Supporting Chicago's Sports Teams

Last Tuesday, we went to a Chicago Blackhawks game with Dick and Wendy...it was sweet! They are doing well this year, and the crowd is awesome, they just pump you up. We had awesome seats...basically, it was super fun. To top things off, we sat right in front of Vince Vaughn!!!!

We also had the pleasure of attending our first pro football game. Da Bears played St. Louis Rams today and won! It was soooooooooo cold!!!!!!! The game was fun, but I think I will make that my football experience and call it good. The tickets are expensive, and I would rather spend it on a good meal or a Blackhawks game :-)

Little Village Christmas Party

My school hosted a Holiday Party on Friday for all staff and their family.  It was a fun night, unfortunately, even though Greg and I paid for his dinner, he missed it!  Greg made it after dinner for a little dancing, he had a good excuse, interviewing at UIC, which went well:-)  The group of people I work with really are a lot of fun.

Thanksgiving

I officially hosted my first Thanksgiving!  With the help of my mom's recipes and Wendy's help in the kitchen, I declare it a success:-)  It was a bit tight in our small apartment, but not a problem. I was able to take advantage of a lot of wedding gifts that I haven't needed to use yet, so it was cool to be able to pull it all out.

A few tidbits

Since the last post, Greg is in his third week of his ortho rotation at Loyola. From my point of view so far, it has been nothing like the other rotations. In general, he has been home relatively early, only one on call night so far and only worked one weekend day. I think Greg is uneasy with this because he feels as though he is not making the impression he needs to be and he's a little weary of the lack of urgency and rigor of the rotation. But, I personally can't complain. The end of this rotation is next week, after that, Greg can start cleaning and doing the laundry:-) at least for awhile anyway.

I was able to go to Indianapolis the 4-6th of November for the National Middle School Association annual conference. I am lucky to have a school that paid for my conference fee, food, and lodging so that I was able to go. Unfortunately, grades were due the same week so it was somewhat stressful. I was able to go to some awesome sessions while there. I saw the brother of Rachel Scott (first victim of the Columbine shootings) speak. It was sad, yet inspiring. Her story is actually quite incredible leading up to the shootings, and hearing it from her brother was very interesting. I also went to one that talked about using "foldables" in the classroom and how they are a nice alternative to boring lecture/note classes. With these, students are able to incorporate kinesthetics as well as create study guides in the process of note taking. They are very simple and nothing new but most teachers won't dedicate the time to making them. The argument is the amount of time spent on actually making them takes too much class time, but data has proven these to raise test scores. I actually started with one of them in class and it was the first time a student of mine that has a very mild case of Autism, and never...EVER does anything in class, participated and created a wonderful foldable. I am excited to get more of them going in class. Here is an example of one of the foldables I will be doing in class in the next few weeks.




I did end up leaving the conference one day early to go to Lake Mills, WI for the Tyranena Beer Half Marathon. I ran it with my neighbor Linda and we finished in a slow 2 hours and 35 minutes. I am just glad I finished, I hadn't run in three weeks when I did it, and I paid the price the next day, my back was killing me!! Greg and John (Linda's husband) went with us and we all got a lasagna dinner afterwords. It turned out to be a beautiful day, almost 70 degrees!

This past weekend we were lucky enough to have nice weather again. It was sunny and in the high 50's so Greg and I loaded up the bikes and drove to a bike trail out of the city. We ended up seeing some big bucks (according to Greg, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference). Afterwords, we enjoyed dinner together before we headed back to the city.


Last week, I had veteran's day off and went shopping for some ingredients of Thanksgiving!! I can't wait for everyone to arrive! Dick and Wendy, we'll see you on Wednesday!!!

Greg's free time.

I just have to comment on how wonderful it has been being able to hang out with Greg so much!! This is his third week of having mucho time (this week especially). I came home today to a homemade picture box. This is what he has to do this week, take pictures of plastic bones:-) I posted a picture of him cooking us some moose steaks for din din, I'm going to miss him the next four weeks while he is busy at Loyola :-(

Pumpkins =)

Greg and I took advantage of the sunny weekend and headed out to a pumpkin patch. Last year we got our pumpkin from the apple orchard we went to. This year, however, thanks to info from my neighbor and Matt's post about their pumpkin patch experience, I figured out that there were such a thing that sole purpose is to open in the fall and sell pumpkins! It's really kind of a gimmick. There are not only pumpkins, but food and petting zoo and hay rides, etc. I can see families ending up spending a pretty penny there. Nevertheless, I enjoyed going and we picked out the perfect pumpkins to take home and carve for Halloween weekend. Greg did such a great job, really quite the artist :-)

Greg's Home!!

Greg has officially been home for one week now. It has been so nice to come home at night and have dinner with him. The drive last weekend went well. I got into Albuquerque last Friday night and then we had an awesome dinner with Dick, Wendy, and my cousins Robert and Kelly. We got up early the next morning to see the mass ascension of the balloons at the balloon fiesta (see the pictures below). It was so cool to see and the pictures do it no justice. If Greg and I do end up there next year, we will have to spend more time at the fiesta than we were able to this year. After the balloons, we headed back to Chicago and got back by early afternoon on Sunday. Luckily, I had Monday off so I was able to relax and sleep in the next day. I think Greg is enjoying having a relatively easy rotation, he was able to hang out with me and our friends the entire weekend! Two more weeks of this, and then he is doing another ortho rotation at Loyola. After that, Thanksgiving with the family...I can't wait!!!!

Weekend fun!

While Greg has been gone, I have been trying to keep busy. I am lucky to have a good friend base here who have been wonderful while I am here alone. Last weekend it was my coworkers birthday and a group of women got together to get out of the city. We went to St. Joseph, Michigan and did a 4 hour wine tour...who knew there were so many wineries over there. I was able to buy some good affordable wine. It is great buying wine that you know you already like. I am certainly taking Greg back there sometime. After the wine tour, we checked into a hotel and headed out to dinner. We then were able to stop by the outlet mall on the way back to the city on Sunday. It was such a great time and a much needed getaway.



This weekend I headed out of the city again with my neighbors. We had plans to go to a u-pick apple orchard but when we got there, the weather wasn't all that great and this place had an awesome store with all sorts of apple and other fruit inspired products. I passed on the apple butter because I wasn't sure if it would get eaten and they didn't have samples. I did get 1/2 a peck of honeycrisp apples (the BEST snacking apples), a soup mix, a caramel apple bar mix, some apple cider donuts, some sweetcorn salsa and some fresh apple cider. After we bought our goodies, we walked around a bit and then headed over to a pumkin patch to get pumpkins. I ended up not getting one because I think I am going to drag Greg to pick one out with me:-) Then we will have to carve it! Only one more week until he is home!!!!

The lives of my students

Coming to work in a community known as Little Village in Chicago has become second nature to me. I don't feel threatened, scared or paranoid any day that I come here. However, sometimes I get wake up calls as to the dangers of this community.

Last year, we had a lock down for about an hour because some rival gangs pulled out their machine guns in our playground. The hour was during the school day and we had cops circling around the block for the rest of the day and especially after school when all the students were walking home. I couldn't really believe that it happened although I had heard plenty of what goes on right outside our school doors at night.

Just this past weekend there were two shootings; one was on the street directly behind the school (where the teachers park) and another separate shooting one block south of the school. They were gang related, teenage boys, and one of them was the uncle of one of my eighth grade students. She missed school yesterday to go to the funeral. What is really sad about this is that the kids will flat out tell you,"oh yeah, there was a shooting right outside my door. There are still blood stains there." The students will say this like it's no big deal. They are 13 and 14 years old and they are desensitized to street violence. Even the student who lost her uncle, no tears, just a matter of fact comment, "yeah, he was my uncle."

The boys in this community really do have a long hard road if they want to be successful. The gangs make it VERY difficult for them. I have students coming back to visit this year and already, they talk about the gangs jumping them on the streets and recruiting them in school. I can't even imagine living in a place like this, but they do. There are a lot of people in this world who need to be thankful for what they have because there is someone out there who has things a lot worse.

The last third of the year

September, October, November, and December pretty much sum up my favorite time of the year. From the start of school all the way to Christmas break...I LOVE it. Here's why:

10. Since I can remember, I have to admit that I have always been a huge fan of school supply shopping. I would probably go as far as saying it is my favorite type of shopping...even now:-) I can't explain it, but luckily my career gives me a good excuse to continue to do it.

9. The Alaska state fair brings opportunity to eat lots of good food and it's really a good kick off to the end of summer and the start of another school year. (I realize I can't take part in this at the moment...but one day:-)

8. The first week of school has always been exciting and fun to me (even as a teacher). You get to catch up with everyone you haven't seen over the summer and classes really don't get rolling until the second week, so you can sort of goof off:-) As a teacher it's so nice to be able to start off every year as a new year. There are new students, new lessons, new teachers, new activities in the school, etc. It's like getting a clean slate which is always a good feeling.

7. The fall is just plain beautiful. I could sit outside in the crisp fall air and just look at the colorful trees and plants for hours. There is also a distinct smell that is comforting to me. It is perfect weather for a walk or a football game or a run (see number 6).

6. September and October have the most perfect weather for running. You get to wear the running pants and long sleeve dry-fit shirt that keep you the perfect temperature the entire run. My hands and face feel hot but are cold to the touch...the run is just so satisfying especially finishing it after a day of work.

5. End of September and beginning of October allow for different decor in our home! You can pull out the fall color place mats and decorate with pumpkins, gourds and dried corn. I like to light pumpkin spice candles and cook soup. Also, who doesn't love all the excellent opportunities to buy and eat candy which I also put out as decor (although it doesn't last long).

4. Something that has been added to my favorites of fall list while in Chicago is going apple picking. You can pick apples all the way up until end of October. Greg and I went for the first time last year and plan on going when he gets back this year. It's just another opportunity to be out enjoying the fall colors and weather and you get fresh apples in the process.

3. With the month of November comes many days off from school which includes Thanksgiving. I think turkey day can be summed up as turkey, turkey, turkey! I love the family, cooking the big meal, sitting around and eating the big meal, lots of wine and turkey leftovers.

2. Christmas season is the best! There's all the red and green, the Christmas tree, the shopping and gifts, the lights, the chocolate, the cozy sweaters and scarfs, the Christmas cards and of course, all the awesome Christmas Music that I have been known to listen to 24/7 from black Friday to 12/25. There's also all the sweet movies and television that is themed to Christmas like Elf, and A Christmas Story. But the best part of all is that everybody hangs out together and spends time together which brings us to number 1...

1. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I love everything about these two days. Family is together having a meal together at a big table. We get to dress nice and go to midnight Mass and come back and have some wine together. We get to wake up Christmas morning and open gifts together and then hang out more together (hopefully out in the snow) and then eat another big meal together. Basically, the over all theme for me is I get to hang out with my family, and I love it!

*a little disclaimer, number 6 and 7 are much better in Alaska then here in Chicago. It is still rather warm here, fall comes later here and the trees are more green than they are colorful. But again, one day...I'll be able to enjoy ALL TEN of my favorite things about the last third of the year.

It's been awhile...

I know it has been while since I have written a real blog. Here are the new things going on.

Once I got back from my trip home to Alaska to pick up Pebbs, I was only able to spend 5 days with Greg before he went home to Alaska. Even though I was bummed he had time off and I wasn't able to spend it with him, I am super happy he was finally able to go hunting. He has been waiting years to do that...and he got a moose!

When Greg left, I started school on September 2nd. It is really nice to be back at a school I am familiar with and like. There were a few minor bumps starting off the year which I think was typical drama of any school and you really can't avoid wherever you go. Nevertheless, the year has started and is going well.

Pebbles is adjusting well. I think she may be a little lonely during the day but my neighbor comes over sometimes to walk her and play with her which has been a lifesaver on days I am at work a bit longer. I have also noticed her energy level has been a bit higher lately. This must be because she can't run around outside all day like she did in Alaska so I am trying to make an effort to play with her to wear her out. She really has been a great companion while Greg is gone, so I am thankful to have her. I do take her with me when I run errands, she likes riding in the car :-)

Greg got home from Alaska last Thursday and we headed south to Albuquerque after I got out of work on Friday. The drive went well and we arrived a little after 8 on Saturday night. My cousin and her husband have been kind enough to house Greg while he is there and they showed us around a bit on Sunday before I had to fly home. We went on a tram up into a mountain and had a beautiful view. Albuquerque is really pretty! They have a nice house and the city itself doesn't seem so bad. It is a very different type of city than Chicago. It is nice to know that if Greg did get residency there, I wouldn't mind living there at all. I will fly back in a little over three weeks and Greg and I will drive back.

In the meantime, work is picking up so that is keeping me busy. My Aunt, her family and my Grandma are coming to visit this weekend, so that will be fun. Next weekend I am driving out of the city with some girls to celebrate the birthday of a friend of mine. We get to go on a 4 hour wine tour and then hang out that evening and stay in a hotel. I am looking forward to it! That's about it for now!

Wedding Pictures

My photographer has loaded all the wedding pictures to the website:
http://www.pictage.com/706030
There are 1800 of them!

Xander's first day!

Since Luana had to go to school herself this morning, I took Dominic and Xander to school.  It was Xander's first day of Kindergarten and he was sooooo excited!  When we got there, he was a little hesitant to walk into the classroom, but after watching a few other kids walk in, he was game:-)  He found his hook for his school bag and jacket, then found his name on his desk and took a seat.  He was all smiles, it was so cute.  About 5 minutes until 9am, I asked him if he was okay and his response, "Yeah, you can go now."  I can't wait to hear how his day went!

Outdoors in Alaska

Just some more pics of the great outdoors here in Alaska.  Friday and Saturday were beautiful.  We had a campfire in the backyard and roasted marshmallows...always great fun!  Saturday I went up to Hatcher's Pass to pick blueberries with Linz.  We didn't get many blueberries (apparently a lot of other people had the same idea the last few weeks and picked over all the bushes!).  However, it was nice to be up there, it is always so gorgeous!

Alaska

There is no doubt about it, I love Alaska.  I can't wait until Greg and I are able to settle down here, but until then, I will have to continue to visit often.

So far, Dominick has started school, so the endeavor of getting all his school supplies ready to go, getting him pumped for his first day, and then picking him up after his first day, has been a lot of fun.  I don't know why, but I have always loved the start of school which I guess is a blessing since I now go to school as a teacher :-)  Since Luana will be busy on Monday going to classes of her own, I get the privilege of taking Xander to his first day of Kindergarten!!  I hope I am a sufficient fill in for his mom.  More on than next week.

I went out to Jim creek with my dad last night and it was beautiful!  I couldn't fish since we went last minute and I had no time to get a fishing license, but it was nice just to hang out outside and play with Pebbles.  She did go swimming a few times in the river, maybe she's not as much of a wimp as I though she was...that water was cold!

That's brings' us to today.  My mom and I drove into Anchorage to bring my Dad some lunch on the job.  I got a tour of the site and got to wear a hard-hat!  I like seeing where other people work, our jobs are such a big part of our lives.  It's interesting to see how other people spend their days.

Finally...Our apartment!

After living in our new apartment for over a month, finally, here are the pictures I have promised. I took a picture of every area, including our washer and dryer. These have been awesome! In our last apartment, we had to go to the laundry facility to do it and it was a pain in the butt! As you can see, we have a sweet patio with a nice table set and a Weber grill...we will take visitors anytime:-)

I little update on the last two weeks. Greg started his first ortho rotation at Northwestern and he is loving it! This is great news because he can finally feel as though his hard work is worth it. Me on the other hand, have too much free time on my hands! I need to go back to work! Greg has been getting up at 3:15am!! I think that is considered the middle of the night! Then, he won't get home until between 6 and 8pm. I don't know how he does it, that is a long day, just to come home, eat, read up on some ortho material and be back in bed by 8 or 8:30. This schedule leaves me with an incredible amount of time to fill. So, in the past two weeks, I have signed up for a half marathon in early November, and started training for that. Luckily, I have nice neighbors who have let me be the third wheel at multiple dinners. I got a lot of work done for the beginning of the school year. Our apartment is spotless, there is no dirty laundry, and I cook a nice dinner each night Greg will be home at a decent hour. I have logged hours upon hours on our patio reading a book and starting another one. And my bike has seen more miles in the last two weeks than the rest of the summer combined, it is about a 10 minute ride to the grocery store. Anyway, like I said, I can't wait to go back to work:-)