and now for my final TRICK

Monday, August 9, 2010

Midwest Getaway

AAAAHHHH....relaxation. We had a wonderful, wonderful visit with Ian's parents. Well, we didn't see them for very long, but the kids did! We flew in on Sunday morning ( Ev is still crazy airplane man, no sleep, and no sitting still) and by 6pm Ian and I were on the Megabus waving goodbye to Grandma, Opa, Ev, and H. Ian had a work conference in Chicago and I tagged along while our children got some quality time with their grandparents.

The kids were awesome while we were gone! The slept well, played well, ate well, and got along well. Which made our getaway even better. Ev went to a Dr. appt. with Opa and Great Grandpa while Grandma and Holden walked to the amazing downtown library and read and played all morning.

They went out for pizza, went to a county fair, played in sprinklers, and had a fab time without mom and dad.

When we got into town we headed straight to Geno's East for ridiculously delicious pizza.

Now, being form the East Coast, my kind of pizza is super thin, like it flops over when you pick up a piece, and super greasy. This was a whole different animal. You can barely call them both pizza because they are so different. However, I am now a BIG fan of Chicago style pizza. Fresh mozzarella, a pastry like scrumptious crust, and don't even get me started on the sauce.

There was a Cub's game on the TV in the bar, we enjoyed some local beer and were in complete heaven! Ian was pretty busy with work most of the time, but I was content exporing a new city on my own.

Just the highlights (other than the pizza):
1. Double decker bus tour where I got to learn about Chicago's architecture and see Little Italy, Chinatown, Greektown, Harpo Studios, the original Playboy mansion, and Wrigley Field among other local favorites.

2. Our hotel was one block off of Michigan Ave. in the middle of the Magnificent Mile.

And it is magnificent! H&M is FOUR stories!

The best shopping I have EVER seen. I spent tons of time exploring the stores.
3. We were eight blocks from the Oak Street beach on Lake Michigan and I pretended I was at the Jersey shore and laid out all afternoon with a good book (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo).

4. An entire day at the Art museum, which was heaven.

I forgot how much I miss art museums. The quiet, the peace, the beauty. When I lived back in PA I would travel down to the Philadelphia Art Museum often.

5. A fabulous and romantic dinner with my husband at a great italian restaurant.
6. SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP

We got back to Indie on Wed night and spent Thur. visiting Great Grandpa, going to the library, walking the beautiful canal that goes through downtown,

and going out for a family Mexican dinner in a a cute kid friendly place.

It was SUCH a nice getaway and totally appreciate our wonderful babysitters!

Quote of the Day
"Travel and change of pace impart new vigor to the mind."
-Seneca

P.S. We had so much fun and were so relaxed we forgot to take any pictures. These are all form google

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Brand New Basement

Our basement has been finished for a couple of months, but I just realized I didn't show it off yet. Right now, the best part is that it is FREEZING! Sweet relief. All of our playdates are here lately so we can share our refrigerated playroom.

Jeff did a fabulous job and we couldn't be happier with the results. Our big open living space is organized into "kid central"

and peaceful adult space.

At first I was trying to keep it all grown up and then I thought, what the heck. It is mostly for the kids, so let's do it!I did so much research on playrooms and basement family rooms and found tons of cute ideas.

Like the strip of clouds with the fun orange background and the curtain rods to hang the kids artwork and our roll of drawing paper.

The funky retro letters on flickr

and the vinyl rain gutter bookshelves, which were so easy and inexpensive to make and hang. The tutorial is found here

http://raisingolives.com/2009/07/raingutter-book-shelves-tutorial/comment-page-2/

Down the hall there is a closet and then full bathroom on the left. A large storage area straight ahead and a bedroom on the right.

I am sure our visitors will really enjoy the privacy and space. Hopefully it will entice more people to come visit!

I sometimes still forget we have this awesome extra space. So does Everett! The basement door was open and he did not realize it, because it used to always be closed. He was teetering with his back to the stairs chatting with Ian and just stepped backwards and fell down half a fight of stairs! UGH He survived. I actually forget what he looks like without any bruises!

Quote of the Day

"We don't stop playing because we grow old;

we grow old because we stop playing."

- George Bernard Shaw

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Girls Night Out, again!

This time Aunt Courtney and Aunt Casey decided Holden was ready for her inaugural trip to Casa Bonita. Well, it was mine too actually. I can say, I will be back with Evertt when he is a bit older. First check out the back of the menu and read carefully.

Yes, it says cliff divers and we saw some too, in this pool!

I heard there are other places like this in other parts of the country, but this was my first experience in a restaurant like this. First off, the food is HORRIBLE, like super lame. There are only 6 or 7 choices and they all looked equally of McDonalds calibur as we walked through the cafeteria line choosing our entree. But once we got inside, it was really, really, really cool. The atmosphere feels like a cheap and cheesy Las Vegas attraction, but in the best way posssible.

Meandering walkways and alcoves, cheesy shops to buy glow sticks and get your carricature drawn. Lights everywhere!

We also caught a gorilla skit up on the ledge and a girl fell into the pool. Holden has been asking about that gorilla ever since. She keeps asking where he is and seems quite relieved he is still at the restarant and there is no chance of himshowing up in her house. Little H was first chosen to hit the pinata (I think Courtney and Casey screaming helped her chances).Lucky for her too, because the second kid broke it!

It was so much fun and Holden had the time of her life. I felt seriously ill when I got home, but it was well worth it for such fine entertainment and fun company.

One bonus, they sell wine and beer!

I can't think of a quote for today...I am too tired from all the Casa Bonita excitement.

Per Bobby's Request...

The spaghetti extravaganza. Everett completely enjoys spaghetti. He ate his, half of Ian's, and all of Holden's last night.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

DONE!

I just received notification that my Master's Portfolio was accepted and deemed "graduate level!" That means I am DONE - DONE - DONE! It feels nice. I submitted the portfolio 2 weeks ago and I have been hanging in limbo waiting to hear if I needed to make revisions, but apparently I am set. I almost can't believe I am really finished. About halfway through my second class I cried when I thought about writing two papers a week for the next 1 1/2 years, but somehow it happened, I did it, and here I am with my masters degree.

I have worked hard, well, not too terribly hard, but I have worked! I have learned tons and realized how much more there is for me to learn in the field of reading and literacy of young children. I have so many plans of how I will be a better teacher when I go back to work (1 maybe 2 years?) and discovered my favorite educational journals to keep up on new research and practice. It was totally worth the effort and financial investment. I will get a job easier, be a better teacher, and make more money.

Now, what to do with myself! I have been reading like a madwoman, redoing our bedroom, researching plans to build (yes, build) Holden a kitchen and Everett a work/tool bench for Christmas, planning a vacation to Zion National Park, and planning a bridal shower for my friend Amy. I think I am covered for the next little while!

Quote of the Day

To know what we do not know is the beginning of wisdom."
-Maha Sthavira Sangharakshita

Girl's Night Out

Holden is growing up! Jessica, Amy, her daughter Allie, Holden and I all went out to dinner for girls night.

It was so cute and so much fun. We sat on the patio at House on Tennyson St. and completely enjoyed ourselves. Holden and Allie had lots of fun crunching ice.

Holden actually gobbled up her pizza (not the necklace) and proceeded on to chocolate mousse for dessert! She even shared bites with all of us.

The girls behaved really well. Until we got up to leave and they decided playing with the serving cart would be tons of fun!

It was quite a success and it is fun to have a child who can act like a human when out in public!

Quote of the Day
"Doing all the little tricky things it takes to grow up, step by step,
into an anxious and unsettling world."
- Sylvia Plath

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Happy 4th

Quote of the Day

"Freedom is the oxygen of the soul."
-Moshe Dayan

Recent Reads

Honolulu by Alan Brennert- 4 Stars
A lovely tale told by a Korean woman who came to America as a "picture bride." We learn of her challenging and oppressive childhood in Korea, her journey away from all she knew, learning the new culture in Hawaii, escaping an abusive husband, becoming an entrepreneur, finding love, becoming a mother, and living a fulfilling life. I previously read Molokai by the same author and loved it, which is why I snatched this one up as soon as I heard of it. I think I enjoyed this one even more! The writing is smooth and easy, the tales are gripping, and the experiences are harrowing which keep you wanting more of this woman's incredible story.

The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha- 2 1/2 stars
This book is a collection of vignettes celebrating the awesome things in life. The cold side of your pillow on a hot night, finding money in your coat pocket, popping bubble wrap, when cashiers open up a new line at the grocery store, and watching Price is Right when you were home sick from school. This guy also has a blog where people can submit more awesomness. It was fun to read, but not as great as I was hoping. I will probably read his blog though, because he is pretty witty and definitely made me chuckle and remember to appreciate the small things in life.

Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson- 3 stars
PAGE TURNER! I read this in 1 1/2 days. The story begins with a woman waking up in a bed, next to a man, in a house and she recognizes none of it. Over the next few minutes she learns that she has amnesia and every night when she goes to be she forgets most of her life. She begins working with a psychiatrist who convinces her to write in a journal, so she can reread it each morning and hopefully begin to build memories. The mysteries of how she ended up in this condition and her relationships with friends and loved ones kept me on the edge of my seat.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet - 4 1/2 Stars
Another winner here folks. This book was AWESOME (and a bit shorter than Cutting for Stone). This was a new perspective on World War II for me. The story follows a boy growing up in a Chinese household in Seattle during the war. He befriends a Japanese girl, which is STRICTLY forbidden by his domineering and emotionless father. He realizes he is in love with her just as her family is removed to a Japanese Internment camp for the remainder of the war. The stay in touch through letters and his enormous risks to visit her . I don't want to give away any more, but you simply HAVE to read this book. The relationships between the children and their families and even the public during these war years was an interesting perspective for me. The twists and turns kept me up till midnight and the ending was wonderful!

Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese- 5 Stars
Oh my! I LOVED LOVED LOVED it. It was long and delicious and I did not want it to end. The premise is a nun working at a clinic in Ethiopia dies while giving birth to twin boys. The story explores the people and relationships in these boys' lives through the eyes of Marion, one of the twins. He grows up in the clinic in Ethiopia with amazing adoptive parents who were friends with his parents and gives us a taste of the culture, food, and everyday life of an Ethiopian. He heads to America to pursue a medical career and his birth father. We read this for book club and had wonderful and rich discussions...I wish there was a part 2!

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton- 3 stars
This was pretty darn good. It took me about 100 pages to really get into it and the ending was a bit too quick, neat, and tidy. But not nearly as terrible as the ending of Handle with Care by Jodi Piccoult (I threw that book across the room and into a wall as I read the last word). I was hooked and couldn't stop myself once I was into it. It was a book club choice and there was more discussion than I remember in 3 years of book club. We were talking over each other and jumping into other conversations. I couldn't even keep up. This story centered around the lives of three sisters who grew up in a castle in England from World War II to the present. They had an eccentric family and extremely odd and famous author father. The mysteries weave through history and the walls of the castle, revealing themselves to the woman chosen to write a piece about the famed play written by the father. It was very good and I would highly recommend it.