Going Overboard!

At Navy Pier!!
I went Sunday with my sister and Taylor and by Taylor I mean my 5 year old niece...there was some confusion...(dorks)

WHAT A GREAT PLACE FOR A KID!!! They have SOOO much going on for families, I LOVED IT. Winter Wonderfest is truly a great place to spend the day (indoors)!!! Although I was most excited for the Blackhawks Indoor skating rink that was probably Taylor's least favorite activity. We were on the ice for 3 minutes tops. (A lovely 19 bucks well spent-UGH)

But here we are lacing up....

On to the ice we go!!...oh yea did I tell you my sister is quite the photographer? ;-)

HA- she meant well though. And so did Taylor, "These shoes hurt"...waaa. I give kids credit that age who actually start playing hockey-what troopers! But besides the indoor skating rink there is plenty for kids to do, tons of inflatable bouncers, slides, rides, mazes, photo opts, cookie decorating, etc! I Taylor could have stayed longer! So get the kids together and head on down to the Pier!
For more info go to:-http://www.navypier.com/

And I leave you with my favorite jumping bean having a ball in the "Candy Cane Bouncer"

And here in the "Snow Hill Mountain"

*no children were harmed in the filming of these videos....

Penguins!

PS-I was like a kid in a candy shop-

AWESOME Christmas decorations....
ANNNNNNNNNNNNNNND-Penguins!!! (well at least one)

Survey!

I owe this one to Shannon!!!  Feel free-copy and paste baby! 

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper!  I love, love, love wrapping gifts..I hate this year I don't have many to wrap. :-(
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial –*SAD SIGH* I've grown up with a real tree EVERY YEAR, first week of December would be a trip out to go cut a tree as a family, one I can't wait for Mark and I to start with our family (waaaay down that road) But I went with an artificial tree this year, I just HAD to get a tree up as soon as I can (umm Thanksgiving night). But the thought of lugging up a real tree 15 floors then disposing of it-properly aka-NOT tossing if off the balcony onto Michigan Ave just wasn't working.  Trust me-our house WILL ONLY HAVE REAL TREES.
3. When do you put up the tree? Apparently Thanksgiving night. :-) 
4. When do you take the tree down? Umm can I just leave it up all year?!

5. Do you like eggnog? Nope, not one bit, if you want me to go all health nut on you I can....just know it's not on the food pyramid as recommended.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?  Hmmm probably a purse and matching wallet (such a girl) I remember when my mom finally let me bring the purse "out"with us places...god I was so cool.  That or my own cordless phone for my room.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Hmmm hate to say it but I'm really good at giving gifts-I pick up on stuff and make the most of it...I'm guessing the hardest would be my parents but only because they have everything and hate when I spend money on them...
8. Easiest person to buy for? Myself, all freaking year long! :-)
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Nope, but my parents have some pretty sweet ones...crazy to think they are over 26 years old...
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? If I get one more group email card I'll gag-MAIL it b*tches...don't get me started on my thoughts on MAIL!!!  ;-)
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Ummm a stuff animal bunny when I had begged for a REAL one FOREVERRRRR. (#39)
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? ELF. Is there more than one?
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Umm Novemberish....I'm pretty good. I'm so my mom.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Gifts-no...paper, bows and such yes...again so my mother's daughter.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Nothing special...nerd alert: I love all the fantastic salads prepared-I'm too lazy to make them for just me.
16. Lights on the tree? Do people really have trees up without lights?  Just take the tree down people.
17. Favorite Christmas song(s)? Anything by Trans Siberian.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Wherever my family is will get me there.
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Comet, Vixen, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen… and RUDOLPH! (umm yea I completely 100% copy and pasted this from Shannon) ;-)
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning-duh...Santa doesn't get here in time for us to open gifts Christmas eve

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Weather. 

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? Hmmmm classic red and gold so it seems this year! Uhh do I need to tell you my favorite ornament

24. Favorite for Christmas Dinner? ehh nothing...just a table full of family :-D

25. What do you want to do for Christmas this year? Be no farther than 4 feet from Mark and/or my mom.

26. Favorite Christmas tradition growing up? Advent wreath my sister and I did...it was a paper chimney that had mini ornaments that hung on this wreath...
27. Favorite tradition now? Movie night after all the family fun is over...just Mark and I-his pick this year!
28. Favorite Christmas Memory? The ones to come..... ;-) 

Breakfast with Santa!

.....granted Santa was there for MAYBE a minute (for real...he walked out of a door, up onto the stage, walked across, down off the stage and out the door-yeah "Hi!" to you too). But we did indeed have Breakfast with "Santa" at the Brookfield Zoo.  All in all a great, chilly little morning...Mark was content with the all-you-can-eat buffet complete with Bacon.

Here we are, Mark looking as he calls it "drunk from bacon". 

 

But, I had more important things to worry about-like a life size penguin!!  Oh man, forget the fruit platters, muffins galore, bottomless cups of coffee, GET ME THAT PENGUIN!  Granted every time he came over to our table and we asked for a (another) picture he would walk right to Taylor assuming the child wanted the picture....so I had to settle on this one (at first):

Clearly she was excited as I was.....

But HA-YESSSS! FOR THE WIN!!!

Minus the short viewing of Santa it was a good brunch for the overpriced price, free parking and admission to the Zoo which helped- a wintery penguin AND Frosty! 

Until today Mark had never been to the Zoo in the winter, he didn't even know it was open all year round (UGH-so sheltered) so we had to show him a good time-off to go walk the Zoo!

Getting in, harder then it looks...

GOT IT! "Now Taylor, let them take a picture, just them two"...

"Nooooooooooo!"

Ahhh finally...Thanks for the help Mom! ;-)

Wooo hooo, what a great morning!  If only we were going Ice skating at Millennium Park with Sarah & Ray with afternoon, oh wait no THEY DITCHED US-something about setting up some stupid nursery.  I can see where their priorities are-Shunnnnnnnned!!  

Hope this got you in the Holiday mood... :-)

Mark, Me, Taylor (in mid-yawn), Sis, Mom

Thanks

With Thanksgiving right around the corner I thought I'd take a moment out of my (out of nowhere) crazed, hectic life to take a moment (as everyone else is) and give thanks.

......To my parents. (the cuties HERE)

I am honestly so thankful for them. If you didn't already know they are absolutely, 100%, gods honest truth my best friends, the both of them. I don't know what they did or how they did it, but I just know they did it. Neither one has ever judged me all they ever did and continue to do is support me regardless of what it is.

To this day my mom still always wants to help out with whatever she can-I've been moved out since I was 18 yet she always prevails. I pretty much had to beg her the other night to "keep your money" when I had bought the tickets to This is It (ummm Amazing movie).
My dad every time I stop home is wants to share some sort of sport update or recipe with me, not to mention give me something, anything "I've got extra chicken breasts in the freezer...." "Need any parsley?" or "I'm going to Sam's..need anything". Just the other month I got new tires for my car-yea it was from "Santa" but 600 bucks-BAM.DONE. I don't think I've ever spend 600 bucks on any one else...don't get me wrong I am by no means spoiled, I liked to call it "being well off"-never with out a meal, clothes or the hippest toy growing up but I bought my first car, my own insurance, etc...if it was going to be mine I would be buying it....and as I grew up they taught me how life is what you make of it, no one else is going to live it or give it to you....you get what you put in to it.

I owe pretty much all of my character, attitude, outlook on life all to my parents. They were the ones who showed me the way, who led by example, who taught me with both what they said and what they did. Without them, who knows what kind of a person I’d be (don't answer that) I am so thankful for everything they've done, shown me, supported me through. Their love and friendship truly makes me the person I am today-which as they continue to tell me is pretty rad. :)

Happy Almost Thanksgiving to all!! Hope you spend it with the ones that mean the most near by!

Ever not get enough of something? She is it for me.....

Sooooo yea Taylor is 5 now, it FINALLY felt like summer, I went to my first Chicago Cares volunteer project AND to my first Farmer's Market..all this weekend. WOO. HOO. (I did however fail at going for a bike ride and getting to the beach..booo but that can be next weekend, baby steps Jen, baby steps)

Fresh farmer's market flowers!!

Birthday Party fun.....!!
Ohhhhh it is so good to be alive....

TAYLOR!!

My niece, she's turning 5 on Saturday. OH. MY. GOD. I can not believe it, I can remember for weeks driving back and forth to the hospital (she was premature) just to go visit her, oddly enough those were some of the best times I had with my sister. But my goodness how she's grown, it's been quite the 5 years, let me tell you! But back to Taylor....
She is amazing, if you've met her at all you know why..shes got some great baby blues, super laid back and so quick witted for such a small human being. She takes after me so much you'd swear she was mine, not to mention how cute she is (again, I trait of mine)...soooo Taylor- Happy 5th Birthday!!
I'm so bummed I have no newborn pictures of her but none the less a time line of the kid that all kids should be protocol-ed from. (seriously-no joke, they should be, I don't want kids unless there is some written and signed guarantee they pop out like this one) ENJOY!

From the earliest I have....just over a year old here.
My 24th Bday dinner..... Christmas 2007....Summer of 2008, yes the jump rope is how I dragggggged her down the slip and slide (she is a wimp). No do not call child services, she told me too. Taylor's first trip to Disney! Just this past December....

Ohhhh Taylor I get weepy as I write this....you are the cutest of them all, see you Saturday! Love, Auntie Jen xoxo.