Randam Answers

This morning I started to meal plan and made a grocery list for the upcoming weekend and week. Trying to get a head start on the errands so Ican spend some time in the garden this weekend! I was at a loss for meal ideas. Quite typical when the last week of school approaches with oodles to do and wrapping up all loose ends! I immensely love my summer breaks, but the first and last weeks can be hectic. Anyway, I digress. I turn to Simon for some help. I think he was a bit confused because 1. we just talked about what vegetables to plant in the garden, 2. we just had breakfast so the next meal of the day is lunch, and 3. dinner is not his stealor meal.

Me: Simon, what would you like to eat for dinner?
Simon: pause
Simon: no garlic - pause - no mushrooms- no peppers
Simon: green beans and carrots. That's the vegetables I like.

Unfortunately, we will be trying a new Terriyaki Flank Steak with Mushrooms Stir Fry this Saturday, courtesy of America's Test Kitchen.

I am curious to know why he said "no garlic"!

Who did what?

Crayons and the coloring sheets help us get through many church services. One Sunday, this was the result. One colored by Simon, the other colored by Norah. Can you guess who's is whose?

Tulip Free For All - Second Edition

Some of you may recall last year's rendition of our "Tulip Free For All". Well, this year we again went harvesting tulip. I grabbed our recycle bin, my garden gloves, and Simon's garden gloves and headed to the Sears parking lot at Oakbrook mall for the 2:30 dump. I hoped and prayed the entire time that Norah would stay asleep or be content in the car seat within a short distance from me. My wish was granted and Simon loved it! The security guard this year said "okay people, we are not going to repeat what happened at the 11:30 dump today. Nobody goes until I say go, if you do you will not get any tulips and will be asked to leave. No pushing or shoving and no rakes or shovels. They are just tulips, I don't want anyone to get hurt." And here I am telling Simon that if we get just one tulip that's more than we had before and there is plenty for everyone to share. That was Thursday. I am hoping we got some red and deep purple tulips.

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Saturday Eric ran errands and told us upon returning that Villa Park was giving away their tulips. I took Simon and we borrowed Norah's toy wagon and headed 1.5 blocks down to Lufkin park to get some more tulips. Villa Park handed us our two bags of tulips which fit perfectly in our little wagon. One of the ladies stated that he was too cute and wondered where the newspaper was! We received many smiles from drivers as we hauled our spring-time loot home! I know these are yellow and brighter purple.

Mother's Day

I had a lovely Mother's day. It started on Thursday with Mommy time at preschool. I was able to play in the gym, make a project, enjoy circle time, sing songs, and play with Simon in his preschool. He made and wrapped my first handprint gift. Of course I was soooo happy and almost cried at how beautiful it was. His handprint was turned into a flower with paint - it still sits on my mantel and will be framed. Of course his card had a poem that tugged at my heart strings!

Then on Saturday, we went to the Chicago Botanic Gardens and had a lovely time. We enjoyed a picnic and took a long walk through the gardens. They trees were all in bloom along a walkway and were breathtaking. Beauty amazed us at every turn. Norah kept saying "ooooh and wow" when she saw something that fancied her.

Norah loved the tulips, which were as tall or taller than her. She could not help but point and gaze at them. Here is a great picture. (It was a chilly day, and under her sweatshirt is a dress my Mom and Aunt made for her.)

Simon, so happy sitting on a wall. I'm just glad he is not Humpty Dumpty!

Simon and I enjoyed the waterfall garden. It was so incredible. Simon hiked up again with Eric so he could see it. There was a path only so far up, the stroller could not get to the top.

The end of our visit, with our pooped little puppies. But they are so good and enjoy being together!

We scurried home to prepare dinner for Eric's parents, his brother Bryan and Annie. We had a special meal before we gave her this special gift.

She still did not know what it could be.

A big quilt/blanket, but still not sure of the significance. Upon clues and closer inspection, she realized that it was her mother's handkerchiefs. I put together the quilt top minus the borders. My initial attempt created lopsided borders, and I put it away for several years. When Simon was born and my Mom was here, she helped rip out the seams. Then a year ago I asked my aunt for help. Cindy is quite the quilter, and she came to my rescue. She graciously offered to put the binding on after her friend quilted it for me.

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Peggy did not remember me asking for her mother's handkerchiefs in Grandma's bedroom, at her funeral. I would make her a quilt. Eric's mom absolutely loves the quilt, and does not remember that story.

Here's how it looked on our bed before gift wrapping.

Sunday we had a lovely day. We went for a long bike ride after church and a yummy breakfast at home. We biked along the new Salt Creek Greenway Trail and played at a park along the way. Both Saturday and Sunday, Simon fell asleep at 4:30, and stayed that way after his transfer from the car seat/bike trailer to his bed. On Mother's day, Eric and I enjoyed a grilled dinner alone, without children. We must have tired them out! A very lovely weekend spent with very lovely children, that allow me to be pampered on Mother's Day.

Two Weeks Notice

Today I noticed that I have two weeks left until 11.75 weeks of summer time fun without stepping foot into my school!!!  Yippee!  I told Simon that "lots-a-Momma" days are ahead. Here are my goals, in "Ten Items or Less" fashion:

1. Work out more in the a.m. before Eric goes to work or evenings sans children, or long walks/bike rides to parks with children.

2. Picture book picnics in the park, put on by the library.

3. Pool time, walk 1.5 blocks to our local pool

4. Schedule time to play with little buddies on a regular basis.  

5. Swimming lessons for my little guy.

6. VBS for the first time for the little guy

7.  Family reunion to Iowa

8.  A trip or two to MN, one following the Iowa trip and one for the state fair

9.  Grilling out, playing in the yard, having fun, laughing, etc.

10. Order prints from my digital camera and start/finish/continue the photo albums

11. and finally trying to figure out and implement the summer schedule of house-cleaning and errands before the summer ends

Mister the Widow Has Passed On

Way back when I was pregnant with Norah, (which really seems like a long time ago), we decided to add a fish to our home. We went through about 2-3 fish until one was happily living more than a few days in our large bowl. I always called her a "he" and "him" and could not get the fact that she was a female beta fish. So I named her "Mister". (Simon named every fish "Dorothy", from Elmo's World.)

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A few weeks ago I took Norah to Shoe Carnival hoping to find her some summer shoes. It was a rainy preschool morning and I had only one child with my while running a few errands. The store did not open at 9:00 like I thought, but the PetSmart next door did! You would think to just come back later when the store opened at 9:30, but I was already out, had only one child, and nap time was looming ahead. I had a half-hour to spend until the shoe store opened, so off we went looking at fish, birds, gerbils, mouse/rats and such. Not much time spent gawking at the mice/rats. (Sorry critters, but you once inhabited our house and we are not friendly towards you.) As the sole customer in the store right at opening, I felt a bit awkward when an employee asked me if I needed help. So, the question "What fish can live with a female beta fish?" came out of my mouth. Of course any little tropical fish would do as long as there weren't long fins for "Mister" to pick at. So, we came home with a stripey cool looking fish, that I named "Misses", that happily lived in our home for about a week. (In case you are interested, I bought myself a pair of summer shoes and a pair of brown sandals for Simon. I cannot pass up the "buy one pair - get the second pair for 1/2 off!" Struck out for Norah.)

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This evening, Eric asks me how Mister is doing, and well, she is just floating around the top of her bowl. Sad, slightly furry, and so NOT alive. Her life was long and happy!

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Watching fish really is mesmerizing and relaxing, so I am interested in getting more colorful fish. Perhaps not a beta as that limits the social life of fish.

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What else shall I do with the large bowl with colored blue glass marbles?

Fun in the Yard

A few weekends ago we enjoyed some fun playtime in the yard. Norah is on the go and boy, does she go ev.ery.where!!! In the garage, around the house, down the sidewalk, and practically into the street!! She needs a constant eye on her at all times. That sure makes yard work and gardening difficult!

Simon decided to scooter around the block with Daddy. Walking, triking, scootering, strollering around the block has become a favorite pass-time around here. It amazes me how a leisurely jaunt around the block chases away the afternoon doldrums that pop up uninvited.

Receiving Life, Giving Life, now Sharing the Story

Awhile back I was contacted to do an interview regarding ourstory of donating umbilical cord blood. Which really isn't our story. The story starts with my Mom, who has survived leukemia twice. The second time thanks to a special person out in the world whose mommy donated the umbilical cord blood so the precious stem cells could be used to save lives. And a special life was saved! I have had a few media requests inquiring about ourstory, but this is the first that has materialized. I get a bit nervous when I get those calls, as I am not so interested in being just a 30 second news story. This project was completed by a student and I feel it is well done. Most of the information is right, a few details like dates and a mispelled last name are just a tad off. Several of the pictures are from our donation. The first story is about my Mom and our donation to complete the gift of life. Chicago Parent magazine is printing some combination of the cord blood stories, and they will appear in July.

Family Donates Umbilical Cord Blood to Continue the Circle of Life

Cord Blood Researchers Banking on Hope

A Mother Fights for Research

Private and Public Banks are out for Blood

A Dinner Conversation

Simon asks: "What says /s/ /s/ /s/?"
Simon answers: "S"

Simon asks: "What says /t/ /t/ /t/?"
Simon answers:? "T"

Daddy asks: "What says eat your noodles?"
Simon answers: "E"

Who should not laugh but does: Mommy & Daddy

Who takes for.ev.er. to eat noodles: Simon

The Word of the Day

Norah's most used word is "uh-oh" and she says and uses it quite well.  She has even produced a clear and crisp "uh-oh" prior to trouble.  Sort of a warning.  Most of her dropped items include food; so she says "uh-oh" several times each meal/snack and the floor is swept immediately after.  

She has turned a few heads by producing "duh" which seems to mean "done" or "down".  We heard it at home and the sitter has also heard it at the end of a meal.

Norah has recently been chanting "buh" while carrying a book around and stops chanting when we scoop her up and read the book to her.  A favorite activity includes stripping the bookshelf of its contents.

This morning she waddles into the bathroom where I am and babbles something like "muh-muh buh-buh".  She had not had a bottle or any milk yet. 

We think that words are on her way!  

Last night Simon and Norah bathed together, always a hoot.  Simon showed her how to blow bubbles.  And she proceeded to bend over, stick her face in the water, and blow a raspberry.  I happened to capture the moment on video as she repeated this trick.  Too darn cute!