a hen and two chicks

What Colin Had to Say on His 3rd Birthday

2011-12-27T19:57:00.000-06:00

Time for my favorite blog posts of the year -- the birthday interview! This is the first time that I've done a birthday interview with Colin. The process was . . . interesting. In truth, this interview took place in three different parts because he would quickly lose interest and he also insisted on asking me some questions as well (like "What color is my new backpack?" or "What should you make me for lunch today?"). It was slow-going.

Anyway, here is what my babe had to say on his third (so big!) birthday!

Favorites:

Cereal: Life cereal

Vegetable: Carrots

Drink: Juice

Toy: Truck

TV Show: Mickey Mouse Club House

Game: My football guys game from Santa. I put them in my new backpack to bring to Auntie LaLa’s (my Aunt Patti) House.

Book: Millie Moo

Dinner: Soup. Vegetable soup.

Lunch: Mac and cheese

Breakfast: Waffles

Holiday: Presents!

Animal: Rhinos! Don’t laugh Dad!

Stuffed Animal: My two bunnies and I go to sleep every time.

Color: Blue

Thing to do at school: Play a lot and have milk a lot.

Sport: Football

What do you want for your birthday? Have ice cream cake

If you could change your name, what would you choose? No, I want to be Colin still.

Where would you like to go on vacation this year? To a football field.

What are some of your wishes for this year? More Christmas.

What makes you happy? My two bunnies.

What makes you sad? Lions in a cave.

How old is your Mom? 3

How tall is your Mom? Like this tall (showing with hands). Like a hundred pounds.

What is her favorite thing to do? Do baseball.

What does Dad do for a job? He goes to work at the Sears Tower.

What is your mom's favorite food? Broccoli and chicken.

What is Dad’s favorite food? Sauce.

What does our family like to do together? Go get our Christmas tree.

What going to be when you grow up? I going to be a football player for the Steelers.

Who are you going to marry? Mommy.

Anything else you want to talk about? Napkins. Groceries. And batteries. Hockey Jerseys. Also football guys.

Well, it’s been good talking to you. I hope you have a good year being three. Okay, thanks Mom.

An Early Boo From Us to You

2011-10-30T21:07:00.002-05:00

Big day tomorrow . . . .

The Apple of My Eye

2011-10-19T10:19:00.004-05:00

We have a lovely, little apple tree right in the middle of our city backyard. When I laid eyes on this 80+ year-old tree, my mind ran wild with the possibilities. I was smitten from the start.

Our little tree produces fruit every other year. It is fascinating, messy and overwhelming all at the same time. Watching the progression from spring until fall is truly amazing. Cleaning up the dozens and dozens of apples that fall to the ground each day is not as amazing (although every squirrel in Wicker Park is helping to do their part by carrying away half-chewed apples to save as a snack for later).

The picking and apple sauce making have become family rituals. And I love it when one of my littles says to me, "Mom, will you make me an apple pie?" How could I say no?

In a week or two, most of the apples will be gone. We're doing our best to make use of as many as we can (and giving away apples to anyone who is interested).

I already can't wait for spring of 2013 when I see the pink buds appear and we can do this all over again.

Let's Go Bears!

2011-09-18T08:59:00.004-05:00

There is a crazy amount of jersey wearing, tackling and (attempted) punting going on in my yard these days.

And when they aren't playing football, they seem to be watching football.

So Go Bears.
And Steelers.
And the Wolverines.
And the Fighting Irish too.

{so much football}

Attention: Moms Interested in Making Some Extra Money

2011-09-15T21:06:00.005-05:00

Over the summer, I told you about a unique, local company called Focuscope. This company is looking for moms who want to share their opinions in exchange for a very fair compensation. Your thoughts and ideas in exchange for money. That simple.

There is one upcoming opportunity in particular that I want to tell you about. Focuscope Market Research is looking for Moms with children under 13 years of age to participate in a research survey on the topic of children’s entertainment. This project is taking place at their Chicago and Oak Park offices. The compensation is $125.00 for a 2 hour focus group (not bad for two hours of your time). Prescreening is required in order to qualify. And don't worry, absolutely no sales are involved in this experience. Focuscope just wants to hear your opinions.

Interested? Please call 708-386-5086 and ask to speak with Daisy in order to learn more. And Don't delay -- the deadline to apply for this opportunity is September 23rd.

Cross-posted on Wee Windy City.

Back to School for my BIG KIDS!

2011-08-29T21:30:00.003-05:00

It's that time of year again.

Ellie has been at this for awhile now. You can take a little trip down back-to-school memory lane by clicking here (she was soooo small when I sent her off to preschool!).

Of course, Brendan has already been to school before as well.

But this is the first time that they are heading off to school together. And it is pretty cool.

As for Colin, he insisted on bringing his little backpack along as well. However, he was fine to say goodbye to the big kids and head to Target with me to pick up a new baseball bat.

Next year, little man.

Spicy Little Things

2011-08-14T20:36:00.002-05:00

I've had a bumper pepper crop this year. I am picking poblanos, serranos and jalapenos daily.

We eat our fair share of peppers, but we can't keep up (and I can't bear to let all these lovely peppers that I've been cultivating go to waste).

In an effort to preserve some of these tasty little guys, I came across a really simple recipe for brining peppers and decided to give it a try.

They are in the fridge right now -- getting all sweet and salty (and of course, hot).

I have lots of plans for these preserved peppers (only a small portion of them will come to fruition I am sure).

I'll report back in a week or so with the tasty (or not-so-tasty results). And let me know if you like peppers -- I've got plenty to share!

Keep on Canning (plus a giveaway)!

2011-08-08T17:08:00.005-05:00

A few summers ago, I got it in my head that I should start making jam. So I did. I bought a flat of raspberries from Seedling at the Green City Market, a few boxes of pectin, some jars and then I made some raspberry jam.

This jam was so tasty that I decided to give away all of the jars that I had made and then make some more.

This raspberry jam ritual has become a fun part of summer for our family. I make jam. I give my jam away to people who seem interested. They eat up all of of their jam and return the empty jars to me (I assume in the hopes that I will fill them up with jam again).

In case I haven't made it clear yet, I really, really like to make raspberry jam. But that is the extent of my canning experience. I am stuck on raspberry jam.

This summer, I plan to expand my horizons. When I learned that August 13 is National Can-It-Forward Day, I felt inspired to take my canning to the next level -- tomatoes! I am going to can salsa, sauce and just plain old tomatoes.

Jarden Home Brands, makers of the classic Ball and Mason jars, has teamed up with Canning Across America to sponsor Can-It-Forward Day (this day-long celebration will feature home canning parties, local events and online instructional canning videos and cooking demos).

If all of this talk about canning (and yummy, yummy jam) has you thinking about giving canning a try, I have a fabulous opportunity to share with you. The truth is that canning requires just a few simple tools (but you do need to carefully follow the instructions in order to ensure that your food is properly preserved). The maker of Ball jars makes a Canning Discovery Kit that gives first-timers easy-to-follow recipes and the basic tools to get started. Ball sent me one of these kits to try and I've really enjoyed the contents (again, see photo of raspberry jam above).

Ball has generously offered me one Canning Discovery Kit to give away to one of you. All you need to do is leave a comment on this post (be sure to leave your name and contact info so I can find you if you win!). You get another entry if you share this post via Twitter or Facebook (just leave a comment letting me know that you did that too). All comments must be received by Wednesday, August 17 at midnight. I will select a winner using random.org and contact that lucky individual next week.

Swim, Jump, Sun. Repeat.

2011-07-27T11:47:00.001-05:00

This is what we've been up to for the past few weeks.
Hope you are having a much fun as we are.

Focuscope Wants Moms Like You

2011-07-07T21:07:00.006-05:00

Moms are really smart, resourceful people. They have to be. When you are responsible for the day-to-day details for all of the little people in your life, you have to be on your game!

Moms are schedulers, shoppers, medics, coaches, teachers, cooks, maids and more. Moms know how to multitask, make ends meet and keep everybody in the family happy – and they do it every single day.

Focuscope Inc. , a local, family-owned market research company, knows how valuable moms and their opinions are. Focuscope Inc. is looking for Chicago-area moms to add to its database for future paid opportunities (that’s right – real, cash money in your pocket).

Members of the Focsuscope database are eligible to participate in various research projects, including focus groups, taste tests, product testing, and in-home studies. Focuscope, Inc has three locations: Oak Park, Chicago, and Oak Brook.

To become part of the database, all you need to do is complete an online form. Once you’ve completed the application process, you can expect to be contacted by Focuscope at some point in the future to determine if you are a good fit for specific projects. If you are chosen for a project, you will be compensated for your time (the compensation varies from project to project). If you aren’t chosen for a particular project, your name remains on the database and you will be contacted again for future opportunities.

Does this sound like something you might be interested in (after all, you too are a smart mama)? Simply fill out this form to apply to become part of the Focuscope database or you can click on the Focuscope badge on the right-hand sidebar to learn more about the company.

Disclosure: Focuscope is a new sponsor here on A Hen and Two (now Three) Chicks.

In Defense of Boredom

2011-06-28T22:02:00.004-05:00

By now, I imagine that you and your little people are fully into the swing of summer. I know that we are (ice cream cones two nights in a row, kids up until 9:30 every night because it is so bright out, swimming every single day).

I can't believe that the 4th of July is nearly here. Sometimes summer seems to move so darn fast. With that in mind, I wanted to tell you about a story that I wrote in the June issue of Chicago Parent Magazine. It is called In Defense of Boredom: The Case for Underscheduling Your Kids This Summer.

I wrote this as mostly as a reminder to myself to take advantage of all of the opportunities that summer presents to take things a little bit slower. I hope you'll have a look.

Our Lil' Sluggers

2011-06-22T22:59:00.007-05:00

Fun with Flubber!

2011-06-15T19:17:00.003-05:00

There will be a day this summer when you think to yourself, "What the heck are we going to do today? I am totally out of ideas." And that should be the day that you make flubber.

This was one of our all-time favorite craft projects. It is a hit with both little and big kids. You too will find the whole process sort of fascinating. Bottom line: flubber is super cool.

Here are my instructions for making flubber from my June craft story in Chicago Parent Magazine in case you want to give it a try sometime.

Float Your Boat!

2011-05-27T11:29:00.004-05:00

When I looked out my kitchen window at the puddles that remain in my backyard after yesterday's deluge, I remembered that I forgot to share my "make your own paper boat" craft with you from the May issue of Chicago Parent Magazine.

This is a super easy and straightforward craft. And all you need is some paper and tape so it's perfect for those "what the heck should we do now" moments.

Happy sailing!

What He Had to Say on His Fifth Birthday

2011-05-02T06:41:00.001-05:00

Brendan didn't have a lot of interest in my birthday interview this year. And who can blame him. When you are ridiculously handsome and sweet, who's got time to sit around while your Mom asks you dumb questions? But I managed to get a few tidbits out of him any way.

Happy Birthday big man.

Favorites:

Cereal- Cheerios

Vegetable- Red peppers

Drink- Milk

Toy- LEGOS

TV Show- Wild Kratts

Game- Hi-Ho-Cheerio

Book- The Jungle Book

Dinner – Pizza and pesto

Lunch – Buttered noodles

Breakfast - pancakes

Holiday- Christmas and Easter

Animal – Tigers and lions and giraffes

Color – red, blue, orange and yellow

Things to do at school – "Make maps and books like the bird book and the mammal book."
Sport – baseball, football, and hockey

What do you want for your birthday? "LEGOS! LEGOS! and tractors and trailers like my Grandma got me. Also some workers."

What do you love about each person in our family?

Daddy – Because he is nice like when he takes us to Arizona.

Mommy – Cuddling with you.

Ellie - She lets me play with her. She helped my build my LEGO police helicopter.

Colin – He lets my ride his bug.

Where would you like to go on vacation this year? Pittsburgh.

What are some of your wishes for this year? "Maybe I will lose a tooth. I think I am going to like kindergarten because I am going to get to do homework."

What makes you happy? "Ellie because when I hurt myself she gives me her stuffed animal to sleep with."

What makes you sad? "Nothing."

How old is your Mom? "15" (thanks, buddy)

How tall is your Mom? Showing with hands "This tall."

What is her favorite thing to do? "Spending your time with me."

What does Dad do for a job? "Work."

What is Dad’s favorite food? "Pizza."

What does our family like to do together? "Play baseball."

What going to be when you grow up? "A guy who is silly and laughs like a clown."

Who are you going to marry? "I don't know. I am going to live by myself with two Huskie dogs."

What was the best part of your bowling party today? "Opening my presents."

Totally toothless in Chicago

2011-04-28T19:52:00.004-05:00

Ellie lost both of her two front teeth this week -- one at Easter brunch (to the total horror of her two year-old cousin who could not believe her eyes) and the other came out tonight when she gave it a little pull.

Ellie is delighted at the prospect of being visited by the tooth fairy twice in one week (who wouldn't be?)

When I tucked her in tonight, she said, "No apples in my lunch tomorrow, okay Mom?"

No apples for awhile Ellie Bellie.

What She Had to Say on her 7th Birthday

2011-04-21T06:38:00.001-05:00

Time for my favorite blog posts of the year -- the birthday interviews! As always, Ellie had lots of interesting things to say. As always, I think she is the most fabulous little girl a mom could ask for. Happy 7th Birthday to you, Ellie!

Favorites:

Cereal: Three Sister's Graham Cereal

Vegetable: broccoli

Drink: water

Toy: American Girl Dolls

TV Show: Wild Kratts

Game: Hide-and-seek

Book: "The Puppy Place Series. My favorite so far is Buddy. It's like the best one ever."

Dinner: "I have three: Mommy's homemade mac and cheese; Dad's steak with Bernaise sauce and the skirt steak with that butter sauce, mashed potatoes and green beans."

Lunch: Mac and cheese

Breakfast: Waffles

Holiday: "Is your birthday a holiday? No. Actually Christmas."

Animal: Puppy Dog!

Doll: "I need to pick three. Kit, Ruthie and Bitty Baby -- I call her Lulu. I have two babies named Lulu. I am reading a book with a character named Lulu in it . She likes horses."

Color: blue and green

Thing to do at school: "Recess and there is some subjects that I like as well. Art, dance, technology, library, and I think that's it. Oh, and music."

Sport: ice skating

What do you want for your birthday? "American Girl Dolls stuff, Pet Shop Stuff, Critters for my doll house and maybe some new clothe."s

If you could change your name, what would you choose? "Ava. Because then I would be one of the first people in line."

What do you love about each person in our family?

I love Dad because he takes us on trips.

I love my Mom because she signs us up for good things that we like.

Brendan: He is funny!

Colin – That he is also funny.

Where would you like to go on vacation this year? "To horseyland. Where is that? In the middle of the world."

What are some of your wishes for this year? "Well, I hope that Alex and me have lots of playdates and we start that Puppy Place town we are going to do. I started the idea and Alex added things into it. He decided to buy this area of property and I thought it would be good to buy this whole street. Then I decided that this should be near Disneyland so that people would be like, 'This is a great area. It is so close to Disneyland.' So I decided that is where the area should be. This might happen when we are a little bit older or maybe an adult will help us. I think we are going to call it Puppy Place Street, but I don't know yet."

What makes you happy? "My family, My friends, my teachers."

What makes you sad? "When someone is mean to me or I do something wrong."

How old is your Mom? 34

How tall is your Mom? "Pretty tall, but not as tall as Dad."

What is her favorite thing to do? "Play with our family."

What does Dad do for a job? "He works at the Sear's Tower."

What is your mom's favorite food? "I don't know."

What is Dad’s favorite food? Fish.

What does our family like to do together? "Play outside and have fun together."

What going to be when you grow up? "A mommy. I am also going to be a teacher, ballet teacher, and I think that's it."

Who are you going to marry? "Joey. I don't know."

Anything else you want to talk about? "Well, that I hope that Lily* is able to come to my birthday party and celebrate it with me and that everyone has a good time and that I have a good birthday."

* Those of you who know Ellie probably know that this is the name of her imaginary friend who lives in California. But she also has a real friend named Lily and that is who she is talking about here.

If you are interested in what she had to say in years past, you can find it here.

Time to make the Easter Eggs!

2011-04-18T11:33:00.005-05:00

Looking for a fun alternative to store-bought dyes? Read more about using bleeding tissue paper in my craft story in the April issue of Chicago Parent Magazine.

Switchin' Up Friday Night

2011-04-09T14:36:00.005-05:00

By the time Friday night rolls around each week, I am one tired mama.

Friday nights at our house usually consist of take out or a lame dinner (because mama loses her cooking inspiration as the week moves along), super overtired kids who end up crashing into bed around 7:30, and the same conversation about how we wish there were better movie choices on On Demand or that we would manage our Netflix queue in a more organized fashion.

We are invariable in bed (or falling asleep on the couch) by 10:30.

Exciting stuff. Sometime routines like this can start to feel -- quite routine.

We were recently offered the opportunity to switch up our Friday night routine and try something new. So we did. Cottonelle Brand (yes, the makers of toilet paper) arranged for a swanky date night for us. A car service (so fancy!) picked me up at our house around 5:45 and then we swung into the loop to grab David from work.

Next, we were off to Graham Elliot for a fabulous meal. Want to hear about our meal? Okay, I'll tell you.

I started off with an Elliot Spritzer ("pineau de charantes, haus-alpez orchard apricot, organge bitters, cremant d'alsace"). I honestly don't know what any of those things are, but I can highly recommend the cocktail. David had something called the Scarlet Letter made with gin. It was apparently tasty, but it certainly wasn't as sparkly and pretty as my beverage.

As we looked over the menu, we munched on the most amazing popcorn I've ever had (Parmesean cheese, truffle oil, fresh chives). We decided to order a la carte instead of doing one of the tasting menus because we wanted to try a bunch of different dishes. We each eat half of our plate -- and then we switch. This way, we get to try six different dishes. Maybe not the most polite fine dining behavior, but . . . whatever.

For our cold course, I have the fluke tartare and David had the game birds. Both were delish. For the hot course, David had a sweetbread empanada and I had the chicken noodle dish -- a deconstructed version of chicken noodle soup. This was one of the tastier things I had the pleasure of eating in my whole life. The dish consists of "thyme tagliatelle, celery x5, carrot marshmallow, and hen veloute." So the dish contained a orange puffy marshmallow, crumbled carrot "cereal," a little piece of chicken wrapped in the homemade noodle and various other components that I couldn't identify. The waiter then poured the "hen veloute" -- which is a fancy word for the most delicious chicken gravy I've ever had in in my life into the bowl. I would eat this dish every day if I could. Despite the very unconventional presentation, this was delightful comfort food.

Then we were on to the main course (more food!). David ordered the black bass with smoked leeks, salted marcona, tomato marmalade, and creme fraiche. Super yummy. I had waygu beef with trumpet mushrooms, roquefort custard, salsify frites, and arugula puree.

The food was fabulous. My date was charming and handsome. It was a delightful Friday night. The experience reminded me of how important it is to take a break from our busy, daily routine and try something new. I am always so glad that we made the effort (and I am reminded of how much I like to hang out with my husband).

Cottonelle, the folks behind my "Friday night switch" are holding a sweepstakes now through may 1st. Each day, you can win a new prize that might help you switch things in in your own routines. Prizes include digital cameras, couples massages and manicures for a year. Check out www.CottonelleUltraSwitch.com to enter to win and learn more about how this fun giveaway works.

Disclosure: Cottonelle Brand provided us with complimentary car service and two American Express Gift Cards (one for dinner and the other for pizza and snacks for the kids and babysitter). We also received a 12-pack of Cottonelle Ultra bath tissue (which I have yet to open, but seems like nice, soft toilet paper).

My Happy Place

2011-03-28T21:11:00.002-05:00

You know how you are supposed to have a "happy place" -- a place where you can mentally transport yourself when a nurse is about to draw blood or a someone launches into a painfully boring story?

This beach on Sanibel Island is my happy place. It is spectacularly beautiful and serene.

I have been happily sitting on this sand and splashing in the surf here for over 10 years now.

First, just David and I would visit this beach -- along with his family.

Over the years, we've added three more beach-goers -- making my happy place even . . . happier.

Hi There Park. It's So Good to See You Again

2011-03-16T10:23:00.000-05:00

Thank goodness for the warmth, the sun, the hour and a half or so spent outdoors after school.

We have missed you so very much.

Use Your Noodle!

2011-03-10T13:27:00.005-06:00

We eat a fair amount of pasta at our house. I like to serve it with a homemade pesto or a veal ragu or even just a simple tomato sauce (last night's dinner). However, sometimes I give in to the request for plain buttered noodles. I'm not thrilled about it, but I do it in the name of keeping the peace.

When I an whipping up some buttered noodles for someone's lunch, I often don't cook the whole box of pasta -- and then my cabinets ends up being cluttered with quarter-full boxes of pasta of various shapes and cooking times. So that's no good.

Those nearly empty boxes of pasta were the inspiration for my craft column in Chicago Parent this month. With the help of my handy glue gun, we built this "noodle choo choo train" with pasta shapes that we already had at home. Who knows what you can make with what you have in your cabinet?

The K. Grace Experience: Flexible, Convenient Babysitting in Chicago -- Part Four

2011-02-22T11:16:00.006-06:00

Sara and I hope that we have given you a good feel for the client experience at K. Grace Childcare, but we recognize that a few questions may remain. Based on the feedback we've gotten from readers, we thought that we would create our very own "FAQ" (Frequently Asked Questions) post to try and tie up any loose ends.

(1) How much does K. Grace cost?

Once your application is accepted, fees are collected on a monthly basis based on hours used in that calendar month. After the first three months*, the fees are as follows:

1-25 hour placement (in a given calendar month): $55
25-100 hour placement (in a given calendar month): $100
101-140 hour placement (in a given calendar month): $125
140-400 hour placement (in a given calendar month): $200

* For the first three months that you are a client, an additional $100 per month fee applies.

Additional fees also apply for last minute placements, overnight placements, and cancellation fees. And if you don’t use any hours in a month (say, like if you take an extended vacation or your mother-in-law comes to town and becomes your live-in babysitter), then you aren’t charged anything at all for that month. So you just end up paying for the service hours that you actually use.

Is this service cheap? No, but it’s true what they say: you really do get what you pay for. K. Grace is licensed by the city and state, fully insured and bonded, and all staff are licensed employment counselors. And of course, they put every sitter through an intensive screening process. The fees that K. Grace charges its clients covers the costs of providing first-rate childcare to Chicago families.

(2) What do the sitters think about this process?

K. Grace obviously wouldn't exist were it not for the extremely well-qualified babysitters they employ. Here is what some of the K. Grace sitters have to say about their experiences.

K. Grace's thorough interview process not only let me know that I would be
joining true professional childcare providers but also made me feel proud
because I knew my accomplishments in the childcare field were valued. The
mutual respect and high standards make K. Grace a great fit for me.
As someone who came to K. Grace for a second income, I more often find
myself making time (in my already full schedule) because of the families I
get to work with as opposed to a financial goal. The families are truly
great and each experience has been wonderful! - Susie Fogle

K Grace's interview process was the most rigorous of any other job I've had.
There is clearly great care in choosing sitters for jobs as each job I have
been assigned to through K Grace has been a perfect fit! If I were a parent
looking for a babysitter, I would not hesitate to call K Grace.
- Jami Garton

When going through the hiring process for K Grace, I was amazed at how
thorough it is. With two online applications, a group interview, an
individual interview, a background check, and quizzes, I have to admit that
I thought it was all a bit much. However, after having gone through it all,
I can't help but think, if I were a parent, I would want all my sitters to
have to go through the same process! It serves as K Grace's promise to
their families that they aren't willing to settle for anything but the best.
I would go through it all again in a heartbeat!
- Jenn Walton

I chose K Grace because it does what I feel are the hard parts--scheduling,
organizing, putting together important information, etc-- and lets me do all
the fun stuff! What more could a sitter ask for? I feel so supported by
the management; it was clear to me on the first interview (and very clear
after the third) that I was going to be part of a very, very capable team.
It was as if the staff at K Grace went to the produce section in the grocery
store and looked at EVERY SINGLE apple twice before deciding on the best twoor three. The questions I answered were carefully chosen, very conscientious, and each time I was asked back, my confidence in myself grew because I knew that K Grace thought I was special enough for a group of equally special kids.
- Leah Ellenbogen

(3) How can my family get to know the babysitters beforehand?

Let’s be honest – leaving your kid with someone that you don’t know very well can be stressful for everyone involved. K. Grace always wants to do whatever it can to make this introduction process go as smoothly as possible. When the new K. Grace website launches this spring, clients will receive emails from new sitters along with a photo so that your kids know who to expect when the door bell rings. K. Grace can also arrange “play dates” (with plenty of advance notice) so that your kids can spend some time with a new sitter before the first official babysitting date.

As with all areas of the K. Grace experience, the management encourages you to bring any questions or concerns to their attention. They want to do whatever they can to ensure a happy experience for you, your kids and your sitter.

(4) What can I expect when I work with a “team” of sitters?

For families who are accustomed to relying on only one or two regular babysitters, the idea of working with a “team of sitters” might be kind of intimidating. As I mentioned in last week’s post, K. Grace goes through great lengths to match your family with sitters that are right for you. They are taking into account all of the information in your detailed application – plus all of their knowledge about each individual sitter and making the best possible matches.

If you have a reoccurring needs (like every Tuesday afternoon), then you can pretty much expect to have the same sitter each week. If you have a one-time request, K. Grace checks with all of your previous sitters (according to how you have ranked them) before moving on to a new sitter. So as your “team” grows, the chances of having a new sitter decreases.

Plus, because K. Grace sitters follow certain protocols and procedures, you can expect a level of consistent quality from each and every sitter. As a client, I can tell you that my experience with K. Grace has encouraged me to think about my childcare needs on a more long-term basis. For example, K. Grace encourages clients to request their placements for a given month at one time whenever possible. This kind of advance notice allows for a great chance that the same sitter will be available to cover more of your family’s requests.

(5) How is this service different from just finding good babysitters on my own?

I have found that K. Grace not only saves me time finding sitters and then booking them for particular dates, but I’ve also realized that I could never do the type of thorough screening that they do on my own. I don’t have the time or resources for background checks, interviews and training sessions with every single potential sitter. I can’t really imagine myself asking each sitter for proof of their CPR certification. K. Grace does all of this for each and every client.

I’ve also come to really value the fact that I can always count on the K. Grace sitters (as opposed to running the risk that my own sitter might get sick or cancel). When K. Grace says that you will have sitter for a certain time and date, you can rest assured that a sitter will be there -- on time and ready to take excellent care of your kiddos.

Did we answer your question? If not, please feel free to email Kayme, the owner of K. Grace Childcare at info@kgracechildcare.com. Trust me, she will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have (she is super friendly and a parent of two herself).

Does this personalized and detail-oriented childcare service sound like something that might make be a helpful addition to your family life? Want to try it out? K. Grace is offering you the chance to win a $160 voucher towards placement services (which is fantastic -- because you will have the chance to use a few different K. Grace sitters and really get a feel for the experience over time). Note that, in order to provide the best level of service to their clients, certain geographic limitations apply and the winner is responsible for compensating the babysitter for her/his time).

There are two ways you can enter to win: (1) leave a comment on this post (be sure to include your contact information so we can reach you if you win! and (2) Become a fan of K. Grace childcare on Facebook. So 2 total entries per person. All entries must be received by midnight CST on Monday, February 28, 2011. We will contact all of the winners from all of the giveaways next week.

Disclosure: I am working with K. Grace to help spread the word about their services and I am being compensated for my time.

The Happy Couple

2011-02-21T22:22:00.004-06:00

Eleanor and David before their second (annual, I hope) Father Daughter Dance.

The K. Grace Experience: Flexible and Convenient Childcare in Chicago -- Part 3

2011-02-15T06:10:00.000-06:00

This post is the third installment in a series about the K. Grace Childcare experience. Need to catch up? Read Part One here and Part Two over on Self-Made Mom.

I've had good babysitters. I've had terrible babysitters. And I've had babysitters that were . . . you know . . . just fine.

In my ongoing search for childcare for my kiddos, I've learned that not all sitters are a good fit for every family. Have you ever had a friend recommend a babysitter to you and then find yourself surprised when you didn't love this sitter as much as your friend and her family do? I don't think that is an uncommon experience. The truth is that the term "good sitter" means something different to everyone.

At K. Grace Childcare, they take steps to ensure that you not only get a great sitter -- but you get a sitter that is a great fit for your family. And honestly, I am not sure how you would be able to conduct this sort of intensive, personalized screening process on your own. It really is unique to the K. Grace experience.

Before you become a client at K. Grace, you spend some time (I would say that it took me about 15 minutes total) to complete their online application form. This detailed questionnaire is designed to elicit all sorts of information -- from any special needs that your kids have to your approach to discipline at home. The form also provides plenty of opportunities for you to share as much information as you want (like whether or not television is allowed or any other special requests).

After you fill out the online form, all clients receive a call from Erin Barlow, the client services manager at K. Grace. She follows up in detail (serious detail) about how the screening process works and how certain sitters are determined to be a good match for your family. Erin explained to me that after the K. Grace sitters complete a rigorous application process, they are trained to follow a certain "baseline protocol." For example, every K. Grace sitter will remove her shoes upon entering you home and wash her hands before interacting with your children. The sitters all know to engage the children right away and keep a detailed log of their activities while you are gone (which is so helpful because you know all of the ins and outs of meals, sleeping, diaper changes and moods when you return home).

When I recently used K. Grace sitter Abby to hang out with my little guy Colin for a few hours during the day, she kept a fantastic (and also adorable) log. She noted how long Colin napped -- and also that she had heard him cough over the monitor a few times (this was helpful information given that he was developing a little cold). She also noted that he was a bit upset when he first woke up, but then adjusted and devoured his snack. Abby even mentioned that she was impressed with Colin's communication skills! See -- helpful and adorable.

K. Grace also does their best to provide you with the type of sitter introduction that you are looking for. When their new website debuts in the spring, clients will even receive a photo and personalized email from new sitters (which creates the opportunity for you to say, "Hey guys, come here so I can show you a picture of our new friend Abby!"). If a client wants to meet their prospective sitter before the first official sitting date, K. Grace will do their best to arrange such a meeting.

When we recently tried two new K. Grace sitters, we received emails from Erin Barlow with information about each sitter prior to her arrival. For example, I knew where each sitter attended school (plus her major!) and whether she was local to my neighborhood. The email also included information about the sitter's other jobs or hobbies, plus feedback from other K. Grace clients. These "recommendations" from fellow clients provided very helpful insight into each sitter's individual personality.

I found this experience to be so very different from having a new person show up at my door to watch my kids. I already knew a lot about each sitter before she arrived. Plus, I felt confident that the folks at K. Grace has put lots of thought into matching these particular babysitters to our family.

Client feedback is another crucial component in the personalized service. K. Grace requires clients to provide online feedback whenever they have a new sitter. This information helps them know what type of sitter to send to your house on your next request. When you make a placement request, K. Grace first reaches out to sitters that you have ranked a "10" in the past. They wait to hear back about availability from all of those sitters before they move down the list to sitters that you've given a lower rank.

Does this personalized and detail-oriented childcare service sound like something that might make be a helpful addition to your family life? Want to try it out? K. Grace is offering a Chicago family the chance to experience their placement process for free (a $40 value). The winner will have the opportunity to experience what it is like to be a client at K. Grace (note that, in order to provide the best level of service to their clients, certain geographic limitations apply and the winner is responsible for compensating the babysitter for her/his time).

There are two ways you can enter to win: (1) leave a comment on this post (be sure to include your contact info so we can reach you if you win!) and (2) Become a fan of K. Grace Childcare on Facebook. So 2 total entries per person. All entries must be received by midnight (CST) on Monday, February 21, 2011.

If you don't win this week, check back here on Tuesday, February 22nd for the final installment in this four-part series on finding flexible and convenient childcare in Chicago -- plus, you'll have another chance to win a free placement from K. Grace!

Disclosure: I am working with K. Grace to help spread the word about their services and I am being compensated for my time.

Family-Friendly Fondue

2011-02-11T21:11:00.000-06:00

If there were ever a time to try fondue -- this is it. The weather is miserable. We are basically snowed in -- except for absolutely essential outings.

Bring on the melted cheese and chocolate, I say!

Fondue can be a fun and novel family activity. Plus, it is yummy. Really yummy.

Interested? Have a look at my story in Chicago Parent about family-friendly fondue options.

The K. Grace Experience: Flexible, Convenient Babysitting in Chicago -- Part One

2011-02-01T06:00:00.001-06:00

The truth is that I don't actually get out all that much. Most days, I am quite happy to just hang out at home tending to the needs of the little people in my life. But sometimes Mommy needs to get some work done -- or have a night out with Daddy -- or get my hair highlighted. You know, the "stuff" that all moms sometimes need to do.

But I absolutely cannot focus on my work or enjoy my "personal time" unless I am confident that my kiddos are in the care of a competent and kind caregiver. And as all of you parents out there know, finding competent and kind caregivers is not always an easy thing to do.

I have some regular sitters that I can rely on and trust. However, these babysitters each have their own busy lives -- full of other commitments. It is not unusual for me to reach out to three or four different potential babysitters before I find someone -- particularly during the day time hours. I have also had situations where I just haven't been able to find a sitter so I ended up canceling or rescheduling my plans.

Let's just say this -- finding consistent, reliable, quality childcare has not been an easy thing for me. And I have often wondered why this process can sometimes be so complicated and time-consuming.

Recently, my search for quality babysitting in the city led me to K. Grace Childcare. Maybe you've never heard of this company -- but I bet that you are exactly the type of family that would benefit from their services. K. Grace Childcare primarily offers part-time babysitting that fits into any family's ever-changing schedules (hey, like us!). That unique feature is why this service has been a perfect fit for my family.

K. Grace Childcare specializes in providing Chicago families with professional childcare services whenever they need it -- whether it be a one-time evening request or a reoccurring weekly time slot. Basically, when you need a top-notch babysitter, all you have to do is let K. Grace know and they will find you a sitter who is beyond qualified for the job.

So that means you don't have to email or call your entire list of available sitters to find someone for next Tuesday afternoon. As a client of K. Grace, you simply make a request for a sitter (ideally more than 48 hours in advance but they can work with less). K. Grace then selects from a "team" of sitters who they have already determined to be good matches for your family (based on both their extensive screening process and your completed application).

This sitter will show up at your house on time, take wonderful care of your kiddos, and allow you the piece of mind to get done whatever it is you need to take care of. It's pretty fantastic. This flexible service is perfect for such a range of circumstances -- everything from changing work schedules to days off of school or activities that conflict with a baby's nap schedule.

For example, on a Wednesday afternoon in late January, I volunteered to help out with my daughter's girl scout meeting so I needed someone to stay with my four-and-two year-old boys. I had booked a sitter weeks ago, but she had a change in her school schedule and had to cancel. I reached out to K. Grace and they sent a wonderful babysitter named Bailey over to our house. She kept my little guys entertained, successfully managed a somewhat complicated schedule of kiddie drop-offs and pick-ups and even dealt with a throw up incident. Most importantly, my boys loved her.

Does this service sound like something that might make your life a little bit easier? Want to try it out? K. Grace is offering a Chicago family the chance to experience their placement process for free (a $40 value). The winner will have the opportunity to experience what it is like to be a client at K. Grace (note that, in order to provide the best level of service to their clients, certain geographic limitations apply and the winner is responsible for compensating the babysitter for her/his time).

There are two ways you can enter to win: (1) leave a comment on this post (be sure to include your contact info so we can reach you if you win!) and (2) Become a fan of K. Grace Childcare on Facebook. So 2 total entries per person. All entries must be received by midnight (CST) on Monday, February 7, 2011.

And if you don't win this week, come back on Tuesday, February 8th for the next installment in this four-part series on finding flexible and convenient childcare in Chicago.

Next Tuesday, we will be talking more about exactly how the K. Grace Childcare process works from both a provider and client standpoint -- plus, you'll have another chance to win a free placement from K. Grace!

Disclosure: I am working with K. Grace to help spread the word about their services and I am being compensated for my time.

Four Days of Giveaways from Little Beans Cafe: A Little Time for Mama

2011-01-27T07:19:00.002-06:00

Listen -- I like quality playtime with my kiddos as much as the next mama, but I am not afraid to admit that sometimes I need a little break.

And by break, I don't mean a leisurely nap or anything like that. Sometimes I need a break from my kids so that I can attend to all of the other pressing issues in my life -- like paying bills, finishing up work assignments, actually having an adult conversation with a friend, or getting through the myriad of items on my to-do list.

Sometimes Mommy needs a minute of alone time (preferably with a hot beverage and something sweet to go with it).

Luckily for me, the newly-opened Little Beans Cafe can help with this kind of predicament. In addition to being a fabulous indoor play space and cafe destination for city families, Little Beans Cafe has a few really unique offerings for parents -- including supervised play and several other "mom-centric" offerings such as manicures and yoga classes.

Supervised play is basically on-site entertainment and fun for your kiddo while you return that phone call or meet your deadline in the adjacent cafe space. Your little ones will be placed in age -appropriate groups with a trained staff member who will keep them entertained with various activities and projects while you do what you need to do (while remaining on site). Parents must sign up in advance to reserve their space. Supervised play costs $20 for 1 and a half hours (admission to play space included).

Another great mama-only option is the Mommy Time Yoga class offered several times a week. Be sure to check back and see what other mama-offerings are added to the calendar in the coming weeks (I've heard rumors about manicures and classes on how to make your own baby food!).

In the spirit of celebrating quality mommy time, Little Beans Cafe is giving away one free play date package -- a play date for a group of up to 10 people. This would be a fabulous chance to get together with some of the mamas in your life that you never get to really sit and talk to. Let the kids explore the custom Little Beans village while you sip coffee and catch up.

There are a couple of ways you can enter to win this fab prize: (1) leave a comment on this post (make sure you include your contact info so we can get in touch with you if you win!); (2) Become a Fan of Little Beans Cafe on Facebook (and leave a separate comment telling me that you've done so); and (3) Follow @LittleBeansCafe on Twitter (and leave a separate comment telling me that you've done so).

So three total entries per person. All entries must be received by midnight CST on Friday, January 28, 2011. We will randomly choose and winner and contact that lucky, lucky individual on Monday, January 31, 2011.

This is the final giveaway of the week. If you haven't done so already, be sure to enter to win the other amazing prizes listed below (but hurry, because time is running out!)

Four Days of Giveaways from Little Beans Cafe: Play, Play All Day!

2011-01-24T08:42:00.001-06:00

Have you heard about the hottest new opening in town -- at least for the age 6-and-under set? Trust me when I tell you that Little Beans Cafe (an indoor play space and family cafe located near Elston and Webster) is going to be the place to be for Chicago families this winter.

Little Beans offers the perfect combination of fun for kiddos and comfort and convenience for parents. It is part imaginative play space and part family cafe. Kids can play, run and explore in the customized indoor interactive village (which is a-maz-ing!) while mom and/or dad grab something yummy to eat from the cafe.

Little Beans is really all about creating opportunities for Chicago families to engage in imaginative play together. Drop-ins are $12 per child (plus $7 for each additional sibling). Adults are free. Stop in and let your kids explore this interactive, creative space while you grab an Intelligentsia coffee, goodies from Flirty Cupcakes or one of the many other fantastic menu offerings (seriously, yummy stuff for you and the kiddos).

Want to get in on the fun? For free? Little Beans is giving away a one-month unlimited membership (Value: $85). There are a couple of ways you can enter to win this fab prize: (1) leave a comment on this post (make sure you include your contact info so we can get in touch with you if you win!); (2) Become a Fan of Little Beans Cafe on Facebook (and leave a separate comment telling me that you've done so); and (3) Follow @LittleBeansCafe on Twitter (and leave a separate comment telling me that you've done so).

So three total entries per person. All entries must be received by midnight CST on Friday, January 28, 2011. We will randomly choose and winner and contact that lucky, lucky individual on Monday, January 31, 2011.

Wait, there's more -- lots more! All week long, Self-Made Mom (Sara Fisher), Sassy Moms in the City (Alison Ray) and I are going to be giving away fantastic items from Little Beans as we gear up for our big Media/VIP event at Little Beans Cafe on Friday.

So enter to win this great prize right now and then head over to Self-Made Mom's site tomorrow to see what cool Little Beans item she is giving away to a lucky reader (could even be you!).

Disclosure: I am working with Little Beans Cafe to help promote the grand opening and Media/VIP Event. I am being compensated for my time.

Our Week with Penny: A Retrospective

2011-01-20T12:46:00.003-06:00

Another snack, Penny? Sure, Why not.

Let's play ball in the backyard! Everybody -- snowsuits on! Let's go!

Back to my spot on the living room couch.

More playing! More playing!

And . . . back to the couch again.

We miss you Penny (some of the little people in the house really, really miss you).

We Got a Dog! (well, sort of)

2011-01-13T20:20:00.002-06:00

Meet Penny!

She really belongs to my sister and her family -- but this week, she belongs to us!

When Ellie was about three years-old, she asked me when we could get a dog. Like an idiot, I said, "When you are ten."

Of course, she remembers that exchange perfectly and we've been in a count-down ever since.

Most days, the three-and-a-half year wait until Ellie actually turns ten seems entirely too short and I rue the day I ever uttered those words.

With all of the people and needs that we already have in our house, I often question my ability to competently deal with more potty and discipline issues.

But when the opportunity to babysit Penny for a few days arose, we jumped on it. So this week, we are giving it a trial run.

Admittedly, this isn't really a true trial because Penny is the easiest dog ever. But she still needs to be fed, played with, let out and loved. And I actually think we're doing a pretty darn good job so far.

Miss Penny is pretty nice to have around actually. The kids love her and she seems to find them kind of intriguing, at least part of the time (and the other time she spends snoozing on my living room couch in relative silence -- which is fine too.)

Penny will be with us for a few more days. So I'll be back with updates on our so-far pawsitive foray into dog ownership.

Ice Cream Clown Sundaes for Colin

2011-01-11T15:18:00.000-06:00

We aren't really cake people.

Between Colin's egg allergy and Ellie's general anti-cake-or-cupcake sentiment, I've found that it is easier to stick to ice cream for birthday celebrations.

For Ellie's birthday last April, we made ice cream flower pots (complete with hidden gummy worms) and those were a big hit.

For Colin's recent birthday celebration, my clever and talented sister-in-law Bethany created these ice cream clowns. We dipped the rims of plain ol' sugar cones in melted chocolate and then covered them in sprinkles. Bethany piped frosting up and down the "hats" to create the most adorable puffs. We used chocolate chips for the eyes, a red M&M for the nose and a piece of Twizzler for the mouth.

Viola. Tasty and fun.

Two!

2010-12-27T23:36:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday big boy!
More to come on Colin's cross-country birthday celebrations later this week.
But for now, just sweet pictures of our babe eating sausage (of course) pizza and ice cream on his special day.

Happy Holidays from my three little superheros (and one big green monster)

2010-12-20T14:16:00.001-06:00

Eleanor, Brendan and Colin photographed at "The Big Monster Door" in the West Loop by Chi-Town Kid Photographic Art on November 7, 2010.

The Beauty of Bartering

2010-12-19T11:47:00.005-06:00

Have you ever bartered? I know that term sounds like a really old-fashioned practice, but its actually not.

I've started bartering in my own work from time to time. And I actually really like it. I've found that there is something more enduring and substantial about these sorts of exchanges. In my own experience, bartering has been the foundation of some really valued relationships.

Anyway, I became so interested in this type of exchange that I wrote a story about it. In my research, I came across all sorts of compelling stories about how individuals and small businesses are working together to get things done -- especially in this tough economy.

You can read more about this new-again practice and its collateral benefits in my piece, The Beauty of Bartering in the December issue of Mindful Metropolis. I hope you'll have a look.

Give Mamaloot a Try -- and Give Back to the Greater Chicago Food Depository at the Same Time

2010-12-14T19:52:00.002-06:00

My buddies over at Mamaloot (the awesome daily deal website geared towards Chicago parents) are running a great charitable campaign over the next 9 days or so. For every new email sign up, Mamaloot is donating a canned good to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Plus, they are donating 3% of their proceeds from December 1st-23rd to the Greater Chicago Food Depository as well.

Isn’t that awesome?

It’s so easy to sign up on their site and every day they send you an email with some really great parent-focused discounts and steals. I've gotten already gotten great deals from Psycho Baby, Green Genes, and Manic Maids.

Better yet, some of Mamaloot’s “Best of the Best” partners (Bullfrogs and Butterflies, Grow, Building Blocks, Little Threads, Psycho Baby, Pump It Up, Kid City, Green Genes, Galt Baby, Family Grounds, and Wishcraft) are also hosting in-store email sign ups and some of them are matching the food donation or making unique gives of their own. We love these partners!

So if you’re feeling open to trying something new and want to save money on stuff you are probbly already buying for your kids, go sign up! Better yet, spread the word within you own networks (like on your Facebook Page) and help to feed some hungry folks this holiday season.

Cross-posted on Wee Windy City.

Disclosure: I am working with Mamaloot to help promote this campaign and I am being compensated for my time.

Aaaacchoo! Local moms share their natural cold and flu remedies

2010-12-06T21:45:00.004-06:00

Have your kids had their fair share of sickness this cold and flu season? Mine too.

When it comes to treating common cold and flu symptoms, more and more parents are looking to natural remedies instead of the traditional over-the-counter concoctions. I recently wrote a story for Chicago Parent Magazine about some of the more popular natural remedies that local moms are using to keep their kiddos comfortable as they battle fevers, coughs and runny noses. Plus, I checked in with an experienced pediatrician to get her take on these natural remedies.

Interested? You can read more here.

Cross--posted at Wee Windy City.

My Chicago Kid Holiday Gift Guide

2010-11-30T21:48:00.001-06:00

Over the past few weeks, I've been hard at work on my Chicago Kid Holiday Gift Guide.

I reached out to some of my favorite local vendors (like Psycho Baby, Bullfrogs & Butterflies, Building Blocks, and Green Genes) in search of gift ideas with Chicago ties.

Together, we came up with a pretty darn good gift guide (if I do say so myself). All of these gift ideas celebrate our great city in some way. Your Chicago kid would be thrilled to receive any of them.

I hope you'll take a minute to check out the list -- and support these fabulous local businesses (all of whom agreed to donate their featured items to the deserving kiddos at Association House).

Happy Holidays to you and your Chicago kids!

Lil' Sluggers Baseball knocks it out of the ballpark

2010-11-24T11:38:00.003-06:00

Nearly every day, my four year-old son Brendan comes into my room around 6:15 a.m. and asks me, "Is today my baseball day?"

He is referring to his weekly Lil' Sluggers class. For nearly a year now, Brendan has been participating in the Lil' Sluggers baseball program for kids age 2-8.

He loves it. I love it. My (former college baseball player) husband loves it.

I can honestly tell you that this my absolute favorite Chicago-area extracurricular program our family has participated in. Ever. Yes, seriously.

What makes it so great, you ask?

Lil' Sluggers teaches baseball fundamentals to kids ages 2-8 in a fun, positive setting. The program offers instructional classes and well as league play. Boys and GIRLS are welcome (you go get 'em little ladies).

My son Brendan has been enrolled in a Lil' Sluggers class since January of 2010 (so we are in our fourth seasonal session). He has had the same coaches for all four sessions. The same coaches -- how rare is that? They know my son's name, his strengths and his weaknesses. Brendan knows and trusts them. In his mind, they are rock stars (Matt, Noah, and Callie -- I am talking about you). All of the coaches are consistently positive, kind and knowledgeable. And that is the real strength of the program, in my opinion. Plus, Brendan absolutely adores each and every class -- and kids know a good thing when they see it.

Each class is a series of face-paced drills. The low coach-to-kid ratio means that no one wastes time standing around waiting for their turn -- one of the many coaches is always right there working on a skill or encouraging the kids to cheer on their teammates. This format works really well, given that kids in this age group tend to have super short attention spans.

I'm no Ernie Banks (obviously), but even I can see that my four year-old is learning important fundamentals -- like using two hands to catch, sliding with one foot tucked under, and developing a consistent hitting approach.

Lil' Sluggers is a year-round program. Summer baseball takes place outside and indoor instruction is offered for the remainder of the year. We've taken classes at BASH Academy, Windy City Fieldhouse, and Waveland Park. I can recommend all of those locations to you.

Until now, Lil' Sluggers has been a city-kid-only offering. However, the program has recently expanded into the suburbs for the upcoming winter session. Your little slugger can now get in on the action in Glenview and Northfield as well.

Thinking about signing up? Have questions about how the program works? Email Coach Jeff Kapp at info@lilsluggerschicago.com.

Jeff is the man at the helm of Lil' Sluggers. He is an experienced player and coach and is very hands-on in his management of this program (trust me, he will know your kid's name too). Go ahead and email him. He will genuinely welcome your inquiries (as he has mine).

Registration for the winter session is taking place now (so get going on that). Registration for the Holiday Camps (December 27-30 at several city and suburban locations) is also ongoing -- although the Windy City Fieldhouse location is now full.

My little guy Colin is about to turn two - which means that he is almost eligible to become a Lil' Slugger himself (he can't wait to get in the game after a year of watching his big brother play). Starting soon, there will be two little faces standing next to my bed each morning asking, "Mommy is today my baseball day?"

Cross-posted at Wee Windy City.

Disclosure: Lil' Sluggers is a new sponsor here at A Hen and Two (now Three) Chicks. I am working with Coach Jeff and his crew to spread the word about their excellent program.

It's not the Greatest Show on Earth but . . . .

2010-11-19T20:25:00.003-06:00

On Wednesday night, we headed out to see the The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey show at the United Center. This has become an annual family outing for my kids and nephews.

Ms. Eleanor was excited to see the "small dogs perform." My nephew Finn was looking forward to the motorcycle extravaganza. And nearly three-year-old Seamus was nervous that the tigers wouldn't be in cages (who can blame him).

The theme of this year's show is FUNundrum. The show was intense and action-packed (maybe a little too action packed?). At any given time, there were four or five different things taking place. It was hard for me to know where to focus my attention -- and I imagine that it was tough for the little kids too.

For us, the highlights included the elephants, trapeze artists, contortionists (my 6 year-old daughter confidently announced that she thought she could perform all of their amazing feats -- which she cannot). And the of course, there were the seven motorcycles driving at full speed inside a metal cage. Trust me when I tell you that you've never seen anything like this.

The circus is in town at the United Center through November 28th. This might be a perfect activity for one night next week when the kiddos are out of school. You can even get 4 tickets for a weekday show for $44 dollars if you use the code "MOMS."

Warning: This Post Might Act as an Appetite Suppressant

2010-11-18T12:37:00.003-06:00

FYI: This fun mess was made with a tasty and simple spaghetti with chickpeas recipe from Smitten Kitchen (in case you care to recreate it in your own kitchen -- the mess or the recipe).

The Best of the Best at Bullfrogs & Butterflies (plus a $100 gift card giveaway)

2010-11-16T21:36:00.001-06:00

I am lucky to live in a neighborhood where I am surrounded by many fabulous, independently-owned shops that sell basically anything my family needs. One of my very favorite Wicker Park shops is Bullfrogs & Butterflies (a new sponsor here on A Hen and Two (now Three) Chicks!).

This wonderful kid's store has been serving my baby-and-kid-related needs since it opened in 2007. It is my go-to spot for everything from new baby presents to birthday gifts for kids under age four to basics for my own kids (like the adorable knit winter hat I just picked up for Colin a few weeks ago).

Kristen, the owner of Bullfrogs & Butterflies, carefully selects the items that she sells in her store. She doesn't have shelves filled with every baby-and-kid product or line out there -- she just carries the very best ones.

For the wee ones and mamas-to-be, she has strollers, slings, swaddle blankets, and diaper bag necessities. For the toddler set, Bullfrogs & Butterflies offers adorable and comfy clothes, shoes, accessories (like the cutest hair clips you've ever seen), plus great books and toys.

The store basically stocks everything you need to keep your kid looking cute and having fun until age four or so. Hooray for one-stop shopping!

And I love that I can always find what I am looking for when I come to the store in search of a gift -- every single time.

Bullfrogs & Butterflies has some special holiday events coming up that I wanted to mention (if you were thinking about checking out the store, these would be great times to do it).

On Saturday, December 4th and Saturday, December 11th from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m., shoppers can take (free!) photos with Santa, snack on cookies and snacks, enjoy holiday music and get special deals on toys.

Bullfrogs & Butterflies also has some other money-saving opportunities coming up as well. For every $50 you spend, you get $5 in Bullfrogs & Butterflies bucks back (redeemable from January 15th-31st). And those of you who sign up for the newsletter (right there on the left-hand sidebar on the website) or become a fan of the store on Facebook can get in the "Deal of the Week" and other special savings offers.

You can also get $5 off any purchase of $25 or more. Use coupon code XM5N2010 to shop online or print this post and bring it in to receive the $5 off any purchase of $25 or more in store (offer expires 12/24/10 and is limited to 1 per person).

And I've got one last piece of good news for you! Bullfrogs & Butterflies is giving away a $100 gift card to help one lucky reader kick-off their holiday shopping. The gift card can be used online or in the store. Want to enter to win? I've got a few different ways that you can enter:

(1) Leave a comment on this post telling me what is on your kid's holiday wish list this year (or just say hi and leave me your email address).

(2) Become a fan of Bullfrogs & Butterflies on Facebook. (Leave a separate comment telling me that you've done this).

(3) Sign up for the Bullfrogs & Butterflies newsletter on their website. (Leave a separate comment telling me that you've done this).

(4) Follow @BullfrogsShop on Twitter. (Leave a separate comment telling me that you've done this).

(5) Retweet this giveaway (Leave a separate comment telling me that you've done this):

Enter to win a $100 gift card to @BullfrogsShop, courtesy of @weewindycity. http://snurl.com/1guzea

So that's 5 different ways to enter to win. All entries must be received by midnight CST on Wednesday, November 24th. I will select a winner using Random.org. Don't forget to leave me your email address so I can contact you if you win!

Disclosure: I am working with Bullfrogs & Butterflies to help spread the word about their fabulous store and website. I am being compensated for my efforts. Cross-posted at Wee Windy City.

This One is Important: Making Holiday Military Care Packages

2010-11-15T22:11:00.003-06:00

I don't mean to by pushy or anything, but I wanted to suggest an idea for a family project that is perfect for the upcoming holiday season: you should make a care package to send to someone in the military who won't be home with their own families for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year.

We made a package for my cousin Brian who is in the Army. My kids loved participating in this easy project (and hopefully Brian liked the notes and goodies we sent along).

I wrote a story about the basics of assembling packages (with lots of helpful links) and a suggestion for a homemade craft that your kids can include in the box for the November issue of Chicago Parent. If you are looking for ideas on how to get started assembling your own care packages, you can have a look here and here.

Collie Bear

2010-11-07T20:57:00.005-06:00

Colin can talk now. He communicates his thoughts, observations and needs with (relative) clarity. These new verbal developments make him even cuter (in my opinion).

However, he is a wee bit demanding. For example, he uses his new-found words to say things like:

"New song right now!" (when we are driving around town and the children's music isn't to his liking)
"Want two lollies" (he has two hands so he obviously needs a lollipop for each)
"Keep my jammie pants on" (when he refuses to remove his pajamas each and every morning)
"More sausa, peeeeese." (As he finishes up his third breakfast sausage of the day)
"My my, where are youuuuuu!" (while searching his house for his beloved blanket "my my")
"Night night in mama bed dada bed, peeeeeese! (No Colin. Just no.)

Things are going to be very interesting with this two year-old boy, me thinks.

Four Days of Giveaways from Grow Modern Organic Kids: Final Day!

2010-11-04T09:13:00.005-05:00

Sara is hosting the final day of Four Days of Giveaways from Grow over on her blog. The theme of the package today is "kids" and this collection of goodies would be a good start to your holiday shopping for the kiddos!

Go on over to Sara's blog and enter to win! But hurry - this giveaway ends at midnight CST tonight!

Four Days of Giveaways from Grow Modern Organic Kids: Day Three

2010-11-03T07:06:00.001-05:00

And the awesome giveaways keep coming! Today, I am focusing on the "organic" aspect of Grow Modern Organic Kids. In fact, I think that organic and non-toxic products are really at the heart of what Grow is all about.

Back in 2009, I was researching organic clothing for my story The Organic Option in Chicago Parent Magazine. That is actually how I met Deree Kobets, the owner of Grow. I interviewed Deree for my story and she was an amazing source of information about why it is important to feed our kids organically and also surround them with non-toxic, organic products when possible. I learned so much from her and really came to value her sensible approach to this sometimes complicated and confusing topic.

Deree says, "Our society has recently gotten smarter about eating organically. Our skin is our largest organ. Just as it releases toxins when we perspire, our skin absorbs what surrounds it. Therefore, our clothing, bath & body products even car seats and toys matter when it comes to our skin." Make sense, right?

Deree proudly features non-toxic and organic products in her store. Some of my favorites include Kate Quinn 100% certified organic cotton clothing for babies and toddlers (love, love, love this line), the Orbit car seat (the only car seat that is certified non-toxic), and an awesome selection of non-toxic toys from Plan Toys and Green Toys.

Today, Grow is giving away the following package of items to one lucky reader (see the photo above):

Here's how you can enter to win this beautiful collection of organic items:

(1) Leave a comment on this post. You can tell me about your favorite non-toxic or organic products for your kids. Or you can just leave me your email address. It's up to you.

(2) Become a Follower of the Grow blog by clicking here and adding yourself as a follower. (Leave a separate comment telling me that you've done this).

(3) Become a fan of Grow's Facebook Page. (Leave a separate comment telling me that you've done this.)

(4) If you use Twitter, retweet this giveaway for another entry. (Leave a separate comment to let me know you've done this). You could even say something like:

RT@weewindycity Giveaway: Organic bedding from Grow Modern Organic Kids! http://snurl.com/1emnqu #growmodern.

Each person can enter up to 4 separate times. All entries must be received by midnight CST on Thursday, November 4, 2010. The winner will be chosen using Random.org. I will notify the winner on Friday, November 5, 2010. Be sure to leave your email address so we can find you if you are the lucky winner!

Disclosure: I am being compensated to coordinate this awareness campaign and event for Grow.

Four Days of Giveaways from Grow Modern Organic Kids: Day Two

2010-11-02T12:17:00.006-05:00

Time for another giveaway from Grow Modern Organic Kids!

Today, my partner Sara (Self-Made Mom) is focusing on what it really means to be raising "modern" organic kiddos. Plus, she is giving away this (quite spectacular) Skip Hop “Versa” diaper bag to one lucky mommy. This is an affordable, chic, every day diaper bag – and it is BPA, PVC, and Phthalate-free. It gives me a serious case of diaper bag envy.

Want to enter to win this great bag (for you or a friend who could use a diaper bag update)? Head on over to Sara's blog to enter!

Four Days of Giveaways from Grow Modern Organic Kids: Day One

2010-11-01T11:12:00.005-05:00

This is going to be an exciting week here on A Hen and Two (now Three) Chicks! My friend Sara Fisher and I are coordinating a great event called "Growing a Modern Organic Family" this Thursday night at Grow (a fabulous local boutique for modern organic kids).

We are so excited to spend the night with Chicago-area moms -- munching on organic goodies and learning more about how to make smart purchases for our family, courtesy of Deree Kobets (who owns Grow and knows her stuff when it comes to organic and non-toxic products for babies and kids).

We know that everyone can't make it to the big event -- but we wanted all of our readers to be able to participate in this awareness campaign. So we've planned 4 days of online giveaways from Grow.

Starting today, Sara and I will be featuring different items from Grow (and chatting a bit about the philosophy behind the store). And then we are giving all of these fabulous items away to our readers!

Today, we are focusing on the many ways that our kids and families "grow." As parents, we are faced with daily choices about the type of environment we create for the constantly-changing little people in our lives. Parents have lots of (maybe too many?) choices when it comes to furnishing their homes and outfitting their kids. The reality is that not all of the products on the market are safe for our families.

I think that Deree Kobets says it well: "If a child is surrounded by natural and non-toxic products, they will grow naturally."

After purchasing a ton of stuff for my three kids over the past seven years, I've learned that I am better off spending my (very hard-earned, thank you very much) money on a few quality, multi-functional items that endure and "grow" with our family. When it comes down to it, I'd rather invest in a few quality items than a bunch of cheap junk that my kids just end up breaking or destroying.

At Grow, Deree has done a lot of the leg work for you when it comes to choosing durable, non-toxic items. Her store features non-toxic, organic mattresses in crib and twin sizes by Naturepedic and non-toxic cribs like the Eicho by Spot On Square and alma crib by bloom. Deree can help you make smart choices when it comes to purchasing essential items that will "grow" with your growing family (like that very important mattress that your kids are going to be sleeping on every night).

Today, Grow is giving away the following package of items to one lucky reader:

Here's how you can enter to win this awesome collection of baby items:

(1) Leave a comment on this post. You can tell me about an item that you've purchased for your kids that has really "grown" with them. Or you can just leave me your email address. It's up to you.

(2) Become a Follower of the Grow blog by clicking here and adding yourself as a follower. (Leave a separate comment telling me that you've done this).

(3) Become a fan of Grow's Facebook Page. (Leave a separate comment telling me that you've done this.)

(4) If you use Twitter, retweet this giveaway for another entry. (Leave a separate comment to let me know you've done this). You could even say something like:

RT@weewindycity Check out The Four Days of Giveaways from Grow Modern Organic Kids http://snurl.com/1e88cy #growmodern.

The Calm Before the Sugar Storm

2010-10-31T21:09:00.004-05:00

This year, we had:

A monkey (in a costume that has been recycled at least three times --- maybe more).
A super sweet (and feminine) shark.
A fireman (Chicago's finest).
And a police officer.
A bat (wearing the very same homemade-by-Grandma costume that his Daddy wore when he was 5 years-old).
Little Red Riding Hood.
And a wee little lioness.

Our Bats

2010-10-27T13:35:00.001-05:00

I am not into Halloween decorations. Although Brendan would like to have a giant inflatable pumpkin and fake cobwebs all over the front yard (he has asked no less than 10 times), I like to keep the seasonal decor simple and natural -- a few pumpkins and gourds and maybe a nice scented candle. That's it.

But for my October craft story for Chicago Parent Magazine, we decided to do a Halloween-themed project. We made bat sock puppets out of David's stray work socks. (At least I thought they were strays. Turns out one of them was a part of a perfectly good set of $45 tuxedo socks. Ooops.)

This project was fun and easy and now we have something to hang in the trees in front of our house for Halloween so Brendan is happy. You can find the instructions for this project here -- and my bat origami project here.

Happy Halloween crafting!

The circus is rolling into town

2010-10-27T09:05:00.000-05:00

It's almost November and you know what that means, right? It's circus time in Chicago. The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey show comes to town on November 4th.

The theme of this year's show is FUNundrum. The show features 130 performers. Highlights include the trapeze artists, acrobats, contortionists, and Mighty Metal - the strongest man in the world. Featured animals include horses, ponies, llamas, goats, tigers and even a Watusi (whatever that is).

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey show will be at The Allstate Arena from November 4th-14th and The United Center from November 17th-28th.

Thinking about taking your kids to this show? You can get 4 tickets for a weekday show for $44 dollars if you use the code "MOMS." And click on the image above for a printable coloring page to get your kids psyched for the big family outing.

Best of Family on CBSChicago.com

2010-10-18T21:09:00.003-05:00

CBS Chicago just relaunched their website to include more local content. I was pleased to contribute some posts for their "Best of Family" section. My blogging buddies Emily and Hyacinth are also featured.

If you have a minute, click on over and check it out.

I tackled must-do Halloween activities, best indoor play spots, cool parks and playgrounds, my favorite family activities at Millennium Park, and good spots to experience nature right here in the city.

My Pumpkin Pickers

2010-10-07T13:53:00.002-05:00

Last weekend, we headed up to Dinges Fall Harvest in Michigan with our cousins in search of the perfect pumpkin. We had a blast. You can read more about it (and see a few more photos) over on Wee Windy City.

My Dream Family Getaway

2010-10-06T06:38:00.004-05:00

Sponsored By

Cheerios® is giving you the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, your ultimate family vacation. As part of a paid promotion for their “Do What You Love” Sweepstakes, Cheerios® is sponsoring my post today about what my ultimate family vacation would be. Read mine, Enter the Sweepstakes for a chance to actually win your own fantasy family trip or one of a bunch of other great prizes.

When I first committed to write a post about my ideal family vacation, I really had no idea what that would be. Lots of vacations are good, right? But few vacations are AMAZING. I mean, come on -- an ideal vacation. That's a tall order.

So I spent some time mulling over what would be the "essential components" of any such trip. We would need to be someplace we've never been before (someplace warm), doings things that we all liked to do, in a non-hotel setting, all the while dining on fabulous food.

Where on earth could we find all of those things?

Then the answer came to me: Italy.

My dream family getaway would be to rent an Italian villa for a whole summer. Ideally, this property would be located in the Tuscan countryside -- allowing for easy travel to both northern and southern Italy. This one looks pretty nice, doesn't it? Although this one isn't too shabby either. Choices. Choices.

We'd need to have a house large enough to accommodate our visitors throughout the summer (grandmas, grandpas, cousins, aunts, and uncles). We'd hang out alone for a few days, and then welcome a new wave of visitors for a few days, and so on.

Our villa would be comfortable, but not so fancy-schmancy that we wouldn't feel at home. We'd need to have a little pool for cooling off on those hot Mediterranean afternoons. And a garden to provide fresh produce for our meals. And, I know this is a lot to ask, but I'd also love to have a nice old Italian lady on site who could teach me how to make delicious pastas and sauces.

We'd take some day trips and learn Italian. We'd cook amazing food together and gather around a large outdoor table for our leisurely meals. We'd go swimming every single day.

We'd be together -- really together -- for an entire summer. Sounds pretty darn ideal to me.

Don't forget to enter the “Do What You Love” Sweepstakes, for a chance to win your own ultimate family vacation. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Colin and his luggage

2010-09-30T10:39:00.000-05:00

Photo taken with the Hipstamatic iPhone app.

Colin in his car seat with two blankets ("me my-mys") and three bunnies (" me hop hops").
His luggage every where we go.

Me, my wrinkles, and my new personal microdermabrasion tool

2010-09-29T05:09:00.002-05:00

When I was in my 20's, I could not understand why women sought out plastic surgery and injected Botox into their faces (only to end up looking totally unlike their former selves). It just seemed crazy to me.

Now that I am . . . let's just say that I am no longer in my 20's, I can understand why women do these things. That's not to say that I plan to follow suit -- I am just saying that I can understand why the decide to do what they do.

The truth is that the idea of plastic surgery or Botox injections completely freaks me out. No matter how wrinkly and saggy I get, I just can't see myself going that route. But that's not to say that I'm just going to sit here and do nothing!

I am a big believer that lifestyle is the key to how you look and feel. Healthy food, lots of water, rest, exercise and managing stress are certainly the keys. There is no magic bullet. But I am also willing to accept a little help here and there.

SkinCareRx (a sponsor of A Hen and Two (now Three) Chicks) offered me the chance to check out their personal microdermabrasion tool. I couldn't resist.

Microdermabrasion is known to improve early texture changes, sun damaged skin, uneven sun freckling, mild acne, and conditions where there is a buildup of dead skin. It sort of feels like you are sanding your skin -- but in a good way.

I haven't had any experience with microdermabrasion so I watched the video that came along with the kit (definitely recommend this). The personal microdermabrasion tool is meant to be used with the M2 Skin Refinish 20% Serum and the M2 Skin Recovery Moisturizer (you definitely need to follow the directions with those).

The tool is really easy to use right from the start. It is literally like giving your face a gentle sanding-- leaving softer skin behind. The directions say to only use the product once a week or so, but I found myself wanted to use it more.

Don't get me wrong -- the results are gradual. I don't have the skin of a 20 year-old or anything. But I have seen an improvement. And I love that I can just do this at home in my own bathroom when I have a few extra free minutes -- it is ideal for busy moms who only dream of regular trips to an esthetician!

Does this sound like something you might want to try out? Take advantage of a 15% discount if you order from SkinCareRx before the end of October. Use the CODE: PMD15Off.

If you order before the end of September (so, like right now), you can get 20% off your order. Use the CODE: MAKEOVER20(and hurry!)

Disclosure: Skin Care Rx provided me with a free personal microdermabrasion tool so I could check it out and let you know my honest opinions (and I've done just that!).

Words of Wisdom from a Toothless First Grader

2010-09-25T20:54:00.001-05:00

Eleanor on the loss of her third tooth: "I am really trying to take advantage of having this extra space in my mouth. I am putting all sorts of interesting things in there whenever I can -- like straws or my tongue. Because I know that this space isn't always going to be here. I am so lucky."

Marsha's Music Together: A magical, musical experience for the whole family

2010-09-14T13:54:00.003-05:00

Despite the fact that neither my husband or I have any musical talent to speak of, all three of our kids love music -- each in their own way.

Ellie is quite the dancer and she is quick to get moving when she hears any sort of music (the girl isn't shy). Brendan likes to hang back and listen intently -- memorizing all of the lyrics while nonchalantly tapping his foot. Little Colin loves a good maraca or shaker and he invariably concludes each song with an uproarious round of applause in celebration of his most excellent performance.

As a mama, I love to see how music awakens a child's enthusiasm, curiosity, and imagination. I love to watch them dance and sing along. I love the smiles on their faces while they are having fun (and learning all sorts of new things at the same time).

For all of these reasons, I have long been a big fan of music classes for kids. There is something sort of magical about gathering together in a room with other parents and kids, sitting on a carpet filled with drums, tambourines, and music-makers in all shapes and sizes and just watching what happens. This experience always makes me feel good (I suspect that the kiddos feel the same way).

Last Sunday, 20 month-old Colin and I met up with my sister and her 5 month-old daughter to try out a Marsha's Music Together class. We gathered together in a comfortable room with other parents and kids. The kind and gentle teacher led us in some familiar (and a few not-so-familiar) tunes. We moved our bodies. We were LOUD and we were very, very quiet. We played with a huge variety of instruments. We had fun making music together.

Marsha's Music Together recognizes that children have an innate need and love for music. This program has been popular in the Hyde Park neighborhood for years and is expanding to new Wicker Park and Lincoln Park locations this fall.

Each class has rituals that the children need and enjoy — the hello song, an instrumental play-along, a lullaby and the goodbye song — plus eight to ten varying experiences involving unusual meters and tonalities, sometimes using props like scarves or a parachute. Many of the classes are for mixed ages (birth through 5 years). I found that this mix of younger and older children makes for a lively, interactive atmosphere (and also makes it easy for families with multiple children to attend one class together).

If you think this sounds like something that your little music-maker would love, I encourage you to try a free class. Marsha's Music Together is holding free demonstration classes at a variety of locations throughout the city this week. Have a look at the schedule of demo classes to find one near you.

Enrollment for the fall session is now open. Each Music Together session includes 10 weekly 45-minute classes filled with live music. Each new family also receives the complimentary booklet Music and Your Child: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers plus 2 copies of a CD with familiar tunes (one for home and the car).

Whether you do it in a class setting or simply at home in your living room with a drum and a kazoo, I encourage you to set aside some time to make music together with your little ones (trust me -- you'll be so, so happy that you did).

Disclosure: Marsha's Music Together is a new sponsor of A Hen and Two (now Three) Chicks. I am being compensated to help spread the word about their program (which is an easy thing to do because we really loved our experience in the demo class).

Cross-posted at Wee Windy City.

A Preschool Pro

2010-09-08T10:18:00.002-05:00

Brendan headed off to school today for his second year of preschool.
Same teacher. Same classroom. Same best buddy. Even same backpack (but brand new Cubs lunch bag).

I have a feeling that this is going to be a big year for the B man.

I wish I may . . . I wish I might . . . get a great deal on kid's craft classes at Wishcraft !

2010-09-07T11:11:00.004-05:00

A special offer for Chicago readers brought to you by A Hen and Two Three Chicks and Self-Made Mom!

We are always looking out for our readers, and we know our local friends cannot possibly miss a deal as good as this. What kiddie class isn’t made better with a friend? If you have a creative kiddo at home, you won’t want to miss this amazing, limited-time-only deal from the popular Wishcraft craft studio in Roscoe Village.

The clever ladies behind Wishcraft are offering a special “2-for-1 Bring a Friend Along promotion from September 7-10^th only. You can sign your kid and a crafty buddy up for any of the Fall 2010 craft classes and split the price of the 8-week session. That’s 50% off the regular cost – a total steal!

The class offerings at Wishcraft go way beyond your typical kiddie craft projects. Cool options include Dim Sum Paper Fun (ages 3-5) and It’s Sew Easy (age 7+). Kids can even make their own Halloween costumes or fashion eco-friendly accessories.

Wishcraft has morning and mid-day classes for wee ones and afterschool programming for school-aged kids. They even have classes for adults looking to hone their sewing or crochet skills! Check out their full schedule online to see all of the awesome choices.

Here are the deets on how to get in on this deal:

The promotion applies only to new students for the 2010 Fall session.
The promotion does not apply retroactively.
If you register online, you can pay the full price for one student, enter the second student’s name in the “comments to seller” box and split the costs yourselves.. Or you can email the folks at Wishcraft at wishcraft@me.com with the info for both students and they will send PayPal links with the 50% discount to each person. Discount code to reference is “Tell 2 Friends.”

If you want to take advantage of this great deal on kid’s craft classes, you have to move fast – the special 2-for-1 promotion is only valid through September 10^th. Classes start the week of September 13^th.

Want to know more about all of the good stuff happening at Wishcraft? Follow their Twitter updates or become a Fan on Facebook. Got questions? Send them to wishcraft@me.com.

Now go get those (cheap! cheap!) classes. Your crafty kid will love you for it.

First Day of First Grade

2010-08-30T13:17:00.008-05:00

She's back already -- just a half day. So far, so good. Nice teacher. Lots of buddies.
Off to another good start.

For those of you who are inclined, here is a little retrospective of Miss Ellie heading out to school. (It's true what they say about time flying by.)

2007
2008
2009

Another example of the benefits of play

2010-08-28T12:21:00.000-05:00

In my 6+ years as a mama, I've found that one of the very best (and also hardest) parts of parenting is letting go of stress and worry and totally committing to playing with a child.

When I am sitting on the rug with familiar blocks, puzzles, and toys in front of me, my mind sometimes wanders -- to my grocery list, freelance deadlines, and bills.

That being said, periods of focused play with my kiddos are also some of my happiest times as a mom. I love to sit and watch a quiet, focused child work on a new skill.

It is largely for this reason that I just signed Colin up for a Parent/Toddler class at our Montessori School. With my older two children, I have adored that hour-and-a-half a week where I am 100% focused on playing with the perfect little being before me. I can't wait to do the same thing with Colin in just a few weeks.

While I am on the topic of play, I wanted to tell you about a new book I just read called Everyday Play: Fun Games to Develop the Fine Motor Skills Your Child Needs for School by Christy Isbell.

This book was written by a pediatric occupational therapist. She advocates the very sensible view that kids can work on their oh-so-important fine motor skills by engaging in a variety of creative activities at home. I love the idea that learning critical skills should just be another part of the many types of play that a child engages in on a daily basis.

Isbell has some great suggestions for fun and creative activities that will get your child working with his hands. I am particularly fond of the following ideas (and many of them remind me of the activities in a Montessori environment):

Use a wooden mallet to hammer golf tees into Styrofoam.
Using tongs and tweezers, challenge your child to pick up a variety of small items (like Legos).
Squirt two colors of fingerpaint into a resealable plastic freezer bag. Encourage your child to use his index finger to make lines or shapes in the paint and mix the colors together.
Use play dough to teach your child how to use his thump, index and middle fingers to create small "peas."

Everyday Play also includes a helpful "Frequently Asked Questions" section for parents who want to know more specifics about their child's fine motor skills.

This book has been a helpful reminder to me of the many benefits of sitting down one-on-one with a child and engaging them in an interesting "play activity." Plus, I love the idea that you can accomplish this by simply using items you already have around your house.

And with that thought . . . I am off to dig out my mini-muffin tins, tweezers and some small items for a sorting activity I have planned for Brendan tomorrow afternoon.

Disclosure: I was provided with a review copy of this book. That means I didn't pay for it myself.

"love love"

2010-08-25T21:34:00.001-05:00

He can't quite say "I love you" yet.

So he says "love love" instead.

A Giveway from Stonyfield Farm (yes, that means delicious free organic yogurt)

2010-08-23T21:14:00.001-05:00

My kids are huge yogurt eaters. Me? Not so much. Well, until recently that is.

Although I have long believed in the many benefits of feeding organic yogurt to little people, I've never been the biggest fan of the cold, creamy stuff myself -- until I had lunch with the Gary Hirshberg , the CE-Yo (ha!) of Stonyfield Farm.

Back in February, I received an amazing invitation to join a few other lucky Chicagoans for lunch with Gary at Frontera Grill. The meal was amazing. I learned a lot (you can read all about it here).

Anyway, at the conclusion of this lunch, everyone was served an Oikos Caramel-flavored Greek-style yogurt. I was certainly not going to decline a Stonyfield product while being treated to lunch by the head of the company. So I dug right it. And it was amazing. I ate every bit and walked away wondering why it was that I thought I didn't like yogurt.

So now it is unanimous. We are all Stonyfield yogurt eaters (even Daddy gets a bit of yogurt in his fruit smoothie sometimes). The babe is a fan of YoBaby and the new YoToddler. The big kids eat YoKids like it is going out of style. During the summer, I freeze tubes of the YoKids Squeezers to make "popsicles." And Mommy eats the Oikos Greek-style yogurt (which I have to hide in the back of the fridge or Ellie would eat it all).

If you also have a family of yogurt-lovers, I have a giveaway that you might be interested in. Stonyfield Farm is giving one lucky A Hen and Two (now Three) Chicks reader the following goodies:

A YoKids Cape
2 coupons for FREE YoToddler multipacks
2 coupons for FREE YoKids squeezers/multipacks
2 coupons for FREE Oikos multipacks
An Oikos tote bag (which is super versatile and sturdy)
A Eric Carle growth chart

So how do you win? I am going to keep it simple -- all you have to do is leave a comment on this post before midnight (CST) on Tuesday, August 31, 2010. If you feel like telling me about your favorite Stonyfield product, go for it. If not, that's fine too. Don't forget to leave me your email if it isn't part of your Blogger profile so I can get in touch with you if you win!

I will notify the winner on September 1, 2010. That lucky, lucky individual will have 48 hours to provide me with their mailing address so that Stonyfield can get their goodies out to them.

Go enter to win some free organic yogurt (for you and your kiddos!).

The disclosure part: Stonyfield provided me with coupons for free yogurt. Other than that, I was not compensated for writing this post or hosting this giveaway. We just like Stonyfield yogurt.

Me! On WGN Radio on Monday Morning!

2010-08-21T21:14:00.000-05:00

If you are up and at em' bright and early on Monday morning (and really, what parent of a young child isn't awake before 7:00 a.m every single day of the week), tune in to WGN Radio to hear my thoughts on packing great back-to-school lunches. I'll be on around 6:39 a.m.

I'll be sharing my suggestions for the very best reusable school lunch supplies you should have on hand in order to get the year off to a great start. Plus, I will be offering some tips on how to "cheat" and not have to make lunches at all. Intrigued? Listen in on Monday!

Pretty little things

2010-08-13T21:15:00.001-05:00

Attention all deal-lovin' Chicago Mamas!

2010-08-09T08:29:00.000-05:00

If you are a Chicago-area mom who loves saving money on ALL OF THE STUFF you buy for your kids and family, then I have great news for you. There is a new mom-centric, daily deal site in town called mamaloot.

Mamaloot generally operates like the other big daily deal sites in town (like Groupon, You Swoop, etc.). You subscribe to the mamaloot email list and receive emails offering discounted deals from family-friendly businesses.

If the deal interests you, go for it! If the deal doesn't ring your bell, click delete and move on with your day. That's all there is to it. And you can unsubscribe at any time if you find that these deals aren't for you.

The big difference between mamaloot and the other daily deal sites is that they are going to offer you deals for things that moms actually buy. I don't know about you, but I'm not really in the market for tickets to sketch comedy shows or go cart racing (no offense to those of you who go crazy for discounted go cart racing).

To start, mamaloot will be featuring businesses from Chicago and the surrounding suburbs but will soon showcase a variety of mom and kid centric internet services and retailers as well. The site officially kicks off today with its first deal -- 50% off a session with a local family photographer.

I love this business idea because it is totally mom-driven and mom-focused (and these are Chicago moms so that makes it even better). Lindsay Cohen, Co-Founding Mama of mamaloot says, "We cater exclusively to moms in everything that we do. Our deals, our writing, the way we partner with local businesses all exude a mother's touch. We are excited about bringing new customers to local businesses and educating moms about appealing products and services in their area."

So how do you get in on these deals, head over to mamaloot.com and add your email address to the list. And let the deals begin!

Disclosure: Mamaloot is a new sponsor here on A Hen and Two (now Three) Chicks. You can check out their cute new ad over there on the right-hand sidebar. To be clear, I am working with mamaloot to spread the word about their launch (and by working, I mean services in exchange for money).

Scenes from our summer

2010-08-06T12:00:00.000-05:00

The view at the new Nature Boardwalk at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

The baby and the Bean at Millennium Park.

At the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pond in Lincoln Park.

Wow. August really snuck up on me. The clock is really ticking on summer 2010! We've been busy checking off activities on our summer must-do list. If you click on the links above, you can see expanded accounts of our most recent adventures.

My Magical Green Beans

2010-08-02T21:59:00.001-05:00

My little backyard garden is a source of a lot of happiness. Today, I thought I would share some of my special gardening "secrets" with you. {cough, cough, giggle giggle}

First, I plant way too much stuff in too little space. I start with good compost-rich soil, but then I forget to ever fertilize and rarely weed. I water -- but in a lazy, distracted way.

My trick is to basically ignore the plants, allow children to trample them at will with their flip flops and soccer balls. And somehow despite all that, most of my little seedlings actually manage to grow. I am always sort of amazed when I root around out there and find things like zucchinis and jalapeno peppers.

This year, I really outdid myself in the overcrowding department. We've got:

3 tomato plants (2 grape and 1 big boy)
3 basil plants
2 poblano peppers
1 red bell pepper
1 jalapeno pepper
Lots and lots of haricot vert (pictured above)
Thyme
3 basil plants (pesto, pesto, pesto)
Lemon verbena (which is totally amazing --- hoping to have a lemon verbena tea recipe to share soon)
Oregano
Sage
Chives
Rosemary
Cucumbers (the tastiest, little thin-skinned things)
Zucchini

And that's not counting the lettuce, spinach and 2 varieties of snap peas I grew in my Earth Boxes in the spring.

Today, I found myself at the Home Depot filling my cart with arugula, Romaine, and Bibb lettuce seedlings for our fall salads. I need to exercise some self control.

So the truth is that I am no master gardener. But I can grow green beans in my backyard in the middle of Chicago and my three children devour every single one on their dinner plate.

Doesn't get much more magical than that.

Smooches

2010-07-27T13:22:00.002-05:00

Who could resist him?

The Artists in Residence

2010-07-14T00:56:00.001-05:00

A masterpiece.

Go Brendan Go!

2010-07-13T12:46:00.006-05:00

About 10 days ago, David took the training wheels off of Brendan's bike. And then without any instruction, off he went. Within minutes, he was circling this parking lot like a pro.

It is as though he just knew how to ride (for this, we credit the Strider PreBike that he has been tooling around on for the past few weeks). Brendan was ready. He was just patiently waiting for us to get around to taking off those training wheels.

In related news, while we were visiting Grandma and Grandpa a few weeks ago, I took his swim vest off -- intending to give him a little lesson. Without any intervention on my part, he basically swam the width of the pool by himself.

Kids can really surprise you sometimes.

I'm still here. Are you?

2010-07-08T15:14:00.003-05:00

I know that it seems like I have fallen off the face of the blogging world. I can assure you that I am still here -- just trying to do too many things all at once (as usual). Bogged down with all of my blogs, I guess.

I've been working on a special summer project over at ChicagoNow that has been keeping me busy. I am writing a blog called School's Out! about family-friendly activities in and around Chicago (and also chronicling our family excursion up to the Wisconsin Dells). And of course, I've been continuing with Wee Windy City as well. So if you are looking for fun things to do with your kids in Chicago this summer, I'd love for you to take a peek at these sites to get some (hopefully helpful) ideas.

I have all sorts of posts in my head that I still want to share here -- and I hope to get to them in the coming weeks. You're on summer schedule too, right? (Say yes).

So how's your summer going?

2010-07-06T14:19:00.002-05:00

This photo captures our summer thus far in a way that words never could.
Hope that you are having this much fun too.

The Budding Equestrian

2010-07-06T13:39:00.005-05:00

A few weeks ago Ellie had her first official riding lesson on a old fellow named Huckleberry.
She's only asked me about twenty or thirty times when she can have her second lesson.

The 5 o'clock nap

2010-06-22T17:27:00.004-05:00

This is what you get when you:
(1) Wake up for the day at 5:15 a.m.
(2) Spend 3 hours in the blazing sun at the lakefront
(3) Totally, completely skip any sort of nap
(4) And then head out to the hottest playground in all of Chicago in 90 degree weather to run around like a crazy man.

The 5 o'clock nap.

The Nature Boardwalk is coming! The Nature Boardwalk is coming!

2010-06-21T13:04:00.006-05:00

On June 24th, the Lincoln Park Zoo is going to unveil it's long-awaited Nature Boardwalk. I am so excited about this new space that I wrote a story about it in Mindful Metropolis Magazine. Want to know more? You can read the article here.

Me on WGN Radio

2010-06-18T12:35:00.003-05:00

On Saturday, June 19th at 9:00 a.m., I am going to be a guest on ChicagoNow Radio on WGN Radio 720. I'll be chatting about family-friendly activities in and around Chicago (I mean, what else would I talk about?).

If you are interested, you can stream the broadcast live here.

Edited to add: You can listen to the recorded broadcast here.

A Dancer

2010-06-16T14:51:00.004-05:00

A third recital for the dancing queen.
As usual, she was lovely and composed.
This girl loves a stage.

Let's Go Hawks!

2010-06-08T15:53:00.003-05:00

They are true hockey fans, I tell you.
Too bad they can't stay awake late enough to watch an entire game (so rude of you to make the start times so late, NHL).

The Birds are Back in Town

2010-06-05T01:03:00.000-05:00

Our house finches came back to build their nest on our back porch again this spring. I can't tell you how happy we all were to see them.

After lots of hard work constructing the nest and then a few weeks of patient waiting, mama finch welcomed three little ones into the world.

A little family of five -- just like us.

The babies have gotten quite big and the tiny nest seems pretty crowded. The flying lesson is imminent. But it was a good show while it lasted.

An End-of-the-Year Gift for the Kiddos

2010-06-04T12:56:00.005-05:00

If your kids aren't already out of school, they will be soon. It's official -- summer has arrived.

If you are looking for a way to celebrate the end of the school year and welcome the warm weather months, I have a fun idea for you-- make summer journal satchels.

Assemble all of the items your kids will need to record their summer adventures in a journal (this is also sort of sneaky way to make sure that your little ones keep practicing all of the reading and writing skills they acquired during the school year).

Want to know more? Have a look at my kid's crafts and activity story in the June issue of Chicago Parent Magazine.

Homer

2010-05-24T22:08:00.005-05:00

Lip Smackin' Good

2010-05-10T13:40:00.005-05:00

Honey Tangerine on the left and Pink Peppermint on the right.

For my May craft column in Chicago Parent Magazine, I wrote about how to make your own lip balm.

Ellie and I worked on this project together and we are pretty pleased with the results. I have been holding off on posting about the lip balm because I gifted little tins of it to many of the mommies in my life yesterday.

Any way, this makes a good little homemade gift. And it is also nice to keep for yourself too.

Why You Shouldn't Care That Your House is a Mess: My Mother's Day Message

2010-05-07T14:07:00.002-05:00

In honor of Mother's Day, I wrote a post for the site Sprout for Parents about how most moms (myself included) spend too much time feeling bad about all of the things on their to-do lists that don't get done and not enough time feeling proud about all of the good stuff that is getting done (like raising healthy, happy kids).

I hope you will take a minute to check out my post and then give yourself a big pat on the back for the great job that you do every day, mama.

How to Play Baseball (According to Colin)

2010-05-06T08:57:00.000-05:00

First you need to get the round white thing up on this black tube here.
Then grab the heavy black stick and use it to hit the round white thing any way you can.
Just like this.

Then applaud wildly at your accomplishment.

Look cute and make sure everyone saw what you did.

Repeat 20-30 times a day.

What He Had to Say on His Fourth Birthday

2010-05-02T21:54:00.004-05:00

Off to the watch the Cubs beat the Diamondbacks.

So, so, so many baseball cards.

Getting a little practice in.

Cake for 50, maybe 60 people.

Brendan's 4th birthday was mostly about baseball -- watching baseball, playing baseball, talking about baseball, and collecting new baseball paraphernalia. Then we capped off our baseball-filled day with a really tacky, fluorescent-colored Lightening McQueen cake. So all in all, pretty much a perfect day for our Brendan.

He is what sweet Brendan had to say in his birthday interview. I just love this kid.

Favorites:

cereal- Mighty Bites

vegetable- red peppers

drink- milk

toy- baseballs

TV Show- Caillou

game- Candyland

book- My Big Rig

dinner – sausage

lunch – pizza

breakfast - pancakes

holiday- Christmas

animal – Hank the Husky

color – red and blue

thing to do at school – color

sport – basketball

What do you want for your birthday? Lightening McQueen stuff like my friend Daniel has. He has a bunch more guys than me. He has the big trucks that those characters go inside.

What do you love about each person in our family?

Daddy – That he goes running.

Mommy – That we sing songs at night.

Ellie - She goes to school.

Colin – He's cute.

Where would you like to go on vacation this year? Florida and Pittsburgh and Arizona.

What are some of your wishes for this year? Practice riding my bike. When Ellie was 4 she couldn't climb the rock wall at Pump It Up so maybe I am going to try to do that. Or maybe when I am 5. I'm just a little nervous when I get up to the top.

What makes you happy? Playing baseball.

What makes you sad? Nothing.

How old is your Mom? 60

How tall is your Mom? 8 feet tall

What is her favorite thing to do? Go out to the park and play.

What does Dad do for a job? Works on documents and talks to the judge. The judge is an important guy. Daddy goes around the block to the courthouse and he talks to the judge. The judge sits up in a high seat like the book corner in my classroom. Dad talks about his brief.

What is your mom's favorite food? Red peppers.

What is Dad’s favorite food? Chicken on his smoker.

What does our family like to do together? Go out.

What going to be when you grow up? "I don't want to be a Butler basketball player because . . . will Butler still be playing then? I don't want to get hurt so I'll maybe play soccer. I don't want to play hockey because it is rough game. And football is a rough game. Lacrosse is not a rough game. And I'm going to be a dad with one kid. And a lawyer. Who will be the mommy? And who will be Ellie's dad?"

Who are you going to marry? Mommy.

Anything else you want to talk about? No. Can I have a mango smoothie now?

Fabulous Fun in a Flower Pot

2010-04-28T22:17:00.003-05:00

Ellie doesn't really like cake. She is an ice cream girl. We've done ice cream birthday cakes before so I wanted to go a different route for her birthday dessert this year.

I randomly came across a post about ice cream flower pots on The Pioneer Woman's website. I felt inspired. I knew that Ellie would love this playful dessert. And she did -- especially the gummy worms hidden deep beneath the "dirt." And who wouldn't love mint chocolate chip ice cream buried beneath a layer of crushed Oreo cookies? Honestly, who could resist it? Not you, I bet.

One. Two. Three.

2010-04-23T12:03:00.001-05:00

Let's (re)do Lunch in the April issue of Mindful Metropolis

2010-04-22T15:20:00.005-05:00

I wrote a story for the April issue of Mindful Metropolis about the efforts of local non-profit groups to make some serious (and seriously needed) change to the food choices available to Chicago kids. If you are interested in these kinds of things, you can have a read here.

What She Had to Say on Her Sixth Birthday

2010-04-21T14:47:00.002-05:00

Six? Really? Six whole years-old? I don't want it to be true! But she insists on getting bigger and bigger every day so I guess I'll have to learn to deal with it.

We have lots of big plans for our beautiful six year-old birthday princess today. I'll be back to report on all of the festivities later.

On the occasion of her big day, here is Ellie's "birthday interview" -- take two. I stole this idea from another blogger and I think that it is a great way to capture kids just as they are right now. I encourage you to steal this idea from me.

Here is what Ellie had to say on her 6th birthday:

Favorites:

cereal- Mighty Bites

vegetable- broccoli

drink- water and juice

toy- my Strawberry Shortcake doll

TV Show- Dragon Tales

game- Candyland

book- My Princess ABC's

dinner – mommy's homemade mac and cheese

lunch – peanut butter and jelly or noodles

breakfast - waffles

holiday- Easter

animal – flamingo

doll – "Rosie Violet"

color – pink

thing to do at school – recess and "the dramatic play center"

sport – ice skating and swimming

What do you want for your birthday? "A book that I can read -- an easy one, but not like a super easy one -- some hard words but with ones that I can mostly read."

If you could change your name, what would you choose? Lily

What do you love about each person in our family?

Daddy – I like that he is a good Daddy

Mommy – I like that you are a good Mom

Brendan – That he likes sports and he watches me do stuff

Colin – I like that he is cute and funny

Where would you like to go on vacation this year? Pittsburgh to see Grandma

What are some of your wishes for this year? I wish I had a kangaroo key chain. I also want to learn what else there can be in the world.

What makes you happy? Sometimes I sit in my bed and talk to myself.

What makes you sad? When I lose something.

How old is your Mom? 33

How tall is your Mom? 20 feet tall

What is her favorite thing to do? Take care of us.

What does Dad do for a job? Work to help our family.

What is your mom's favorite food? Salad.

What is Dad’s favorite food? Fish.

What does our family like to do together? Eat together.

What going to be when you grow up? A lot of stuff -- I should write it down because I can't remember it all. A ballet teacher, a teacher, a professional dancer.

Who are you going to marry? Maybe one of my friends from school. I used to want to marry Finn but now I think I should marry someone that I don't know. Or maybe someone from my preschool class.

Anything else you want to talk about? Having a good family and being able to help you and Dad. And being able to make my brothers feel happy. And sharing. And being able to give stuff a try -- like when we went to the hungry caterpillar puppet show. This year I am going to be able to write and read a lot of stuff. And I am going to be nice to my brother and anyone else I know.

A Whole Gaggle of Blogging Mamas

2010-04-20T13:21:00.006-05:00

Last weekend, I attended an event hosted by the Silicon Valley Moms Group at the Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago. I've been a contributor at the Chicago Moms Blog for about two-and-a-half years but I only actually know a handful of the other contributors in real life. This swanky event was a chance to catch up with some familiar faces like Sara, Alma, Serena, and Cindy and also chat with some of my newer blogging buddies like Meredith, Lisa A., Lisa H. and Emily.

While we mingled and munched on made-to-order stir fry, we had a chance to learn more about the event's sponsors. I especially loved chatting with the Chicago-based businesses like Garrett's Popcorn (which I had never had before -- and boy was I missing out) and The Oprah Store (which has kindly invited me for afternoon tea next month).

The event also featured some very cool charitable projects: Army of Women (a campaign to sign up over 1 million women who would consider participating in breast cancer research) and Chevy Missions (a project that provides Chevy vehicles to non-profits and individuals who want to do service projects in their communities).

Like all attendees, I walked out of this event with an armful of complimentary products from each of the generous sponsors. I learned more about some brands that I was already familiar with (like my beloved Peapod grocery delivery service and the amazing Stoneyfield Organic) and was also pleasantly surprised by a few brands that I didn't know much about (like 1-800 Baskets and iGo Green).

But mostly, I was glad to have a chance to hang out with other Chicago women who write and blog. I think of these people as my "colleagues" and it is nice to check in face-to-face once in awhile -- even better when we get to do it over wine and cupcakes.

Green Guide Families

2010-04-16T13:49:00.009-05:00

I find that reference books are pretty handy things to have around. For example, when I am not sure what product I should use to make my stainless steel sink shine, I consult with Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook.

Similarly, when I am wondering whether there are natural remedies that could rid my son of his chronic runny nose, I take a peek at Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child.

And now I have a new book to add to the ol' reference library -- Green Guide Families: The Complete Reference For Eco-friendly Parents by Catherine Zandonella.

This book really is a comprehensive reference when is comes to "green" parenting issues. Rather than sitting down to read it from cover-to-cover, I began by reading the entire table of contents and then I dug deeper into the chapters that really interested me.

I especially liked the advice on how to raise a child who cares about the well-being of other people and our planet in Chapter 5 and the words of warning about toxins in every-day products found in Chapters 1 and 6. I was also impressed by the creative ideas for "greening" birthday parties, holiday celebrations, and family vacations.

Green Guide Families manages to provide a ton of helpful information -- but without judgment or condescension. As someone who is responsible for the well-being of three small people, I am always looking for information on how to live a more sustainable life. But I also don't want to feel ashamed of the fact that I drive an SUV or plan on using Cubs paper plates at my son's upcoming birthday party.

I think that Green Guide Families is a great addition to our family reference shelf. Want to take a look and see if this book is something that would be helpful for your family? I am happy to lend out my copy. Just leave a comment on this post or email me at ahenandtwochicks@gmail and I will send it your way.

*As a contributor to the Chicago Moms Blog and a member of the SVMoms Book Club, I was provided with a free copy of Green Guide Families.

Me in the April issue of Chicago Parent (x3)

2010-04-15T12:29:00.004-05:00

I wrote 3 stories for this month's Chicago Parent.

First, I wrote about practical tips for raising a lefty. My Dad was a lefty. I am a lefty. Brendan is also left-handed. My Dad always made me feel like being left-handed was special. I am working hard to send my Brendan that same lefty propagandist messages. I thought I would start by writing this story in his (and my Dad's) honor.

I also wrote a piece about the online interactive resources offered by many Chicago-area museums. Can't make it to the Art Institute with the kiddos this month? Check out the site Curious Corner where kids can still have a hands-on learning experience.

And for my craft column, we made spring greeting cards that you can plant. We embedded wildflower seeds into paper note cards. The recipient can plant the card and watch the seeds grow. Perfect for Mother's Day gifts, don't you think?

The Fabulous Life of Fifteen-Month-Old Colin

2010-04-08T09:37:00.001-05:00

Aside from the fact that he seems to catch every single bug that his big brother and sister bring home from school, this little man has it pretty good.

He loves his blankie, looking for dogs, the constant entertainment provided by Eleanor and Brendan, and "coloring" at the table in his Stokke chair like a big kid.

He is generous with hugs and (wet, wet, sometimes with a little bite) kisses.

He spends the majority of his waking hours banging on the back door saying "Out. Out. Out." in an effort to get someone to take him to the backyard and pull him around in the wagon.

He says: Dadd-ee!, out, Ellie, Mommommom, dawg (dog), orse (horse), didi (bird), rain, bub (bubbles), ooose (shoes), ish (the cheddar-flavored kind) and ball.

He nods his head "yes" or "no" so emphatically in response to questions that he sometimes knocks himself over.

He loves to jump up and down.

He eats an entire avocado almost every day. And he loves breakfast sausage (he is a boy, after all). Other than that, things are pretty finicky in the food department.

He'll happily show you his head, toes and big belly.

When he walks, he sways side-to-side and swings his arms like he is hearing music in his head.

He is obsessed with toothbrushes (and is amazing good at sneaking into bathrooms to steal them when the door is even slightly ajar).

He is teaching himself to play t-ball (seriously -- he gets the ball, puts it on the tee and tries to lift the bat and swing at it.)

When he waves hello or goodbye, his moves his wrist up and down in the cutest flapping motion.

And he is always up for a good game of peek-a-boo.

A fabulous fifteen-month-old indeed.

A Better Afterschool

2010-04-06T11:09:00.002-05:00

When I was growing up, my afterschool experience was pretty idyllic.

When the school day ended, I walked the block-and-a-half home with a group of neighborhood kids. My stay-at-home Mom and baby sister were usually on the front lawn waiting for me and my brother. Sometimes my Mom would have homemade cookies for all the kids who strolled by. Our door was always open to any neighborhood kid to had to make a bathroom stop or needed a band aid for a scraped knee.

After the requisite "how was your day?" exchanges, we would throw down our backpacks, grab a snack, and head back outside for an impromptu game of kick-the-can or some serious backyard fort-building. Parents didn't stand by and supervise -- we just played.

Some days, I had a piano lesson, soccer practice, or an arranged play date -- but most days, the time between school and dinner was spent hanging outside with other kids who lived on my block. Eventually, my Mom would call for us to come in for dinner and the good times would come to an end -- until the next day when the exact same scenario would take place.

I certainly recognize how lucky I was to have this kind of carefree time as a kid. My afterschool experience is far from typical -- especially for kids growing up now.

For many kids, the hours between school and dinner are not always a happy or productive time. For some, this time is spent alone because parents are at work. Other kids plop down on the couch for a few hours of television or video games. For other kids, this time is spent plowing through the mounds of homework they receive each day.

One thing seems clear from all of these different scenarios -- afterschool can be a better experience for our kids. Kids should use this time to run, play, breathe fresh air, learn about music, make an art project or practice their tennis serves. Afterschool should be fun -- and that isn't the case for every kid.

The Quaker Chewy Afterschool Rocks Program is partnering with the Afterschool Alliance to provide school-aged children with opportunities to learn and grow through affordable, quality afterschool programs. To help raised awareness for this campaign, Quaker has joined with Miranda Cosgrove of Nickelodeon's iCarly. Parents can enter into the Quaker Chewy Afterschool Rocks sweepstakes to win a private performance by Miranda Cosgrove (can you hear tween girls everywhere squealing at just the thought of it?). Mamas and papas can enter to win once a day through April 16, 2010 at www.Quakeroats.com/afterschoolrocks.

Plus, every day you have the chance to win a 10-count box of Quaker Chewy Bars. Head on over to the website to check out all of the details. While you are there, be sure to check out the information on how you can get your kids involved in afterschool programs in your area.

In the spirit of inspiring afterschool fun, Quaker sent me an Afterschool Kit -- complete with Quaker Chewy Bars, an itunes gift card, a journal, and a box of perfectly-sharpened colored pencils (love that). Sound like something your kids would like? You are in luck because Quaker gave me an extra Afterschool Kit to give away to one of my readers. To enter to win, simply leave a comment on this post (be sure to include your contact info) by midnight CST on Monday, April 12th.

Good luck and happy playing!

The full disclosure part: I was compensated for writing this post about the Quaker Afterschool Rocks program. I also received an Afterschool Kit to keep and one to give away to my readers. Quaker did not tell me that I should write about my memories of my Mom standing on the front lawn with homemade cookies -- that part is all me.

The new little lady in my life

2010-04-05T12:54:00.003-05:00

Meet Olivia Maeve -- the beautiful daughter of my beautiful sister.
She made her world debut on April 3rd.
We are ecstatic to have her here.

Ellie's First Date . . .

2010-03-26T19:27:00.003-05:00

. . . with her Daddy.

David and Eleanor heading to the Daddy/Daughter Dance at school.

She wore a corsage.
He wore a boutonniere.
It was pretty darn cute.

Raving about Readeo: A Review and Giveaway

2010-03-26T14:03:00.001-05:00

Last weekend, my kids read books face-to-face with their eighteen month-old cousin who lives in Boston. And it all took place on the computer using Readeo.

I know, this sounds a bit confusing at first. I felt that same way when I met with Chicago dad Coby Neuenschwander a few months ago and he told me about his new website.

Now that I've had a chance to use the site, I think that the best way to describe it is Skype meets Kindle for kids -- users can read books online while viewing each other face-to-face. Great idea, don't you think?

Here is how Readeo works. You create a profile for your family and invite friends and relatives to join you as Guests on the site as well. Then you can peruse the "shelves" and choose books to read alone or using "BookChat."

The "BookChat" feature of Readeo is the truly amazing part. The book appears on the screen with beautiful and clear graphics. Then there is a video window that shows your face and another window showing the face of whoever you are reading with (say Grandma or Dad when he is on a business trip).

This format allows the users to connect and share a true reading experience. My kids were mesmerized by the vivid graphics in the actual books and it was fun to be able to see my niece's reaction as she was seeing and hearing the very same thing.

It took me a few minutes to navigate around and figure out how to invite others to join and then connect up on the site. Once I got that part set up, the rest of the experience was a breeze. My nearly six year-old daughter was able to choose books and get started all on her own.

Currently, Readeo offers a nice selection of books (some titles we were familiar with and others were new to us). At this point, the book selection is not huge but Coby assures me that plenty more books are being added -- including 20 new titles being introduced in the coming weeks.

I think that Readeo is something that all families could use, whether they have out-of-town relatives or not. Obviously, this is a unique opportunity for kids to connect with far-away family members that the telephone simply can't provide. Kids can also use the site to choose any one of the books in the library and read independently. The person on the other side of the screen doesn't have to live miles away -- my kids would be totally tickled to share bedtime reading with their cousins who live just a few blocks away.

If you want to try Readeo out and see for yourself, you can do so for free. Here's how: both parties should sign up as Guests and try a BookChat together using the Book of the Month.

Readeo is a new sponsor here at A Hen and Two (now Three) Chicks (you can check out their ad on the right-hand sidebar). I am excited to announce that Readeo is giving a one-year membership to Readeo to one of my readers (Member accounts are $49.95 through the end of March - regularly $99.95 annually or $9.95 monthly).

To enter, leave a comment on this post. If you follow Readeo on Twitter, that will earn you another entry. Become a fan of Readeo on Facebook and you'll get one more entry. Please leave a separate comment for each entry. All entries must be received by midnight CST on Monday, April 5, 2010. I will choose a winner using Random.org and notify that lucky individual on Tuesday, April 6th. If I don't hear back from the winner within 48 hours of my email, I will choose another winner.

So go enter! Good luck! [Amended to add: If you don't have contact info in your Blogger profile, please leave your email address so I can get in touch with you if you win.]

Spring Going Places

2010-03-24T14:35:00.004-05:00

The Spring issue of Going Places Magazine is available now. This publication is a must-have for parents looking to fill the calendar with inexpensive family activities. I use mine weekly.

I wrote two stories in this issue: one about some local green resources that your family might not be aware of (like One Seed Chicago and the Kilbourne Organic Greenhouse) and another about a simple scavenger hunt you can plan to get your kids to notice the welcome changes that spring is bringing to Chicago.