Prepping for Birdhouse

Julie and her fellow super Moms spent part of today cleaning up Wesley's studio in preparation for Saturday night. Per Sue, Wesley is "a little bohemian." Thick layers of bird crap and oil paint on the floor are advanced bohemian in my book.

Awesome place though.

Shakes at Odge's Rule

Garden, Birdhouse Prep, General Craziness

Julie's Birdhouse Benefit Auction is next weekend so, among other things this weekend, we hung a promotional banner at school. We also planted a bunch of new stuff and reorganized the front garden and pulled all of the bushes out of the back garden.

We got a new camera for Mother's Day which allows us to record videos and easily play them on the TV. It's like living in the future. E.B. is doing his best Emperor Palpatine impersonation.

Pinchitos and Birdhouses

Mother's Day was big fun. We went for a hike to check out the two birdhouses Nata and E.B. made for the Friends of Pritzker Birdhouse Auction Party.

Their pieces are in the store window at Myopic Books on Milwaukee. Natalie's has pieces of Dr. Seuss' Foot Book. Elliot's has bits of Barbapapa's School worked into the design.

After that, we grilled pinchitos a la plancha, and corn and bell peppers. It rocked if I do say so myself.

Dance, dance, dance

Mazi Dance Class

Julie is planning another Subt event for this Saturday. It entails some kid dancing. In preparation, a crew went to Mazi Dance studios on Monday for training. Natalie's crown never came off.

After class, everybody went to Wicker Park for a picnic with Grandma Bonnie.

Wish flower frenzy

View from the back seat of the Mazda

E. B. took some pics as we headed to REI to buy a roof rack for the car.

Jenny's Birthday

Jenny turned 30 today. In celebration, we went to a yummy restaurant in Roscoe Village run by followers of Sri Chinmoy. Sri Chinmoy claims to have once lifted over 7,000 pounds with one arm according to Wikipedia. Whatever.

They make good eggs and it was a fun time. Nata took some snaps of the birthday girl.

Touching real brains at the science fair

Finn's Visit & More Good parenting from Dad

Finn and his associated Nicholson-Crotty adults were in this weekend. The boy hung tough with E.B. on a bed wrestling. We also had DD cat grabbing and a three person bath. Big fun.

Thanks to Google, I just learned the boy is a sponsor of the St. Louis Zoo as well. They put 'em to work early in Missouri it seems.

After a Sunday PM storm, E.B. and Dad went for a walk searching for worms. I was reasonably sure that other branch wasn't going to fall and hit the power line. I mean, if it hadn't happened already . . .

Crouching tiger, sleeping turtle

Turtle bikin'

Spring Feast at Grandma Bonnie's

Bright shiny brisk spring day. Had a big feast at Bonnie's with Larry and Sue too. E.B. liked both the leg of lamb and pork tenderloin. Nata focused on the strawberry shortcake.

Mom van in effect

Jules, Nata, Amy, Zoe and a friend of Zoe's from school all went to Adler on Friday. Still had one seat to spare!

Look at this hipster

Opening day of gelato season

Natalie's fashion debut

WCIU, The U / You and Me This Morning / Aleah / Spring Looks at Psycho Baby

Easter 4

Front porches are for eating eggs.

Easter 3

Nata had her first Peep this year. There will be more.

Fletcher hired a personal valet at Garfield. Pretty cool.

Easterfest #2

Easter Insanity!

Fletcher, D and Valerie came for a visit. It was epic, dude. Wicker Park, Lincoln Park Zoo and Garfield Park Conservatory. A visit from the Easter Bunny, paseos, tricycles and more.

West Siders

E.B. on the way to Smith and Humboldt Parks on two wheels. He got his first whiff of hot garbage for 2010 today. "The smell of summer" Dad said helpfully.

Also a recent status pic of our crack bag collection gathered on walks in the neighborhood.