Mr. Moosey Takes a Trip

Ryan headed to Chicago Saturday.
I was jealous.
Really jealous.
He got to stay one night with his cousin's family.
I love them.
He got to stay at a hotel on Michigan Ave for 3 nights.
I love Michigan Ave.
He got to eat Chicago-style pizza.
I love Chicago-style pizza.
Did I mention I was jealous?

Ok.
Moving on...

Ryan took one of the little boys' finger puppets.
And sent us texts.
Documenting Mr. Moosey's stay in Chicago.

Day 1:
Buckled in and ready for the flight.
Waiting for his luggage.
Mr. Moosey at Libby's.
Day 2:
Mr. Moosey worshipping.
Mr. Moosey catching a nap at the hotel.
Day 3:
Mr. Moosey a little scared of heights.
Day 4:
Mr. Moosey helping daddy update facebook between meetings.
Mr. Moosey feels small with all these tall buildings.
Day 5:
Mr. Moosey misses everyone.
He even had to shave this morning
so he would look his best for you.
Mr. Moosey getting ready to board the plane.
He's happy!
Mr. Moosey wanted the window seat.
We were all very glad to pick Mr. Moosey up last night.
Well...and Daddy too.
None of us more than me.
(I might have been getting a bit crabby.)

Chicago

We really wanted Lara to see Chicago.
We knew spring break would be our last chance to take her.

Hancock building.It cost $95 to take our family up.
That is ridiculous!
But we did it. This is Jobie's favorite place to be.
He is going to miss her.
A lot. Favorite place to eat in Chicago.
Giordano's.
Yum!And, of course, we did lots of shopping.
At Niketown.And Apple.And LOTS of other places.

If Jobie wasn't on Lara's shoulders, he was with me.
Always way behind the others. Brookie's favorite sign in the city.
We have many pictures of it. No trip to Chicago would be complete without a stop at Wrigley.
Then we headed to Ryan's cousin's.
An hour west of the city.
For a couple days of fun and family.

And guess where I went for the first time?
IKEA!!
And guess how many pictures I took?
Zero!

I was too excited I guess.
But I loved it.
As if I ever doubted I would.

Me

I got to thinking...
For those of you who don't really know me,
you don't really know me.
You know what I mean?

So here's a few things about me
that you might or might not know
and might or might not want to know:

1) Once upon a time, I was teacher.
For four years I taught junior high.
Until kid #2 came along.
I loved it.
But doubt I will ever go back.
My teaching certificate is long expired.

2) I never went to camp.
Other than sleepovers
and the occassional times when my mom
went on business trips with my dad,
I never stayed away from home.
So I was VERY homesick my first semester of college.
A small town girl in Chicago.
Chicago is now my favorite city.
My dream is to have a condo there some day.
Just go there to hang out sometimes.
When my hubby makes his millions...

3) A day that I don't talk with my mom is rare.

4) I married my high school sweetheart.

5) My 8th grade year was the worst year of my life.
I felt like a loser.

6) I'm no good at decorating.
I know what I like.
I just can't ever pull it off.
If I pick flowers and put them in a vase,
it looks like my 3 year old did it.

7) I typically bake at least every other day.
Cookies.
Bars.
Cake.
Bread.
Rolls.

8) I hate cleaning my stove.
Come look at my burners sometime.
No, on second thought, don't.
I really want a new stove/oven.
My current one is ancient.
But it still works...minus one burner.
So I keep using it.

9) I have had one pedicure in my life.
Ryan bought me one for a birthday once.
It was wonderful.
But I have so many other things to spend money on.

10) I've never had a manicure.

11) I've never colored my hair...yet.
But that I will spend money on.
At the first sign of gray.
I'll be making a phone call.
Even if it's 2:00 am.
A phone call will be made.
Although I have no idea why I would find
a gray hair at 2:00 am.
You just never know though...

12) I love to shop.
Most of all, I like to shop for others.
Just wish I had more money to do it more often.

13) I drink coffee every morning.

14) I have great intentions.
Let's just leave it at that.

Too Long

16 years.
That's too long.
But that is almost exactly how long it had been.
Since I had seen my best friend, Myrah.
From my first year of college in Chicago.
She had never met my kids.
I had never met her husband.
Ridiculous.

Here she is 19 years ago.
She's gonna love this.

There were 5 of us that did a lot together.
I'm still amazed that they included me.
They were all creative.
Intelligent.
Funny.
And I was...
Me.
A small town Kansas girl.
With no amazing talents.
Who had never been away from home.
And was incredibly homesick.But somehow they put up with me.
And gave me lots of great memories.
Myrah was a bridesmaid in our wedding.
That was the last time we had seen each other.
The other 3 I have not seen since 1992.
Christy in the back left was my roommate.
Back to 2010.
Myrah grew up and still lives in New York.
Niagara Falls is about 5 hours or so from her.
I asked her if she would like to meet us in the middle.
And she did.
We hung out in Rochester.
Went to a zoo.
Lake Ontario.
Supper.
Left the hubbies and my kids at the hotel.
And went for coffee.
Just the two of us.
Closed down Starbucks.
Then breakfast in the morning.
Before heading our seperate ways again.

It was super!
And she surprised me.
She's gonna be a momma.
So excited for her and her man!
She will be a super fun mom.We really liked her hubby too.
Although I knew he had to be pretty great to have picked Myrah out.Thanks, Myrah and Josh!
It better not be 16 years before we meet again.