Eighteen

Oh, my goodness.  Where to begin?  I guess I'll start at the very beginning.  A very good place to start....

It was Jonny's year to plan the anniversary.  I taunted him that there was no way he was going to beat my awesome planning of 17.  He, apparently, was up to the challenge.  And, guess what?  He beat me. He shut me up.  And, he made me a very, very happy girl...

A trip to Chicago!  For FIVE days!  Without my children!!! (three exclamation points.  I really do love my kids...)

My husband totally rocks.  

Here's the hightlights of the trip.  Keep in mind I am terrible at remembering to take photos.  All of the following are from my iphone. Luckily, the memories we made are emblazened on my very soul. 

We took off last Wednesday.  We had a very dear friend come and stay with our kiddos until Jon's sister made it down from Washington.  We arrived after midnight in the midst of an A.M.A.Z.I.N.G lightening/thunder storm, the likes of which I have never seen in my life.  Thunder that sounded like gun shots right next to your ear.  Lightening that lit up the sky, one bolt after another.  Rain that was heavy, hard and WET.  It was actually quite magical.  

We stayed at the Palmer House.  Right downtown.  Super old, but remodeled and gorgeous.  Here is a little glimpse of our room:

The bed...

The next morning, we slept in.  Until 10:00.  So heavenly.  It's funny how much I appreciate sleeping in.  How much I long for it, really. Anyways, after a really leisurely shower, we headed out on the town.  We ate a yummy sandwich at Potbelly's restaraunt; a local favorite (my buddy Brittany gave me tons of sweet tips on things to do, restaraunts to try, and much more.  The trip would not have been as successful without her suggestions!  Thanks, Britt!).

After lunch we wandered down towards the water, and took a really cool architectural tour on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan.  It was such a great way to see the city.  The architecture in Chicago really is amazing.  So many different styles.  Our tour guide was super funny and made it all very interesting. 

After the boat tour, it was almost time for our dinner reservation.  My husband is the cutest, and totally indulged me.  I am kind of a nerd, and LOVE the reality show "Giuliana and Bill." If you haven't seen it, it's about Guiliana and Bill Rancic, it airs on the Style Network, and it's totally cute.  They are an adorable couple and I am super addicted to the show.  Bill Rancic is a Chicago native and the couple recently opened an Italian restaraunt downtown called, RPM Italian. I, of course, have been dying to go.  Jon, of course, made reservations there to celebrate our anniversary. 

And guess what?  The Rancics delivered.  Big Time.  Awesome atmosphere.  Fabulous food.  Amazing service (weirdly enough, our waiter was from Tualatin, Oregon).  Here we are at dinner. And, some of our lovely, amazing food.

Our darling waiter brought these complimentary mini-gelatos to us!

Best meatballs E.V.E.R!!!

 After dinner we headed to Navy Pier, which is a cool touristy area on Lake Michigan with carnival rides, restaraunts, and gift shops.  We rode this BIG ferris wheel and one of us (me) enjoyed great views of the lake and the skyline.  The other one of us (Jon) played tic-tac-toe on his phone the whole time because he is a scaredy-cat-chicken-shrimp of heights.

Here he is on the ferris wheel, trying not to look freaked out.

The next day, we worked at the Expo for the Rock and Roll Marathon.  This is how Jon got the whole trip paid for (did I mention that in addition to being a rock star, he is also a genius?). We had tons of fun working together.  After work, we went to North Avenue beach and enjoyed this view while we ate some yummy beach food at a place called "Castaways."  The sun was setting and it was super romantic and picturesque.






Jon's company is one of the Rock and Roll Marathon series' sponsors, so we got two VIP tickents to run in the race.  We had a blast running the race together, and it was a very cool way to see the city.  It was HOT, even at 7:00 AM, but we ran slow and easy and afterward got to hang out in the VIP tent with amazing food and cold, icey drinks.

**As a side note, Jon dropped a trailer hitch on his toe a month ago and has not been able to run since.  He was such a good sport to still run with me and did amazing!

Here is my running poster- child posing in front of the Chicago Art Institute Lion.

After the race we enjoyed some amazing pizza, and then headed to Oak Street Beach (also on Lake Michigan, which I am convinced is not a lake, but the fifth ocean! It is huge and the beach is sandy and there are great waves.  It even smells ocean-y).  We napped on the beach, went for a swim in the refreshing, but not freezing water. H.E.A.V.E.N.

 We rented bikes that afternoon and rode for miles and miles along the flat lake-front trail. The weather was gorgeous.


The last day of our trip we did more sightseeing, checking out the famous Chicago Theater and shopping along Michigan Avenue and at Water Tower Place.  Then we had lunch and caught our plane home. It was so very sad to leave Chicago and our fun time alone together behind!

 It was really a wonderful anniversary.  Probably the best one yet.  I fell even more in love with my husband each moment we spent together.  There is nothing like time away to make you feel more connected and more appreciated.  We feel so blessed to still be crazy in love after 18 years.  I have been married the same amount of years that I haven't, if that makes any sense, and Jon has made this half of my life blissful beyond words. I will never forget the magical five days we spent in Chicago.  The laughs and new things we learned about one another, the encounters with homeless people, the inspiring talent we saw on the subway platforms,  and the new inside jokes.  I adored every minute of it, and can't wipe the perma-grin from my face.

I love you, Jonny, and can't wait for every day of the rest of forever with you.

Good vs Evil

While laying by Max in his bed the other night we were chatting about stuff that was on his mind. The conversation moved to his dad. I told Max how lucky he was
to have such a great dad who loved him so much. Max turned to me, totally serious, and said:

"But Mom, how do we know Dad's not a bad guy?"

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Molly lost her first tooth!!!

Bring on the tooth fairy!

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Wishy-washy

Max had to do a project for school about what he wants to be when he grows up. He decided on a pilot. This is his finished project:

While lying in bed the other night he said to Jon, with a big sigh, "I really want to be a Jedi when I grow up, but I already signed up to be a pilot."


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The cutest thing in the world?

Yesterday at breakfast Max asked me, "Mom, do you know what the cutest thing in the world is?"

Before I could answer, Ian said excitedly, "me!!!"

Max looked at him like he just fell off the turnip truck and turned back to me, "Ewoks."

I beg to differ.

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We so glad when Grandma comes!

We were so lucky to have a special visitor at our house this Spring Break. Grandma Bonnie flew to Portland to experience what a week of no school and constant rain is really like. She was probably so sad to leave!

Day one we went to see Alvin and the Chipmunks, "Chipwrecked." Grandma is such a great sport and laughed as hard as the kids at the singing, dancing rodents. Afterwards we went to the Bob's Red Mill store and had a yummy lunch!

Later that afternoon, we braved the elements to stand in line for the Wicked lottery. It was not our lucky day (it's never my lucky day when it comes to drawings, gambling, lotteries), but, since Wicked was not sold out, they offered us tickets for just $43 each! Score! So, my mom and I got to go on a fun date. And, we had awesome seats, 15th row, orchestra level. It was my third time seeing Wicked, and I swear it gets better each time! It was so fun to experience it with my mom, and watch how much she enjoyed it. Sorry about the picture. I took it of us, with my phone, so we are squeezing in.


Friday, we headed to Southeast and ate at the Waffle Window. The actual window was closed because of weather, so it ended up being just a waffle brunch, but we got to all try some yummy waffles!


Then, we headed to a super fun play structure for more indoor fun and to work off our waffles!


Saturday we went to....

Donut land, where else?

Then we went swimming. No photos of that, but it was fun. Grandma was a good sport and took both boys down the slide.

Sunday was General Conference, so we just hung out at home. We made Swedish Pancakes, homemade soft pretzels, and had a nice Sunday dinner together. In between all of that, Grandma played lots of board games with the kids. Again, she is such a great sport! Here she is playing Pretty, Pretty Princess with Ian.


Sadly, we had to take her to the airport on Monday, just as the clouds parted and the sun came out. We always love it when she comes to visit. She is such a joy to have! We miss you already, Grandma Bonnie! Please come back soon!

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A tribute to Mee-Maw

On January 17, my sweet Grandmother passed away from this earth. She was 87 years old. I wanted to share a few things that stand out in my mind about my Grandma, Molly Anne, who both of my girls are named after, and who, when my older brother couldn't say Grandma, he nicknamed "Mee-Maw." The name stuck.

She was a child of the 1920s. Born and raised in the South. She was not what I would call a southern belle, though. She was a tough cookie. Her mother died when she was just 13 years old, and in order to save her family (of seven children, the youngest only 2 years old) from being split up to different relatives, she promised her police chief father that she would take care of the home and the kids if he would allow them to stay together, with him. He did, and she kept up her end of the bargain. She finished high school and went to business college. She worked for a tobacco company and finished her career by working for 42 years as a bookkeeper for the North Carolina News Company. She raised 4 children of her own (my awesome mother being one of them) mostly by herself after her marriage ended when her baby was only a few years old. A product of her hard work was that she taught her children the same values. She also kept a clean home and was one of the best cooks I have ever met. Her coconut cake, boiled custard, fried okra, and collard greens being just a few of the favorite flavors of my childhood. Of course, we can't forget the fruit cake. Or can we?

Mee-Maw always lived 2,000 miles away from me, yet she was an example and a rock in my life. My summers in North Carolina, or her visits to Utah were the highlights of my childhood. She was so much fun. I always had a great time learning a new card game from her or watching The Price is Right with her. She should've been a contestant on that show. She was a natural! She took us to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, along with my late aunt, Carolyn, and took us swimming and to the movies. Her family meant the world to her.

I will miss so many things about Mee-Maw. Her funny southern phrases, her sense of humor, and the way she loved Duke basketball. She made such an impact on my life and who I am, not only because of who she was, but because of the daughter she gave me for a mother. It's amazing how goodness is passed down.

I was very blessed to be able to attend her funeral, in Durham, North Carolina, and let me tell you , it was a packed church. She had so many friends and family there, and it was wonderful to hear all of the lives she touched in her long life. I am so grateful that she died peacefully and without a struggle. And, I know that she had a wonderful greeting in heaven.

I will love you forever, Mee-Maw. I will try to live my life so that you would be proud.

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The Ship Parade

After a fun dinner with great friends, we packed donuts and hot chocolate to the park by the river to watch the annual ship light parade. Here are some of the awesomely lit up ships!

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Favorite Christmas Toy

Playmobil Nativity. But where Baby Jesus' top half went is a Christmas mystery.

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Fancy Molly

Molly was invited to a Fancy Nancy Christmas Party. I thought she looked too beautiful not to share!

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Gingerbread village

So, lest you think it's all been fun and games, there was the gingerbread village mishap...

I found a gingerbread village kit, and thought, how perfect, 5 little houses! No need to fight over one house, right?

Not so much. They ended up being ridiculously small, and impossible to build when you have human sized hands.

Olivia dissolved into tears when hers fell apart.

Ian happily munched on his.

Molly weeped over her disastrous house.

Max ate his. Notice a pattern?

So, I have decided that there is a reason that this tradition has never stuck for us. You don't have to include the stuff that's more stress than fun!

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The Nutcracker

Last Saturday, I took the girls to the Nutcracker. First we went out to lunch at our favorite spot, The
Olive Garden, where the unwrapped this year's nutcracker:

Here is Olivia in front of the pit orchestra.


And here is Molly! It was beautiful and we all loved it as much as ever!


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Christmas Luau

**photo courtesy of Steve**

Our ward Christmas party this year was a Christmas Luau. It was so much fun! The cultural hall was decorated beautifully, the food was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G, and we even had some island entertainment (yes, I hula'd), complete with a surfing Santa! The whole family had a blast. A big thanks to those who slaved away to make this party so much fun.

Gingerbread Pirates

Our favorite Christmas book this year.

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Zoo lights

We headed to Zoo Lights Monday. It was freezing!!!! But not raining. So, we took advantage. The lights were so pretty and fun! And, we were all ready for cookies and hot chocolate afterwards.

The girls loved the bear! It was probably warm!


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Our Tree

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Festival of Trees

I think this is our third year going to the Festival of Trees downtown. It always falls on the first Friday of the month, which the kids have off of school. There is so much to do and see there, we always have such a great time and it really gets us in the mood for Christmas!

There's face painting (this is what Ian got after he was told they couldn't do Yoda):

A Teddy bear hospital. All the kids get a bear which they get to name and doctor up! It's so cute! Bandages, xrays, and face masks! This is the highlight of the event! Here is Ian having his bear's ("Big Boy") heartbeat listened to:



Olivia's bear! ("Caroline")


Max's bear (Fella):


Molly's bear, ("Snowflake").


Mrs. Claus' kitchen. They each got to decorate a cookie.


There is a magnificent trays display!


And then, there are the trees!!!








It is such a fun day! And we loved going with great friends!

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2011 Holiday Kickoff!

So I have a bunch of pipe dreams about how I am going to document all of our fun holiday activities. We pack in a bunch of stuff during December, but blogging about it January 1 is totally overwhelming, so I never get to it. This year I will try to "blog as I go," so we can remember at the end of the frenzy that we really did have fun!

So, since I am anti-Christmas until after my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, our festivities began the day after Thanksgiving with the annual tree lighting in our little community. Apparently we have the largest live Christmas tree in the nation. Or so the mayor said. I have not checked his research on that. Anywho, here she is in her lit up glory!

After the tree lighting, the mayor points out Santa, in a fire engine, and we all parade after him to the plaza where you can stand in line to see him. Since this is not our first ball game we know that you have to hi-tail it down there unless you want to stand in line all night! We got there pretty quick, stood in line, and chatted extensively with the big guy. Also, we saw this cute bear and lots of other jolly critters handing out cookies and candy canes. I guess this is one time of year where it's ok to talk to and take stuff from strangers..


Ian with the big guy. His list is so fun this year: a castle with horses and knights! I hope the elves can manage that!


Stay tuned for lots more of our fun!
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