Think Spring...Think Green!

Happy St. Paddy's Day! It's going to climb into the 60s today. I am blaming it on the luck of the Irish. What a magical combination: warm weather and cold beer! Of course, there's still plenty of snow on the ground, but the chippies are awake and chirping and the robins are actually finding big, fat, juicy worms for breakfast. I'm officially ready for spring and it's a good thing since it arrives Sunday just as this taste of summer flees.

T. Bone and Miss Bit were excited to wear short sleeves today, but they were not eager to get freckled. My Mom used to turn us into lucky leprechauns every St. Pat's Day with the help of a toothpick and a bottle of green food coloring. Really there's no convincing my two so I turn their insides green instead. I made a batch of cinnamon buns for breakfast this morning and colored the frosting green. It's our tradition and I'm just saying that they taste so much yummier than they look. In fact, they are such a treat that I want to make a pan for everyone I know and deliver them warm on their doorsteps first thing in the morning. I'm happy to say that Pillsbury has lost a customer for good. T. Bone suggested I take a picture of his bun to post on my blog. I also made Irish soda bread, although my version is a far cry from the traditional loaf. I add dark chocolate chips, dried cherries and chopped almonds and I've yet to meet anyone who doesn't love it.

Slainte to spring and St. Paddy's Day!

Trains, Taxis and TIVs

Yesterday we were on the train Chicago-bound before we're even close to getting out of the house most mornings. The sun was shining and the kiddos were smiling anxious for the fun day we had planned. I think I may have been smiling too despite the fact I only had time for one serving of caffeine, and hubby...well, he's always smiling.

We filed off the train (after 18 stops, but who's counting? Two anxious kiddos is who!) and piled into a taxi to make the trek through traffic to the Museum of Science and Industry. Miss Bit was hyperventilating because she was so excited to be in C-H-I-C-A-G-O, and finally over the fact that T. Bone's basketball tournament was turning our visit into a day trip rather than a weekend jaunt. (I had to promise her a trip to the Dells to swim soon to end that discussion.) It was my third visit to the museum. I first experienced it with my Dad and brother when I was a teenager so many cob webs have since formed and I really only remembered the babies in formaldehyde, which are still eerie cool and on display. Then I visited once again with my hubby when we were newly dating and I was much more interested in him than the exhibits so in a lot of ways I was a museum virgin despite the fact that it was my third time through.

We were all wonderfully entertained and engaged. The exhibits are hands on, and there was something for everyone just maybe not what one would predict.

The boys swept the girls in the mind ball challenge although Miss Bit was a much fiercer opponent for T. Bone than I was for her father. Their match took minutes...ours - well, it took seconds. Someone tells me to sit still and quiet my mind and I start busting moves and find it impossible to slow let alone stop my thoughts. There's a reason I meditate while I'm on the move.

We quickly learned that even dry and boring concepts like high and low pressure effect wonder when presented in fun and interactive ways.

A stint in the wind chamber, where they were belted by 80 mph winds, prepared T. Bone and Miss Bit for their introduction to The Tornado Intercept Vehicle (TIV) and the Doppler on Wheels (Dow) as well as much of The Storm Chaser's crew who were in attendance for the day. I just hope that Miss Bit doesn't have designs on growing up to join the valiant V2 crew 'cuz she sorta looks like she was born to drive the TIV.

In fact, while the TIV tickled her fancy, what she cannot stop talking about is the U505. Touring the German submarine was the best part of her day. It was a highlight for me as well. That exhibit alone is worth a trip to the museum. It was a far reaching teachable moment too as we first learned the history of the sub while we were visiting the maritime museum in Bermuda. That's where the ship was hidden from the Germans after it's capture until WWII ended. Seeing her in person...in all her steel and iron, boarding her and hearing about the difficult life of the crew was incredibly powerful.

T. Bone was captivated by the hatchery. Watching a chick break out of its egg was his favorite part of the day, and I must admit...it was extremely awesome. After 21 days gestation, the new chick can take 10 hours to break out of the egg. We were lucky to see one little guy emerge in the 5 minutes we watched.

It was a day long on fun and filled with great family memories.

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

Buddhist wisdom

Miss Bit pledged to make her bed every day during Lent and she's been keeping her promise and doing a fine job of it too.

Lunch and shopping with T. Bone this week. It's nice to spend time one on one with my guy. He gorged on Rocky's pizza while I watched (or more like drooled - it was Ash Wednesday), we stocked up on Pink Ladies (apples) and he picked out a colorful new basketball shirt to match the new bands he picked out for his braces, which by the way...he should only have to wear for a couple more months!

Tigger's battle call. He has a distinct whiney meow just for when he wants to wrestle with his brother.

New Vera reading glasses. I wanted them because I was smitten with the case. And a fancy new pair of sunglasses too.

A night out with the girls this week. It was a mid-week treat to catch up over a leisurely dinner with the ladies I Iove.

Shamrocks.

Hubby went grocery shopping this week while I stayed home to clean out the pantry and the fridge. He even found pearl barley, which I understand was no easy task.

Turkey vegetable soup with barley.

Grandparents. T. Bone and Miss Bit had early dismissal yesterday. My Dad and step-mom picked the kids up from school to spend the afternoon with them.

I'm not in high school anymore despite the fact that too many people I know still act like they are.

Governor Scott Walker, Senator Fitzgerald and many other senators, assembly men and women and taxpaying supporters who all are in favor of living within our means in this state.

T. Bone will represent our district's 4th graders in a city-wide free throw contest tomorrow.

I'm not really nursing a baby squirrel. (Tidbit for 2 loyal confidantes and readers.)

These macaroons and my sil for taking this picture of her dessert for me like the true foodie she is. Before sampling these goodies, I thought all macaroons were coconut.

We spent the day in Chicago today. It was an awesome adventure. We practically had the Windy City to ourselves. And now I am ready for bed.

Unsent Letters

Dear Miss Bit my girl of pure goodness and grace,

I’m sorry that grown adults do not have the same abundant stores of kindness and empathy that you possess in your young years. I’m sorry that you are more inclusive and careful with other’s feelings than people who are seven times your age. I’m sorry that you are only truly content when everyone around you is happy, and that other people take advantage of your good nature, and feel threatened by your loving spirit. I’m sorry that I can only protect you from cruel and ugly intentions of the mother by severing ties with the daughter. I’m sorry that you may not understand just why I cannot ever again put you out there in her world all sweetness and goodness...it's simply too vulnerable of a position in which to leave you. I’m sorry that the act that showed the quality of your character illuminated the dark depravity of her’s. I'm sorry that people we call friends hurt us, and that adults you know as protectors chip away at your trusting innocence. And I’m so sorry that I cannot promise you that this will be the last person to hurt you, but I can promise you it will be the last time this person hurts you.

Dear middle aged, mean girl mother of two,

I'm sorry you still live like you are in high school decades later. I'm even sorry that something obviously happened to make you so insecure that you feel the need to malign others in your desperate urge to claw your way to the top. I'm sorry that you are a role model for two lovely young girls, who will likely end up just as wounded and toxic as you one day. I'm sorry that you didn't get to see my girl's lip quiver or her eyes well up and almost over when you excluded her from a day of fun with her friends. I'm sorry that you didn't get to hear the anxiety in the voice of a mutual friend and mother who had to call to do your dirty work for you. I'm sorry that I even gave you the benefit of the doubt the last couple years despite the fact that I've seen you hurt other people I care for and know to be my true friends. And what I'm most sorry about is that I am too "nice" of a person to ever tell you this face to face.

Dear cathartic unsent letters,

So many times have you saved me from losing my mind and running my mouth. I always feel the load lifted and the venom neutralized when I speak my mind for you to hear. I've written to parents, friends, lovers and even God in heated and in healing moments. You remind me that words once spoken or written and delivered can never really be taken back. You are much cheaper than therapy and you allow me to walk away with my head held high knowing that I have had the very last word!

On My Mond Monday

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Eat food. Not much. Mostly plants.

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Michael Pollan

In Defense of Food

Sounds achievable...dare I say even easy, but thanks to the multi-billion dollar food marketing machine and the rampant rise of nutritionism it's much more difficult to live by these simple, sensible rules than it should be. This eye opening eating manifesto is really making me question everything I put in my mouth and also everything my kids put in their precious bodies. There is so much in our food that shouldn't be and so many things are touted as healthy that clearly have no goodness at all. I am in the process of questioning and redefining what healthy eating actually means, and how we can best embrace it in this house.

this weekend was...

lots time to play -
back to back games of apples to apples...who's to say going to school isn't annoying and that the tooth fairy isn't confusing?
scrabble match after scrabble match...i may not have beaten my man yet, but i'm closing the gap and I've seen him sweat.
in the lingering snow until cheeks turn rosy and noses start to run.
at the gym for hoops and a swim.
ample opportunity to indulge in -
mugs of hot cocoa topped off with clouds of whipped cream, chocolate syrup and easter peeps as if there is any other way...well not in this house.
homemade sweet and sinful cinnamon buns showered in sprinkles so gooey you cannot even finish one let alone have two, and plenty to share with friends.
a bowl of steaming, spicy tomato soup on a cold end of winter afternoon.
a vanilla latte next to the blazing fire in the coffee shop.
chances to create -
the perfect shrimp scampi...more garlic, parsley, asiago and crushed red pepper than the first time around to yield even more flavor.
pretty new headbands with fancy feathers and big bows.
personalized thank you notes for generous cookie buying neighbors.
occasion to connect -
the boys over basketball and hot wings at a favorite haunt.
the girls during a magical game of mermaid and dolphin.
to Him in prayer at church.
with a friend at the end of the weekend for a glass of wine and easy conversation.
to my body during a fast run.
time to chill, relax or chillax as T. Bone likes to say.

now i'm just wondering how the simple moments slipped through my fingers so quickly. can it really be that we are on the eve of another busy week already?

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

The things that kids say. This week we passed a guy coming out of the coffee shop in pajama bottoms on our way to school. T. Bone mused, "I want that kind of life." When I questioned just what kind of life he was referring to, he added, "The retired life." It took all my mite not to laugh out loud and uproariously. Then the next day he contemplated, "I'm not sure if I'll be in the NBA, MLB or NFL. Well, I'll probably be in all 3." Again...I showed massive restraint.

Miss Bit is such a kind and true friend at the tender age of 6. She invited one of her BFFs for a sleepover tonight and then upon finding out that another good friend would be joining them for tubing tomorrow, she insisted that I call and invite her to the sleepover too.

Hands on learning. Today T. Bone went to school dressed as a pioneer for the culmination of their recent studies of the wagon trail and life during that time. He took his lunch in a kitchen towel secured with horsehair (kitchen twine). We were careful to pack things that the pioneers would have eaten: a hunk of bread, bacon, a hard boiled egg and an apple. His class will reenact a typical day in the one room classroom. I think it's incredibly exciting and valuable to immerse learners in the material.

An afternoon with the ladies. Getting together with my step-mom and sil this week for lunch at an adorable bistro followed by a visit to the spa. I indulged in a crock of french onion soup, the salad Nicoise and a facial. I was also grateful that my step-mom shared a bite of her croque madam with me.

An adorable pair of McKenzie cheaters...a gift just because from my sil.

T. Bone won first place in our district's free throw contest out of 17 contestants. Now he goes onto the city-wide competition.

Time to read with Miss Bit's classroom Tuesday in honor of Dr. Suess' birthday.

The way American Idol inspires T. Bone to practice his guitar more.

A lovely dinner party in honor of my step-mom's 60th birthday. It was a family affair with everyone contributing. I love dinner guests who help cook and then clean up too. It was a royal feast: white bean dip with homemade pitas, creamy crab bisque, salad with almonds, dried cranberries, apples and bleu cheese, shrimp scampi, juicy grilled t-bones, asparagus bundles wrapped with peppered bacon and crusty ciabatta all washed down with chilled whites and oaky reds. Then we served red velvet cupcakes, German chocolate cake, vanilla bean ice cream and Kona coffee for dessert. And yes, I woke up with a tummy ache at 3:00 in the morning, but it was worth every doggone bite.

An hour-long relaxation massage last night. I left feeling like jello.

A walk this morning in the rain. The birds were out chirping, but there's still plenty of snow on the ground.

Time to contact state senators this week. I called and I sent emails. I don't care what side you are on, it's time to get on with the job at hand. They are paid handsomely by taxpayers even as they thwart the democratic process they claim to be protecting. It's embarrassing and insulting.

A weekend ahead with plenty of quiet spaces.