kidding around

Yesterday Penelope and I went on her very first train to Oak Park (just outside Chicago). It was so much fun to be with her as she experienced the fun of riding the train. At first she was clinging to me the whole time- which was tricky with me holding her and a stroller! Anyway, my friend met us and we had a great time…it’s super fun (and smart) to use public transportation. I could have easily driven down and get there sooner. But the slower pace is nice and being with just my 2 year old is even better.



Yep, that’s my “big” girl with her pacifier. Considering it was her nap time I figured she was entitled to this pleasure before a meltdown…

Happy early Weekend.

We are off to Michigan to see family. My husband and his brother are taking our older kids(Penny is staying with my sister) camping. I get to hang out with one of my favorite sister-in-laws and go to the Ann Arbor Arts Festival. Fun. That’s MY kind of camping!

This past week has been full of long bike rides, walks with Ollie, visiting friends near the city, the children’s museum, the arboretum, getting my CD giveaways in the mail, swimming and just being with one another. I also have started making 2 sets of bumper pads for my sister and they are turning out so nice. So- all in all, a productive week!

It’s been good. I do enjoy the summer months, but it takes time for me to get used to everyone being home, including my husband…things get a bit shaken up. Ironically, once I get used to our new routine, everyone has to go back to school and work and I am left in the dust (shhh…we won’t even talk about “going back to school”).

If anyone remembers, I was trying to create a fun summer schedule with journaling with the kids, etc. Obviously, we are experiencing SUMMER, but the journaling is not really going. They have been drawing in them and that is fine with me. I think after our dog was killed, my motivation really spiralled for a few weeks. And of course camps and relatives visiting can be distracting too. So who knows, I may have some fun pages to share at the end of summer…we are just living and that is good too.

Have a happy weekend. Nathan and I are going out tomorrow to celebrate our anniversary (1 month late!). You would think we were given a 2 week vacation. We are both so happy to just go out and be alone. See you Monday!

As most of you know, my sister and her husband have a great catering/retail business. This past Friday, I worked one of the more fun parties down in the city (Chicago). Every year this particular client chooses a color and everyone runs with it…My sister’s super talented friend Richard is a designer and he is the one in charge of the styling, etc. I just had to share some of the images from this fantastic night.

Obviously the color was brown…chocolate martininis were served…mini chocolate shakes…an incredible chocolate sculpture…wouldn’t you like to attend a party like this?


Yes, those are chocolate mooses (sp?)…and yes, all the decor came down after the party.

I wish I had taken more shots of the food, but I was on “spring roll duty”. This was a task I did not mind. My husband also was at the party taking footage for a short film he is making for Kim and Richard. I’ll be sure to let everyone know when it is complete. It’s going to be really cool.

Yesterday, my friend Elise and I took our kids to the Morton Arboretum. She has been many times, but this was my first visit and I was like a kid in a candy shop…or a kid riding a bike for the first time…or a kid in an airplane for the first time, you get the idea.

Here is a shot of our beautiful goddaughter, Esme’.

Recently I have had the urge to move. Somewhere different. But after going to this place, I am so glad it’s another reason why it is so great to live in the Chicago area.

There is a huge frog pond that the kids can hop from rock to rock and discover it’s beauty. Tree houses all over the place with rope bridges and ladders. A creek for kids to create dams and get their toes wet. Water pumps, tons of sand, mazes…

And then all over the park, there are trails and acres of trees, swamps, meadows…hmm, maybe I will have to move in. Do you think they will notice?

We plan on getting a membership and forgo the crowded zoo option this summer. I hope to visit this sanctuary weekly with the kids and bring sketchbooks to document the summer. Oh I can’t wait!

Don’t forget to leave a comment in my previous post…I want to give away CDs to 5 lucky readers.