Black Friday Shopping Downtown Chicago: Part One

What's that saying:" When in Chicago, Do as the Chicagoans."  At least that was our thought when we woke up early on  Black Friday morning to board a train into the big city.  Everyone was excited to be a part of the hustle and bustle of downtown Chicago on the busiest shopping day of the year.  Much better than getting up in the middle of night to beat the crowd at the Big Box Stores!

Miss A who loves all form of public transportation was most excited about taking the commuter train into Union Station. Since our stop was the first on the line, we had our choice of seats; meaning we were upstairs watching the world go by.  To make up for the missed knitting in the car a few days earlier, I came prepared with a small portable project and enjoyed people watching while I chatted with Mr C and watched Miss M veg out to her IPOD

Upon arrival at Union Station, we began the first of many long walks in the cold.  Oh, so thankful for Bestemor's Christmas Presents.  I am not sure the girls would have made it far without the cowl necks and hats.  Mr C, of course, pointed out that my Red Hat made it easy to spot me in a crowd.  Sadly, a bag with Dad and C's gloves and hat had been left behind in Huntley meaning they would actually need to "buy" something on Black Friday.  Our first stop was suppose to be a Taco Fresco just blocks from the Station, but guess they had taken a long weekend off and it was closed.  I thought C was going to cry.  For weeks he dreamed of his favorite Tex Mex restaurant.  Thankfully ,Dad's IPhone came to the rescue and we found out there was another location at Millennium Park. Phew.



With a happy boy and full tummy, we went out to see the architectural Cloud Gate commonly referred to as the Bean  It's a pretty cool site and the people watching was out of the world.  It was a true melting pot.  P found some new friends; the "Free Hugs People" who I'm not sure if they were trying to find dates for Christmas Formal or just trying to spread a little Christmas Joy. Either way, according to Miss M "you don't see that everyday."

Our adventures in downtown were only just beginning....

When Thanksgiving Gives You Sunshine

Who knew that a Chicago Thanksgiving allowed you the chance to take a brisk walk in the sunshine?  While we'd been experiencing a mild fall thus far back at home, I never would have thought that on Thanksgiving I'd be taking a  brisk walk outside after I made up some Cheesy Spinach and Green Bean Casserole for later.  I didn't think I'd see the "Boys" off in the distance at the Tennis Courts playing three sets wearing shorts!  I won't tell who won the set, but I know my husband was especially pleased with his tennis skills!

Realizing that this fantastic weather was a blessing in itself, I ran off to get the girls and bring them back to the Lake for some fun. Grabbing a few pieces of bread, the girls and I were hoping to find their favorite birds; Henry and Henrietta.  Miss M and Miss A love the "stories" their grandparents have spun about the bird's adventures. Sadly, our friend Henry must have taken his own family on a trip for the Holiday, but we didn't let that rob us of the joy of watching the geese and ducks go crazy over the tiny pieces of wheat bread the girls threw over the railing.

I'm beginning to agree with Miss M and Miss M that this is one of the most beautiful places on earth! 

Later that afternoon, we traveled over the river (Fox River) and the through the woods (Toll Roads) to our Thanksgiving Feast in Wheaton.  A fabulous mixture of fellowship, yummy foods, and rousing rounds of board games made the perfect setting for day of Thanks.  The girls got busy decorating some birdhouses that would later be given away at a Children's Charity Christmas event. Perfect to keep them busy and allow them to flex their crafting genius.

We have so much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving and getting to spend this weekend with family made it all the more special.  God has so richly blessed our kids two great sets of grandparents and Aunts and Uncles and Cousins.  It's a blessing we realize is precious.

Celebrating An Early Christmas

I left home on Tuesday packed with our Christmas presents for Chicago all wrapped and ready for December 25th.  I might have been a little proud of myself for accomplishing both the shopping and the wrapping since normally I'm scrambling on the Saturday of Thanksgiving to get the gifts ready for the Grands to take back with them.

Imagine my thrill then when my in-laws announced that we'd be celebrating an early Christmas on Wednesday evening as they normally don't get to see the kids/us open our presents.  We are usually hundreds of miles away from each other and only connect by phone and photos.  Yeah, I was ready with the gifts and the kids were of course more than ready to open gifts.

Of course, later I realized my father in law's "stocking stuffers" were sitting on my scrapbooking table at home.  I never said I was perfect. I viewed it as a way for B&B to have something to open on Christmas!

What a fun Christmas celebration we had in November.   The kids got to see Bestemor and Bestefar try on their new presents and the Grands got to see and hear the giggling and laughter that always accompanies present opening in our family.  I won't even hold it against the kids that often my husband and I were passed over when it came to turns; they were just excited.

Little did we realize just how handy all the new knitted hats and gloves along with our winter parkas would be in just a few days.   I didn't even mind it too much when my son said that I looked like Paddington Bear in my new knitted Red Felt Hat with a brim.  My husband quickly pointed out what a term of affection that must be considering how much Mr C loved his Paddington.

All in all, I'd say our early Christmas celebration in Chicago was a great way to kick off the season and great reminder of all the fun children can be at this special and magical time.  I loved getting to "see" the kids opening presents and showing off their new things to their grandparents.  Totally worth the time in the fog spent to get this place!

From Mr C's new down vest to Miss A's one in kind handkerchief with the Letter A embroidered on it direct from her great-grandmother's dowery (the first Cecilie) to Miss M's french blue hat, it was  perfect evening.

Thanksgiving Road Trip: Chicago

I've never traveled for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  The exception was when I was in College and I would go home for the Holidays.  My grandparents all lived within 20 minutes of my home, my sibling lives in the same town, and for the past 19 years of marriage my in-laws have graciously joined our family for Thanksgiving.

This year we decided to live on the edge and travel for Thanksgiving with all the kids to see the Grands and my sister/brother in law in Chicago.  While we'd miss my parents, we considered it an adventure; a vacation in November!

Since the kids didn't have school Wednesday, we decided to pull a late night and leave right after school on Tuesday. The weather was perfect with temperatures in the 50's and clear skies.

At least until about 7:30 (a few miles outside Des Moines, Iowa) when all of a sudden it got Foggy.  Dense Fog.  The kind that means you can't see anything on the road. Who knew truckers used their flashers in fog to alert drivers of their presence on the road.

Now here is where the story gets a little funny; you see we weren't sure what was going on.  Was it a snowstorm, fog or smoke from "Forest fire?"  According to certain members of the family, my sweet husband might have said " I wonder if this is a Forest Fire." and I rolled down my window.  However, that is up for debate. Not the window part.  He claims that he said it might be smoke from a controlled burn.

Anyway, I guess in the middle of a Iowa Cornfield near a large body of water (Mississippi River), there can be an issue with fog.  Fog so deep that we even missed our dinner stop at the Iowa City Mall aka Chic Fil A in the food court.  Not too worry, we turned back as our bellies were empty and our worry was thick.

After reading the Weather Channel updates on P's phone about  "Dense Fog," we decided to travel a bit further down the road hoping our happy tummies would make the road easier to bear.  By Davenport, we decided this was crazy and pulled off at a Best Western thinking we would call it a night.

Now I must admit I was the fieriest proponent of stopping and spending the night in a hotel.  I was worried about the rest of the trip and how long my husband could drive in this fog.  I might have regretted that I couldn't knit in this weather either, but don't judge me!  However, as I was checking in at the hotel so was a nice gentleman who had just come from Illinois. When he heard our tale of "fog," he told of how it wasn't bad in the land of Lincoln.  It was just an Iowa issue.  He might have promised that once we crossed the Mississippi and got on the Illinois 88 Tollway that it'd be blue skies and stars.

Of course, Mr C was in the back seat of the van working his magic to convince the girls that going on to Chicago was the best choice, P was talking to the Chicago Traveler and looking at weather, and I was just thrilled that the hotel had a nice bathroom.

Needless to say our desire to get to Chicago and our want to be there soon won.  We journeyed on.  We claimed that this trip would go down in our Family Lore as the "Trip to Chicago in the Fog," a story that Mr C and Miss A and M would be telling their children and grandchildren.  At least if we got there safely.  Which we did.

However I must say that Mr C talks a much bigger game than he delivers.  Within minutes of telling his sisters to "buck it up," he was sound asleep.  That fog that the Chicago Traveler had convinced us stayed at the Iowa/Illinois Border followed us all the way to Bestemor and Besterfar's House (though not as dense).  It did however let up for about 2.4 seconds when P crossed over Dixon IL (Land of Ronald Reagan) and said POOF.  For at least a few seconds, the fog lifted.

Not the best start to my first ever Thanksgiving Road Trip; but one that I'm sure will stand the test of time when it comes to storytelling!

Public Speaking: Not My Thing

I guess you could say I have a phobia of public speaking. Just the thought of speaking in front of a crowd makes my nose start to sweat, my stomach starts doing flips, and my heart starts to beat rapidly.  I will avoid speaking in front of a group at all costs. Just ask my husband. I make him do all the "talking" to groups, at events, and social settings.  Give me a group of 2nd grade Brownies and I'm fine leading and talking.  Please just don't ask me to have a parent meeting.

In high school, I took Speech as a sophomore, not realizing that it was Junior Level course.  Maybe that explains the nerves. My teacher was a five foot spitfire who loved her job and was so kind to me that she even had me over for a Mary Kay party at her house.  She made a huge impression on me and inspired my passion for Journalism and Politics, but I still couldn't give a speech.  My A in the class was out of pity.

By college, I was involved in politics and student government, but still avoided public speaking. I only got an A in my freshman level Speech class because it was at 8:00 in morning and I was only one awake to hear my speaking.  I could argue a point in ASUN board meetings, at Young Republican meetings, or at my Sorority's Monday Night House meetings, but just don't ask me to get up in front of a large group of people.

Tonight, I'm scheduled to speak in front of a group of parents and students at a Junior High event that could draw a several hundred people. To say that the butterflies are working overtime is to put it lightly.  As the PTO President, it is my job to make the welcoming speech.  I've avoided having to do anything like this for years, but today is the day.  I'm not sure what it is about the podium and the microphone that give me heart palpitations.

At dinner last night, we had a contest to see who could write the best speech for Mom.  There was even money offered if I would use certain phrases.  At one point, I think the amount reached $22.  I of course was wondering if P could just come to the meeting and stand up and I say "I'm Jill" and give my speech.  Maybe no one would notice.

Googling "How Not to Throw Up During a Speech" gave me great comfort.  According to research, no one has ever died or actually thrown up giving a speech; maybe before or after the event, but they have at least gotten through the speech first.  Of course, there is a first for everything!  I told my husband that the only good thing about this speech today is that it meant I needed to get a new outfit.  According to Miss A and Miss M, every one will be so impressed with my "Groovy" new dress they won't even remember what I say!

I wonder if it's wrong to pray for Jesus' second coming to happen today before 7:00 p.m. CST.

My DVR is full: Hallmark Christmas Movie Marathon

My name is Jill, and I'm a Hallmark Christmas Movie addict and I'm not ashamed admit it.  I can't even tell you how excited I was when I heard that the Hallmark Channel was debuting two new Christmas Movies each weekend.  I love nothing more this time of year than doing a chore (knitting, dusting, sorting laundry, or making dinner) and having a Christmas Movie playing in the background.

When the rest of the world is crazy busy with events, projects and shopping, I'm soaking up the calm and joy of a wholesome Christmas story.  I've even gotten the girls in on the fun, and yesterday Miss A told me that she loves a "good Christmas movie" too.  Guess when most of the time I'm saying "no" to movies and television shows, its nice to have the ability to say yes.

Sure there are scoffers in my family who think it's crazy that I'll be watching Christmas movies while refusing to put up my tree until after Thanksgiving or that I rally against the commercialization of the "season" while filling my DVR with these movies. Mr C might have asked if this was "65 Days until Christmas " movie countdown.  My husband might jokingly say "they just don't make movies like that anymore." after the airing of each and every new movie I watch.  I just ignore those comments.  Deep down I know that the boys wish they could join in on the fun, they know that these type of shows are few and far between.

For now, I'm just enjoying having a plethora of shows to watch while I crank through the Christmas Card list and make those Caramels for the teacher gifts.  Guess this addiction is not one I'm willing to give up, at least not until January.

Election Day 2012: Praying for Our Country

I love America.  I love the political process.  During election years, I can become a real "news junkie" spending hours reading, watching news programs, and tuning into talk radio shows.  Having spent years working in the political arena, it is in my blood. I love Election Day.

Never before have I felt that America's future is at stake as much as it today. Decisions made today at the polls will have a profound effect on the direction that our country is headed. As a Christian, I have a hard time separating my moral world view from our political view.  While the mainstream media might want my Evangelical Views to have no impact on my voting decisions, I'll be honest and say I can't separate the two. It is how I am.

That's why I'm grateful to be an American on day like today.  I can vote today. I can pray today and ultimately, I can trust that today God has it all in His Capable Hands.  I might not like the outcome of certain races today.  I probably won't vote for all the winners but I can Trust.

I love the following ad that Rev. Billy Graham had in newspapers across the country this past week. My husband brought me home a copy two weeks ago from the Wall Street Journal and I was thrilled when over the weekend my local paper had a full page ad as well.  Rev Graham says much more eloquently exactly what I'd say.

Finally, if you ever needed proof that our teetering on the edge of a moral collapse I love this video from Paul Harvey.  When Mr C and I watched this last week we were in awe.  

God Bless America.