summer fare

One thing to love about summer is the fresh fruits and veggies that can be found at local farm stands and farmers' markets. I'm finding that this summer my kids are more likely to try a new food if they can pick it or grow it themselves. We've gotten Lucy to eat lettuce, zucchini, yellow squash and fresh string beans! This is quite an accomplishment for such a picky eater!!  Adam chose to grow Brussels sprouts in our garden and has kept a close eye on their growth. So far this year, we've been able to pick 2 cucumbers from our own garden, that we quickly eaten up (mostly by Adam) but even Picky Picky ate a slice dipped in ranch dressing. One place we like to go is Wiltse's Farm in Maple Park. The kids are in love with the sweet black cat and the occasional family dog and I love the beautiful flowers I have gotten for our gardens. This year I've picked up a really pretty orange/yellow coneflower and a healthy butterfly weed. Gorgeous!  But we ALL love the produce. Today was the day we had to run up to pick up SWEET CORN.  Reading their Facebook post yesterday:  "sweetest sweet corn this year, just had an ear raw for breakfast"!!!!  Well, if that isn't tempting! So tonight we're having BLTs with pepper bacon, and Wiltse's white and bi-color sweet corn.  Yum!

common courtesy please (and thank you)

So on my mind today are some experiences that I've had out in the general public that haven't been very good. We've done quite a bit of eating out in restaurants, special programs for the kids, staying in hotels and in just being "out and about" this summer. I'm feeling particularly frustrated today at the lack of common courtesy and respect for others. (Disclaimer: if you haven't figured it out yet, this blog entry is going to be me venting and griping for awhile. Please disregard if  you're in a really happy place right now.) Today I took the kids to the movies for a $1 early special. The theater was filled with summer camp kids. We had to sit way in front because apparently the entire theater was being reserved for the camp kids. Only about 1/2 of the seats were filled and the movie was going to begin shortly. The kids were running and talking. They were out of their seats unsupervised by their leaders and totally knocked me over as we were coming into the theater. Leaving the show, they all came barreling out and knocked over my daughter. Both times I approached one of the counselors and was granted a blank stare and a mouth hanging open. Not only did they not "get it" they certainly didn't do anything about it. The people working at the counters don't even look at you when you approach to pay or order. My Facebook friends know that I've griped about my library experience this week as well. The mamas hung out at the coffee bar while the older kids participated in a program, but they let their little ones run laps and use the library furniture as ramps and jungle gyms. Last weekend we were traveling out of town and stopped for dinner at Friday's. Four young women all hanging out at the hostess station continued their chat with cell phones out while we stood in front of them waiting to be seated. Not busy in the restaurant. Just getting ignored. One takes us to a table that although is cleared of dishes, was clearly just used and covered in food, napkins and water. Lots of other empty tables and even a booth, but she tells us to "just wait here while I get this cleared off.".  A few minutes later we're greeted by a waitress who is either trying to sell us the frequent Friday's card or paying attention to the next table's conversation while standing at our table. Staying at a hotel, the Coach of a team that was also staying there, served as an EXCELLENT role model as he yelled across the entire breakfast room of other guests and made no attempt to quiet his players the night before while they played ball in the hallways.

I guess my thought is this: Whatever happened to common courtesy????  Why aren't parents teaching their kids how to behave in public places? Why are public places considered "anything goes" for behavior and language? Why don't waiters and waitresses act like their customers matter? AND....how about some manners? Is i really too much to ask for?

I'm not just wearing my teacher pants. I'm not just wearing my mom hat. I'm just trying to instill good values in my children and would like to be out in the world without having to put them in earmuffs!! Please. Thank you.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Wait

Like millions of others, I've been totally excited to see this last movie of the Harry Potter epic, Deathly Hallows Part 2. I did my homework before the big night. I reread the last book. I watched Part 1 the movie again. What has become a tradition for a few of the girls in my family is going to the midnight show. Jenna bought the tickets so we were set! In fact she bought them 3 weeks ago because she overheard at the theater that shows were already sold out. So knowing we had out tickets was actually the first part of the Deathly Wait. Sadly, Jenna's camping trip plans changed up a bit and she had to miss out on this one, but Mark has been reading and watching this year as well, so he was able to come with us.
Then I found these t-shirts online and I new we had to have them. I love them. They are colorful, soft, and super fun. And when Jenna gets back from her trip I'm totally wearing it again to see the movie with her. (I hope you are reading this Jenna!)
We decided to get to the theater at 10:30pm in order to get in line and be able to sit together in the theater. We ended up getting there earlier even because we got a call saying the lines were already in the parking lot! The theater had lines roped off outside according to theater number and of course many people were dressed up as the characters. We saw Voldemort, Harry, the Weasley twins, even Hedwig, Harry's owl. All fun to see and make fun of a bit! :)  Even arriving at 10:10pm for our 12:01 show, we were not sure we would be able to sit together. So began the next part of the wait. Around 10:40 managers came out and told us we would be let in shortly and asked everyone to stand up and move up to the doors. Around 11pm other lines were being let in to their theaters, but not us. In fact...it was 12:00 when we were actually let in to our theater. It was like the aftermath of some weird scifi film. The parking lot and front of the theater was quiet, silent. Popcorn, feathers, and other litter was left blowing around. But we were at the end of our wait at last! Not so fast. After getting in, we were NOT able to find  4 seats together, but at least in front of each other. Then we knew in just 1 more minute we would be set! Nope. The manager came out and explained that ALL the theaters were being shown the movie from the same projector so it would take another 15-20 mins  to synch up together. At this point we were just laughing. And tired. The excitement buzz had started to wear off.

But then it started. And it was EPIC. Definitely, definitely worth the deathly wait. Goodbye Harry Potter! Thanks for the ride!

reunion reminiscing

Every 3 years, my husband's side of the family has a family reunion on the farm in Iowa.  It's a time for everyone from all across the country can "come home", catch up, have a beer (or two), and relax with a deep breath. The farm is quiet and peaceful during the day, but as the afternoon moves to evening the kegs get lighter as the bonfire gets bigger! There are many things I love about going to the farm: the sheep! there are always lambs to bottle feed and who can resist that? The rows of corn and beans in the fields. The quiet during the walk through those fields is amazing. No trains, no sirens, no cartoons blaring. Just wind and birds calling. I love how laid back it feels. I love the worn wood of the barns and the dusty lane as we drive up. I love the way the sun looks as it moves over the behind the farm and shines through Lona's small windmill in her flowers. I love that everyone just knows that this is their home.
Friday is the big arrival day. Family come from all over. Some sleep in their giant RV's, some in smaller campers, some on the floor of the house, most in tents. "Albert's Tent City!"  Friday is spent hugging, setting up camp, tending to bonfires, and then roasting hot dogs around that fire. Everyone gets a drink and settles in around the fire, music is playing and everything is good. Saturday is the official reunion day. We always start the day with a big breakfast, followed by the arrival of all the other family who live close enough to just drive in for the day. Food starts getting put out, then the MEN bring out that roast pig that has been on the roaster since the night before. It is definitely a MEN ONLY job, as tradition will have it. Tasting and beer drinking is required. But before the eating comes my absolute FAVORITE part. All in attendance stands around in a circle, we hold hands, and we count off. There is something solemn in the counting. It is hard not to think about those that are not there to count with us this year: Mark's uncle Dale just that week, and his mother, Dorothy have passed on since the last reunion. We have also welcomed new babies that have added to our numbers. This year marks the most in attendance ever, 121 family! Overwhelming for sure. And then we give thanks. That thankfulness to God for family and friends, for getting together and for a concrete visual of the body of your family that is there for you is an emotional thing. A powerful thing. And I'm glad for it!

Diggin' It and Not So Much Diggin' It

Growing up, my mother always, always, always had a garden planted in our yard. And she didn't mess around. Just about every square inch of our yard was covered with flowers and the whole back corner became a huge vegetable garden. The same is true for her now, even with the small yard of her townhouse. She's always given me great advice about what plants I can put in certain places in my own yard. When it was just Mark and I, we didn't really ever grow a vegetable garden. Now with the kids being at that perfect age, I put in a new veg bed last year. It was late to start though and we didn't get much to speak of.
This year was different. I got the bed cleared out, soil turned over, and revamped  my plan as to what I wanted to put where. Adam was excited to try some new things; Lucy just wanted in on it! So now we've got ourselves a nice little vegetable garden that we hope to be able to eat from this year.
Adam chose beans (I bought the bush variety to save space) and brussels sprouts (yes! he really did!) and carrots. Lucy just wanted sunflowers because they look happy. And then she thought we should plant morning glories as well. We also chose a bush cucumber and green peppers. Tomatoes always are fun, but I decided to put them in pots this year. They already have flowers and they are getting bigger. We're diggin' it. It's fun to see our seeds come up, our plants get bigger and taller, our flowers bloom but then....

it's time to WEED.  I'm pretty sure that by now our mosquitoes actually are immune to bug spray and are beginning to thrive on what should in fact kill them. I filled an entire lawn bag with thistle weeds, stray grass, foreign green stuff and more thistle. Apparently our neighbor enjoys filling her bird feeders with thistle seed for the finches. Lovely for the birds, not so much for  my garden.  It is my least favorite part of gardening, but most rewarding after it's all done and the flower beds look beautiful again. But for now...
my aching back, legs, arms. Mosquito bites and all.

Bring on Summer!

So pathetic that I haven't blogged anything since Easter! But that's what happens. Easter, then craziness at work and school until school is out. But now we've ended Adam's 1st grade year, Lucy has completed her first year at a real preschool that she loves, and I have finished my 10th year teaching. After spending a very long week in meetings and packing up the classroom for a move downstairs, the kids were very happy to hear that SUMMER HAS NOW BEGUN!  Mark and I were so happy about how they were behaving when I was trying to pack that we took them to dinner and then on to Kung Fu Panda 2. The great thing was this also began Mark's 4 day weekend. We packed this weekend with so much! We took our first visit to Morton Arboretum and spent most of the day in their Children's Garden. So beautiful! See the picture above: Toad Nursery! They are playing with tadpoles, and looking for ones with and without legs. Great day! We also spent a day at Fermilab in their prairie stations. Raptors, prairie hunts, insect sweeps and pond exploring. Sunday brought church and Sunday school, refocusing. Monday was spent at the Brookfield Zoo with great friends. Beautiful weather and so much fun watching the kids play with each other. Today I was able to secure our wonderful & reliable babysitter so the kids could stay home and hang out. and I could enjoy a luncheon with the girls at Laura's house. Megan's home from Brazil (and on her way to India!), Courtney is moving to Wisconsin, Jez brought baby Ruth and baby #2 on the way. So great to see all of Laura's new projects and how lovely her home looks after all her hard work. Just a wonderful summer already after a rough end to the school year. So...bring on summer I say. It has started out perfectly!!

Easter Baskets

Last weekend was the great Easter Basket weekend. Meaning, time for me as a parent to FILL the baskets, time for the kids to EMPTY the baskets, time for Mom to CLEAN UP AFTER the baskets.  After an insane week at home and school, it was Friday night and  I still hadn't shopped for the bunny's treats. Mark saw a commercial for Walgreen's and sends me on my way; saving me an hour just for the driving back and forth to Target or Walmart, as well as the indecision that would come in to play in a bigger store. Problem solved, and I was back in less than an hour and very pleased with my treat purchases. I remember being a kid and finding my own baskets. They were simple metal sand pails filled with jellybeans and chocolate eggs, and of course a chocolate bunny! My siblings and I did not have permanent baskets that we put out each year as we did with Christmas stockings. As we got a little older, Mom added bubbles or chalk, but it remained simple. I'm not sure when Easter Baskets became a huge production. When they became bigger than life, Christmas stockings revisited, commercialized.. I found myself sucked into that last year, and swore to "bring it down a notch" this year. I managed to do that, but barely. The stores don't help me in my quest for simplification!!!  My kids do have Pottery Barn personalized Easter baskets, I confess. But I plan to keep it simple after my first few years of going overboard. Because really in the end....it's all about the jellybeans and the chocolate bunny you eat ears first. :)