...I hope she is warm!
Meet Georgie.
Playing in the waterfall.
Bus driver Hannah. Get on the bus!
What did Hannah buy?

It is still very cold outside but we decided that we needed to get out of our apartment this weekend. So we donned our coats and snow pants and boarded the bus to Navy Pier. Hannah adopted a monkey at Build a Bear. We named it "George" but we have decided to call it Georgie. (Hannah is into Curious George right now.) We had lunch at Charlie's Ale House and then went to Chicago Children's Museum. Hannah enjoyed playing in the water at the Waterways exhibit, then we stolled through the Big Backyard where she was a bee buzzing around Chicago. Next stop was Kids Town where Hannah drove a CTA bus and went shopping at Jewel-Osco. She even made out a grocery list! She was totally pooped and fell asleep on the way home. It was a fun filled day for the Jansens! To see all our pictures from today, click here. Watch the video below.

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Bears or Colts?

Like most of you, we also watched the Super Bowl. Heck, it too cold to do anything else but stay inside. Anyway, even though Chicago is now our home and I suppose we should root for the hometown team but we were cheering for Peyton and the Colts! (Tim didn't want to hear about the Da Bears for the next 6 months if they won!)

GO COLTS!!!

Brr! It's COLD!!!

So how cold is it? As I am posting this, the current temp outside is -4 degrees Fahrenheit!!! Yes, MINUS 4! Needless to say Hannah has been inside where it is nice and toasty since coming home from school on Friday. Here's a few pictures from our indoor activities.

Let it snow, let it snow. I think Memphis and Nashville got more than we did!
Practicing the piano.
Baking cookies with daddy. Yum-O!!!

More cookies!

Being silly with the rice steamer!