Guitar Baby!!

From GuitarGirl

I got out my guitar and Alexandra rushed to grab 'her guitar', a soprano ukulele that Kyle and I assembled from a kit. She sat down with the Uke and said "show me". this is a recording of me showing her how to play guitar. Please keep in mind that she was not able to play any actual chords or notes well on the guitar - it was rather difficult for me to do so as well, since she was on my lap. Also, the Ukulele is not quite in tune, but it is a cheap instrument that we do not have to worry about getting broken. I actually think that if it were in tune she would want to play hers more than mine. She loves music and loves to learn how to do things on her own.

Kyle and I are just so proud of how much she tried here.

Before I forget

Before the morning passes away and I forget to write this down. Alexandra and I were listening to a new musician on Youtube this morning and during the Radiohead Creep cover that Amanda Palmer played on the Ukulele, Alexandra started singing along. It was really neat to see her involve herself in music like that.
Earlier in the week we have been practicing guitar together. I bring out my Breedlove, she grabs her Ukulele. Last night during one of our 'jam sessions' she asked "Show me?" This was while she was holding the Ukulele and pick like a pro. She makes me so proud sometimes.

Halloween 2009

Halloween 2009 consisted of Alexandra and I going trick or treating on Friday at Tootsie Roll with Kyle, going trick or treating Saturday in my Parents Neighborhood with Allison and Katherine, and finally trick or treating in our own new neighborhood with our cousin Jolie.
Tootsie Roll was fun. At first Alexandra was super shy, but she soon caught on and was going from desk to desk getting handfuls of candy for her bag. It was a great trial run for the big day.
On the 31st itself, she understood almost immediately that there was a ton of fun to be had running from house to house like her cousins getting candy for her bag. Of course she enjoyed the people telling her how cute she was as well.

It's a bio-scarf.

It's not just a beard, it's a bio-scarf. I guess I always knew that intellectually, but emotionally I just realized it. I shaved it off last week so the dust-masks and paint-respirators would fit, and I miss it.

It's cold out, and my face needs its fur back.

Home Sweet Home

Well, we have finally achieved our goal of buying a home. It has been a long 2 year search that culminated in a month long mad dash to the finish line. We found the house we wanted to buy on August 29th and closed September 30th. It is a small home that our small family can grow into. Right now we are in the process of renovating certain aspects of it to make it ours. We are throwing some paint on the walls, and redoing the kitchen. Alexandra's bedroom is finished, ours is close - we just need a few touch ups. I have completed assembly on 5 of 8 cabinets. The Ikea cabs were very easy so far. I am sure that we will see how it is when we get to the installation part.

I will try to write some updates soon.
Mary

Lincoln Park Zoo

After living my whole life in the Chicago area, I finally went to the Lincoln Park Zoo this year. And this is the second trip this summer even! I was surprised at how nice a zoo it was, I had always had the impression that is was small or would have far fewer animals than the Brookfield Zoo that my family had always gone to. Brookfield is still my favorite, but I do like the idea of a place in the city where Lions, Tigers, and Bears roam. The Ape house gives a relatively close look at these majestic creatures.
I think that going to the zoo now, as a mother, has a different meaning. I get to see a little girl's eyes light up at seeing these animal that she reads about live and in person. I love watching the conclusions being drawn in her mind. Lion=roar noise.

Happy 4th!

Hope everyone had a great Fourth of July!

http://picasaweb.google.com/marythegr8/July2009#

Red Sky

Near our home.

Reminds me of the saying "Red sky at morning Sailor's take warning, red sky at night, Sailor's delight. "

Take me out to the Ball Game!

Well, Mel used his corporate tickets to the Cubs game to take Me, Alexandra and his Mom and Dad. It was Alexandra's first Cubs game! They won in the 13th inning! Our seats were so close we could get up and go touch the Cubs dugout! 4th row behind the dugout. Too bad it was such a hot day, but we were all troopers. Taking the time to get into the shade and get some icy stuff when we needed it. I paid plenty of attention to put sunscreen on the little girl, totally neglecting myself - so of course, my sunburn is still red and painful! We had a GREAT time - thanks Mel!

Chicago Botanical Gardens

Well, just to round out our May of going to the Arboretum and Horicon Marsh, we went to the Chicago Botanical Gardens. It is a great time of year to go and it was a beautiful day. The weather was absolutely perfect. My favorite part was actually the Green houses - the orchids were simply stunning.

Horicon Marsh

bird
Originally uploaded by marythegr8

We went hiking on Memorial day in Horicon Marsh, WI. What a perfect beautiful day.
While hiking we saw tons of wildlife, mostly birds, like this purple martin. There are more pics on the picasa site for those interested.

Morton Arboretum

This saturday we went to the Morton Arboretum for Kyle's Birthday. We walked around and drove around to get to see some of the beautiful trees and flowers in bloom. While driving to the next section on our map, we noticed this sign pointing across the road to a wonderful crab apple tree in bloom. It just struck us as funny that there is a 'tree of the month' at the arboretum. I kinda thought they wouldn't play favorites there.

Spain

This picture reminds me of Spain -yes Spain. You see back in May of 2007, Kyle and I decided that we would start our family, and we were in Spain. We were wandering around a few shops in Grenada (our favorite Spanish city) and came across this Orange top. It just seemed perfect for a little girl. And now it is 2 years later and we have a perfect little girl to wear it.

Alexandra playing with HER apple computer.

Shoes

Someone decided that she needed to wear Mommy's shoes. Walking around was tough, but not impossible.

Guitar Baby!

Continuing her musical education.

St. Patrick's Day

Well, we just celebrated St. Patrick's day. The weather was absolutely beautiful. We got to play outside with all the kids, and I got to snap a ton of pics of them playing. Really it was my excuse to delve deeper into the mysteries of photography. It would seem that some tips I picked up at last weeks wedding were golden. I am shooting in full manual mode and only losing a few pictures to ineptitude. :)
I will post my few favorites.

Proud to be Irish,
Mary

Happily Ever After

This weekend my cousin Billy married the girl of his dreams Jackie in a beautiful ceremony at the Barn of Barrington. Everything about it was beautiful and wonderful. Besides the happy couple, everyone was dancing, especially the little ones in the family.

Alexandra's Birthday!

Alexandra had her 1st Birthday on February 12th.

Chinese New Year!

I am a bit behind on our posts.
Here are a few pics from the Parade in Chicago for Chinese New Year!

Rock Band 2!

We had a fun time at Lesley and Jeff's for the Stupid Bowl. The best part was perhaps before the game when Lesley, Jeff, Allison and I played Rock Band 2.
In fact, later during the game, Alexandra decided to play Drums for Derek's Guitar solo. I know what you are thinking, but, it was completely unprompted!

Inauguration Day

"Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'." -- Bob Dylan 'The Times They Are A Changin'

We watched to Inauguration this Tuesday with hope and joy. We watched as Barack Obama was sworn in as our 44th president.

Well, things have been moving along here. Alexandra has been growing by leaps and bounds. I have posted a bunch of new pics on the Picasa site. Please take a moment to take a peek.

Auld Lang Syne

2008 has with out a doubt been the most exciting, joyful, and happy year of our life! We have our beautiful Alexandra to thank for that. She arrived on a cold February day in 08 and changed our lives forever. In fact, the biggest change for us has been our outlook on life. Not so suddenly and with plenty of warning things changed forever. Two became Three. New Year's eve is a time of reflection, a time to look back at things that were done and not done, in a year and our life. It is also a time to look ahead. This year was full of hope and love, 2009 is heading that way as well. So, to all our friends and family. Happy New year, may this year be better than the last. May you continue on life's journey, with peace, love and hope.