Dinner at the Big Toy

On our drive home Wednesday, we stopped in Laramie, WY for dinner.  Jon found a big toy for the kids to get out and stretch at Burger King.  As we pulled in there were three cop cars in the lot.  "This could be a bad sign."  I said.  "Nah," Jon argued, "It just means we'll be extra safe."  So after I rushed the girls to bathroom I come out to see the officers talking to a smoke-skinny man with stringy hair down to his waste at the booth around the corner from us.  "The big toy is closed."  Jon said with a smirk. "There is some kind of family dispute going on."  Sure enough, I looked into the kid room where several more cops were talking to a group of people.  Then as we were eating, for a reason I don't understand, part of the group moved out and cops talked to a teary red faced women and a couple of others just a few feet from where we were sitting.  The girls wouldn't eat, they were glued to the drama.  I kept telling them to turn away.  "It's not polite to watch people for a long time."  I'd say.  Whatever, they were not listening.  "Anna, don't look, honey." I whispered.  Then she turned to me and without whispering told me, "I like looking at peoples."  ...A few minutes later the teary women was cuffed and taken to the car.  Just in time to let the girls play before the next 15 hours or so of driving.

How embarrassing - (Too much info warning)
Before we loaded the car we noticed Kade needed to be changed.  "We better let him "walk" (teeter) around a little to help things move along."  We discussed.  So Jon took him over to the play toy padding and let him roam a little, while the girls continued to race down the slides.  Kade was leaning against part of the toy when Jon noticed that his pants were wet.  He had leaked.  Then out of the corner of his eye, Jon saw...two little Kade droppings that had fallen out of his diaper (thanks Huggies!)  Eewww!  I was in the other room waiting for some food when Jon came rushing Kade into me in a superman hold.  Then Jon hurried to clean it up trying not to draw attention - yeah right...the girls came storming around asking all kinds of questions as to what he was doing.  So much for being inconspicuous.  How embarrassing.

The Blizzard of 2011 - Chicago

I've been told that this storm is the third biggest to hit Chicago.  It was pretty amazing.  The wind was whistling against the house hard enough that we could sometimes feel it sway.  There was even LIGHTENING!  I didn't know snowstorms had lightening.  This one did.  Very cool.

Notice the buried cars?  Chicago was basically closed for two days.

This is Jon finding the street.  (See those awful apartments across from us.  We live in a darling neighborhood in the historic district of Blue Island, and THIS is our view.  I won't complain any further, the view from my kitchen window is picturesque.)

Notice her hat and scarf? She loves them.  Her sweet mother made them for her. ;)

Jon and I spent our energy yesterday on the driveway and sidewalk.  Then Jon made a path in the back (so we could still get our garbage to the street before it turned to ice).  Unfortunately for him the snow drift was the thickest right were he needed the path.  But, it worked out rather nicely for the girls.  Have a look: (things to watch for: Lauren's "food storage" is Anna's "candy" she'll even tell you about her cookie. ;) and Rissie won't go in until Daddy makes it a little bigger - she gets that from me.)  

I love this picture!

Anna was crying to come in.  I think she'd had too many cookies!

Kade wasn't in on all of the action, but he enjoyed watching it. (The pink chair reminds me of Robots when Rodney has to where his cousin Veronica's hand me down parts.  Poor Kade. ...we have 3!  one is even blue, but this one doesn't fit under the table so it works better for him as a high chair.)

Fun, fun, fun.  I love exciting weather, especially when I get to relive my childhood through my kids.  I also like weather when it imposes a small potential of danger - and then doesn't. (That's the extent of my thrill seeking.)

Kaders and Cakes

Because most of you who view this blog, don't see us very often, I thought you may want to see how little Kaders is growing.  When he's just out of the tub his curls are intact, (or when Anna thinks he needs lotion in his hair).  This one of him in the white shows a little curl on top.  And as you can see he is generously loved by his sweet sisters.  He has broken a couple of teeth this past month, crawling all over and yesterday even climbed his first stair.  These nine months have flown by much too fast.  He is a sweetie and very good natured.  We all just adore him.

Lauren has been loving the cake decorating videos on YouTube.  Little did she know that Aunt Jenny recently sent her a cake pan for four princess dresses.  So we had a little fun.

These lil' cuties were so excited to finally get some snow.  Poor Anna was taking a nap - we'll have to get her in on the action next time.  Even after all of the times I've seen her pull this, her little poses make me smile every time.

 I didn't take any other pictures of Thanksgiving.  So, I'm glad to at least have these.  The girls helped make the banana cream pie.  Looking at the after math it's seems a little more clear why Anna would be inclined to cut her hair!  (It's usually pulled up.)

Video of Anna's new hair

Anyway - Mother Teresa

An old friend of mine had this posted on facebook.  I liked it so much I copied and pasted it where I wouldn't lose it.  Thanks Jocelin.  This is one worth committing to memory, and, better yet, to practice.
 Anyway

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

 Mother Teresa

Happy December Sunday

Anna, the ballerina, is the teacher.

The girls had just exhausted themselves dancing around the living room when we came back to the classroom. Anna and Rissie taught us a few more things before the end of school.

Her words are unintelligible, but obviously intentional.