The Piano Man

Ever since my son was little he wanted to learn to play piano. I was taught the very basics by my very talented grandma, but I HATED it. So I gave it up until I was about 16, when I wanted to learn again---so I taught myself. I can read music (not very fast) and I can crank out many beautiful numbers (after hours of practicing them) and honestly, I'm just not going to be that great of a piano teacher.

So I've asked a girl in our area if she would teach him. I warned her that he may not practice very much. He may get bored with it pretty quickly. But on the whole--he should be a pretty good student. Let's hope he behaves, eh!

T.G.I.F.

It has been a crazy week. I'm thrilled that it is Friday. We have nothing planned for the weekend, and I think I'm going to keep it that way. There has been something going every single day. Not even many things, just one or two things strategically placed right in the middle of the day, so as to throw off my entire schedule. Between summer camp and baseball, ballet and piano lessons, I feel like I get to be home about 2 hours at a time and then we are on the run again. The surprising thing is that it really messes up dinner. Since the dinner prep time is cut into, it always turns into a fast food night. And that isn't god for anyone!

The Cousins

The house is super noisy right now--you never really know just how good that sounds!! We are visiting with my sister and it's her 4 kids against my 4 kids--and there is a thunder storm outside--so along with the noise of the kids--we get the booming noise of nature--and the pitter patter of rain on the windows. It really is refreshing!

What's really amazing is how dark it has gotten outside. It's only 4:25pm here, and it's as dark as it is at 9pm! So we are going to need to send them all downstairs to play in the playroom! Then we have to figure out what to feed these monsters--8 tummies are bound to be hungry!!

Both of our husbands are out tonight--working late-so we are having a cousin night out!

Trip Planning!!

What a wild and crazy week it's been--and it's only Tuesday! I can't even begin to wonder what is ahead of me for the weekend! With an impending family trip--I have a ton of laundry and a ton of packing to do. We are going to leave Brett with my sister. He's just too little to take with us. He won't remember it anyway--and we want to stay on the move--and with nap times and strollers--that just isn't possible. Rob's offered to take Kate too-and we may take her up on that as the week progresses. NYC would be a lot easier for me with just the 10 year old and the 8 year old--Kate would love to get to play with her cousins full time too, so it's probably a great idea!!

Now I just have to find luggage--and get some laundry started!!

Happy Father's Day!

Wow, what a great Father's Day it was. Like I had said earlier, we were going to head over to Rob's husbands restaurant and enjoy a pig roast. There was indeed a full 'gutted' pig roasting on the patio. All of my kids (but Kate) were completely enthralled by the entire event. I never even showed the pig to Kate due to the inability to eat pork after it--so she and I headed in to get seated while hubby and the boys watched the pig go round and round in circles.

It was a beautiful luncheon, buffets lining each wall of the private dining room. We sat with Rob and her kids as well as her in laws. It's kind of nice sitting at the table with the Chef's family. We got to meet the owners and their wives as well as some of the long time employees. It was really nice taking a peek into someone else's world for a while!

We got my husband a whole golf set up for his big day. I must say--we totally blew him away-he had no idea it was coming. Normally he gets the standard tie for work--so this was completely unexpected!

I just hope he truly felt how much we love and appreciate him--we certainly don't say it as much as it's deserved-that's for sure!!

Grandpa's Coming

Have you seen those commercials for Medicare supplement insurance? I have seen them often, but being in my late 30's, I never really thought about them. Turns out, in the next couple of months this family is going to find out a whole heck of a lot more about this type of info. My father in law is moving in with us, and will be in need of just this type of help. How glad I am that there are companies out there to make moments like these, just a little less stressful!

My stress aside, my kids are super excited about Grandpa moving in. He's getting older, but still has the strength to hit the front yard to toss a ball with the boys---or at least sit on the front porch and cheer them on. They don't have too many more years with this man, so I'm hoping that this time together will fill the rest of their lives with wonderful memories of this special man.

A Week Of Friends

We had a ton of "friend" time this week, with school getting out and church activities. But you know, everyone had a great time. We had 6 kids in the family room playing Rock Band on the Wii--and 4 more upstairs playing on the Play Station.

Are you ever embarrassed by the number of "toys" you have? The little ones playing the PS2 were getting really frustrated with the game they were playing and were starting to pester the older kids on Rock Band. Until I pointed to the obscene shelf full of PS2 games for them to choose from. I tried to explain to my friends (their mothers) that my husband really was like my oldest child. Hundreds of games purchased by him. They all concurred and laughed about it, but I wasn't about to mention that I had gotten him one of those Ps3 for Father's Day. I think that would make me an accomplice to the madness!!

This Weekend

Father's Day is next Sunday. We were going to hang out for a quiet dinner at home, but Rob just called and invited us to her husbands restaurant for a Pig Roast! How totally testosterone driven is that? Can you think of anything more fitting for Father's Day then roasting the kill over the flame? Collective caveman grunt goes here!

I think the kids will find that pretty exciting. Except for Kate--she won't even eat chicken since she found out it was literally a chicken. Man, I thought we covered that a long time ago-I guess not!

So Pig Roast--here we come! I hope my husband likes that-along with his whole golf set up--it's hiding at Rob's house--so he hasn't seen it yet-I love surprising him!

Brookfield Zoo

Summer is here! Today was my kids last day of school. Rob's kids have school until Friday, and then it's only for an hour-so I think maybe afterward we'll head over to the Brookfield Zoo. We both have memberships for our families-so it's a free afternoon for us, and the kids love it.

They have a Family building where there are dress up's, and pet and hold stations, arts and crafts--feeding times. It really is a great "air conditioned" building for us all to hang out in. Their food is an arm and a leg, so we'll be sure to pack a picnic-there is a pavilion to eat in next to the Polar Bear area-it's outdoors, but it is very shaded.

I guess I should head to the grocery store for supplies!

The Final Stretch

The count down has begun! School is out this Friday. I'm still just amazed at how quickly this day has come. I remember the first day of school so clearly. The kids were so cute, we all walked together with the neighbors. So grown up! They have really done well in school this year. Jake has really excelled in all of his subjects. Especially after such a rough start in Math, but he's passed that and is really showing that shy confidence of his.

Daniel is just an all around brilliant little guy. He always has been-and he's a class favorite. His teacher actually got teary last week when I was talking to her about the end of the year activites. She has grown close to all of the kids-but has a special spot for Daniel. That always makes life easier--when your kids do well in school. Not just academics--but socially and behaviorally--I'm really lucky! I just wish they acted this way at home!

A Little Help Please

Ok, so I mentioned in the previous post that I'm starting to walk on my treadmill tomorrow. On top of that I would like to find any good weight loss products to help in my quest for slim/sexy! Ok, so at least the slim--not much a 38 year old mom of 4 can do in the sexy department, eh!

I'm not looking for much. Just something to help curb the appetite, or burn fat faster or whatever--just something to kick it up a notch. I do have a high school reunion this summer (I'm not attending) but I will be lunching with several friends from my "non-mom" days, and I'd just kind of like to feel a little better about my looks!

Any ideas?

Time To Pump It Up

I spent the early part of this week getting the house spiffied up. Well, I guess not technically the house, but the master bedroom and all spaces leading into it. We have kept all of our fitness equipment in the basement since we moved in--and down there it is simply gathering dust. So I hired a young man that works with my husband to come and help me move at least the treadmill to my room. This way, I can work out and watch something on the DVR at the same time.

Tomorrow is June 1st--and I plan on starting the new summer regime--I can't wait!

May Weather

We have had a lot of strange weather around here lately. A few weeks ago the boys all went to the Father and Sons camp out. They ended up coming home at 2:30 in the morning due to the wind. It had been rainy and windy all night, and I was quite disappointed to wake up the next morning to see the number the weather had pulled on my patio furniture.

Now, I should say, I've been wanting new furniture for awhile, but the budget doesn't allow it just yet. But now, as soon as it does, I'll be heading out to find something fun!

Starbury Shoes

We are heading to the mall after school today! My oldest, Jake, is desperately in need of new tennis shoes. My sister has purchased herself some Starbury shoes, and have sold him completely on them. The best part of Starbury shoes---they are great "sports" shoes for $14.95. I'm amazed. They match up to the $150.00 basketball shoes when you cut them both down the middle, but at 1/10th of the price. They have some really "cool" styles as well. For a fourth grader--that is really important. He only has a couple of weeks left of school--but he still needs to feel cool at school!

Summer Break

10 more days of school! I'm amazed. I have Kate signed up for summer camp, but I haven't done anything with either of the older boys. They do have baseball, but not much going on to occupy their summer. They do love to play outside and ride their bikes, so if I do do a summer camp program, I may only do it 2 days a week. Of course, we tried that two years ago, and by the end of it--they had wanted to go every day, and so we signed them up for that. I'm trying to decided if I should just bite the bullet and put them in everyday--or just the two.

With cousins pretty close, I do want to have time for them to get to play together. My sister might be moving this summer, so it will be nice to have the kids taken care of so I can help her. I guess that is my job for the day!

Moving On

Summer is coming! You know, swimsuit weather! Honestly, drop me a quick fat loss pill because it won't be pretty! My husband's parents have a pool in their backyard which really makes it nice for me. This way my kids get plenty of time swimming, but I don't have to don a swimsuit out in public. How nice is that!

Sadly, my in laws are losing their house sometime soon, and moving into the house we just moved out of. Truly they are lucky to have a home (free and clear) to be moving into. But it is a huge step down from the house they've been living in. My mother in law is having a hard time, but when we left we had everything repainted, new carpeting and hard wood floors put in for the kitchen and back porch. It really is a much nicer house for them than it was for us. Plus, there's only two of them moving into the two bedroom house. There were six of us and 2 dogs trapped in there!

Either way, it is a step down for them and they just aren't happy about it at all. And sadly, I really don't blame them!

Fashion Plate

She's Back! My sister has been gone all weekend, up in Wisconsin with her husbands family. It makes for a very quiet weekend at home when her family isn't around. Kind of pathetic how dependent you can become on someone else and their kids in order to have a social life!

We didn't do much this weekend--just some cleaning and some shopping. Have you ever taken a 10 year old boy shopping? Last year I could dress him in whatever I purchased-he didn't care. Not this year! It has to be perfect--right down to his shoes. I fully expected this from my DIVA daughter--but not my fashionably inept son! Well, he's turned into a "Fashion Plate" and unless I find wholesale clothes, he's going to break the bank! Watch out all you 5th grade girls!!

Brookfield Zoo

We are heading to the Brookfield Zoo today. It's a beautiful zoo with many attractions, but for me, the Hammill Family Center is my biggest attraction! Why? Because it's got 14 rooms where the kids can do crafts, dress up like animals, pretend to be zoo workers, get their faces painted and pet little zoo creatures--but best of all...It's air conditioned! I generally go in, find a seat and let the kids run to their hearts content.

This year there is a baby polar bear, so we will definitely have to stop and check him out. The day after our last zoo trip one of the elephants died, and so they have taken all of the elephants out of the Chicago area zoos which is really sad because they are my favorite zoo animal!

The Clubbin' Cubbies!!

It's raining today! Not too bad--not too much planned! I was going to wash the van and get it detailed--but I think we'll wait a few days! On that one! Now I just have to find something fun to keep the kids occupied since they can't play outside. Maybe I'll see if there is a Cubs game on!!

Being A Mom

With so many diet remedies out there from Fenphedra to the Zone...it's hard to figure out where to look for just the right aid. I'm not too bad, but honestly, I would really like to tone up. I don't plan on running a marathon or anything. But some muscle tone would be welcomed.

I really just want to get healthy enough to play outside with my kids this summer. I always planned on doing that when I was younger. They just don't ever really tell you just how much time and energy kids take out of ya. This summer, I'm hoping to make up for lost time!