Birthday Dinner...With The Neighbors

On Sunday, we had Gilbert's birthday dinner. He wanted our neighbors - John and Jenna - to come over. He even selected the menu - BBQ pork chops, mac and cheese and green beans (I added sauteed mushrooms).





John and Jenna kindly obliged. Actually, they are great neighbors, love Gilbert, and we enjoy hanging out (a few bottles of wine to wash down the cake were in order!).

They gave Little Man some very cool and stylish gifts - a very artistic coloring book, a sticker book we had never seen before that could be used to build a jungle scene, and a more complex board book than the typical board book - and Gilbert loved the gifts. He actually wanted to go straight into coloring mode forgetting cake had yet to be served!

Gilbert's Birthday...Weekend!

Gilbert turns 3 on Tuesday! Unbelievable. Where has the time gone? Looking back through the blog, Little Man has had a fun filled three years!

With a weekday birthday, we hosted a party for his friends on Saturday at the 'go to' place for kids parties...Pump It Up! I've lost count the number of parties we have attended at that place. Gilbert identified Pump It Up back in the summer as the place he wanted his party. And the summer was when we had to book the place!

ANYWAY, what a great party. All of the kids had a blast (and some of the parents too!) playing in all of the inflatable equipment. And Gilbert practiced all week on blowing out his three candles!

The Urbanathlon Is Here!

Saturday is the day! My first Men's Health Urbanathlon!

This has been four years in the making. Year 1 I missed due to knee surgery. Years 2 and 3 to recover from my involuntary flying episode (that is what I'm calling my accident!) . Finally, pain free and relatively fit I'm excited to test my mettle!

Let the pain and fun begin!

Visitors

We had our good friends from Nashville up last weekend. Ryan was scheduled to run in the Chicago Marathon, but his body gave out on him. So, we got to play all weekend!

They have a son, T, who is just a few weeks younger than Gilbert. Works out great. They enjoyed each other thoroughly!

Couple of Classics

Our little boy is turning 3 in less than 2 weeks. Mommy is wondering where all the time went? I guess time really does FLY when you are having FUN! A couple classics on this Blustery- Rainy-Wednesday.

PJ Has A New Gig!

Changing jobs! After four years at my current firm, the time has come! Moving on to hopefully bigger and better opportunities! It has been a whirlwind few weeks and am thankful all is now final.

Looking forward to taking a week off and then starting anew!

Couldn't Resist

Forgot the camera at home, so no new photos to post. But in visiting a wonderful blog post from our friends at Daily Mayhem, I couldn't resist posting her photo on our site. I laughed so hard my sides hurt. I guess the zoning board was "out to lunch" the day this strip mall got approved.
HAPPY HUMP DAY.

Choo-Choo

Yeah, the Choo-Choo sweater finally fits! Gilbert got this from my God Son Tag a few years back and now he's big enough to wear it. Only problem, he wants to wear it everyday!
Thanks Em, can you even remember Tag being this little?

Saturday Afternoon in the Big City

One of the advantages to living in the city, is you can "just go" and it's not a big deal. Last Saturday we jumped (yes PJ, we actually jumped:-) on the El at Lake Street and got off 4 stops later at Madison and Wabash. A short walk and we were in Millenneum Park. We ventured to all corners of the beautiful lake shore. Then we got back on the El at Roosevelt and were home just like that. I think we were out 2.5 hours total- now that is something you just can't get done when you live in the burbs! This sculpture/art installation as always kinda creeped me out, but after visiting it in person I have a new appreciation for the legs.

Gilbert at the Harbor trying to pick out just the right boat to get for mom and dad when they they retire. (notice he has one foot crossed over the other-love that)

PJ spoting his new Southern Miss Hooded Sweatshirt- I like it. reminds me of college. Gilbert- to focused on the "airplane with a banner" to pose for the shot.

Bangs?! Yes, I have a new do. A girlfriend of mine, Laura, was sporting new bangs last week and I thought they looked great on her and decided to get some myself.

Mom, I smell poop.

I cannot tell you how many times I heard this statement yesterday. Gilbert was not a fan of the "fresh air" that the fair had to offer. We managed to get through several barns, but when we got to the turkeys and chickens Gilbert grabbed his nose, jumped out of the stroller and headed for the door- I wish I had it on video- I have never seen him get up and out so FAST!!

John Deere Green

I didn't know when I dressed Gilbert for the County Fair that he would match John Deere Green PERFECTLY! He got lots of compliments, little did the farmers know he is a city kid through and through. It was our second annual trip to the St. Joseph County Fair in Centerville, MI. with Gram Taya. I went to this fair ever year as a kid, it is fun to share it with Gilbert now.

Needing a headboard

I have been wanting to make a headboard for us for over a year now. It seems that fall is my time to be inspired, now I just need to decide:

Upholstered? if yes, what shape? nailhead trim? or perhaps an old slavged door with crusty old paint finish would be a better option.

Thoughts? I will keep you posted with my progress, hopefully it won't take me another year to get it completed!

FYI: this is Kristen posting, not PJ:-)

Go Bears!

The NFL season is finally here! Gilbert has been quite excited for the regular season. Completely bored with preseason games, his apathy for the sport could not have been higher.

He woke up Sunday all exicted to put on his 'go bears' shirt and hat, eat "football food" and take in all that is NFL SUNDAY!

Kristen even got into the spirit! Little Man and I went to the park in the morning to burn off some energy (and it was a beautiful morning) and when we came back Kristen was decked out as well!

Getting pschyed for the game, Gilbert wanted to work on his "Go Bears" scream. Check it out!

Labor Day

was spent with friends out in the 'burbs. In Naperville there is an end of season event called The Last Fling which involves a parade. Hurray for the kids!








We treated our morning as if it was a work day (grrrr!) in order to get out in time for breakfast and situate ourselves with a front row seat.












Gilbert had a great time with his friends J and K. And they loved having him out. They played all afternoon chasing, chatting, and just being kids!

A Saturday Day Out

Today was errand day. We are having some friends over for sushi tomorrow and this will be my first test making sushi rolls since my class recently. We spent the morning shopping for the ingredients (ahi tuna, Japanese chili sauce, black sesame seeds, Japanese beer, chopsticks).

That involved a trip to the local fish market (just one block from the home), Whole Foods, Chinatown, and a specialty cooking store!

Gilbert enjoyed all the stops especially Whole Foods as it is located next to a major rail yard for Metra and Amtrak. The parking garage is elevated so he had a bird's eye view of the yard. It was all we could do to pull him away to do our shopping!

We ventured into Cost Plus World Market looking for chopsticks. Gilbert found a cart on wheels and enjoyed pulling it around the store. Kristen wants a new floor rug and found a few she was perusing. Gilbert decided to get involved as well!

What A View!

Living in the city has its advantages. One is keeping Little Man occupied with urban life. Our street has been a bustle this summer with construction.

The road was recently grated and then repaved providing weeks of enjoying as Gilbert quizzed us on what was happening, the names of the equipment, the names of the construction workers (seriously), where there live and what they do on the weekends, and so on.

But the best was after the road was finished there must have been an apparent gas leak as the gas company came in and tore up a section of the street.

To Gilbert this just did not make sense and he asked why the road was being cut since it was just fixed. Ah, the clarity of an uncluttered mind. How do you counter such poignant observations!

Well, the work done, it was time to patch and this allowed Gilbert to go 'al fresco' and watch!