Drunken Lullaby

Yesterday was the Mister's birthday.
I didn't forget it was his birthday.

I know the day he was born.  
It happens to be the same day we officially started dating. 
Those are both pretty big days in the life of me.

 In my defense, I am terrible with keeping up days during the month.......

so........
Last week I had scheduled for us to look at (5!) different properties last night.

 Like a total jerk of a wife.

However....while looking we found a house that the owners have turned the basement into an Irish style pub.  And it looks exactly like the Irish  pub I was working in when the Mister and I met.

We actually decided to start dating at that pub.....on his birthday.....five years prior to the day.....

To say we freaked out a little bit is an understatement.  
Our Realtor kept using hand gestures to me to tone it down a notch....

(oops!  Sorry Marie!)

The guy who owns the house did the entire renovation himself.  He was very nice and he kind of reminded me of my dad, in the sense that he know what the hell he was doing and talking about when it came to  the whole house and every wire in it.  Besides the basement being really cool (half pub and half kids room - meaning we could drink in our bar alone because none of our friends will be there - unless we can convince you to move out there.....) the rest of the house was completely redone and turnkey as well.

It was definitely NOT in the style we would ever chose, (it was pretty terrible, actually) but bad design choices are things I enjoy fixing.

There are two definite pluses for us where this house is concerned:

It's on 2 acres
It backs to the forest preserve

HOWEVER

I am going to be completely honest.  

The forest preserves kind of freak me out.  

I feel completely safe living in the city of Chicago.  

I know what neighborhoods to stick to.  
I know how to use public transportation.  
I know how to avoid dangerous situations and how to keep people from lurking up on me.  

These are all skills I can teach my girls to use as well.  

I can teach them to protect themselves against potential predators  (of the human variety) whilst living in urban areas.  

Do you know what I can't do?  

Teach them to protect themselves from:
-snakes 
-bears 
-cougars 
-wild raging deer 
-flesh eating birds
and potential human predators hanging out in the forest preserves.  

And that scares the bejesus out of me.  

(Not sure if you've caught on but I'm not really the "outdoorsy" type of gal.)

{Also, if we DO decide to buy this house and we are friends and you come to visit and you have a small dog, don't ever bring it over.  There is an endangered red hawk that decided to nest in one of the tree's and it likes to eat small dogs as a snack.  I'm not making this part up either.  The owner told me some pretty terrible and sad stories.} 

I wonder if it eats chickens as snacks too?

{I've failed (musically) as a parent when it comes to my oldest.  She listens to really bad country and thinks Nickelback is the best artist around. }

{Clara thinks Flogging Molly is the best "Pirate Music" ever.  She asked for it today and has been running around, dancing and crashing into walls like a drunk small person all day.  It makes me happy so I am giving it to you, too.}



Flogging Molly - Drunken Lullaby by hphil_

Happy Humpday!

Instagram

Okay, so I know that I am REALLY late to the Instagram party, but I have good reason for that.

I've never had an iPhone  nor have I wanted one.  Instagram finally has let their services be passed on to Samsung users.  

(Yay!)

So follow me if you want, and please pass on some info on how you like it/it works.  All I know is it immediately "friend-ed" all of my Facebook contacts (and that is about it.)

The Mister went all out on flowers for Mothers day again this year.  

We then went to what should have been a very lovely brunch.

Unfortunately, Clara didn't get the memo that she was supposed to be nice to us.  

Therefore throughout the whole brunch she whined.....and cried..... and sang loudly..... and spilled orange juice everywhere....... and then whined some more...... did a little crying..... tried to push her sister out of the booth....... cried..... whined......etc.etc.

I forget when the whining phase ends.  

Please tell me it is soon!

The Mister and I were both happy to escape to this........

(Even if I did get scared of a line drive coming towards my head.  Sorry I acted like Daria and shied away from what should have been an easy out, teammates....I'm not used to playing 2nd base!) 

Whether you celebrated Mother's day or not, I hope you enjoyed your gorgeous Sunday!

Happy Monday!

Call Your Mutha

This year I told the Mister what I wanted for mothers day.

To be far away from my children.

Don't judge.  Everyone needs a break sometime.  

And Sunday, it is my turn.

Happy Mom's day, Mama!  
I love you!

Alive

My little sister is here for a short and sweet visit.  This morning I took her with me to spin class.  This was her first time.  About twenty minutes in, she looked at me and said 

"I don't like this woman.  I feel like I am going to die."

After the class the instructor came up to us and said, "You two must be sisters."  with a smile.  We said yes and then the instructor pointed to me while looking at my sister and said "She brought you here didn't she?"  We answered yes.  The instructor laughed and said, "I could tell by the looks you were giving her."

So, since I tortured my little sister this morning, this week's song is for her.

It's her favorite.

Sorry, Michaela.

Can we still be friends?

Fears

Did you work on your fears this weekend?

She did!

We did as well.  

We went and looked at an old farmhouse this weekend.  

It needs work.  

And by work I mean I would want to tear down at least 5 different walls, it needs a complete kitchen rehab and two bathroom rehabs.  Since I grew up with this guy who can build/make/fix pretty much everything under the sun I see it as a fun challenge.  The Mister, however, just see's it as scary.  Right now we need to see if the foundation is okay, as there were a few scary looking spots.  Lets hope it is something a little tuck-pointing can fix and not something more serious.....

Have you ever been a part of a major house renovation?  

How did that work out for you?  

What were your biggest concerns?

(ex What did you and your partner disagree most on?)

Happy Monday, Folks!

A Scary Ghost Story

By:  Clara

Once upon a time there was a scary ghost named Rhiannon.  And she would always scare her puppy and she was very mean.  Then, one day, a dragon came and ate the Rhiannon ghost all up!  And he flew away.

The end!

Clara is constantly asking me to tell her ridiculous little stories throughout the day.  This is the story she came up with while "napping" with Buehrle.  I do believe, if I were to keep a baby book, this would be something I would put in it.  Because I don't want to forget this moment.  Ever.  

Have a great weekend!

Bicycle Race

Happy May Day, friends!  

Don't forget to surprise one of your neighbors with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.  When I was a kid, we used to cut lilac sprigs off my mom's bush and leave them on my grandmothers step.  It was one of my favorite ways to celebrate spring!

Today I did something I told myself I would never ever ever ever do.  

Like EVER EVER do.

(Do you want to know how to instantly suck the cool factor out of your awesome vintage Schwinn bike?)

Put one of those on the back.

Want to know how to instantly suck all of the fun out of bike riding?

Put an overly cautious three year old in the seat.

I really wish she would have inherited just a little of my carefree spirit.  Instead she kept telling me over and over....

"This isn't safe, Mama!  Please stop going so fast!  I want to go home now!  There are to many bumps! I want to take a nap!  Please stop riding! I want Daddy!"

She is definitely her fathers daughter.

When we got home I assured her that this was very safe.  
I also let her know we are going to ride every day.  

I'll let you know how this ends up for me.

Happy Humpday!