Lately, 3 year old Mack says he wants to be a chef when he grows up.  I can’t say I’m surprised.  He really does enjoy helping out in the kitchen, especially in the afternoons when Vivian naps and Evie is at school. He and I will do most (if not all!) of the prep work […]

On Saturday my Aunt Sheila invited the ladies of the family over for a holiday cookie swap party. We all brought 3 dozen of a home baked treat, and we all left with several varieties.  It was such a nice way to spend a sunny afternoon.  I wish we could all get together more often, […]

For the past couple months Trader Joe’s has had a shortage of almond butter.  Lately my husband has been using it every day in a smoothie, so the shortage at TJ’s was becoming an issue! Ha! I’m not sure why I continued to buy almond butter when we’ve prepared homemade peanut butter for so many […]

My sister welcomed a beautiful and healthy baby girl earlier this week. We are all so excited about the precious new addition to the family! I have a feeling she will be good friends with my little Vivian once their 19-month age difference doesn’t seem quite so stark! I know hospital food can be bland […]

It has been a quiet little family day for us.  We took this kids to Boo in the Zoo at the Lincoln Park Zoo, and despite the suddenly chilly temperatures we managed to have a nice morning in the fresh air. Of course they ran right to the vintage carousel and begged for a spin.  […]

Poor little Vivian. She’s got two sharp and nasty teeth pushing through her top gum, and for the past week she just hasn’t been her normal cheerful self.  She’s been grumpy and inconsolable at times, a far departure from the cheerful disposition we’re all used to.  She wants to wear snuggly pajamas all day, and […]

  Sweet little Evie celebrated her birthday a couple weeks ago. Summer birthdays are the best – warm sunshine, windows open, cute little dresses.  I was born in January…in Chicago…and 30+ years later I still hate the winter! So, I love celebrating Evie’s special day during the warmer season. My parents came over for a […]

Lately we’ve been enjoying bacon and eggs for breakfast.  It is such a hearty way to start the day, and the eggs from our co-op are delicious in an addicting sort of way.  But, with summer here I am now in the mood for a lighter start to the day, so I’ve brought back our […]

The news out of Arizona this week is so sad.  So, so sad.  Nineteen firefighters tragically died when a wildfire they were battling grew out of control.  They leave behind wives and children and parents and siblings. Some left behind pregnant wives. I am haunted by these deaths.  These firefighters (all firefighters, really) were some […]

As I’ve written about before, if Mack isn’t busy Mack is causing trouble.  In the afternoons while Evie is at school and Vivian naps, he and I are buddies. We have lunch together, clean up the house, play outside, read books and watch a cartoon or two.  And, we almost always do some sort of […]