We had Pizza for Brunch. What did you have?

Brody and I joined some other MAM members and their kids for a "behind the scenes" tour of Monical's Pizza. All the kids had a blast "using" the computer to order pizza, examining the mixer and playing with pizza dough and making their own pizzas.

More cheese!

Brody thought it was great to have pizza before 10am and said that the dough was like tortilla dough and squishy.

Squishing the dough with Elliot and Trish

"Pizza Worm"

Brody with his finished product.

Pancakes, Cubs and the Cold on Mother's Day

Mother's Day was both good and interesting this year.

The Good:
I received a cute poem from Georgia and a flower hand print from Brody. We were continuing our little trip up to Chicago and had an awesome breakfast at this little hole in the wall place in Lincoln Park/Wrigleyville called Orange With A Peel. They had crazy things like Green Eggs and Ham (with this oh so good pesto), Fruity Pebble Pancakes for kids, ginormous regular pancakes and all sorts of strange mixtures. I had the Pancake Flight which is four different kinds of silver dollar pancakes that are tied together with a theme. Mother's Day was : Clean Your Room, Eat Your Veggies, You Are Just Like Your Father, and An Apple A Day.

The Interesting:

We rode the "El" since that was one of the things on my brother's "to do in Chicago" list. Brody absolutely loved the jerkiness of the ride. Our other plan for Sunday was to take in a Cubs game since we had not had the occasion to check out Wrigley Field.

Being an Astros fan, I am used to not really worrying about the weather during baseball games. Our ballpark has a retractable roof, so rain and temperature are not an issue. I should know by now not to count on weather holding in the Midwest, so of course it turned FRIGID, started raining and blowing this wicked, howling wind that cut right into your bones. THIS IS MID-MAY PEOPLE!!! We did have the sense to bring coats, but it was not enough. We stayed down where it was warm until the start of the first inning and left sometime in the fourth. The kids were troopers, but they were wrapped up in a $50 Cubs blanket that we had to buy or just leave.

My legs were cramped with the cold ( I know, whine, whine you Texan) and I was kind of bummed to later find out that Tony Romo (GO COWBOYS!) threw out the first pitch and we missed it. Oh well, we now have an Illinois souvenir to keep in the linen closet for all time. And I got a free pink Cubs cap for Mother's Day at the gate.

Uncle Drew in the Windy City

The Gonzales Clan

My little brother, hereafter referred to as Uncle Drew came up for a visit and a little R&R before his big move to San Diego. I don't think he got the relaxing part. Poor thing had to live the life of a stay at home mom, which is so much more busy than one might think. Uncle Drew was subjected to gym and dance classes, school pick up, the moms at the park, multiple Rock Band concerts in the basement and out to eat with just me and the kids. No wonder he had to buy beer by Thursday!

We did make an overnight trip to Chicago and did a few fun things, too. We showed Uncle Drew the Science and Industry Museum and the whole crew indulged my trip through the new Smart House exhibit. Chris is usually resistant to my save the earth ways, but I think he is coming around. After a quick drive past the lake, Soldier Field and Millenium Park, we headed to the Mag Mile. Uncle Drew got to try his first Chicago-style deep dish pizza

A slice of the Meaty Legend

and write on the wall at Gino's. We also had some of the best cheese sticks ever, upon recommendation of DJ our very Russian waiter with a very thick accent. He also talked us into three cheap pitchers of Miller Lite.

We missed the Sears Tower, but Uncle Drew graciously went into American Girl and the Lego Store to appease the little people.

Petstravaganza

The kids and I headed to the University of Illinois for the vet school's Petstravaganza for a repeat of last year. They were very excited to pet a baby horse, play with ferrets and a German Shepherd just like Howdy. Brody thought the baby boa constrictor was cool and Georgia listened to a macaw's heartbeat. We examined all sorts of pet maladies and I guessed what the dog swallowed in the x-ray booth: a bra. Keep that crazy dog of mine away from my underwear drawer or it will really be Victoria's Secret. We also saw a demonstration on microchipping, which unfortunately we know a lot about given our dog's adventures. Georgia ran the scanner over the dog's back to find it and said, "Wow, just like Wal-Mart. How much is it?"

Both wanted pictures with the Great Horned Owl. I think they thought it was fake until the head spun around. Georgia prompty told the vet student everything she had learned in her owl unit in kindergarten. "They can't move their eyes you know, that is why they move their neck all the way around." Mom, does it remind you of anyone?

Girl's Day Out

Georgia and I had a girl's only trip up to Chicago today with some of my friends and their daughters. Thanks for driving, Trish! We spent the entire afternoon at the American Girl Place, which is Georgia's favorite stop when we visit the Windy City.

Georgia, Olivia and Kestrel

We had only shopped there on previous trips, but this time we got the "AG Experience" and the girls all seemed to have a great time. We didn't get there in time to take her doll to the hair salon, but did watch in amazement as the stylists turned dolls with ratty, tangled hair into like-new condition with braids, twists and pony tails. It looked like such a fun job, playing with dolls all day. The girls took their time picking out the perfect clothes and accessories for their dolls and we older girls got to do some visiting amidst all the shopping chaos.

Kacee, Georgia, Gabriella and Coconut

We had lunch with the dolls sitting at the table, complete with their own cups and saucers. The room was really precious--decorated in hot pink, black, and white. Dessert seemed to be the favorite course, with a pink sugar cookie, a heart-shaped cake, and chocolate mousse served in flower pots with a silk daisy sticking out of it. Georgia really liked the polka-dot scrunchie napkin ring that she got to take home.

Kestrel and Nellie

Olivia and Mia

Afterwards, we saw the American Girl Review show in the theater on the bottom floor. She loves any type of performing and was intently watching the performances each time I glanced over at her. After we got home (I knew this question was coming) she asked me how she could be in the show and get to sing, dress up and dance. I said that I thought you would probably have to live in Chicago, but that she could try out for a play or something at home if she really wanted to. That or be content with the almost nightly Rock Band performances she gives in our basement.

The Girls

Bunny Eggs

Just a few shots of the kids dyeing their eggs in preparation for the Easter Bunny's appearance tomorrow.

Brody and I had this interesting egg discussion about a week earlier...

B: Do bunnies lay "color" eggs? Chickens make white ones.

K: No, bunnies don't lay eggs.

B: The bunny doesn't like kids.

K: Why?

B: He hides eggs from kids.

K: It is kind of like a game.

B: No fun.

CCC Egg Hunt

We took the kids for "our" 2nd Annual Egg Hunt at CCC.

The kids found tons of eggs, which means tons of candy. I weighed it on our bathroom scale and the bag weighs 8.1 lbs. Needless to say, most of the chocolate will kindly find its way into the trash can or will be shared with others. It is almost as bad as Halloween.

Georgia always amazes me with her tiny politician persona. She cracks me up the way she will chat up other members and will hold these little detailed conversations with acquaintances she has just met. I guess it is a good skill to have, it is just sometimes unnerving coming from a six year old.

Six Flags

We finally got to Six Flags on the last day of our trip to Dallas, having postponed due to the intensely heavy rains earlier in the week. Chris' mom, Elida joined us along with Erick.

We stuck to mostly the kiddie rides, which was good because the older kids were not exactly ready to try a big time roller coaster and the lines were really short. Chris finally talked them into riding an intermediate one, which of course was their favorite after trying it.

Our trip was not without drama. Georgia sustained her second "injury" in two days when her bumper car seat belt gave her an abrasion on her neck.

Pump it Up

We hooked up with our college friends and their son, Nathan, to brave the downpour that hit the Metroplex. They suggested this indoor bounce house place and all the kids had an absolute blast. I wish we had a place like this locally!

Both Erick and Georgia were shrieking down the giant slide with Brody sticking with the smaller obstacle course and finally getting Chris to take him on the big one. I am glad that I got to sit with Elida on the sidelines. My dear daughter did sustain a scraped elbow that required her to gingerly hold her wrist to "carry" her arm around for awhile. Save the drama for your mama! Oh yeah....I guess I'm that mama.

We ended the afternoon with seeing the "Horton Hears A Who" movie which Brody fell asleep 20 minutes in, but not before eating his weight in popcorn and M&Ms.

Fort Worth Zoo

Chris and I took the kids and our nephew, Erick to the Ft. Worth Zoo and met up with Honey, G.P., Aunt Zannah and Uncle Drew. We had a good time, especially since the weather was nice and cool....a rarity for D-FW.

Erick and Georgia really liked hand-feeding the cockatoos and parakeets, but Brody was having none of it. I think he was a little freaked out because there were so many and they were not at all shy about hopping on these little seed sticks.

Georgia was bummed that Uncle Matt was not there. Zannah explained that he was on a business trip to China, but I don't think she really got it. She asked me later if Uncle Matt was going to come and see her tomorrow. I finally just had to say that she will see him in the summer.