A Day in Chicago with us.

Spaghetti is on Staycation this week. He had too much vacation days saved up at work and the way it goes, is he will lose them, so wonderful boss let him have the whole week off, counting his days off this gave us this last Monday through this coming up Tuesday off! Wee!

So after days full of vet visits (Sophie has an eye ulcer. Boo) and our 6 month dental check ups (yee.ha fun) we thought a day in the city would be fun…

 

We took the kids on the metra train, from a city about 20 minutes north of us, to Chicago. It was fun, and they had a blast posing for the camera (Hey Aerial, I think Alex is stealing your camera face!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We get up there and go on foot about 3 blocks to the ‘L’ (see this for more info on what the “L” is) I loved walking with the kids showing them the pigeons, a bird native to our busy city, not afraid of much. The kids got a big kick out of how close they could get to them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Headed down to the Jackson Street “L” train. The kids were NOT amused at all. We had to wait about 10 minutes for the next train, and it was warm down there, not as hot as the 93 degrees above ground, but not exactly air conditioned. This is their ‘unhappy where is the beach’ look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THEN we get on and they think differently of it. I told you it’d be fun-ner.

They LOVED that the ‘L’ went from underground to 2 stories above ground. Kinda crazy if you’ve never been on it. It sways, rocks, slams on brakes, speeds up, underground, above ground. Needless to say it’s an experience.

Took the “L” to Wrigleyville. An area Spaghetti and I both know well. I spend a day here each year, at the Pride Parade in June. Walking BLOCKS, with about half a million people.

And Spaghetti works here with his dad. Vending beer to Chicago Cubs fans on days when he can around his day job.

It was nice today, no game so it was quiet. Got a cute shot of the kids together in front of Wrigley Field, this is where their Grandpa Mc stand each game to sell programs.

We were hot and whiney already, so we headed over to my favorite place, Starbucks for a snack and some coffee.

After our break, we walked around to the side of Wrigley Field, they had the gates open for set up, Sir Paul McCartney is playing tonight and tomorrow.

That stand right there is where my Spaghetti stands, selling beer, pretzels, and peanuts. (tip your vendors!!)

We took the kids right across the street to the Wrigleyville #78 Fire Department so they could see the trucks and say hello to the guys.

We stopped over at the office, to pick up Spaghetti’s payroll check.

 

 

This must have exhausted the kids, because they ended up on our shoulders, yep nothing says fun like a tote bag full of food, 93 degrees in the shade, and a whiney 35 lb three year old on your shoulders!

 

We walked about 4 blocks to the bank. Weaky promptly took off his shoes, sunglasses and curled up under there. We enjoyed their comfy chairs, and full blast air conditioner for a few minutes.

BACK to the ‘L’ train. Now to Chicago Street…

 

Waited about 8 minutes for the #66 bus to take us to Navy Pier. Again whiney till they got on and saw how cool a BIG bus was.

Weird that the bus was so empty for a Friday afternoon… everyone at work?

The bus dropped us off RIGHT at Navy Pier (THE best place to go for fun if your visiting the Chi)

So we walked the park, very excited that the Ohio Street Beach was just a 1/2 block away.

Kids didn’t waste time jumping into the lake! Alex did this funny thing where he would lay on his tummy at the edge of the water, and push backwards into the surf. He LOVED Lake Michigan!

 

All those damn snacks and lunches I had been toting around with me for hours, paid off. We had sandwiches, brownies, granola bars, fruit twists, carrots with ranch dressing, and cheerio’s.

All under out beach tent. This thing was pretty easy to tote. With shoulder strap. It was so worth it though. Perfect shade and privacy for us.

 

I have to say the best part of the beach here is the mix of park and beach, RIGHT next to the skyline.

It’s just beautiful, enjoying the nature of Chicago with the BIG busy buildings and Lake Shore Drive.

 

 

 

 

 

Now I’m NOT a beach kinda person. I mean I love to go, but I SIT on the sand, I sweat my ass off, and enjoy people watching.

I did dip my feet in the water a bit. It was cool and wonderful!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best part of the day? Watching Spaghetti enjoy some time with his Weaky and Bagel. Now Spaghetti is ‘Scuba Steve’ to me. He’s scuba certified, LOVES all kinds of water. So very happy that he is, so HE can take the kids out there. And I can Momarazzi from the beach.

After HOURS of play on the beach, and enjoying our lunch. We packed up and walked over to Navy Pier to enjoy some Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. It was nummy, and we were EXHAUSTED!

We had talked about it, looked at the train schedule and decided that we could make the 5:15 pm train back home, BUT money wise and time wise we decided that taking a cab would be easier for all of us.

 

I do think we took about every means possible to travel in Chicago this day. This is the kids in the cab. They were super excited, I swear they were. Minus the deer in head lights shot I got here.

 

 

 

 

 

So after a WHOLE lot of the BIG city…

Even bigger buildings…

We made it back to the train, climbed up to the second level of the metra train. Assuming the kids would PASS. OUT.

Nope. Weaky was high strung, wiggly and just wanted to do anything but sit on a train?! OMG we were SO tired…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bagel finally passed out on my lap and so I braided her hair to pass the time,

 

While Weaky continued to assault Spaghetti’s face. Let’s just say it was NOT fun

 

 

 

Finally I got Weaky to chill out in his own little space at the end of our row right next to me.

 

Started the day by leaving at 8:40 am, and home in the drive way at 6:23 pm. A VERY long day. LOTS and LOTS of adventures. TONS of pictures.

But after a crazy few weeks of fighting between Spaghetti and I, I have to say this really made us better.

It was a combo of having to work together, with the kids, and a big city. To really work at communicating, and realize that we were not in a hurry and to enjoy the day. Enjoy the staycation with the kids.

While posting this I texted him I was going through the pictures of this day, and I missed him. He’s at Wrigley right now, getting ready for Paul McCartney’s concert tonight. Best part, he sent me a text that said “I miss you”… we never text. And this may be the first love-ish one he’s ever sent me. I saved it.

Thanks for the memories Chicago. That’s why I love you so.

Feisty.

xo

Playdatessssssss

I am the first to tell you I really don’t ‘do’ other peoples kids. I’ve never liked kids, and will sound contradictory here, but I LOVED being a kid. I loved my friends as a kid. But maybe because when I was young and tried to baby sit NO ONE would listen to me. I HATED telling other peoples kids what to do. They weren’t my people, and they could smell the fear in me.

Thus I never baby sat after that ONE time. In my 20’s some of my friends had kids already. NOW only ONE of my friends had her son VERY well behaved, and sadly at that time in our lives she lived far, and we didn’t communicate like we do now. (she would be the friend that taught me that whining is NOT a form of language that people understand) That leaves my other friends with kids. Sigh. They weren’t bad parents, but they could have been much better. I tried not to judge, since I had no kids of my own.

NOW I’ve got my own 5 year old and 3 year old, and I loves them. I do. They are fun, and creative, and remind me to be silly, and slow down. BUT they whine and fight, and drive me nuts. SO play dates (the point of the blog post only 3 paragraphs in!) frighten me.

BIG deep breath… and then Bagel went to Preschool. I was scared. What if I didn’t like the other mommies? What if they were cliquey? What if ALL the other kids did events all summer prior and ONLY my kid didn’t?!

Well needless to say, I was silly. I made friends fast, by forcing everyone to talk to me each morning. We never did play dates, since we all saw each other 3 days a week. But with the end of school nearing, I was brave and at graduation I asked for names and phone numbers (some FB accounts too) I was planning Bagel’s 5th Birthday Party and was going to invite… OTHER PEOPLE’S kids. GASP!!

Long story short, it was awesome, she had 4 girlfriends show up, and it was perfect. I insisted that my mom, the Queen attend so I was not alone. And I survived. SO did the kids.

Now that the big birthday bash is over, and summer is underway, I’ve had playdates with one mom and her kids, and even to my surprise her son is Bagel’s age, and all the kids still get along. (not sure why I thought they wouldn’t)

Lets get to the neighborhood kids. The little girl behind us is cute, she’s feisty, and a bit crazy. BUT she and Bagel will be riding the bus together, and going to school together in the fall. And then there is XTina’s girls. OMG they are too cute, sweet, and just the right age, PLUS XTina and I went to H.S. together, and have mutual friends. Perfect.

As for today I’m excited to have NO play dates. Sigh, Wednesday I had 2… two… TWO play dates in a day. OMG. THEN Thursday I had another? And ran into more preschool mommy friends? And I have TWO birthday parties, KIDS parties at that, this weekend… I’m doing better.

I’m starting to like this ‘Mommy socializing’ thing. It’s good for me. It’s good for the kids. And it’s definatly a growing experience for me. Some people are made to love kids, and socialize with other peoples kids. I just need to warm up to the idea… well warm I am, and I can handle it.

Now in the words of Bagel “MOM, seriously? ANOTHER day at the park with friends?! Can’t we just hang out in the art room, JUST us?” She is SO her mommy and daddy.

Happy Friday, and Happy play dates to all of you!

Feisty

Chee-oo’s. no mo.

 

“No mo Chee-oo’s Mom” Says Weaky

“Let me see. HEY there’s no more Cheerio’s MOM!” yells Bagel…

“Don’t make me look in the box. It stresses me out” Whines Maggie

‎"Hmmm... no food. Just crazy mommy and a camera in this box. I got out of the sunshine for this... squirrel." Says Sophie

"Nope. You guys are right. No Cheerios left in the box. Now that mystery is solved, we can move on with the day." Says me.

A day in the life of me, with my two kids, and two dogs. ♥

Feisty

BTW Sophie wins best eyes through a Cheerio Box.

30 days in pictures.

Not sure if you’ve seen the 30 days in pictures thing going around. Some of my younger FB friends are doing it, they are also photo junkies. But it’s a great idea to get conversation going, and so I’m going to do it there and here.

Enough said. Here is day one…

“A PICTURE OF YOU AND 10 FACTS”

1. I am 5' 1/2"
2. My favorite color is Purple, but pink and turquoise are up there.
3. In my art room I have at LEAST 19 pairs of scissors.
3. I have two boxers. Both brindle, Maggie turning 8 next month. Sophie is 6.
4. I have two cats. Jordan, just 8 and Chloe who is 7.
5. Socially I enjoy staying IN. Too many social events in one week stress me out.
6. I've owned 12 different types of pets. Only 4 of those 12 being mammals.
7. The longest running job I've held is being a Independent Demonstrator for Stampin' Up! (rubber stamp and scrapbook company) for 6 years. Second longest job is being a Stay At Home Mom.
8. I drink Starbucks daily. But not from the store. I brew it here at home.
9. I've been married going on 10 years June 16th. ♥
10. Having children is the coolest thing. I have my own people.

Feisty

Morning!

This is a morning I wish for. This was last week. I do believe the last time I saw sunshine. Now it is literally a grey wall of grey. No clouds. No dimension. Just GREY. So let’s pretend it looks like the above every day!

 

This morning I was TRYING my best to get Bagel to give me a cute pose… not happening. It’s hard when it’s forced, but she was cute, and I wanted it.

We often start out with the back shot. So lucky me I get the front and back of cute outfits.

Then with a whole bunch of these shots… of grumpy frumpy little girl… and one of her brother sneaking a peek from the basement… (too cute!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got what I wanted. I SO wish I could pull of these outfits myself. Mind you I have to loose about 30 lbs, and about 12 years off my age, then sure I could. So I live my love of funky passion through her!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the pictures Bagel. Mommy loves you. xo…

Feisty

It’s official. I’m an adult.

 

Here’s the background on that… Once upon a time, Spaghetti and I were engaged to be married. In that time we agreed on this.

“We will NEVER grow up. We WILL do adult things, like pay bills, buy a house, care for children. BUT in that process even though we LOOK like adults, we will NOT grow up. Promise?”

I even painted a cartoon of us on this conversation. (I should scan that into the computer…) But the ‘official’ part comes with realizing these things…

 

1. I’m excited that today is day 3 of waking, on my own, at 6:30 am. As a result going to bed at no later then 10:30 pm. AND so the washer/dryer already running, coffee is half drank, dogs fed, best part. I got an hour by myself this morning!

2. My girlfriend time, is either on Facebook chat, or phone with my BFF. (I should work on that, I DO need more in real life friend time)

3. I look forward to a crazy breakfast of  an almost 5 year old girl telling her brother how to eat, but all he wants to do is hold his Wuzzy Bear and suck his thumb.

 

 

4. The big event of the week is on Wednesday’s and it’s my daughters Jazz Lyrical class. (see her at the end of the line. See Weaky in stroller (yes in his footies) dancing along.)

5. The most comparable thing I have to a hang over is ‘OMG I stayed up till after midnight, watching a movie, AND had junk food! I am insane! That can’t happen again! I’ll need to sleep till at least 8:00 am to function!!’

 

6. My husbands getting dressed and going out, is to play tug of war with the dogs for 30 minutes in the snow.

 

 

7. We have painted the VERY bright and playful blue bathroom grey, now with accents of red and black.

And NOW are in the process of selling Spaghetti’s pool table, to turn the BIGGEST room in the house, the room that is right off the kitchen, the ‘Sports room’, the brick RED room, with FULL size pool table, and TONS of sports memorabilia, into a comfortable t.v. room for the WHOLE family. (In my defense against changing this room, we have NOT played pool at this table since May 2010!!) While planning the room change, Spaghetti sighed, looked at me and said… “Don’t tell anyone this. But we are becoming more and more like grown ups.” Sigh. We are. But I’m almost enjoying it.

8. I drink my coffee black.

That right there should say enough. I used to drink a cup of sugar with a bit of coffee. Not kidding. 4 TABLESPOONS of sugar to a CUP of coffee?! Went black. Cold turkey, dropped 5 lbs REAL fast. Now to find a way to drop the other 30 lbs. real fast.

9. Planning for retirement is something we’ve been working on for 12 years already. Not kidding. The 401K hotline is on speed dial in Spaghetti’s phone, checking it at least once every two weeks.

AND the number 10 reason why I’m officially an adult…

10. This weekend is my BFF’s sisters birthday. Now each year they go all out. As in ALL out. Get hair did, shop all day one day, go to Chicago, stay in a fancy pants hotel for a few days, see the city, drink fruffy drinks, go to clubs. It’s a 3 day, sometimes more event.

Sounds awesome. And not to poo poo it, cuz I’d go if it was me. But for years I was happy for them, but that tiny pang of “I’d have to take out a small loan, get a baby sitter, and some one would have to pry these pajama/yoga pants and my favorite Glee T-shirt away from me and I think I have a pair of heels around here somewhere.” it was a thing where I was ecstatic that my BFF was getting an awesome weekend away, and bonding with her sister. (I did get to attend once at dinner via drunk dial by them. THAT was funny)

But it was never a jealous thing, more of a it would take a small army to get me to be able to go out. And I was wishing I could do that.

Now you ask? I’m ecstatic that they are out, having a blast but I’d rather stay in. I enjoy my family, my kids, and a hot weekend for me away from my family? Would be a 2 night, 3 day crop. Where I drag ALL my scrapbook supplies to a place that is designed for nothing but scrapbookers. I would eat, sleep (maybe) and scrapbook. I would spend the time away from my family, scrapbooking my family!

And now that pang of ‘I wish I could do that’ is gone. Elated they are having a great time. But at the age of 32 1/2 I’m good right now. (and yes I still say 1/2, I’m saying I’m an adult, not a grown up)

I’m good with home. Kids. Husband. Pets. Reality t.v.

Dance class is my big event. My social life is Survivor, Amazing Race, Real World, Bachelor, Grey’s, Storage Wars and Jersey Shore. And I love it.

So it’s official. I am an… Adult.

(one feisty, unconventional, silly, sometimes childish, and ridiculously goofy adult)

FeIsTy

Coffee buzzard induced.

Random babble on a Sunday morning.

~Snow is pretty. Lots of snow is still pretty. BUT it’s getting a bit maddening, since we are STUCK inside. Sure playing out in it is a blast…

But there is ONLY so much you can do in the snow. Especially when you start loosing feeling to your body parts.

I sped up the process last night, using what once was our back deck stairs, now as a very cool snow ramp, first time was awesome, launching me halfway through the yard. Second time, the snow had been pushed into the hollow area under the step which resulted in me getting snow down my pants, and up my back. HOLY cold.

We did have fun measuring the drifts, this one up to Spaghetti’s knees!

Spaghetti and I put the kids on the swings. Weaky was pissed because his was stuck in the snow (we had to unbury it first!) And Bagel just laughed because she could shimmy around in hers a bit.

All in all we’ve been getting some really good use of their snow suits. A trip down the slide from the fort house, to the snow drift below was fun. But next time we need to factor in time. Because by the time we got everyone dressed (started at 5 pm) and played for a bit, by 5:30 it was dark! The snow with the back light, make it light enough to see. But it was getting cold, and well, with snow still in my butt crack I was about done too.

~Play room.

It’s fucking awesome. Yes I had to say fucking because that’s what it is. Fucking awesome. Kids are eating popcorn, watching  an Ice Age movie marathon, and have toys out the wazoo down there.

The dogs are allowed pretty much all over the rest of the house, and they love it.

Me? Drinking coffee, blogging, doing dishes, folding laundry, picking up the house. ALL with out being whined at every few minutes.

NOW don’t get me wrong, I LOVES to be with my babies. BUT. EVERY time I would walk by the front living room, they NEEDED a snack (even if they had one in hand) or NEEDED to whine. OMG. Plus I am known for either all hands on with the kids.

It’s either ‘let’s paint, or playdoh, or make a fort’ OR it’s ‘leave me be I’ve got to clean this house it smells like a zoo and your whining is going to send me to drink excessive amounts of coffee and FB all day’

SO this NEW and IMPROVED layout of zee house is FANFUCKINGTASTIC.

~~Ohh I have to brag a bit… check this out…

It’s Bagel art!! Alright, so it’s not the art work, with the fantastically over priced color wonder paper and markers… it’s the signature…

 

 

Reads “Happy Birthday”

 

 

“I (heart) U. Mia. Gram.”

She had me tell her the letters, BUT she did the “I (heart) U” all on her own! I’m telling you Baby Bagel age 1-4 is a blur! 5 is coming to fast!!

~I’ve got a fun few days planned ahead.

Tonight Weaky is having a sleep over at Queen Gigi, and Papa Carrots house. I haven’t told him yet, because Bagel will be sad. BUT it’s because I have a field trip with her tomorrow to the local collage Planetarium. (well I take her, drop her off, and then ONLY the teachers and students get to see the show. So us mom’s are going to Starbucks!)

Then Tuesday I get a date with my bestie Aerial!! Can’t wait. She will FINALLY open her birthday presents from me (her BDay is Nov. 16th!!) and then for Christmas we bought each other tickets to see “Burn The Floor” should be a great show!

~Oh AND at the end of the month, in…20 days we are leaving for… SUNNY (hopefully) Arizona!! OMG. WARM. And you can say all you want about how cold it could be, with last Thursdays wind chill here at –20, anything above freezing will be great.

~~

So enough stalling, and babbling, I need more coffee, and need to see what Bagel is doing now that she took my poor Sophie into her room..

 

I do believe she is reading her a story about Franklin going to the Hospital… Well this is what I do to Maggie when I am bored… she wears my jammies!

 

 

 

 

 

Alright. I’m done. Miss me, Happy Super Bowl Sunday, and Go Bears… I mean… Stealers. (Bears fans hate Green Bay!) I’m in it for the commercials, the love of the game and my fav’s Black Eyed Peas are playing!!

Feisty

(p.s. I think I need a book on this ‘Windows Live Writer’ its awesome, and I can keep more then one blog (I have one for my art too) in it. BUT for the life of me can NOT get it to STAY on one font, and size!! Each time I add a picture it changes it to 9.5 and Aerial (yuck!) Plus I want to learn Windows Live Photo Gallery “to the cloud!”