So here we are...about 250 miles into our 500 mile trip home from visiting my parents for Thanksgiving. Tim is driving, which in itself is surprising, and the kids are playing who knows what on their DS's in the backseat. My parents live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, just about 500 miles directly north of our home in Springfield, Illinois. The population of their town is about 1,800, with people definitely being out numbered by the deer (opinion, not fact, although it might be a fact...).
My mom likes to have big Thanksgiving celebrations, although she complains about it from beginning to end. This year, it was the 4 of us, the 2 of them, my uncles Gary and Sam, my brother David, and James and John, two people my mom knew that had no place else to go for dinner. She had also invited at least 3 other people that normally do not have family to spend the holiday with, but this year 2 of them received invites from family members, and the other felt too ill to go out. Its nice of my mom to want to invite people who have no place else to go, and it makes them feel good to be invited. My mom is an excellent cook. Other than visiting with family, which in itself is important, that is one of the main reasons I like to drive the 9 hours to visit them, the food is sooo good! We have turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, corn, sweet potatoes, asparagus, cranberries, crescent rolls, and 3 kinds of pie. This year, it took her two days to make the meal, and it took us about 30 minutes to eat it. Something she was sure to point out. Meal preparation also includes setting a fancy table and tons of hors d'oeuvres. I completely enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner, as always, and every year my picky children eat more and more.
It would be nice if my parents lived closer. They miss out on so many things being far away from the grandkids. But I think it makes the kids appreciate the time they spend together more. It is also nice for the kids to experience what it is like to live somewhere else. Somewhere where life is slower and simpler. Tim has a harder time with the slow and simple life. Sometimes his ADHD kicks in and he drives me crazy. But this trip he did really well. Maybe he needed a little slow down in his life right now. Whatever it was, it helped me enjoy our little vacation even more.
Another thing about visiting my mom is that it is nice to have someone else help take care of my children. Someone to feed them, entertain them, put them to bed when I fall asleep on the couch. Granted, the kids are getting big, and the need to "care" for them is getting to be less and less, but I still appreciate not having to worry about it. Gives my "mom-brain" a little extra vacation.
All in all, despite the very long drive, and the lack of snow this year, I think we had a really nice time. The kids got to be spoiled for a few days, and I guess so did I. Now that we are home, we'll spend tomorrow putting up the Christmas tree, and getting ready for the next holiday. My parents will come down here in two weeks to visit for Aili's birthday, and for the first two of our long line of Christmas celebrations. Let the parties begin!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Springfield, IL
I grew up in the Chicago Suburbs. Graduated from Schaumburg High School. Schaumburg is best known to my Springfield friends as the home of Ikea and Woodfield Mall. The 'burbs were busy and hectic, but I didn't know it then.
Following high school, I attended Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. After living in Central Illinois and getting away from the suburbs of Chicago, I realized that my personality is much more suited for smaller town living. Now, I didn't say small town living. I don't think I could handle living in a small town either. But mid-sized...that seemed to suit me just fine. While I was at ISU, I met my husband, Tim. After Tim and I dated for several years, and since I had no desire to return to the 'burbs, I followed him to his hometown of Springfield, Illinois. I have now lived here for about 16 years.
Springfield is one of those places where everyone knows everyone. Well, maybe not exactly...but if you meet someone new, chances are that they know someone, who knows someone else, who knows someone that knows you. Its the kind of town that's big enough to have a little bit of everything, but still small enough that people complain there's nothing to do. There are definitely "have" people and "have-not" people, and a whole bunch of people right in the middle. It still has enough of a small town feel that the opening of a new Dairy Queen causes immense excitement. And even though it is the State Capital, its small town enough that the politicians prefer to stay up in Chicago. Unless they're from a smaller town, and then they hurry back home for some peace and quiet.
I've found that Springfield is a good place to raise a family. There are plenty of parks and space to run around. There are a ton of sports activities for the kids to participate in. We are mostly pleased with the private Catholic school that our children attend. The kids play sports with their classmates, and our daughter is part of a fabulous choir associated with her school. We have great friends here, and most of Tim's family lives in town. If we really need a big city fix, St. Louis is just over an hour away, and it's just under three hours back to Chicago.
Although I occasionally imagine moving far away and embarking on a different adventure; I really enjoy living here, and am happy to call Springfield home.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Day 4
Ok, so today I did my grocery shopping. Now I have to say that it has been weeks since I did a full blown shopping trip. I've picked up things here and there, but now we were pretty much out of everything. My cart was completely overloaded with boxes of cereal, gallons of milk, potato chips, diet soda, fudge pops, toaster waffles, shampoo, and toilet paper. I should add that I also bought yogurt, cottage cheese, bananas, and salad fixings so it wasn't all junk food. I should have been grateful that I was able to purchase all that we "needed" without worrying so much about the cost...but that's not what I was most grateful for. I was grateful that I was able to go shopping without the children.
Today is also Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so the kids were off school. My mother-in-law was gracious enough to keep the kids during her day off, as both Tim and I had to work. So just before 3:00 when I got off work, I called and asked if she could keep them just a little bit longer so I could go shopping. She said that was completely fine, and so off to the store I went. Not many people would consider grocery shopping on a busy afternoon a peaceful activity, but to a busy mom it can be. I listened to the music I wanted to in the car as I drove across town. I wandered the aisles quietly without anyone begging for candy or treats that I was not planning to purchase. I stood patiently in the checkout line not worrying about whether or not the kids were bumping into other people's shopping carts. And then I listened to my music again as I drove back across town to collect my children. I was able to spend about an hour and a half with just myself. I was able to let my mind wander. I was able to sing loudly in the minivan without embarrassing anyone but myself. I was able to regroup and refocus myself so I could give my children the attention they deserved when we got back home. I love my kids. They are sweet, and intelligent, and fun. But an afternoon without them can be so wonderful.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Day 3
Ok, so...its now the 16th of January and my Christmas tree is still up. As is the lighted garland going up the staircase, the stockings on the fireplace, and the nativity scene. I feel like such a slacker. The staircase garland is my favorite decoration. It just looks so pretty, wrapped around the railing, with pretty white lights and red bows and berries. It only takes about 15 minutes to put up, and even less time to take down, but I haven't done it. My tree is also amazing. I only put about 9 strands of lights on it this year in order to save time while decorating (I usually put on 15). We then put on 331 ornaments. Yes, I counted. Well, my mother helped me. She is where I get my Christmas obsessions from. My decorations can't hope to match hers. She has a tree in almost every room in her house, and hangs a couple thousand ornaments every year.
Christmas is such a marvelous time of year, and January is so cold and boring, taking down the decorations makes me sad. I know there are people out there that take the decorations down as soon as they can. I just can't do it. Now, my mother drilled into my head that the decorations need to stay up until Epiphany, to celebrate the wise men visiting baby Jesus. But that was 10 days ago...
We did spend last weekend in Wisconsin having one final family Christmas party. This did stop me from starting taking the decorations down then. The kids had only 6 Christmases this year. My parents came down from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and we celebrated Christmas with them on December 17th. Then we went to Chicago to visit with my dad's family on the 18th. Then Christmas Eve with Tim's extended family. Then Santa came of course on Christmas morning. Then Christmas afternoon with Tim's immediate family. Then last weekend, January 8th, in Wisconsin with my mom's family. We have to have "the talk" with the kids before every party. The, "it doesn't matter what you get or don't get, you need to be grateful" talk. Alex, at 8 years old has the hardest time with this. He hasn't learned the art of censoring his thoughts before they leave his mouth yet. We have to explain that it doesn't matter that Aili got the largest present, his presents were just as good. So frustrating!!
Anyway, back to the decorations... I'll get them down. I'll get all the ornaments wrapped up and safely stowed away until next year. The living room furniture will be moved back to its usual location, and life will return to normal. But before we know it, Christmas will be back again. The Hallmark ornaments will be unveiled in the middle of July, decorations will be in stores before Halloween, and people will start planning their Black Friday shopping strategies long before Thanksgiving. Then it'll be over, and we'll all wonder where the past year went, and I'll be fretting about leaving my decorations up way too long again.
So here's my final toast to Christmas, to twinkling lights and candy canes, to wrapping paper and bows, to visiting with close friends and loving family...see you again in 343 days!!
Christmas is such a marvelous time of year, and January is so cold and boring, taking down the decorations makes me sad. I know there are people out there that take the decorations down as soon as they can. I just can't do it. Now, my mother drilled into my head that the decorations need to stay up until Epiphany, to celebrate the wise men visiting baby Jesus. But that was 10 days ago...
We did spend last weekend in Wisconsin having one final family Christmas party. This did stop me from starting taking the decorations down then. The kids had only 6 Christmases this year. My parents came down from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and we celebrated Christmas with them on December 17th. Then we went to Chicago to visit with my dad's family on the 18th. Then Christmas Eve with Tim's extended family. Then Santa came of course on Christmas morning. Then Christmas afternoon with Tim's immediate family. Then last weekend, January 8th, in Wisconsin with my mom's family. We have to have "the talk" with the kids before every party. The, "it doesn't matter what you get or don't get, you need to be grateful" talk. Alex, at 8 years old has the hardest time with this. He hasn't learned the art of censoring his thoughts before they leave his mouth yet. We have to explain that it doesn't matter that Aili got the largest present, his presents were just as good. So frustrating!!
Anyway, back to the decorations... I'll get them down. I'll get all the ornaments wrapped up and safely stowed away until next year. The living room furniture will be moved back to its usual location, and life will return to normal. But before we know it, Christmas will be back again. The Hallmark ornaments will be unveiled in the middle of July, decorations will be in stores before Halloween, and people will start planning their Black Friday shopping strategies long before Thanksgiving. Then it'll be over, and we'll all wonder where the past year went, and I'll be fretting about leaving my decorations up way too long again.
So here's my final toast to Christmas, to twinkling lights and candy canes, to wrapping paper and bows, to visiting with close friends and loving family...see you again in 343 days!!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Day 2
Today is Saturday. The day began with my son Alex's indoor soccer game at 7:45 in the morning. 7:45 is early, but last week the game started at 7, so I can feel like we got to sleep in! Alex is a good little player. And I mean little. He is very small for an 8 year old. The kid has zero percent body fat, and that means in a game like soccer, especially indoor, he gets physically pushed around a lot. Alex is good on defense, he always stays back to help defend his goalie; and despite his small stature, he is never afraid to confront the opposition. The team the boys played today probably shouldn't have been playing in this league. This is a YMCA sponsored recreational league, and I'm pretty sure the team they played was a competitive team during the regular seasons. So needless to say, they got their butts kicked. 7 to 1. They tried, but the other team was bigger, faster, and not afraid to throw an elbow or two or three... I have to say they took it well, and we'll push the loss aside and try again next weekend.
The day then continued with my daughter Aili's volleyball game at 1:00. She plays on the 5th grade Christ the King school team. They also lost today. The second match I thought they had them. They had a sizable lead at one point, but then seemed to freeze up, and let the other team overtake them. It was Aili's first game as we were in Wisconsin last weekend to visit family, and Tim and I were both nervous as to how well she would perform. She did pretty well. I think she had some first game jitters, but she definitely held her own. She isn't always the most athletic kid, although she really, really puts her heart into it; and there are some very athletic girls in her grade. But she made some good plays, and we are very proud of her performance. All the girls did really well, the other team just played better. Again, we'll just have to wait until next week to try again.
Finally, at 2:30, we were back at Soccer World for my indoor soccer game. It's a team from Tim's office, but he had a conflict and was unable to play (on some Saturdays he takes blind and wheelchair-bound people bowling with the YMCA Adaptive Physical Education program), but after rushing across town from volleyball, I was able to make it. We play in a co-ed recreational league. A minimum of 3 girls must be on the field at a time, and if a guy scores a goal, a girl must score the next one. We lost 2 to 1. Our girls just couldn't get a foot on the ball. I'll tell you...the ball spins so differently on the indoor carpet than outside in the grass. And although the guys tried to give us opportunities to score, we just weren't able to pull it off. Myself included. I just couldn't solidly connect with anything today. Again, as we were in Wisconsin last weekend, this was my first game of the season, so I'm a bit rusty. So just like the kids...we'll try again next weekend!
Tim joked that we were just a bunch of losers. Anyone who knows Tim knows that he loves to tease. And that is all his comment was, harmless teasing. But I have to say I disagree. There were a lot of things we could have done on a cold Saturday in the middle of January. We could have sat on the couch and watched T.V. all day. We could have taken the Christmas tree down. The fact that its still up is a different issue...maybe that will be tomorrow's post. We could have gone to the movies and eaten a bunch of fattening popcorn and drank giant slushies. We could have gone to the mall and spent some of that disposable income that we really don't have. But we didn't. We went out and did healthy, physical activities and cheered each other on as a family. I think that makes for a pretty good Saturday. For Christmas I got Tim a sign to hang on the wall. It says "A Family That Plays Together Stays Together." I think that is very true. We love to hang out together. I think it makes us a stronger family. We cheer on and support one another. Even though we all lost today, we can take pride in what we accomplished. We can learn from our weaknesses and will all try harder next week.
I'm proud of us, and even if we all lose again next week, we're not a bunch of losers...we're a close family supporting each other and trying to have fun doing it. Although, I will admit...it will be more fun if we win!!
The day then continued with my daughter Aili's volleyball game at 1:00. She plays on the 5th grade Christ the King school team. They also lost today. The second match I thought they had them. They had a sizable lead at one point, but then seemed to freeze up, and let the other team overtake them. It was Aili's first game as we were in Wisconsin last weekend to visit family, and Tim and I were both nervous as to how well she would perform. She did pretty well. I think she had some first game jitters, but she definitely held her own. She isn't always the most athletic kid, although she really, really puts her heart into it; and there are some very athletic girls in her grade. But she made some good plays, and we are very proud of her performance. All the girls did really well, the other team just played better. Again, we'll just have to wait until next week to try again.
Finally, at 2:30, we were back at Soccer World for my indoor soccer game. It's a team from Tim's office, but he had a conflict and was unable to play (on some Saturdays he takes blind and wheelchair-bound people bowling with the YMCA Adaptive Physical Education program), but after rushing across town from volleyball, I was able to make it. We play in a co-ed recreational league. A minimum of 3 girls must be on the field at a time, and if a guy scores a goal, a girl must score the next one. We lost 2 to 1. Our girls just couldn't get a foot on the ball. I'll tell you...the ball spins so differently on the indoor carpet than outside in the grass. And although the guys tried to give us opportunities to score, we just weren't able to pull it off. Myself included. I just couldn't solidly connect with anything today. Again, as we were in Wisconsin last weekend, this was my first game of the season, so I'm a bit rusty. So just like the kids...we'll try again next weekend!
Tim joked that we were just a bunch of losers. Anyone who knows Tim knows that he loves to tease. And that is all his comment was, harmless teasing. But I have to say I disagree. There were a lot of things we could have done on a cold Saturday in the middle of January. We could have sat on the couch and watched T.V. all day. We could have taken the Christmas tree down. The fact that its still up is a different issue...maybe that will be tomorrow's post. We could have gone to the movies and eaten a bunch of fattening popcorn and drank giant slushies. We could have gone to the mall and spent some of that disposable income that we really don't have. But we didn't. We went out and did healthy, physical activities and cheered each other on as a family. I think that makes for a pretty good Saturday. For Christmas I got Tim a sign to hang on the wall. It says "A Family That Plays Together Stays Together." I think that is very true. We love to hang out together. I think it makes us a stronger family. We cheer on and support one another. Even though we all lost today, we can take pride in what we accomplished. We can learn from our weaknesses and will all try harder next week.
I'm proud of us, and even if we all lose again next week, we're not a bunch of losers...we're a close family supporting each other and trying to have fun doing it. Although, I will admit...it will be more fun if we win!!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Day 1.1
What I've always wanted to do with my life is write. I like writing, I like putting my thoughts out on paper (or virtual paper). So that's what this blog is about. It has been said that if you want to be a writer then write, or if you write everyday, then you are a writer.
Anyone who knows me knows that I love Twilight. Now, not to critique Stephenie Meyer, but her writing is very simple. She's not complicated, her books are easy to read. And every time I read her books, I think "I could have written that." The difference is...she had the great idea, I didn't.
So maybe, just maybe, I start writing, just writing, and the great idea will appear. Or maybe it won't...at least I can get some joy out of sitting down at my computer and putting thoughts to paper. I can't guarantee to anyone that every post will be interesting. I can't promise that I won't whine and complain about my kids and my husband. But I can say that I will enjoy it. I will enjoy writing. I will enjoy putting my virtual pen to my virtual paper and setting my mind free.
So, welcome!! Welcome to a little piece of my mind. Come join me on this adventure as we explore whatever we choose at any given time. Hopefully, it will be a blast!!
Anyone who knows me knows that I love Twilight. Now, not to critique Stephenie Meyer, but her writing is very simple. She's not complicated, her books are easy to read. And every time I read her books, I think "I could have written that." The difference is...she had the great idea, I didn't.
So maybe, just maybe, I start writing, just writing, and the great idea will appear. Or maybe it won't...at least I can get some joy out of sitting down at my computer and putting thoughts to paper. I can't guarantee to anyone that every post will be interesting. I can't promise that I won't whine and complain about my kids and my husband. But I can say that I will enjoy it. I will enjoy writing. I will enjoy putting my virtual pen to my virtual paper and setting my mind free.
So, welcome!! Welcome to a little piece of my mind. Come join me on this adventure as we explore whatever we choose at any given time. Hopefully, it will be a blast!!
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