As I am packing things Hadley wants to help..her version of helping is throwing all her things in a box, tape it up and then want the item an hour later!! So I am coming up with ways to keep her busy...and prevent me from having to repack all of her boxes!!
Here is Hadley's castle: She had a tea party with all her animals in here!!
We went to see Mary Poppins last weekend..it was AMAZING!! Hadley has been so excited about it, watching the movie non-stop, singing the songs non-stop! So we got all dolled up, went out for dinner before hand and then headed to the show.
Us before leaving for the show: 
Hadley got so excited when we got closer to the theatre and saw all the signs/banners for Mary Poppins..she couldn't get into the theatre fast enough!
We got there in time to get our souvanirs, Hadley got an adorable shirt: 
and then she chose a two tiered tour bus that was decorated with Mary Poppins on it over the doll of Mary Poppins..I wasn't going to complain, it was $20 less than the doll, but we were a little surprised by her choice!
We made it to our seats, we had Lodge Balcony Front Row seats. They were great! Hadley refused to leave her seat, she kept asking for a countdown to the show! The theatre was beautiful, they wouldn't let us take pics inside, but Jason snuck a few on his phone..these is the only ones that really turned out and Hadley is making her I don't want to be doing this face..the next one I got a smile (I think I told her Mary Poppins wouldn't come back until she smiled..aren't I evil!)
Hadley did great for the show, she got a little antsy at a few parts that were not THAT exciting..but during the rest she was on the edge of her seat bopping around, singing, and clapping at the end of every part. At intermission she started to cry because she didn't get to see Mary Poppins 'fly' up and she thought it was over! Then she told me she wished she could meet Mary Poppins to give her a big hug! The second half had her favorite song, "Step in Time",it is the one with all the chimmney sweeps dancing on the rooftops. As soon as that started she got so excited and was dancing in her seat!
After the show we were walking out and Hadley said, "Now I want to see Wizard of Oz."
It was great to take her to the play and watch her reaction to it. I think as a mom you get more excitement out of their joy of things than your own. We had a great night!
Hadley then went to school and told everyone about it. Her teacher said she talked about it in circle time, at lunch and even sang some of the songs to everyone! It melts my heart to know it meant that much to her!!
Jason is graduating this year from his Neurology residency, and every year they have a dinner and awards and such. Well, part of the dinner is the graduating class making a video that parody's (ie: makes fun of) some of the people, things that have happened or been themes throughout the four years. So very proudly the last two years Jason has gotten the highest score on the annual RITE exam that all residents take, one of the ways Jason had studied for the test has been to read Neurology text books..I know doesn't sound like much fun to me either! But then, I just hope my doctor's study as much as he does! So the idea was him being "attached" to his Neurology text book. It has always been the running joke about Jason reading his text books for fun!
So here is the parody video they made of him this year..it was partly his idea, he had a great time making the video, he spent the day taping around Chicago with fellow residents yesterday..and here are the results! And yes..that is my husband skipping down the beach...I am so proud!!
So I have never been one of these hard core environmentalist, but I have dipped my foot in the water throughout time and every time I do I like what I learn and feel a little more comfortable. So as time goes on I increase my involvement with helping the environment. We have switched over to all natural cleaning products for the home (as much as possible I should say!)I try to take my own bags to the stores (okay I forget sometimes..but I am doing better) I take refillable water containers daily and not water bottles. I buy organic and/or local as much as I can or can afford! I buy from the farmers market when the season is here..it is actually a favorite summer thing to do.. As I say, I am not hard core, but I feel good about my little things....and I slip..but don't we all!
so last fall I started researching recycling and learned how close we were to the Evanston drop off plant and told Jason I wanted to set up a place in the house to start recycling...and..
He laughs at me.
(now I dropped it due to us having such a small space..and have felt bad every time I drive past the drop off place!)
Why am I bringing this up now..
we are moving to Iowa and will have a house and I am determined to set up a recycling area in the basement, so after I let Jason know the importance of this and gave him a bit of info on the different types of plastics, the way they are labeled and the types of household items that can and cannot be recycled (he didn't think I actually knew anything about it..he thought I was just wanting to do it to say I did!)and the important impact this would have on Hadley he acknowledged this was going to happen and said he would participate, or he just felt bad for laughing at me the first time!
so..I thought I would hit him up with the next thing I wanted to do in my idea of being environmentally friendly..picking up your own veggies at the local farm..
He laughs at me.
I told him it is a learning experience for Hadley to see where the veggies are grown, she may be more apt to try new ones, she would love the experience, they would be organic (and cheaper than buying them in the store) and it would be supporting the local farmers..which we love to do at the farmers markets anyway...
so now I am on the hunt for local farms where you can go and get your veggies. I got this crazy idea from a news report here several months ago, and then read an article recently about it, so I am on the hunt...and I am sure I will drag Jason laughing the whole way!
My mom came to stay with us while Jason was out of town the last week of April. It was going to be her last week here in Chicago so we were looking forward to spending the week doing all those things we have enjoyed over the years. These last four years my mom has made many trips up here to Chicago. She has came to stay when Jason's schedule was crazy busy, or to fill in the gaps between us being able to come home. We made a promise that we would see each other every few months and we did! So for our last "girls' week" here in Chicago we did a lot of our favorites and just hung out! I have really enjoyed having my mom come up for visits, it has been a time where it is just us and we get to a lot of quality time together. There are lots of pics..so be warned!!
Our day at the Shedd Aquarium:
"Grandpa..can you catch a fish this big???"
Mommy and Hadley Hanging out at the camping exhibit 
Grandma and Hadley watching the iguana
Playing at the Children's Museum at Navy Pier: We spent 7 hours at Navy Pier that day..3 1/2 at the Children's Museum, went to the IMAX movie, walking around, Build A Bear, Bubba Gump's for lunch..we were exhausted!!
Grandma and Hadley playing at an exhibit 
Hadley digging for dinosaur bones
Our Day at American Girl: no adventure in Chicago is complete without a trip to American Girl now, it is Hadley's new obsession! Hadley had been begging to get her doll's hair done..yes they have a hair salon for the dolls! So we did that, had lunch, shopped, it is always a 2-3 hour adventure..but so much fun!!!
Hadley watching Gwen getting her hair done!
Hadley hanging out in the store
Grandma and Hadley at the lunch
Hadley giving Gwen her tea!
Playing at the park: no trip to Chicago is complete without playing at the park!
Grandma and Hadley hanging at the park
Grandma playing Hide and Seek with Hadley
We had such a great time with Grandma here, we were very sad to see her go and will miss our adventures here in Chicago, but we are looking forward to our new adventures in Iowa!
There are always those things Hadley will want to do that you have to tell her she is just not old enough for, like, chewing gum (yes..I still haven't let her do that!), or ride a two wheeled bike (she needs to practice). Or the things that she really isn't old enough for like.."mom, when will I get to drive?" or "mom, when will I get to stay in the house by myself while you take the dog out?" So she has started answering with..."Maybe when I'm 16." I don't know where the age 16 came from. All I can think of is she overheard me and Jason talking about my nephews who are 16 doing something and that stuck in her head.
So, the other night, Jason is sitting on the couch drinking his beer and Hadley said she was thirsty and asked for a drink..
Daddy: "You can't have a drink of my beer, you're not old enough. You'll have to go get something else."
Hadley: "Yeah, Maybe when I'm 16."
Mommy: "Yeah..Hadley, just maybe."
I mean, what else do you say to that!! The kid is right..maybe when she is 16!
Now is the time to be the "glass half empty" person! Here is my list of the things about Chicago I have not loved..actually I have, shall I say at times loathed, and at times I will go as far as to say I have HATED about Chicago!! It really depends when you get me and ask me the question, "How do you like Chicago?" what answer you get..if I just got back from the day at the beach..I may be loving Chicago! But as you will see by my list of things I have..well..not loved about Chicago..I could really have lived my entire life not living here and been happy! Don't get me wrong, I have great memories (but I would have great memories if we would have lived somewhere else!)and I did gain some great things (see earlier post) but those things could have been gained elsewhere..who knows! So here it goes..I am laying it all out there! Some people may have heard these things, some of you may have heard a few of them, but I try to put on the brave face as to not disappoint that things aren't in their perfect bubble..but as Jason told me the other night.."this is your blog and you can't change how you feel and shouldn't hide it" (Man I love him!) So for everyone..here is my list of what I have NOT LOVED about Chicago!!
*that we have to pay for a garage, if not we end up parking 2-3 blocks away!
*that we don't have a back yard to play in, we can't just go outside to play at our own house if we wanted to
*that I have to walk my dog every time she has to go outside because I can't just let her out to go..and I have to drag Hadley with me if Jason isn't home because she obviously can't stay home alone!
*the cost of living, yes we LOVE our condo, but we HATE that we paid mid 200's for a 2bed/2bath condo..welcome to Chicago!!
Okay..those are the petty things, the things that have really bothered me..
*that Hadley has never known what it is like to have Santa come to her house, she only knows to give Santa directions to Grandma and Grandpa's house
*that Hadley hasn't gotten to have the full holiday experience due to living so far from family..we have spent several holidays alone, some just the two of us due to Jason working
*that I have spent a lot my time alone with Hadley because Jason works and we have no family and really no group of friends here, so Chicago gets lonely
*that we don't get date night more than 2-3 times a year because we don't have family around and it is too expensive to have a babysitter for the night and too hard to find a good babysitter
*that my best friend has a 1 yr old daughter that I have met only one time and we have missed out on many memories together..my heart hurts missing her..I know..I have said that before, but it does
*that I have other friends that I have barely seen in the last 4 yrs, who have had kids that I have only met one time, and wondering if me being gone these years has hurt my chance of having those friendships back
*that Hadley sees her cousins and Grandparents (besides my mom) only 2-3 times a year, how sad is that for all sides
*watching Hadley cry when we drop Grandparents off at the airport
*that Hadley doesn't know what it is like to stay overnight at Grandma and Grandpa's
*that we have had to delay having another baby due to living in Chicago (at least the first 3yrs..last yr was for other reasons beyond us)
*that I have missed seeing my nieces and nephews grow up these last few years, I just hope this doesn't hurt how close our relationship can be, and I worry about this
*that I missed the last 3 years of my grandpa's life. I know he wouldn't have had it any other way, he was very proud of me and Jason, and I was there for the last days of his life to help take care of him, but it will never replace the fact that I missed out spending time with him those last 3 yrs, time I can never get back
So, here is my list of things that has caused me anger, frustration, pain, sadness, tears, and at times depression over the last 4 years. I got through them with the love and support of my family, my best friend, my daughter, and my husband and some really good wine! But really, Chicago..I am done with you...so anyone who wants their turn at Chicago..we still have a great condo up for grabs!!
