New Ride

We have been a one car family since we got married. We lived in Chicago for 8 years total including school and then when we got married. We almost always lived downtown so we didn't need a second car. We lived close to Tad's work and so he would jog, bike, or skateboard to work!! We rarely used the car ourselves. We could walk almost anywhere. We walked to the playgrounds, the store, the bank, the lake, the mall, the coffee shop, etc. It is a walking city!
When we moved to Oklahoma, we quickly realized we needed a second vehicle but really didn't have the money for one. Tad started riding his bicycle to work, which was about 6-7 miles. He liked it at first, but it was a hot summer last year, and he rode his bike most of it. Once we started school, he has driven the car most of the year because we didn't need the car in the mornings while we were doing school. But we often rely on Tad's family who lived in the same town for rides when the other one needs the car. His friend at work was trying to sell his motorcycle, and Tad was looking around town for one. He ended up getting a really good deal on a Suzuki Intruder. It is a cruiser! He just got it yesterday and he is so excited!! It will take some getting used to as he hasn't ridden an actual motorcycle before. Before yesterday that is. He was cruising around the neighborhood trying it out!

So we officially have 2 vehicles. Of course the motorcycle doesn't really transport the family around, but it will be nice to have our Pacifica this summer so we can run around town in the mornings before naps! And Tad will have a blast riding to work and wherever else, and not have to always ask for rides to get places!!
Several guys have said they wish their wives would let them get one, or want me to convince their wives to let them get one. But we have laughed at that and said the reason I have been so for it is because it is actually a lot safer than him riding his bicycle on high-speed limit streets. So while it is more dangerous switching from a car to a motorcycle, it is safer for Tad because he is upgrading from a bicycle to a motorcycle!! LOL!

Things I will miss in Chicago vs. Things I will not miss in Chicago

Things I will miss in Chicago:

Museums (especially the free days and free passes)

Always stuff to do

Living less than a mile from the lake (beach days in the summer)

the shopping

the unique restaurants and food places (Baba's Palace, Berry Chill, Panang, Table 52, Xoco, Fresh Choice, Oven Grinder, Oak Tree, the Counter)

the Skyline

walking to cool free city events (holiday lighting and parade, Jay Pritzker Pavilion (outdoor concerts), Navy Pier, Music festivals, fireworks, Taste of Chicago)

fun parks and playgrounds in the city

not having to drive too much

tons of options for everything (restaurants, parks, museums)

Lincoln Park zoo within walking distance

Magnificient Mile

Millenium Park

Old Town

Lots of people out all the time

Trader Joe's

Treasure Island

Chicago Park District Programs

Starbucks on every corner

long hours everywhere (grocery stores, coffee shops, etc.)

staying at the Ritz Carlton with Tad's comp nights!!

long family walks through the city

baseball games

Costco

Chicago marathon going right by our apartment

Tons of houseguests since so many people passed through Chicago on business or other reasons

New Life Community Church

Moody Church

Moody Bible Institute

Things I won't miss in Chicago:

a tiny apartment

the TRAFFIC that consumes half of your life

limited grass and yards

everything is expensive!!!

the fast pace

big city light outside our bedroom window

no extended family

city stickers!!!

parking tickets

limited parking

parking meters (basically everything parking!)

never ending sirens

long winters

high gas prices

hard on family life

not being able to have a dog

No view of the sunrise/sunset

No doubt, we loved our time in Chicago. Writing this post made me miss Chicago even more, since it took time to think back through memories and the fun things we did in the city. Especially the things we can't do here in the country. But we are excited about the fun things we couldn't do in the city. The things about country life that will make our family life easier, fun, and will allow us a little more space and ease that city life made difficult. You'll be able to read out our new adventures here!! Stay tuned!!

Left Out Summer Photos

We had a fun, eventful summer, and I had so many pictures and things I hadn't blogged about! So this blog post is just a big jumbling of our random summer!! We didn't do that much stuff with people this summer, like cookouts, having people over for dinner, or playdates. With Judah's schedule of naps and bottles, we stayed at home more in the mornings, and tried to get out in the afternoons. So sorry to the people we used to hang out with more, you know who you are!! We were out of town a lot, more than usual for the summer, and felt like we were barely at our church either between travel and being sick. But alas, we are back in Fall mode with a full calendar and our move coming up fast. So, in no particular order is part of our random summer:

We were out at a playground one afternoon, and we heard some cool music. As we wandered over to a park, we saw an Art Festival going on in Lincoln Park and Maddy was quick to find this little free art studio where they would provide you with paint, an easel, and paper. Maddy loves to paint, so she was excited to get to do this, and I was excited it was free!!




Twice a year I shop at a resale for all my kids clothes. It takes the temptation out of buying them clothes all year long at expensive stores, and it gets it all done in one fell swoop. Of course, Maddy is not shy to tell everyone that, "Mom got this from the resale!!" Thanks, Maddy. Here is Maddy in our laundry room with her $2 lifesize doll from the resale and her new Princess dress from Costco (not resale!!) that she will wear for Halloween to "Slime Time" at church!!
It's hard to see here, but Judah is actually holding onto the swing and Tad isn't even holding him!! It's hard to withhold your motherly fears!!

Dairy Queen after jogging to Oz Park!!

Having fun on the tire swing at Oz Park.

Tad's cousin, Trevor and him have been long time best friends. Him and his wife and 2 kids came to visit us in Chicago!! They stayed in our apartment and we had lots of drama with our 4 young kids! We stayed at the Four Seasons with them for 1 night, and then just hung out the rest of the time. Here are the boys with their double strollers and kids!!
Daddy's with their girls. Precious!! They both have girls first, and then boys!! They live in Edmond, OK so we are excited to be seeing more of them!! And his wife, Julie, is awesome! I have treasured the short times we have shared together and look forward to more playdates with them!
At the Four Seasons (actually the Ritz Carlton, it's owned by the Four Seasons) I have gotten this breakfast every time I go. I can't find it anywhere else, or a recipe for it. It is divine!! It's called Swiss Birchermuesli, and if you know how to make this sweet, cold oatmeal-like breakfast, you better share!!

Good Morning, Four Seasons comp night style!!

The girls with their gourmet kid food.

The gourmet adult food!!

Maddy turned 4 this summer! We usually have a birthday party in the city, but this year we happened to be in Ohio for her birthday, so we decided to have a family birthday party at my grandparents house in Thompson!! It was a Hello Kitty themed party, and Tad made the cake all by himself!! I was so impressed!!!
My cousin, Charlotte, stayed at my grandparents this summer. This is her trying to get at the candy in the pinata!!

Hit it, Maddy!

Good job, Daddy!!

We went to Ohio for my cousin's wedding. This is a shot of our little family at the wedding!!
These are the cutest little carts at Target!! They both sit behind the cart, and since Judah just started sitting in the cart without the carseat, I thought this was the cutest thing!!
Forgive me if I already blogged about this, because I can't remember. Mommy brain. Maddy did a summer reading program at our local library, which is right across the street! She had 25 books read to her and did 25 book reports where she drew pictures about the story. She hadn't really started drawing yet, so this was definitely out of the box for her. I didn't know if she would make it, but she did all 25 book reports and was quite the little artist when all was said and done. It not only was good to read all those books, but she really got into drawing and learning to draw new things. Way to go, Maddy! I was so proud of her!

Attending the final party at the library! They had the kids make different crafts having to do with art, and some thank you notes for some of the donors. And they got to pick out a new book at the end!

They all got a shirt that says Reading is Art-rageous! She was so excited to get hers like all the other kids!! The shirts were kind of big, so we made hers into a little dress with a belt and leggings. We went to a weekly story time, and she had a blast!!
We also did VBS at Moody Church this year, which hosts around 300 kids for their VBS. This is the "set" for the worship time in their sanctuary. Maddy loved going everyday!!
One night we were invited to go out with the new conductor of Women's Concert Choir and some of the previous/current girls of WCC. I was in WCC for all 4 years at Moody, and we traveled around and did concerts. It was so nice to meet some of the new girls, and to eat in Chinatown in Chicago. Maddy kept telling people we were going to China!! You can see behind the "L" tracks that Chinatown is in the background.

We got yummy bubble tea smoothies!! Thanks Dr. Hong (ordering her smoothie)!!

Such a fun part of Chicago!

Much of our time in Chicago in the summer is spent at the beach. We will miss the beach when we move to Oklahoma!! We will have to find something else to do in the summer!
This pic belongs up there with the library ones. This is Maddy and the children's librarian who led the reading program and the weekly storytimes. They became good friends. Thanks Annie!!

So goodbye, Chicago summer. We sure will miss you!! You have been good to us!! Hopefully, we can visit you soon.

A Perfect Saturday Morning in the City

On this particular Saturday morning, I wanted to get out. At this stage in Judah's little life, it just works better for us to stay home for his morning nap so that he can get a good solid 2 hours or so, and he just doesn't get that when we are out and about. But I do miss getting out in the mornings for some kind of outing with the kids. Since Tad was home this Saturday morning, I decided to take Maddy out for a little time together, to be back when Judah woke up!! I took her out in the jogging stroller and I got to take a little jog on the way to one of our favorite playgrounds near us!! We have little pet names for all the playgrounds near us, and we call this one the "nanny park" because you won't find too many parents with their kids there!! Just nannies and kids! It's close to the lake, at less than a mile away from our house. We love it!!


Yes, it's a city park, yes it is gated and surrounded by tall buildings. But that's city life. We are fortunate to have little nooks like this in the city to play in.
On a weekend, though, you will find more parents with their kids since they are off on the weekends. Well, some of them.
Being crazy on the swing!!
I think this was right before she took a flying leap onto the swing, and missed, and landed face down in the wet pavement. She cried, shook it off, got a hug from mom, and just got back to playing!!
Look at the CAMERA!!

She is such a climber!!
Goodbye, park. Now off to the market!! One of my favorite summer things in the city is the Green City Market!! There is one right on our street on Saturday mornings, so we just walk down the street, and there it is!! Sometimes we buy, sometimes we just stroll through, and sometimes we just walk through on our way to the nanny park.
We love the little stands; the tent to the left sells awesome homemade hummus, which we love, and we love some of the jarred homemade sauces, the grilled jalapeno cheese, the fresh bread, foccacia, herb plants...the list goes on. You just can't beat fresh stuff from the market!! Local, fresh product right at your doorstep!
These beautiful hanging baskets always catch my eye, but I would rather spend $25 on something else, thank you very much. In fact, I once saw hanging flower baskets on sale at Aldi's for $.99. Not. joking.
But I will just stop and admire.
Beautiful fresh basil!! My potted basil just died, so this fresh stuff is looking more and more tempting, but for now, it will just look nice in my pictures.

I wish I had more pictures of that morning, but this is all for now. Thanks, Maddy for a fun morning!!

A Typical Walk in the City

We go out for walks ALL. THE. TIME. In the city, there isn't parking like in other normal neighborhoods. Well, there is if you want to buy and put a city sticker on your car for around $100. Then you can find street parking and pay at a meter, or pay to park in a parking garage for around $25 or so. And then you risk getting your car broken into, towed, bumped while other people try to parallel park, or your windows smashed in.

And plus, walks in the city are fun, and we live in a great location that is close to most of everything fun in downtown Chicago. And so we walk.

We walk to playgrounds, outdoor concerts, museums, the beach, restaurants, the lakefront path, people's houses, coffee shops, the bank, the grocery store, Walgreens, the library...You name it, we walk there.

Our "backyard" is the city.

So here we go!

Diapers, check. Wipes, check. Extra outfit for Judah, check. Blankets, check. Check. Check.

Okay. Ready to go!

This particular walk didn't start out so good. Not in a good mood to pose for the camera. Walked to a restaurant. Closed on Sundays. Walked down by the loop. Everthing is closed in the loop on Sundays. Got stuck in the rain. Judah was fine, everyone else-getting wet. Buy umbrella at Walgreens. Major meltdown in Walgreens when Maddy bugs Judah in the stroller and gets in trouble.

Stop at McDonald's when the Princess gets hungry and whiny. Very unhappy princess.

But the chicken nuggets and a McDonald's toy quickly change the mood!!!

Yeah. Drying off. Better moods. Good times.

Even the little prince was in a better mood once we stopped at McDonald's and got out of the rain.

Finally get home and changed into pjs. This is a weird pic but captures it all so well. Tad trying to make it through the story. Judah is like, "I'm ready for bed." and Maddy, well, is just Maddy.

Goodnight all!