Yuck E. Cheese

Okay, from the title of my entry today, you already know that I am not a fan of Chuck E. Cheese. *Gasp!* How can any Mom admit that? Especially one that has four kids?

I believed there to be only three redeeming qualities of the experience:
1) Beer. Although, there is a rule that you are only allowed one beer per hour for two hours.
2) Salad Bar. Hey, don't knock this one until you have tried their pizza!
3) Plastic ring thingee. One of the kids is always nice enough to share their tickets to help me expand my jewelry collection.

Recently, my brother Greg's daughter Christina had her birthday party there. Isabel exclaimed very forcefully that Chuck E. Cheese was her friend. When we went to the party, I realized that I needed to give the mouse and his crazy little restaurant a break. If, for no other reason, my sweet girl. Check out the pictures.

Jack O' Lantern

On Wednesday, Dan happily did his Dad duty and carved up the uber expensive pumpkin we bought for Halloween. Originally, we were planning to buy the $2.00 kind from Walmart. But, we decided to pay more for the kids to have the "experience" of choosing one from a local farmers market. Twenty some dollars later (they sell them by the pound!) we decided that next year we will buy the biggest 2 buck pumpkin we can find.

It is so much fun now that all the kids are big enough to get excited and take part in carving the pumpkin and preparing for Halloween.

Our pre-op pumkin

Half-way done!

Seed-cleaner-salter-guy!

The finished product named Punky

All Hallow's Eve Festivities

Dan's Aunt Sandi and Uncle Bill throw this amazing Halloween Party every year for the kids. The great food and conversation make it especially appealing to the adults, too. All the kids, and most of the adults, dress up. Dan and I decided to go as Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. The wolf part was hard because we had to stay away from anything that was even the slightest bit scarey.

Isabel was, of course, an elephant. I cannot pinpoint when or why she decided this was her animal, but her love is strong. After many trips to the store, Caitlin finally decided to be a butterfly. Aidan wanted to be an Air Force pilot like his Uncle Kyle. Jacob was a typical 9 year-old boy who was happy to get a new sports jersey and go as his favorite player (Soriano from the Cubs). Last year he was Blanco from the Fire. Hey, at least he gets to wear his costume more than once!

I have the Top Gun theme running through my head...

Growing up, I did not have any cousins. This is not the case for my children. Between both our families, our kids have fourteen first cousins and too many second cousins to count!

Caity and her cousin Abby (Dave and Kelly's daughter)

My favorite costume of the night.

The party theme this year was pirates. A view from the galley:

Jacob with Cousin's David, Mary Rose, Abby.

The Mummy Wrap Game

Jacob being wrapped by his cousin Sammy.

Do you know who is being wrapped?

*Hint* check out the skater haircut.

Life with Caity and Isabel

Dan and I are are always discovering new adventures in raising girls. I decided to enroll Caitlin and Isabel in dance class through our Park District. On the first day of class, we were all thrilled to discover their dance teacher was Miss Michelle who is the same dance teacher from school. It helped with their transition, not that either of them are very shy.

The classes are 30 minutes ballet and 30 minutes tap. In true form, they each seemed to excel at something different. Caity liked ballet with the fancy words, gentle music and poses. Isabel did great at tap. Caity could not seem to keep her small body steady on those "slippy" tap shoes.

Caity in her new dance dress.

Isabel

Self Portrait

Copyright 2008. Aidan Ridges.

Blog Redemption

Okay, I know we have been, in the immortal words of Paul Kreidler, Bad Bloggers, but Fall has proven to be more hectic for us than the summer. I know, I know, excuses, excuses. So here is my first post for redemption.

Jacob and I went to the Chicago Fire game yesterday to watch them take on the Columbus Crew. The tickets were free, one of the perks of Jacob having played for the Chicago Fire Juniors. We baked in the 82 degree sun which did not phase Jacob in the least. Every time the Fire scored, paper confetti rained down. The Fire ended with a 2-2 tie which secured a position in the post-season playoffs. Our favorite player, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, was as feisty as ever. It was a great mom and son day and I am so proud at what a great kid he is.