I Heart the Suburbs

Yes, I am alive. Yes, that last post posted on auto-pilot. No, I haven't had any time to write new posts. Too busy scouring the web for an entryway piece (with hooks for coats and drawers or something for shoes) with DOORS. Let it be a challenge to you.

Yes, I miss you, Internets! My readership is down down down. Sorry sorry sorry. So...here we go again:


Dudes, seriously. WHY are the city folk so down on the 'burbs?!We've lived here two weeks, and here are some of the experiences we've had:

1. Home Depot: THREE people met us at the entrance, asked us about our "project," and showed us our options--thoroughly. Then they helped us with a cart, got us twine for the car, and led us to the checkout.

2. At the "fancy" grocery store, you leave your cart outside the store while you pull up your car. Then the clerks load your bags in your car for you. And you're not allowed to tip them. They'd probably go home with you and unpack them, if you asked nicely enough.

3. At the furniture store, the design consultant spent over an hour with us, and then offered to come TO OUR HOME (free of charge) after the furniture has been delivered, to develop a design plan for accent pieces, accessories, etc. Who knows if we'll take her up on it, but geez...how nice is that?!

4. We were invited to a neighbor's party within an hour of moving in (in fact, the movers were still there). We attended said party and were treated wonderfully.

5. We were invited to dinner at the next-door-neighbor's, which we attended last evening and had an (unexpectedly) lovely time.

6. There is a FREE...INDOOR...PLAYGROUND. Five minutes walking distance from the house.

7. There is a FREE...INDOOR...PLAYGROUND at the mall. Five minutes driving distance from the house.

8. It takes no more than 10 minutes to drive to everything. Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, grocery, other grocery, OTHER grocery, pet store, dry cleaner, gas station, mall, OTHER OTHER grocery, Marshall's, Nord Rack, Starbucks, other Starbucks, you get the idea.

Yes, there are things we don't like, and I'm sure that list will grow. The grass is always greener, after all. But I'm so happy to be in a place that I feel like I can make my home...there is no place like it.


Miss me? ;o)

For the Baby Book: Word List (16 mos)

What's the boy version of a "Chatty Cathy?" We have one over here. Here's another entry for the baby book.

1/20/10:
sock
baby
shoe
okay
water
juice
milk
waffle
oopsy daisy
bath
milk
guys
two
bus
bubbles
TV (insert sheepish grin HERE)

12/4/09:
book
again
out
down
in
cup
kitty
brush
yeah

10/30/09:
up
truck
balloon
what's that?
cracker
this
Dada
bye bye
hi
ball
fire truck
choo choo
fish
yuck
Ollie
ouch

Christmas, Unwrapped (2009)

As I perused the photos from this holiday season, I realized that I didn't have a camera with me for two of the four celebrations. Whoops.

Nonetheless, you'll find a selection of photos here:
http://gallery.me.com/hannahrae#100454

Hanukkah Highlights:
New train toys from Grandma/Grandad at a delayed Thanksgiving/Hanukkah celebration. A bunch of new toys to play with at Grand Dede/Granny's house (some of which are living THERE, which always makes me happy :o) ). Uh...we did NOT light the candles on the menorah...because they were packed away somewhere. Next year.

Christmas Culmination:
Swimming at the rec center pool with Mimi; hanging around the house with Papa, Naomi and Ethan. New "kid" table and play food. Running on the golf course with Grandpa; riding the train with Grammie; new toys new toys new toys new toys. :o)


This might be the last post for a while. Busy week ahead! Can't wait to post some pics of our new digs.
XOXO

Happy New Year!...I Guess

For me, the "New Year" will probably forever coincide with the start of the school year. 17 years of school and six years of teaching will do that, I suppose. In fact, I think it was very considerate of my son to enter the world in September--keep the tradition alive.

So, for me, tonight was just another night and tomorrow is just another day. But for those of you on a regular calendar, I wish you a happy, healthy New Year!

Much Love,
The Roses

We're Moving.

I have lived in the city of Chicago for 12 years. It's where I became an independent adult. It's where I relocated after leaving the home I'd lived in for 18 years, which was situated in a small, white, suburban town. It's where I first used my (ahem) fake I.D. It's where I rented my first apartment. It's where I opened my first checking account. It's the home of the first public transportation system I learned to navigate. It's the home of the first--and best--jazz club I've ever frequented. It's where I learned the pedagogy required to teach music. It's where I fell in love for the first time. It's where I learned to cook, to interpret music, to stop procrastinating. It's where I owned my first home, and nursed my first baby.

Oh, Chicago, how I will miss you. I will miss your free zoo and your aquarium. I will miss your little parks in the middle of a busy city block. I will miss Lincoln Park, my original stomping ground. I will miss Andersonville (my second stomping ground), which I witnessed pull itself up by its bootstraps to become a trendy, yet charming, little neighborhood. I will miss living 20 minutes from the airport, and a swift 4.5 hours from my mom. I will miss being able to zip downtown for a show. I will miss watching the Thai delivery guy drive on the sidewalk to our door. I will miss the crazy, toothless Polish lady down the street who always steps outside to say hello to the Munchkin. I will miss my new neighborhood friends. It will be a big inconvenience to find a new veterinarian, and a new pediatrician, and a new dentist. It will break my heart to have to find a different music teacher for our little mommy-and-me class.

Dear Chicago, I will miss you so. You can keep your parking tickets, your city stickers and your "boots," but I'll be sure to visit often so I don't forget about the rest. Thanks for 12 inspiring years.

(For the record, my NEW town is where I met my husband. Trump card.)

WE'RE MOVING!!!

We will have three playgrounds within a 10 minute walk from our new home. We will have a yard, a porch, and a deck. We will have a basement and a storage room. We will have a kitchen with a garbage disposal. We will have a guest room. We will have many, many closets. It will not take 15 minutes to drive 0.5 miles to the grocery store. We will be able to walk to the elementary school, and not have to worry about whether or not it's a "good" school. We will be two minutes from rehearsals for our theatre group. We will have Target, Kohl's, Costco, and various other "frequent flier" stores much closer to home. Oh, and we will actually be able to SHOP at Costco, because we'll have somewhere to STORE what we purchase. We will be minutes from some beautiful Outdoor Entertainment Facilities (trying to keep our new location somewhat secure ;o) ) and a charming downtown area with shops and restaurants. And you don't have to take public transportation or pay for parking to get there.

Here that? It's the sound of me breathing a sigh of relief.

Holiday Report Card: The Flight

As many of you pointed out, the flight WOULD end eventually. And it did. :o)

On our way out of town on December 22, The Munch and I flew by ourselves. We thought we'd be able to have assistance from my mom through security and to our gate, but the lovely folks at the Northwest ticket counter decided to surprise us at the last minute and DENY our request. "Added security measures," they said. (Ironic, I know, given recent events.)

So the boy howled his way through security (shoes off, by the way) and through our rushed 5.5 minute breakfast, after which I struggled to get the #@$% car seat into its cover and schlepped onto the plane. Through nothing short of a Christmas miracle, some guy in the very last row (which just so happened to NOT be in the same location as the restrooms) asked us to switch our aisle seat for his so he could sit with his family, and we ended up with an empty seat next to us. THANK GOODNESS. I honestly could not have imagined juggling a very antsy little boy and all. his. stuff. without a little extra elbow room--especially since we sat an additional 45 minutes on the tarmac prior to takeoff.

Equipment included in diaper bag (besides the obvious): New board books, favorite board books, toddler crayon thingies, coloring book, iPhone loaded with episodes of "Sesame Street," four nesting cups, kid-friendly cell phone, snacks. The Munch's favorites? None of the above. Except for the snacks. I'm pretty sure he ate for a total of 1.5 hours.

BUT. We survived and arrived unharmed. And our shorter-by-two-hours return flight had a dad, ANOTHER EMPTY SEAT (crazy, I know), more snacks, and a Benadryl-induced nap to help it along.

Thanks for all your advice! More holiday report cards to come...when I can get the stories and photos together.



Oh! and P.S.: The Go-Go Kidz Travelmate was a huge help. I highly recommend it if you have a real stroller waiting at your destination.