Bittersweet Fathers Day Trip

My dad was born in Daylight Tennessee on March 1, 1920....he grew up in the south on a beautiful farm and went to serve his country at a very young age during WWII...here is a picture from a move film clip of him arriving in the Philippines with General MacArthur...he was in a different ship and they held his ship for a long time to make sure MacArthur could land first (10/20/1944) and the USO was there to greet the soldiers...this is one of many theatres my dad served in during the War....

This year my dad is not doing so good so my brother and I flew up to my mom and dads and also where my sister lives so we could share the day with him and as a family

A couple of the days my dad was able to get up and join us at the table for dinner....just us original 5....we told great stories and named our favorite meals and dad kept us laughing with all the witty remarks he always makes....I was happy when Steve and Rocky joined us mid trip

My mom and her sweet dog Mitzi doing some crafts I got her busy with...Mitzi is a Mommy's girl lap dog for sure

Dad in his chair reading a card from Kristen and the boys.....

It was a wonderful and devastating trip all at the same time....bitter bitter bitter sweet

Chi Town for work and then some fun!!!

Yet another work trip back to Chicago....three of those 14 hour days in the windowless Board room crunching numbers....and then Thursday at noon my Baby Girl arrived so I could show her the Chicago I love and have been visiting for work with every job I have had even before she was born in 1982!!!!


Of course, she being a semi pro photographer, she was able to capture some really incredible pictures of this beautiful city....some I will be sharing here....

We rode the Loop/L all over town and walked and walked and walked....we lucked out with incredible weather.....we went to Wrigleyville to check out the ball park.....I wanted to show her the old school base ball town and ways....the train was filled with 'earthy gritty blue collars' and we loved it and loved them....

We walked all over Wrigleyville by all the row houses and saw all the rooftop chairs overlooking the ballpark and even saw these cute porches with field seats

Loved Loved Loved these row houses

also went to Navy Pier and went to the Stained Glass Museum on site...we both loved stained glass and the artistic interpretations on the incredible pieces of art

....the color combinations were incredible and it included some Tiffany pieces....

....for years I would walk State Street and Michigan Avenue always wanting to show Kristen the city (like showing Adam DC) I knew she would love it...and the American Girls store.....what is not to love about that place at any age.....she had two of these dolls and the collection has really expanded and the displays are incredible.....she was a bit sad to see that her dolls have been 'archived'....what a nice way to say old and retired :)

Of course we had to sample Garrett's popcorn....you can smell it from the street and boy is it worth waiting in line for....mmmmmm....even on our last day we walked downtown to get some for Steve and Brian....

Gotta love the old school Chicago Fire Departments....so friendly and nice....

The tulips (the annual show from 4/1 - 5/31) were in FULL BLOOM and so very beautiful in the wrought iron flower boxes as we walked along the Lake and up and down the streets - every color and every one more beautiful than the next....

Red, yellow, white, purple, pink, peach.....so so pretty

Pretty girl....pretty flowers

Of course a stop at Marshall Fields (I refuse to call it Macy's) and the largest piece of Tiffany glass on the 4th floor of that magnificent and iconic shopping store.....I was saddened to see that the other major old school store on State St (Carson Prairie Scott) had closed and is reopening as a Target (my heart is aching)....

The incredibly beautiful Chicago River by Oprah's penthouse apt and that vicarious parking structure.....

The 'Bean' at Millennium Park...

Thank you Chicago for being your beautiful shinny wonderful fun and welcoming place for us...from State Street to Michigan Avenue to DownTown Dogs to Jenos Pizza to Crate and Barrel to Disney Store Chicago to Lakeshore Drive to Navy Pier to Wrigleyville to our adorable hotel to your tulips and your popcorn and your Fileens Basement and your Marshall Fields and your Millennium Park and your Navy Pier and your colorful personalities of those that live there and your Row Houses and your art and museums and your Loop and Rush Street and more....you gave us great memories and plans to come again....

Camping in the Lagunas with Rock of the Westies

This is our fave camp spot in the Laguna mountains.....Meadowloop #13......we have camped here for years and this is the first time we have seen the water levels up this high in the Meadow!

This is our little campsite all set up....it isn't much but we love it....being outside in the woods taking long hikes under blue skies and millions of stars at night.....

Rocky loves to camp the 1st day....he loves all the smells and sights and hikes, but by the 2nd day he is ready to head home to his comfy doggy bed....

I am disappointed in this picture...my camera was acting up and I thought I got one of his profile....bummed...the guy with the telescope was impressed with Rocky's climbing skills....
this is where he gets his nickname Rock of the Westies....

Rocky was entertained by the squirrels that lived in the log at the corner of our campsite.....we had to tie him up once in awhile so that he would not tunnel in and get bit! We put out cornnuts on the top of the stump and would watch for hours while the squirrel would pack them away in his jaws and once in awhile enjoy one!

So nice to getaway and enjoy the outside once in awhile!!!

Doctor, Doctor - Give me the News....I gotta bad case of lovin blues....

We had a little brotherly altercation this week at a family dinner....it was not intentionally and it happened on the stairs which is not a good place for little boys to play and it ended with little Brody being rushed to the hospital bleeding and needing 3 staples in the back of his head! Dylan stayed with us and he was really concerned about his brother and once they were reunited they have been particularly close.....even sleeping together at our house.....they usually want their own rooms.....

Since I am always looking for learning opportunities and in this case it was to teach about people getting hurt and healing and caring for them and they get better I went on the hunt for a doctor kit...found this one complete with Dr. jacket and face mask....

A far cry from the old kits I was used to get in the late 50's.....my sister was the worst kid ever to go to the doctor....at family gatherings we still laugh out loud at her antics....those poor nurses....I am sure they hated seeing her as much as she hated going....for those of you who know her and want to hear great stories....ask her....anyway, I digress....when I was really good at the doctor my mom would take me to Newberry's and buy me a doctor kit....of course, little girls were suppose to get the Nurses kit, but my mom was way ahead of her time and let me get the 'more masculine' doctor kit....I remember how much fun I had with it...back then they came with real sugar pills and eye glasses that you propped on your nose and tongue depressors....my dolls really got a workout after my doctor visits.....so this morning when Kristen picked up Brody for soccer, Dylan stayed behind with us for a couple of hours. Out came the new Dr. Kit.....I let him pick the 'patients' and explain to the patients what he was doing and why....he was incredibly gentle and kind....and he picked all animals....they all got shots! He removed several fleas and Snoopy even had a baby bird in his ear that he removed. Once their exam was completed they all got band aids and stickers for being good!!

Gently and kind Dr. Dylan....checking the heart on doggy.....when he applied shots I would pretend to cry and he said 'that is not necessary, this will only pinch a little....

so many patients all healed with bandaids and stickers.....

Thank you, Dr. Dylan, for healing the sick and being such a wonderful caregiver

Thrift Store Finds ~ Repurposing ~ 60's TV Flashbacks

After weeks of craziness and being off schedule, it was nice to have a chance last Monday to hit my fave Thrift Store....I have been on the hunt for a lazy susan.....I remember watching TV in the 1960s (My Three Sons) and watching them at the dinner table using a lazy susan....I have been intrigued ever since.....so, to my surprise I found one on my last thrifting trip for $2.95 and decided to repurpose it to match my decor a bit better.....I loved that it was all wood and well made but the butcher block finish was just not appealing....I headed to Michaels and bought a beautiful shade of nutmeg for .50 cents and a small jar of modge podge with a 50% off coupon for $1.48 so for less than $2.00 in supplies and for a total investment of under $5.00 I have this new beauty.....Step 1, dry painting on the nutmeg paint.....

....step 2, two heavy coats of modge-podge.....

step 3....letting it dry really well....also, remember my cast iron owl that I got thrifting and repainted - he got a coat of modge podge also....

Final step.....isn't she a beauty.....looks great on my mission style dining room table....Chip, Ernie, Rob - your late for dinner!

Easter 2011

These two green T-Rex's were the greeters for the family coming in for our annual Easter Brunch

Instead of a warm sunny day, it was cool and a bit drizzly....but that did not slow down Dylan in the egg hunt...he even conned Gramps into holding the bucket while he hunted!

Brody did the best finding the hard to find eggs that were up high....Uncle Adam was the perfect assistant to reach those high places!

Two little dogs (Cosby & Rocky) view the hunt from the swing....Benson was right with the boys.....

After the hunt we all sat down for brunch; ham, potatoes, asparagus, cowboy caviar, pinto beans and apple crisp and ice cream for dessert....we missed you Brian!

Truth be told I think I overcooked the potatoes and apple crisp - I am no cook and am constantly humbled by my attempts!

Big Boy Work = Little Boy Fun

A few weekends ago our water heater went out....which is crazy as in the 23 years we have been here this was our 3rd water heater! Steve was determined not only to hold the warranty in tact but install/replace it himself (after our quote of $1500.00!)

So step one was to drain the water out of the outgoing water heater.....he hooked up the hose to drain it and 2 very interested little boys decided to help....

The water that was draining was so warm and it was a warm Sat morning and it was just too tempting for two little darlings in their pj's.....

so as long as the water drained....the play continued....water and little boys - a match made in heaven.....

hmmmmm GiGi's car looks like it should be washed with draining water heater water!!!

Boys will be Boys!