Funny Husband

Thursday night, Phil reminds me that he took Friday off. I looked at him a tad confused, as we didn't have anything in particular planned. I asked him why.

"So I could spend time with you."

And there was a collective "awwww" that came over the crowd. Oh wait, that was just me. But then he continued.

"And Cubs tickets* go on sale tomorrow."

Nice. 

But he did redeem himself by checking to see if the local Dairy Queen was open, and then he purchased me a Blizzard. So I guess he can stay.


* Please note that the husband is not a fan of the Cubs. He merely purchases the tickets to a high-value game and then sells them for a profit to all those silly Cubs fans out there.

Class of 2024

I had to do something last week that I'd been dreading for a few months. The school district posted the signs I believe before Christmas, stating that kindergarten registration would occur this week, and when I first read the signs, my heart dropped a bit. Could it really be time for my little guy to get signed up for kindergarten? Has it really been almost five years since he's blessed our lives?


For those who know me, I don't shy away from the fact that I feel pangs when it comes to milestones with Jeremy. I blame it on several things: he's my baby, he's my boy and it's the last time I'll get to experience these milestones. I have a hard time letting go, but that's just the way I've been for most of my life. I tend to hang on too long, just grasping at these feelings for one last time.


I really am trying to embrace the fact that my little guy is starting kindergarten in the fall. But it's hard. My kids are my life. I stay home with them, and that's what makes it harder in a way. I'm around them all the time. And that's perhaps why it's easier for me to let Riley grow up a little--I worked after she was born and then stayed home after Jeremy was born. Jeremy and I went through everything together--sleepless nights, colic, separation anxiety, potty training, preschool, you name it. And as much as I wouldn't change those experiences for anything, those special times with him make it harder.


I've already said that August 25 is going to be tough. He's going to be gone all day. (But don't worry--Jeremy is beyond excited, and Riley loves the fact that she gets to ride the bus with him and show him where he needs to go.) And I don't think it will fully hit me until the afternoon, since he's already at preschool three times a week but is home to have lunch and spend time with me in the afternoon until it's time to get Riley. Nobody said parenting is easy. And sometimes letting go is even harder.

Can you believe this little guy will be the Class of 2024?

Blizzard of 2011

Last night, what could best be called Snowmagedon, hit most of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. The snow began to fall Monday night and didn't stop until early this morning (Wednesday). Add to that, 50+mph winds, and you have quite a sight. I was in shock when I looked out the window this morning. I kept saying over and over that I couldn't believe the amount of snow we received. I ended up taking a tape measure out, and I think we had about 17 inches, but again, it's hard to tell with all the wind.

Downtown, Lake Shore Drive was completely shut down and people had to abandon their cars on the road. Part of I-80, which is south of us, was shut down as well due to the massive drifts of snow.

Luckily Phil chose to work from home yesterday, so he didn't have to drive in the inclement weather. He did, though, use the snowblower 6 times yesterday. Riley was recovering from the flu (it was her first time missing school, as she got perfect attendance last year, so it was rather traumatic for her to miss school), so she was home. 

Both kids were off today and school is also closed tomorrow due to wind chills in the -25 degree range. Oh how I dream of warm weather with windows open, bare feet in the grass and sunny days. (No comments from Uncle D where the temps are sure to be in the 50-60 degree range.) The kids did want to me post these pics for C+D to give them a taste of winter. Enjoy!

Our enclosed deck received quite a bit of snow.

More evidence of the fierce wind gusts.

A view into our back yard. Our fence is about 7 feet tall, so you can see the drifts.

The view out our front door.

What we saw when we opened the garage.

A view across the street.

The plows had yet to come through.

Riley surveying the snow drift.

Our neighbor helped Phil clear the driveway since he had a bigger snowblower.

The kids are all bundled up.

Trying to tackle the drift.

They did it!

Jeremy got his foot stuck.

Our mailbox. You can see the drifts.

Our street.

The kids by our mailbox.

Jeremy getting swallowed by the snow on our walkway.

Riley helping me shovel the sidewalk.

Riley is in there somewhere.