Since most of my friends have the displeasure of being Cardinals fans, I must state the obvious:

HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES?

It was a great weekend to be a Cub fan.

And I almost forgot to tell one of my most favorite details of the weekend.

Since our tire blew on the way to Chi-town, we had to find a place up there to get it fixed. We stumbled upon a little shop called Sidney’s Tire Shop where the sign out front said, “Tires on sale today!” We thought it was a definite sign.

So in we walk, right into a Seinfeld episode.

The place was literally FULL of tires. There was no desk up front to greet guests, only tires. One had to turn sideways to find the guy “Zaya” that was there. Tires, tires everywhere. The only place that there weren’t any tires was in the far back where Zaya was busy blowing up our new tire that he found about 5 rows deep. He asked us to bring the car around and told us he would put it on for us and blow up the rest of the tires. As I looked around the place to take it all in I noticed the one thing that was there to “entertain” the patrons. One of those computer gambling deals with naked women. Classic, I felt entertained immediately. And what was the grand total?

$35.

It was a steal and I would recommend our pal Zaya to anyone.

Was awesome. It was just what the doctor ordered, and as my husband said, makes me believe we can stay married another year. 🙂 Seriously, we had a lot of fun and we did remarkably very little. Turns out we still get along famously even when there’s nothing to do. Here are the few pics to capture the weekend.

The two of us at the game. It was self-shot because I didn’t feel asking the woman in front of us who, despite us sitting in the second to last seats in the place, still yelled as if Derek Lee would actually hear her. Nor did I feel like asking the woman who kept throwing peanut shells down the back of my pants when I leaned forward. MMmmm the cheap seats.

This was the view from our seats. We were literally the second to last row from the top. My nose was thisclose to bleeding.

We decided after the Cubs were losing by 20 or so to just walk around. We got down as far as the elderly security guards would let us and just did some hot laps so we could get a good look at the game. Much better down here.

My bro-in-law, Jake’s, favorite baseball player Ryne Sandberg singing the seventh inning stretch. We were one day away from Vince Vaughn, I personally felt cheated.

Saturday morning we went on a walk around Kait’s place where we found a great antique shop. I loved all the old hats and purses but it turns out my head is about 4 times bigger than anyone in the 1920s, which was most unfortunate.

For Saturday’s game we decided to just do some bar hopping in Wrigleyville, we witnessed the big “W” at this bar that had an outside patio. It was lovely.

Our most beautiful hostess.

On our way home I was driving and Zach was fiddling with the McD’s cup as usual. Not thinking much of it, I was flattered when he presented me with this little creation. A rose to remember the weekend. He is too much.

And the rose from another angle. Talent, sheer talent.

The kids are home from my parents house and the reunion was awesome. I missed them so much. It was Tariku’s first time away from us overnight and he did wonderfully. I was so giddy to see them and they did not disappoint. Love them.

We were on the road to Chicago today and then this…

But it was okay seeings this was my view at the time.

Seriously.

We had a great day so far, at the Cubs game (I mean, really, what in the world happened to them?) and hanging out with my sister-in-law.

I have pictures but turns out without kids, there isn’t a whole heckuva lot to take pictures of. We’ve been doing a lot of sitting around and talking. I actually go to the bathroom without having to double check that 3 other humans have went within the last 10 minutes.

It’s been good…and relaxing.

But I’d be completely lying if I didn’t say I TOTALLY missed kissing 3 humans goodnight tonight. Love them.

Period. End of sentence.

This tooth fairy forgot.

I had to watch my son’s face fall when he saw his tooth in the box and not a dollar that would buy him some gum.

So tonight instead of $1 there is $2.

I’m a bad, bad person. The end.

I’m sure most of you have checked Jody’s blog already, I admit I’m a bit slow going. If you haven’t, you should because she explains what I’m about to, much better than I do. But here I go anyway because people like my mom are always so proud to see me write so good. 🙂

So you remember me telling you about the orphan ministry we were staring in our church right? And you remember our first ever project was raising money for Plumpy’nut and that we raised $4,100 right? So here’s our second project, one that seems to be catching like wildfire and is already doing so well (because of generous people like you) even though the idea has been out in the public for less than a week.

What our plan is, basically, to do one month specifically for international orphans and the next month we’ll bring it local. Last month was Ethiopia, this month…Muscatine, Iowa, baby.

A few people who make up the group are foster care parents and I cannot say enough about them changing so much of my perspective on the whole foster care issue. One in particular, I have so much respect and admiration for there are just simply no words. So when we were brainstorming she came up with a brilliant idea…you ready for it?

WE ARE COLLECTING BACKPACKS, PJ’S, TOOTHBRUSHES and STUFFED ANIMALS.

For those that don’t know, when a child gets separated from family (I apologize in advance if I use any non-PC verbage, I’m not real familiar here) the police officer typically grabs a trash bag in the trunk and fills it with a few sparse items of the child’s. We were soooo not okay with what that implicitly (and explicitly in some cases) tells the child about their self worth. We believe every child deserves something that is truly their own; but perhaps we wanted to tell them a little something.

We don’t know you, but we love you. We care. We think you are worth so, so much more.

You were born for better and you a prized, beautiful person.

And in a culture like ours, what better way to do it (and how else would you do it for as many people as possible?) then to buy them new things. 🙂 (That’s somewhat sarcastic, obviously)

But go to Jody’s blog (I linked the actual post above) and check out the video and straight goodness she writes about it.

Interested in helping? Either send money and I’ll buy stuff for you OR pick up any of the above items (I’m responsible for buying 5t pajamas both male and female) and send/drop off.

I’m getting wordy now but seriously. I’m so passionate about these little people who have no idea that they were created by a God that loves them more than words can say and this world has no idea how to treat something so precious.

It’s up to us. Now you know. Can you, in good conscience, not do anything?

Gloriously ruined, right? Thanks in advance.

5-years-old and 2 teeth are gonie. Fairly impressive. Here is the sequence of events:

Daddy checking the readiness of the tooth.

Daddy letting Trysten wiggle a bit more before the actual pulling.

And voila! That is one large hole in my baby’s mouth.

Another process I worked on today. Tortellini. See, it’s Zach’s favorite and since I still felt bad about a real lack of celebration for his birthday, I did the process for him. I started it at 3 and finished it at 7. Also made from Alfredo sauce as well. Overall I must say it was worth it but I’ll probably be buying the frozen kind for everyday purposes.

Before

And after

And now taking requests…

‘Tis my hubby’s birthday today. The big 2-7.

I love birthdays and was sad I couldn’t go all out today. Will make up for it in Chicago.

For those that don’t know this man, the world was made a MUCH better place 27 years ago and I will forever thank Terre for birthing him and for Frank for doing his part. 🙂

Seriously though, the man is my rock. He is my beloved. He is the most amazing, inspirational man. I look at journal entries before and after I met him and I can’t believe how much of a great impact he has made on me (obviously I’m awesomer..what?)

His love for anything and everything is boundless and his patience with me and my sometimes annoying ways is quite unfathomable. But he shows his love better and more than any man I know and makes me constantly remember why I married him and why I fall for him more every day.

And beyond that, isn’t he just dreamy?

Couldn’t help herself when she saw the Oreos and do we blame her?

And some minestrone.

Puddin’.

Too precious.

And Oliver.

Daddy was a big hit on his birthday.

My eldest angel.

Don’t let Leslie’s good nature fool you, she saw this uneaten canoli and had to take it home…in a napkin…stuffed in her cute purse. Love her for it.

So remember those posts about how our Orphan Ministry was raising money for Plumpy’Nut? Well yesterday we had our meeting to tally the amount and you won’t believe it, but…

$4100

SERIOUSLY.

Clearly people got behind this “little” project. Clearly people care. Those few of us (I think total there were about 6 people actively fundraising) had stories to tell. Of people who had been looking for something like this, just waiting for it to fall in their laps. And there it was.

We found out that it takes about 3-4 weeks of P’nut to turn Ethiopian children’s lives around. After a little math from Jody, we calculated that our totals will help to save 91 kids.

91 children. 91 Tariku’s.

91

91 mothers who were mentally preparing themselves for a burial get a new lease on life for their precious babies.

That counts.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Productive day today.

Had Kindergarten physical for Trysten. Shots for Tariku.

Came home and cleaned for the better part of the afternoon. Wiped walls, cleaned fans, mopped floors. Stuff that’s not part of my weekly routine. I even sprayed some febreeze on the couches (a certain sister’s dog of mine enjoys jumping on the couches and has a small problem controlling drool). So it was kind of a big day.

Tomorrow is my favorite hubby’s birthday. Typically I enjoy going all out but we’re saving the all out-ness for this weekend when we head to Chicago.

My body is so tired my fingernails hurt. I just love cleaning.

And what was I doing? Reading the new People. What can I say?

I’ve always thought Trysten has his daddy’s perfectly bowed, pink lips. This proved true after a little sucker.

Couldn’t resist.