lunch with Nae and Bond...yes, that Bond

We had a busy weekend here.
It was prom weekend (hopefully, I'll get around to blogging about that later).
And it was the weekend Nae was moving out of her house at college.

Most of her housemates graduated and are going on to be "real adults" with real jobs.

Nae has another semester before she earns her environmental engineering degree. She will be living in a different house this fall with a different group of people.

A very bitter sweet time.


The Hubby couldn't be here because things are a little crazy at work for him right now so I took the train over. My dad and step mom, Ann agreed to help and met me there.

My dad rented a U-Haul and we loaded her things up to bring back to our house. Not sure where we'll put all this stuff!

It all went pretty smoothly.

Here are all the girls that have lived together the last few years.

Here are the "packers and movers" (minus grandma and grandpa).

After we finished, we headed over to a place (that's pretty well known in these parts) to have lunch.

While standing in line, one of Nae's friends came out of the restaurant and told us that Pierce Brosnan was eating there.

Nae, Ann and my dad decided they wanted to get a peak at him so they left while I waited to put our orders in.

A few minutes later they returned.

Nae was so excited "It is him! And grandma talked to him!"

"Really? What did you say?" I asked.

Ann says "Well, I went up to him and said 'we are trying to be polite and discrete but we are wondering if you are really the Pierce Bronson whom you look like?' ". And then he said "yes I am." and I said "well, it's really nice to meet you!" and then he shook my hand!"

Ann was smiling and so pleased.

Until I said his name is Pierce Brosnan. Not Bronson!

http://www.thecinemasource.com/moviesdb/images/PierceBrosnan1-300.jpg

ok, so maybe he is smarter than I thought...

I've been trying to get Ace to swim.

The main reason?

I heard it's the best way to tire him out.

And my furniture legs will thank me.

The first day we went out I forgot my camera.

So these are pictures from our second attempt.

I found out that Ace has an amazing memory.

The first day we went out,

I got him in the water by throwing a stick out a little farther into the water each time.

There was a little "drop off" a few feet out where it got deep real quick.

We were having a great time when I threw the stick a little too far.

Ace went out after it and sank.

He swallowed a bunch on water and came out coughing and sputtering.

He wouldn't go back in anymore after that.

So here we are on day two.

He was a little hesitant to go in but finally did.

He has the stick on the first throw.

He did well for a few more throws but then

I threw it a little too far.

He says "Nope! Not gonna get it"



Turning around


and leaving it.

and giving me a dirty look for loosing his stick.
But then he did something that surprised me.

He got out of the river and watched the stick.
He noticed that it was blowing back toward shore.

So he ran up the side of the river to the next open area.
To see if it was going to be close enough.

He quickly calculated currents, wind speeds, and angles...
and choose the opening two places down.
um... yeah.


and he waited there.

and sure enough, here it comes.

He looked at me like this when he got out.

This isn't a look of pride "look-at-me!" look.

This is a "don't-you-ever-do-that-again!" look.

How do I know?

He wouldn't give it back.

and then he snuck up behind me while I was enjoying the view

and did this.

but it was worth it.

teens that are too polite

Tony had some new friends over after school yesterday.

Two of them came home with him after track practice. One of them, let's call him "Eddie", I picked up from his home.

The reason I'm calling him Eddie is because he reminded me of Eddie Haskell from Leave it to Beaver.

I didn't think of him like that immediately.

The first thing he said when getting in the car was "Thank you so much Mrs. Z (dang blog privacy thing again) for coming and picking me up." and I thought "what a polite young man."

I didn't even think that after he thanked me two more times before we got to our house.

I still wasn't thinking that when we got home and he thanked me profusely for the snacks and pop I had set out for all of them.

It was when we got in the car again to take them to our little village square so they could hang out with some other teens. "It's really nice of you to give us a ride Mrs. Z, thank you!" he says.

Tony, obviously annoyed, says "why do you keep kissing up to my mom?"

I'm a little shocked Tony has said this "Tony! He's just being polite! Maybe you should learn to be a little more polite"

And this is when he becomes "Eddie" to me...

he says (in a perfect Eddie Haskell voice) "Yes, Mrs. Z. Don't you find that teenagers can never be too polite?"

I said I didn't and we talked a little more on the subject. But the rest of the evening that conversation and his tone kept gnawing at me.

I decided two things

1. Teens can be a "little too polite" and

2. I don't trust that kid.

magpie 10 watch

Go HERE for more Magpie Tales

**sorry my spacing is messing up. I have no idea why I can't fix this**

Watch Me

Watch me Mommy!

Her brow scrunched in concentration

as she knots the bunny ears of her laces.

There's hope in her eyes when she turns to me

that I will be amazed by her talent

and I am.

Watch me Mom!

I hold my breath, forcing myself to not cover my eyes.

His bike wobbles for a moment

but his grin never does.

When he stops he waits for my cheers

and I do.

Watch me Mom!

She twirls in the pink leotard

she so carefully picked out.

The cartwheel she turns are followed by a

proud "ta-da"

Her eyes find mine in the crowd to see my pride

and I am.

Watch me Mom!

He jumps on the trampoline

double back flips.

My last child to ask for my attention and praise.

I realize I need to savor these moments

and I do.

new dog park

Ace and I were home alone this weekend so we set out exploring Saturday morning.

We discovered another leash-free dog park.

This is the fourth dog park that I've found.

Chicago burbs do an amazing job with their parks but when it comes to dog parks they don't advertise about them.

They are kind of hard to find.

I've searched on-line and only found two (a couple of the ones I already knew of).

The best way to find them is by just talking to people.

After I found this place, I was so excited that the next time I was at the dog park near my house, I started telling people about it.

No one knew of it's existence.

So I will keep talking to people and seeing what other places we can find.

It's kinda like a treasure hunt.

This park that I wanted to show you today is definitely a treasure!

It doesn't look like much when you first walk in.

lots of trails and open spaces.

I need to remember to bring Ace's ball next time.

Lots of little hidden trails leading to secret places.

Ace loves to run and explore them.

and then you come over the hill and get a peak at the river.

This is where it get really fun. Ace can go into the water (he's still a little timid about that)Ace loves this fence and all the "dog smells"

It's a big loop with lots of trails going off in all different directions.

This is the view as you head back to the entrance.

But my favorite part is all the flowers and trees all along the paths.

The rest is just pictures I took along the trails for you to enjoy.

Have a happy spring day!