Chicago, Chicago

We left Saturday and headed for the “Windy City”. I’ve never been to Chicago before, so I was pretty excited about coming. The drive there was pretty uneventful until we reached the city of Metropolis, Illinois.

Yes, there really is a city called Metropolis, and Superman is really from there. We stopped to see the famous Superman statue that stands prominently in the middle of town.
It was here we found out that Superman is a Pepsi man. Who knew?

The city of Chicago is a vibrant city, with lots of things to see and do. It’s a good thing we brought these:
We put about 200 miles on them since we arrived. Somehow it doesn’t seem to bother me to look like a complete dork in walking shoes and Capri pants.

This weekend was the famous “Taste of Chicago”, and I swear all of Chicago was there for it. We tasted some of Chicago’s best! Some of our Nissan friends who live here met us there. They’ve lived in Chicago for years and have never come in to town for the “Taste”.

Millennium Park is amazing! These are pictures of “The Bean”, how’s that for a name. You can see the skyline of the city reflected in it. It’s huge!

We’ve been to the 96th floor of the Hancock building.

This is a picture from the windows overlooking Lake Michigan.

One of the busiest places in the city is the “American Girl Place". Its three stories are filled with everything you can think of to do with “American Girl”. You can pick your doll, dress her, pick a matching outfit for yourself, have her hair done, take her to lunch with you at the “American Girl Cafe”, and then enjoy a movie or even a theatrical production. I don’t know which amazed me more…the $100 dolls themselves, or the droves of mothers and daughters walking out of the store with sacks and sacks of merchandise.

You want to shop? This is the place to come. We found a place called the 900 Shops on Michigan Avenue where you can shop Bloomingdales and every other high end store you’ve ever dreamed of. Bloomingdales alone is five stories. I have never seen so many stores!

Tomorrow morning we’ll go back to Garrett’s. It’s a VERY popular popcorn store. Yes…popcorn. People were lined up this morning for half a block just to get inside. It must be worth it. Two hours in line for popcorn? It had better be good! I LOVE the city!

Bob's Burning Bush

While the rest of you are out enjoying the fireworks, we will be keeping the home fires burning (literally).

You see, there's this annoying stump in our backyard. It's up near the forest, and has been bugging Bob since we moved in. After doing a little research on the subject of removing big annoying stumps, he found his solution at Home Depot. The directions tell you to drill holes in the top of the stump and pour this solution in the holes and let it be for a month or so. After the solution has been in the stump for an adequate amount of time, you then put charcoal briquettes on top of the stump and light them. Your big annoying stump will burn clear down to the roots!

Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? Well...it was going quite well until Mr. Patience decided to get things moving a little more quickly. The boy scout came out in him...and I mean the 11 year old scout. He grabbed the gas container...put a little dab on the coals, and WHOA....mini forest fire!

I had just barely looked out and saw things were going smoothly, and the next thing you know, he's got the hose in his hands and is fighting this little fire! The flame ignited from the coals, to the gas container, to Bob, to the dropped gas container, to the gas spilled on the lawn that could not be picked up before emptying almost completely, to a big blazing, full blown, FIRE!!!

I was still in my pajamas, threw some clothes on, ran outside to help (like I could do anything), and stood there and watched him trying to calm the blaze.

He was very calm and collected, which he usually is! I was a wreck!! What do I do. Do I get dirt and throw it on the fire? Do I call 911? No, I'll just pace back and forth and watch him trying to douse the flames with the hose that has no water pressure and pray for no wind.

I've made him PROMISE never, ever to do that again! Somehow I don't think I got through to him. I'm just hoping the burning bush did! I've seen The Ten Commandments. I'm hoping the eleventh commandment was given today while he was up there with his little burning bush!

All is well that ends well. His burning bush is just smoldering now. Just right for roasting some marshmallows and making smores.

Happy Fourth of July!!

A Quote for Today

"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." T.S. Eliot

This is one of my favorite quotes. Those of you who have moved a time or two will understand when I say that I really believe I know the place I started a little better than when I actually lived there. I know it better because I know a difference. Maybe I even appreciate it a little more.

Moving is hard. Sometimes life is hard. Do you suppose when this life is over and we return to our heavenly home, we will arrive where we started and know the place for the first time? Will we appreciate it more because we will know the difference? I think so.

The Song

It all started at PRISM.

For any of you who don't know what that is...I'll explain. PRISM is a vocal music program held at El Dorado High School (where my kids went to high school). It is held in the spring, and is anticipated the whole year. If you are lucky enough to audition and make it, you have "arrived". It's called PRISM because it encompasses every kind of music, sort of like all the colors found in a crystal prism shining in the sunshine. The kids are free to choose any song, practice it, and audition for a place in the program. On this particular year, my two daughters put a group of four girls together and decided to sing "Breaking Up is Hard To Do" by Neil Sedaka. They practiced and practiced and auditioned singing acappella. Most songs are done with an accompanist, but Mr. Peterson actually preferred it acappella. So acappella it was. With their little poodle skirts and scarves in their hair, they made their debut at PRISM. What a hit! The audience loved it! They had made it! Life was good.

Later that year, the group was reunited to perform again. This time the words were changed to fit the occasion. Devon had cleverly asked Kimberly to Prom by sprinkling chocolate kisses all over her bedroom floor with a poster that read...."Now that I've kissed the ground you walk on, Will you go to Prom with me?" She wanted her answer to be just as clever. So...the words were changed, the song was practiced, and a cute group of teenage girls showed up at Devon's house to perform their newest rendition called..."Yes, I'll go to Prom with you."

Years passed, daughters got married, and the father of the bride turned 50. They wanted to do something at his party that would make him smile, so they resurrected "the song", changed the lyrics, recruited their friend Stephanie, and sang to their Dad at his big surprise birthday party. They didn't fit into their cute little poodle skirts for obvious reasons...

Recently,another occasion called for yet new lyrics to "the song".... Grandpa's 80th birthday party. This time there was no time for practice, not much time to plan, and just a few minutes (literally)for Robyn to write some new words, recruit her brother, and wait for her sister to arrive from San Diego. After a quick once over in the bathroom, they were ready to perform "the song".


Here's the latest rendition of "the song":

Do do do down doobee do down down,
Coma coma down doobee do down down
Coma coma down doobee do down down
Happy happy birthday to you!

You just turned 80 two days ago,
So today we want you to know
We think that you're the best,
Grandpa who's been put to the test.

You like to wear your special white hat,
And dig for rocks way out west;
Go on road trips and play basketball,
You've served six missions, you can do it all!

They say cayenne pepper makes a great drink,
A new health concoction every week.
You like to tickle with your Donald Duck voice.
Selling books, singing songs, yard work, what's your choice.

We love you Grandpa
Just the way you are.
You should be a super star.
80 years, still going strong,
We hope you'll be around for long!

Do do do down doobee do down down,
coma coma down doobee do down down,
coma coma down doobee do down down,
Happy happy birthday to you!

Who knows when it will be resurrected again!

The Blakester Turns Two

Look out world....Blake is two years old!!

Blake made his entry into this world two weeks early, and since that time, has been in a hurry to grow up. As a matter of fact, we think he believes he is much older than two. He's very social! He's a happy, sweet little boy who always has a smile on his face. Two years old, and already the life of the party! Happy Birthday Blakey! We love you!

Better By the Dozen

What do you get when you add together one dad, one mom, two daughters, one son, two sons-in-law, three grandsons, and two granddaughters? You get a dozen reasons to smile. I just realized our family now numbers an even dozen. Who knew our little family of five would grow to twelve so quickly. Good things are always better by the dozen....not cheaper....but better! So, In honor of this momentous realization, I thought I'd share with you some pictures of our twelve pack taken Memorial Day weekend while we were in Utah for my Dad's 80th birthday party celebration.

Our Big Carbon Footprint

I'm trying to go "green"...I really am! I've purchased two items...yes two items... that are very eco friendly...or so they say they are! I believe labels! One is a liquid laundry soap and the other is a multipurpose household cleaner. I will admit that the fact that they smell good probably sold me. I'll tell you right now, that if it doesn't have a great smell, I'm not buying it...no matter how earth friendly it is. So, I'm well on my way to "going green", doncha think?

So it has been brought to my attention that many of us are guilty of the disgrace of making bad choices for the environment. We are encouraged to change our light bulbs, turn off the air conditioner, turn down the heat, recycle, buy reusable grocery bags, and use eco friendly products. Most recently, a good friend of mine told me about an experience she had when she had her son at the pediatrician's office. The pediatrician asked her son what his family's plans were for their family vacation this year. He willingly told him their plans to fly across the country to California, drive to Utah, fly back to California, and then fly back home. The pediatrician's response was a look of disgust at my friend as he responded. His response went something like this..."Well, aren't you just going to leave a big carbon footprint" this summer!

Memorial Day weekend found us, once again, traveling the friendly skies. Did I say "friendly"...my mistake! You'd think after all the traveling we've done in the past year, we would get some perk like possibly a parking place near the terminal, or if that's asking too much, maybe just a free snack during the flight. You'd think by now, the airlines would recognize how much we've contributed to their job security and thank us when we check our bags, or maybe just overlook that eighth of an ounce our bag is over the weight limit. You'd think by now they would realize that my husband is NOT a terrorist and let him check in like everyone else. But NO...there are no perks, no thanks when we pass through security, and yes my DH still has to show his face when he checks in. I have decided, however, that I think TSA at the Nashville airport recognizes me. We play this little game that goes something like this....I try to hide the makeup bag containing all the expensive face products, and they try to find it, open it, and UNSCREW THE LIDS on each and every one of them. Seriously, do lids unscrew themselves?

Now on top of everything else, the tree huggers of America are accusing those who fly frequently of leaving a BIG CARBON FOOTPRINT behind. So, if you happen to see a BIG carbon footprint on some TSA workers backside, you'll know where it came from.

Stake Conference Southern Style

How many of ya'll can say you've had stake conference at the Embassy Suites Hotel? I guess that 's what you have to do when you can't fit in your building anymore. Tough break, I know. I was just wondering if the buffet breakfast is included!

My First Swap

I really lucked out on the Desperate Housewives swap! Just look at the fun stuff my cute blog swap partner sent to me. Thank you Kari....I love everything! She even included a Wisteria Lane candle....how clever is that?! I'll be first to sign up for the next one!

Happy Birthday Parkercito!

And they say two's are terrible! How could anyone look at this face and think such a thing!

Here's just a few things we've missed since you left:

• Watching Super Why.
• Your voice coming all the way downstairs in the mornings.
• Goldfish crackers at church.
• Hearing you call out "Michael wheh ah you?".
• Listening to you sing songs with your mom at bedtime over the baby monitor.
• Quick blessings on the food.
• Looking for Thomas the Train in your ears at the doctor's office.
• Toys all over the bonus room.
• Having you say "I hode you" when you want to be picked up.
• And...last but not least...Your Parkercito song!

We love you Parker! Happy Birthday!