Dr Bronner's Magic peppermint soap.

A couple of years ago I bought some of this stuff on a whim at Target. I have used it very sparingly in the shower ever since. I love the tingle of mint soap and a cool shower when it is hotter than blue blazes outside. I have never tried it on anything else. Until now.  I just used about 7 drops with a very small amount of water to clean the hardwood floor where my nephew just vomitted, vomit smell eliminated. Next, I'm going to use a few drops in the wash to see if it takes care of kid or cat urine. I'm betting a definate yes on kid urine and I'm hoping for the best on cat urine.

Cleans up nice

Ian had First Communion the 3rd of May. While I didn't really get a good shot of him receiving the Eucharist, as we where almost at the back of the church, I did get a shot of Father Bill blessing Ian's new blue rosary, made especially for him by Nana.

And this past Sunday I turned around and sneaked a peek of him receiving his second Eucharist. He was almost as excited this past week as he was the week before. We should all be so excited to encounter Christ in our lives.

Country Mice in the Wicked Windy City

On the coldest day of the year, we went to the city to see Wicked.


Approaching the greater Chicago area, we start to see more cars on the road.

And soon we start to see the city itself. The tall buildings and the haze of the lights and the noise of the cars. There is something special about a big city at night. Something so foreign to us country mice. I've always found it to be a terribly exciting feeling.



In the heart of downtown we pass the Oriental Theater, Our ultimate destination.




We parked in a parking deck; the boys and I looked out at the passing cars and the city lights.


We could see the "L" platform; Ian and Jamie were terribly excited to see the Elevated train.


We passed the theater in search of a quick dinner.
It was hard to think about food!! We returned to the theater. Dazzled by the lights outside, but so very cold.
Inside we were dazzled by the decor of the theater. It was almost as much a treat to see the theater as to see the show.






Once it was ended we headed back into the frozen tundra to the car, I snapped a few photos on the way to the car.




Once in the car with heat full blast we drove around to see the lights, It didn't take long for the boys to crash. Scott and I enjoyed the different-ness of the city.

We drove past the Water Tower.





And we waited at the corner to catch a photo of the fire truck.

Drove around a little bit longer before we headed out of the city.


We did manage to get ourselves a special snack on our way out of Chicago.

A few of them even made it home.

Trees

I refer to the trees in front of our house as the old men. Its hard to grasp just how big they really are sometimes. They are twice as tall as the two story part of the house. I think this picture might do it. See the tiny blue dot at the base of the trunk?? That is Jamie.

A belated Merry Christmas!

I was going to make this post before the holiday, several times, if fact I thought about it but I decided to wait until the actual day was closer. Now it is past. Sorta. 12 days of Christmas and the Epiphany, mean I can slip this in now, I think, only semi-belated.

This is the boys and their cousins on my side of the family. Daniel as Joseph, Grace as Mary, Thomas as the Wiseman in green, Ian as the Wiseman in red, Jamie as the Wiseman in Purple, Samuel as the Angel, and Benjamin as Baby Jesus. Daniel, Grace and Thomas are my sidter's children, and Samuel and Benjamin, belong to Matt and Chris.

Innkeepers

Last Sunday...

We took the kids to the local coffee house for hot cocoa and treats rather than our usual coffee and donuts. They sang the Hot Hot Hot song from Polar Express the whole way there .
I was not quick enough on the trigger to get the untouched whipped cream swirl as Jamie dove in.

I did get the whipped cream mustache, however.

And I had to get a shot of Mini-Poppy, cleaning the side of the cup. Just like my Dad, his Poppy would.