bliss in the city

so this is my big question:

how did ferris do all that and still beat his parents home before 6:00?

yep, that ferris.

ferris bueller.

of ferris bueller's day off.

our little family spent the week in the big city.

chicago.

what a beautiful city it is, too.

we based our trip on this movie, the boys watched it on the dvd player in the car on the way there. i can recite very few lines correctly from any movie but i might know this movie line for line.

you've gotta love ferris...."he's a righteous dude".

chicago has so much....the field museum, the adler plantarium, the shedd aquarium, the contemporary art museum, the chicago institute of arts, navy pier, the john hancock observatory, millenium park, the magnificiant mile....we did all of it. though we didn't eat pancreas. i'm alright with that.

b and i in a reflective shot....at cloud gate otherwise known as *the bean* in millenium park

r and i on a water taxi heading out of the city toward the lake

big red and i at navy pier....in the windy city:)

we parked our car....er, the valet or as r called him the *ballet* parked our car in the underground garage at our hotel and we walked this city. we took a few taxis as well, but this is a walking city. and did we ever walk. millenium park we soaked our toes. ahhh....a little bliss in the city.

smitten with the mitten

Smitten with the mitten. That's what I am. Especially in the summer. I know there are plenty of beautiful, friendly, amazing places to live. I am a born and raised Michigan girl. If you are from Michigan, you will undoubtedly use your hand to explain where you are from while traveling. Even if you are from the Upper Pennisula. This summer, friends that are not from Michigan, are joining us on the outside of the pinky's fingernail; it's my favorite part. Sometimes it looks like this:
And even this:

As much as I love Michigan, the reason I love it so much is that my people are here. And I'm smitten with them, too.

I'm thinking about getting these. I wonder if anyone will share them with me? In the winter, when I need to remember how much I truly am smitten with the mitten. They are pretty and probably cozy. A lot like Michigan.

Though, they look more like Libya. Go ahead and look. I've saved you the trip.

theMotherhood - Live Chat on Health Care Reform

Today at 1:00pm EST theMotherhood will be hosting an informational live chat on Health Care Reform.

MelissaSchober will be hosting: In addition to being a mom to a toddler, Melissa is an expert in women's health care policy, appropriations analysis, and legislative relations with the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues for Women's Policy, Inc., a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose sole focus is to help ensure that the most informed decisions on key women's issues are made by policy makers at the federal, state, and local levels.

theMotherhood is an amazing site. It is a virtual neighborhood where real friendships are formed and where mothers from all walks of life, at every age and stage support and encourage each other - meeting moms where they are.

To learn more about the live chat, please check out the link below.

http://www.themotherhood.com/circlechat.php?l=55923

And thank you to theMotherhood for hosting this event where women have the opportunity to learn more about this important issue affecting their lives and the lives of their families.

best
Deborah

love you dad

Today's my dad's birthday. I never used to get all that excited about my parents' birthdays. In fact, I don't think I paid all that much attention. I would buy my mom a sweater and I have given my dad coupons for all kinds of things over the years. To be honest, I gave the coupons while I was in my early twenties. I still owe him a tri-pod. I don't think he still wants it. Did he ever? He wouldn't have said or let me know outwardly. That is how our relationship is. We are not outwardly. We are not an affectionate family. I mean my parents, sister and I. We are the tease 'em 'til they know you mean you love 'em kind of family. My dad would say they should have raised puppies, because they are cheaper and easier. I know what he means. I can read between the lines. We don't say we love each other. We sign cards with LOVE.

November 7, 2006 both my parents were hit head on in a terrible car accident. My dad's side took the brunt of the impact, slicing the entire driver's side sheer off. He spent weeks in the ICU. The hospital expectations were low. My mom, sister and I moved into the hotel attached to the hospital. We had other expectations. We knew this man in room #2423. We knew what the staff didn't know. We knew this injured man had incredible strength. He had determination. He had a strong heart. He survived and the hospital was surprised by his will. I know what was at stake. I know what I could so easily have lost. So, now 2 1/2 years later, I'm thrilled I still have my dad around. Our boys have their hero grandpa. I still have no idea what to give him this birthday. Maybe I'll make up a coupon. I'll sign it with lots of LOVE.

my colorful little family

I've stressed about this post. I mean why? It's my blog and I can do with it what I like, right? So, I'm thinking about expanding this blog to be more of a gallery/diary. Look, I know there are gaggles of momblogs out there so, what's one more? I cannot promise I will never mention or rant on about diapers and getting no sleep but, chances are I won't because my boys are older, 8 and 14. I will probably rant or at least whine about endless baseball games and dirty clothes. It's what I do. And I share. Sometimes too much. Again, it's what I do. So, here is the introduction to my colorful little family: first there is me, paintchipgirl or Deborah (my real name). I'm a mostly mom. I'm mostly pretty good, never perfect and mostly messy most of the time. Then there is my husband, Thomas(not his real name) a hands-on dad and over-worked businessman. He is also a talented writer and gifted musician, so doesn't it make the greatest sense that he is a businessman in automotive? Yea, that's what I think. Then there is our first born firecracker, Russell (not his real name). He is a lot like his mother if his mother were good at atlethics and liked to rise with the sun each and every morning of her life. Our youngest little Junebug is 8, Austen ( not his real name). He looked just like his mother until his 4th birthday and then he morphed into looking like a little Thomas (not his real name). How does that happen? Because I have no idea. So, I'm thinking I'll post about our colorful life, the life where we color outside the lines, where we choose the granny apple green crayon over the plain old red. Where we get our hands dirty and play for keeps. Life as art is the way I see it.