Japan trip remembered

With E home for spring break, it was the perfect time to catch up on her scrapbook. I couldn't do much without her because we had to tackle her Japan trip and she's the one who went, so she's the one who has to give me the details and the order of how the trip went. She was watching "Game of Thrones" while I peppered her with questions. We completed 11 single pages for her trip, then I did a rest-of-summer page and the introductory page for her senior year. I didn't need much help on the last two, but when I was finished I was asking her how many pages we should allocate for her senior golf season. I asked her a few times and started to get annoyed that she wasn't answering. Then I realized she was sound asleep (phone in hand). The golf pages will have to wait for another day.

My baker

L decided she needed an activity yesterday so she found a recipe online for a chocolate chip cookie pie. We didn't have any refrigerated pie crust so she found a Martha Stewart recipe and made her own. Andy had to help her cut the butter into the flour and it turned out surprisingly flaky. Look at the end result:

I think she may have used a few more chocolate chips than the recipe called for.

Diabetes fundraiser

This afternoon afternoon Andy and I went with Allison to Revolution Brewing in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood for a fundraiser to benefit "Slam Dunk for Diabetes," the summer basketball camp that Cousin D attended for years. For two hours we enjoyed spicy chicken wings, mini BBQ pork sandwiches and craft brews. We were all a little surprised that the coleslaw was spicy until Cousin D pointed out that it was labeled "Cajun coleslaw."

Here's a pic of Cousin D with Julie and Kevin.

And a pic at the end of the party of Andy and Allison.

Palm Sunday

E tried to make a cross with her palm in church today. It didn't work. They both looked thrilled to be there, don't they? They've already been warned that they will be in church Easter Sunday and they will be dressed appropriately.

Spring sleepover

This was the view in the basement this morning - L and her two friends, E and A, sound asleep with the TV on. They all walked home from school together yesterday, then went to 7-Eleven to load up on snacks. A few Ghibli movies we ordered came in, but they chose to watch Dr. Who, play Wii and eat lots of sugar until they finally crashed. Meanwhile, B started off his spring break with a sleepover at his friend B's house. And E's boyfriend wasn't feeling well so she was home for the night.

More snow?

August just can't believe we got another 1.7 inches of snow overnight.

Fashionable

L's outfit for today. She's holding August because there are cats on her leggings and she thought he'd want to see them.

Party prep

L is having a couple of her friends over Friday for a beginning-of-spring-break sleepover. Of course, she has to turn it into a "party." She did quite a good job cleaning up and decorating the basement.

Doughnut leggings

More seventh-grade fashion.

This is spring?

This is what we woke up to this morning.

E's senior key

Window shopping

Andy and I went out this afternoon to look at replacement windows for the living and dining rooms. We took L and E along and since we had a Groupon, we had lunch at Buca di Beppo. Andy was the only one of us who had been there before. The lunch was good, but the garlic bread had so much garlic it was nearly inedible. I wish we had tasted it more when the waiter asked how it was because it was not good and we probably would have sent it back. I like garlic, but c'mon. L said even the meatball she had was a bit heavy on the garlic so she didn't finish all of her meatball ... and she loves meatballs.

I did like the wine bottles on the ceiling of the room we were in, though.

E and I did some shopping at Yorktown while Andy and L went to their golf lesson. E was tired and had to find a chair to rest in.

Awards for L

It's the end of the trimester and L's teacher held an awards ceremony. L came home with two awards yesterday - one for "Thinking Outside the Box" in science class and the "In the News" Award in math, encouraging her to keep up her good work. We are happy her grades have improved this semester. She says her report card will have four A's on it, a B and two C's.

Bio meeting

Andy and I had a meeting at the high school tonight about B's summer biology trip to Florida. We found out that he needs to be at the airport by 4 a.m. July 29 to catch his flight. He's one of two boys on the trip but he said the OPRF group is meeting up with another school so maybe there will be more boys joining them. After the meeting, he was running through the halls. Guess that's fun when no one is around. I was surprised a security guard didn't see him and stop him.

And then he drove us home. I don't like being in the back seat.

L and her cats

If only he had thumbs

August knows that we have to turn a knob to open a door and he's always reaching for it when he wants to go into B's room.

Way to go, B!

Aww!

Engineering Open House

Andy and I took E to U of I today for the Engineering Open House and an informational session for electrical and computer engineering admitted students. It was a good chance for them to show off the new Electrical and Computer Engineering building that opened in the fall. This is a few from the second floor overlooking the lobby where, usually, they have tables set up for students to socialize and study. I thought the open house would entail touring a few buildings, but it was a huge deal. There were demonstrations in all of the engineering buildings and on the engineering quad. The had a Cat front-loader on the quad, a couple of John Deere tractors and some cars. The coolest thing I saw was a Frisbee launcher. The turnout was much higher than I expected.

Someone even adorned the Alma Mater statue with a string of Engineering Open House (EOH) Frisbees.

Of course, I couldn't let E leave campus without some sort of silly picture so here she is showing off the new ECE Building. She looks like she's having a great time, right?

Traveling scarecrow

L brought home a scarecrow from school a couple of years ago and it's been sitting inside our front door since because every time fall rolls around, the ground is too hard to stand the scarecrow up. I set it out by the trash the other day and put a "free" sign on it, hoping someone would give it a good home before trash day came. As I was driving to the grocery store the other day, I saw it stuck in what's left of a snowbank about two blocks from our house. I'm guessing some middle school students took it for a walk. At least it has a new home.

L's poem

why do you act so blue?
when i'm here cheering for you?
Cause it starts to break me down
when i do all this for you!

there is a whole lot of people
and places to see!
why do you think your only friend is me?

cause you dig yourself way down
and its hard to pull you out!
and we both know that's true

you say no one will like you
in thousands of years
but i'm sitting here next to you
wiping away your tears!

Why must you block everyone out?
like a safe that has no key?
if you hate that things are bad!
then why you do you come to me?

i'm not trying to be rude,
but your super sad depressed
mood has got to end.

Just look at all good things
sitting here today,
like the flowers that are dancing
with waves that are splashing!

the pretty birds cheering in the sky
and the tiny ants marching in the grass
so come on down those old blue stairs
and stand here next to me
you know i'll be right here.

Toys, toys and more toys

Sorting day at the Economy Shop. Looks like it's time for some sales.

The birds are singing ...

... and August wants to get at them! Spring is near.

She passed

Since beginning seventh grade the one thing L has heard over and over again is that if you don't pass the Constitution test, you can't go on to eighth grade. Even with E and B telling her that everyone passes it, she was a bit concerned. She was thrilled to bring home the test results today - passing with 80 percent.

Their room

L has some big ideas for E's room once she goes to college, but it looks like the cats have plans of their own. They love sitting on E's loft bed during the day. L may have to incorporate the bed into her grand plan.

Pizza!

E had a nice babysitting job yesterday - $40 for a few hours in the morning, she came home in the afternoon to nap, then went back around 5 p.m. so the parents could have a night out. We took L and B downtown to Gino's East for pizza. We needed to use a Groupon by the end of the month so we strayed from our usual pizza place. The temperatures were in the mid 40s and it was a beautiful night. We parked right alongside the Anti-Cruelty Society so we saw several adorable cats on our walk to the restaurant. L was ready to bring them all home, even a Pug she saw. And we even brought a slice of pizza home for E.

Nice note

It's not everyday L comes home with a note from school so I have to brag ...

"I just wanted to write you to let you know that you have been such a stellar student in class. I know I don't give you the credit you deserve since you are always doing what you are supposed to be doing. It is tough to focus on the kids who are doing the right thing in class when I have to control the ones who aren't. But you have been consistent, hardworking and loyal to your classmates since the beginning. You must know that what you are doing in class and all of your studying and all of the collaboration you do is definitely noticed by me! Keep on doing your thing and being you, because that is something special!"

Aw, thanks, Ms. B.

Win me a Tesla

E and L have taken over the latest grocery store game. They've found a couple instant winners for more tickets and we won a free 1.5 quart of Edy's ice cream. Now, if they could just win the Tesla or $1 million cash.

Vikings exhibit

Andy and I left the kids to fend for themselves tonight while we went to the Field Museum to view the new Vikings exhibit and have a light dinner. We met up with a couple we know from church and had a nice time talking. We didn't realize it at the time, but we were drinking the Field Museum's own beer, Tooth & Claw. This is an interesting part of the article about how the beer got its name:

Okay, so we have the beer, now what should we call it? No one will argue that the Field Museum’s most recognizable and most famous object is Sue, the largest, most complete and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex. Discovered in South Dakota in 1990 by what would be her namesake, Sue Hendrickson, the Field Museum acquired Sue and introduced her in 2000. She’s been the main attraction ever since. Aha, Sue Brew! That would be a great idea except that Sue has a myriad of fans way under the legal drinking age and naming a beer after an object beloved by school children throughout the world might not go over so well. Alrighty, so what makes Sue Sue? Taking a look at her, she’s a bit on the ferocious side. That gal has some serious teeth and claws. And there you have it. Tooth & Claw debuted with the Field Bistro in November 2013.

Tortellini soup

At least once a winter (and it should be more often) Andy makes his delicious tortellini soup.

Tortellini Soup

¾ to 1 lb. Italian sausage
1 large green pepper, chopped
½ c. diced onion
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ t. oregano
3 cans (10¾ oz. each) chicken broth
2 soup cans water
1 can (about 28 oz.) tomatoes
1 pkg. (10-16 oz.) frozen cheese or meat tortellini

In soup pan, cook sausage, green pepper, onion and garlic with oregano until done; stir to separate meat. Add remaining ingredients; bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes or until done. Stir occasionally.

It's even better the next day.

Snowy school

B took this picture of L's snowy school.

Seventh-grade style

L wasn't thrilled about having school on Pulaski Day, but she was pretty excited to show off her new dress.

It's the cats' fault

Sometimes you just have to clean out from under the piano. I found 18 hairbands, two screws and one bracelet ... and a lot of dust.