The Parrillo Family

We've posted here on the family blog about model trains before, but they are usually timed to around Christmastime when we break out our 'Christmas Train' .  This year, we set up a train at Papa's house because we didn't have the space to do it ourselves.   The kids had fun running it when we went over there and this was the first year Frankie really got into the whole thing. So, it was no surprise that he gravitated towards his own train when we set up a mini train line on the table this weekend.  He played with it for a while and kept saying "choo choo"... His cousin has a MASSIVE, awesome train table set up in his basement and we played with it a few times.  Ever since, he's been talking about trains.  Until we move to our new house, this little mini setup will have to do.  Once we're in, his train line can expand! Here's a video of Frankie and his train.  If you're reading this in your email and can't see the video below, clic...

It was last May that we posted a photo of Sadie on her new 'big girl bike' that she had inherited from Eloise .  She had moved up from the balance bike to this one with training wheels.  While she *tried* as hard as she could last summer, she just wasn't getting this whole bike with training wheels thing.  Between her legs not being long enough and strong enough and the bike weighing too much, she was mostly stuck in neutral. But with this weekend's beautiful February weather, we hauled the bike out and gave it another shot.  And guess what?  She figured it out!  And rode it all by herself.  Sure, she fell a few times, but she got right back on.   You can see this same moment for Eloise - on this same bike - back in 2013 when she figured out how to ride it, too ! Here's the video to prove it!  (if you're reading this in your email and don't see the video below, click here !)

We spent some time up in Twin Lakes with Grammy and Granddad recently and while the lake was still frozen (mostly) the weather was awesome, so the girls had a lot of fun 'fishing' off the pier for ice chunks.  You can see them in the photo laying down on the little partial dock that extends over the lake.  And Lizzie - our puppy - had fun being outside after a long winter of being coop'd up. Frankie got outside to take in the sunrises each morning and loved when Nat dressed him up 'like a Jedi'.  He kept saying "I'm a Jedi" when he had his 'cloak' on him.  Too cute. This was our first time out on Lake Elizabeth since last fall when we posted this photo of Eloise on the swing . Everyone is dreaming of summer days up there on the lake and this past weekend was a really nice hint of what is to come!

It was in early January that I shared photos of the Big Beef getting his first haircut .  He handled it like a pro.  So, this second time, it was easy.  Here above are some photos of Frank settling into the barber chair and getting his hair trimmed up.  We were back last week at the local barber shop in Elmhurst for a Dad-and-Son outing.  I loved it!  I got my haircut, too! Same chair.  Same toys.  Same show on the tv.  And of course, same unlimited lollipops. He did great again!