Um...

Ya think we should be worried?

I think the answer is

YES!!!

It's finally here!

There are so many things in life that "I can't wait for"

there always have been, and well, I'm quite sure there always will be.  

I guess this anticipation is what keeps us moving forward, 

the ability to imagine something new just on the horizon.

From the very first time that I discovered that little tiny Danskos existed, I have dreamt of the day 

I would have a little girl to put them on. 

 It truly is the little things that make me the happiest!!

Ladies and Gents, that day has come!!

What we are the very best at

is being absolutely, positively, deliciously, devilishly 

SILLY!!! 

Sudskimos!

posing with their guys

massaging her face

pucker up 

her favorite way to color, 

and to live life-

 NAKED!

(lets hope this is not a sign of things to come)

SISTERS!

Sugar smooches!

BFFs

One thing that I have ALWAYS been envious of is poeple who have life long friends!

I can say that it is one of the things that I promised myself my kids would have.

and one of the many reasons that prompted our move back to Chicago.

I know that my girls would have made friends anywhere they lived but I would have hated to uproot them after a couple of good bonding years with friends.  

I am lucky, so so very lucky that some of my best friends had kids at the same time as me.

It was not planned but I'm sure glad it worked out that way.

The girls,

that now includes Riley-roo.

She brings her own style to the  party mix!

 Making themselves quite at home at Starbucks.

I can just imagine this scene in 10 years.

Up to no good

(the bunk beds are no longer bunked due to an episode on one of our Saturdays)

 These 5- Ethan, Mimi, Marlo, Rook, and Riley

 (Rooky is not pictured!) 

will always have each other, even if they go to different schools

and we live on different blocks.

You all are stuck!  

Why? 

Because your parents all ADORE each other!  

In the past, Saturday nights involved, 

drinking, hanging with the "gang" and getting into trouble

Now most Saturdays 

we spend drinking beers and watching our kids hang and get into trouble.

( and destroy Julie's house)

I love those kids like my own and I know my pals love mine!

And usually at least one parent is halfway paying attention, I mean "parenting".  

The kids know that all the adults have time-out power 

and they all have the power to grant permission.  

It is like our own little commune, 

for at least one day a week.

For this I am thankful, 

for this I feel blessed!

Snow days

After leaving Seattle's moderate climate

 and seeing how my kids had aquired a serious aversion to the sun, 

requiring sunglasses ALL the time-  

even in the mornings when the girls woke up they would complain 

"it too sunny mommy"-  

I mean really, this was ridiculous!!,

 I could only begin to imagine what they would do or say when the first "real" snow hit.  

They had seen snow in Seattle; they had also seen the city shut down after a mere inch, 

but they had never seen real Midwest snow.   

I was begining to think that they would not get to see it this year, 

but Chicago you came thru!  

A month or so later than we would have liked, but we will take it. 

 And take it we did! 

These two turkeys took to the snow 

like an Eskimo takes to an igloo.  

Take a look at the fun they had!

Pretty nice, for a couple o' kids who never saw real snow!