I Want To Go Shopping! Chicago edition

 I finally did it!  After 10 years of marriage and 2 children, I finally took that all girls trip I've been dreaming of.  I've been plenty of places but this was me, my friends and a whole lotta SHOPPING!  It was a little over 48 fantastic hours that I won't forget!

There were 9 of us total.  We managed to all be on one flight into Chicago so landing and luggage wasn't too much of an issue but the buck stopped there.  We were brave (and cheap) girls and we were going to L train it into the city instead of hailing a cab.  Well...we discover AFTER we bought weekend train tickets that there is a line down for maintenance and it was going to require us to change trains to get to our destination.  TWICE.  Now here you have to picture 9 girls and all of their belongings being carted up and down stairs inside subway tunnels.  We were sure that others did this but when we looked around, we began to doubt our big idea. That was only the beginning.

 It was rather warm inside the subway tunnels.  We were hot and hungry and for me at least, that isn't a good combination!

 We finally emerged and to our surprise and delight, we were posed right under this sign.  I think I must have been the most compelled by it as I began taking pictures and totally neglected my suitcase and left it sitting on the sidewalk while I walked around with my mouth open like I had never seen a large city before.  You ain't never seen a southern girl run faster in wedges than I did back to get that suitcase that luckily was right where I left it!

 And so begins our journey to the hotel.  We spent a while walking this way.
Then we turned around and went back the other way for a while.  Then we took a left.  Indeed, it should have been a right.  This would all have been great in the name of sightseeing but we were all dragging 50lb suitcases behind us and looked a bit like a herd of church ladies.  Maybe we were a herd of church ladies.  We were still trying to convince ourselves that walking and dragging suitcases is what all the cityfolk do and we could fit right in.  We didn't.  It might have been me behind them with the camera or the one in front with the iphone and walking directions but we and our big southern accents stuck out like a VW bug at a monster trunk show.

 I have to admit, our little walking tour was beautiful and when we were nearly at our destination, we got to see the iconic Michigan Ave. bridge.  We picked an incredible weekend weather wise.  It wasn't hot or cold and the skies were beyond blue.  I enjoyed the architecture of the city more than I realized.  This summer, I've successfully visited 3 of the 4 largest cities in America (LA, Houston and Chicago).  For a metropolitan area, Chicago was the most picturesque.

 As soon as we dropped those bags, lunch was imperative   We were all pretty hungry but also mesmerized by the river that runs through the city.  We ate at a little bar on the riverside and the food exceeded our expectations.  Service for 9 is sometimes dicey.  I guess waiters cringed to see us coming but didn't mind so much when it was time to get an 18% mandatory tip.

 After lunch, we took the Magnificent Mile by storm.  We descended on that place like a meteor shower and we didn't let up until it was time to refuel.  I could say it was overwhelming but we had strategy.  One side of the road at a time.  There was a 7, yep seven story shopping area and it included a nice Sephora.  Well, you can just imagine putting 9 girls in makeup store with makeovers being done complementary.  I was in pure cosmetic bliss while introducing some of the girls to my favorite products.  Sure, I learned a thing or two also and came out with a new definition of liquid cheek stain (blush) that has changed my application habits for the better.  Man, I really do love cosmetics.

 The last store of the evening was H&M.  We don't have one of those here in Nasvhille (but we should!) so it was a mandatory stop.  It was crazy chaos to shop in there let alone the hysterical 20 text a minute conversations the 9 of us kept rolling.  It was laughable for sure but everyone came out with armloads of shopping bags and we hoofed it back to the hotel for dinner prep.

 Our dinner plan was Chicago style pizza and a fantastic concierge helped us secure a great reservation to the perfect place.  We didn't just cab it to the restaurant either.  We took a LIMO!  Apparently it is cheaper to "ride in bulk" and we were on a minivan boycott for the weekend so Limo it was!

 Jason had taken a trip to Chicago last year and he specifically told me to eat here.  He says I never listen and it's true.  I listened to the concierge though and he led me here also.  Thanks for the recommendation babe!

 We sat 3 floors up but we had our own private room.  That was lucky for us, this way we could really loosen up our belts.  No really, we had to loosen our belts to eat this fantastic pizza.  My life and view of pizza will forever be altered.

 Our next venture was, well, interesting.  We found ourselves on the ROOF.  The rooftop bar at the Wit.  It was far more of a "scene" than we were looking for.  Think: Vegas nightclub as they fist-pump giant flaming bottles of grey goose to a reserved table complete with a go-go dancer for eye candy.  There was flashing laser beams and loud techno music that was impossible to dance to.  We moms of multiples were in over our head.  We all yelled to each other over the music how we don't remember liking this scene when it WAS our scene.  As absolutely fascinating as it was to watch the people interact, we couldn't help but feel as if they were merely searching and as we happily finished our ONE drink, we realized that we just might have what they are longing for.  Suburban life is where it's at, ya'll!

 Ms. Stephanie is quite proficient at hailing a cab.  She gets the credit for planning this trip.  It ain't easy to please 9 girls at the same time.  I'm glad somebody is willing to do it.  I'm also glad it wasn't me!

 It was a long hard day of shopping and this little bottle of wine (or two) was the perfect way to end the evening.

 We even managed to convince some stranger to gather us up for a photo on the Michigan Ave. bridge.  There you have it. Nine girls perfectly posed and smiling.  Everyone is working their "skinny arm."  I like to look back at this photo and remember "this is what we look like without our gym clothes on!"

 No trip to Chicago will be complete without seeing "the bean".  I fell in LOVE with it after seeing it on The Vow    I had to go there and I wasn't disappointed.  It was really cool and for me a photog nerd, I loved the reflection photos.  It is truly a piece of art.

Cheers to the time of your life with 9 of your closest girlfriends!
  I'm already counting down till next year!
Nashville wouldn't be the same without them.
 No where else will be either...

Money Well Spent

This week, Lincoln and I perused the dollar spot at good ol' Target and among other things, we came across some fantastic fake poop.  I've never been a girl to spend hard earned money on fake poop but I have come to the conclusion with raising boys, if you can't beat em', join em'. 

 And that's just what I did.

I proudly purchased the fake poop and brought it home.  For several days it stayed in my purse.  Yep, girly girl let fake poop remain in her purse until precisely the right moment.  

Friday night was Jackson's schools fall festival type event.  Jackson was getting ready for bed as I neatly placed the poop on his pillow.  I knew Jason was going to be putting them to bed.  It was genius.  Sure enough, Jackson pulled back the covers and started squealing for me to come and I asked Jason to dissolve the situation.  Jason went in and they were both examining the pile as to discover it's validity.  Jackson wasted no time and dove right in to pick it up with his hands.  Jason then started squealing because it was actually squishy and he was not convinced it wasn't real either then.  Soon they both realized it was fake and Lincoln and I came in laughing as we had just fooled the two of them pretty well.  Jason was just as disturbed that Jackson was willing to pick it up with his hands before he knew it wasn't real in the first place. Wouldn't you know then, there was poop flying everywhere.  It has that sticky hand quality so it sticks to everything.  They threw poop on the wall, they stuck it to the ceiling.  It actually remained there all night and the first thing they asked for when they woke up was if someone could please get the poop down so they could play with it.  Poop on their face, on the tv, on the glass door. 

 It was without a doubt the best dollar I spent all week. 

 The fun carried over into Saturday night as Jackson and Jason placed it on the neighbors doorstep.  I heard them come home and Jason snuck over to witness their reaction.  To his surprise, they were down making cell phone photos of the awesome prank.  They were good sports and relieved to find out it was purchased poop and not the free stuff our dogs give out. 

Again, best money spent all week.  If you find yourself needing fake poop in the future, Target dollar spot has you covered.

Ten on...

1.  I know right now that starting this at 1045 on a Tuesday night isn't going to be successful.  I took the liberty to leave the day blank so I don't limit myself.  It's my blog, I can procrastinate if I want to.

2.  I bought some boots today at 6pm.com.  It was on one of my coupon following sites as *HOT and I made myself late to bible study because I was frantically trying to make sure they didn't slip by me.  In that, I was successful. I am the proud owner of THESE babies!  I love Jessica Simpson shoes and at this price, who wouldn't!

3. I'm living with Incredible Hulk.  Lincoln is convinced he is Hulk.  He refuses to wear a shirt nearly anywhere.  He regularly fights pretend bad guys and shows me his fiercest scowl to prove he's "cul Hulk" as he says it.  I have to bargain with him to wear a shirt outside the house.  Guess what he wants to be for Halloween?

4.  So I have this water bottle.  It's actually just a neoprene sleeve that I've had for quite some time and a new camel bak water bottle .  Mom has actually sewn it once for me.  It's handy becuause it doesn't sweat, it holds my YMCA tag, it has a nifty handle.  It goes just about every where I do.  It's like my special coffee cup, but for water.  (Ok, maybe I have some cup issues here.)  Anyway, I had a trunk show on Sunday and brought the water bottle with me.  When leaving, I remember sitting it on the back bumper of my car and forgetting about it.  Later that night, I knew I had left it and had little hope for recovery.  I had a busy Monday and went about my day but could tell it was missing from my routine.  When I got a moment of free time, I decided to try and see if I could find it on the road at the house I was parked at.  It had been raining non-stop and no one wants my dingy water bottle anyway.  I drove over and wasn't' surprised to find nothing.  I resigned to amazon a new (but not as good) one.  I got about 1/2 mile from the house I was at and there in front of me at the T in the road sat my water bottle upright on a culvert wall.  Someone had obviously placed it there just for me.  I jumped out and scooped it up like a long lost friend!  I guess you could say my Camel Bak bottle came Bak!?!

5.  I'm refinishing my kitchen table.  This project started out as a class to learn about chalk paint and the waxes to go with it.  It has turned into MUCH more!  I didn't even plan on taking this table with me when I left Nashville but now, it's going!  I've painted, glazed, waxed, sanded, stained and poly'd everything on it.  I still have to refinish the cushions.  It's been fun and I love the finished project but there's no doubt, I had no idea what i was getting myself into.  I think I'm better to stick with smaller, one day projects. 

6.  We had THIS for dinner this week!  It was amazing and the best part is I successfully replaced the noodles with spaghetti squash and my family didn't mind at all!  If you haven't tried spaghetti squash, now's the time.  It's in season and on sale and you might just like it better than pasta!

7.  As much as I love all things fall such as football, leaves changing, cooler temps and cute sweaters, I despise the first few times I have to squeeze into the torture we call skinny jeans.  All summer long I've been footloose and fancy free in my dresses and skirts plus the constant wear of my workout gear.  I haven't donned a piece of denim since May at the latest and now that the temps are dropping, it's required that I start breaking a sweat while trying to tell myself that they were always this tight and I just have to get used to them.  That's what I'm going with anyway.  Well, that and a few more trips to the gym in the next few weeks.

8.  95 days till Christmas.  Yep, that's right folks.  In my opinion, it is now legal to break our your Christmas CD's and start listening.  Who's going to argue with me that Jesus' birthday isn't worth celebrating for 3 months?

9.  Lincoln let me play "baby" with him tonight.  When I tell him he's my baby, he usually argues that he's a big boy.  Lately he's been pretending things and tonight, he laid in my lap and pretended to be a baby.  He made cute noises, pretended to cry and let me hold and carry him around.  Don't you think for a second that I didn't love every minute of it.  Can we say "baby fever?"

10.  Yesterday, Lincoln and I had a lunch date at Jeni's Ice Cream in East Nashville.  We then visited several antique stores nearby.  It took a little longer than I thought and we still had to go by Trader Joes before we headed home.  While walking out of Trader Joes, he said "Mom, I don't want to go to any more 'tique' stores."  He's a good shopper but he was ready to throw in the towel.  Also, while at Trader Joes, we were sharing a bag of almonds and I asked for one.  He said, "You say 'yes sir' and I'll give you one."  Really?  Now I have to address my son as 'sir' to get my own almonds?!

Dr. Lincon on Duty

Last week, it was requested that I become deathly ill.
So wouldn't you know, right in the middle of hanging up laundry, I met my demise and went down.  Lucky for me, Dr. Lincoln was in the house and came right to my rescue.

.  

I'm lucky that he was able to revive me so quickly.  He went straight to work on my ailments. 

I first received a shot.  I only cried a little.  

Then while I waited, there was an emergency case that came in.  Bear Bear (jackson's lovey) had been in an accident and needed immediate medical care.  Dr. Lincoln was on top of it. He went right to work checking his eyes and his heart.  He only needed a bandaid to make him as good as new.  Whew!  That was touch and go there for a while

Just to make sure my blood pressure was good, Dr. Lincoln checked it before I was released.  It looked like I was going to survive and make a full recovery!

He told me to get plenty of rest, do not return to making dinner for 3 days and drink plenty of margaritas!

Ok, maybe it was actually "Can I have a snack and a juice box now?" but a girl can dream!

This Fisher Price Doctors kit was mine as a little girl.  I can remember playing doctor with my sister and giving each other shots all the time. It's fun to see my littles playing with it too!

Baycation

 Last weekend we took a little "baycation" with Jason's parents to the Alabama shore.  They rented a cute little house on the bay.  It was a charming little place that just fit us all.  It had a grande pier just perfect for fishing and 2 adirondacks chairs perfect for watching.
My only request for the weekend was crab claws.  I've found over the last few years that those things are rare outside of the small stretches of Alabama beach.  Well, I can tell you I got my wish.  We stopped in a small town outside of Gulf Shores at a country seafood place and I ordered crab claws, a whole pound of them.  They were by and large the BIGGEST crab claws I have ever laid my eyes on.  They satisfied me for the entire weekend!  We only spent one day at the beach but the boys definitely made the most of it.  They jumped waves and were carried down the beach in the strong under currents more times than I can count.  It was a nearly secluded beach filled with great shell collecting too.  We made a VERY weak attempt at a sand castle but between Lincoln the Destroyer and the sugar sand, it was a futile effort.  

 Most of the time was spent fishing, baiting and checking out the numerous jellyfish that inhabited the bay.  We had considered swimming in the bay until the jellyfish made it quite obvious that no one but them would be swimming this weekend.

 Lucky Lincoln always seems to catch the largest fish.  It seems those kiddie poles have all the luck!

 We saw some beautiful sunsets and enjoyed pretty mild weather considering hurricane Issac was on the horizon.  We got out of there just in the nick of time.

I caught sweet Lincoln hanging his little head off the side of the pier trying to see fish, jellyfish or something he'd tossed into the water.  No doubts about it, this is the cutest thing I've ever seen hanging off the side of a pier.  Geez!

 These sweet brothers endured my  mandatory photo shoot.  Ideally, we'd have showered and gone back over to the beach for a photo shoot but they weren't going along with my plans and I had to go with plan b.  That means no family photos but let's be honest, no one really wants to see me and Jason anyway.

 Lincoln has been interested in taking photos and I've let him a few times.  This is the ONE he got of Jason and I that wasn't blurry.  It was a worn out from the beach look but he's photography skills are picking up!

 I absolutely HAD to make use of these colorful chairs.  The boys were properly bribed with popcicles for this 10 minutes of fun.

 I'm pretty sure they think it was worth it.  My only complaint was driving the 8 hours to spend less than 2 days at the beach then driving another 8 home.

This is my formal request to live closer to the beach when adventures in  grad school is over.

Babies, bathrooms and Football, Oh My! {10 on Thursday!}

Better late than never, as usual!

It's been a busy week full of everyday normal stuff with a few minutes of hilarious thrown in to make it fun!

1.  I had lunch last week with a girl from Jason's school at a place called Silly Goose.  It's in East Nashville which is not traditionally somewhere you'd want to find yourself but the community is working hard to change the atmosphere there.  It's still a little sketchy for parking but the food venues are REALLY good.It boasted fresh baked breads, smoked turkey, goat cheese and avocado.  That's my language!  I had possibly the best(and only) basil lemonade I've ever tasted!

2.  The day has come for me to (temporarily) say goodbye to weekends with my husband.  No, it's not because he's going to be working or out of town.  Tonight, I become a "football widow."  I know many a coaches wives have already said their goodbyes but tonight is the beginning of the 2012 football season and with it I will mourn the loss of Jason every Thursday-Sunday while he babysits the couch and television.  The only acceptable interludes are frequent visitis to the fridge and restroom.  He's pretty passionate about it so I'll allow it.  Besides, I'm just grateful he doesn't follow it with "hunting season!" Right, Mari?

3.  On that note, I'm taking both children to the Vandy Owen MBA tailgate today for the Vandy/ South Carolina game tonight.  Sure, it's a school night but how many chances do you get to go to a real college tailgate in first grade? I imagine we'll be seeing our fair share of "littering parties!" Now, wish me luck as I drag two kids across campus for the headliner of Football 2012 being broadcast on ESPN as football kickoff.  This is all happening at the same time as the NFL Titans game tonight.  Warning, Nashville is sure to be CHAOS!

4.  Next weekend I'm leaving the family behind and going on my first ever girl trip!!  I'm pretty excited about it.  There are 10, yes ten of us flying from Nashville to Chicago to spend 48 hours without kids!  Our plan?  Shopping, eating and more shopping with a little bit of eating and maybe a drink or two.  Adventures in Chicago.  It may be the next "bridesmaids" movie.  Probably not though.

5.  With my sister and several friends having babies, I confess I think about babies far more than Jason would like me to admit.  I have known for a long time that I want one more.  I've just got to keep convincing him.  Oh, and him having a job would be nice after school too. (in the works!)

6.  I had a parent moment of realization recently.  Actually it was Jason who got to experience this proud moment as he accompanied our 6 year old to the truck stop bathroom.  He walked out and told me, "well, Jackson can now read the graffiti on the bathroom walls."  Lucky (or not?) this time it merely said "kill yourself".  I GUESS that's better than the expletives he could have sounded out while standing at the john. Oh, the infinite knowledge of the bathroom stalls.

7.  On a recent road trip, I had packed snacks for the boys (I'm SO my mother!).  I was handing out combos to the kids by the handfulls.  Lincoln announced he wanted more "bones."  Confused I asked him what bones were and he said, "You know those bones like you gave us and we give Roxy."
Well, come to think of it, the combos DO look exactly like the treats we regularly feed Roxy.  Poor kid thinks I'm feeding him dog treats but he liked them enough to ask for more!

8.  Just this morning at the neighborhood bus stop, I was instructing Jackson on tucking his shirt in when I look over and see a cute, blonde 3 year old with his pants around his ankles readying himself to water the grass.  I run over and jerk his pants up while explaining the faux pas of public urination.  Nevertheless, it was noticed by every parent at the bus stop and we embarrassingly made our way home to use the indoor plumbing we so thankfully have.

9.  If ever more than a few minutes go by and I can't hear Lincoln, I can put money on the fact he's up to no good.  Yesterday, I called and called him.  I went upstairs and yelled for him.  He came running out of the bathroom and said "I was just going potty!" Sounding suspicious, I walked toward the bathroom and he said, "You don't need to go in there, you go back downstairs."  That, my son, is a dead giveaway that I DO in fact need to go in there.  Looking around, I find a giant wad of gum in the garbage that had been recently disposed of.  Someone was hiding in the bathroom to eat gum and then spit it out as to not get caught.  Soon, he'll realize I'm smarter then him or at least learn how to not get caught.

On another occasion I was looking for Lincoln and he comes out of the bathroom and I ask,
"What were you doing in there?"
He tells me "I was just smellin."
"Smelling what?"
"The cat thing, you know, the cat thing?"
"You mean the litter box?  Why, Lincoln?"
"I dunno, it just stink so I smellin it."

Gross.  Kids.

10.  I recently read this article about raising boys.  I found it funny and oh so true in so many cases.  I feel like I have very typical boys.  Here's hoping they grow up to be respectable Men on day!  It's worth a read, and there's a girl version but I wouldn't know anything about that...yet. (here's hoping!)
http://www.ivillage.com/raising-boy-parenting-tips-we-wish-wed-known/6-b-440087

He's Baaaaack!!!

It was 3 constant weeks of  "How many days till Dad comes home?"  

It became, "How many hours now?"

It ended with them waiting by the stop sign on the road until they saw his truck.  There were squeals of joy as they jumped into his arms and held on!

Even Roxy was pretty glad to see him. 

Since he's been home, they have been his shadow every waking second.  They talk to him non-stop.  Seriously, I asked him once, "When am I going to get a chance to talk to you?"
Lincoln's first statement was "I didn't miss you while you were gone but now I miss you!"  (yes, apparently he's got it backwards!  Then he said, "When I grow up, I'm going to grow a beard just like you!"

They've played ball, frisbee, legos and of course had a few tickle/tackle fights.  It's been fun seeing them reconnect with him.

My favorite moment was him working in the yard and coming inside to eat dinner and taking his dirty shirt off.  I look up from preparing the meal and there are 3 boys without shirts on at the kitchen table.  They want to be just like him.  And I'd say that's a pretty good thing to be!!

Jason wasted no time and started back to school on Monday.  It was offically his LAST first day of school EVER!  We're pretty excited about this year in Nashville and the opportunities beyond.  I'm so proud of him for all the hard work he's put into this MBA program and the jobs it will provide.  He's a great husband, a great father and a wonderful provider!  We're lucky to have him and Happy to have him HOME!