Saturday Triple Threat

Today I use 3 liquors in my margaritas; tequila, Midori and Cointreau. Serve with chips and salsa, now that's livin'.

We got out on the patio and enjoyed the fab weather. Not that we need an excuse to drink around here (two main reasons being a Dylan and a Matthew).

After some fun with the sprinklers earlier today, Joe styled Dylan's hair. Here is Mr. Tough Guy.

Check out our huge lilac bush. It actually goes around the back of the house, you can only see half of it in this picture. When I open the family room windows their fragrance wafts in and takes over the house.

Unsolved mystery

One recent Saturday morning, I ventured into the garage to begin the weekly chore of cutting the grass. I hit the garage door opener and pushed the lawn mower into the driveway.

That's when I saw it.

I approached the object with curiosity that soon gave way to puzzlement. What am I supposed to feel when I see the headless body of tiny tin man, holding flowers, sitting on the trunk lid of my car?

My first reaction was to look both ways down the street to look for anyone walking away from the scene of the "crime." The street was empty.

Maybe my wife was playing a practical joke on me. Perhaps this was a not-so-subtle message from a disgruntled Munchkin or the Wicked Witch of the West.

Our next door neighbors, who are known jokesters, came by a week later for some cocktails. I told them about the headless figure and they instantly recognized that the lifeless body actually was a yard decoration that hung from their backyard tree.

They didn't have a clue how it ended up on my car.

The mystery remains unsolved ...

Photos from Memorial Day weekend

We had a great weekend. I think we have the most fun when we are just hanging out as a family, not even doing anything fancy.

Saturday was swimming lessons and errands around the neighborhood.

Sunday we had a picnic at 12 street beach in Chicago, then spent a few hours at the Shedd Aquarium and dinner outside at Park Grille at Millennium Park. Then we explored the park and finally headed home.

The weather was gorgeous and it was a good day to hang out in the city. Everyone was in such a great mood and it is easy to forgive Chicago for her bitter winters when she gives you such glorious Summers.

Monday, Joe went to a BBQ with Dylan at Aunt Jori's house. Dylan had a blast playing with all his cousins. Matthew and I were a little under the weather so we stayed home and napped.

With Matthew at the beach.

Dylan interacting with the sculptures at Millennium Park.

The Bean. It's so sparkly!

Checking out the free concert at the Pritzker Pavilion.

Mini movie of Matthew at The Bean. He is having a blast looking at his own reflection. At the very end of the video you can see that he has his "poo poo face", or in other words he is having a BM. Nice.


Uncle Jim giving Dylan some pointers. At Aunt Jori's BBQ.

Open up this picture for the full effect. I love the pure joy on their faces and the lighting on the grass and through the trees is beautiful.

Sweet Jayden.

Motorcycle crazy. Staring him off early. Too early.

Cousins hanging out. They are going to be trouble in about 10 years!

Last day of swimming lessons. Whoo hoo.

I don't know who was more excited on the last day of swimming lessons, Dylan or me. At 2 pm every Saturday for the last 6 weeks Dylan became a petrified, crying, screaming pre-schooler. It was torture for both of us, let me tell ya.

Dylan had his last swimming lesson (for this season anyway) last Saturday. It was pretty uneventful, actually kind of chaotic. The kids were running around doing their own thing and no one was listening to the teacher. She kinda gave up halfway into the lesson and the session turned into an open swim free for all. For everyone except Dylan anyway, he stayed on the side and had fun throwing balls, noodles and toys into the pool for other kids to retrieve.

The most surprising thing was when we arrived to the pool there was a humongous slide set up at the deep end of the pool. The instructors started the lesson by asking the kids if any of them wanted to try going down the slide. Just a reminder... my kid has to wear a 3 floaty and can't even tread water by himself. He freaks out if you as much take one finger off of him, he holds on to you with a death grip the whole time he is in the water. I really don't think that he is ready for the 'big' slide. What do you think? What were the swim instructors thinking!

Here is the slide that I am talking about. 

So you can get some perspective, here is an adult next to the slide. It runs from the observer balcony down to the water in the deep end.

I think I'd be too scared to go down that thing. Jeez!

On to T-Ball season. Hopefully, that will bring some comic relief and not as many tears!

Baby Bok Choy in Oyster Sauce with Chicken

I couldn't pass up the fragrant green garlic and tender baby bok choy at the farmers market today. My favorite recipe for bok choy or any Chinese greens (i.e. kai lan or Chinese broccoli) is one that my mom made for us growing up. You can omit meat and do this recipe totally vegetarian and add carrots, mushrooms or whatever veggies you like. Or you can substitute the chicken for beef, pork or shrimp. Really anything goes but I always follow my mom's rule of not having more than 8-10 ingredients in any dish, otherwise you just have too much going on and flavors get muddled. Asian cooking is very simple that way.

Here is a photo tutorial.

Prepping the green garlic, chicken and bok choy (I also bought a gorgeous bouquet of radishes at the market today, but they weren't used in this recipe)

Frying up the green garlic with a little oil like Canola or vegetable. Don't use olive oil, it is too fruity for Asian dishes. If you can't get green garlic just use regular garlic. I like green garlic because it has the flavor of garlic and spring onions, plus it is in season right now.

Add the chicken, Tbsp each of oyster sauce, light soy sauce (or organic Tamari, if you wish), sesame seed oil and a tsp of sugar.

Cook chicken thoroughly. Keep stirring.

Once chicken is done, add your washed greens. I always leave them whole but you can cut them up if you must.

I take everything off the heat right before the greens are cooked through. Even off the heat the veggies are still cooking and you can over do them, soggy bok choy is not tasty, plus you'll lose all the nutrients when you cook them too long. This looks about right.

Take the bok choy and chicken out of the wok (make sure to scrape up every last bit of sweet, yummy green garlic otherwise I will personally come over to your house and thump you across the head).

Mix a Tbsp of cornstarch with about 4 oz. of water and then pour into the sauce. This makes the sauce nice and thick and yummy. Once thickened up, pour over your chicken and veggies and plate it.

The dish cooks up in less than 15 minutes - great for you working mothers out there. Serve with brown rice or white rice.

So next time you are in the mood for a simple, nutritious and delicious Chinese stir fry I hope you try this recipe out (and invite me over!)

While I was busy cooking, little Matthew was busy doing this. He can now push the beads around the little maze. That is Dylan zooming past in the background.

One sock Matt.

Mr. 6 months old

We had Matthew's 6 month photos taken at Sears, last week.

At his check up he weighed 18 lbs. 14 oz and measured 26 1/2 inches long.

He is about 2 lbs. and 2 inches smaller than Dylan was at the same age.

Sunday at the ballpark

Aunt T (Theresa) invited us to a RailCats game. We had the privilege to sit in The Times suite and lived it up a bit. I am not a huge sports fan but if there is catered food and a temperature controlled room involved you can count me in for a little team support. It was a treat and fun had by all.

When we first got to the suite, the mascot for The Times, Digger, was standing out on the balcony. Dylan immediately clung to me with a death grip for a good 15 minutes, he was so scared. Dylan had just woken up from a nap and wasn't prepared to be greeted by a big brown hairy creature, I suppose! After a couple games of peek-a-boo and a few high fives with Digger Dylan finally warmed up and allowed me to put him down.

The cool thing about the RailCats is that they really make the day a family affair. The ballpark is really nice, the mascots are fun (Rascal and Rusty) and there is a lot to do for the kids. There is even a playground in the stadium and the South Shore trains roll by at least once during the game, Dylan loved seeing and hearing the trains.

They let the kids run across the field during a break in the game.

Matthew with his God Mother, Aunt T.

Dylan is a serious fan already. He was in the press box in this photo.

Braving the cool temps to sit out on the balcony.

Dylan ran the bases after the game, he was great! If you open the photo you can see me up in the balcony with Matthew and Aunt T cheering Dylan on.

Friday night still life

My funny boys

It makes me happy when the boys are laughing and entertaining each other. Minutes before this video was taken, Matthew was crying and fussy. Dylan saved the day again.

(just a few) Things that make me happy:

• homemade pie for breakfast
• hearing a favorite song on the radio first thing in the morning
• rain on a lazy Sunday
• Matthew's baby breath
• When Dylan makes Matthew laugh
• Shopping
• When Joe cares for the boys
• Farmers markets
• Creating something (knitting, sewing, cooking, blogging)
• Being at home with Joe and the boys
• Favorite smells; grapefruit, fig, red currants, mangosteen
• Asian food especially Dim Sum, Shio Ramen noodle soup, pad thai, bun cha gio and any dessert with coconut
• Chocolate
• Philosophy and Aveda products
• Traveling
• Reading and learning

This list could go on and on..I am a pretty easy gal to please.


Today was the start of the Farmers Markets in Chicago. Seriously nothing makes me happier than to turn a corner on my way to work and see the white tents selling flowers, fruits, vegetables and homemade yummies. It is a sure sign that the cold bitter Chicago winter is over. I practically skip to work after that.


We always try to catch the farmers markets in every city we visit.


I was kind of shy taking photos of the vendors and their goods, but here are a few photos I managed to get today of the market at Federal Plaza.

Calder's "Flamingo" towers over the white tents.

Lilacs for my desk.

Daffodils for my boss