Take me out to the ball game … take me out to the crowd …

Well Zach has officially embraced T-ball.   No crying, fussing and he actually has FUN.  Of course, there is plenty of time where he’s picking grass, chasing butterflies, kicking up the sand … but he’s doing so much better – he might even do it again in the fall.  He’s got one more game left next week, then he’s finished the season. 

Here’s some pictures I thought you’d enjoy. (Click slideshow when you open the window – I just downloaded all from my camera tonight).

 

View Full Album

Fun in the sun …

View Full Album

Chilling off … Pablo style!

Pre-school graduation

First let me tell you - I'm going to spare you the pictures and the embarrassing video that I know my neighbor took.

But Zachy 'graduated' pre-school this week. He's officially going to be a Kindergarten student in a few short months! I swear to you all it seems like he was just smaller than Sam's hand .... and now he's a big boy in baseball and going to KINDERGARTEN.

I say that I'm going to spare you the pics because all of them have Zach covering his eyes. He has the WORST stage fright. I mean, his teachers say that he sings in class, plays, etc. - but get him in front of 200 parents and WHOA ... it's too overwhelming for him. He also doesn't like when you cheer for him at T-ball....when I'm there I have to hold back not to cheer him on but he just doesn't like the "attention" or the spotlight on him. He's pretty strange (: that way.

Anyway, just thought I'd tell you Zach officially graduated pre-school and his teacher says he's definitely ready for Kindergarten (sniff sniff). Can anyone tell me where the time went?

Hope everyone is well ...... we are good, just enjoying the 3 day weekend. The kids are already in bed asleep (it's 8:00) ... amazing what a day at the pool will do to a kid. They were seriously falling asleep in their pasta tonight (funny!)

Love,
xoxoxo

My flowers are dead ...

But life goes on ....

Look what "killed" my flowers in the hanging basket in the front of our house. They just hatched yesterday, they're the babies of a teeny, tiny purple finch. So just FYI, it wasn't me who killed the plant. I've got to name these two little birds...they're so tiny.







Love,
xoxoxo

And …. Wrigley!

Hollie and I went down to Wrigley on Sunday (after being up until almost 4:00 in the morning talking!!!) and had a blast going from bar-to-bar having drinks and watching the Cubs (lose) and the Hawks (lose)! Not a great sports day in Chicago.

Here’s a couple pictures from yesterday, and one or two from today with the girls in their CUBS t-shirts I brought them home. I have to say I felt like a TOURIST with my camera, taking pictures of things I’ve seen a million times…but have missed incredibly!

Sears tower from the car

These are the names of our invincible (THEY WONT DIE) Beta fish (Addison & Clark.)

At the Cubby Bear

Rut row, cubs are losing….

Round 2 …

Dinner at Francesca’s and then martini’s at Loris!

 

I’m “home” …

I’m “home” in Chicago visiting my girlfriends and yesterday we went to Emmett’s Pub in W. Dundee … and it was so great to see my friends.  Thank you Sam for making the trip possible, I appreciate it more than you can know!!     Here’s some of the pictures I took: 

 

And for those wondering.  WHAT IS PORTILLOS.  Here’s a picture of lunchtime near a Portillos.  They actually have police direct traffic EVERY DAY of the week to get in/out. 

 

My Mother's Day...

Let's see, it started off with me sleeping in. Like really sleeping in...Sam even came in to retrieve a little one from the room when he came in to wake me up. They were too excited to give me their "Mother's Day" card!!

A little while later, they all came in and jumped on the bed to give me their card. It was so cute - a picture of them on the front and when you open it, it was their voice saying "Happy Mother's Day ... we love you Mom!!!" So I came downstairs to wonderful pecan Belgian waffles (my FAVORITE) ... with blueberries, strawberries and hot syrup. I lounged around a little while we pondered what to do today - a breezy 75 degree sunny and perfect day - and we came up with the zoo.

The kids haven't been to the zoo since last year and now they really seem to "understand" going to the zoo means seeing cool animals and riding the train, etc. They had a BLAST! Each new animal brought ooohs and ahhhs ... and the Norfolk, VA zoo is the perfect size for small kids - we did not bring the wagon, they walked the whole park (could be why they were asleep tonight by 7:15 and I mean SLEEPING at 7:15).

Anyway, it was a great day!

On another note, Kayla and Ben continue to excel in their sports. Ben is playing for the CUBS in his baseball league (he's the pitcher) and Kayla just got first place overall at her latest competition for her solo, Seduces Me. Here's some pictures of her dance yesterday - her mom sent these to us..... and they're incredible.

Love,
xoxoxo

Willy

Willy/Lilly/Wiwee …. sure has grown over the last month!

Here’s a picture when we first got him:

 

Here’s the little guy now:

   

Happy Mother's Day

I came across this awhile ago, and wanted to share. I think this story really describes what being a "mommy" is like. I'm so proud to be a mom of three wonderful kids! Happy Mother's Day to BOTH of my moms and all my friends and family who have little (and big) ones around!

We are sitting at lunch one day when my daughter casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a family. "We're taking a survey," she says half-joking. "Do you think I should have a baby?"

"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral."I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations."

But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes. I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking, "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a soufflé or her best crystal without a moments hesitation.I feel that I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed bymotherhood. She might arrange for child care, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right. I want my daughter to know that every day decisions will no longer be routine.That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of Independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom.However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother.Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself.That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give herself up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years, not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.I want her to know that a ceasarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honour.My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving.I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time.I want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts.

My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes."You'll never regret it," I finally say.

Then I reached across the table, squeezed my daughter's hand and offered a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings.

May you always have in your arms the one who is in your heart.

Love,
xoxoxo

Big little shoes to fill …

Well Addie & Avery have some big shoes to fill … they start ballet & tap in another month and they got fitted for their tap & ballet shoes tonight. 

Look how cute & tiny they are.  I have a feeling this is the start of an expensive hobby …

 

Party @ the neighbors!

It was our neighbor Kurt’s birthday and they had an outdoor party for him tonight.  We had a great time … I had one or three margaritas (yum Kurt, BTW!)  and snapped a few cute photos (as always!!)

 

View Full Album

Nerby

Here’s a picture of my three little nerbs seeing the 3-d version of Monsters vs. Aliens.  I have to say, movie price are RIDICULOUS.  It was 9.75 per kids ticket and 10.50 per adult ticket.  At 10:30 in the morning.  Popcorn and drinks were another 21.00 …. I nearly had a heart attack.  (However, once I told the kids we were going to see the movie I couldn’t back out – if I wanted to have a peaceful afternoon!)  The kids loved the movie (Addie said it was the best movie of her life. LOL!!!)

Here’s a picture of them … don’t ya love the glasses ?  Pretty…nerby…as Add would say!