Surprise Breakfast

I recently mentioned that I am not a morning person.  My kids rarely get the big, hot breakfast before heading off to school.  Usually breakfast fare is cold cereal or toast.  This morning, however, was different.

Kelsey (who, incidentally, has been blesssed with my I-hate-mornings-gene), found it in her to get up early this morning and make a double batch of pancakes.  She took a batch to school for Charlie and left a batch for the family.  Not only did she get up early and make pancakes, she totally cleaned up afterwards!  This moment of teenage maturity was truly savored!

Fast Times at Thatcher Woods

This afternoon, Julian, Brooks, and Roosevelt Middle Schools ran a cross country meet at Thatcher Woods.  Drew asked Coach Benson if he could run with the JV boys, and he got the nod to join them.

Drew's never run competitively before, let alone with boys two years older than he is.  He was running in the top third from the start, and he never looked back.  Drew ended up finishing the race fourth overall!  Here he is right as he was approaching the finish line:

Congrats, Drew, on such a fantastic finish to your very first race!

Road Trip to SciTech

Today I chaperoned Irving's 4th graders at the SciTech Museum in Aurora.  I think this was my third trip there (you kinda start losing track of these things when it's your third kid going on these excursions).  At any rate, the exhibits are fascinating and interactive.  From how lasers work to giant bubble stations to the house that Ari and Ruth (and others) built, this was a fantastic way to spend a cool, rainy day.  Here are some of my favorite pics: 

A Blast from the Past

Today at church, Erin's old Sunday School teacher gave her these pictures:

Back in 2003, the children's Sunday School took pictures of all the kids, framed them in red, put magnets on the back, and hung them around for Christmas decorations.  Somehow they were saved and just recently unearthed.

I know my girls are growing up quickly, but sometimes it startles me just how much they've changed, and how quickly.  It sure doesn't seem like it was close to seven years ago that they looked like this.  Rather, it seems like just a few months ago, or perhaps a year or two.  They truly are getting too big, too fast.  I found myself wishing, once again, that children came with a pause button.

A Night Among Friends

Last night we invited Vic & Co. over for a South-of-the Boarder, Prelude to Poker dinner.  We ate (at one point, Jay was literally weeping with joy over the food).  We drank (and Bree showed off her two-fisted skills).  We played Rock Band (and wow, were we bad!).  We played poker (and Drew learned the finer points of Texas Hold 'Em).  The party broke up after 2 this morning.

First course:  Full House  - Cumin and Blue Chip Duo with trio of Accompaniments:  Black Bean and Corn Salsa, Peach and Pepper Salsa, and Guacamole

Second Course:  Cold Call - Shrimp Ceviche in Lime Cups with Plantain Chip Garnish

Third Course:  Hot Deck - Green Chili Frittata Bites with Salsa Verde and Tomato Garnish

Fourth Course:  Small Blind - Grilled Marinated Flank Steak with Roasted Corn Relish and Mexican Micro Potatoes with Southwestern Dust

Fifth Course:  Main Pot - Red Mole Enchiladas with Shredded Pork
Mexican Brown Rice
Roasted Corn, Jicama and Mango Salad with Citris Splash

This is where I must admit that in the midst of serving such fine fare, I fell down on the camera part.  Two full courses slipped by me with no photos.  I will say they were thoroughly enjoyed.  The flank steak was pronounced the best ever.  The micro potatoes, which contained an entire head of roasted garlic, were met with great enthusiasm.

For the Main Pot, everyone was impressed with the complexity of the red mole sauce.  The roasted corn, jicama and mango salad was the perfect complement to the enchiladas.

I did remember to capture the dessert:  Bluff - Watermelon Trompe l'Oeil.  Matt remarked, "I only know one of those three words, but I like it already."

Lots of people don't believe me when I say there truly is nothing I'd rather do than put together an amazing meal for good friends, but it really does bring me joy.  Thanks, Vic & Co., for giving me an excuse to throw a party!

An Unexpected Surprise

 Tonight Erin had plans to help a friend celebrate her birthday.  The plan was to have dinner at Hard Rock and then head back to Oak Park for the evening.  Through a strange, incredible twist of events, the girls wound up at the United Center to see Roger Waters.  They were sitting 9th row, just off center.

When Erin returned home tonight she was so excited she couldn't sleep.  After giving me all the details of the evening and the concert, I could only come to one conclusion.  Best.Birthday.Goodie.Bag.Ever.

Another Step Toward Progress

I recently wrote about the Village making good on the threat to re-pave Fillmore between Gunderson and Scoville.  Almost three weeks ago they tore up the sidewalk and re-paved it, but the street itself has remained intact.  Until today.  Here was the scene outside my window early this morning:

Seriously, people, construction season is lasting way too long this year.  Just get it over with already.

Unwelcome Guest

I'm not a morning person.  I never have been.  I need some time to yawn and stretch and try to come to life.  I really prefer if that process can be done quietly...without interruption...without chaos...without words.  Sadly, with three kids in the house who have places to be starting at 7:30 on school mornings, I hit the ground running more days than not.  This morning hit with a particularly rude awakening.

As I was staggering out of bed, there was pandemonium in Erin's room.  Somehow, a mouse had found its way into the back of her closet, wriggled its way into a mesh bag of shells she had stored there, got stuck, and died.  That's actually not the worst of it.  The thing was not just dead, it was actively degenerating in her closet (this explains the stench coming from her room awhile back, a smell we attributed at the time to the domesticated pets who reside in her room).  When Erin went to move the shells, the dead, decaying mouse sort of fell apart, and bugs starting crawling out of it.  She freaked out and asked for my help.

I've mentioned before about my abject terror of mice.  They creep me out beyond words.  In my more rational moments I understand there's nothing to be afraid of, regardless of whether the creature is dead or alive.  When I see them in either state, however, I truly come unglued.

Poor Erin.  She was truly in crisis mode, and with good reason.  She came out of her room wide-eyed and a bit freaked out.  She explained the situation going on in her room and asked for my help.  Gulp.  First thing in the morning + irrational fear = bad parenting moment.  I told her she had to clean it up all by herself.  Her shoulders slumped.  She had tears in her eyes.  She turned away, and without another word she took care of what was left of the carcass and shop vacced all the bugs.

It didn't take me long to wake up (literally and figuratively) and realize I'm not going to win Mom-of-the-Year on this one.  I abandoned my poor Erin in her hour of need.  I felt so badly about it that I went to Trader Joe's and bought her chocolate.  While I was in the check-out line, I saw this on a box of tissues:

I'm pretty sure the designers of this tissue box did not have dead, decaying mice on their minds when they put this together, but it couldn't have been more apropos.

The Little Vase

Thisvase sits on the windowsill, and it keeps me company when I do dishes:

I've had this little gem since I was in preschool.  My very first friend, MaryAnn, had a grandma I adored.  MaryAnn's grandma owned this vase, and I was fascinated by it.  All those little shells were so intriguing to a Midwest farm girl who had never seen the ocean.  I also remember thinking that when I turned my head just right, the handles on the vase looked like arms crossed behind the back.  From there it wasn't a stretch to look at the neck of the vase as the frame of a lovely lady in a long hoop skirt, and I imagined the vase coming to life as a youthful lady in the 1800's who was coyly waiting to be asked to waltz at her very first dance.

One day while I was admiring the vase, MaryAnn's grandma smiled and kindly offered: "Honey, would you like to take it home with you?"  I was so startled and so thrilled, I barely knew what to say.  But I clearly remember bobbing my little head up and down quite enthusiastically, and heading home with this treasure.

Over the years, this vase held many gifts of dandelion bouquets and sprigs of violets, lovingly picked by me and given to my mom.  When I left home, I took the vase with me.  The first time Kelsey picked dandelions for me and brought them in the house, I placed them in this little vase.  It was one of those moments of clarity when I realized the passage of time, and my place within it.  I'd moved from the receiver of the gift of the vase, to the giver of the gift of flowers for the vase, to the receiver of the gift of flowers for the vase.

Now, more than a decade after Kelsey first gave me flowers for this little vase, I realize I'm in another stage.  The kids have outgrown their enthusiasm for picking dandelions and violets and rushing into the house, breathless with anticipation as they offer me a token of their love in the form of pretty weeds.  While the vase usually stands empty of flowers these days, it holds something even more precious:  a lifetime of memories.

Casual Dining

A few years ago when we vacationed out East, we stopped in Pittsburgh for supper at Max & Erma's.  We all have such warm, fuzzy memories of our experience there that we were thrilled when the chain moved as far west as Chicagoland.  Erin especially has been asking if we could find time to drive out to Woodridge and enjoy a family meal together at Max & Erma's.

Honestly, our schedules have been so hectic this fall, it seems like we'll never again be all together as a family for a weekend meal, and frankly Woodridge is just too far to drive during the week.  Tonight we decided that even tho Kelsey had a babysitting gig, we'd take Erin and Drew down to Woodridge for casual dining at M&E's.

Max & Erma's in Woodridge tonight was as tasty and as much fun as we remembered the Max & Erma's in Pittsburgh to be (if you go, get the Laredo Steak with cactus butter - yummy!).  Even more than the great food, this tender moment between Erin and Drew was worth the drive:

Thanks, Erin and Drew, for joining us for a truly wonderful evening!

Hanging Out with the Big Boys

On one of our many jaunts to the zoo this summer, Drew entered a drawing for free White Sox tickets.  Wouldn't you know it, he won!  Even tho it was a school night, Drew took Matt and Vic to watch the Sox chase the Twins for the AL Central division title.  The Sox lost badly.  It looks as if this is the beginning of the end of this year's pennat chase for our White Sox.  Regardless, Drew thoroughly enjoyed the treat of getting to hang out with his 20-something friends at the ball park on a school night.
Thanks, Brookfield Zoo, for promoting our favorite baseball team.  And thanks too, Vic and Matt, for being willing to spend the evening at the ball park with Drew.

Suburban Wildlife

This afternoon when I went to gather some basil for homemade pesto, I came across five caterpillars hanging out on my parsley.  I wasn't sure exactly what they were.  They looked an awful lot like monarch caterpillars, but they're eating up my parsley - there's no milkweed in sight.  A little online research (I love the internet for things like this!) told me that these are third generation black swallowtail caterpillars.

As long as these little buggers leave some parsley for me to use at my table, I'm happy to share with them.  I hope we get to watch them turn into butterflies!

Barrie Fest - Finally!

After Family Day at Allstate, we hightailed it back to Oak Park to catch the tail end of Barrie Fest.  Here are some scenes:

Hanging out with friends in the park, and taking pictures of their children, listening to live music being performed by a local band (the lead singer of which is also a friend), well, it was the cherry on top of a wonderful day.

Family Day at Allstate

One of the perks of Baird working at Allstate is their annual Family Day.  It's always held in September, and it's like a mini state fair.  While Erin was competing in cross country out in Crystal Lake, the rest of us headed up to Northbrook for all-you-can-eat roasted corn, grilled burgers and brats, and ice cream.  The music was loud and festive.  The characters were playful and plentiful.  The carnival rides provoked huge smiles and lots of belly laughs.  Here are some scenes from an absolutely wonderful, fun-filled day:

Thanks, Allstate, for keeping up this tradition, even in these tough economic times!

Boys Movie Night

Tonight the girls of the 5 Ring Circus went their separate ways, leaving the boys to enjoy some he-man time in front of the TV.  Popcorn, nachos, and Clash of the Titans at full surround-sound volume on a flat-screen TV.  That's boy heaven if there ever was such a place!

New Additions

While Erin was sad when Les died, it didn't take her long to say, "When can I get a gecko?"

She spent some time researching geckos, and realized they live a long, long time.  She decided to get a smaller, more agile member of the lizard family that won't still be alive when she's in her late 30s.  She got an anole.

Anoles are small, quick lizards that change from brown to green almost in the blink of an eye.  She decided on two because they're small and she didn't want one to be lonely.

The two new pets who have joined the 5 Ring Circus don't yet have names, but they seem to be enjoying their new home.

Making Good on a Threat

Early this summer, the Village of Oak Park sent us a letter saying that Fillmore Street outside our house was scheduled for major construction.  When I read the notice I groaned a bit.  Even tho Fillmore Street between Gunderson and Scoville is clearly in desperate need of repair, it's one of my major east/west routes.  The idea of this stretch of pavement being off limits to me, at a time when the Ike is also under construction and the Roosevelt Road streetscape project is pending...well, it's all just a bit much in my opinion.

For awhile I kept my eyes peeled, assuming that some morning over the summer I'd pull out the big blue whale from the garage, attempt to head west down Fillmore, and find myself stymied by the Fillmore resurfacing project.  It never happened.  Eventually I forgot about the notice and assumed the project had been put on hold because of the summer construction strike.

Toward the end of last month, a crew dropped off construction signs on our parkway.  I was reminded again of the threat of my major route being interrupted.  And once again, the signs just sat there, with no movement whatsoever.  It got to the point where I barely even noticed the signs anymore.

Well, bright and early this morning, I was sipping my coffee in the living room.  My quiet suburban morning was interrupted with sounds so loud my house shook.  Guess what?  The Village finally made good on its threat to fix Fillmore.  Construction started today.

Part of that construction project includes tearing up the sidewalk on our corner.  Oh, goodie.  This is the exact same sidewalk where, just a few months ago, the Village of Oak Park spent money to put down directions showing us how to get to Irving School.  I'm just going to leave it all right there, before I start ranting again.

Scenes from Iowa - Keokuk

This morning we lingered over Turkish coffee and an open fire with UC and AC.  I absolutely love sitting outdoors by a fire, sipping coffee.  I've had my fair share of coffee over the camp fire, but this was different.

These Turkish coffee pots came straight from the old country, and the coffee was heated by placing the pots in the ashes of the fire.  UC carefully tended the coffee and pulled it at just the right moment.

This campifre experience with my favorite aunt and uncle was the perfect ending to a wonderful family weekend.  I've so enjoyed being around my extended family these last few days!

Scenes from Iowa - World Tour

This afternoon we ventured down to Keokuk, Iowa, to visit UC/AC, my favorite aunt and uncle.  UC and AC have lived all over the world, and have absorbed a little bit of the culture from each country in which they have resided.  Visiting their house and listening to them talk is like taking a world tour.

This evening we spent a few hours around the dinner table, enjoying a Japanese-inspired Teppan Yaki meal.  The place settings on the table hail from all over Asia, and the table cloth came from Turkey.  See what I mean?

We ate and ate, and then we ate some more.  Conversation was easy as food sizzled on the grills.  The girls were adventurous, trying several of the homemade sauces AC put together.  Time seemed to stand still as we ate ourselves silly and laughed and talked the night away.

We finally retired to the Austria Room and enjoyed a good night's sleep.

What a fantastic world tour!

Sounds from Iowa

We ate Sunday dinner at Culvers with Mom and Dad.  As we were leaving the restaurant, two conversations gave me big laughs.  The first one involved Drew and this sign:

Drew:  Mom, did you see that sign?

Me (smiling):  That's funny.

Drew:  Mom, how is that funny?  I tasted the plant, and there's NO WAY it tastes like ice cream!

Me (laughing):  Oh, Drew!

The second conversation involved Erin, Kelsey and me:

Me:  Don't forget, we're having that Yaki Teppan stuff for dinner tonight at Uncle Charlie's so go light on the snacks on the way down there.  Kelsey, did I say that right?

Kelsey:  Huh?  Um, I don't know.

Erin:  Mom, don't you mean Yom Kippur?

Me:  Erin, I'm not sure if I'm saying it quite right, but I know I don't mean Yom Kippur.  Yom Kippur is a Jewish holiday.

Kelsey:  Erin, what are you thinking?  You can't eat a Jewish holiday!

Scenes from Iowa - Family Time in Jesup

The youngest grandchild is 17 months old, and she's not included in the big family picture.  This has been killing my mom since spring.  At Easter she made us all promise we would gather on Saturday of Labor Day weekend for a new family portrait that would include Caleb & Julia's addition.  It also happens to be Libb's birthday weekend, so we threw in cake and presents along with the photo shoot.  What a fun day!  Here are some scenes: