The Frigs

The Picture Starry Night

2012-01-24T20:17:00.001-06:00

M's first poem....

The picture starry night is beautiful.
The picture starry night is windy.
The picture starry night is peaceful.
The picture starry night is big.

Snow Play

2012-01-15T15:05:00.001-06:00

An ARose Icey

2012-01-15T15:00:00.001-06:00

A Chicago Sunset

2012-01-15T10:41:00.001-06:00

A view from the El. I love this city!!!

Best of Friends

2012-01-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

So sweet!

The Comfort of Fresh Pasta

2012-01-09T12:58:00.000-06:00

My comfort food is chicken n’ dumplins’, biscuit and gravyand coconut cake—shocking, I know, for a Southern girl! Therest of my family’s comfort food is pasta. My family simply LOVES pasta—any shape, size, filling, sauce (well, thekids have some limitations on the fillings and sauces). It is no secret that both Chris and I are verysentimental about where we come from, our relatives, etc. One of Chris’ childhood stories from hisPhilly days that he often shares with me and the kids is his memory of making freshpasta with his grandmother (MomMom) and her sisters on Mom Mom’s kitchentable. Over the years, he has carried onmany of those types of traditions, but for some reason he has only made freshpasta a handful of times. Time involvement, ease, whatever the reason. As I am sure you can understand, I’ve never, ever attempted to make fresh pasta. I wouldbe setting myself up for disaster, I thought. How canI live up to that memory and MomMom’s pasta?!

Well, I decided this was crazy talk. Over the weekend I gave pasta a whirl and made tagliatelle.

I felt sort of silly at first. How do you drape the pasta over your forearm, crank the machine and pull the dough from the machine---all at the same time? Doesn’t seem possible! Thankfully, Chris was there to guide me through this foreign process.

And, success. Isn't this beautiful?

While it was definitely time consuming as compared to opening up a bag and poring into water, it was worth every bit of effort. Fresh pasta really does make a difference. The pasta was pretty darn good,if I do say so myself. Chris (and thiscould be ---definitely is—him being a good husband) thought it was awesome. I used Lidia Bastianich's recipe (love her!). Eventually I may even graduate to stuffedpastas….but let’s not get carried away!

Love Shots

2012-01-07T09:15:00.001-06:00

I ran across these photos from the Fall (yes, I'm not quite as on top of pictures I once was...ie, pre-kiddos) and couldn't resist sharing. As M says, I am "in love" with these shots!

A Pfour Weekend

2012-01-02T14:54:00.001-06:00

After Key Lime Cove we headed up to Milwaukee for the weekend to be with our friends, the Pfour. It was wonderful. No real plans other than spending quality time together. Just perfect...car brake down and all (not ours, but sadly ours isn't doing much better). There is something very warm and comfy when we visit. I think of it as home. Thanks guys. Miss you already.

I was on a true holiday. I was terrible with photo logging our time together but Ang was in form as usual so check out her blog for some cool photos (my favorite is the beach photo!!). On NYE, Ang had a great idea of serving mutliple courses through out the night. Perfect for a couple of reasons. It goes without saying we like to eat good food so eating for hours is a natural high for us. However, it served a very practical purpose as well since that was the ONLY way we were able to stay awake until Midnight. I know, sad!! To add to that sadness, Chris and I ran to the bedroom within seconds of the stroke of midnight. What can I say! Good times!

See you guys soon!

Key Lime Cove

2012-01-01T21:33:00.001-06:00

We started off our New Years weekend with an impromptu road trip to one of the many nearby water parks. We originally thought we would take the girls snow skiing over the break. M took lessons last year and loved it. (I sat inside and watched all of the action...and loved it ...hehe). But with the lack of snow so far this season, we decided to wait . It just felt weird.

Good choice. The girls had so much fun in the water. We were all exhausted in the end wanting to snuggle in our towels and give it a good cry like ARose.....aww!!

3 Down, more....

2012-01-01T20:34:00.001-06:00

BEFORE lunch...ah, that gorgeous smile!

AFTER lunch...ah, that same gorgeous smile with a window!

I swear, this girl can't get any cuter!!! She was VERY happy the tooth fairy found her all the way in Milwaukee. That fairy is a crafty one. What is M doing with the extra cash you may ask yourself? She is adding this whopping $2 to her recently slated " bedroom redo" project. Too much iCarly, I'm afraid! I think we may need to start a parent match program if she wants the project done before she leaves for college (hehe).

Mmmmmm, marshmallows!

2011-12-28T15:41:00.000-06:00

My Terrariums

2011-12-27T16:01:00.001-06:00

The most thoughtful gift E.V.E.R.....Chris and the girls made me a couple of terrariums. Isn't that so awesome!!! They look beautiful in my dining room and catch my eye every time I walk in the room. I was eyeing these beauties at one of the art festivals this year....someone was paying attention! Perfect.

Horsing Around

2011-12-27T14:28:00.001-06:00

Christmas Morning

2011-12-27T14:27:00.001-06:00

Eager kids, lots of laughs and extra special time with Aunt Cat and Noah!

Merry Christmas!

What's so funny?!

2011-12-23T22:19:00.001-06:00

Look closely....and this wasn't a quick in and out. This was for a good 10-15 minutes. Really!!

2011--A Frig's Season's Greetings

2011-12-19T14:31:00.002-06:00

The Future

2011-12-14T07:00:00.000-06:00

A Short Story by M

I wish I lived in the future because I get to have a fancy house.
I would get to have bunk beds.
I would live with my friends.
I would get to have thousands of food.
And I get to have a big dining room.

(After giving this story some thought, I like the direction her story is headed:-))

First Haircut

2011-12-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

For some reason, first haircuts are really hard for me. M was 3 before I cut her hair for the first time. I would have probably waited until ARose was 3 as well but her hair has gotten out of control. It was near her butt, seriously!! And, with all of the colds (ie, snot!), impossible to keep clean. So, I did it. I cut her hair over the weekend. It was painless for her but a little tough for me. You can see though that she's digging her new cut and so do I!! As adorable as ever, that's ARose!!!!

Santa Claus: Round 2

2011-12-12T12:22:00.001-06:00

Each year my company puts together a fantastic holiday party for the kids. The kids get to meet SC, do arts and crafts, play all kinds of games, jump in a bouncy, ride on a little train, and get down with some seasonal karaoke tunes. Oh, let's not forget, snack on some cookies and milk (and veggies, but who really wants carrot sticks at a holiday party!!). This year ARose got into the whole event. She even warmed up to good ole SC (well, sort of....you can judge for yourself)! We did have to bribe her with a cookie to get her to leave the train. Hey, you have to do what you have to do (yes, I admit that was some wonderful parenting skills!).

First Snow of the Season

2011-12-09T10:05:00.001-06:00

Gingerbread House

2011-12-06T08:00:00.000-06:00

One of my all time favorite Christmas memories as a kid—the COOKIE CASTLE. I remember our castle alwaysbeing as wide and tall as our kitchen table. Looking back, that was a kid’s distortion but it was pretty big. Also I now know that castle was a pain in mymom’s tail as she made it from scratch! Nonetheless, if we asked for the cookie castleshe took the time to help make the castle, year after year. Let’s just say I have succumbed to the factthat I am simply not a crafty as my mom. While I think I got a little bit of the gene I certainly did not get thefull gene (um, I don’t make clothes for my girls!! She even made my prom dresses, when I wouldlet herJ) soI don’t even attempt the cookie castle. I do, however, get into the gingerbread house spirit---with the aid of thosehandy, dandy life saving kits. In yearspast, I’ve been disappointed by our gingerbread houses. Even the kits were too hard for me. But this year, I found the perfect kit. It’s from Trader Joe’s of all places and itis idiot proof. The girls and I put ourhouse together over the weekend and I think it looks fantastic (minus a few ofthe candies we couldn’t resist eating) !!!!

Santa Claus: Round 1

2011-12-06T01:07:00.000-06:00

(Yep, you guessed it, ARose was having none of this sitting next toSanta Clause business. I couldn't even get a shot of her in his vicinity since we wouldn't let me put her down!)

The Smell of Christmas

2011-12-05T11:58:00.001-06:00

There has been a lot of talk in my house over the last fewmonths about the brain by a certain smarty pants using lots of big words that causeme to have an embarrassing blank stare plastered on my face (even more than usual!)—the different regions, how the work together, what they control.….you get mypoint. We made a jello brain forHalloween this year for goodness sakes. I even “proofed” (and I use that term lightly!)a paper about the brain—something to do with post traumatic olfactory dysfunctionsand how smell can be disrupted depending on the type of head trauma. That’s all I could understand of that paper to behonest. (On the bright side, if learning through osmosis really works, I'm in good shape!)

Why am I talking about smells and the brain?

Because it’s Christmas time!!

I love this time of year. Having your house filled with pretty lights and sentimental decorations. Christmas music. Snow (but that part can go away after the first of the year). The smells of evergreens in our house, cookies baking, apple cider, hotchocolate, cinnamon..... The memoriesthat are connected to the smells of the Season are some of my richest memories.

We started decorating our house over the weekend. We took the easy routeAGAIN and purchased our tree at a store but next year we are goingto find a local tree farm and cut down own tree. We been waiting for the right time and I think next year both of the girls will be good ages to add the tree cutting smell to their collectionof Christmas memories.

Star Topper (her first year because past years she was too afraid:-))

Star Topper Helper

Paris 1906: Escoffier Style

2011-11-29T13:00:00.000-06:00

I was thinking about Next today (to be specific, eagerly anticipating the next menu offering...El Bulli!!!!) and then all of a sudden my stomach felt a little funny. I had the pleasure of dining at Next during the Summer with some great friends. However, in the midst of Summer stuff, a basement flood, and life in general, did I ever publish the Next post? And, sadly, NO, I did not. I can't believe this. What?!?! One of the most memorable meals of my life and I forget to hit a button!!! I have forgotten or simply haven't had the energy these days to posts things and I can live with that but Next. OK, the world will continue to rotate but I need to do this. So, here's the original post.

June 22, 2011

A couple of days before my birthday this year, I had the pleasure of sharing a unique dining experience with some dear friends. This time, it was the mysterious "Next". This is the new restaurant by Grant Achatz. I say mysterious because the buzz of this restaurant started over a year ago with a short video clip of what was to come---a new restaurant with a twist. Rather than reservations, you order tickets. Rather than order from a menu, you only know the location and period of time of inspiration for the menu. You don't pay at the end, you pay up front. I guess it's sort of like ordering tickets toto a movie, yet you don't know the exact movie....just the genre. The menu changes every 3 months and so does the table decor.

The hype surrounding this restaurant creates challenges for getting tickets to the restaurant. Luckily, though, we had our secret weapon--Mel. She followed the opening chatter religously. And on the date we were given to start the ticket process, she sat in front of her computer for several hours with several open screens hitting the refresh button every few minutes, with no potty breaks, shower breaks and just enough of a break to grap a bite to eat (eating at her computer of course). Until finally.....she got through!!!! We were a group of 6 and they only have one 6 top, the kitchen's table, so that was our table. And, boy, was it worth the time and energy!!!!

I can't even begin to go into the specifics of the meal, but it was incredible. I am very fortunate to have this opportunity and to have such awesome friends to share an experience such as this with. Thanks Elmo's and Pettit's for an unforgettable night!

Look who's back!

2011-11-28T12:34:00.000-06:00

Niriana a/k/a ELF

Our house is bursting with excitement these days with the arrival of Niriana. She (yes, Elf is a she....) is definitely magical. M is extra sweet with her around. Can't wait until ARose gets the Elf magic so that we can use it to our advantage with her (can't come quick enough I'm afraid!!)

2011 Thanksgiving

2011-11-28T12:15:00.001-06:00

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving with the Multerer's and one of Chris' classmates--Batzaya. This was Batzaya's first Thanksgiving as she is from Mongolia. We had never "encountered" a Mongolian before so, unfortunately for Batzaya, she was inundated with loads of question about her native country. I know I showed our ignorance about her country with my silly questions but she was a real trooper. Just in case you are wondering, it's true. Mongolians do in fact eat A LOT of beef but our version here in the States is not the same. Shocking, I know!

Our thankful theme was that we are all thankful for our friends and family, opportunities and turkey. Some of us are thankful for hippos as well!

Thanks Multerer's and Batzaya for a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

How to Catch a Turkey

2011-11-23T07:27:00.007-06:00

By: M Frigs

This is how to catch a turkey.

Step 1. Go to a farm.

Step 2. Pick up a turkey.

I love this "how to" note!! I'm just thankful that she didn't say "go to the store"! Of course that's what we all do but at least she knows that the stores have to get them from someplace else. I'm totally cracking up picturing her running around a farm trying to pick up a turkey:-))

Happy Thanksgiving!

Girls on a Shelf

2011-11-13T13:35:00.001-06:00

I don't know why the fascination but there is something so sweet when kids want to play on shelves. I remember playing on shelves (and bails of hay....that's a different story for another time!) when I was a kid. Too cute....of course with adult supervision:-)!

Fairy + Dragon Ninja

2011-11-04T17:40:00.001-05:00

= adorable trick or treaters

The Great Carving

2011-11-03T02:00:00.002-05:00

Apparently, my recent posts have stirred the anticipation in Uncle Mike. Where are the carved pumpkins, he asks?

Here are our 2011 Halloween masterpieces.

This was the most fun year yet and with the girls getting older it will only get better. M really got into the carving. She was working on her pumpkins for a good couple of hours, until her hands started to hurt. Even ARose got into the action ….coloring, pulling out the slimy insides (which she thought was really cool) and carving. I think I’m going to be my own pumpkin next year and create my own!!!

The Pumpkin Patch

2011-11-03T01:03:00.010-05:00

We visited Sonny Acres this year. ARose was in a mood (happening a lot lately...hello terrible 2s!!) so she didn't enjoy it as much as M. M benefited from the extra tickets though....carnival rides, bouncy, pony rides, hayride, etc.

Is it wrong that we picked the pumpkin patch based solely on its proximity to a brewery:-)? It's just that we've been meaning to get out to Two Brothers for a long time and thought this was the perfect opportunity. The girls loved the root beer and the food was delicious (in fact, the best fish tacos I've had and the pulled pork was really, really good...that's saying a lot from a Southern girl who is particular about her pulled pork)!!!! We weren't able to join the tour....well, because of a certain 2 year old...but that's OK. This gives us another excuse to come back. Over the summer, one of our friends celebrated his birthday by biking out the brewery and having lunch. That's a thought......

The Witches Brew

2011-11-02T13:01:00.000-05:00

We began our Halloween weekend with a Halloween party, of course! ARose’s daycare had the BRILLIANT idea of having their party the Friday before Halloween so that it didn’t interfere with the Trick or Treating on Halloween day. Man, was this a life saver! Each year, they put on quite a show for the little ones with the witches brew. The kids absolutely love this magic trick. I can’t imagine a Halloween without the witches brew, in fact. We will have to continue this tradition even after the kiddos are long gone from daycare (sniff, sniff).

They are always so sweet to include M in the party. She still gets a kick out of it and ARose thinks she’s really special having her big sis with her at her party. Have I mentioned lately how much ARose looks up to M? She emulates her every move….which is so adorable. I’m going to have to get the old lady walk on video and post. I think it’s hilarious (but I’m partial!!).

Creepy bones...so cute and easy to make...a hit with the little ones!

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T21:10:00.001-05:00

From the Frigs. We've had lots of festive adventures over the last few days. More posts and loads of cute pics to come. Right now I am in a candy coma and in need of a bed. Yes, I hit the kids basket HARD!!!

Yikes!!!

Dr. Bones

2011-10-21T21:48:00.001-05:00

Chris has started to hone his teaching skills! I can't think of a better audience---1st grade. He was the surprise guest teacher today for M's class. What was the lesson? BONES Pretty timely, right! One of the perks of his new adventure. He has access to a bone box! So funny!

They played the guessing game. He read a bone book. What bone are you holding? They learned there were 206 bones in adults and a lot more in babies. The funniest moment for Chris was the kid who thought that the bone he was holding was a back bone when it was really was a shin bone. Don't understand the humor? That's OK, neither do I!!!

Get this thing away from me...

Is he serious.....

OMG, OMG, OMG.....

Pick me!!!

Playing in the Leaves

2011-10-12T07:37:00.001-05:00

Daddy and Daughter Day

2011-10-11T17:16:00.001-05:00

A breakfast date, bike ride on the lakefront, picnic at the park....perfect day for daddy and daughter I'd say!

Pablove Across America

2011-10-10T08:50:00.001-05:00

A couple of years ago Chris cycled almost 300 miles in support of a fundraising/awareness campaign for The Pablove Foundation-- an organization committed to fighting childhood cancer. It was an unforgettable and moving experience for us both.

Pablove Across America rolled through Chicago on Saturday night for a fundraising event and I was fortunate enough to be a small part of the event by volunteering my time. The foundation is filled with dedicated, inspirational people who make sick kids feel better. Simply beautiful! Our friend, Brian, is joining the cycle train for the last leg of the ride. If you able and interested in donating to this worthy cause, please check out his page!

Sisterly Love

2011-10-06T08:35:00.001-05:00

M takes her role as big sister very seriously. She is aware that ARose watches her every step. She is thoughtful. She reads to her, teaches her how to go potty, helps her with her clothes, shares all of her things with her (even when she gets nothing in return...which is often the case with a 2 year old!), she even lets her watch some kiddie shows on TV once in a while. All around, M is an awesome big sis!!!

In gratitude, M gets pinches and hair pulls from a 2 year old being a 2 year old. They always give lots of hugs and kisses as an "I'm sorry" but something tells me M has had enough.

M's note to ARose yesterday.

"dare t, you are a grate sister but can you stop pinching me...."

What does ARose do when we read the note to her? She gives M a playful pinch. That's our awesome ARose!!!

Monkey M by M

2011-10-04T20:45:00.001-05:00

Hungry Hound @ Autre Monde

2011-09-27T09:38:00.000-05:00

We are on at 2:18! Cool!

Playing at the Park

2011-09-20T13:02:00.000-05:00

One Sister Underground

2011-09-19T17:06:00.000-05:00

One Sister Underground

Quesadilla
bubble tea

Salad Sponge

Honeys, goat milk, homegrown

Tomatoes

manchego-edamame, nasturtium, spice cubes

blueberry tomato...what!!!

Hanging

Smoked watermelon, roe

Pierogi

Potato, truffle, homemade cheese

Shrimp Carpaccio

almonds, peaches, herbs

Your Hand

Oyster Centerpiece

Foraged items

Corn Chowder

encapsulated, clam, pork belly

Farm and Garden

Pork, veggies

1 Pill Makes You Larger and 1 Pill Makes You Small

Shrimp Scampi

noodle

Oatmeal Dashi

chia seeds

Hand-cut Pasta

duck, raspberry

Ice Cream Cone
bacon

Lamb Prosciutto

fennel, lemon, corned leg

Veal Cheeks

hot mustard, granola, cherries

Custard

zucchini, honey dew, banana pepper

Chocolate Balls

blueberries, eggs, gruyere

Our wonderful friends

Random Shots of the Night

A++ for being prepared

A little statement like—“the best dinner I’ve ever had!” That’s all it took for Mel to assemble a dinner date with some lucky friends (me!) and check out the place brought out that statement. It was like none other. This was an underground dinner. Not at a restaurant, but out of a chef’s own Chicago condo using an ordinary tiny Chicago kitchen. The chef is Iliana Regan, a 30 something year old farmer, forager and self taught chef. Sustainability is a huge part of her business and every bite displays her passion beautifully. Her food is bold unlike the quiet and reserved person that she appears to be. Somehow she is able to uniquely combine sweet and savory in a way that is simply perfection. I was impressed to say the least.

There were many surprises of the night—tiny blueberry tomatoes, hanging food, using our fists as plates, eating foraged mushrooms and berries from the Chicago woods…. For me, though, the biggest surprise of the Night was CORN HAIRS. Who knew that these hairs were so darn delicious!

Another best dinner with friends (how is this possible!)

Unforgettable!

Taste of Melrose Park

2011-09-04T21:55:00.001-05:00

Wow, what a beautiful day!!

We had perfect weather and decided to check out Taste of Melrose Park. You probably can't read this sign....here are the last names of the officials sponsoring this event--Serpico, Abruzzo, Italia, Anquiano, Taconi, Mato and Prignano. Yep, you guessed it. This is the Italian-American annual festival. It's only a few miles from us so I can't believe we haven't been yet. (What kind of an Italian-American is Chris, huh!). This was so much fun. The most fun was the people watching. At risk of offending, I won't go into the details. Soprano-like...I'm just sayin'! We watched some bocce with tempers flaring....this is serious people:-) Ate a fried bologna sandwich, braciole, lupinis, rootbeer float, clams and cannoli. Then, the girls got to ride the carnival rides. So fun!!!

Mussels, Clams and a Baby

2011-09-03T21:14:00.001-05:00

We finally had our new neighbors over for dinner (forgot to take a picture!). The basement sort of put us a bit behind. We had mussels and clams. ARose showed off again by trying to out eat the rest of us in the mussels department. The kids had a blast being silly and the aduts had a nice time with some cocktails and some adult talk. Really nice. And the girls could not get enough of the baby. He definitely had lots of kisses!!

A Berwyn Gem

2011-09-02T21:37:00.000-05:00

Autre Monde - Café and Spirits

A few weeks ago Chris and I were taking a nice summer stroll after dinner with the kids to Gina’s Italian Ice (a little cup of Americana and gem!) when we stumbled upon a new restaurant. A really cool looking restaurant with a really cool looking menu outside for us to peruse. How had we missed the buzz of a new restaurant opening so close by?! Diners sitting at the window tables had huge grins on their faces, beverages in the air saluting us and giving the place a big thumbs up. Awesome, and to be so close to us…in Berwyn of all places. Could this be the cultural shift we’ve waited for on Roosevelt?? Fingers crossed!

They describe themselves as a Mediterranean influenced restaurant similar to tapas type dining where the dishes are meant to be shared. They have a “farm to table” philosophy with its very own greenhouse to back the philosophy.

A couple of weeks ago we finally checked this place out with our good friends Rob and Kara. My overall impression---Love the place and will definitely go back; great potential.

It had a casual feel, a mix of rustic/simple décor, the staff was eager and super friendly, the cocktails were excellent and the food was really, really good. Understandably, being a brand spanking new restaurant, they have a few little kinks to work out. For starters, they HAVE to lower the volume level with some panels or something to ease the sound. That’s my only true complaint. My voice was shot after leaving because I had to shout so much during the dinner. It was our waiter's 2nd day on the job so I will cut her a lot of slack. So what if we didn’t get our wine until close to the end of the meal! As for the food, the stars of the night were the grilled octopus and sardines. They were simply perfect. The other dishes were good but I think they need a little tweaking of the menu and the flavors…which will come with time no doubt.

This restaurant has only been open a couple of months and has gotten a ton of press. The night we were there the Hungry Hound was taping for a show (that guy has the best job e.v.e.r!!!). I’m keeping an eye out to see if our table made the cut! Given all of this press, a reservation is a must.

A Berwyn gem!!!

Shoes, shoes, shoes

2011-08-30T14:33:00.001-05:00

This girl and her love for shoes!!! She has good taste!

Photos from the Road

2011-08-29T12:34:00.001-05:00

Over the weekend we took a little road trip to Sheboygan, WI. Chris with a couple of other guys participated in the Xterra mountain bike triathlon. Here are some images taken in the car which I thought were interesting....

Look closely, he's carrying a bicycle!

Reminds me of MS

Wonder if they brew nice beer

Nope, it's not made of cheese...sorry folks

More cheese talk, we are in WI afterall

They have daily specials according to the sign, who knew!

Enough said

Car grave

Fighter Plane grave

AND

1st place Age Group finisher!!!!!!

Hello 1st Grade!

2011-08-24T21:44:00.000-05:00

Photo of the Week

2011-08-21T14:35:00.001-05:00

Bathtime!

Julia Child: An annual celebration

2011-08-21T14:29:00.000-05:00

We celebrated Julia Child's birthday once again this year with our good friends the Elsmos and some other great people. This has become one of my favorite annual events. Why? The company goes without saying!!! Any time with the Elsmos and their close friends is time enjoyed to the fullest! The other probably has something to do with the fact that I don't really cook traditional French food that often so this gives me a chance to brush off those skills (really, just an excuse to use a lot of butter and cream and still feel OK about it!). And, last but not least,Julia. She was a pioneer...strong, ambitious, humble, entertaining, funny...all around classy lady. An inspiration. I made a fennel dish with potato crepes. The crepes were a keeper.. sadly, not so much the fennel dish. I used the ginormous fennel from our garden which was a mistake. It was super tough. Good thing I had some back up fennel.

Can't wait for next year.

Side Note--Mel of the Elsmos is not only a fantastic chef, she is also a very talented writer. She has been a fellow blogger (and I feel strange saying this because I am clearly not in her "blogger" league!) for a few years --personal and food blogs. A few months ago she was picked up by some local papers and is a regular columnist for those papers. At the JC party she laughingly warned us all that we may be in her next piece. To my surprise (which I discovered on Friday through other friends in the area) I was the victim:-) Pretty cool, thanks Mel!

Jim Barrie's Peter Pan

2011-08-21T13:33:00.001-05:00

Earlier in the summer, M asked for a date night with just us...mom and dad...no ARose. OK,a theater production of Peter Pan it is. According to M it was the best night ever. She woke the next morning still super excited saying how great the night was.

We ate at Snarf's before, enjoyed a box full of sugary delights at the show and looked up in amazement as Peter Pan and the gang flew to Neverland. The production was in a tent (the fanciest I've been in) and was set up like an IMAX. It was magical. In fact I had goose bumps when they made their first journey to Neverland. And, Tinker Bell! Who doesn't love Tinker Bell. She was super sassy and was definitely the star of the show. This was a special night for the three of us and one that we will definitely repeat. (And as usual, M fell asleep as soon as we pulled out of the parking garage. Mid sentence! Fun.

ProBook 4430s

2011-08-21T12:55:00.000-05:00

Yes, hallelujah, a new computer. I have a lot of catching up to do with the blog now that we have a new home computer! Sorry in advance for the upcoming Frigs overload:-)) Hopefully, I will back to normal chronicling soon.

Goodnight Portland

2011-08-09T13:43:00.005-05:00

Awwwwww......

Portland: Sauvie Island Picnic/Local Music

2011-08-09T13:43:00.002-05:00

Portland: Multnomah Falls

2011-08-09T13:43:00.001-05:00

About a 30 minute drive outside of Portland, you find this gorgeous, peaceful waterfall. According to Native American lore, Multnomah Falls was created to win the heart of a young princess who wanted a hidden place to bathe. I can see that. Rainwater, an underground spring and melting snow feed this fall throughout all four seasons so you are in for a treat any day of the year.

After crossing the Benson bridge you get a refreshing spray at the base of the fall before hiking up a mile steep path to the top of the fall. We didn't quite make it to the top with the kids, but we came close.

Portland: The Chickens

2011-08-09T13:42:00.002-05:00

A few years ago Mike built a hen house and then there were chicks They sure have grown! Aren't they cute? I didn't know chickens could be so pretty. The kids LOVED them!! And, we had some tasty eggs. Thanks, chicks!

Portland: Put a bird on it!

2011-08-09T13:42:00.001-05:00

Chris' brother-Mike- and sister-Lisa- live in Portland, OR. So, the end of July we met all of Chris' family out there for a little mini family reunion while celebrating the 10th anniversary of Mike (Chris' brother) and Mel (sorry, Mike, it is a big deal so get over it. Or, should I say sorry Mel for 10 years with Mike....hehe) We also met our soon-to-be brother-in-law and met Mel's FABULOUS family for the first time ever. Man, this was a fun trip. I wanted to take Mel's mom home with me! But, who are we kidding? We don't need an excuse to travel. And, we certainly don't need an excuse to go to Portland. All that rain throughout the Winter really pays big bucks in the lush greenery it produces in the Spring and Summer. It really is a stunning City. Love it!

On a side note, have you seen Portlandia? If you haven't you are missing out. It's hilarious and, as an outsider looking in, pretty true---taken to an absurd level though. Check it out!

Fennel on Roids

2011-08-06T13:21:00.001-05:00

Frig's Garden

Basement Flood

2011-07-25T12:29:00.003-05:00

We awoke at 3AM Saturday morning to the sound of our guest, Ed, saying " Chris, your basement is flooded!" Huh!!!!

Yep, a 4-6 inch pond in our finished basementL

All I could think of was for us to get everything out immediately. That’s what we did and we were able to save just about everything from the basement. We think the electronics are fine but we haven't tested them. Only a couple of sentimental things were damaged. The kids portable DVD player was ruined. We’ve already replaced that item….can’t live without the portable DVD player, right?:-) (Mom, the barbie house was still on the bench so it was just fine. It was the first thing we removed:-))

We spent the day ripping out the stinky, wet, disgusting carpet, bleaching toys, and organizing all of our stuff. We will need to remove the lower portion of our drywall this week so that the walls can completely dry out during the next week or so. Other than that, it's all fine. I recognize that it definitely could have been a lot worst. In the grand scheme of life, nothing really. I’m just thankful we had company over that was sleeping in the basement so that we found out early; then we put them all to work (!!). They were truly life savers who rallied to get us organized and kept our emotions in check. Thanks so much Ed and Ti and Bibiano!! We are also lucky that our next door neighbor is a plumber who helped us out first thing that morning with draining the water and called in one of his sewer friends for help. When our neighbors woke, they jumped in with their kids helping clean and organize. Have a mentioned that we have awesome neighbors?!

The most common question of the day by strangers: "Are you having a yard sale?". At first this was funny, but after about 15th/20th time, it was really, really annoying!!! M suggested that we put up a sign saying...."This is not a yard sale!" Seriously people! With all of the crap in our front yard, Chris said it looked like we were being evicted!

Good times:-)

Here are some pics but they don't really translate....

hehe, save the beer!

BTW, this was officially the rainiest day since they began keeping records in 1871!!!

Beating the Summer Heat

2011-07-22T08:31:00.002-05:00

Our Green Visitor

2011-07-19T11:48:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend, Chris was doing a little work in our garden when he noticed something strange on one of our pepper plants. This HUGE caterpillar-- Ceratomia undulosa, larva, to be precise.

WOWzer! Not really knowing any better, we left it on the plant that night and woke up the next morning to NO leaves on the plant. I didn’t realize they were such munchers… I missed that day in science class. We moved him to a bug container that we’ve had for 3 + years now. The funny thing is we bought this container for exactly this purpose but had sort of forgotten about it. So, it was never even taken out of the box. M is super excited to watch it grow. “When is it going to turn into its chrysalis”---that’s what I’ve been hearing for the last 2 days! Pretty cool, huh (except that this one is going to be a moth not a beautiful butterfly).

This is what it’s going to look like, yikes!

M turns 6

2011-07-18T13:13:00.001-05:00

The theme this year was.....

You guessed it--- LUAU.

We combined ARose's and M's birthday parties again this year. No complaints yet but I smell a change in the air coming:-(

M greeted each of the girls at the door with leis and flower bracelets. We had fun with some hula hoops, tossed some water balloons (then attacked Chris with water balloons, which is a must, of course!), enjoyed a contest of limbo, attacked a parrot with a stick (relax, it was a pinata) and even through in a little science for good measure....an erupting volcano. I think it was a success. You can be the judge!

And, a cherry on top...a surprise visit from the Pettits!!! Thanks guys! It was so much fun. Miss you guys!

ARose turns 2

2011-07-18T12:34:00.003-05:00

Last Sunday, our little baby turned 2 (what!). How did we celebrate? We did what any 2 year old (especially this one) would want to do.....we had ice cream and went to the pool. She is an absolute maniac in the pool. No fear whatsoever. This scares me to death, but I'm happy she is a little fish.

ARose Favorites at 2:

Calling Daddy, Mommy-- on purpose

Swimming

Tickles

Riding M's back

Singing her "ABC's" with special emphasis on S and Z

Reading "5 Silly Monkeys" and "The Three Bears" EVERY night

Hanging upside down

Just being silly!!

Day at the Beach

2011-07-18T12:24:00.000-05:00

I love Chicago......this is just a taste as to why!

Computer Update

2011-07-11T12:39:00.000-05:00

Several people have asked so I thought I'd provide an update. There really isn't much to talk about though. I sound like a broken record here. Our computer problems have not been resolved. FRUSTRATING!!!! We having been trying to work with a local company to no avail. We've managed (SLOWLY) to transfer all of our photos from the fried portable hard drive to a new one. We can connect to wireless (usually our wireless but sometimes our neighbors...hehe) on our ipad but the connection on our desktop (which is what I use to blog) still doesn't work. Unfortunately, blogging from the ipad is more challenging and apparently the pictures are not showing up on non-ipads. I'll try to fix the Door County pictures soon. Until then, my posts will continue to be limited:-(

I'll try to get you back to up speed on the goings-on of the Frigs when I can.

Relaxing Door County Style

2011-07-07T22:20:00.001-05:00

We decided last minute to take a road trip over the Fourth to Door County. A little R&R was what the doctor ordered. And we listened. Our good friends Ed and Ti met us there with their girls. We found a true gem to stay at. I don't know how we got so lucky. It was a log cabin cottage on a homestead from 1870. Perfect!!

A Day in the City

2011-06-26T13:17:00.000-05:00

As all of you busy parents out there know, finding time for yourself is rare. Finding time for you and your partner is even rarer! Chris and I leaped at the chance last week to have a day for just us. We took the girls to daycare/school and headed to the City for a little “vacation at home”. It was FANTASTIC !!! Anytime we are in the City sans kids, it reminds us of those days pre-kids which is pretty special. We had no particular plans, we just played tourist for the day. We found a really cool and funky coffee joint in the Fulton Market area, did a little grocery shopping (I know we are kind of weird like that), finally tried Kuma’s Corner (which is an absolute must do if you enjoy burgers or even calamari which was the BEST we’ve ever had….yes, really!) and hung out in the “adult only” section at the local pool. Not having to rush back for nap time was a highlight for me….it’s the little things that get me!

Can’t wait for our next tourist day! We really should do this more often.

Race Day

2011-06-22T13:16:00.004-05:00

I DID IT!!!

Two years after making a personal committment to myself to complete a triathlon...a pregnancy and broken elbow in between.... I did it! In retrospect, I should have been more nervous about the flippin' swim.

I panicked big time in the swim. I just couldn’t catch my breath. So, I was the last person out of the swim in my wave. Somehow I finished the swim in 22 minutes but I swear I felt I was in the water for an hour. I was the person who was floating on my back (sort of) while hanging close to the rope. Thank God for that rope! I made up a little for my super slow swim in the bike and run (which I was pleased with). Overall, it felt good. But, honestly, the swim was torture for me. Clearly I need a lot of work in the pool. I am definitely not a natural swimmer like Chris. Thank goodness the girls take after their dad!

Surprisingly, I wasn't very sore. Except for my knee caps! Strange, huh. M said I looked like an old lady trying to get down the stairs without too much moaning and screeching. Thanks for the reminder, M!

I will definitely do this race again next year but this time I will do myself a service and train better.

Love, love this sign Chris and the girls made for me!!

The girls climbed a tree to pass the time.....it was a LONG day for them! They are just too cute for words!!

Smoothie Stashes

2011-06-22T12:56:00.000-05:00

Back up and running

2011-06-22T12:54:00.000-05:00

....at least for now. We are still having computer problelms with intermittent online connection. Looks like we may be investing in a new computer before this is all said and done. Any who, lots to update you on so let's get started.

Another year

2011-06-20T13:17:00.003-05:00

You'll never guess who enjoyed the cupcakes the most?!

Fried!

2011-06-10T11:18:00.001-05:00

Wow, we’ve had some really crazy thunderstorms over the past couple of days. They reminded me of the summer thunderstorms from back home when I was younger. Booms, cracks, house shaking, glass rattling, fantastic light shows in the sky! Luckily we haven’t had any flooding (unfortunately, many others can’t say the same). However, we did have a bit of “excitement” yesterday morning when our house was struck by lightning! Yes, lightning! We are all fine and the house is too. Except for the stereo speaker attached to our living room TV that is perpetually humming and our computer modem that is fried! The strangest thing is that the time on one of our clock radios was changed by 2 hours (think twilight zone music).

I’ll be back up and running on the posts as soon as I get our modem replaced

Backyard Beauty

2011-06-09T21:12:00.000-05:00

Next, First Grade

2011-06-07T21:33:00.001-05:00

Today was M's last day as a kindergartener and she/we could not be happier/prouder. She was an excellent student. She learned to read which is a new love for her, learned basic math skills--addition and subtraction, learned how to tell time, days of the week, months, learned about bears, shadows, plants, the solar system, weather pattens, clouds, was introduced to basic Spanish and Italian, sang new songs, expanded her creativity in art class, played dodge ball, made new friends, took neat field trips. While she was hard at work she also found a new sense of freedom and confidence. Busy year, I'd say! Mom's a teeny bit sad:-(

Ooooo, donut!

2011-06-06T21:06:00.003-05:00

Donut Eating 101: How to really enjoy a chocolate donut!

Last Day of Gymnastics

2011-06-06T21:03:00.000-05:00

The Stacker

2011-06-03T06:23:00.000-05:00

Check out that concentration!

Book Worm

2011-06-01T10:21:00.000-05:00

No, this is not osmosis reading. Just M's favorite spot to curl up and enjoy a book. Her way of getting away from lil' sis.

Enjoyment

2011-05-30T21:14:00.001-05:00

Despite the nasty weather we made the most of the weekend and managed to have an awesome time....birthday parties, hanging out with friends we have missed, biking, watching movies with dripping rain in the background, singing and dancing to the 80's, parades, BBQ and even a bit of pool time. Just being silly, really. Isn't that what like is all about? Perfect!

Awwwww

2011-05-17T20:11:00.001-05:00

M's BFFs were out of town over the weekend and this is the note they left for her in the mailbox. So sweet!!

Great Bilingual Children's Reads

2011-05-16T09:44:00.000-05:00

Before You Were Born, Mi Amor. A book with a gentle, sweet bilingual story about family awaiting the arrival of a new baby. I just love this book. It was a gift to M when I was pregnant with ARose and quickly became her favorite nighttime book....reading almost EVERY SINGLE night when I was pregnant. I guess it in some way made M feel closer to the baby in my belly while at the same time seeing how special she is too.

The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred. Another sweet, bilingual story. This one is about a farm maiden who makes a cazuela (pot) of arroz con leche with the help of farm animals providing the ingredients. It has a really nice rhythm which you can have a lot of fun with. Spanish words are weaved throughout the book effortlessly. The book even offers up an arroz con leche recipe which I can't wait to try out! And, did I mention the artwork?!! The illustrations are beautiful. If the style looks familiar to you it's probably because Rafael Lopez is an award-winning illustrator and artist. His 2008 Noestra Voz poster was selected by the Obama/Biden campaign as an official poster at Artists for Obama. He has created several US stamps and won several awards as a children's book illustrator.

Samatha Vamos is the author of both of these books. We had the pleasure of meeting her over the weekend at a local book signing. She was genuinely warm and just what we expected (we've heard lots of wonderful stories given that we are neighbors with her dad!).

Highly recommended!

2011 Irving Staff Appreciation: Giving Thanks

2011-05-14T20:42:00.001-05:00

It helps to be "in the know" about the best committees to join at your kids school!!!

While this year I came to Irving feeling like an outsider (I am a newbie to the system afterall), I am so thankful for not coming in completely clueless. Luckily, I had a tiny bit of insight about what to expect. Especially, when it came to the "cool, fun" school committees. I imagine like most outside working moms, there is guilt in pretty much every aspect of your kids' lives.  Not being about to participate in most of the school activities simply adds fuel to that nasty fire of guilt.  So being able to participate in THIS committee made all of that guilt go away. This is something I've been looking forward to the last couple of years!

On Friday, I had the honor (along with about 50 other people) of celebrating and thanking all of the wonderful, extraordinary staff at Irving Elementary. Nine years ago this Staff Lunch Appreciation Day was born by one of my dear friends, Mel.   Over the years, it has blossomed and I believe it is safe to say this event is one of the hightlights of the year for the Irving staff and the committee members.

This year's theme was Thanksgiving - perfect!   It felt nice to show my gratitude to the men and women who help educate our kids and mold them into good citizens. I even got to host M's teacher, Ms. Ricchio. M adores her and so do I. She is fantastic! These men and women....that's what I'm thankful for!

Ms. Ricchio on the left at the end of the table

A Ho Song

2011-05-12T13:12:00.000-05:00

I have to share this story with you.

M was prancing around the house this morning happy as good be singing a new song--- “I’m a ho-ho-ho-ho. I’m a ho-ho-ho-ho”. Initially I had to do a double take. Yep, that’s what she was singing. Not in the Santa sense. Obviously, though, not where my mind went either. I’m not sure of what sense to be honest! I had a 10 second internal struggle….Should I tell her to stop singing that song at the risk of possibly starting a conversation that I am not (and will not be) prepared for years to come. Should I encourage her to change the words at the risk of shattering her little creative heart? (OK, that was overly dramatic but you get where I’m going with this.) Or should I simply ignore? I chose the latter. The no talking angle was the best angle for me. Maybe she will forgot about her little tune for now (but given her relation to Chris, repeating one line phrases from songs over and over again for days on days….well maybe not!). I can only hope that if she sings this song at school, none of the kids close by get it either!

Lady Bugs by M

2011-05-11T20:25:00.000-05:00

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-09T21:09:00.001-05:00

Happy Mother's Day (late) to all of you mommies out there!

This year I participated once again in the Y-Me Race At Your Pace in support of the National Breast Cancer organization, an organization that offers free programs and services to men and women affected by this disease. It seems that pretty much all of us have been touched in some way by breast cancer. My family has and we beat it! Last year was a surprisingly emotional event for me and I made a promise to myself to make this event an annual tradition. So that''s what I did. The weather was absolutely beautiful. Chris, the girls and MomMom were there cheering me and the other 20,000 people on. I can't think of a better way to spend Mother's Day. A special thank you to those who supported me in this event!!

Truly inspirational!

And, check this out! The coolest porta. Yes, they actually were cleaner. Guys were waiting outside to give the portas a little freshing up after every few minutes! Nice touch!

"Porta Jane: Because John Can't Aim"

Another Year

2011-05-09T20:44:00.000-05:00

........another year older for Chris on Saturday (no complaints since it's better than the alternative) . Shhhhhhhh...he is inching his way closer to the big one!! Chris' birthday was extra special this year because his mom visited us this weekend. It was really, really nice to have her here for the big day.

All he wanted was a bike ride in the morning so that's what the birthday boy got. Then we headed to the city for a little walk around the neighborhoods and lunch at Feast (which was yummy!). Dinner at Kyber Pass in Oak Park (yummy as usual). As luck would have it (or was this planned ...hmm!), we were treated to belly dancers at the restaurant. M and ARose (and Chris) were mesmerized by the dancers. M even got to enjoy them (shoot, forgot my camera all day!!!). Finally, birthday cake around 9 pm (ARose couldn't hang for it).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WOOTS!

On the Fritz

2011-05-09T20:33:00.000-05:00

Borrowed from Nanny Goat

Wow, I feel so out of touch. Our home computer has been on the fritz for over a week. Apparently Google’s Desktop and Dell don’t always jive. We’ve learned our lesson!! Whew, dodged the financial bullet of buying a new computer! On to some updates.....

Irving Sleepover

2011-04-29T20:21:00.000-05:00

Each year Irving Elementary has a sleepover for the kids. M has been excited about this night ever since she learned of it. She made a pinky promise with her BFFs and off they went. We dropped her off at 7 tonight. They have lots of fun things planned for the kids including a late night movie in the school auditorium! I hope she can hang in there for the late night. She's an early to bed gal. Something tells me she will manage. Something also tells me that I don't have to worry about any midnight calls asking me to pick her up:-)

See a theme? Yep, Purple Unicorn Pillow Pets--who doesn't have them?!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T19:56:00.000-05:00

Celebrating with the Multerer family!

Pierced

2011-04-19T20:36:00.000-05:00

M's best girlfriends had their ears pierced a year or so ago and she's talked about having her ears pierced ever since then. We don't have a "ear piercing" rule in the house. We simply left it to her to decide .....except that she had to watch others having it done first, if she got one pierced she had to follow through with having the other one pierced, she had clean them every day for six weeks, she could not get sparkly ones and could not ask to wear hang down earrings for many years. That's all !!!

She was always hot and cold....wanted, then didn't. Would say she's waiting until her 6th birthday, 7th birthday, 13th birthday. This all changed this weekend when those same friends (they let their holes close up) went to get their ears pierced again. M wanted to go and watch. Well, we came home with purple hearts in her ears. She's not the most adventurous girl so this was a big deal for her. Only a few tears shed, then it was all over. I was proud of her!

Tickled Pink

A Farewell

2011-04-18T20:26:00.000-05:00

It’s the month I’ve wanted to pass over or just plain ignore for quite some time now. For months, I’ve pushed this aside and tried to close my eyes to this but I can’t do that any longer. It’s the month that our wonderful friends and neighbors are moving. We’ve known them for only a few short years but we feel like we’ve known them for decades. Our good times and memories positively outshine those short years.

We won’t see them walking the kids to school anymore. We won’t be able to look out our window and see “their” house. No more impromptu summer afternoons, dinners, chats on the sidewalk. No more drinks on their front porch watching raccoons run in the street and having Brian chase after a raccoon family with a shovel (or was it a broom?). No more doughnuts, jumpy things and potluck dinners at our block parties together. No more weekend bike rides for the guys. No more guy night outs talking about the Cayman Islands (don’t ask!). No more margaritas…period (at least for me ordered by Brian…I know you did something to those drinks, man!).

The neighborhood for us will *NOT* be the same. And, selfishly we just can’t stand it! However, there is a silver lining. They are only going to be a couple hours, driving distance away. It is a really exciting time and wonderful opportunity for their family. And, it’s exciting for us too in that we will make new and different memories with them. So it’s not a goodbye. It’s a “see you later taters”!

Over the weekend we had “a celebration of friendship through food” as a farewell party with an intimate few. It was the most special night I’ve ever had with friends. It wasn’t just a dinner with some food and friends; it was much, much more than that. It was about all of our collective relationships and memories which of course involve food (we are after all a bunch of foodies). Our plan was to recreate memories through various experiences we’ve had with the Pettit’s over the years. And we succeeded on every level. It was a bittersweet but extra special night for all of us!

Hors d’oeuvres and Drinks

Salmon Tartare on the Rocks
Pioneer Woman’s Stuffed Jalapenos
Grandma Helen’s Olive Cheese Puffs a/k/a First Trimester Savior
P.O.R.K., Baby
(celebrating the Frigs/Pettit’s Christmas Eves together)
The Pettit’s Pimm’s Cup
(introduced to us all by the Pettit’s)

Small Plates

Mel’s Take Out Boxes—Looking Back on a Birthday
Cucumber, Spa Water
(celebrating birthdays from years past)

Chris’ Easter ‘Za on a Homerun Inn Platter

Belgian Beer Flight
(celebrating a Frigs special Easter weekend with Ang’s family)

The Feverish FS#K Off Limoncello Shot
(celebrating a boys night out with a twisted ending)

Micro Bolognese-Pasta Perfection
(celebrating a pasta imperfection night)
85-10-05 (85-10-05 85-10-05 85-10-05 85-10-05....) -Monte Antico Toscana 2007

Finale

S’mores-Cluster Around the Campfire
Budweiser Beer
(celebrating camping adventures)

Flaming Sambuca Shot
(celebrating health, happiness and prosperity)

The Pettit's

Painting by ARose

2011-04-14T20:16:00.003-05:00

The Schwa Factor

2011-04-12T21:01:00.002-05:00

Calling all foodies.

Schwa is a restaurant you do *NOT* want to miss!

Sure it takes perserverance, flexibilty and a little bit of Irish luck to actually get a reservation at this restaurant. But don’t be dissuaded by the reservation system. It’s all part of the allure--the art of seduction if you will. And, it seems that you don’t get the full experience until you’ve been cancelled on at least once–in our case, it was a few weeks ago within 3 hours of our reservation time. They were extremely apologetic. It was frustrating admittedly. No worries, though. They actually called us back a few days later to follow up on cancellation. Given that they don’t have a wait staff or hostess (just the chefs) I thought that was impressive! Not to mention that I think you get better dates and times on the reschedule!

It is located in a nondescript Chicago neighborhod, with a nondescript awning, and the look of a boarded building (without the actual boards). I had been forewarned about this look and still had the slight urge to run! It seats only 26. Minimum decor. You listen to rap/hip hop the entire night which typically is not my thing but felt right that night. The service was impeccable! Unpretentious. The best service I have ever experienced. The chefs were attentative to every single detail. Our glasses were never empty. Super low key with everything except for the food. It was a concert in the kitchen. I loved every single dish, practically licking my plate (especially the baked potato soup, riso and pork belly).

Chef Michael Carlson is a genius.

Schwa has unexplainable attractiveness/sexiness.

It's the Schwa Factor!

(BTW, my little post really doesn’t do this place justice. If you want a fantastic review check out my friend’s extraordinary narrative! She has a true gift, doesn't she?!)

amuse

cherry covered chocolate with whiskey

octopus
pineapple, macadamia nut, char

baked potato
skins, bacon, cheddar, sour cream

Off the menu Signature Dish
quail egg ravioli stuffed with buffalo ricotto and truffle oil

riso
chicken livers, honey

roe
passionfruit, violet

scallops
rye, lemon, aquavit

pork belly
butterscotch, persimmons, radichio

smores
beef mole, graham, marshmallow, campfire

cheese

dessert

(to be honest, I can't remember...I was totally stuffed at this point!)

Glorious

2011-04-10T20:25:00.000-05:00

I'm more than happy to skip Spring and jump head first into Summer. We got a little taste of Summer today and it was G.L.O.R.I.O.U.S.!!!!! Thank you Mother Nature!

Talent Show

2011-04-10T20:13:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend M had her first talent show. It was a funding event for her after school program--all of the public schools in Oak Park. I was really impressed with some of these kids. There were 2 solo acts...dancer and singer... who blew me away. Irving was represented, for sure!!! And, M's class had a dance routine. They were awesome! The show was taped and I am told it will air on the Oak Park channel soon. I'll update.

Makin' Daddy proud!

Mississippi: Spring Has Sprung

2011-04-08T12:00:00.001-05:00

Mississippi: Spring Break

2011-04-07T21:11:00.001-05:00

We spent part of M's Spring Break relaxing in Mississippi with family. The girls had a blast doing what kids do best--simply PLAYING! They got to run around aimlessly in a big fat yard, play in tents, in a jumpy thing, watch birds, ride a 4 wheeler, go to several parks...Chris and I even got to enjoy a few hours without kids which was fantastic and oh so needed. Fun times for all!

(And, yes, we do have every hair assessory under the sun forARose. Unfortunately, she prefers the I-just-rolled-out-of-bed, natural look!)

My 90 year old grandma

Photo by M

Self Photo

Couldn't resist!!

The Guessing Game

2011-03-27T15:25:00.000-05:00

ARose or M??

"Pasketti" Time

2011-03-26T20:36:00.001-05:00

I'm guilt ridden again! I realized tonight that we havent' taken that spaghetti shot of ARose yet (or pasketti as M used to say). You know, the one that every parent is required to take or else revoke your parent card. It's so true that the second kid is photo jipped ... Well, it's done! Only a few months late!

Can I have my card back?

A Double Whammy

2011-03-19T19:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a glimpse into our family this week. But, poor sweet M, was hit the hardest--a double whammy! We found out today that she has a really bad ear infection in both ears and that she has strep. The first for all. I guess she wanted to do it right for her first round of antibiotics. What a trooper she is. She never once complained about her ears or anything for that matter except for burning eyes when her temp would spike. Thankfully, she's on the road to recovery. (Even she would admit that being sick stinks....she tired of watching TV....what?!!)