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!!!

Thanksgiving, 2014

So we made the annual trek to Kansas City to Aunt Erica’s for Thanksgiving and boy was it worth it.

EVERYONE came this year – Ayla, Alyssa, Jered and Aunt Jan from New Mexico; Nonie, Deb and Uncle Jim from New Hampshire; Grandma and Grandpa from Nebraska and all five of us from Chicago.  Tons of fun, lots took place:

I got pampered bigtime and we did the hair train with our cousin Alyssa.

We played with Ayla for an entire day in Kameron’s closet with all her old dolls and toys.

We hung with Mom a lot; it was her birthday after all.

I took up the saxophone… and then later we played dress up rock band.

Mae did her thing in the kitchen (she is TOTALLY the Sous Chef of the family). She made a turkey apple with Aunt Jan...

And here you can see her with Aunt Debbie preparing the fruit turkey.

What’s a fruit turkey?  Well, you start with a piece of fruit…

 And then about 30 minutes later you have a fruit turkey.

And we interrupt this program to give a nod to the trio of head chefs - Nonie (Claus), Grandma and Aunt Debbie!

Pax spent a lot of quality time with Grandma, played peek-a-boo at breakfast...

 And hung out in an empty box a lot (I know, right? Like, what?)...

And owned it at shuffleboard

And our most favoritest thing we did was spend time with Aunt Erica’s dogs. We took them for walks, gave them treats, let them out and back in and did a whole bunch of snuggling with them.

Mae always gets lots of kisses from those doggies.

And then, on the way home, Mae found her shadow, which she lost about 3 months ago. Thank goodness we found it, somewhere near St. Louis.

Pancake Party

So last Saturday morning we had a pancake party and it was a doozy. While mom and I were making the pancakes, though, Mae started cleaning the dishes. This is her new thing - I help mom bake or cook and Mae does the dishes.

Then the pancake party kicked off. First, Mom made a whale, which turned out great, then moved on to a heart for Dad's pancake (altogether now... "awwww") and Mae got her wish, which was a jellyfish.

And then I threw an octopus at mom and, as always, mom delivered.

Uncle Jim, you're going to have to step up your game next time you're in town.

Easter Weekend | Part I

Okay, so awesome news to share. Noni, Aunt Debbie and Uncle Jim came for Easter Weekend to visit from New Hampshire. We had ourselves such a time that this is going to be a 2-part post, maybe even three if I'm feeling fiesty.

Okay, so Good Friday was a hoot. Woke up and got right to the pancake making, a famous tradition of Uncle Jim's. He even let us mix this the batter this time.

During breakfast I gave Noni some of the Easter gifts Mabel and I had made for her the previous week, which she loved, and we spent some time outside blowing and sharing bubbles.

That afternoon we bummed around and later decided it was a Pequod's Pizza night, which always makes it a good night. Here's what we didn't plan for... Noni took Happy Hour a little too seriously and after Dad spilled his drink and Mae pee'd her pants, I was pretty sure I had landed in the middle of a Phi Beta Cappa party...

On Saturday there was a huge Easter Egg hunt in the S. Loop. 8,000 eggs were laid out for the taking, and Mabel and I both found eggs with White Sox tickets buried inside as the prize... solid showing.

Oh, and don't let anyone ever tell you Easter Egg hunting does not wear you out... because. it. does.

Later that night we colored Easter Eggs, which is always one of my favorite things to do....
























And then before bed I set out some carrots and milk for the old Bunny.

Stay tuned for Part II