Feeling the Christmas spirit

A recap of our December in pictures ... from Evanston to Florida:

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care

Second graders singing in their pajamas at the school holiday concert

Company holiday party at the Museum of Science and Industry

The Nutcracker with Molly and B (the same day Molly was struck down with the flu)

Grandma helping James get ready for bed

Molly in her new bikini - swimming with James in 70-degree weather

Molly was treated to an early Christmas present this year ... I forgot to pack her swim suit (doh!) and was forced into buying an overpriced Billabong bikini from the local surf shop. She has been asking (begging!) for a bikini for years, so this was just about the best thing that could have happened in her mind. Merry Christmas, Molls!

Thanksgiving 2017

Ack! Our Christmas tree went up and I still haven't posted the best of the best from my favorite holiday!

This year, we had a pretty low-key Thanksgiving. My parents were in town, but Susie and Sean celebrated with Sean's parents, and Jason took advantage of the extra days off work to see Ireland with his brother Jon. But we still had plenty of good food and family time to make it a Thanksgiving to remember!

Molly made the cranberries (wearing hot pink lipstick) - recipe from my great-great grandmother :)

Grandpa reading to the boys

Annual Flying Turkey 5k photo

Snuggled up with popcorn and a movie for one of 2 Thanksgiving break sleepovers

Me and my girl at the Lincoln Park Zoo Lights

Jason and his brother at O'Grady castle in Ireland

Now that it's December, I'm in total Christmas mode (even though it's 50 degrees here and I'm contemplating a run outside). Quote of the day comes from Jason this morning:

"Putting on some holiday music ... what do you guys want to listen to? Bing Crosby or Wham!?"

Note: we chose Wham!

My favorite girl

Every night, and probably a few other times throughout the day, I tell Molly she's my favorite girl. It's true. She is! Tonight, we snuggled up on the couch and watched Project Runway together and I just felt so dang happy.

Two peas in a pod

And then, Google assistant made me a totally random video with snippets from my phone and I couldn't stop watching it. It manages to capture Molly's spirit without really making much sense. Ha! Enjoy:

What's cookin'?

A potential kitchen renovation is what! We've been back and forth with a kitchen designer and I think we're getting ready to do this. Are we crazy? The plan is to tear down the wall between the kitchen and dining room and add a peninsula counter.

I can't tell you how much I'm dying for bar stools! When we have people over, everyone always wants to hang out in the kitchen, and with our current set-up, there's really nowhere for people to congregate.

The other thing I'm excited about is moving our computer desk out of the family room and into the kitchen/dining room area. I like the idea having a desk near the kitchen where Molly can do homework while we're cooking dinner. And it will also free up some much-needed space in our family room.

We're still finalizing the plans, but this should end up being the basic layout. I imagine it will take a few months to get the permits and figure out the cabinets, etc, but the ball is officially rolling!

Fabulous Fall

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous these last few weeks and we're doing our best to make the most of it. Northwestern football, lacrosse, door to door Girl Scout sales. It's been all good times over here except for the Cubs losing to the Dodgers and missing their chance at a second World Series run. That one still hurts.

Here are a few of the highlights:

From Homecoming weekend ... fun weekend, but a devastating loss to Penn State

Using her lacrosse stick to scoop leaves

Post game celebration

So how's it going?

I'll start by saying that I love my new schedule! It's been a little all over the place these first few weeks, and I've had to switch my day off a couple of times to accommodate meetings, but whatever. I have time to breathe! Time to walk Molly to school. Time to pay bills, clean up the house, and put away the laundry. Time to have an impromptu coffee with a friend.

I feel happier, and less rushed, and I'm loving the extra time with Molly. Though today, I must admit, I sent her to aftercare anyway and treated myself to 9 holes of golf. The weather was just TOO good.

Starting to look more consistent! My best 9 yet. No disaster holes at least.

Molly is also doing really well in second grade. At least I think so ... I'm not getting as much info out of her as I did last year! She's starting to answer my questions with, "Uh, Mom, you know." No Molls, I don't know! That's why I'm asking :) 

She always looks happy when I pick her up though, which is a good sign. I thought having her in 2 different aftercare programs would be complicated, but she seems to be taking it all in stride and always knows where she needs to go.

Molly has also added a new set of friends to her rotation -- 3 really nice girls who love to pretend they are snow leopards (oh, to be a second grader!). That seems to have eased some of the tension with her other friendships. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we will get a break from friend drama for the year!!

Molly at our block party ... she asked to have her face painted like the Target dog, but I think she kind of looks like a member of KISS :) 

Another nut bites the dust

We've known for about 5 years now that Molly is allergic to walnuts and pecans, but we haven't been sure about some of the other tree nuts. Well, now we know about hazelnuts!

Molly had one delicious bite of Nutella drizzle on Sunday night before she started breaking out in hives and said she felt like wasps were stinging her face and tongue :(

I always have an Epi Pen and Benadryl with me in my purse and store Benadryl tablets in the glove compartment of my car ... but OF COURSE the night that Molly had an allergic reaction was a night when we rode our bikes to dinner and I didn't have a purse or a car.

Jason sprinted down the street to CVS and bought a bottle of Children's Benadryl, which we quickly gave her to try and calm down the reaction. Then he pedaled furiously home to get the car and Epi Pen while I watched to see what the Benadryl would do.

When Jason picked us up, Molly still had hives and swollen lips and was complaining about the feeling of wasps, so we decided to take her in to the ER. If we gave her the Epi Pen injection ourselves, we'd still have to go to the ER for observation, so we decided to just go straight there and have the nurse do it. Easy decision since the hospital was only 2 minutes away!

It didn't end up being that dramatic of a night -- epinephrine starts to work almost as soon as it is given, so most of our time in the hospital was spent watching Molly sleep and waiting to make sure she didn't have a rebound reaction.

Jason and I felt like terrible parents for letting the exposure happen and for not being prepared. On the other hand, we've always wondered about Nutella and ... now we know!

My poor baby. She looked so small in the hospital bed, but handled everything like a pro.
Then she woke up at home the next morning and asked if it was all a dream! 

Ask and you shall receive ...

August has been a tough month for me at work -- early mornings, long hours. Jason has had to do just about everything at home. Thank goodness he didn't have to travel much this summer! Looking back, I can see that the intensity has been building steadily over the last year or so. When I had to miss Molly's first day of school (and then later found out that she cried at drop off), it felt like enough was enough!

In a spur of the moment decision, I emailed my boss to ask for part time/reduced hours and almost just as fast, I found out I got it! Why didn't I speak up sooner??

Starting mid-Sept, I'll be home every Friday. Not working from home and sweating over my computer at the dining room table from 8am to 6pm, but just ... home. I can walk Molly to school at 9 with the other kids. I can go to the grocery store in the middle of the day (the middle of the day ... what?!). Maybe I'll get to work out for an hour or read a magazine. And then I can pick Molly up when the bell rings at 3:30. We can stay and play at the playground, maybe have a friend over for an impromptu playdate (again - what?!), or just walk home and have a couple of hours together to do whatever we want before dinner.

This is how I dream it will be in my head at least :) We'll see soon enough!

My little artist. I didn't get to see this in person -- I was out the door before she was out of bed on the first day -- but at least I have a cute picture from Jason :)

Astute observations from Molly

Tonight at dinner, my little Project Runway buddy asks Jason:

"Dad, did you watch Project Runway with Mom like one or two years before you were married?"

Jason replies, "Yes, I think I watched some with Mom."

And then Molly says (with a smirk), "That's because when you're girlfriend-boyfriend and Mom asks you to watch something, you're like ... uh, okay."

Ha! It probably doesn't look as funny on paper as it was live at dinner, but Jason and I were dying laughing about this little conversation.

Weekends away

School starts in less than 2 weeks -- I can't believe it! But the summer sun is still shining and I'm hoping to make the most of these last few days before 2nd grade.

We got off to a good start in August with 2 weekend trips -- Tennessee to visit my grandparents and then the Wisconsin Dells in all its cheesy glory with the Brandi fam.

The trip to visit my grandparents in Tennessee was really nice. They moved into a new condo, and while I know it doesn't really feel like home yet, I'm glad they're in a nice building surrounded by friends. I just wish they lived a little bit closer! The drive is 9 and a half hours on paper, but with all of our stops, it ended up taking about 11 hours each way. Next time, Jason made me promise we will fly. Though I must say, I enjoyed much of our time in the car, checking out the Kentucky scenery, playing hangman with Molly, and listening to the S-Town podcast with Jason (while Molly was either sleeping or wearing headphones of course).

It felt like we were hardly even home before we packed up the weekend bags again and drove up to the Dells with the Brandis. Shorter drive this time :) We rented a cabin instead of staying in a hotel and I'm glad we did. It meant the kids could run around freely and the adults could all stay up and hang out together after the kids finally went to sleep (no big struggle there after a long day at the water park). 

Here are a few of the happy pics from our weekends outta town:

Post putt putt photo with Gordon + Janelle. Miss Molls even scored herself a hole in one ... perhaps all these golf lessons are starting to make a difference

A paddle boat designed to look like a duck ... perfect for our duck-loving girl

Molly with Lainey and Nick - another pic by an animal statue and another year of water park fun in the Dells

Renovation celebration

And, we're done! Finally. We got the ball rolling back in October when we picked our contractor and started drawing up plans, started demolition in early April and now, at the end of July, we finally have our finished master suite! Please click that October link to see the "before" pictures and marvel at the difference 9 months of dust, sweat, and tears can make :)

A master bedroom with a little bit more breathing room. We still need to get artwork up, but the big pieces are in place.

The glorious--and enormous!--master bath

I think I'm most excited about this big a$$ closet. All my stuff in one place. What?!

All in all, it took a little longer than expected, but we stayed pretty close to budget and were very happy with our contractor. We'll probably take a year off before tackling the kitchen, but I must admit, I'm getting antsy for it. We've got the team. We've learned a thing or two. And we desperately need more counter space and updated appliances ... stay tuned :)

She's 7!!

Can you believe it? Happy birthday to the Molls! We've been celebrating for weeks ... water park in Denver, family celebration at home, manicures and ice cream with one best friend, and an afternoon at the arcade with the other. Whew. We spoil this girl, but can't seem to help ourselves. She's sweet and kind and always appreciative. I've loved every minute of her first seven years.

Family birthday party at home - opening presents under the close supervision of cousins James and George

Enjoying her gifts

Relaxing at the water park with Cousin Will. She's starting to look SO grown up!

More fun with Cousin Will

Solo shot of the birthday girl

Portland part 2: The gorgeous gorge

We probably spent more time outside of Portland than we spent in it ... but that's because the Pacific Northwest is absolutely beautiful. We took a half day waterfall tour and then spent a full day with my friend Jeremy from college hiking in the Columbia River Gorge and then exploring the awesome breweries around Hood River.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves for now, even though they don't even come close to capturing the beauty of the area.

Portland part 1: City pics

We're finishing up the Portland part of our 10-year anniversary trip and have absolutely loved it out here. People are kind, the food is outstanding, and there's so much to see and do.

It's a smaller city and pretty easy to get around. We walked along the riverfront and Pearl District, visited the Saturday market, walked along Alberta Street, hit up the food trucks for lunch and the breweries on Mississippi Street.

We haven't made a wrong step for restaurants, so I'll list them here in case anyone has plans to visit.

• Han Oak - inventive Korean food in a converted garage
• Departure - food by Top Chef runner up Gregory Gourdet and a fantastic view
• Pine State Biscuits - because ... biscuits
• Deadshot - Monday night cocktail and bar food pop up from the restaurant Holdfast

I feel like we've barely scratched the surface, so will just have to come back!

This is how we do it

Sometimes it feels like no time at all has passed since high school. Natalie and Dana came in town last weekend for Lindsay's Boys and Girls Club charity event and we had So. Much. Fun. I totally paid the price the next day, but didn't even care. It was worth it to have had a night out with these girls :)

Fun in the photo booth with Lindsay, Dana, and Nat

Fast five

1. What I'm reading:
The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead. I'm in full agreement with the Pulitzer Prize Board ... this is one outstanding work of fiction. It's a re-imagined history, where the underground railroad is an actual railroad and our heroine's experience in each state conveys a different aspect of the horrors of slavery. It's focused on the past, but somehow also feels very relevant to our current day. Not an easy read, but worth it.

2. What I'm watching: 

Breaking Bad ... finally! I'm finishing up Season 3 and, although it's probably the most stressful show I've ever seen, I can see why so many people consider it a masterpiece. Walter White is the star, but Jesse is definitely the best character, yo.

3. Where I'm shopping: 

Athleta. Home to all things cute and quick dry for summertime mom duty. It's slightly overpriced, but I make sure to take advantage of the sales. And, I was lucky enough to have B and Sus treat me to a couple of items for my birthday. Thanks, sisters :)

4. What I'm playing:

Country club sports all around! I'm signed up for cardio tennis classes every Monday and have a season pass to the local golf club down the street from our house. Little Miss Molly is on board with my 2 favorite sports as well. She fell in love with the unrestricted access to Gatorade at tennis camp and even won the girls' effort award at the end of the session (I beam with pride!). Junior golf is up next. 

5. Where I'm going:

We're trying not to go much of anywhere this summer so we can enjoy beach life in Evanston ... but ... we do have a few fun trips to look forward to. Jason and I have our 10-year anniversary trip to Portland in July (finally), we're planning a Wisconsin weekend with friends in August, and Molly and I are also taking a special summer road trip down to Tennessee to visit my grandparents in their new home. Hoping to hit the right ratio of time away/time at home. We'll see how it goes! And so will you ... I'm planning to post more often this summer. Please remind me if I forget :)

Good start to summer

School's out and we've started up our new routine of summer camps, beach nights, and pool days. It has been hotter than hot all week and now the rain is pouring down. Perfect timing to post a few pics from sunnier days ...

U2 at Soldier Field -- The Joshua Tree tour! -- with Jason and B

Manicures with Molls

Weekend nights out on the sidewalk

Improving my golf game

Breaking in the jelly shoes ... official footwear of summer since 1985

Hanging at the park with cousins

Gallery show

First grade wraps up in a couple of days, so Molly has been bringing home all kinds of treasures from throughout the year. Here's the best of the best from the art department. I know I'm biased, but I really do think my girl's got talent. Just like her dad :)

Self portrait (unfinished) ... Molly with a tan :)
I love the dolphin jumping over the duck in the background

Fat cat on a mat (watercolor)
Also featuring a couple of ducks

Still life

Winter landscape
This is the one Molly selected for the YEA (Young Evanston Artists) Festival