Merry Christmas 2010!

This year we were blessed to have both sets of parents and Ben's sister in town for the holiday. The kids had a blast and we had a white Christmas. Merry Christmas to all..here is our holiday card.

Well, if it gets you free sandwiches?

So yesterday, Ben picked up Jeremiah from pre-school and went through the Jimmy John's Drive-Thru to get lunch for everyone. While at the order window, the woman working there was very friendly. As they left, Jeremiah mentioned "daddy, that lady waved at you." Having not noticed this, Ben responded "oh really, why do you think she did that?" Jeremiah concluded, "because she like you." There was a long silence and Ben figured the conversation had ended, until he heard J say "I think maybe we shouldn't tell mommy about this." After laughing silently for a bit, Ben asked why and J responded with "because she will run away."

Bengtson's Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday we went to the Bengtson's Pumpkin Patch with the Chris, Lauren, Vivian and Desi Murphy. The place was fantastic and we had such great time. There were rides, pig races, petting zoo, a corn maze, and of course a pumpkin patch. It was very chilly and really added to the feel of fall.

Lollapalooza 2010

This year we got tickets for Lollapalooza. The great thing about a music festival is that even the kids enjoy it. They had a great area for the kids with all kinds of crafts, drum circles and so forth. They even had a kids stage with fantastic kid bands. The boys spent most of their time play with the instruments.

After the kids left it was time for Lady Gaga. One word "Endurance." I was fully entertained.

Summer Misc.

To celebrate the fourth of July went went to a small parade at a nearby neighborhood. They had the traditional line of fire trucks, police cars, army cars, horses and so forth that you come to expect at a parade. The kids had a blast cheering for the parade and collecting candy as it was thrown.

Jeremiah took this picture.

Ben's company received recognition at the Rape Victims Advocacy Annual Award Ceremony this year. I am very proud of all of them and mostly proud of the amazing husband that I have.

City living means train riding. I think the kids will never tire of trains.

I just like this picture. Jeremiah took it of Davis when we were at the lake house in Michigan. I don't know how he does it, but for a four year old he has an eye for pictures.

Lake time

At least in Chicago people really take advantage of the brief summer. The lake has been good to us. The boys and I have found some days during the week to hit the lake. Ben had a few days off here and there and joined us for running, playing and castle building in the sand.

Jeremiah was very helpful the first time I decided to take the boys solo.

He even put the sunblock on D's face.

We have also been blessed to be invited to spend two weekends at a lake house in Michigan. The first weekend was a family weekend. We went out on on the boat, both boys went on the tube being pulled by the boat. Jeremiah was lucky enough to go out on the jet ski. Unfortunately we didn't have the camera down at the water.

Davis and the smore.

The second trip was for a friends birthday. We left the kids with my parents and had a blast at the lake. I don't have pictures of that weekend because they might get us in trouble... :)

Date with J

Last month Jeremiah and I went on our first official mommy and J date. We went to the Children's Museum at Navy Pier. The place is amazing. It is three stories of endless fun. We played rock star, fireman, cooked, looked for dino bones and just had a ton of fun.

Chicago Museum (Free Days)

In an effort to enjoy the city we live in, without going broke, I decided to find all of the free days of the major museums in Chicago. Since I have young children who still nap and can't manage an entire day at the museum it doesn't make sense to spend the money for 2-3 hours. So here we are, a list of museums with web-links to their free days.

Museum of Science and Industry
http://www.msichicago.org/visit-the-museum/museum-info/admission/free-days/

The Art Institute of Chicago
http://www.artic.edu/aic/visitor_info/geninfo.html

Field Museum
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/plan_visit/free_days.htm

Museum of Science and Industry
http://www.msichicago.org/visit-the-museum/museum-info/admission/

Chicago Children's Museum
http://www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org/hours.html

Adler PlanetariumAddress:‎
http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/plan/discounts

Shedd Aquarium
http://www.sheddaquarium.org/discounts.html

Brookfield Zoo...Water fun!

The best thing we have purchased since we moved to Chicago is our membership to the Brookfield Zoo. Not only did it come in handy during the long winter with their indoor exhibits, but it is proving to be just as much fun now that we are finally experiencing some warmer weather.

Last weekend we went for a couple hours and made is a mini-seaworld adventure. We feed the stingrays, watched the dolphin show and played in the water spouts. Unfortunately Davis didn't like it when the dolphin splashed him but recovered rather well.

Davis Turns 2!

I know this is a little late, but what can I say, I am terrible at updating my blog. So never-the-less, Davis turned two on May 27th and we celebrated in style. We had Italian Beef sandwiches, wraps, fresh fruit and veggies, sangria (thank you Andrea), chocolate cupcakes and plenty of little boys. It seems no matter where we live we have so many little boys around. Davis had a blast and loves all of his new toys and books. Thanks to all who came.

May Madness

This month has been full of more adventure than expected. My parents came to visit and during their visit we took advantage of the Union Station Train Day, free admission at the Field Museum and of course the zoo...always the zoo.

Things that make a 2 year old happy.

Davis is easily entertained but rather demanding. Here is a list of the top 10 things he likes to do.

1. Fasten his booster seat buckle. Then scream for me to unbuckle it.

2. Pull all of the cushions off of the couch and make forts with them while hiding from Jeremiah. This applies to my bed as well.

3. Dump dirt from the sand box onto the porch.

4. Run over the flowers in my garden, like a jungle. We can thank Jeremiah for teaching him this.

5. Getting food out of the cabinets and stacking the cans.

6. Sneaking ice out the the freezer. We have a bottom freezer.

7. Dancing.

8. Sword fighting. Another game we can thank Jeremiah for.

9. Talk! He can hold entire conversations with you without you understanding a word. But the funny part is, if you look away he gently grabs your chin and moves it back to look at him.

10. Anything Jeremiah does. If Jeremiah takes his shirt off and runs around the kitchen table you can count on Davis to be right behind him.

These little things make me love his strong willed, independent attitude. I can't believe he will be two later this month.

Finding the fork.

Each morning the kids eat breakfast in the living room while watching cartoons. This morning their fruit was mango. So each boy had a fork and bowl for their mango. Davis wanted more, shocking, so I went to the kitchen and got him more. When I returned to the living room I couldn't find his fork. So I said, "Davis, if you want your mango we need your fork. Where is your fork?" He ran over to the couch, lifted the cushion and found his fork. Silly bear.

You can't catch a squirrel with fishing wire!

Today we did a little project. We took several pine cones, rolled them in peanut butter and added bird seed for the neighborhood critters. We hung about 6, with fishing wire, throughout our backyard and waited patiently.

While I was making dinner I noticed a squirrel tugging at one next to the birdhouse we have in the yard. I called for Jeremiah to come a take a look. We watched this squirrel struggle for several minutes until he finally broke the fishing wire and ran off with the entire pine cone. Jeremiah thought it was fantastic.

Above is a picture of one of the floating pine cones.

Below is the birdhouse that is missing the pine cone.

Jealousy and Guilt

While reading the May edition of Chicago Parent I was drawn to a comment made by Editor Tamara L O’Shaughnessy in the “From the Editor” section. She said, “I didn’t expect to feel so jealous of the stay-at-home moms laughing and playing with their little ones at the park as I pass every day at lunch.”

I think that as a mother who has been on both sides I understand that jealousy. However, as a stay-at-home mom I can guarantee you that we are looking at you thinking “I wish that was me walking on my lunch break, not dealing with the kids.”

It is a rather ironic dichotomy. As a working mom you have a sense of guilt for working and not being home. You fear that others, namely stay-at-home moms, look at you as a career driven, heartless woman, who most likely had children to prove a point. As a stay-at-home mom you have a sense of guilt as well. You fear that others, namely working moms, look at you as a mindless, gym going, park playing, weak woman who most likely went to college for her MRS.

The truth of the matter is that it is mostly all in your head. I went back to work after my first child. As a matter of fact, I took a promotion during maternity leave. I was on the fast track, looking at being a director in the next year or two. I had guilt, I was jealous, and I wanted to be home laughing and playing with my child at the park. After my second child I went back to work, but because of my husband’s travel schedule with his job we made a decision for me to stay at home with the kids. Now as a stay-at-home mom I have guilt, I am jealous, and I want to be going to work: interacting with adults and making adult decisions.

I have had the privilege of being a working mom and a stay-at-home mom; both teaching me valuable lessons about the so-called pressures of society and myself. The truth is; you can’t win. No matter the decision you make you will feel guilty, jealous and want to be doing something else. Maybe not everyday but once in a while you will see that mom at the park with her kids or walking on her lunch break and think, “I wish that were me.”

Hairdryer

So this is totally pointless but I have to share my stupidity anyway...I have been using the guest hairdryer for the last six months. It just works better than mine. However, it remains in the guest bathroom and I still refer to it as the "guest" hair dryer. So today I got out my handy dandy "old" hair dryer to test it out, maybe it is better than I remembered. But no, all hot air and no blow.

So I thought to myself, "I loved this hairdryer once upon a time; has it always been this bad and I didn't know or did something happen to it?" Then I realized the back opens...what...a filter. Needless-to-say I cleaned out the filter and I am happy to report that my hair dryer is back to it's old self. "Guest" hair dryer you have been good, but I will keep you for company.

Boys Dr. Apt.

Today we finally went to the doctor. Davis missed his 18 month appointment and Jeremiah his 4 year appointment so we have some catching up to do. Overall they are both very healthy.

Jeremiah 4 years old

weighs 34 lbs 50%

height 75%

Davis 21 Months

weighs 31.5 lbs 75%

height 50%

Unfortunately, Davis got a cold this week and it turned into an ear infection so he was unable to get his shots. We are getting him on his first round of antibiotics ever and will return to the docs in two weeks. Jeremiah was healthy and VERY good when he got his shot.

Just an update

Since we moved we have not had much luck with the Internet so updates have not been very regular. But we have had some fun now that the sun has come out some. We have a great zoo less than 3 miles from the house (Brookfield Zoo). We got an annual membership a couple months ago and have gone several times. They have a great indoor play area for the kids and we have spent many hours there.

In addition to the zoo we have finally met a couple neighbors. There are two little boys who live next door. Keith is 13 and Nick is 9 (I think). Jeremiah adores Nick and he has been really sweet to J. They played in the front yard taking turns on the scooter and skateboard. Davis is a wild child with his tricycle on the sidewalk; giving me a great workout.

Speaking of workouts; I have been teaching spin at the YMCA for the last 6 weeks. It has been great, I have met some people and am going to teach a total body fitness class next session. They will send me to some training so I don't have to pay for my own certifications. In addition, the family gets a discount membership and discounts on all classes. I plan to put Jeremiah in swimming lessons come April.

Finally, Ben and I have been able to embrace the "date night". Funny, you have a husband in town and you can do things together. My parents have visited several times and we have used their services to our advantage. We have been to several plays, played co-ed football with some co-workers (COLD), went to a rockin' roller skating party and went to a concert this past weekend at the House of Blues. I like having a city with lots to do so close, but I still miss the charm of Austin.

Over all I am trying to adjust. It has been harder than I expected. Each move in the past I worked and was able to adjust quickly with a network of friends etc. This has been very difficult, we are still looking for a church and I miss my friends in Austin. I am trying to get involved and meet people and I am sure it will take some time. Hopefully we will get this Internet thing fixed and I will be able to post more often...maybe with some pictures. But until then, I hope all is well.

Snow Days

In Chicago it snows and when it does it stays for a long time. Never-the-less, the boys have had some fun in the snow for the first time.

Jeremiah turned 4

With the move I neglected to post Jeremiah's 4 year birthday info. Yes, my boy is 4 (January 7th). We had a little party with the Murphy's (Ben's boss and friend). They have two kids close to our boys' ages. We had brunch, played games, opened gifts and just had a nice time chatting and hanging out with very fun, sweet people. I totally forgot to take any pictures of the actual party...once again neglecting my poor child's birthday.

So much change

It has been a long time and so much has happened. For those who don't have the details here they are.

October-Ben got offered a promotion to Chicago.
October 29th-Austin house went on the market.November 2nd-Got offer on Austin house.
November 17th-closed on Austin house.
November 17th-December 8th-Stayed with friends and family until we closed on a house in Chicago.

Since then we have cleaned, cleaned, cleaned, got new windows, new window covers, stained some floors, cleaned some more, unpacked etc.

I am finally at a point where I am willing to share a few pictures of the new house. We have not done any painting yet but plan to very soon. We miss everyone in Austin a ton and hope you all know how special you are and how special you made our time in Austin.

Note: this has been sitting in my draft for a while. Sorry.

Holidays

This year the holidays were a bit crazy with the move, but we managed to spend time with each side of the family. My parents had the boys when Ben and I left for Chicago so they came up and spent a couple weeks with us as we unpacked and celebrated Christmas with Santa (my dad) a few days early. Then we drove to Southern IL to Ben's Grandmother's house to meet up with Ben's parents and sister for the holiday. We were so blessed this year with some great gifts for the kids and for us. Overall, it was a really nice holiday.

Davis got a little tricycle and Jeremiah had the best time helping him open it. Since then it hasbeen one of their favorite toys to play with on the hard wood floors while we are trying to stay warm.