The culmination of all of my parenting dreams

I have finallly hit the point of motherhood that I dreamed about my entire life. Mary Rowe starts soccer next week and is on the "Little Angels". Their uniforms are hot pink! Going to get her pink cleats this weekend. We also just picked up Chocolate, the Guinea Pig from Baker's school and are babysitting him all weekend. Ah, all of the things you look forward too. Mary Rowe is begging to hold Chocolate as we speak. It is great. They are so dumb they can't even run away or jump away. They just sit there. Looking forward to lots of football and swimming this weekend. It is actually not hot. Wish I was out in California with you all, but do love it here during college football season. Love to all.

The Queens Love Musicals

So, about 10,000 people showed up for the Sound of Music in Grant Park. Drew got there early so from the looks of the picture you can see that we had good seats. This turned out to be SO fun. Everyone makes comments during the movie and we sat next to a huge group of gay folk that were flippin' hilarious. They would hiss at the baroness every time she came on screen and they would make the funniest comments. Everyone sang along to the songs. It was great.

Leave for Napa tomorrow. Drew and I are spending the day in San Fran together. Very exciting!

Hi Hommies

I love movies in the park! I hope it was fun. Sound of Music would be such a good one! I never knew the johnny jump up story. I can't believe they even had those then. That is too funny. I am celebrating today because I was able to put my hair in a pony for the first time in over a year. Yippee! Have a great time in SF this Thursday - I think I have to work now so I don't think I can come to Mom's until 12 PM on Friday. We can chat to figure out the car situation. Have fun exploring the city. I highly suggest Stow Lake in the Golden Gate park - you can rent little boats and row around. It's a good date thing. Lyd, I found some really cute fabrics for you yesterday, but I'm not even close to have this all together yet. It's a soft blue scheme for your bedroom so far. But I'm going to put together other color options. So fun!!!

Movies in the Park

Drew, Carrie, Andy and I are off to see the Sound of Music in Grant Park tonight. This is the last movie in the park and they expect 10,000 people to come. They play it on a giant screen (over 50 ft) Carrie and I will have to do everything in our power not to sing since the two of us know ever word by heart. We will be picnicking which will make for a good blog entry on the bacon blog.

I have heard the johnny jump up story so many times. I think it is so funny. Don't put the brain damage past me though, sometimes I do dumb things... Drew is going to fly standby with me on Thursday morning so we can both go to SF for the day before we pick up Andy and Carrie at the airport around 4. We are so excited to spend a day in the city we are moving to together. It will be so great! He has signed up to take the CA bar in late July. California bound!

thoughts of baby lizzy

Well, we got baby Spencer a johnny jump up today and it got me thinking of sweet little Liz when she was a little curly haired girl. She jumped so much I swear Mom and I thought she would have brain damage. I am happy to report that Spencer enjoys it as much. He is so thankful to just be vertical! He is always either being held or in a car seat. Big improvement. Mary Rowe has her first big crush, yes that is at the age of 3! She is in love with the guy in High School Musical. She is obsessed with the movie, the CD and him. She stares at the CD player while she listens to the music and today she turned to me and said, " Mommy, Troy Bolton wishes I could jump in the music player and sing with him."!! I almost cried my eyes out it was so cute. My dream come true. Bring on the Teen Beat and Tiger Beat magazines!! Love it. Dill is back from India and brought me back a beautiful Ivory Silk Pashmina. It will be perfect with my Marilyn Monroe dress. The dress that I am goint to wear to 2 more weddings in October by the way. No overlap either. So fun. Still enjoying my "life change". Venturing out into the world of fish now. In fact, we are having Tilapia tomorrow night. I like it because it is not a fishy fish. Lucille, we have spent the last 3 nights in our front living room since we put our movie screen in there football games. We are now reallllllllly excited over our decorating changes. I will e-mail you the dimensions. Love my girls.

Napa Weekend

Well, get excited Lizzie because the weather has been gorgeous around here lately. Fall is in the air. I spent the weekend up at Mom's because it was Bridget Maloney's bachelorette weekend. I got to see Caitlin Stuart who I hadn't seen in years. She is very political so we got into some big debates. She came and hung out by the pool yesterday and so did my friend Caroline, who I think I might invite to be my last bridesmaid.

I have to tell you guys, last night, Justin said, is your mom trying to get plums on the guest list? I said plums? He said, yeah plums, is she trying to add her too? I said, you mean peaches??? We were laughing sooo hard.

Lyd, I am sorry I didn't ask about your party either. Sounds like it was so fun.

Lizzie, that eggs benedict looked soooooo good. Please remake that this weekend!

Happy Monday everybody!

Bears Vs. 49ers

Well, Chaz took me to my first Bears game and we has awesome seats. It was very exciting. They did this huge addition to Solider Field a couple years ago and it looks SO retarded from the outside but it is very cool on the inside. Bears whooped the niners and we left right after half time. We called it an early night and were in bed pretty early. Good times. Carrie's graduation party on Friday night was great. Sang Bust a Move at about 2am in a divey Karaoke bar... Sunday was spent laying in the park by the lake napping and taking it easy. A true lazy Sunday. Leave for Napa on Thursday and cannot flippin' wait.

Lyd, I am so sorry that I did not ask you about your party. I know you have been excited for that. I hope it went well. Everyone sounds really good. I love that I have a short week. Tomorrow, I am meeting Kristi for lunch at RL. Should be good to catch up with her. xoxo

Livin Large

Sitting watching Sunday night football on our projector tv. Sooo fun. I am so happy to finally be blogging. For some reason the blogger always keeps me on Lizzy's blog so it is a pain to sign out and go back to this one. We too had a great time at Clark's wedding. I have never felt more sure about 2 people in my life. I really just felt that it seemed so right for them to be getting married. So incredibly precious. Dill is back from India so we have had a low key weekend. Birthday party yesterday and T-ball today. Sorry Lizzy, Baker is on the Dodgers this season so Cubs who? Funny how they forget. Had a party on Thursday night with about 25 girls. So funl, but it killed me. Still have not recovered. It was great to see everyone after being gone all summer. Baker is going into week 3 of kindergarten and is doing amazing. We are thrilled with his school. He jumps right on the bus every morning and comes right back in the afternoon. Loving the bus, let me tell you. Mary Rowe starts after Labor Day. Tomorrow I am going to start taking Spence to the YMCA while I work out. He feel like he is ready now. Not so fragile seeming. We also moved him out of our room today. His room is the guest room for now. We are so happy to have our fancy new Interior Decorator, Lucille Eleanor Shaw!!! Can't wait to see your ideas and really can't wait for you to come. Next weekend is the beginning of the College Football season. Basically a national holiday around these parts so we are fired up. It is also the star trek/star wars conventions parade so we are taking the kids to see all of the freaks that will be in attendance for that! Cannot even imagine the social misfits we will encounter at that one. I love you all and am so glad that we have all been able to see eachother so much this year. Lizzy is coming in 2 weeks, yippie. Then party for Lucille and Justin's wedding!!! Lizzy are you next? I sure looooooooooove Mc Drewy!!!!!

bears vs. 49ers

This is hot off the press: Chaz has invited Drew and me to see Bears vs. 49ers on Sat night and he has rock star tickets! Now that is what I am talking about!!! The Bears, in case you forgot, got slammed in the super bowl last year. Regardless of the loss, the tix are hard to come by and $$$. 10 dollar beers have never sounded better.

Magoo- good for you on taking the class. You'll be glad you did it. I wouldn't last 2 seconds in a class like that. In other news, Carrie's graduation party is this weekend. She is graduating top 5% at U of Chicago for Economics which in other words is flippin' bad ass and we are going to get down!

Love to all.

night class

Well I am officially attending my fourth college. This one is definitely the least expensive of the four, but I must say I've been impressed so far. I am taking an Autocad course at the City College in San Francisco. It cost $81 for 30 classes that are 3 hours long. I'm not quite sure who worked out those numbers, but it certainly works out to my benefit. Autocad is hard! I've been to three classes now and it's like learning a new language mixed with math, geometry and lots of visualization. It's kind of the perfect combination for me actually so we'll see if I can catch on. Justin is at his step-mother's birthday party tonight which sounds pretty over the top. 85 people, a band, yummy food. I wish I could have gone so I could have taken food photos for the blog!! I was going to drive out for it but I'm too tired tonight after my class. I get out at 9:30 PM. I went to a presentation last night on global warming that's gotten me freaked out again so we're starting to "sacrifice" instead of just recycling, driving hybrids...etc. We'll see if we can keep it up. Turn off you computers at night! That is supposed to be a good one. xoxo, Lucille

Napa and Family Bound

My family rounds continue! I am off to Napa for Labor day with Drew, Carie and Andy and then to Atlanta for work in September. Mary Rowe will have to whip me up one of her pretend dinners. Also, I am going to Rome. That's right, Rome. Kelsey and I are going to meet there for Thanksgiving holiday. I am so excited. I have heard great things. Can't wait to hear about Dill's India trip. Tonight is top chef, so excited! I love that show! Also, we have volleyball tonight and the weather/ wind is perfect. Crain's chicago is a business publication that's big here and they are running a story on 'mentoring' so they interviewed me and Sean and came today to take our pictures. It took 45 minutes to take all the pictures! It was crazy. They brought a truck load of equiptment and it was very hard core. So, if they use the picture this sunday, I will scan and throw on blogger.

Little Clarkie is not so little anymore

Where to start? First off, the weekend was a total whirlwind. Drew and I cannot believe we were there and back in 2 1/2 days. It really flew by. Great to see everyone. I CANNOT believe how big Lucas and Oscar were and how much like Dad Lucas looked. I thought the wedding was great and Lucy and Clark really seem madly in love. Sorry again Magoo and Lyd. The video was a total bust. I have never wanted something to be so perfect in my life and I was obviously devastate that it didn't work out the way I wanted it to.

Drew enjoyed seeing everyone. He really made an effort and I just love him to pieces. It meant a lot to me that he came with me and we are better than ever.

I saw Bourne Ultimatum yesterday and that movie is bad ass. I love all those Bourne movies. Lots of work now that my intern has returned to school. I am so excited to go home in two weeks for Labor day and see more of everyone. Carrie and Andy are coming, too. Lots of love.

Bring it!

My face is in full peel from the weekend burn but that's not gonna get me down. I am SO fired up for this weekend. Wake up call at 4:30 am tomorrow. Bring it! Bring on the heat, too.

See you all soon!

Can't be any hotter down there

I must say that I was griping a bit about how hot it was gonna be down in Florida. Heck, given that it is 98 degrees in Chicago and just as humid, I am now psyched! If you are going to roast, you might as well have the ocean and a huge pool to cool off in. And besides, it can't be any hotter than Lyd's wedding. Right Lyd? We are gearing up to go and again are really excited. I was able to get a nanny for most of our time down there so I might even get a little rest for once too. How nice. Lyd, I am a little disappointed that I won't see the big kids but totally understand your position. Can't wait to see Spencer though. He is so adorable. Ludie, I miss you dearly and can't wait to see you. We could certainly use a visit from you and Justin one day. I'll tell ya, we are really making progress with the house but our living room layout is just a mind bender. We can't figure out how to make it work. We are constantly moving furniture around and nothing seems to fit. I really need your expertise. We spent the weekend getting the basement done. It is great. Lena has a complete office down there. The kids have a play area centered around the train table and then we put in a home theater based around a wrap around couch we bought. It is quite cozy down there. We love it. Of course, another way to look at it is that I am just baiting the trap in the dungeon in hopes of luring the boys down there. Anything to get them to quit trashing the upper floors.Lizzie, great to see you the other day. I am glad Drew can make it. BTW, your BLOG rocks. I am serious. It is amazing. Great writing. Great pictures. It is just really well done. You got skills. BTW, I went to Heaven on Seven yesterday and bought the cookbook as I was leaving. Oh, it's a good one. I was looking it over on the way home. Yummmmmmmmmy! Cajun food for those of you who haven't heard of it. Momma, I love you and will see you soon. XOXO everyone.

Soda Springs

We spent a whirlwind 24 hours in Tahoe this weekend at Lawry's family's house in Soda Springs. Every year that we go here I feel so in my element. I absolutely love it there and can't wait for next year. The river water is snowmelt so the water is sooo cold but so refreshing. There is a spring that is soda water which is what I'm drinking in the last photo. It tastes terrible!! The other photo is of Justin's dog Ellie - that photo makes me laugh - wise, old Ellie. The drawing of the flyfisherman is from 1888 and it's etched into the stone.

Crazy crazy weekend. We went to two dinner parties, Sonoma, Napa and Tahoe!! Only one more day of work and I'm off to Florida. Can't wait! I got really fried today too Lizzie so don't worry, we'll both be shedding a layer.

Love everybody and see you all soon!

Is there a level beyond varsity?

Because that was my tanning style this weekend and I got charred. So, I should have a nice peel going for the wedding, ugh!

SO EXCITED TO SEE EVERYONE!!!!

Bring on the festivities!

Well, I am officially ready now. I found the most incredible dress today to wear to the wedding and another one for the rehearsal dinner. I never have anything I love to wear so it is pretty exciting to be ready for an event. I feel like Lizzy! Also, we are now only bringing Spencer with us which is a huge relief. Baker and Mary Rowe are now going to stay at home with Dill's mom. We are really gearing up for Baker's first day of Kindergarten on Monday. He is soooo excited about riding the school bus with his friends. We have definately had to practice waking up early because the bus comes at 7:13!! Not our time of day. We got Baker an alarm clock so it is so cute. He loves it. As you all know, our Michigan trip was a disaster. Mary Rowe, Spencer and Dill were so sick the whole time. Hospital sick. It was also 100 degrees and our dump of a condo did not have air conditioning. When I say dump I mean dump. We had to go buy sheets. I think that was our last Michigan pilgrimage. It is so difficult to get to and the money we spend to rent does not at all reflect the quality of accomodations. We love seeing that side of the family, but it is too much effort for us. Dill is swooping in and out of Florida Fri-Sat and then going to India for 10 days. I can't wait to hear about it. It is hot as hell here so even Spencer has been in the pool. About to make an awesome salad for dinnner but will save details for Lizzy's blog. Pressure!!! Love everyone and can't wait to see you. Especially Chaz!

Lyd

Congrats on your planning

Magoo, so happy to hear that you making some decisions on your wedding. It's going to be fab no matter what and I am so excited about it.

Clark's wedding is SO soon and I am getting really excited. This weekend I will need to tan my tush off to look hot, hot, hot for FL. I can't wait to get the whole family together.

Today, I am meeting Chaz and Eddie for lunch. Eddie is in town visiting his woman. I am going to work all weekend on our surprises for Clark. I think I am going to curl my hair for the wedding..... fingers crossed on that one.

Have a great weekend all!

Big Events

Well,
I've made a lot of progress this week on the wedding. The biggest accomplishment - actually picking the place. Man does that take the weight off my shoulders. Justin's Godmother is throwing us an engagement party in St. Helena, right near Big Tree Road actually. And Barbera Brooks is throwing us a party in San Francisco. We are kicking this thing off!

I am getting pumped for Clark's wedding. I can't wait to see everyone!

I'm feeling sick today and am going to the doctor tomorrow - I think I have a lung infection but we'll see. Only one week until Clark's big day!

xoxo,
L

Good update Chaz

Hey Chaz- Wow! Looking forward to catching up with you more when we go to lunch on Friday. You sound just great and I am sure I will be shocked the next time I see the boys. They are probably twice their size.

Lyd- I am so proud of you and your diet. That stuff is tough (I know b/c I would just smoke cigarettes instead of dieting cause I hated it so much but now I have yoga thank god...)

Lucille- I am really excited about our art project and plan on working on it all weekend.

Clark and Lucy asked me to write a poem and do a reading at the ceremony. I am so touched. I have a really fun and different idea that I think everyone will love.

I hope you are all having a great week and thank you for checking out my new blog. I really love my little project!

Where to begin

I don't even know where to begin. We love our house. Why I didn't move to the suburbs right after Oscar was born, I don't know. I wouldn't move downtown again if you bought me a penthouse on Michigan Ave. The boys are great. Lukie is such a good boy. He is much easier now that he sleeps well and can eat "big boy" food. It is so sweet to watch he and Oscar play together. They are good brothers. Oscar is doing great too. He is a fine boy. That is all there is to it. Lena is fine and is working hard. Her "part time" job from home takes more than "part" of her time. That along with the kids is really a lot. We think we have a solution in that the kids will soon be with their nanny two days a week and at school two days a week. Along with a new maid, Lena should have more time. Our trip to Sweden this year was great like it always is. We always have such a good time. We spend a lot of time in Finland this time. I enjoyed that a lot. We closed our deal with ITG last week. We are no longer RedSky but now ITG Derivatives. All in all, everything worked out great. I have a contract that extends through January, 2011. Soon after that date, we will be moving to Sweden. As most of you know, I am now really into sailing and in a year or two- when the boys are a little older- intend on buying our first boat. That is a ways away though. IN the immediate future, we are just looking forward to Clark's wedding. Can't wait. I will also be headed to N. CA to go fishing with James in late September. I don't think I will make it to SF or SH though. I feel really out of touch with everyone but hopefully we can all catch up at the wedding. I have just been really busy with this deal and everything else. I love you all. XOXO.

Welcome back Chaz!

Give us an update, Chaz!

Lyd, how is home? How is diet?

I'm Back!

Sorry to have been absent for so long. They have streamlined this thing so it is more user friendly like before. The ITG Board of Directors are at our offices today so I don't have time to bring everyone up to speed. Stay tuned. I love you all.

OHHHHH!

Drew is so wonderful! That is beautiful! I'm glad you too had such a nice weekend together.

Oh, Dreamy!!!

Saturday was our 1st year anniversary and Drew came over for dinner at my house after a long day of class. I made him this rib eye steak with a merlot reduction and polenta and leek puree. It tasted real good but it looked like someone crapped on the plate. I need to take a plating class. It looked like goo. The poached pears dessert was yummy but the syrup was really sugary and it was tough to fall asleep. I don;t eat lots of sugar these days. I am such a salt girl.

Anyway, Drew told me to close my eyes and when I opened them I saw a baby blue box (you know the one) and i started to cry. I really didn't think he was going to get me something nice cause he is so broke right now. So, he got me this necklace that matches some earrings that Carrie and Andy gave me so I have the whole set. I love it and I don't think I will take it off.

This week is busy at work. My intern leaves next week and I will be crushed. I adore her. Getting really excited for Clark's wedding. Drew finishes this stupid accelerated course that has him working and at school almost 14 hours a day on Friday so I will be happy for that. I have hardly seen him and he is getting fried.

Love you all and have a great week.

Good for you!

Good job, Lucille. You deserve every penny. Going through this will make it much easier down the road and I love the idea of starting your own business one day. That is great.

I am pretty sure I am going to launch my food blog tomorrow. I am having a party for two friends that just got engaged tonight and i am making some great finger food which will be picture worthy that i can kick off with. So, look for the email.

All is well here. Drew starts his accelerated class today which is 10 days straight 9-5 so I'll pretty much see him in 10 days. I am going to cook him a romantic dinner on Saturday for our anniversary and we are going to stay in so I will post that meal too. No big plans

I bought a new dress for clark wedding and I love it. it pink and white taffeta from J Crew and I am getting melon colored heels to go with. Should look like I just got off the ferry from the Nantucket or something.

Love to all. Hope Mary Rowe is feeling better!