National Gymnastics Day!

Happy National Gymnastics Day! A day much celebrated in our house since we have a little gymnast who makes certain we are aware!

Ally had gymnastics this morning, and after only a few weeks, she has her routine down - as in she's memorized it!  Now it's work, work, work on timing and "finishing" it.  She is very happy with herself, as she should be! She didn't do the second back handspring this time, but she was still smiling.... and that's matters to this mom!  :-)

Link to Ally's Routine:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMV8mAV3K-E

We also have a schedule for her meets this year!  Mark your calendars!  (Exact days of the weekend to be determined.)  ;-)

December 15/16 - Plymouth
January 5/6 - Brighton
March 8/9 - Rochester Hills (Oakland University)
April 13/14 - Kalamazoo
April 20/21 - Location TBD - State Meet
May 18/19 - Ann Arbor - Regionals

Good times.... :-)

Into the Swing...

I don't know what exactly is going on lately, but I cannot seem to quite keep it all together.  The little things keep falling off the radar.  I sold something to a co-worker that I forgot to take into work for days. I threw away Ally's homework the other day.  We ran out of checks and they don't get reordered in a timely fashion.  This morning, I took Ally's folder out of her backpack to put something in it... and totally forgot to put it back in.  That earns me a lovely ride into town and back.  Something I get to do four times today.

I just feel like I'm not quite organized or something!  I know I'm not the most organized person in the world, but I am usually better than this.  I can count on NO fingers the number of times Ally has not turned in an assignment in her school career.  She wouldn't even let me explain it to the teacher... saying it was ultimately her responsibility and I don't need to explain.  I was proud of her for being accountable. Still..... that and then, the folder today. Two days in a row of a flub up.

We do have a lot going on, but we always do. That is how we roll around here... so I don't think that's it.  Am I simply adjusting to a new schedule? To Luke's new school schedule?  To different working days.?Seems like it's taking longer than it should to get into the swing of these new things. I feel a bit like I'm in a fog.  Not thinking clear all the time.  Hmmmm..... hoping this is just a phase, ya know?

Taking some time to beat myself up here (maybe or maybe not effective)... but also taking steps to get organized... and try new ways to stay on top of the things that happen on a regular basis and the things that change daily!  Got a GIANT dry erase calendar... some cork panels and a reminder dry erase board I put on the door to the garage.  I need to keep up on happenings... what I constantly fear is that I will forget the big things (picking up kids from somewhere) and I am constantly trying to keep on top of the all that, that I truly allow the little things to go unchecked.  And then, a folder stays on the counter... even though I've asked "did you remember your leotard/gym clothes/assignment notebook?"  Everything but the folder........

It happens.  Need to let it go.

Jeez, I wonder where my daughter gets her super hard on herself attitude.  Sheesh... must cut self break! I could also use a nap.... ;-)  Can't seem to wake up today.... wonder if it's the weather?

Coffee to the rescue.....

Bring Brody Home....

Our very good friends, Scott and Brook, lost their goddaughter last month. She died in her sleep. There has been no reason found for her death. None at all.

Without cause, an investigation started. Makes sense. But there is no just cause for this. No evidence to even suggest the parents could or would ever be involved.

They lost their four year old. Now they have lost their eight year old son. They have had no contact with him, even though a judge ordered they should. They live in fear that anything they say might be twisted and used against them, as so many things already have been.

They made fighting this with all they have. They are selling personal property to pay for their legal team and hire medical professionals to help clearer name. To dig to the bottom of why they lost their daughter.... And get their son back.

Can you imagine how this little boy is feeling? Foster care? His sister has died and he doesn't even have his family to comfort him or make sense of it?

It is a tragedy. It needs a happier ending. I am moved to donate. I am asking you to feel moved as well.

Here is a link to the site.

http://www.gofundme.com/16vtfk

Things I Ponder....

(after a glass of wine or two)

Why does my dog bark at every little thing, a car going by, an ant on the floor, a knock from the kids playing... Yet sits perfectly still as the UPS man drops a package off inside the garage to the door where he sits in his crate inches away and doesn't make a sound???

How does my four year old have such an amazing vocabulary. He uses huge words. His food isn't good or yummy, it's delightful!!!!!

Why do I accomplish ten times more the days I work? Even after I work? I work a day, get the kids here and there, run errands after, make dinner and do things around the house when I get home. I stayed home today an accomplished zero. Didn't even cook. Chinese takeout. Lesson - never be a stay at home mom!!!

Why can my daughter flip on a beam and land on it yet not walk down the hall without bumping into things, tripping and falling?? And why oh why is she such a flippin slob????

Why did my fortune today read "At 20 years of age the will reigns, at 30 the wit and at 40 the judgement". That's just dumb. And not even a fortune!!!

Why oh WHY isn't there a Thai restaurant in Jackson?!?!?!?!

What is it with Doc McStuffins??? Kids love it. Even Ally! The damn song gets stuck in your head for hours. Heaven for kids young and old. Torture for parents everywhere.

Is it just me or do kids have ten times more homework today than we ever had??? Do you remember sitting down with your parents/mom everyday after school and doing homework?? Starting in the first grade??? I sure don't!! But I am that mom now... With more homework than I can handle!

Does everyone feel that their kids are the most difficult in the world? Does everyone out there look at every other mom in the world and think they are ten times the mom they are? Or do I just beat the crap out of myself on a daily basis all alone here???

Why is my husband currently at U of M listening to the CEO of Twitter talk? Oh wait. I know the answer to that. Cuz he's a big ole dork and I love that about him. ;)

And last but not least.... Why does 5:30 am have to be so damn early!? Ready for bed??? Yeah! What a difference it makes the nights I know I have to get up!!!!!

Over and out. :)

Gymnastics....

..... is not for the faint of heart, body or mind. It just isn't!!!!!!!  Mom's included!!

Last Thursday, Ally was ready to quit.  She had a rough practice Tuesday.  I wasn't really aware of the extent of how upset she was.  Her coaches had shared with me that she had a hard time with her fly-away, but they also said they couldn't believe how amazing she was. How determined. How even through the tears, she got her butt back on that high bar and did it.... time and time again.  What none of us knew was what was inside her head.

She was scared out of her mind and didn't WANT to do it again.

So.... come Thursday, in the parking lot of the gym... Ally had a meltdown in the car. She didn't want to go to practice... even more... she wasn't sure she ever wanted to go back to the gym again.

LORDY DAY!!!!!

I sent her coach a text. Sydney texted me right back... asking a ton of questions and basically walking me through what to say to her to get her to walk through the door. They didn't come out and get her.  They just waited....  And, in time... with the promise of NO FLYAWAY today.... Ally went into the gym just 20 minutes late.  ;-)

Holy Hannah..... I don't know if I am cut out to be a gym mom!  The drama!!!!! The agony!  Ally was so upset with herself for being scared. She is so hard on herself... very unforgiving.  It's hard, as a mom, to watch her go through it.  I am so often at a complete loss as to how to help her... what to say... what to do.

I have no idea if I did the right thing, pushing her to go.  I feel like I did.  I wasn't going to let her quit over one skill!  She has so much else to offer!!!  If someday, she doesn't want to do gymnastics anymore, so be it... but not like that! Not quitting out of fear or a bad day. You have to work your way out....

There's that fine line... between allowing your kids to have the freedom to choose what they do and making sure they don't give up.  Teaching them how to really determine if they want to quit something. It's hard... and I couldn't do it without help that's for damn sure.

The help of coaches, a sister-in-law with the experience and friends to use as sounding boards... to say nothing of my partner in all things drama and parenting, my hubby....

His response when I sent him the first text as to what was going down.....

"Oh boy..."   :-))))))

In the end, I picked up a happy girl.  I am glad she went. She was glad she went.  We won't be doing the flyaway again anytime soon. She will do drills and work through her fear for a while.  What everyone thought she might be ready for, she just isn't... and that's okay. She rocks. She is a great gymnast. She's my gold medal girl no matter what.

Here's a link to Ally's floor routine for the year. It's day one - the day they choreographed it so she doesn't have it down or know it at all... she had just learned it two minutes before, but wanted me to record it so she could remember it as she tries to memorize.  She's tumbling to "The Wizard of Oz" and in the end, it's going to be an adorable routine.

First meet:  December... weekend of my birthday.  :-)

Link to:  Ally's Floor Routine 2012

First "Mostly" Normal Week....

So, Ally started school over two weeks ago now... and Luke started last week.  This is the first week everyone is in school together and we have begun all extra-curricular activities... for the most part!  Ally doesn't have school Friday and Luke does, so there is that one little glitch, but like I said.... it's a mostly normal week!

What does a normal week constitute around here you ask? First of all... there will really be no such thing as "normal." The McIntosh family doesn't really do normal or routine, but we strive to keep things as scheduled and organized as possible. It gets harder each year. The older your kids get, the more activities they are involved in and the busier life just IS!  I really love it though. I love this kind of busy. It feels good and right to me.  

On Mondays, both kids go to school... and I work from 8 am - 2:40 pm.  Leaving at 2:40 allows me time to get to school to pick everyone up! At the end his school day, Luke goes to the school office with a few others and their older siblings come and sign them out there at the end of their day. Then, Ally and Luke come out together, grab Little D and off we go!

We head home and do homework, have dinner... and then, Ally has Hip Hop at 7:00 pm in Spring Arbor at the Academy of the Arts. Yesterday was her first class and she loved it!  I would like to get in a routine where I used that time to do something productive, but yesterday I just watched her first class and chatted with a couple friends (moms of Ally's friends who are doing the class together) and that was lovely.

We head home after and Ally is tucked into bed at 8:30 and everything that had to be taken care of (homework, assignment notebook, gym clothes, gymnastics clothes, etc) was done prior to us leaving that evening.  The schedule works well Mondays.

Then, we have Tuesdays. Tuesdays, neither Luke nor I have school or work.  I still get up with Ally and see her off. Breakfast, hair, last minute preparations.... then, Luke and I watch some Disney in bed and Scott has usually brought me a cup of coffee cuz he rocks like that.  It has the potential to be a peaceful start to our day. We shall see how this goes.  ;-)

We will go get Ally and D at 3ish.... and Ally has gymnastics at 4:00 pm. She knows this, so on Tuesdays (and Thursdays) she has been trying to use her free time in class to do her homework. I am proud of how she came up with this little plan on her own! Good time management!  We have a significant snack and do some more homework either in the car or at the park (weather permitting) and she gets to the gym.  Luke and I head home after we drop her.

She is done at 8.  I would like to get into a routine where I leave here by 6:30 or so to get a workout in on Tuesdays and Thursdays prior to picking her up. This would be a great use of my time.  This hasn't worked out yet... we've had other commitments... but we shall see if we can get it going soon.

Home and in bed between 8:30 and 9 - Scott has Luke down already Monday, Tuesday and Thursday without me (YAY!).

Wednesday, both kids to school.  I go to work. NOTHING AFTER SCHOOL!  Hooray.  :-)

Thursday is a repeat of Tuesday.  No school or work for Luke and I. Gymnastics for Ally 4-8pm.  

Friday, both kids to school and I WORK. Yes, I work Fridays now.  Sigh.  ;-) It's working out good so far.  I know it could come back to bite me, but I am kind of liking the every other day. It's nice. But, I think I still prefer my chunks of time. We shall see. Many months to go on this schedule.

No planned activities on Fridays either.... but it's the freakin' weekend... so you never know what comes up!

Saturday mornings, Ally has gymnastics from 9-noon.... I would like Luke to start taking swimming at the Y at 10:30 Saturdays, but he's not receptive to the idea yet.  I will keep on trying. Classes start this Saturday.  I think it would be good for him to learn a little more confidence in the water.

It's a busy and full week, but I really think I struck a good balance. I want Ally to be involved in sports and active. She spends 11 hours a week in the gym. Two week days a weekend day. I think this is manageable.  So long as her grades stay up and she seems to be handling it all, we will keep up the schedule.  If she struggles and grades fall.... we are going to have to cut back on a day.  School first around here. That's how it works.  She knows this.... and she is really aware of what she needs to do.

We learned at last week's Parent's Night at school that this year, in the fourth grade, they are really focusing on making the kids act more responsible and accountable. They encourage us to make them remind us to sign their assignment notebook, not always ask and do it without their reminder.  Allow them to take the fall if they don't complete at assignment.  We won't always be there to remind them. They need to start to learn good homework and study practices.

They get "incompletes" now for missed work and can earn detentions for too many of them. They get detentions faster now for "mark offs" (misbehavior in the classroom, talking, etc).

I find my biggest challenge is simply to trust that Ally will do all this.  I want to ask her about everything.... I want to grab her assignment notebook and sign it without her asking. I want to check her folder to see that work has been done. I want to check her homework to make sure it is all correct, even when she doesn't want me to!  I want her to succeed, so I want to help!  But, I know I must let her do for herself. She needs to gain the confidence that she can do things on her own. Like Glennon says....  she too can "do hard things." She is my daughter after all.  ;-)

Preschool!!!

Like my Facebook status says... "what a difference a year makes!!!"  Luke walked into preschool today like a pro.  No hesitation. No lack of confidence. No tears.  Just a happy, happy boy ready to face the day at school!  We got up bright and early to go to Panera as a family and enjoy breakfast.  I was SO proud of how the morning was going. I really couldn't even believe it was going so well.......

Then, we got to Panera and Ally says to me "Mommy, my shoes aren't in the car."

WTF?????!!!!!!???????

She jumped in the car without shoes because she thought they were in there. Didn't think to look when we got in the car and were still AT HOME... no, she waited until we were in the Panera parking lot. This is life people.  Just when you think everything is rolling along smoothly - BAM!  You have a daugther with no shoes..........

Thank god I had my mom's croc flats!! HAHA!  I keep forgetting to give them back to her and this must be why. God knew I needed them! ;-)  Ally at least could slip those on so we could go into Panera... and Daddy to the rescue... Scott busted ass home to get her shoes.

He met us at school in plenty of time.  I was taking pictures (with my real camera - to be uploaded later!) and he pulled up. Of course, Ally was running around the wet grass in her white socks. Sigh. That kid.  ;-)

Luke just marched right into school.  He held my hand as we walked in. He hung up his backpack.  He put away his nap items and his lunch.  He slipped on his name tag.  I walked him into the room and snapped a few more pics.  Walked him in further and told him to have a good day!  He said "oh! you're leaving now?"  To which I said, "yes."  And his response was simply, "Ok! Don't forget your hug!"  As if I needed the hug more than he did.

Daddy leaned in for a hug too.... and that was that.... we walked away and even though I looked back, he was fine... which makes me so fine.

Not all the kids and parents were in the same boat... I just wanted to reach out and hug all the moms who had to peel their kids off them... and leave them crying. That was Luke last year. It was hard each and every day for a long, long time.... but now he is a happy, confident boy who knows that school is not a scary place... because he knows mommy and daddy would never send him AND Ally to a place that wasn't filled with love.

He's got this.  :-)

Ally's Kindergarten Picture...

SO many people I know have Kindergarteners starting this year!!!  I had to go back and find Ally's pictures from her first day at Concord! She was so little.... :-)

Congrats to everyone on their first day... whether it be Kindergarten or your 30th year teaching... I hope it was a great day back!  Here's to an amazing school year!

Key Play....

So, we have a little problem here at the McIntosh house. We only have one set of keys for the Acadia. The car that I primarily drive. The car I would normally use today to pick up Ally and get her to the gym by 4 pm. The car I make sure is stocked with food of all sorts for her to eat before and after gymnastics.

The car that is stuck in the garage full of said food because Scott drove to work this morning with my keys. The only set we have. Which when you think about it, is totally unacceptable and I am quite sure his fault. Although he will tell you differently.

Thank god he wasn't in a meeting at 2:40 when I called. Double thank god he can leave work and go get Ally. And since my daughter is super duper adaptable and easy going, I am certain she will be thrilled that Daddy is picking her up instead of Mommy and that she won't mind a bit that the food she preordered isn't there waiting or her. Yes. She is going to be in such good spirits when she and Daddy get here with my keys. I cannot wait!!!!!

So Long Pool Days...

Ugh. How sad! It was our last day at the pool today. It is officially closed. No more swimming. No more cocktails poolside. No more popcorn chicken, nachos or shakes. We had a great summer there and everywhere!!!! We love having a pool to call "our own"

We spent hours there today. Lots of other friends had the same idea so it was a fun day for the kiddos. The , we got ourselves dressed up and went inside for a nice "real dinner" as they had an indoor BBQ. The food was excellent. The kids ate like champs. We topped it off with a sundae bar and strawberry shortcake! Yum!!!!!

A great finale to an amazing summer. So sad to see it go. I hate that cold months and snow are around the corner, but that's just the way it is here in Pure Michigan!!! ;)

And We're Caught Up....

I am posting about yesterday!!! I am officially caught up on the blog! Woo hoo!!!! :)

Yesterday was an amazing day. I had a super rough day Wednesday. It was work related and pretty bad. Don't really care to get into it here but it was bad enough to make me schedule some much needed pampering time for me on Saturday. I have had a gift certificate to Skin Deep for some time now and they were offering a great deal on facials... So I took the opportunity to book one! Then, I remembered I had a loyalty rewards card for Divinity which entitles me to a free spa pedicure. Bonus! Put those two together, and you have a few hours of me time! Perfection!!

I also got a text yesterday morning from our summer sitter who was home for the weekend and asked if we wanted to go out so she could see an babysit the kids! How do you say no to that?!?!?! So we went to dinner at Daryl's..... We took Scotts parents out for their anniversary. 44 years! How awesome is that?!?!

Jen did a super cute thing with Ally's hair and sent me the pic! She "wanded" it?!??

Some friends read on FB we were out and they told us to come meet up with them later for some drinks.... Which we did! The night ended up being MUCH later and frankly crazier than intended but it was pretty amazing.

A much needed down day of recovery today..... ;). Tomorrow we will hit the pool for the last time before it closes!

Friday Night Lights...

After a long day at the pool, it's important to take your tired kids and keep them up late for a local high school football game!! ;)

That's just what we did on Friday for the big Promise Bowl here in Jackson! A game between Lumen Christi and Jackson High. I love that Ally already wants to go to football games. Not to watch the game but to hang out with friends. And maybe support older brothers a bit. :)

Luke had to have an LC t-shirt this year. And football beads. And a tattoo. Oh... And a cowbell. :). He loves the activity that surrounds a football game. The band. The cheering. The cheerleaders!

In case you're wondering, Ally was too cool for pictures..... I didn't leave her out. ;). She's not a big fan of my taking her pics much anymore! Oh - and Lumen won. By a lot!!! Good times for a good cause!!!

Friday Fun....

This past Friday was a warm, warm one!!! We made plans to take Grace and a friend of Ally's to the pool for the day to escape the heat!!!! My mom joined us and we had a nice afternoon in the sun... Even if I did burn a little. I love how I am so diligent about sunblock for the kids but stink when it comes to applying it on myself!

The kids swam and swam. It's the last weekend the pool is open and we will surely miss it. I expect another winter of Luke asking me on a regular basis when it opens again! They all ate popcorn chicken, had ice cream or Popsicles, and drank countless cups of ice water. Something about that self service water cooler is tons of fun for the 4/5 year old's. ;)

Good good times. Last warm days! Or maybe fingers crossed for a warm fall/winter!!!!!

Tuesday's With Lukie.....

Starting next week, my schedule will change so that I work Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Not a fan really. Working every other day. No block of days off anymore. But, it allows me to be home with Luke on his days off from school and that's the whole point of being part time anyway.... Being there for my kids when they need me.

Picking Ally up from school, getting her to where she needs to be whether it be the gym or dance class. Taking Luke to his gymnastics class. All these things that I don't know that we could swing if I weren't around to take them. Worth it? Definitely!

Luke and I get to hang a lot. Last week we had some time while Ally was at the gym and Scott couldn't be home either. We went to dinner one night. Just the two of us. We went to the park the other. Nice to hang one on one like that. I make an effort to do that with both kids and I think they really get a lot out of that time. I know I do!

Back to School....

It's that time again!!! Ally went back to school last Monday and Luke starts preschool this coming week!! Woo hoo!!!

The first day is a big event at Ally's school... At least where us group of moms are concerned! We treat our girls like celebrities. Snapping pictures as fast as our little fingers will allow. Truth... We are a bunch of dorks. ;). What can ya do????

Ally wanted to get there early. It was pouring down rain. So, we had to go in. Luckily, friends started showing up one by one and we kept up the action of picture taking. I have to upload the series of pics I got on my "real" camera.... But for now, can share those from FB and my phone.

Ally is happy as can be at her not-so-new-anymore school. She just adores it. I do too and look forward to having Luke in the same building!

Horsin' Around....

Last weekend, my sister in law, Mary had a horse event in Michigan! Richland to be exact. This is awesome and amazing cuz she lives in Maryland and we have never gotten to see her compete before! So we were pretty geeked!!!!

It was amazing... The entire thing! First of all, I think horses are just pretty amazing creatures. Gorgeous animals. And watching Mary do what she loves was just so much fun!!! I love watching someone do something they love so much. You can just feel the passion oozing out their pores, ya know?!!!?? And not many people can say.... I get to live out my passion, in my everyday work and career. She can! That rocks. Really does!

Hoping she rides in this event again next year!!!

FUNdraiser....

A couple weeks ago, Scott and I went to a fundraiser at Daryl's. It's a newer cause established by a friend of a friend and we really loved the idea of it. We were happy to support it! It's a scholarship fund for kids who have either lost a parent to cancer or survived cancer themselves. Pretty cool stuff.

They had a dinner, silent auction and after party... And party it up we did!!! It was also our good friend Scott's birthday eve and we got to toast him at midnight! It was one of those nights. A night of shots and silliness. We had a great time!

So, SO Much To Say....

As the title indicates, I have SO much to share.... so much has happened since I last updated. So many pictures, I could never possibly share them all.  I just really do have so much to say!

Sorry for the lack of blogging. I can say "I just haven't had time" but we all know that's a load of bull. I just choose not to.... I choose to use that time in other ways.  People say that a lot... that they don't have the time... but the truth is, we have ALL the time we want.. we just make choices with the time we are given each day. Trust in your choices. They are the right ones.  Just don't make others feel like you are any busier than they are. We are all busy.  We all make choices each day.

Where that little rant came from, I do not know!

Anyway.... I have been reflecting on the summer... as Ally has already gone back to school, that is the official "end of summer" for us.  Luke starts next week on Wednesday.  My work days officially change to Monday, Wednesday, Friday to align with his school days.  This is gonna kinda suck.  Working every other day... no chunk of time off.  But... it aligns with school and it means I don't have to arrange for child care any of the days. We are blessed to have this option in our lives.

As I reflect on the summer, I realize that this past summer, we packed more in than we ever had.  In my opinion, we had more fun than we have ever had. I am proud of our family!  We did so much. Made so many memories.  Lived the crap out of life... which is all I ever really want to do anyway.  LIVE!!!! Enjoy!

And live we did!  Since school has been out, Ally went to two weeks (separate camps) of gymnastics camp (one a sleep away camp!), she took golf this summer, the kids went to countless days of day camp at the club, Luke took gymnastics, we made a new friend and babysitter in Jen and had tons of fun with her, we went swimming - A LOT, we painted pottery at Make It Yours twice, we went to the zoo with all our cousins, we spent some time out at Aunt Jane and Uncle Adam's family lake house, Luke got a "big boy" bike, Scott and I went away to Chicago together and went to two concerts, we watched the fireworks at Cascades for the Fourth of July with friends in a random church parking lot (HA!), we had a family golf scramble in 106 degree heat, we went to see Wicked at Wharton, we had tons of sleepovers, we enjoyed family day and Mommy and Daddy's work, we went to the Hot Air Jubilee for the first time, I went to Chicago for a girl's weekend, Ally and I had special nights out, the kids and I enjoyed some back to school shopping in Ann Arbor for a day, we watched hours of olympics together, Scott surprised me with a Jimmy Buffet concert, Ally and I had a girls' trip to Put In Bay, we took a wonderful vacation together, which consisted of a family trip to Chicago, an indoor water adventure at the Double J and Michigan's Adventure, and in the end, we watched our Aunt Mary in a horse show and saw our cousin Maggie!

WHEW!  Are you tired?  :-))))))   It was an awesome summer. Truly amazing.  I am so glad we had it. In all that... Ally doubled the time she spend in the gym.... her gymnastics is really getting to be amazing.  I am impressed every day at the gymnast she has become.  Two days a week, she spent four hours in the gym.  We made that happen most every week with the help of Jen.... and the flexibility of the gym.  She golfed too... and she did really great. She is a true athlete, that one.... complete with a perfectionist attitude and she gets really pissed off when she doesn't do as well as she knows she is capable of.  This is frustrating as a parent... but I know it will serve her well in life.

Our vacation week was awesome.  It was our last hoorah for summer... and it was a great way to end it.  We spent the first half of the week in Chicago. We took the train there from Niles (so we would be on the west side of the state when we returned). It was Luke's first time on a train!

The kids loved the cafe car on the train. They loved that they could walk around. The bathroom was a little scary, but at least they could GO!  No one fell asleep but Mommy.  ;)

As soon as we got to Chicago, we grabbed a cab (another first for Luke, Ally is an old pro, she can hail a cab) and dropped our bags at our hotel as it was too early to check in. We went to Grand Luxe Cafe for lunch, which was not the best start, I cannot lie. Luke was whiney... I was already thinking "oh crap...."  But, we grabbed his stroller after and walked the Mag Mile... and things started to look up.  We hit the American Girl store first thing as Ally was pretty excited to see the McKenna display and attempt to hit me up for a new doll.  I stood strong (as much as I adore the idea that she still wants dolls) and we compromised on the gymnastics outfit, which she could put on any doll she already has.  She handled this well. And handled it well when I told her I would not buy her the movie too. I am proud of both of us. Me for saying no when I really did want to get her the movie to, and her for being mature about it all.

Luke wanted to see the Disney Store and pick out something there.... I love this kid.  $5 Eeyore was all he wanted.... and he loved the crap out of that little stuffed animal the entire trip!  He is still sleeping with it today.

Scott paid a visit to his favorite place too, although he didn't get a souvenir there.  ;-)

We took a break for Starbucks for all - iced lattes for the grown ups, hot chocolate for Luke and a double chocolate chip beverage for Ally. Then, we made our way back to the Lego store, which we did not realize was right next to American Girl in Water Tower.  As many times as I go to Chicago... I rarely do Chicago with kids. In fact, I have only taken Ally to date... and we have only done American Girl twice on the Mag Mile... we usually stay out in the neighborhoods with our friends. So, this was a different kind of trip. Fun, but more kid fun!

That night, we were all pretty pooped! We hit up the Trader Joes across from our hotel, got some wine, cheese, crackers and snacks for the kids... and went back to the room, watched the closing ceremonies of the olympics and had a little feast in bed! The kids thought it was awesome.  In fact, Luke was completely amazed by the hotel room period. When we checked in, he ran around the room in awe saying things like "we have our own table!  we have our own coffe maker! and LOOK mommy, you can sit in bed AND make coffee while in bed! we have our own SOAP!"  OMG.... he was cracking me up. The room was nothing special and it was small (you really could sit in bed and make coffee!), but to Luke it was the coolest room ever.  I love looking at things through a four year old's eyes.

Day two we met up with our friends Beth, Isabel and Eli to spend some time at Navy Pier and the Children's Museum!  What a GREAT day!

After our day of fun at the museum (we never did make it out on the pier as it POURED all day), we headed to meet our friend Chelsea for dinner.... we went to an amazing little upscale pub in Boystown where kids eat free and waiters take good care of them while the adults enjoy martinis and great food!  It was a wonderful night out...

The next day, we did some more walking around Chicago... enjoying Millenium Park, shopping for a new backpack for Luke and eating... walking, shopping, eating... sums up a city vacay!

That night... we went back out to Boystown to join our friends for dinner at an awesome BYOB (we brought wine!) Thai restaurant.  We ate outside on an amazing patio... the kids were awesome and we caught up with our friend Tony in addition to Beth and kids.... we ate and then went to the kids' school playground to let the kids run off some steam.  Another great night. A perfect blend of kid days with adult nights.

I think we are a bunch of crazy peeps... and I love it!  :-)

The next day we boarded the train and instead of heading to South Haven as planned, we headed to the Double J resort on the west side of the state because the forecast called for rain, rain and more rain on Thursday.  We stayed two nights there and the kids enjoyed the crap out of the water park.  And, I got to be a kid for a day and ride water slides without a care in the world, with my daughter.  Once I over came my fear that is.  ;-)  Some of those slides are NO JOKE!!!  Holy crap!  We had so, so much fun though......... just pure simple fun!

Our final day was spent at Michigan's Adventure.... where I learned my daughter is a coaster FREAK! She love, love, loves the roller coasters!!!!  I can barely handle them anymore, but I had to be tough for her.  I loved them as a kid. Adored them. Would thinking nothing of waiting in line for hours to ride the tallest, fastest, steepest coasters in the world. WHAT THE HELL WAS WRONG WITH ME?  ;-)  Apparently, we wise up as we age... now I just think I am surely going to die.

The absolute highlight of the day was when Ally and I were riding a giant coaster that you hang from... your legs are all dangling out there, sure to be whacked off... anyway... we were headed up the giant hill... and I have to close my eyes. I have to. I am not having a good time here... I do not want to watch!  Ally yells to me.... "Mommy!?  Do you have your eyes closed?"  I respond "Umm... YES!" She yells back... "Well open them... cuz I'm scared as heck over here!"  Yeah..... and my eyes are closed cuz I'm having a GREAT time????? Lord.....

In the end... we rode the coaster again... she loved it... we did this multiple times with coasters all over... rode them a couple times in a row if the lines were short. She is hilarious.  My little fearless girl.....  ;-)

Luke had a blast too. He rode lots of little rides... and we all did some family rides together. We rode go karts... we rode the carousel.... Luke got his fact painted.  It was a great, great day..........

A really, really great freakin' week............. we got home late Friday.... and all slept until 10:30 the next morning.  It felt great to sleep in our beds once again. We had two days to catch up on laundry and settle back into being home.... before our last week of summer started.  That week will have to be another story... as this post has gotten lengthy as can be.  :-)