Whirlwind weekend

Wow we were busy this weekend.

We celebrated my Grandpa's 81st birthday on Saturday (He's actual B-day is June 2). So we all went to my Grandparents house and had Mexican food made by my Grandma, best authentic Mexican I can get!! Then we played outside because it was a BEAUTIFUL day.

When I was a kid my Grandpa used to take my brother and I around in his "tractor" which is a riding lawnmower in the bucket that attaches to the back. We always had a grand time and FINALLY Saturday Gabe wasn't afraid of it anymore.

First my brother took me in the bucket without Gabe to try and get him excited that someone else was doing it. My Grandparents have an acre and a half huge yard and the neighbors were out in their backyard laughing at my brother and I giggling up a storm as two adults alone in this thing.

Then I convinced Gabe to go in it with me in the bucket with him and my brother driving. Mostly he wanted to drive it by himself though. We told him he can't drive til he can reach the peddles (lol). So here he is pretending to drive. There were lots of tractor sounds involved too.



Or chase my brother and I in it (I'm driving my 6'4" brother is in the bucket a little squished). Mike got some really cute pictures of Gabe.



And I just really love this one:



I have to say that Saturday was the first time I REALLY REALLY had fun playing with Gabe. I mean I enjoy hanging out with him and learning new things but this was something that *I* really enjoyed from being a kid and getting to share it with Gabe was fun and exciting because it was nostalgic for me and brand new for him.









BUT that was only Saturday!

Yesterday we went to Chicago to visit one of our dearest friends (who I wish lived closer). He lives in Nebraska but was in Chicago on business. So of course we decided to visit Skip. So usually when we go to Chicago we drive (2 1/2 hours if we don't hit traffic). But this time we thought, what the heck lets take the train. TOTALLY WORTH IT!! It probably cost us about 10 bucks more that way but no hassle and no traffic. The train ride is only 1 1/2 hours, even with the 25 min it takes us to get to the train station it's faster. Plus Mike and I got to spend time together on the train doing crossword puzzles.

We did get lost getting off the train though and walked about a mile out of our way. We ended up catching a cab (note to self just catch the cab right away next time). We had lunch at Giordano's Home of world famous stuffed pizza. We did have two stuffed pizzas (there were 5 adults so we weren't TOO piggy). Anyone that knows anything about pizza knows Chicago is the best place for pizza ;)

So all in all a wonderful weekend with both family time and adult time which is really the best of both worlds.

How far is far?

You know when I was in high school far was much farther than it is now. I mean I used to drive 35 minutes to see Mike one way two or three times a week. If I got out there and someone needed me to go get them, SURE. I'll drive back to Milwaukee's East Side pick you up and we'll go back, got gas money? I didn't care that it was 2 hours in the car in one day not leaving Metro Milwaukee area.

Now though, Man sometimes the other side of Cedarburg is too far and it's probably only got a 2 mile radius. The mall? Well that's 20 min one way that's too far.

I think I'm old. I'm not sure when it happened. I mean when did my world get very small? I am a worldy person darn it! I've even been to Canada. So what if I don't own a passport? I have friends all over the world so why is driving a little bit so tough? Time to stack the Ipod with new music and go for it!

This weekend we're heading to Chicago ( just over 2 hours without traffic) to see a dear friend of ours. He's going to be in town on business so that's as close as he's coming to us probably all year. It's worth the drive to see him and really 2 hours is NOT far. Now toll and gas money, that will kill ya but it's worth it.

So I think I'm going to work on my perception of far again. I used to believe that if I could get there in the car and you paid gas I would drive to Alaska to pick you up. Now maybe I'll at least go to the other side of town for you.