Oh susannah.....

I only made it thru Monday before i called the park district and signed the

kids up for a no school day field trip.

I really was going to try this week....

you know...

try to be "that" mom.

But i failed....and i failed so early on in the week that i don't know how to

turn it around and make it all better..

actually...i'll make it all better soon...

just not by tomorrow because there is another field trip to be had.

I mean really....how many times can we sing

'100 bottles of beer on the wall...100 bottle of beer...'

ooops...wrong song.

I mean....'Oh susannah...don't you cry for me'

As of right now i have about 15 minutes before i have to go and pick them up...

and while i sit here typing away ....

our hermit crab is missing.

gone.

escaped.

lost.

I should probably be looking for it...

but i'm not the one that put him in a glass bowl this morning so

he could stretch his legs.

I have a feeling my next recipe will be crab legs....

don't get to excited because it'll only be an appi.

I also tried to get into my stylist this week to get my hair cut...

and since she always books 3 weeks out..

i had to try someone new today.

I'll let you in on a secret....

never try someone new before you head out to France.

Just a small word of wisdom from this girl to you.

I am going to go all out for Thursday though...

as i am planning a backyard picnic.

I will redeem myself on Thursday....

That is...

if the crab is found.

Sprinkles are.....

We were getting ready for ice skating lessons Saturday morning when

Bryan walked in the room and asked us if we had forgotten about the egg hunt.

ummmm...

well yeah....

i think my mind is a little preoccupied.

For one thing...the other day my best friend who was supposed to help

with Fin a few of the days while I'm in France...

called me and told me that her husband surprised them

and they are headed to Florida.

They were going to leave the day i needed her most.

ahem.

But before i had time to digest the fact that i would have

to call up some other friends to help me, she came up with a plan.

She offered to take Fin with them.

That's right....

pack up my baby and take him on an airplane with them.

To Florida.

Aren't best friends the best?!

Seriously...when you're in a pinch...they pull thru.

I love her.

Now....before you go thinking that Fin is going to be a part of their family now...

it just so happens that bryans parents live

ONE MILE

from where they are vacationing.

It's fate i tell you.

Once they land...our lovely nanna will pick fin up at the airport and

have three whole days at the beach with just him.

One on one time....before they fly back up to chicago together.

See....

i was a little distracted Saturday morning.

I almost missed the egg hunt.

ahem again....

i almost let my children miss the egg hunt.

BAD MOMMY.

Now....i must warn you.

You realize i don't get to many pictures of my 9 year old.

He's too cool for having his picture taken.

Most of the time that is.

I really think the next photo says it all....

and really...

he was smiling the entire egg hunt.

i promise.

{you can see him smiling next to the BUNNY in the first photo}

I think he must be focused...on the eggs.

That's it...

focused.

The rules out on the field are....

10 eggs per child.

What kind of crock is that i ask.....10 eggs?!?!

We followed the rules...but there were MANY that did not.

If they were allowed to possibly gather 15 eggs each...

then maybe some of the juvenile delinquents that i saw with

full baskets....

wouldn't feel the need to conquer the hunt.

Deep breath.....

calm down girl.....

it's only an egg hunt...

{full of juvenile delinquents}

I think all of the eggs were opened and eaten within 3 minutes.






I didn't even get a chance to go thru them and pull out






the poisoned ones.






I had a feeling the caramel ones were poisoned..






but no one let me check.









Then we went home.....








and made what we like best.






Cupcakes.






Butterfly cupcakes.






We found the molds in the dollar section at Target.






You know how i love cupcakes...






well my children love them just as much.
The reason we made cupcakes is because on the way to the egg hunt...






lola saw all the eggs on the ground..






then turned to us and said:






Easter eggs are the sprinkles on Gods cupcake.







We are on spring break this week....which means i am home with kids.
all
week
long.

Another adventure.....

I have made my plans for the beginning of summer....

and i am going to kick it off by heading back to Spokane, Washington

for The Farm Chicks show on June 5th and 6th.

I can't wait to head there again with friends.

You should go also....

i'm just saying....

it's so much fun.

I know for a fact....that as soon as the plane lands we are all headed

over to this sweetest restaurant right downtown...and around the corner from our hotel.

It's called Madeleine's....and of course it's FRENCH.

I might even be able to throw a word or two out correctly...

hmmmm....

we'll see.

Oh....and for sure...i'll be eating a cupcake.

I know my trip to Spokane wouldn't be complete without

heading to Chap's. {click on chaps for the info}

If there is just one restaurant that you should go to..it's this place.

I even hear that Celeste is opening a bakery called Cake.

Helloooo....now that is right up my alley.

I can't really say that i am saving my pennies at this point...
since there are no pennies to be had...
every last penny is headed with me to France...
so i'm thinking i'm going to call Celeste up and ask her
if i brought my sleeping bag..would she let me crash in the back of her truck.

I've {seen} happier days.......

It's official.

Fin has seen happier days.

like this:

Happy ...

Not Happy.....

HAPPY.....

The world is going to

END.....

Life is

SO MUCH FUN.....

life will

NEVER BE THE SAME......

After two failed vision screenings at school...

and a trip to the opthomologist...

this boy will be now have to wear glasses.

When we showed up at the eye wear boutique...

he wanted

NOTHING

and i mean

NOTHING

to do with trying them on.

He tried on 4 pairs of glasses...and finally decided on the O.P pair in the middle

because of the camouflage sides.

I told him those are what the army men wear when they are headed into battle.

He didn't buy it.

He told me army guys don't wear glasses.

I said....of course they do....

those are the guys driving the tanker trucks.

It was then that he cracked a smile.

Battle won.

She wore a dress........

My girl only likes to get dressed up

one day a year.

Not two.....

not three....

but just one day a year.

Any other day....she's a jeans and t-shirt wearing

hoodie type of girl.

I will admit....

some days it's a struggle.

I will cry silently to myself about the outfit she has chosen

to wear to school.

It's not that she doesn't care what she looks like....

errrr..

ummmm...

actually...

i think that's it.

She really does not care.

I have to get over it.....

she's not a girly girl...she has her own style...

and she's happy with it.

Any time you see her posing for me...

and she looks coordinated....

it's because i've paid her.

I either have to bribe her with candy

or a trip to the dollar section at Target.

It's the truth.

My secret is out now...

i pay my daughter to match her clothes.

She gets double the prize if she leaves her sneakers at home

and will wear knee high boots or ballet flats instead.

What have i succumbed too?

sheesh.

Anyhoo.....

this last Saturday was the

daddy daughter dance.

Lola was on cloud nine the entire day

which in fact had me on

cloud nine the entire day also.

{funny how that happens}

Lola had two options for dresses.....the one above is what i picked out...

the one below is what Lola picked out...but with my approval.

I loved both dresses.

I really loved the grey one above just a bit more...

but wasn't going to push it.

I let Lola choose which one to wear.

I knew when she asked me which one i liked more....

that deep down it was a trick question...

and i should have taken my time in answering her..

but i was too quick and said..

the grey one.

So...

she chose the blue one.

shoes were picked out by her....

to my surprise...

they were pretty close to something i would wear myself.

Alright..

i'm not going to lie and tell you that

i didn't hide the hideous looking shoes when we went shopping...

so that she only saw these.

Really...

it was for her own good.

I think as mothers...we need to protect our children.

I can't pick her friends...but i can help her pick her shoes.

That's the story and i'm sticking with it.

She picked out her nails.

It must be a midwest thing....

stick on nails.

I love the scarf....

and yes...

i believe i had to pay her to wear it.

Everything else she picked out herself.







Bryan brought her home some flowers...

then they went to dinner.

The dance was fabulous from what i hear...

and they won an award for best dressed.

{ I gave the award }

Lola looks forward to this night every year...

it's such a special time for her and bryan.







The best part is....

on Sunday morning for church...Lola came down in

the grey dress.

I didn't even have to pay her.
xo

Oh.......

before you head out the door...

my little abode was featured on Houzz.

You can read it {here}...and if you comment you will

be entered to win a Target giftcard.

xo

Counting the days.....

It's right around the corner.....

actually...just over two weeks if anyone was counting.

I'm at the stage where i am putting everything together...

and getting organized.

I have a feeling i will be all packed this weekend.

Remember when you were pregnant with your first child...

you had a list for the hospital on what to pack...

a checklist...

remember how you had your list all checked off...

and packed a good two months before

your baby was even due.

yup....

i did the same.

It made you feel like it's official...

bag is packed...

now i can have the baby.

Then as your due date came closer..you would unpack your bag...

only to make sure everything was still there...

and then re-pack it.

Just to make sure.

I'm sure you did it more then once....

i'm just saying...

it happens.

Like this trip of mine.

It's a dream that in turn is becoming a reality.

Except this time...

i'm not having a baby...i'm travelling to France.

I have dreamt about this for years....

and it's becoming a reality.

I am blessed.

I am thankful.

I've been practicing riding our little Metro around town...

just in case Kim and I decide we need one.

Kim told me NO....

there is no room for our luggage..

Seriously....

how much does she think i'm packing?

I know i said i was ONLY

going to pack 3 pairs of shoes....

but i bought 3 pairs today....

in addition to the three i was already going to bring.

Have i mentioned yet that we are renting a manual

car while we are in the south of France?

Manual=stick shift

I haven't driven a manual since high school...

neither has Kim.

Manual+narrow roads+french signs= Lost girls.

Unless we get lost down in the french riviera...

and end up meeting George Clooney..

who has a yacht down there.

hmmm.

Needless to say...

i think a Vespa is sounding better and better.

I wouldn't normally even have looked twice at these...

would have just walked right by them...

i would have.

i promise.

Except.....they were on sale.....

and i have a feeling

The Sartorialist

will be walking the streets of Paris...

so i must be prepared.

Then i walked my these mustard beauties.....

and they were

not on sale.

boo hiss.

I then remembered that my husband has decided

to have lasik eye surgery next week...

which he informed me that

he will be laid up for a day or so.

I'll be taking care of him...

and my three kids.

I decided at that point...

what's an extra pair of shoes.

I also needed a new camera bag....

because i couldn't just throw my beloved

5oD

into just any ole purse while i wander around the

streets of Paris.

NO

i couldn't.

Her name is Ginger....

even though i really LOVED the Lola...

but red and i don't really get along...

so Ginger it is.

She's cute....

and so versatile...

with compartments inside for all my lenses.

I decided i am only bringing a few outfits.

{ahem}

Maybe a few more if i can figure out which shoes to

not bring.

I promised myself that i wouldn't be

that girl

who over packs.

{sigh}

My darling neighbor gave me her birthday discount card for Anthro.


I haven't stepped into that place for a good....


ummmm....


hmmmm....


couple of months.


errr...


maybe it hasn't been that long....


for sure it's been a couple of weeks...


at least.


I think.


hmmm.


oh well....


who's counting...right?

Thanks for letting me ramble about this whole pregnancy thing...

you girls are amazing.

xo

Private salsa lesson......

What a guy.

This is Ernesto.....

and sure enough...i showed up right on time this morning for my

private

SALSA lesson.

I've never had a private lesson before...

and when i phoned bryan to tell him...

he was shocked....

dropping the phone.

I tried to tell him that it was a salsa lesson...

but he didn't get it.

See....i told you i don't cook...

and i'm pretty much done showing you what i can cook.

I really don't think i have much else .

hmmph.

Anyhoo.....

the lovely Ernesto told me he wings it with the amounts

that are thrown together here for his

Mango salsa.

In a bowl he combines lemon juice, lime juice, honey,

and some chopped fresh cilantro.

wing it.

don't email me for amounts.

i don't know the amounts.

estimate...

i promise it'll turn out great;-)

Peel and dice up a fresh mango.







Peel and dice up a fresh papaya...

making sure to discard the seeds.




Add the diced fruit to a bowl.....

dice up a fresh red pepper....

also discarding the seeds.

{duh}

If you are like me....sometimes i need to read that

because i would probably eat the seeds.

Peel and dice up about 1 tbsp of an onion.

Throw it all together in that bowl...

dice up one green jalapeno pepper...

also making sure

you de-seed it.

unless you want to burn your mouth.

Pour the dressing over the diced fruit......

mix it lightly with a spoon

Viola!

Ernesto's mango salsa.

It's best if you refrigerate overnight before you use it...

sort of like marinating it.

Not only is it fabulous on crab cakes...

but grilled salmon or even as a dressing for salad.

....

{if you are ever in in St. Charles...make sure you stop

at his place..Diamond Seafood... for some wonderful fish taco's}

xo

oh...and i didn't have to wear green today because i have a child named Fin.

His name is Irish.

I'm not.