Memory Lane

I took a stroll, well drive really, down memory lane today. I had to tend to some business out in Hoffman Estates, and since we had some extra time, I decided to show the boys the house I grew up in. We drove over to Rolling Meadows, and first I toured thru the downtown. Man, was that just a surreal experience. It's been several years since I last did that, and while some things haven't changed, so much has changed! The police station/city hall looks exactly the same. The fire station and the funeral home is still there, as is the gas station on the corner of Kirchoff and Hicks. Fratello's is in the same spot and the Jewel shopping center remains (Altho, it changed quite a bit over the years while was growning up. My mind's eye still shows the 1980s version of it). But the 7-11 is gone, the Barro's Pizza is long gone, the Dunkin' Donuts we used to stop at after church has relocated. And most startlingly of all, the Dominick's is gone. There are lots of new brick condos/apartments that have taken over many of these old places, and it just looks so strange to me. I was almost feeling overwhelmed as I drove thru and tried to take it all in. It was so familiar, but then again so different. I felt so emotional over seeing how different things look compared to how I remember them.

Next we drove over to the old house. Driving down the main neighborhood road felt so strange! I was suddenly flooded with memories of walking/biking/driving that road and all the cul-de-sacs while I still lived there. Again, I felt overwhelmed and emotional while taking in how things have changed/matured. Now that he is getting old enough to understand, I told Caiden this was my old neighborhood and that I used to bike ride all up and down that street when I was younger.

Finally, we pulled up in front of the old homestead. I knew it had changed, but again my mind's eye stubbornly held on to the vision of how the house looked when I last lived there.

Seeing the major transformation it had undertaken really jolted me. I sat there for a few minutes and just stared at it thinking and remembering. Noticing what was gone and what was still there. Seeing how the trees have grown, that the bushes were still there, and the lamp post still lived in the front yard. But the front doors are red now, the house is brown with a strange rock border. The windows are new, and there are some shutters missing.

 We drove around to the back of the house, and I laughed when I saw they put the sliding glass door back in the kitchen and removed the slider from the family room. The patio has been redone, the fence is gone, and while my favorite climbing oak tree is still there, there is no way a kid could get up there today without a very tall ladder. I was startled to see how much the trees had grown that are near the edge of the road. I remember when my dad planted them and that I was taller than they were. Now those trees are 25 years old. The elm is gone and the crab apple too. But the peonies are still there, and that made me smile.

I used to fantasize that maybe we could buy that house back someday, but I discovered today that I don't feel that way anymore. I have my own family now, and I want to build and create new memories with them. Trying to re-live and re-create the old ones just wouldn't feel right. I do wish that house still belonged to Mom, because I would love for my kids to know that house like I did and to play in that yard like I did. But it doesn't, and they won't, and I think I'm OK with that. I can still take them to that neighborhood and say that's where I grew up, and that's the park I played at, and that's the creek we always talked about. It's no longer mine, but it is still accessible and I can always share that part of my life with them in one way or another.

So, I think it is time to properly say: Goodbye, House I Grew Up In. I will always carry so many memories - both joyful and sad -  that were created in and around you. I've had a hard time letting you go, silly as that may sound, but I'm finally ready. It's good to see you now and then to remember what you meant to me. But it's time for me to let go, so I bid you a fond farewell. XOXO, Me.

Shamrockin'

Can you believe this amazing weather we've been having? 80 degrees on St. Patrick's day!!!! It doesn't get much better than that here in Chicago during March. I swear, this has been the best end of winter ever. Heck, an amazing fall, followed by an incredibly mild Seattle-style winter and now launching into the most beautiful spring I can remember has made for a great welcome back home to IL. :)

On Friday, the boys and I hopped in the car and headed out to Aunt Cathy's to spend the day with her. Caiden has been asking to go to "Aunt Caffy's Park," so we made it extra special by enjoying a yummy picnic lunch there. We spent a couple hours at the park and then headed back so the boys could take their naps. Cathy and I chit-chatted while they snoozed, and then when they got up we played some more before heading back home.

On Saturday, Amy and Jerry came up for a long overdue visit. We soaked up the beautiful weather and spent most of our time outside. The boys played exceptionally well together and had lots of fun playing in the yard and in the sandbox.
That night, B graciously stayed home while Amy and I got out for some much needed girl time and went to see local favorite Modern Day Romeos perform at Chord on Blue in St. Charles. I couldn't believe it when I realized the last time I went out for St. Pat's was way back in '07 on the famed party bus! It was also crazy to be walking outside at night in a strapless summer dress in the middle of MARCH and be completely comfortable. :) The band put on a great show, and we were in our usual spots in the front row.

We were also "treated" (ugh) to a couple overtly expressing their love lust right next to us for a good hour. Amy and I both wanted to tell them to "get a room!" I'm generally fine with some "dirty dancing" for a couple of songs, but they were getting downright graphic. *gag*

Annoying couple on the right

Anywho, the holiday weekend wouldn't be complete without some festive cookies to celebrate! The next day I got to teach Amy how to decorate with royal icing, and we both had so much fun with it! I think she is going to be a natural. :) Of course I took a couple of pictures as well.

It was such a FUN and relaxing weekend! Great company and beautiful weather are so good for the soul. :)

Hobie Gras '12 - Mardi Gras Cookies

Our good friend Rob has had a tradition that he has kept alive despite living in Seattle which is his annual Mardi Gras party aptly named "Hobie Gras." The key is that this party happens here in Chicago! We haven't been able to attend the last half dozen or so parties, but this year we finally got to go again! :)

Naturally I wanted to bring along some festive cookies, but I was drawing a blank on what to make. I started searching "Mardi Gras cookies" and came up with some awesome looking masks, but those were way too time intensive for me to attempt. Next I found some cute bikini topped cookies with candy bead necklaces. I thought those were clever, but then I started thinking about how it is you technically earn your beads at Mardi Gras. This lead me to become extra inspired, and knowing the party attendees - they would get a good laugh out of my creation.

Now fair warning - these aren't, uh, kid-friendly cookies, per se, but they do engender the real theme of some of that Mardi Gras craziness. (And this will be the closest I'd ever get to participating in said craziness. :P ) I actually hemmed and hawed over posting these, but I'm pretty proud of how they turned out and heck, this is my blog. :P So I hope you get a laugh or a giggle over these. If not, just pretend you never saw it. ;)

They did indeed go over well, and earned a hearty guffaw from the party host himself. :) And it was SO awesome seeing so many fabulous people we haven't gotten to hang out with in far too long. Rob has such a great group of friends, and I realized how much I'd missed seeing them over the years! Rob, you have to move back now so you can keep throwing fun parties! :)

Wordless Wednesday - Hugging Spree