Girl Scout Cookie Sale

Both of my daughters are selling Girl Scout Cookies for the first time.  Orders will be taken until Jan. 25th.  Please support my girls and the Scouts!  If you don't eat the cookies, buy some for your Mom, Dad, Grandparents, Coworkers or boss!  They'll love you for it!   $4 per box..  You can also donate a box of cookies. They will be given to Yellow Ribbon Operation Moms & USO Navel.

Girl Scouts of America advises to receive payment up-front if possible. This is preferred and appreciated.  Check can be made payable to:  Girl Scouts GCNWI.   Thanks for considering!  Distribution is Feb. 17, 2012.

Sunday, 3/15/09 - COVER Chicago SunTimes - I'm not even Irish

Everyone is wearing green and drinking at noon on this fair day in Chicago. It's a great surprise to me to find me and my girls on the front page of the Sunday, Chicago SunTimes. I knew we'd be in it as we were interviewed but to be on the cover - WOW. A huge holla to my neighbor, friend and overall super-person, Stephanie Zimmerman. She's a rock. She met Roger Dahltry twice and didn't sleep with him. haha. Chris Sweda the photo journalist hung out with us for an afternoon; ran errands, helped wrangle kids and never raised his voice once! At a boy, Chris. It was a pleasure to have you. Indi and Aislin were angels. They played independently, and were their usual charming selves. Indi turned into a bit of a green monster when Aislin was awake and in the picture. She demonstrated this by continually placing her hand in front of Aislin's face whenever the photographer took a photo. Stinker. Maybe that's why there are no photos with the face of Ais! It's OK, she's only two and the world isn't quite ready for her beauty. Inside and out.

So how did this come about? Stephanie Zimmerman, aforementioned rock, called me up and casually asked if I was available. As grocery shopping is akin to many mundane tasks of motherhood, I enthusiastically agreed. She said someone would call to set up the photos. they called 4 minutes after I got off the phone with Steph (luckily I answered it) and then it all was in motion. I had no clue it would be on the front page until I asked Chris Sweda (photojournalist) where the story might be placed. He paused and said "uh, the front page". I was in shock but thought it was so fun. Chris, BTW knew a gal I went to HS with, Sarah Murphy. I just thought of her, literally, 3 days ago. I thought, shoot I should have had her teach me some tennis back in the day. Small world.

Don't worry all this media attention won't go to my head. Last year I pounded the pavement and landed a big 6 minute interview for the PAPC (www.papchicago.com) - my painting group. When the segment aired, I was not in it. I was interviewed but they forgot to turn on my mic. No beck to be found anywhere. So this SunTimes interview is like karma. It's coming back to me and good. Does this mean that people who owe me phone calls will return them... likely NO - but's this is enjoyable nonetheless. I'm so proud of my girls!

Finishing the wine and eating rye toast... Beck out.

What do Stay-at-Home-Moms Do Anyways

Instead of flat out bragging about my kids. I'll just display them here. I feel very blessed to live in such a charming and neat urban neighborhood.

I recently found out that there is a rock band out of Dallas, TX named "Don't Wake Aislin". I thought I made up the spelling of Aislin - albeit not that creatively. Crazy! Anyone heard of this band?

Aislin's turn with Mom while Indi was at school. Aislin loves to run and be free!

Art at any age

Indi holding Ais's artwork.

My kids have the great opportunity of participating in a Kids-only art show at The Gring Cafe in Lincoln Square. We had a fab time making our collages. Both girls started by cutting up old slick newspapers into squares. Sketched out a real shape and then glued the paper to white cardstock paper along the shape they just drew. They then colored in the space around the subject using oil pastels. Finally, they covered the entire painting in gel gloss. Indi was fascinated that the gel gloss went on white but dried clear!

We hit the road to check out the display at Grind Cafe. Indigo was so excited when she walked in proclaiming "there it is!". We also saw some art from some of our other friends. I'm so proud.

Woz Up - psychotic rambling on the Wizard of Oz

Almost all of you have had "The Wizard of Oz" as an early childhood movie experience. Just recently it was on TV and my daughter, Indi watched it for the first time. She was really diggin' it. That is until the flying monkeys came on the scene. Indi wailed aloud and was very afraid that Toto would never find his way back his Dorothy and friends. I remember freaking out at the same part when I was a kid. Witches were no big deal for me. Just meet my sisters and you'll know why (juuuuuust kidding - they are reading this too). But the flying monkeys were freaky. Even to this day I marvel at how the actor moved. Was it an actor or a dressed up monkey. Kinda spooky.

Have any of you, throughout your life, encountered people whom you associate the main characters in the WOZ? Have friends or acquaintances who are reminiscent of the scarecrow, tin man, Lion or Wicked Witch? Glenda doesn't get much play in my imagination for some reason. We give the good credit to "the fairy Godmother", don't we. We don't say "I dodged that car accident by a hair. I must have a Glenda!".

As I've gone through life I've, unintentionally, found some friends that are "My Scarecrow, and My Cowardly Lion. There's no formal competition. It's merely the junction of emotional and crazy imagination at work. WOZ characters break down as follows: Scarecrow=wants a brain, gets a diploma, tin man= wants a heart, gets a watch, lion-wants courage gets a medal, Dorothy=wants to go home, wakes up from her coma in the Dustbowl.

I have My Scarecrow. He knows who he is (Dorothy will miss him most of all). I might have My Cowardly Lion. I'm not sure because I'm pissed at who it may be. I definitely have the witches (see a few paragraphs up --haha) but to date, no Tin Man. That's one of the Big Three. All represent some kind of unique connection to me and my life. It's completely arbitrary and inconsistently derived. As irony has it - the Scarecrow didn't need a brain as he was already very clever. The lion didn't need courage, he just needed some confidence. The Tin Man didn't need a heart as he was a deep feeler and sacrificed himself for his companions - as they all did.

My Tin Man hasn't sacrificed anything for me. He just seems to fit. Odd, I know. There is something emanating from this person that says Tin Man! Big, strong, hallow, shiny, and rusted frozen from the rain, rescused by a girl with a dog who uses his own oil can to set him free. A bunch of contrary characteristics honestly. Maybe that's how I've defined them... by the contradictions. If that's the case, you'd think I'd have more candidates.

What character are you in the lives of others?

Winter Water Fun

We had a wonderful time with the Engstrom Family at Grizzley Jack's water park near Starved Rock State Park. An easy, 90 minute drive from Chicago! The girls had a wonderful time. Aislin and Annikah Engstrom are kissing buddies. It was so stinkin' adorable! Annikah was a real daredevil thoroughly enjoying the water slides by herself! Indi's adventurous spirit must have kicked in sometime since August because she too was raring to go into the wave pool, jumping with each swell! I took her into the deeper water and we were in the thick of the wave mosh pit with all the tweens! Grizzley Jack's also has a nice indoor Amusement Park for kids.

Indi and Ais both enjoyed their first amusement park rides. That is until Aislin dropped a stink bomb and we had to get out of there pronto! Murphy's Law kicked in and the shuttle bus was literally loaded to capacity with passengers. All choking on the black fog emanating from Aislin's diaper. Yep, Aislin does it again. Nearly a weapon of mass destruction. We were dropped off first :-)



Snaps to my good friend, Roxanne, who took superb and generous amounts of photos of the fandamily. She also is a sista as I wasn't in any them (in my bathing suit). Phew, dodged that bullet. Of course, Rox looks great. If you like what you see you can check out her blog (see link to the right). I highly recommend Grizzley Jack's Resort and Starved Rock.

The Littlest Gymnast

My precocious 4 year old daughter, Indigo, had her very first gymnastics meet this past Sunday. She was invited to be part of the Peterson Park Gymnastics Center’s team this year. I asked “Coach Jillian” the criteria for them inviting her. They said, body type. Hmmm. $160 later Indigo is officially coiffed in a fancy mandatory “team leotard” and warm ups.

The meet was a neat experience for all of us. It took Indi all of 10 seconds to complete her “pass”. I’m so proud of her! She had a lot of fun with the other gymnasts and was very friendly to her competition. A true diplomat! Look out Condoleza! Grandma B, Auntie Ab, and Nick were there to cheer her on as was Gramma and Grandpa Anstee! A great showing!

Gymnastics is a wonderful way to build core strength and coordination. The skills will transfer to any sport one wishes to pursue. This very moment Indigo is practicing her cartwheels on the living room carpet (not quite there yet)! I will add lastly that Aislin is a very brave, and coordinated toddler! She loves to climb and is already standing on her head while kicking a leg into the air! I think she may be more of a natural than Indi. I will enroll Ais in a mom and tot gymnastics class this Winter. I can’t wait. She’ll LOVE it! Simple pleasures.
Here’s a video of Indi’s very first gymnastics tumbling pass.