Music to my Ears

It’s funny how certain songs can strike a chord (pun intended) when you hear them. For me, music and certain smells really bring memories rushing back into my sleep-deprived, mom-brain. For instance, Sinatra’s “Man on the Moon” reminds me of our wedding (first dance); Enya’s Watermark album reminds me of laying on the top bunk my freshman year in our quad with all of my roommates in their own beds – us, chatting away; Manfred Mann’s “Edmund Fitzgerald” brings back a flood of memories of driving to Minocqua before Mike and I were married; C&C Music Factory’s “Everybody Dance Now” makes me clearly picture my friend Carly and I with our horrible 8th grade hair sliding across her hardwood floors in our socks, me laughing so hard I peed in my pants; anytime Pearl Jam is playing I picture my friend, Dave; when Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” comes on the radio, I can see the White Sox winning the world series. Most of the song associations bring back good memories, and there are some that bring back some sad moments (Amazing Grace, even though I have heard it 100 times at various events, reminds me of Mee-Mee’s funeral) or things I would just like to forget. But, for the most part, it’s things I love to look back on and think about – “remember when?”

I wonder what song associations Ben and Teddy will have. When Neil Diamond’s “Coming to America” is playing, will Ben remember riding in the car with us demanding the “Boomer song”? Will Teddy associate “You are My Sunshine” with his childhood? Will Ben picture him and I dancing silly around our living room to Florence and The Machine’s “Dog Days are Over”?  I sure hope so, because I know I will.

What songs bring back your strongest memories?

Winter Weekend

So, we braved a winter storm to drive to Lake Geneva to play at Timber Ridge with the Price family. Despite the 4 hour drive (normally takes an hour and a half), it was worth it. Timber Ridge is part of the Grand Geneva resort. Timber Ridge is a family friendly waterpark, which also has an arcade and lots of kid activities. Ben and his bud, William, couldn’t get enough of the big green slide. Teddy loved splashing in the fountains in the little kid’s pool. With the snow falling outside, it was (super) hot inside. A nice way to spend a cold, dreary Chicago weekend.

Watch Out

Heard in the streets of Algonquin (okay, at Karington’s 2nd birthday party  in the basement):

Boy antagonizing Ben. Ben backed into the corner. Sean, “Hey! You leave my cousin ALONE!!”

Love.

Wipe-Out!!

And, today Ben earned his sledding stripes. While Teddy and Mike were at swimming, Ben and I conquered Centennial Hill in Park Ridge. After our first run, Ben looked at me dead in the eye and said, “Mommy, I am a big guy and big guys go down by themselves.” So, watching another parent send down their preschooler solo, I thought, what could happen? Wiping out 5 other sledders is what could happen. Ben started out great, and then just couldn’t stop the sled from slamming into 5 kids walking up the middle of the hill and took them out, human bowling ball style. Besides a few tears and a bruised ego, Ben ended up having a great time. We went down (together) numerous more times. Sometimes we hit a few bumps and went airborne, others it felt like we were racing at top speed. I truly forgot how much fun sledding is and I hope Ben never does.

2011 in review

Not in any order.

I turn 35. Weird; Jackie and Spark’s 10th wedding anniversary; Siesta Key – our 4th time there. And, still a blast; Persohn family get together. VERY hot – but, the sweat was so worth seeing everyone all in the same place. Together; Land Between the Lakes; Teddy turns 1!!!! ; Two family members announce they are expecting; my dad retires; My childhood friend gets engaged and I am asked to be her Matron of Honor; lots of time spent up north; lots of time spent in Cincinnati; planning begins for our 5th trip to Siesta Key and a summer vacation at Niagara Falls and Maine!; holidays; family; stress; we lose Buerhle; Ben begins preschool; paint the house; Teddy gets baptized; Mike has a great, but exhausting, year at work; Mike’s cousin gets married; our friends gets her girl after 3 boys!; my brother moves to C-bus, MaryPat retires (maybe they were both 2010 – I get confused); and Teddy finally sleeps through the night!

It was a stressful year. A happy year. A good year. And, 2012 started off pretty good – Teddy took his first steps!!

Happy New Year everyone!

Whoa – Ben is 4!!

So, I figured out what to do for Ben’s birthday. I quickly ordered some party items from Oriental Trading and poof! a dinosaur party it was. But, what good dinosaur party doesn’t start out with some bowling? So, Jackie, Mike, me, the cousins, Paw-Paw, and of course, Ben hit the lanes. Pro-bowlers we are not, but we had fun. Then, back to the house for presents, crab (yep, read that right – Maryland Blue Crabs flown in fresh from the boat), cake, and a sleepover. It wasn’t a giant party, just family, but it was loads of fun!! Thanks to everyone who wished Ben a Happy 4th!!!

Holiday stress

Wow – a lot has occurred since I last posted. Thanksgiving – this time we headed to Cincinnati. We hadn’t done that in years. My mom and I attempted to cook a whole turkey (she normally just does breasts), and, well, didn’t turn out so well. That’s okay though, the rest of the meal was great! The weather was nice and it was fun to spend time with my family. With Thanksgiving, the rush of the holiday season starts. For me, it can be either overwhelming with stress with how much we have to do, or super excitement over the prospect of what gifts to buy. This year, it was a little overwhelming. Nothing clicked in my head of what to get anyone besides my mom (Pandora bracelet). I especially struggled with the boys. Probably because I just couldn’t imagine anymore toys in our house. However, by mid-December, I finally figured it all out, but the stress was still there – basically over how I was going to buy and make all the gifts in time. But, everything worked out. We had our special day at The Adams’, my parents and brother came up for Christmas Eve and Christmas – which we managed to spend at 3 different houses!, and then New Years at our house with friends. Once New Years day hit, okay, maybe January 2nd, after Mike and I started to feel normal again after the fun of New Year’s Eve – the stress dissipated. Until I thought about what to do for Ben’s birthday, only 6 days away….