Just For Laughs

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Cozy Coupe

Got this on Monday. Assembled it yesterday. Loving it today.

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It has begun. Warm weather = neighbor's dogs outside all day...barking. So annoying!

Mamma's Little Helper

Another Fabulous Year

Our Anniversary this year was pretty similar to last year. We stayed the night in Naperville and ate at Maggiano's. Then headed to downtown Chicago the next morning. Instead of being on a boat, this time we rented bikes and saw the city that way. It was Brian's idea and I LOVED it! Sure beats walking everywhere. The funniest part was having doubts whether or not I remember how to ride a bike. I think it must have been some 20 years ago that I last rode one. Not kidding. But you know what they say, "Once you learn how, you don't forget it" and it's true! We had so much fun but wow, my legs, knees and butt hurt like they've never hurt before!!!

Young lovers of 7 years
Safety first =0)
Biked to our favorite Mexican restaurant, Zapatista
Couldn't resist this photo opt outside the Shedd Aquarium
Hanging out by Millenium Park the rest of the day
p.s. Ethan had fun with Grandpa and Nana as always. As soon as they got here, he practically kicked us out the door.

Funny Sayings

Ethan's favorite saying lately is "Ouch you're hurting me" and he likes to use it loudly in public when he doesn't want to leave. Not that I'm grabbing him hard and he even threw out the phrase when I'm not even touching him. Oh brother!

Some other funny phrases:

"What happen to Daddy?"
(answer himself) "At work? Yeah?"

"Hi peoples."

"Dirt please?" (Play in the dirt please?)

"It's nice out. Thank you Jesus for the sun!"...wonder where he got that one from =0)

Brave Boy

I took Ethan in today to get some vaccinations for preschool this fall. And to make a long story short, I went in hoping to get Ethan's shots and sign a release form for his record (since our pediatrician moved and opened his own office). But of course it didn't go as planned. They have me signed the form but couldn't give the shots all the while being snubby and being semi-rude. Luckily, I was able to get in right away at the new office. 40 minutes later with 3 shots in the legs, we were out of there. Poor Ethan, his face was so red! He repeatedly cried "All done" and "See Daddy" and I think made the nurse feel bad. When he got home, he got two stickers - one for being super good at the doctor's offices and one for being BRAVE, and some smarties too! That made it all better =0)

For my record: Chicken pox, HIB, Pneumococcal.

Spicing It Up

Every so often I get stuck in a cooking rut. So this week I decided to try a few new things: Caesar salad and grilled asparagus. I couldn't believe how SUPER simple and yummy they are!

Caesar salad
romaine lettuce
croutons
shredded Parmesan cheese
Caesar dressing
-That's it and even Ethan likes it!

grilled asparagus
drizzle olive oil on asparagus
put on the grill in a vegetable rack and rotate constantly
season with salt, pepper and lemon juice

Just For Laughs

I was approached by a middle schooler at a park today who asked me if I wanted to play tag. Seriously?! I told him that I'm here with Ethan and that I needed to watch him. So he proceeded to ask my 2-1/2 year old if he wanted to play tag. Seriously?!

A Puppy at Heart

Kaika turns 5 today and that makes him 32 in human years. He's graying right along with us. =0) For his birthday, we got him a new doggie pillow and a new full length glass storm door. J/k but he definitely got to benefit from the latter. Now he can just lay down at the front door and see everything. What a life!

Mamma Wisdom of the Week

So, I'm learning quickly that we don't make promises to Ethan unless we follow through with them. Not even little ones because this guy will hold us to it since he remembers like EVERYTHING!!! He might as well say to us, "You said..." So now I don't tell him that we'll go somewhere, do something or meet someone until I know for sure it's going to happen.

I'm also learning to give Ethan a "prep" talk ahead of time so he knows what kind of behaviors are expected. Before I turn on the TV, I tell him that when it's time to leave I'm going to turn it off and he's not to cry or whine about it. Or my expectation of him to go from the house door straight to the car door. To my surprise, it actually works! We now leave the house a lot happier and it sure saves me from yelling at him across the neighbor's driveway.

Adventurous Day

Our morning started out with a visit to the dentist. Dr. suggested that I start bring Ethan in to get him used to the place so I did. Not knowing exactly how it was going to go. I explained things to him ahead of time so he know what to expect. He sat on me and talk with Meagan while she cleaned my teeth. Then Dr. came in to check my teeth and took a quick look at his. He was a little antsy here and there but for the most part, he did SUPER well.

Next we headed to the fire station and had a tour with the mom's group. The firemen put on a puppet show about fire safety for us. And also let the kiddos climbed into the fire trucks. That was definitely Ethan's favorite part and getting to push all the buttons. At one point, he pushed the siren key and scared everyone. Oops. I forgot this was a real fire truck (unlike the one at the museum or tractors at the John Deere Pavilion) and probably shouldn't have let him do all that pushing. *crossing my fingers* I hope they'll double check everything before going on a fire call.

Love Thy Neighbors

A while back, the Outreach Pastor had preached saying that before we can reach out across the river to those in need, we have to reach out to those across the street first. That message was a lead in to inviting our neighbors to church for Easter. I felt convicted but still too shy to make that approached. Easter came and went and I failed. (It's really a struggle for me to do the whole small chit chat thing).

Well fast forward to last week and with the Holy Spirit giving me the boldness, I walked over and met our new neighbors across the street. I also met and had an extended conversation with our neighbors who lived catty corner from us in the back. This one I'm truly ashamed to say that it took us 6 years to finally meet them. Isn't that terrible?? AND yesterday I was talking with Patty, our neighbor next door and actually witnessed to her and invited her to church! I didn't realized where our conversation had headed until I came back into our house to prepare dinner when it dawned on me that I just shared about Christ with her. I mean I didn't throw out any Bible verses or anything...it was more like "being a good person isn't good enough and how you just need Jesus Christ." It wasn't awkward or forceful or judgemental or anything. It wasn't at all me =0)

Just For Laughs

So, Ethan and I went to the library to get some new books and DVD's. I came across a book called Mommy, Mama and Me and thought it was about different variations of how to call your mom. Didn't even think twice about it...until I came home and read it. I was so wrong. Need I say more? Brian laughed hysterically when I told him.

Daddy's Little Helper

Zoo Day

We went to the Zoo today and wow, what a great day for that! Ethan seemed more into the animals this time around although he kept getting distracted by the train. I went with the MOPS group and everyone decided to do the train last. So Ethan ended up dragging me through everything as fast as he could so he can get to the end. And what a happy kid he was afterwards. We had fun!



The best part!

Just For Laughs

This morning while eating breakfast with the doors wide open.

Ethan (with eyes wide open): Airplane!
Me: Wow, you have good ears!
Ethan: No, good feet!
Ethan: Good hands too!

Discovery of The Week

Lately we've been spending ALL of our time outside and I can barely get Ethan to come in to eat or take a nap. He would do the take one bite and run or would ask to go to the park as soon as he's up. Skippity hop all the way there. I don't blame him though especially with the long winter we have had. He's probably afraid the warmth would disappear.

Anyway, I just can't believe how fast and strong he is on the playground. He would climb up the stairs so fast (sometimes even racing other kids) and go down the big slides without hesitations. He would even climb & pull himself up with hardly any help at all. The funniest thing is that he never care for the swings as a baby, but now at 2-1/2 he loves it. Never mind the fact that I can barely lift all 34 lbs of him in and out of it. So, the downside of being outside so much? More baths because somehow Ethan's head always ended up with a handful of dirt/wood chip. Summer bath schedule is in effect.

Mother's Day Weekend

We met up with Brian's parents at the Amana Colonies for a brunch on Saturday and had such a good time. We might just have to make it a new family tradition. The food was so good in fact that I'm still thinking about it. Plus it was less crowded and the weather was gorgeous (compare to Oktoberfest). Don't think we could've had a better day!


Taking breaks and resting along the way
Yippee, so happy I got to hang out with Grandpa & Nana!
Then today, we enjoyed a picnic lunch by the river and a nice stroll through Beaux Art afterwards. Another beautiful day spent outdoor. And of course many special treatments throughout the day! It was wonderful.

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Took advantage of a gorgeous night and went out for drinks and dessert as a family. It was a lot of fun!

All Done

Today is the last day of MOPS and I'm so sad that it has come to an end. The Lord has truly knit our hearts together and we all bonded so well! I'm so glad to say that 5 out of 6 girls will be serving on the steering team next year so that'll be exciting. Now that everything is done for the summer, Ethan and I will have to find other ways to keep busy.

Forever Gone

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
--Psalm 103:8-14
What a good reminder this morning as I read of how God doesn't hold on to our sins once we confessed them. And oh how I struggle with that - with hurt from the past or even with Ethan. Brian continually reminds me that this is a new day and to let go of whatever frustration I had with Ethan from the day before. Our God is merciful and gracious indeed!

Sunny Days Sweeping Up Clouds Away

After I was complaining yesterday, God sent a beautiful sunny day our way. We spent our morning outside (of course) playing with our new bubble machine, sidewalk chalks and blocks. And this time, I came outside too =0)

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It's May and I'm SO, SO, SO ready for warm weather to stay!