Girls Weekend - Navy Pier

I had never been to Navy Pier, but I heard that kids would enjoy it... Well, YEAH, because it's a TOURIST TRAP!!! Every little thing costs $$, but even so, we really enjoyed our visit. It was a beautiful day, and we just enjoyed the sights, and people-watching.

Enjoy the pictures!

Girls Weekend - Museum

So, while the boys went on their "boys weekend" to the nationals wrestling tournament, we had our own girl's weekend in Chicago.

Sis, my mother-in-law M, and I arrived on Friday night to our hotel, then on Saturday morning we headed to downtown. M and I had a little difficulty finding our way from the hotel (Mapquest did NOT do a good job of telling us whether to turn left or right from our hotel... other than that SMALL detail, the directions were GREAT!), and Sis was worried that we would never make it downtown! Or anywhere else that weekend, for that matter.

So, our first step was the Museum of Science and Industry. My little scientist absolutely loved this museum! Here she is sitting in the wheel (tire?) of a GIANT John Deere tractor thing-y. I'm very scientific, too, don't you think?

Sis and M are checking out some other displays explaining heat transfer.

In the Idea Factory, Sis was able to learn about science in a "hands on" way. Don calls this look her "Darla look." Darla says thank you.

Finally, here is our obligatory self-portrait. We loved the museum!

Now on to Navy Pier!

What's your preference?

So, I've discovered one or two things about myself as I've gone through life (hopefully more than one or two, but I didn't want to have to quantify that statement!). One thing I've discovered about myself when I'm about to do something risky/scary/different is that while I want to know all about it, I have ABSOLUTELY NO DESIRE to see it ahead of time. Or watch a video about it. Or look at pictures about it.

Specifically, I'm getting LASIK done on my eyes next week. I'm so excited I could puke. And I'm so nervous I could puke.

After meeting with the doctor, Don and I (mostly Don, since I don't really like to talk on the phone) called everyone we could think of that had had the procedure done with a list of questions. Including what (if anything) went wrong with their procedure.

Because THAT I want to know. That way I can convince myself that it WON'T happen to me. Or at least that whatever could go wrong is fixable. My logic is weird, I know.

But the video they made me watch at the doctor's office about the procedure?

NO. THANK. YOU.

I couldn't even watch the cartoon eye that was getting the procedure done, much less a real eye. Don and the kids watched the video with fascination, but I watched the paint on the walls.

As the video was playing, Don and I were reminiscing about our prenatal classes we had to take before Sis was born. They had one week where they showed a video of "real births." Other moms-to-be were crying because "it was so beautiful." I was crying because I was freaked out and did NOT want to watch. I actually left the class that night for the remainder of the video.

Is anyone else like me? You want to know, but not see? Or you want to see, but not hear? Or you want to go in completely blind (bad bad pun for what I'm getting done!)?

What's your preference for the unknown?

It's gonna get fun!

So, I've got nothing... absolutely nothing to say these days. Thus the "no blogging" thing I've apparently got going.

But coming up... boy-oh-boy, is it going to be fun!

This weekend while Don takes Bub to a big wrestling thing-y (a definite boys trip, right?), Sis, my mother-in-law and I are going to Chicago. I am so excited! And a reservation has been made at a certain vortex store that may have girls that are American there. And no one is excited at all... NOT!

Then the whole following week is SPRING BREAK, BABY! But, uh, no plans have been made yet at this point. But I'm SURE we'll do something... We'll just figure it out after this weekend. Really!

Then the FOLLOWING week is Bub's birthday. He's going to be 8. That's SO OLD! Then he gets a birthday party that next weekend. It'll be crazy insanity fun!!!

So, watch for lots and lots of pictures!!!

Thankful Thursday

Let's get right to it...



Today, three things I am thankful for are:



1. I am going on a real live date with my hubby tomorrow night. There are no errands or anything tied in with it... it's just a real date! WOO HOO!



2. Warmer weather. I have already seen the forecast for this weekend, and the warm weather isn't permanent, but I am sure enjoying it while it's here!!!

3. The people in our Wednesday night class at church. The group has really grown in the past few years (with the growth of our church), and I've really enjoyed getting to know so many new great people.

What are you thankful for today?

I'm putting it out there

So, here's my plan...

I will lose 16 pounds in the next 16 weeks. It has nothing everything maybe a little to do with the fact that my 20 year class reunion is in a little over 16 weeks.

The fact remains that I need to get in shape, I need to lose some pounds (maybe not 16, but I've got some "winter weight" that isn't going away on its own now that it's spring), and I need to be a HEALTHY example for my kids.

So, I'm still working on my specific approach, but here's what I've got so far:

1. I'm going to use Weight Watchers online. Well, I already do that, but I'm going to quit cheating. How pathetic is that? I lie to myself on there about what I eat!!! I'm going to get SERIOUS this time. Or at least be honest!

2. I'm going to schedule work-out time... that's the only way I'll consistently do it!

3. I'm going to use Don and the kids as my support.

4. I'm posting the class reunion countdown on my computer at work, as well as in my pantry (although it sounds like it, the class reunion isn't really what's important to me... I just need a goal!).

5. I'm posting my goal on here... for all to see. I'm craving some accountability, apparently!

What I am NOT planning on doing:

1. This. I want no part of it!

Maybe Macaroni???

When Don and I were first married and living in Kentucky, we had dinner with a girl I worked with at the mall. She went on and on (and on and on, etc) about a new song that was out. She couldn't remember the name of it, but she was pretty sure it was called "Ah, Margarita."

Don and I just looked at each other. "Ah Margarita?" Could she be thinking of an OLD song... maybe by Jimmy Buffett? Like Margaritaville? No, it was brand new and it was called "Ah Margarita." Then she started singing... in a really high-pitched voice, she just kept singing "Ah Margarita."

We couldn't stop laughing at her... really? This is a GOOD song???

Then she got all excited. We were at Applebee's eating, and it came on the overhead music that was playing there. Don and I listed as best we could over the noise of the restaurant. I told her I wasn't sure what they were saying, but I was pretty sure it wasn't "Ah Margarita."

And that was the first time I heard "The Macarena." Too bad it wasn't the last.

And now (years later), my kids have joined the Macarena club. If there is a club. Is there? Because I need to revoke their membership if there is!

Anyhoo, here they are in their wordless rendition of THE MACARENA!