November Tid Bits

First some flowers!

 

These double tulips caught my eye- so beautiful!

Sydney: I HATE IT when you say "Up and attem!"

Me: Well what would you prefer I say?

Ireland: *quietly to self* Up and Eve?

Having figured out the e-bikes by my work I have been enjoying lots of beautiful fall rides on my lunch hour. I'm sure the trail makes a loop, but I am directionally challenged and got a little lost. I had to call Brent for location help to get back and by the time I made it to the office my knees were shot and I was walking like John Wayne. 

We see lots of deer in these parts, but not a 10-point buck! Just casually hanging out there by that house in the morning as I dropped the girls at school. 

Love the sunrises I get to see from my building!

We had our first Thanksgiving at a proper dining table with our wedding china and everything! What was kind of a playroom is officially a dining room and I'm feeling so grown up now. We did the traditional gratitude ABC's and music kept coming up so we did one round of just songs we love. Then we listened to some of them as we cleaned up. It was so fun! And the most popular dish? Rud kohl!

I had a massive craving for Texas sheet cake and was hoping I could get Gita to make it for me. 
Me: Remember the story of the First Thanksgiving when the pilgrims and the Indians had a feast with celery and fish and Texas sheet cake?

Gita: Huh?
Brent: The pilgrims didn't bring Texas sheet cake!

Me: No the Indians brought it because back then it was still their territory. 

Brent: Right... and they called it Texas? We are already having cherry crumble pie which you requested!

Me: Well that would go good with the Texas sheet cake!

I lost. We did not have Texas sheet cake.

Because I'd already taken time off for Disneyland, I had to work the day after Thanksgiving. Brent brought the girls by to meet me for lunch and then dropped them at the mall to do Christmas shopping while he mailed our Christmas cards. The office was pretty quiet and seeing them in the middle of the day broke things up really nicely! I'm glad they could meet some of the coworkers I've been talking about.

They were excited to check out my workspace which has some pretty cool areas like this one with the swings. We also have a cooler filled with ice cream treats and I showed them the game room. Next time they meet me for lunch, we'll eat down in the game room!

For my birthday, Brent took me to see CSO play How to Train Your Dragon. The weather took a nasty turn and we were a little worried but decided to take the train. The initial plan was to go early and grab dinner downtown then go to the show. Liesel was having a night and in tears and I didn't want to leave in a rush. We talked and when she was in a better place, we knew there was a slim chance of catching the train. So we decided to have dinner in Crystal Lake and catch the next train, which was great! We feasted on pad thai and found a whole bunch of people at the train station who were also headed to the concert! It was actually really fun and during the commute Brent came up with a great Christmas wish list. He's one of the hardest people to shop for and it really took a load off my shoulders to have some suggestions to throw to the girls.

I had worn my Uggs but they are old, and definitely not water-proof. The streets of Chicago were filled with slush and pretty soon my shoes and bottom of my jeans were too. By the time we took our seats, my feet were wet and freezing. However, we were in the balcony on the very end so I discreetly took off my shoes, soaking wet socks and rolled up my pant legs. My sainted husband loaned me his sweater which I used to dry and wrap up my feet and then I laid my coat on my lap to cover it all. If it weren't for Brent's sweater, I would have been miserable but we settled in and enjoyed the concert. 

During intermission, Brent used the restroom and grabbed wads of paper towels so I could try to dry off my socks and the inside of my shoes. Having made the walk to the concert hall, I knew I could survive the walk back but by the end of that train ride I was DONE! They say there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing and I am a testament to that! Waterproof winter boots are now at the top of my own wish list! 

I was eagerly anticipating Romantic Flight as I think it's one of the most beautiful songs in animated cinema. To my surprise, it began with a beautiful solo performed by the concert mistress. We have been to many CSO concerts so of course we have heard her play- but to get to hear her play solo was such a treat. It just made my heart soar and as the orchestra filled in and we were enveloped in that incredible music, I smiled at Brent. The perfect birthday gift. I'm partial to strings but this concert really made me appreciate the percussion and horns. Oh it was so beautiful!

Do you think maybe Ireland needs some new snow pants? Or could she make these work for another year- haha!

Brigitta was complaining that making herself lunch was too hard and I said her ancestors were going to hear her moaning about instant mac n cheese and haunt her.

Madrigal Dinner

 With much fanfare, we attended Liesel's last Madrigal Dinner.

Families of seniors were given priority seating, so we had a great view.

Ireland makes the most adorable wench!

Liesel was Miss Babygotback and she entered with Sir Mixalot. This was their introduction:

Percy: Oh. My. God. Becky- turn thy gaze toward her hind quarters.

Liesel: Indeed, she doth have a large rumpus and I cannot lie. Ye other brethren can't deny.

Both: Fair maiden hath back.

One of my favorite Christmas songs is I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas so Liesel told me to look out for that one. 

The number that blew me away was this rendition of Say Something. Brent and I volunteered the next night and I was able to record it when we were done with the warm cider down in the kitchen. 

Brent's favorite was When I Think About Angels and I have to admit that's a pretty good one too.

It was nice to hear it again and see this view at the end when they sing Silent Night. Brings all the feels!

It's enough to bring the tenderhearted to tears!

A sensitive soul that one!

Madrigal Dinner has become our kick off to the holiday season- and I truly love it!

Mad props to Mrs. Scherrer who puts her heart and soul into the choir program and loves our girls as much as we do! 

It takes a village and I'm so very grateful to have her as part of our village.

ORD to SNA and Bolsa Chica Beach

 Due to the government shutdown, TSA workers were going without pay and the longer the shutdown dragged on, the more they were calling out. Flights were getting cancelled and I had a lot of anxiety we wouldn't even make it to California. Months ago I'd invested in Comfrt sets for myself and the girls and they were perfect for air travel especially not knowing if we'd be stuck at the airport. Turns out we breezed right through security- no lines! It was 5:30am so that helped too.

I had some feelings about the current administration and how the shutdown was being handled, so I wore my "Anything a white, male felon can do I can do better" t-shirt. Got some knowing nods as we made our way to the Admiral's Club.

Brent and I have taken advantage of the Admiral's Club separately, and we've done it with a girl or two in tow, but we've never had the whole family together for a trip. Specifically, Liesel had never been and it was fun to see her explore, grab some grub and settle in. I told Gita I would give her $5 if she'd walk up to the bar and order a Shirley Temple. I try really hard to ensure my girls find their confidence. The bar was surrounded by very serious-looking businessmen but they had the exact same membership to the Admiral's Club that we did. There's no reason she couldn't order a drink like they had (sans alcohol of course!). I was so proud to see her march right up to the bartender who not only put it in a lovely glass, but threw on some garnishment cherries for fun. 

Once the other girls saw her with it, they wanted one too (although Ireland went to the bar at the other end of the Admiral's Club so she didn't look like a copycat). We gifted Sydney her birthday present of a new phone early and she was so excited to get it set up! 

Everything went smoothly- boarding, take off, the flight, everything! There was a little turbulence but nothing to write home about.

It may sound silly but I feel incredibly proud and accomplished when we all fly together. Never in my life was I on a plane with my own family and the fact we've done it multiple times with the girls is still so incredible to me. 

As we walked out of the Admiral's Club, someone said we looked like Care Bears.

I love the way mountains rise from the earth like big, rumpled blankets!

We arrived at John Wayne International and stopped at their Admiral's Club to use the restroom and grab snacks. Brent rushed off to get the rental car while we collected luggage.

I invented Luggage Curling with Brigitta and Sydney on our last trip to Utah so we showed Liesel and Ireland how it's done. 

Turns out the car was in my name, so I had to get the rental car. They gave us a rather beat up one with scraped paint but hey, it was just for 24 hours. Everyone had their own carryon and suitcases which took up a lot of room. We made it to the hotel and our room wasn't ready so we hung out in the rental while Brent ran to CVS to get sunscreen and blister Band-Aids. Once our room was ready, Liesel and Ireland just wanted to chill while Sydney and Brigitta were ready to hit the beach.  

The beach wasn't cold, but it was windy and of course the Pacific Ocean is always cold! The sun was at the perfect angle for some incredible pictures.

I actually like this picture of the girls prepping to leap more than the actual leaping photo. If you look carefully, you can see neither of their feet are touching the ground as they do their little jump.

I managed to get Brent down by the water for a picture of us together. He was a sport to come along with us even though he isn't much of a beach guy.

The girls insisted on going in the water and I have just enough experience with Pacific waves to know they can knock you around pretty good. Can you even see them out there? 

Coaxing Brigitta back to shore took some doing since she loves the ocean so much!

Eventually she came back and we wrapped them up in towels, dusted off all the sand and headed back to the hotel. 

Along the way, we ordered dinner from a Hawaiian BBQ place nearby and everyone enjoyed a hearty meal. We met up with family at the hotel pool and watched the sun go down as we swam and soaked in the hot tub. The girls were able to connect with young cousins and there were some funny moments (ie Grandma insisting the hot tub water was far too hot for the toddlers and then Julie saying it was totally fine). It was a fantastic ending to a long day of travel!

Family Photo Shoot

 With Liesel graduating and heading off to college next year, I really wanted to do something fun for our Christmas cards. I settled on an homage to all things Chicago gangster from the musical to the black and white movie Kevin watches on Home Alone to Al Capone's history to Taylor Swift's new song Father Figure. Finding the right photographer took a bit- many loved the concept but couldn't schedule us. Finally I found someone who could make it work. I sent the inspiration photos and explained I didn't want big, grinning smiles. I wanted smirks and more of a femme fatal vibe.

I spent weeks sourcing the dresses and accessories (including shoes!). I watched YouTube tutorials on how to do soft finger waves and bought a two different curling irons until I could make it work. I fought with Liesel's short hair and put so much hairspray in it she choked. Finally it was time and oh my gosh, I'm beyond thrilled with the results!!!

Brent thinks he looks Amish and once he said it, that's all I can see. We could only find a small Tommy gun- the life sized ones are actually pretty pricy! And finding a simple, pinstriped vest was actually pretty hard. Liesel mentioned Dad is too nice of a guy to look very threatening, but he tried!

This one was the money shot for me. I thought I wanted serious but the photographer told everyone to just smirk and it turned out perfectly! Gita loved working that cigarette holder and everyone gave it all their Bob Fosse vibes.

Individuals

Liesel's peaches and cream complexion went beautifully with her champagne colored dress.

Ireland had a choice between a black dress and this green one. The peacock headpiece was fabulous!

It's as if Gita was born for this era- little rebel that she is!

Sydney has enough pent up sibling frustration she had that smolder locked and loaded. The red lip looks just incredible!

She threw on some music for my individual and then Sydney wanted to jump in and dance with me. When it came time to pick the photos, I couldn't afford this one- much as I loved it. The photographer threw it in for free and I'm so very grateful! 

I don't put myself in the picture enough- I'm so glad to have this one!