One Hour Of School!!

What a great evening! Not so much with the kids as the two oldest were absolutely out of control–but the babies were awesome, and the first night of school was great. I don’t really have a vibe on Jake’s 4th grade teacher, but Grayson’s 2nd Grade Teacher seemed warm and fuzzy–my kind of teacher. Tomorrow begins the 10 days commuting to school, after that it’s the school bus–I can’t wait.

The area is beautiful, and green and lush with tons of mature trees–so it’s really just a homey area–I’m so happy to have found it! I’ll post their first day of school pictures tomorrow–time for tradition again!!

Friends!!

I’m babysitting! Not really–as they are 10 and 7, but I think that is still the term used to describe ‘watching kids’! My neighbor had an appointment this morning–and I offered to take her kids. It really is helpful to have them around because they keep my kids occupied and they are old enough that I’m not chasing them around the house cleaning up after them. Plus–with school starting for my kids on Wednesday, it’s kind of the last chance they have to really spend some time with these two. Add in to that the fact that we are moving away in 2 weeks–and I had to do it!
The volume is just a bit high in this house at the moment–but it’s “Happy Noise” and that seems to make it Ok. So far today the boys have played PlayStation2 and they are now playing Feeding Frenzy on the computer. The girls are in playing dress up with the baby–too cute!

104.3 FM!!

I’ve discovered a great radio station here in Chicago. I’m amazed with it on so many different levels. For one thing–it’s music–not talk radio, to which I have listened religiously for the past 8 years. This is music, and it’s music I know all of the words to. I should–It’s my 80’s music. I was 9 when the 80’s started–so I literally ‘grew up’ with 80’s music. Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, OMD, Tears For Fears, Thompson Twins–you name it–I knew it, well, except for the heavy metal “hair” bands–I know nothing about them. Anyway-I was telling my husband about this great station and he asked where it was on the dial. I told him 104.3 FM and he smiled and said–”That used to be the oldies channel.” Well, apparently it still is. Except that now instead of playing the music of the 50’s and 60’s that was ‘oldies’ to me–My music is now–The Oldies!! But I feel so young!!

Depression Be Gone!!

I have to say, the one thing I hate about depression it is how it makes you not want to leave your house–when in fact, leaving your house helps get you out of it! Tonight we went to my in laws church’s fund raising Trifesta–and you know what…It was fun! I went fully expecting to feed my face–and feed it I did! Nacho’s, Popcorn, Corn on the Cob and an Italian Ice (the Italian way)!! There was a Neil Diamond tribute band that was amazing–and even a Beatles tribute band that we didn’t end up staying for–but sounded pretty good as we walked away.

The kids got to ride horses (real ones), ride 4 carnival rides and get their face painted–and hang out with dad and Uncle Bob at the restaurants booth. It had been pouring the entire drive over-but the weather had broken by the time we got there. It was chilly for the normal person–perfect for me–and you know, I’m feeling so much better!!

Scoliosis!!

Well, Jake had his Chiropractor appointment today. I originally took him in last week because I thought his Atlas was out causing one of his legs to be shorter than the other. By the end of the appointment the Doc turned to me and said, “I don’t normally do this on kids this young–but I think we need an x-ray!” So I’ve waited a week–and finally got to go in today for the results.

I’m a worrier–so it’s been an incredibly hard week. It turns out that he has Scoliosis! I was actually really good at keeping my composure–but once I got on the phone with my mom, I lost it. It was flashbacks to when Grayson was born. He had a heart murmur (or so they thought) and all I could think of was my 7th grade locker partner. She had a heart murmur and she had a doctors note to get out of gym. So here is my newborn–who will be unable to play sports in his lifetime–while his big brother Jake–was Mr. Sportsman. Well, Grayson turned out to be 100% healthy–and he himself has turned into Mr. Sporty–while my oldest–Grayson’s big brother–is now struck with something so debilitating that it renders many of its victims handicapped.

That will destroy my son to learn that he doesn’t stand a chance of playing Basketball in the future! Why did my baby have to get this?? Could it have been avoided?? Was it something I could have stopped? Where did I go wrong? I know–it isn’t all about me–but at the moment–all I know is–I’ve got to fix it–and I don’t know how!

Baha’i Temple!!

Today we had to drive downtown to drop off our final mortgage papers. When we were finished I was a bit curious about how close to Lake Michigan our bank was. So I headed east a bit, and there was a sign for the “Temple”. I knew I was on Sheridan, and I didn’t think it could possibly be the Baha’i Temple–I had discovered this beautiful building right after we moved to Chicago during one of our little outings to get to know our area. So I turned right to check it out, and sure enough it was. I was so excited to see it, that I had to pull over and take a picture. Blakelynn thinks it looks like a big wedding cake, I just think it’s breath taking. The sign says, Baha’i House of Worship, All Are Welcome. But not knowing anything about the faith, and not wanting to be disrespectful in any way–a photo op is all I dared do. Maybe someday I’ll work up enough guts to go see what this beautiful building looks like from the inside. I found a photo of it online from an aerial view–I did not take the next picture–but it is so cool! That is Lake Michigan in the top left corner–very close to this amazing building.

Still Sick!!

Today I went into the kids school that we live near now in order to get all of their paper work started in order to sign them up for school next week. I thought it would be something that I filled out and they take care of–but nope. They have to photo copy both of my boys entire files, fill out 3 different reports–and then give me all of their medical records on file. Then I have to come in and pick it up and take it to the new school. Sooooo, in just 1 short day–I will have killed at least three trees with all of this paper!

My husband made (OK, purchased) a fabulous dinner. We had Chinese food–all of my favorites, so it turned out to be a great day–although, I’m feeling worse ‘illness’ wise than I have in the past week, and I’ve been on antibiotics and a nasal spray–I was thinking I should be feeling better, not worse! If I’m still sick by the time the antibiotics are gone–I will be going back in for more!

The Zoo!!

Today we got up early, and headed downtown to the Lincoln Park Zoo. You know, it really is an amazing place! I never give it much credit because it is far away–and it’s sooooo hot!

We had a wonderful time. The lion was roaring which if you’ve never heard a real lion roar–you don’t know what you are missing! It’s nothing like you hear on TV or the movies–it’s more ‘all encompassing’ if that makes any sense!


I’m not sure you can tell–but this is a sleeping female lion! Her paw is up on the window-but she is sound asleep. It was too precious not to take a photo of! One of our favorite moments of the day!

We ate lunch at the cafeteria, which was expensive-but very nice! I will upload my pictures when I get a few minutes a little later!

Our New Church!!

Today we went to our new church. Our actual ward meets at 9 am, and since we are still living almost an hour away-we don’t stand a chance of getting there on time, so we chose to attend the second ward in the same building at 11 am. I was amazed–my kids were actually angelic! Not just good mind you–they were ANGELIC! Barrett was put to sleep–so he didn’t stand a chance of being bad-but the other three were positively amazing!

I was so proud of them. They actually enjoyed themselves, and want to go again next week. After church we took my Uncle Bobby and his wife to see the Chicago Temple. It is a unique temple in so many ways-but truly a really beautiful building–it was fun to see it again!

Tomorrow we are going to the Lincoln Park Zoo, and then my Aunt and Uncle leave tomorrow evening. It really is nice to see family again!

Some Jellystone Pics!!

As everyone knows, we spent the last week in Warren, Wisconsin at Jellystone Park. It was our second year going, and it is truly an annual destination from here on out! I’m going to be sprinkling the photo’s of our weekend away throughout all of my blogs–just to shake it up a bit. This one had to be first!

The park is so huge that you get around everywhere in golf carts. Honestly–they are what make the destination so fun! But mostly, they were Barrett’s most favorite part of the entire place. Everyone knew that if the golf cart was in front of the cabin-we didn’t have to chase Barrett–because he would be sitting in it. He would have slept in it if we had let him.

Every morning when he got up I would follow him downstairs and he would walk straight out to the golf cart. It wasn’t long afterward when I would see the golf cart zoom away with Uncle Bob at the wheel and a little blond head sitting next to him. These two are the best of buddies, and every morning they would head out to explore the park.

So the last day, before turning in the golf cart to head home I asked these two to pose for one last image–the back of Uncle Bob and the little tiny blond head in the front seat zooming off for their morning adventure! Too Sweet!