Kindergarten Playdate

It was a highlight of the summer: a Saturday playdate/picnic with The Boy's kindergarten class and teacher at Disney II playground. The Girl, The Boy, The Tot and I all walked/biked over, and The Dad joined us later with the car (and coffee!). Although the tail-end of the meeting was rained out and not everyone came, there was a good turnout of classmates and their families and The Boy, The Girl and The Tot all had a good time.

Afterward, The Dad dropped me off at the Women's Building so that I could help the GIPNA crew set up and prep for the 6th annual Gourmet Pancake Breakfast.

Localvore

Today, GIPNA's first farmer's market of the 2009 season enabled me to be a localvore -- buying locally sourced/grown, seasonally appropriate produce. And make happy tummies in The Boy, The Girl, and The Tot. We headed up to Independence Park right at 9 a.m. this morning to score rhubarb and asparagus from the farmers in Benton Harbor, Michigan. We also got fresh spinach and garlic scapes from a Wisconsin organic farm, an artisan donut for The Tot, cookies from Ideal Pastry for The Girl and The Boy (although The Girl didn't want to eat hers after she thought a passing dog licked it), a sugar waffle from a new vendor for me, soap from Big City Fuzz, coffee from Stivers, and had my knives sharpened. The kids and I enjoyed the bluegrass jamming from a local music group and stayed at the park until past 11 a.m.

Strawberries from Michigan:
The Boy took this photo.
The musicians' tent:

The Boy, The Girl and The Tot enjoying the music/market:


After almost 7 years in this neighborhood, I finally feel as if I am part of it. I saw and talked with loads of people I knew this morning, while The Girl, The Boy and The Tot saw their friends and, in The Girl's case, made fast new ones while running around the playground. We finally headed home around 11:30 to have lunch made from some of our locally grown and sourced produce, clamber in the car and drive to Home Depot for a new propane tank for the grill.

Crafty Flop

The GIPNA Fine Crafts Fair was a bit of a bust. I don't think it was just me. My neighbor has exhibited at the show since its inception and has usually done well; she made $22 after the table fee. I made $14. I'm not sure whether to be discouraged--people do not like my bags as much as they claim to, or chalk it up to any one of a number of explanations: the recession, the weather (temperate and sunny), or the location (hot, stuffy gym inside the Fieldhouse).

On the upside, I got to see lots of neighbors and friends, some that I saw last week, some that I hadn't seen in many months. I also bought some yummy-smelling soap from Big City Fuzz.

Independence Park Events

As with last weekend, there are about 8 million events this weekend that I'd like to attend. Unfortunately, I'm already fully booked, so some of them will have to go on without me. If I didn't have The Girl's birthday party tomorrow morning, I'd be interested in this:

The HCBA's popular Seminar Series offers exciting topics for owners of any Chicago home - whether you're a home repair expert or rehab rookie, these seminars make home repair projects simple and offer affordable home solutions.

Thinking Inside the Box:
Planting a Window Box for All Seasons

Saturday, May 2 · 10:00am - 12:00pm

Independence Park Bungalow, 3901 N. Hamlin Ave

To make a reservation please call (312) 642-9900 or email reservation@chicagobungalow.org

There is also the GIPNA Fine Crafts Fair on Sunday at the Independence Park Fieldhouse from 12:30 - 4:30. I'll be selling these bags for $12 each, or 2 for $20:

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

I will also have my initial and number tees, and bean bags:

From Blogger Pictures

Hope to see you there!

Clean & Green

Although our participation in the official Clean & Green events in both Old Irving Park and Greater Independence Park was a bit of a bust, our family did manage to do a little gardening/improvement of our own today. We were hampered by the weather (on and off rain) as well as The Boy's Saturday morning soccer game, arriving at the GIPNA table too late to register or pick up trash bags. Our neighbors had come to similar fates, so we all cleaned the breezeways next to garages instead. I pulled out all the weeds, rocks, garbage and whatnot from the breezeway next to our garage, then installed our rain barrel on the alley side of the fence, leaving a good receptacle for rain runoff from the garage and giving us easy access to the spigot for gardening use when the weather dries up.

We went over to the OIPA potluck picnic about 12:30. My friend CD had asked me to have my bags available for green-minded folk, but when we arrived, the scant population was packing up to leave. So we went to lunch at Target. Despite the snags, it was a nice day.

Meeting Junkie

Since The Boy started kindergarten, I've become somewhat of a meeting junkie. If there is a meeting in the neighborhood, I'll probably attend. I'd like to claim that my motives are purely altruistic, a response to President Obama's call to volunteer, but that's only part of the picture. I often attend community meetings because I am curious. I want to know what is going on -- at school, in my neighborhood, at the parks, in adjacent neighborhoods, with my alderman, in city policy. I'm still trying to figure out specific ways that I can contribute to the actual organizing bit of community involvement, but attending meetings is a good way to determine what the group's actual needs are and how my talents fit in with those needs.

GIPNA Fine Craft Fair

Combining my nascent crafting and Chicago happenings, I'm participating in GIPNA's Fine Craft Fair (page 7). I'll be selling some handsewn items, primarily reusable shopping bags in funky patterns free from stores' own logos, as well as bean bags for babies and some initial shirt-and-skirt combos. My stuff is joining wares from some wonderful neighborhood artisans, whose works include stained glass, pottery, knitted hats, cocktail aprons, sketches, and block-printed baby tees. The Girl promises to help me make change. If you're free on May 3rd, I'd love to see you at the Independence Park fieldhouse.

From Chicago Mama

From Chicago Mama

From Chicago Mama

Mama-Girl Playdate

Yesterday, we had a family outing in the morning -- to Supercuts in Six Corners for haircuts for The Boy, The Girl and The Dad. The Tot played and I read Nylon. After that exciting morning, we headed up Cicero to Whole Foods - Sauganash to kill two birds with one stone: lunch at the grill and a 1/2 gallon of milk from the dairy case.

Once home again, I headed out again to Jo-Ann Fabrics to buy lining fabrics for my latest large-scale sewing projects: making pretty bags to sell at the GIPNA Fine Arts & Crafts Fair. The Tot took a nap and The Boy wanted to stay at home, so The Girl came with me and we made it a little Mama-The Girl playdate. She helpfully picked our fabrics with me, and then we braved the hail-like white substance that was then falling from the sky in advance of the April snow shower, and hurried over to Starbucks in the same strip mall for a snack. She got kids' hot cocoa with whipped cream and a blueberry muffin. She very nicely shared her hot cocoa with me and we talked about what we were going to do at her birthday party in a month, and what we should do in Seattle this week.

Then we went home. When we arrived at our car on the other side of the parking lot, it was parked to a VW Beetle. A pink VW Beetle. TG: "See Mama! I told you there were pink cars!" This pink VW Bettle had ears and a pug nose on its front and a curly tail on its back. The license plate read "JIMS PIG." She's still talking about it.

Upcoming: Bungalow Restoration Project

Community Meeting

Tuesday, December 16
5:30 - 6:30 pm
in the
Independence Park Bungalow

Here is a chance for you to meet the architect who will be handling our project. Bailey Edward Design is a firm recognized for their historic renovations and experience with green bungalows. Brendan Daley, heading up the project from the Chicago Park District, will discuss the project process going forward.

There will be a short q & a period. Coffee will be served.

---

I am hoping to go.

Green Bungalow

The Dad and I managed to secure a babysitter for the kids this evening. We're going to GIPNA's 3rd annual wine-and-cheese event to benefit the Independence Park Bungalow Restoration Project. I've wanted to go every year, but have always had a conflict of one kind or another up until now.

Edit: Or not. I just got an e-mail that they are sold out. Maybe I will make it to the 4th annual version instead.

Abt Comes to Visit

The lovely and always polite service people from Abt Electronics paid us a visit today. While they are always polite, they don't come to visit merely out of kindness. Instead, they came to install our new range and microhood. The range part went well -- it is so nice to have a working oven after 3+ months without one. The ignitor on our old one went kaput (again!) at the end of July as we discovered when making cookies for the neighborhood garage sale. Of course, I had just mixed up a triple batch of cookie dough when this happened. The Girl and The Boy were disappointed; The Tot was apoplectic when there were no cookies at the end of that interminable (for a 1-y/o) wait.

But today, they came, they installed, and we now have a fabulous oven! Unfortuntately, we were not so lucky with the microhood. I should know by now, but still have yet to learn after 6 years of doing projects in my 105-year-old house, that whenever I take on a project, it is going to domino into more side projects than I had originally anticipated. Such is the case with my microhood project. I now need to re-route my vent-to-outside ductwork further up the wall; anyone know a great HVAC person for this? It's such a simple thing; I feel like I should be able to do it myself, but fear becoming what I've grown to hate (as an owner of a home that is 105-years-old): a DIYer who does it badly.

Pancakes!

GIPNA's third annual gourmet pancake breakfast was this morning. Despite what someone thinks, I volunteered to help at the event. I was assigned to oversee the kiddie table, so I could rein in the sugar frenzy. The food this year was, as usual, awesome. The pancakes themselves were pretty good, but it's the toppings that make this fundraiser (for restoration of the Women's Building, where the event was held) worth the $35 entry (for our party of 5): maple butter, mixed berries, and brown sugar bananas. Plus eggs topped with an excellent chopped caprese, sausage links, coffee and orange juice. Yum. I had two servings of everything and was full until about 3 p.m. Best breakfast I've had all summer.

GIPNA 3rd Annual Yard Sale

Today, we participated in the GIPNA 3rd Annual Yard Sale. I sold kid clothing and shoes, books, baby stuff, bathroom decor, furniture, and a carseat. I made $150, but more importantly, I emptied out the clutter in my basement. The Boy, The Girl, and The Tot had a fantastic time running back and forth from our house to D.'s house two doors north.

In the early afternoon, I took The Girl, The Tot, and D. on a walk around the block to look at other garage sales. Our first stop was at a neighbor's "estate" sale. Our oldest neighbor, Dorothy, died in May at the age of 96 or something. She had a lot of cool stuff, and I wanted to buy some linen napkins, but her niece gave them to me outright. It was very sweet of her. Next up, we bought 3 Beanie Babies for $5, and then I picked up a few decor pieces from another neighbor (her husband joked that she was an exclusive Pottery Barn Kids Outlet dealer).

After I hauled our unsold crap back into the house/garage, I really just wanted to collapse in a heap. But I showered and dressed, and took The Boy, The Girl, and The Tot over to Caroline D.'s block party. The Boy had a fantastic time in the bounce house and the air slide (rigged up with a hose to be a water slide), while The Girl eventually warmed up to one of The Boy's St. Bart's classmates, who was also there. The Tot ate snacks and pulled ducks out of the kiddie pools. A good time was had by all.

Sunday Lie-In

The Boy is an early riser. The Girl, thankfully, is not. Without their big brother around to wake them up, The Girl slept until 8:45 and The Baby until 9 a.m., so The Dad and I enjoyed a bit of a lie-in. Then The Girl, The Baby, and I got dressed and walked up to the park to go to the first Farmer's Market of the season. Unfortunately, with the cool spring and high gas prices, it was a bit of a bust in terms of actual produce. But the three of us split a giant Snickerdoodle from Ideal Bakery and an organic raspberry Zota soda from another vendor. Then we spent 45 minutes or so on the playground.

We spent the rest of the day doing stuff around the house and running errands. The Girl and I went to Trader Joe's and Whole Foods for groceries. Later, The Girl, The Baby, and I went to Home Depot to pick out plants and get ant killer (we tried using the environmentally and kid-friendly vinegar, but it didn't work) for The Dad, who stayed home to sand down the garage (I later painted it). The Baby and The Girl played in the backyard.

A Strong Community

Can I just say that I love my local community? I've been a resident of my neighborhood for nearly 6 years, but it's only in the past year or two that I've felt like I've been a community resident. Today proved it yet again.

I brought The Girl to her ballet class yesterday morning. I had planned to walk there, but The Boy was limping along, so we had to abort the mission and drive instead. I passed Allison and her kids along the way. The Girl, The Baby, and I waited for them after parking The Great White Moose, but they had stopped to chat with Caroline D. and her family, who were on their way home from the YMCA. So we went into ballet instead, where we ran into Beth T. and her daughter, and a few friends from various other classes. As soon as we got inside, The Girl told me to "go," so I walked over to Starbucks with The Baby and Allison.

Afterwards, I picked up The Dad and The Boy, and we joined Allison and her family at Caroline D.'s house to hang out. The Boy stayed behind to play with the boys, and The Dad and I took The Girl, The Baby, and Allison's daughter, Peri, with us to lunch at our favorite breakfast-lunch spot, Curio Cafe. The Dad was quite cute with the girls, holding hands with each one across the street. I had the Plato Tipico ($7.95), which has become my new favorite CC dish, The Dad had his favorite CC dish, the steak sandwich ($7.50), The Girl got the alphabet noodles and cheese ($3.50), The Baby had eggs-potatoes-and-toast ($3.50), and Peri got the grilled cheese ($3.50). Yum! Afterwards, we came back to our house to let The Baby nap and let the little girls play: kitchen, dress-up, and coloring.

Peri's mom picked her up, and we took The Baby and The Girl and headed back to Caroline D.'s house, where we dropped off the little ones and picked up The Boy. Then we headed to Uptown to attend Uncle Bad's birthday BBQ. The Boy left with Grandma and Grandpa Naperville after about 1/2 an hour; they took him to visit Super Grandpa in Indiana. It was odd being at an adult party! I think The Girl and The Baby may have had a better time attending a birthday party at Caroline D.'s neighbor's house.

It was a great day. I also fell asleep at 8:30 and got a solid and rejuvenating 12 hours of sleep.

CPS strikes again

There was a Local School Council meeting of Thurgood Marshall Middle School tonight at 5 p.m., which is a crummy time for parents of small children. The Dad had a late meeting, but I had planned to attend, so The Boy, The Girl, and The Baby had no choice but to accompany me to the meeting. I loaded up a backpack with a few coloring books, crayons, some snacks, and a few toys that could be used for quiet play, got everyone into their shoes, strapped The Baby onto my back and walked over to the school. They buzzed me in and I walked into the office only to find out that the meeting had been canceled. I was a bit disappointed (The Baby is heavy!), as were The Boy and The Girl, oddly enough. But it was nice to see the inside of TMMS. I had never actually been in the school side of the building before. The Boy was impressed with the large aquarium tank full of fish in the foyer, and I thought the display of art-project masks was pretty cool.

I need to be more aware of (and make a better effort to find out) what is going on in my neighborhood schools, even if my children don't attend them. Going to today's scheduled LSC meeting was an attempt to do so. I'm hoping GIPNA will let me know when the meeting will be re-scheduled, as the person I spoke to at TMMS did not yet know (possibly in 2 weeks, she said).

The Boy and The Girl asked me several times why the meeting was canceled, and we tried to come up with some reasons while we walked over to the park to play instead. Everyone took a ride on the swings -- The Boy and The Girl on the regular ones ("super high, Mama! Push me super high!") and The Baby in a baby swing. Then The Girl met a new friend (it amazes me how little girls can see each other across the playground for the first time and be holding hands 5 seconds later!) and had a great time running around with her. The playground was filled with little girls today, and The Boy was wearing flip-flops, which are hard to wear while playing on woodchips, so he didn't seem to have as much fun as The Girl and The Baby. I did catch a snippet of The Girl's conversation with the other little girl:

OG: Let's play house.
TG: OK! I'll be the mommy and you be the daddy.
OG: No. I'll be the mommy and you be the honey.

That just cracked me up. I needed it, as The Baby gave me a series of mini heart attacks while he crossed the suspension bridge and tried to go down the stairs. He is still figuring out how to go down, so it was particularly hair-raising for me to watch my baby go feet first over square metal steps with bruise-inducing corners.

On the walk home, The Girl was clutching herself and saying she had to pee, so we stopped at our neighbors' house to use their bathroom. Their house is going on the market, so it was clean and beautifully staged. If I could afford it (and I didn't have to sell a house), I'd be interested in it myself.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood today. The Baby, The Boy, The Girl and I headed east to Buena Park to attend our dear playgroup friend Antonia's 5th birthday party. The Boy and The Girl ate pizza, ripped open a Tinkerbelle pinata and filled treat bags with candy, and ate a yummy cake and ice cream. The Baby admired Antonia's 17-month-old twin brother and sister, and played with toys.

On the way home, we stopped at the sports store to pick up a left-handed peewee mitt for The Girl. As I found out earlier this week, they don't carry left-handed mitts for little people at Target. I have a feeling that it won't be the first time that the family lefthandedness makes things more difficult.

When we got home, we did a kid-parent split. The Dad and The Boy ran errands at Home Depot and did chores, while I took The Baby and The Girl to GIPNA's Fine Arts & Crafts fair at the Independence Park Fieldhouse gym. We bought a necklace from Sharon Sears and a cool apron. Then we played on the playground for nearly an hour before heading home. The Baby had great fun giving a dad (not ours) woodchips from the center of the bouncy teeter-totter.