Sometimes you just have to let go....

And drink wine!

Who cares if this is what my living room looks like on a daily basis. We're having fun! Yes, I do pick it up....most nights. But some nights I think what's the point, he'll just do it again tomorrow, and I drink wine instead.

Having a baby has really helped me to just let go. I actually had to start practicing this while pregnant and on bed rest.  I was very Type A and partially OCD about everything being put away, straight, in its place, germ free, etc. Now I am just Type A-ish and mildly OCD. For example, I let my kid put food from his mouth into my mouth the other day. You read that right. It was partially chewed in his mouth, and then he put it in my mouth. I gagged. I'm kind of gagging now thinking about it.  But it made him very happy to feed me so I let him. See that, OCD, ignored!

Tonight there are flash cards and toys still laying on the living room floor as I sit here at the table blogging, and enjoying a nice dinner in peace and quiet, while sitting down.

I think Kid President says it best - Stop cleaning!! Our house isn't messy. Our house is awesome. It's awesome because we live in it. My mom's got stuff to do!

That's right, I do have stuff to do. And it involves my couch, trashy DVR, and my vino. Goodnight, all. Cheers!

Happy Birthday, Amanda!

Yesterday was my dear friend's birthday. I have been friends with this girl for about 10 years now.

Here are 10 of my favorite Amanda memories - 1 for each year we've known each other. Happy Birthday, girl. Hope you enjoy!!

1. The large quantities of Chinese food we used to order after a shift at Carlos. They always thought it was for at least 10 people given the number of forks they supplied. And we always got free Chinese donuts. Amanda always orders chicken and brocolli, hold the brocolli. I always order everything else.

2. The 80s themed party I threw on a Friday night followed by the 90s themed party Amanda threw on a Saturday night in college. Fun times, like totally oh my gah.

3. Terry & Rhonda......our code names we used when guys tried to introduce themselves to us at the bar, and we really were not interested. These names were also said in very manly voices.

4. Speaking of bars.....hustling people in darts. Amanda was way better at this than I was. But we really could whoop some butt in darts. My arm always hurt really bad the next day. People say I throw to hard. I think I'm just too dedicated to winning.

5. Pushing Amanda's car out of 2 feet of snow at midnight so she could make sure she was able to get to work the next day. I really got to witness first hand what burned rubber smelled like, and felt like while flying in your face. That's what friends are for.

6. Dancing our booties off to Push It, Good Vibrations, Regulators, Poison, and any other incredible 90s R&B/Rap tune you could think of when Too White Crew used to come to town.

7. Back Yard Tire Fire - our favorite flannel clad hippie band.

8. Watching Amanda do her 2nd grade dance routine to Another One Bites The Dust....2 years ago. She still remembers every move....forward two, back two, front back to the side and turn.

9. Our annual Thanksmas dinners. We spend all day together one day in between Thanksgiving and Christmas (do you get it now??) and cook copious amounts of breakfast, appetizer and Thanksgiving/Christmas feast food. Then we just eat all day long and watch old shows/movies from our childhood - like Saved By The Bell, Hey Dude & Teen Witch. Love this day.

10. Being there the day Amanda gave birth to her son, Aidan. What a special day, filled with lots of love....and cuss words. Amanda is a great mommy who is raising a very sweet, polite, all boy boy. It has been so much fun watching him grow up. I really can't believe where the past 4 years have gone. Love him.


Love you both. Can't wait to see what the next 10 years has in store.

Happy Birthday,  Terry!!
Love, Rhonda

Pumpkin Patch & Tailgate

Sorry for the week long delay in this post. My family has been battling colds. First Aaron got it. Then Bryan got it, and you'd think the world was ending. And now I'm lucky enough to have it as well. I have been disinfecting like a mad woman. Screw you cold, screw you!

Back to my post. Last Saturday I took Aaron to the pumpkin patch in Philo. This place is the best place to get pumpkins because they are so cheap. He had a great time looking at all the pumpkins, and touching them. He even helped organize them in the wagon....which really meant throwing them out of the wagon. 

I LOVE Fall!

Pumpkins are funny

He's really starting to walk a lot more

After the pumpkin patch we got lunch at the Philo Tavern....duh, and then we headed up to the Illini tailgate to meet up with the rest of the family. 

Aaron was very excited to see his grandpa Bosch. He missed him. It could also be the yummy brownie grandpa was letting him eat....

Kristen & I always want to get pictures of Aaron and Jackson together. Mainly because we know they'll be best buddies and it will be fun to see how they grow up together. But it will also make for great slide shows at high school and college graduation parties. Especially these pictures. Aaron will learn to love other babies, but right now he gets a little jealous.

This pictures says it all. Jackson looking up at his cousin thinking...."hey, I think I like you, why don't you want to sit by me?"

He loves playing with his Aunt Linda

I hope you all are enjoying your Fall. We sure are!

His hips don't lie

I think Aaron will inherit my dance moves! This kid really loves to dance.

Rock Me Mama Like a Wagon Wheel

Thank goodness I had such a great helper while putting together this wagon. Aaron tried to taste every part, and got very mad at me when I took the hammer away. It's a good thing he's cute!

Thanks, grandpa and grandma Bosch for my wagon!!

White Castle, Windy City, Wedding

How's that for alliteration? That describes my weekend. We had our friends' wedding this weekend in the Chicago. And this was also my first night away from Aaron. Wine makes everything ok.

Before we got to the city we had to make a stop at White Castle. I think Bryan, myself and my cousin may be the only ones who like White Castle. Most of my co-workers gagged when I was bragging about getting to eat there. Is that not something to brag about?? I'm sorry, but I'm not sorry. Those little onions are like flavor crystals exploding in my mouth....and Harold and Kumar would agree.

Once we got to the city, Ryan and Kristen took off for the Cubs game, and Bryan and I relaxed and got ready for the wedding. It was held in a lighting store. Yes, you heard me (or read me) correctly. It was on the roof of a place called Lightology. It was very unique and very pretty. There was even a horse with a lamp shade on its head. I guess you can say it's a horse with bright ideas. I'm hilarious.

Love this couple.

The reception was held at ZED451. If you've never been to a Brazilian steakhouse, I highly recommend it. If you've never been to ZED451, I highly HIGHLY recommend it. You can't go wrong with 13 different types of meat served to you on a stick. We ate copious amounts of food...and that was before the meat on a stick course. The meats included moroccan chicken, sausage, crab cake, salmon, blackened catfish, venison, ribeye, duck, and a ton others that I can't remember.

I've known James for about 10 years now. He is the nicest guy and has the best sense of humor. We worked together at Carlos, and he was my alarm clock for one of my very early college courses senior year. He drove by my house on his way to class, and if my car was still in the driveway he would lay on the horn the whole length of the road to make sure I got up and got to class. And even if I didn't get up (don't read that mom and dad), I still really appreciated the effort. What a good friend. Sarah is a good match for him. She is so much fun, and I'm glad I've gotten to know her.

After the reception, 5 of us piled into a Prius and headed to some bar that I'm way too old for. Fog machines, glow sticks and '80s themed bar crawls are not ok. Actually, '80s themed bar crawls are VERY OK, and I plan on having one for my 35th birthday. I stayed up way too late, got up way too early, and paid for it all with a nice little headache come Sunday morning. But I cured it with a foot-long Subway sandwich, large Dunkin Donuts iced coffee, Garrett's popcorn, and a nap as soon as I got home. It was all worth it.

It was a beautiful, intimate wedding and reception, and I couldn't be happier for these two. Congrats, Sarah and James! Thanks for letting us share in your special day!

A Mickey Birthday Party.....Oh, Boy!

Did you really think my kid would have any other type of party?! 

Aaron's first birthday party was celebrated Mickey style. I had a lot of fun making the decorations for this party. But I can't take credit for that adorable sign. Aaron's Aunt Caitlin made that for him. She is so crafty! I'm glad Aaron's grandma Nickel got a picture of him standing next to it!

So what are you waiting for? Come inside for a tour of Aaron's 1st birthday party!! 

(decor pics courtesy of Caitlin Lisa....thank you!!) 

I have all of these random blocks in Aaron's room that I was so happy to put to use for his party.

Balloon Wreath - takes more balloons than you think, but super cute in the end. 

I found these Mickey Mouse colored straws on Etsy, or maybe Amazon....somewhere online. 

These were so much fun to make. I just spray painted my terra cotta flower pots, hot glued buttons on them and put a styrofoam ball in the bottom. To make the topper I just spray painted styrofoam balls, pinned them together with floral pins and placed on some chopsticks. Add some shredded paper, or even balloons, and Voila! Homemade centerpieces. (PS: not my idea - thanks, Pinterest!)

 I will never attempt to make these again. My mother-in-law and I had the toughest time getting these to turn out. After 1 package of almond bark and 3 packages of candy melts, I got something that was somewhat cute. And after all of that work I didn't even eat one.

Cupcakes & cake courtesy of Walmart believe it or not....and they were very tasty. I thank my cousin, Sarah, for the tip on Walmart cakes. I hate Walmart, but I didn't want to spend a lot of money on a cake Aaron probably would end up crying at, or refuse to eat. This was perfect!

But he actually LOVED his cake!! Cried when I took it away....well, maybe that was because I dropped it on the floor right in front of him. Whoopsiedoodles!

My baby is now 1. He's technically considered a toddler. WAHHHHHH!!!!! 

But he'll always be my baby forever. 

Gee, thanks for taking a trip inside Aaron's first birthday party. It was a super fun day! Hope to see ya real soon! OK, I've definitely watched too much Mickey. 

Seriously, though, thanks to our family and friends who helped make Aaron's birthday so very special. It was a great day!

TOODLES! Ok, I couldn't resist!