I want to do this!
I want to and have thought about this for years putting the kids' going home outfits and baptism outfits in a shadow box. Question is where would I hide 4 shadowboxes (two for each kid).
Both of my kids' baptism outfits were made by my godmother. Our daughter's going home outfit was picked out by my mom and sister and given to me at my shower and our son's was picked out by Ryan and I when I was on bedrest.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Love Ornaments!
Every year the kids and I get Hallmark ornaments from my dad and Connie. I have the daughter series, Serena has the granddaughter series and Xander has the grandson series. I get a Nieman Marcus ornament from my boss every year. And St. Nick brings the kids an ornament every year that pertains to their interests for that year. Plus the countless personal ornaments from the kids' school projects, etc.
I am glad I started this with our kids. They love their ornaments and look forward to helping place them on the tree each year.
And I started the Mickey's Movie Mouseterpieces series for our godson last year.
And last but not least, I plan on doing this next year with our tassels and continuing the tradition with the kids.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Chicago Tips
A lot of you know that I Chicago is my second home. I love it there. I go so much that people often ask me for tips.
First, if you belong to the St. Louis Zoo, bring your membership card. If you visit Lincoln Park Zoo you can get 10% off purchases of food and souvenirs. Lincoln Park is free admission. This is the zoo that is downtown. Brookfield Zoo is not free and is not downtown. Brookfield also does not appear to participate in the reciprocal zoo program. Read this. It is pretty neat really for any zoo in the U.S. If you belong to one, and traveling to another city look to see what discounts you can get at other zoos.
Second, check to see if any of the museums you plan to visit offer discount days for IL residents. I have listed the more common museums with information and links.
Shedd's Aquarium - That has the Illinois Resident Discount days (free general admission). Bank of America discount information (if you have a bank of america/merrill lynch atm/credit/debit card), active military personnel, and IL educator discount information. Be prepared to stand in line for about an hour on a good day! (Unless you want to pay the higher admission fees). Here is a link to the prices and hours.
Museum of Science and Industry - That lists the various discounts provided and this lists the specific free days for 2014 for Illinois residents. Here are the regular admission prices and hours. I have not been here but the disney exhibit they have until May 4th looks pretty interesting! This museum reciprocates if you have a members to St. Louis Science Center (or any science museum on the list)
Adler Planetarium - Scroll to the bottom and it has the IL resident free days. So far it is only listing January dates. They will update as the year goes on. IL teachers and active military personnel get free admission. This museum reciprocates if you have a members to St. Louis Science Center (or any science museum on the list)
Art Institute of Chicago (Our daughter's Favorite) - Winter weekdays are free for IL residents Jan. 6 through Feb. 12. IL residents also get free Thursday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m.
Field Museum - That lists the free admission days for IL Residents. So far only the January dates are showing. The plan your visit link indicates IL teachers and active military have free admission every day. That also has admission prices and hours. This museum reciprocates if you have a members to St. Louis Science Center (or any science museum on the list)
History Museum - That has the free IL resident days and this has the hours. This was pretty interesting three years ago and our daughter has actually requested to go back but she is fascinated with Chicago.
Childrens Museum - Free first sunday of the month for kids under 15. Free IL teachers and military personnel. As well as a link to $1 off coupon. The coupon changes so keep checking back. Here are hours and regular admission. Looks like if you belong to St. Louis Children's Museum (aka magic house) or any children's museum on the Association of Children's Museum list you can get 50% off admission.
Transportation (to Chicago):
I love taking Amtrak. You can leave from St. Louis (usually about $10 cheaper per roundtrip but takes hour longer (5-6hours)) or leave from Centralia (4-5 hours). Kids under 2 are free, kids 2-15 are half price. If you are staying downtown I highly recommend this v. driving. parking is astronomical!!!!
I have taken Megabus and well I hate it. I have nothing good to say except the fares are low but you get what you pay for. Some people like it. I didn't. They make no accomodations for families as an FYI. if you travel with kids they will not guarantee you sit with them. no matter the age.
Transportation (around Chicago):
If you have a smart phone, the CTA is pretty easy to figure out. Just don't ask me about how to get passes in advance. I am confused with the new Ventra system (and so are they).
Tours:
The double decker tours are neat to see. I have done this several times and would go again. Especially since I have yet to do the neighborhood tours!
The architectural tours by boat are amazing too! Gives you a lot of history of the different buildings.
More stuff to do that I may recap later...Willis Tower (sears tower), John Hancock, Navy Pier (which is being renovated), American Girl, Millennium Park, and Garrett's Popcorn is a must!
First, if you belong to the St. Louis Zoo, bring your membership card. If you visit Lincoln Park Zoo you can get 10% off purchases of food and souvenirs. Lincoln Park is free admission. This is the zoo that is downtown. Brookfield Zoo is not free and is not downtown. Brookfield also does not appear to participate in the reciprocal zoo program. Read this. It is pretty neat really for any zoo in the U.S. If you belong to one, and traveling to another city look to see what discounts you can get at other zoos.
Second, check to see if any of the museums you plan to visit offer discount days for IL residents. I have listed the more common museums with information and links.
Shedd's Aquarium - That has the Illinois Resident Discount days (free general admission). Bank of America discount information (if you have a bank of america/merrill lynch atm/credit/debit card), active military personnel, and IL educator discount information. Be prepared to stand in line for about an hour on a good day! (Unless you want to pay the higher admission fees). Here is a link to the prices and hours.
Museum of Science and Industry - That lists the various discounts provided and this lists the specific free days for 2014 for Illinois residents. Here are the regular admission prices and hours. I have not been here but the disney exhibit they have until May 4th looks pretty interesting! This museum reciprocates if you have a members to St. Louis Science Center (or any science museum on the list)
Adler Planetarium - Scroll to the bottom and it has the IL resident free days. So far it is only listing January dates. They will update as the year goes on. IL teachers and active military personnel get free admission. This museum reciprocates if you have a members to St. Louis Science Center (or any science museum on the list)
Art Institute of Chicago (Our daughter's Favorite) - Winter weekdays are free for IL residents Jan. 6 through Feb. 12. IL residents also get free Thursday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m.
Field Museum - That lists the free admission days for IL Residents. So far only the January dates are showing. The plan your visit link indicates IL teachers and active military have free admission every day. That also has admission prices and hours. This museum reciprocates if you have a members to St. Louis Science Center (or any science museum on the list)
History Museum - That has the free IL resident days and this has the hours. This was pretty interesting three years ago and our daughter has actually requested to go back but she is fascinated with Chicago.
Childrens Museum - Free first sunday of the month for kids under 15. Free IL teachers and military personnel. As well as a link to $1 off coupon. The coupon changes so keep checking back. Here are hours and regular admission. Looks like if you belong to St. Louis Children's Museum (aka magic house) or any children's museum on the Association of Children's Museum list you can get 50% off admission.
Transportation (to Chicago):
I love taking Amtrak. You can leave from St. Louis (usually about $10 cheaper per roundtrip but takes hour longer (5-6hours)) or leave from Centralia (4-5 hours). Kids under 2 are free, kids 2-15 are half price. If you are staying downtown I highly recommend this v. driving. parking is astronomical!!!!
I have taken Megabus and well I hate it. I have nothing good to say except the fares are low but you get what you pay for. Some people like it. I didn't. They make no accomodations for families as an FYI. if you travel with kids they will not guarantee you sit with them. no matter the age.
Transportation (around Chicago):
If you have a smart phone, the CTA is pretty easy to figure out. Just don't ask me about how to get passes in advance. I am confused with the new Ventra system (and so are they).
Tours:
The double decker tours are neat to see. I have done this several times and would go again. Especially since I have yet to do the neighborhood tours!
The architectural tours by boat are amazing too! Gives you a lot of history of the different buildings.
More stuff to do that I may recap later...Willis Tower (sears tower), John Hancock, Navy Pier (which is being renovated), American Girl, Millennium Park, and Garrett's Popcorn is a must!
Friday, January 3, 2014
Those Moments
My post yesterday mentioned those moments we question where we went wrong. Well our daughter on Christmas morning managed to lose all of her gifts from under the tree. Not lose as in not know where they are. Lose as in, lost the privilege of enjoying them.
She got a bottle of perfume that looked smaller than the one her godmother got her two years ago. (just as a note it was the same fl. oz. just sized differently). after going back and forth a while of her trying to prove me wrong. I asked what the big deal was. Her response was (with attitude) it isn't going to last that long. I was annoyed (understatement). My husband sent her to bed. She stormed upstairs (got in trouble for that too) and then sent back to bed. The more I sat here the more annoyed I was with her reaction. We did not raise our kids to be ungrateful and rude. And she was just that. So I put all of her gifts into a bag and set them in the office. She had to earn them back by during various chores and helping with various things. She eventually got them back and hopefully this will teach her to be respectful.
I know, I know. This is just the beginning.
She got a bottle of perfume that looked smaller than the one her godmother got her two years ago. (just as a note it was the same fl. oz. just sized differently). after going back and forth a while of her trying to prove me wrong. I asked what the big deal was. Her response was (with attitude) it isn't going to last that long. I was annoyed (understatement). My husband sent her to bed. She stormed upstairs (got in trouble for that too) and then sent back to bed. The more I sat here the more annoyed I was with her reaction. We did not raise our kids to be ungrateful and rude. And she was just that. So I put all of her gifts into a bag and set them in the office. She had to earn them back by during various chores and helping with various things. She eventually got them back and hopefully this will teach her to be respectful.
I know, I know. This is just the beginning.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Christmas reflections
So we asked the kids what their favorite present was this year from under the tree. Serena's response was the papa frame we bought her. She got a ton of clothes, perfume (don't get us started on THAT topic- a blog for another day), fingernail stuff, a blanket. And her favorite is a frame that cost about $3 on Black Friday (kohls.com). Why? because it had sentimental value to you because she is close to my dad and he has had an uphill battle with cancer this year. He's still battling (he's a fighter!). So out of everything she got the frame was the favorite. Times like these make up for the times we question where we went wrong. (see future post about perfume). Probably sometime this week when I have time to put it out there)
Xander's favorite (from Christmas morning) flops from turtle to legos to shellraiser to transformer.
I got a frame and rainbow brite ornament that are equally my favorite (from Christmas morning). They both have sentimental value.
On another note, I am looking forward to using the rest of my Kohls giftcard from my parents. I bought some shirts and still have some money left over. I am also looking forward to using our zoo membership from Dad and Connie. Hoping for decent 2014 weather so we can do that.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
No motivation.......what.so.ever!!!
As most of you know, it took me til Dec. 14th/15th to get my tree up. This is late compared to every other year prior where it is up the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year was different. First we were in Chicago Thanksgiving weekend. No big deal, right? Just put it up during the week (I had the time, technically...). Well I was on medical leave and not released to do much of anything until the Monday after Thanksgiving and then returned to work on Wednesday. By time I got home in the evening, I was exhausted. So then we were looking at putting it up Dec. 7th which ended up being the night of our 12 year old's birthday slumber party. 5 girls...which meant 10 legs and arms I had to worry about getting into the tree while they sleep. (Do you realize how much kids move in their sleep when they have an entire room...well enough to hear clattering of ornaments). So we decided to wait til after the sleepover. I wasn't home the day after the sleepover and the next day was her actual birthday which meant cake and ice cream with godparents and grandparents. so we decided to let her have one birthday without a Christmas tree up. So long story short...it finally went up Dec. 14th.
I told myself it would come down the weekend after Christmas but it kind of felt like a waste to put up for 2 weeks. And we all ended up feeling like crud. So I told myself Jan. 1 since we had the day off. And it's still up. So let's set a goal for this weekend. We have nothing going on this weekend so hopefully it will happen.
This is not the only thing I am not motivated to do. I am always tired! Always! I was like this pre-surgery and it's worse now. I have asked about it and I am told it could take 6 months to a year to feel normal again. At least the meds seem to be working which reminds me I forgot to take it today. Crap.
Until my next rant.
I told myself it would come down the weekend after Christmas but it kind of felt like a waste to put up for 2 weeks. And we all ended up feeling like crud. So I told myself Jan. 1 since we had the day off. And it's still up. So let's set a goal for this weekend. We have nothing going on this weekend so hopefully it will happen.
This is not the only thing I am not motivated to do. I am always tired! Always! I was like this pre-surgery and it's worse now. I have asked about it and I am told it could take 6 months to a year to feel normal again. At least the meds seem to be working which reminds me I forgot to take it today. Crap.
Until my next rant.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
New Year, Same Thoughts....
Last year I posted this. I am AGAIN trying this blogging thing. I really want to keep up with it. A better place to post those random thoughts!
So here is a recap of 2013, plus my wishes for 2014.
What did 2013 bring:
-1 outpatient and 1 inpatient surgery - both for me. Shocking I know! However, due to the inpatient surgery (hysterectomy) I will not need anymore outpatient surgeries for those issues.
-S had some thyroid issues (low) and saw an endocrinologist.
-X developed a petechea rash that landed us in the E.R. at Cardinal Glennon, an overnight stay at Cardinal Glennon and a visit to a hematologist/oncologist with no real answers to date. Yes he still gets the rash but no it's never bad enough to put him through the testing they need to do.
-5 movies (down from last year's six) and 3 of them were kids (Frozen, Planes and Monsters University) and 2 were Marvel (Thor 3 and IronMan3).
-S got to stay in Chicago for over a week with my dad and Connie
-S ran/jogged her 3rd 5k (2nd one in Chicago and this time without a walking boot)
-My brother got married in a small Catholic ceremony (the party will be in 2014)
-My brother (same one) announced they are having a baby 2014
-Ryan's brother and his wife are having a baby girl in 2014
-My dad was diagnosed with cancer. It sucks. But he's a fighter and still fighting so thankful for that. On the upside to that I have seen my dad 13 times! Just regret it took him getting sick for me to make the time to go up there. It's not that I didn't care before. It's hard making that time with two kids at home. However, my husband has been an awesome support person and never once complained about the trips I have made up there or the times those trips have left him a single dad.
-I became more involved with the band program at school. Much to S's disappointment. She doesn't like it when I yell at other kids on the bus. Get use to it kid. :)
-I bought a new car (first one I financed by myself)! This was exciting. However I could have done without the excitement of dealing with a bad transmission within the first 200 miles and the 2 month long battle to get it right. But it's right and Ford worked with me. The dealer was awesome. Thank you for small town living. I think business strive harder to please their customers if they have to face those customers on a daily basis/first name basis. They care.
-I got my mother's ring for mother's day/birthday. I was surprised. I wanted one for years but was not expecting one this year.
-I did not do black friday shopping for the first time since 2007. I was sad but did get some online deals.
-X finished first year of Prek. He is quite a character and known for it.
-S continues to maintain honor roll and loves band
Goals for 2014
-Lose more weight
-See parents more
-more game days with our family (ryan and kids)
-communicate better with Ryan
-More zoo time
-run a 5k
Not really goals but dreams for 2014
-some sort of family trip aside from chicago
-girls trip
-Vegas
Doesn't have to be all 3.
Now to address my goals from last year.
Goals for 2013:
So here is a recap of 2013, plus my wishes for 2014.
What did 2013 bring:
-1 outpatient and 1 inpatient surgery - both for me. Shocking I know! However, due to the inpatient surgery (hysterectomy) I will not need anymore outpatient surgeries for those issues.
-S had some thyroid issues (low) and saw an endocrinologist.
-X developed a petechea rash that landed us in the E.R. at Cardinal Glennon, an overnight stay at Cardinal Glennon and a visit to a hematologist/oncologist with no real answers to date. Yes he still gets the rash but no it's never bad enough to put him through the testing they need to do.
-5 movies (down from last year's six) and 3 of them were kids (Frozen, Planes and Monsters University) and 2 were Marvel (Thor 3 and IronMan3).
-S got to stay in Chicago for over a week with my dad and Connie
-S ran/jogged her 3rd 5k (2nd one in Chicago and this time without a walking boot)
-My brother got married in a small Catholic ceremony (the party will be in 2014)
-My brother (same one) announced they are having a baby 2014
-Ryan's brother and his wife are having a baby girl in 2014
-My dad was diagnosed with cancer. It sucks. But he's a fighter and still fighting so thankful for that. On the upside to that I have seen my dad 13 times! Just regret it took him getting sick for me to make the time to go up there. It's not that I didn't care before. It's hard making that time with two kids at home. However, my husband has been an awesome support person and never once complained about the trips I have made up there or the times those trips have left him a single dad.
-I became more involved with the band program at school. Much to S's disappointment. She doesn't like it when I yell at other kids on the bus. Get use to it kid. :)
-I bought a new car (first one I financed by myself)! This was exciting. However I could have done without the excitement of dealing with a bad transmission within the first 200 miles and the 2 month long battle to get it right. But it's right and Ford worked with me. The dealer was awesome. Thank you for small town living. I think business strive harder to please their customers if they have to face those customers on a daily basis/first name basis. They care.
-I got my mother's ring for mother's day/birthday. I was surprised. I wanted one for years but was not expecting one this year.
-I did not do black friday shopping for the first time since 2007. I was sad but did get some online deals.
-X finished first year of Prek. He is quite a character and known for it.
-S continues to maintain honor roll and loves band
Goals for 2014
-Lose more weight
-See parents more
-more game days with our family (ryan and kids)
-communicate better with Ryan
-More zoo time
-run a 5k
Not really goals but dreams for 2014
-some sort of family trip aside from chicago
-girls trip
-Vegas
Doesn't have to be all 3.
Now to address my goals from last year.
Goals for 2013:
-Lose weight. (I did lose about 20 pounds this year, all since my surgery but need to keep it up)
-More specifically fit into a size smaller bridesmaid dress for brother's wedding
-go to Nauvoo to visit the H family (I did this for the Grape Festival)
-Go to Festival of Lights as a family in November (we did not make it. surgery recovery interfered)
-Go somewhere fun for vacation, nothing extravagant like Disney. Just a family vacation. (fail)
-start a regular exercise program, either walking at night (even with hot or cold) or just doing SOMETHING that gets me moving (to help with first goal) (fail)
-cut down on ski. (fail)
-have family fun day/night once a week (fail)
-have more date nights with hubby. (fail)
-see my parents more than just holidays (fail - I did see my dad more but under circumstances beyong my control so rather see him more this year on better circumstances and i need to make more time for my mom and dad. we live 15 min apart but i don't go there enough)
-get more organized (fail)
-actually try at least 5 recipes from pinterest (I pin but don't always follow through so that pinterest is not just another online time waster, I want to actually do some of the stuff I pin) (tried maybe 3)
-actually try at least 5 crafts or projects from pinterest (see above) (fail)
-remember to bring my lunch to work (I suck at this) (fail)
-get up earlier again. I kind of been slacking and have no motivation in the a.m. (fail)
-don't be so negative. (fail)
-keep up with our online shutterfly family site. (fail)
-spend less time on the phone (calls and texting)(fail)
-spend less time on the computer doing random useless things (when there is plenty to do around the house or with the kids)(fail)
-want to get together with the Naylors at some point (did this a couple times this year. would like to do again)
-go to Vegas just because, just for fun (this may not become reality but we'll see...you never know) (fail)
-stop trying to please everyone. I always end up with the short straw when I do. (fail)
-get in shape and do some 5ks with S (fail)
-go to zoo 6 times. (fail)
I made my 2014 goal list smaller to maybe actually knock a few things off that list.
-want to get together with the Naylors at some point (did this a couple times this year. would like to do again)
-go to Vegas just because, just for fun (this may not become reality but we'll see...you never know) (fail)
-stop trying to please everyone. I always end up with the short straw when I do. (fail)
-get in shape and do some 5ks with S (fail)
-go to zoo 6 times. (fail)
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