Puck Drop 2015

I know, I write a lot about the Blackhawks on this blog, but I'll tell you why: because the good times dad and I have at these games will literally last a lifetime. And we had another one a week or so ago.

In case anyone of you don't know, it's been absolutely beautiful here in Chicago lately, so instead of the bus or a cab, we jumped on our bikes after dinner and headed for the barn (that's what people that go to Blackhawks games a lot call the United Center, where they play). The route that we took to the game there is really no traffic at all so I got to ride almost all the way there in the middle of the street.

We got there, locked up our bikes and went to our seats.

Then came a really cool moment. Tommy Hawk, the Blackhawks mascot, was in our section about ten rows ahead of us.  These old guys behind us kept telling me to go up and talk to him but I didn't really want to.

He headed downstairs onto the concourse and that's when Dad and I made a race for it. We ran down the stairs and onto the concourse and, lo and behold, he was standing right there. So we called to him and he turned around and gave me a huge high-five, and then we snapped this photo.  I was really excited, so much so that I printed it out and brought it to show Ms. Lozan, my teacher, the next morning because she's a huge Hawks fan, too.

When we got back to our seats the old guys asked me if I saw him and we showed them the pictures and they got really rowdy and excited and were giving me high fives and fist bumps too.

A great game, Hawks were up big, and so since it was a school night we headed for the door. Here is how we parked our bikes. It took Dad about 15 minutes to figure out how to lock them together and, honestly, I had to finally help him and show him how to do it. He has since been calling me Big Toe. He explains it that if you didn't have your big toe, you'd just fall over; and he said I'm like his Big Toe  - if he didn't have me, he'd be pretty much worthless.

All in all, yet another amazing Blackhawks game. Next one is not until January because Uncle Jim is coming to town next week and he stole my ticket... UNCLE JIM!!!

Living Out of Boxes

So not literally, it's not like we moved or anything. It's just that Mae, Pax and I LOVE boxes. Mae always starts it, snags a box that a delivery comes in or something and then it just gets so contagious.

So here was Mae's initial run at it; actually carved out some space underneath the kids table in the kitchen... and actually napped there.

Then she moved it to the living room and did some diary writing before getting sleepy and curling up in it again.

Then it was my turn. Got a bigger box came a couple days later and I put up some signage on that bad boy and made it my home.

Took in the Blackhawks game from it.

Had my cup of tea in it.

And don't forget this guy. Luckily he needed a much smaller box which was easy to find and then he made it his one...

That is until he realized my box was pretty cool so he waited tip I was at school and took up shop in my box.

And then I find out later not only is he in there but he's running around in it naked and even dribbled a little bit of pee in it... not cool, Pax, not cool.

Birthday Bashes

So check this out - Eli, Mae and I all have birthdays within ten days of each other, so this year we decided to combine them for one big birthday bash.

Nana and Papa were generous to host at their house so we headed out there for a nice little party.  We had meatballs and a ton of fun running around and playing and then it was cake time.

We each got our own cake which Nana made and decorated for us. Mae's cake request was for a white sunshine cake with vanilla frosting and a big flower on top. You can see it here in the bottom corner of this wonderful photo.

My request was for a Blackhawks birthday cake, so Nana got herself a picture of their jerseys and made me the Chicago Blackhawks indian head logo along with the numbers of my favorite players.

Then it was time to sing and blow out the candles.

Then it was time for... oh, hold on a second - bathroom break.

When it came time for Eli to open up his present from us he got quite the kick out of it. We got him a container of blueberries. You should see this guy eat blueberries. When we know he's coming over Mom goes to Costco and gets a gigantic container because he can eat 350 blueberries in 2 minutes and 12 seconds.

All in all, an awesome party.  Here are a couple more great party pics.

MORE BIRTHDAY! MORE BIRTHDAY!

You wanted more birthday, well, you got it. On my actual birthday I opted for Coalfire Pizza for my birthday dinner out and then we came home and had to get clean. The deal was when we got out of the shower we'd sing happy birthday and eat birthday cake pops from West Town Bakery.

So, wondering why such a funny look on my face? Well, Eli, Isaiah, Uncle Brian and Aunt Tasha came all the way downtown to surprise me and I didn't even know they were there til I got all the way into the kitchen. The BEST birthday present!!

P.S. Wait, my photo editor just realized mom has the same outfit on... just to make sure you're all aware - those were ten days apart, it was just a coincidence.

Chocolate Chip Dishcookies

Okay, so I know I've already told you about Mae and doing the dishes, and you've already seen pictures. Well, it's so stinkin cute you're going to see some more.

The other night Mom and I made cookies and Mae took it upon herself to belly up to the bar (funny, because sometimes Dad calls Mae "belly" - it's a spin-off from Mabel... Bel... Belly). Anyway, Belly bellied up to the bar (or the sink) and got her dishwashing on.

Yes, I know that is her Blackhawks shirt - don't act so surprised.

And when we were done with the cookies and she was done doing dishes, well, she got herself a little reward.

A post dedicated entirely to Mabel... I'm such a giver.

Reduce, Reuse, Recyle

Had a school program today at LoveBugs in honor of Earth Day. Mom, Dad, Stace and Mabel Jane showed up for it.

We all got in a together in a group and sang, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, it's easy to do."

That's my best friend at school, Kamo, just to my left in the blue shirt, and that's Mikey over on the side of the picture. His Dad and my Dad actually went to Marquette together and hung out, but when you're four, well, you end up on the other side because (if I've said it once, I've said it 100 times) "Girls rule and boys drool."

Then I showed off my cape that I made.

And then, it was cookie time. We frosted some circular cookies with blue and green frosting to look like the Earth and then we ate them.

Mabel's Mouse even showed up for the festivities.

Do you want a bite?

Oh, and in case you didn't notice, Mae was, once again, rocking her Blackhawks t-shirt. In case you missed the post, Mae refuses to wear any other shirt in the house except this Blackhawks shirt and, once in a while, her White Sox shirt. This morning is an exception as she fell in the big potty last night which deemed her Blackhawks shirt unwearable until it gets washed this morning. But don't think she didn't ask for it when she got up.

If people looked quickly, they might have thought she was my little brother. Oh well, Marty... Mabel, what's the difference, right? We love her anyway.

Recent Goings-On

HEY FINLEY, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO?

Well, dear sir with excellent white beard, a lot, actually.

Mae and I tried to start a band but although I play the trumpet like Miles Davis, I couldn't get her to stop eating the drumsticks like Animal from The Muppets.

Miss Stacey took some really beautiful up-close pictures of us.

We've been doing our best lion and bunny impersonations.

Mabel has been going to dance... fashionably in her Blackhawks shirt, nonetheless.

(Big Side Note coming) Lately, Mabel cannot wake up in the morning without immediately asking for her Blackhawks shirt to be put on (she also thinks her White Sox shirt is a Blackhawks shirt). This has resulted in Mom or Dad having to wash these shirts every single night before they go to bed because if that shirt is not available in the morning, there is hell to pay. We're not sure why this happened because Mae is in bed before most Hawks games are being watched and Dad has not pushed this at all; whatever the reason, it's happened. 

And if you thought I was exaggerating, here is some more evidence. These are all taken on different days in the past couple weeks. There's Mae at the zoo.

Mae at Cole's house, getting him so jazzed about the White Sox he went to get his gear (I was coincidentally donning my White Sox hat so we made it a South Side photo)... wait a few minutes and a fight might break out (that's for anyone who has been to a game).

Mae working the register at her new job at McDonald's.

And Mae on a play date with her friends from dance. 

When I see that photo I can only envision the other moms at the play date trying really hard to smile saying how cute Mae is and in the back of their minds thinking she actually looks homeless. Note to moms thinking that: if we're going to be judging, well, don't get my dad started on that butterfly outfit on the gal in the middle.


Okay, we've been sidetracked - back to my story. The weather in Chicago has been more like June than March so we've been outside a lot, sometimes riding bikes in the park (there's that shirt again)...

And also playing our new favorite game, which is finding worms and bugs. This has proven a little more challenging in our backyard than, say, at Nana's (where there are frogs, worms and other bugs aplenty), but we've had some mild success to date, with more to come.

So that's kinda that. As you can see, it's business as usual here on S. Indiana Ave.