When baby Ben was born, my mom took the three big kids for a few days.  Her generosity of time and energy afforded me a chance to recover from the delivery and bond with my new sweet baby.  The first few days home with a new baby are overwhelming and exhausting, so a bit of […]

During our recent trip to Jamaica, we had one very rainy day.  The big kids were thrilled to sneak in an afternoon movie while the rain poured, but little Vivian was tired. She hadn’t taken a decent nap since we arrived; it can be hard for toddlers to get comfortable in an unfamiliar bed, especially […]

We recently returned from a week-long trip to Jamaica.  While it was hard to pull the kids out of school for a few days, Chicago’s bitter cold has been painfully brutal this winter.  And, with little #4 due just a couple weeks before Spring Break, we knew that January was the best time for us […]

The latest hot topic among parents here in Chicago (and, I think, around the country) revolves around a comment from highly-acclaimed chef Grant Achatz, owner of Alinea, one of the finest and most innovative restaurants in the world.  Diners at Alinea can spend upwards of $600+ for a night of culinary creativity, an indulgence I […]

I recently celebrated my birthday. 34. Where does the time go??  I swear, even though I look like a mom to three kids, I am still a cool college kid who knows about all the cool stuff out there!  Right? Right?? My birthday has become a bit of side note to me, but because Evie, […]

A few years ago I made a decision: no matter what, we would keep our dining table. Forever.  It was one of the first pieces of beautiful furniture that Chris and I purchased together, and I love it now as I did then.  I love the table’s design – it can go traditional or transitional […]

Oh what a glorious day! After several weeks of biting cold and steady snow, Mother Nature blessed us with a respite in the form of sunshine and 50 degrees. As soon as we stepped outside today, Evie cheered, “It feels like SPRING!” A day like today certainly called for a trip to the neighborhood park, […]

One of my favorite afternoons during the crazy holiday season came a few days before Christmas when our absolute best friends stopped by for a visit.  They moved to Kentucky 2 1/2 years ago, and despite the distance we’ve managed to stay close.  Laura and I talk on the phone at least once a week, […]

In a little more than an hour, winter officially arrives.  After a delightful early fall, harsh weather roared through in November, and we’ve been battling brutal cold and consistent snow ever since.  Hard to believe we are still waiting for the coldest season to begin. A while back I read about one family’s winter solstice […]

Yesterday we took the kids for a ride on the Candy Cane Express.  I told them about the trip earlier in the week, so it was all they wanted to talk about. Would it be like The Polar Express? What treats would be on it?  How would Santa get there? When we arrived at Union […]