Today, Jeremiah graduated from kindergarten. Hallelujah!

We celebrated by going to a traditional English Tea at The Drake Hotel. I thought they might not enjoy it but even though it is a formal tea service, it wasn't stuffy at all. Live harp music plays while high tea is served with finger sandwiches, scones, and French pastries. Champagne, mimosas and bellini's are also available (and yummy) and they served peanut butter & jelly sandwiches to the boys.

The Harpist and Super Personable Maitre D' both came over to our table to talk with the boys and the boys were on their very best, most polite behavior; asking each other if they cared for more sugar or sandwiches, using their napkins and softly applauding after each harpist selection. It was a wonderful experience for all of us.

If you are in or plan to visit Chicago, Tea Time at the Drake should definitely be on your itinerary.

The Drake's Traditional English Tea Service is available daily from 1:00pm - 5:00pm and costs $29.00 for adults and $15.00 for children.

For more information go to visit http://www.thedrakehotel.com/

Here are a few pics from mere moments ago...

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Garrett Popcorn

I remember when I was young, Mom would bring home yummy Garrett's Popcorn on payday. It was such a treat! Fresh warm cheese popcorn mixed with sweet caramelcrisp (a.k.a The Mix) is pure indulgence.

The Garrett's on Michigan Ave can have lines down the block, the one on State Street is always packed to the walls. Lucky for me, there's a Garrett's inside my office building (Citicorp at 500 W. Madison) and the lines are only long there during the evening rush when folks are grabbing a bag of The Mix before hopping on the Metra commuter trains....hopefully bringing that deliciousness home to their own eager little kids.

Today, the boys came downtown and before they left, we made a quick stop at Garrett's and enjoyed a few cheesy handfuls in the warm sunshine.

Find out more about this Great Chicago Foodie Tradition at http://www.garrettpopcorn.com/

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Today, the boys and I along with my best friend Khary headed to the 18th annual Fiesta Back of the Yards. The event spans four blocks in the primarily Mexican community known as the Back of the Yards (1800 W. 47th St) and highlights the ‘hood’s diversity with more than a 100 vendors selling everything from tacos and tortas to jewelry and brews. Three stages feature local DJs, bands and dance groups, and there are carnival games and rides and tons of community outreach services (free condoms at the Planned Parenthood Booth).

The Fiesta is one of many neighborhood festivals being held this weekend and runs through Sunday.

As usual, here are pics from mere moments ago....

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With a warm up to the mid 30's, the boys and I headed downtown to the Lantern Festival which is one of many family events that are a part of the Musuem of Modern Ice, a free, month-long outdoor festival featuring the U.S. debut of Canadian artist Gordon Halloran’s work, Paintings Below Zero. 

Situated behind Millennium Park’s famous Cloud Gate sculpture (aka "The Bean"), is Halloran's monumental and colorful ice wall measuring 95 feet long and nearly 12 feet tall.  Inspired by a glacial wall in its final stages of movement toward the ocean, the installation will evolve over time with natural and planned changes, so you will see differences in the exhibit as the days pass.

Public programs and family activities are happening each weekend in the American Express Heated Tent adjacent to the ice wall and in the Chicago Cultural Center’s Hot Spot. Today's festivities included making lanterns, masks, and crowns for the Lantern Festival. We also got to make our own ice sculptures and watch live ice carvings It was Extremely crowded but we had a good time and the boys thought the traveling musuem was..."very cool." It ended with a parade with the newly made lanterns, which we passed on because...well...nature called first.

If you're in Chicago or planning to visit this month, head downtown to check out this incredible exhibit. More information can be found at:

http://www.museumofmodernice.com/events/

In the meantime, here are pics from mere moments ago.....

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From my boys for Valentine's Day. They spent all of their allowance on cards, candies and flowers just for Me! Who could ask for anything more?!

Pudge, Babycakes - Mommy Loves You!

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The boys and I spent this rainy, cloudy Saturday downtown in the comfy confines of The Harold Washington Library - the Main Library Branch of the Chicago Public Libraries. Today was the ending Celebration of the week long Bookamania funded by the CPL and Target to encourage reading and literary activities for children ages 3 to 10.

We Had a Blast!

We enjoyed a free performance of "Seussical the Musical" performed by the Beverly Arts Center Teen Thespians and shared in the 50th birthday activities of the Cat in the Hat and even got a picture with him along with numerous storybook characters including The Man in the Yellow Hat from Curious George. There were a lot of Storytellers and performers, and completing several crafts garnered the kids free books! Whoo Hoo!

Afterwards, we lunched at Beef and Brandy on State street between Adams and Monroe...an old family and Chicago favorite, where we warmed up with Hot Chocolate (for the kids) and Bailey's Coffee (for me)...yummy

As usual, here are pics from mere moments ago...

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Today, we are celebrating one of our young cousin's birthdays at the County Line Orchard in Hobart Indiana. It seemed like a Great Idea when my cousin told us about it a few weeks ago. Apple Picking in October is a classic Norman Rockwell scene for a Midwestener right?

Man, today it is almost 90 degrees. In heat like that, apple picking seems more like farmhand work than a relaxing weekend family activity. But, today I learned that nothing is sweeter than a freshly picked Red Delicious, that has only been touched by God and My Hands. Yummy!

The boys had a Blast on a tractor ride, at the petting zoo, a train ride, face painting and gorged on yummy ribbon fries and freshly sqeezed strawberry lemonade.

You can find out more about this U-Pick farm at: www.countylineorchard.com

In the meantime, here are pics from mere minutes ago....

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I'm the mom of two extremely Boyish Boys.  I mean BOYISH!!  They bring home tadpoles and other creepy crawlies in their pockets, collect rocks, play in the mudd, do cartwheels, wrestle in the basement like it is the main stage of the WWF, and...they smell each other's Butts.  What is That about? Then one will yell out "Your Butt Stinks" and the other says "Stop Smelling my Butt" and then I say "Look, If you smell someone's Butt.." and they Both chime in "It Will Stink!" and fall into fits of hysterical laughter, while I roll them into the tub with a clothespin on my nose.

I've said that so often, it's become one of my Mommy-isms that I'm sure they will both recite (and tell their kids) when they're all grown up.  Of course it means more than just don't smell someone's butt...it really means, well, what else do you expect?  A floral bouquet??  So, I even say it even when they're not smelling each other's butts..in lieu of saying "what else did you expect to happen?"

It's funny to be a Mom...saying weird things to make very real points...that kids Never forget.

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