Cool

I went to the gym on Saturday and took Nico with me. For two hours, he read, played games, and watched videos. Then he got a little workout in- some rings and some saves. It's great that he

Is starting to be able to do this kind of thing. 

We're really looking forward to this coming weekend. School picnic and Chicago Fire game on Sat.  We're so excited!!

The Amazon Debacle

I got home late on Friday night... the train trip was easy.  And good.  I got to read and play candy crush most of the way.  I also picked up the TNT cowboy brisket rueben from Zingermans to have on the train.  It was amazing.

Nico was glad to have me home.  I ended up taking him to CrossFit with me on Saturday.  I am working on an advertising campaign for them, and we needed Nico.  If it works out, I will probably post a picture here :)

Nico wanted a go at wall balls.  Wall balls are were you go down into a full squat and stand up, throwing the ball at a target above your head.  He did pretty well.  It's the second time he's been to CrossFit with me, and was a gem both times.

After, we swung by a birthday party for one of his classmates.  It was pretty fun- and the weather was perfect.  Before I left for Ann Arbor, Nico and I were watching TV and we saw a commercial for Planes: Fire and Rescue.  Nico thought that looked pretty good, so we made a plan to go see it when I got back, if he could be good for Dave while I was gone.  Well, we ended up going after the party on Saturday.  And this is when the fun began.  

When we were leaving, Nico saw a kid with a Dusty plane (Dusty is the main character) and wanted to get one.  I didn't see it, and I am not trying to go to a toy store looking for this thing.  So, I got the great idea, to let Nico look at Planes toys from Amazon on my iPad so I could identify the plane, yada yada yada, problem solved.  

Well, I dont know if you knew this or not.  But if you are signed into Amazon on your iPad and you touch the "one-click to buy" button, you can buy that item.  And Nico bought a tent.  It was on my wishlist, so when he was navigating the app, he must have bought the item.  He also managed to buy a play station and a dusty toy.  And then I realized I should sign out of the app. 

Luckily, we're not getting a play station.  Amazon let me cancel the purchases.  But seriously, how hilarious is that?  Good thing he is cute...

Apple Season

Last weekend was very fun.  Friday night, Dave and Nico met me in Lincoln Square on the bike trailer.  Dave had to edit for the news service, otherwise, we might have grabbed some dinner there.  

Saturday morning, I shot a workshop at CrossFit when Nico and Dave headed to Nico's school for some type of Family Fun Get Together.  After, they headed to the YMCA for swimming lessons and working out.  On my way home, I stopped by the Southport Grocery, for some treats (cupcakes and such).  BTW, reason 3420849305 Chicago is awesome:  In Tally, I could count on one hand the number of little gourmet groceries.  In Chicago, you'd need several more hands.  Like 10. When I got home, Nico and I napped, which was fantastic.  The weather was kind of crummy (thunderstorms and such).  True story, I love the crap out of napping during storms.  

Sunday, we had brunch at our friend Robyn and Jordan's house, which Nico declared to be one of the funnest parts of the weekend.  My friends Kevin and Jennifer were there, and they gave us the real story on how it is in Chicago.  After brunch, we drove up to Libertyville for apple picking.  It was a lot of fun!  Dave and Nico are really good at apple picking!!

Of course, the apples had to be taste-tested.  So, you know.  In actuality, Nico ate three apples on our trip.  The good news is that we have a peck of apples... which might as well be a shit ton of apples.  Have no idea what I am going to do with this many apples.  But I think the old-standby, the Caramel Apple Pie with Cornmeal Crust is going to happen.  I just wish I could make and freeze.    

Bayth

Nico has been in the midwest for all of four months, and it appears that he has begun acquiring a midwestern accent.  Sweet Jesus.  An actual midwestern accent.  So, it started the other day when we were playing around and he said something about taking a ba-yth.  A what, you ask?  A ba-yth.  No, let me stop for a second and explain something, so you can fully appreciate what the hell was going on.  A couple of months ago, I was tickling Nico and he laughed and said, "You're tickling my hip."  But what I heard was, "You're tickling my heeeip."  To which I laughed and said, "Hip.  You're tickling my HIP."  He thinks this is hilarious.  And so it becomes a game.  So, I thought he was joking me the other day when he said "bayth".  No.  Not joking at all.
I envision this:


Right?

He's also started asking if he can go outside by asking, "Can I go outside to stretch my legs?" This is hilarious, because he got this from Dave. But usually only in the context of roadtrips. It's pretty great.

We had a fun weekend. I went to Toledo, Ohio on Thursday for a conference with my boss. We presented Friday morning and killed it. We had over 100 people at a 9am session. In academic standards, that is pretty much like standing room only. I got back Friday night while Dave and Nico were at the YMCA and putzed around the house. Saturday morning Nico and I walked up to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast. After, we headed to the YMCA for swimming lessons for Nico. Saturday afternoon, we met Nico's new babysitter. She is a student at North Park University and does music. In fact, today she asked if she could take him to her bell practice. She thinks he might enjoy helping her ring the bells. Are you kidding me? He's going to love it.

Check out this meatball playing catch:


Sunday, Nico and I ran some errands, including a couple of book stores. One of these was a used bookstore, I pass twice a day going to and from work. I can't wait to head back some time without Nico... to see if they have any treasures. It looks like the kind of place that would have treasures.

So Grown...

So, I mentioned that Dave and I have found a pizza place in Chicago.  This is actually kind of a feat, since we haven't been here very long.  And when you're talking about Chicago pizza, everyone and their mom has an opinion.  

Lou Malnati's is a Chicago institution....Accordng to Wikipedia (so take this with a grain of salt),  Lou and his wife co-managed Pizzeria Uno in the 1950s, after Lou and his Dad Rudy began making deep dish pizza inn the 1940s.  The first resturant opened in Lincolnwood in 1971 (Lincolnwood is the first 'town' heading north out of Chicago towards Evanston.  We happen to go to the Lincolnwood Resturant, but I don't know if it is the original.  

It's just plain delicious... the crust is sort of biscuity... and the sauce is zesty.  Everytime we get Lou's, Dave and I engage in at least a five minute conversation about what makes it so awesome... of course, we get the butter crust, so maybe that is the key (although Dave contends it is the sauce).  Regardless, it's a friday night tradition I really like.  So much so, I will cut back on snacking throughout the day, make sure I get my bike rides, and my CrossFit workout just to make sure I can really enjoy it (without the guilt of eating pizza in the middle of Mission: lose last of Nico baby weight before trying for numero dos baby).  

Saturday morning, Nico had the first lesson of this new round of swim lessons.  We had a pretty funny miscommunication about them.  I didn't go to his last class and figured that if he was ready to move up to the next class that his teacher would have said something to that effect.  So I sent Dave to the Y with the expressed mission to sign him up for Pike (AGAIN).  Dave, because he is a good husband, did this, even though he had gotten a note from his teacher saying that Nico was ready to move up.  Said note was posted on the fridge... I just didnt notice it.  He contends that I must have had a good reason for keeping Nico in this class, evven though his teacher says he is clearly ready to move up.  Which is all kind of hilarious.  

Saturday night Nico and I went to Target to get a few things.  He's fairly aware that he might get a baby sister or a baby brother someday, and has started keeping track of all the toys he wants to get her.  He says her, because he thinks he is getting a baby sister and that he can call it.  Which is precious.  I have also figured out the trick with the toys, which is that we take a look at the toy section to see what kinds of toys we want to add to his Christmas list (it was his birthday list, but now the big holiday is Christmas).  This helps me get him out of the store without a MEGAMELTDOWN.  

Sunday, we took Nico on a bike ride up to Indian Boundary park, which is abot 2.5 miles away from the house.  The park has this massive wooden castle structure play thing that Nico loves.  

Afterwards, we stopped at Emerald Isle (a pub) on the way home for lunch.  He has entered the age of wanting to play arcade games.  He is also starting to figure out how to work the system.  For example, there was a dart game that he wanted to try.  Not knowing how to play it (and moreover, not having any darts), I explained that I wasn't sure how to play and that was the reason I didnt want him to play it.  He explained that he wanted to learn so that when he was a grown-up, he would know how to play. Who can resist such an argument?  

After nap, Nico and I headed out to get groceries.  He's getting so big and grown-up, I can barely believe it sometimes.  In fact, this weekend, he explained to Dave that he didnt need to go to school anymore, since he knew everything already.  

Lou Malnati's, the Polish Festival, and The Dog Beach

I feel like I write the same posts about every weekend.  We went here and did this awesome stuff... then we went there and did some more awesome stuff.  Do you guys ever get bored with that?? I don't.  :)

Friday night started out eventful. I mistimed my trip home from work on the bike and ended up riding through a rain/thunder/hail storm. Which was kind of funny.  At one point, I actually got blown off my bike by a gust of wind.  It was really kind of funny.  I felt a sense of solidarity with all the other bikers that got caught in the rain.  At one point I exchanged power fists in the air with another dude who was waiting to cross Lincoln Ave (that I was driving northwest on).  When I got home, I grabbed a quick shower and we headed out to what Dave and I have come to describe as "our pizza place": Lou Malnati's.  It's Chicago deep dish.  At it's best.  It has definitely become our go-to place for dinner late in the week when neither of us wants to cook.  

Saturday morning was kind of chill.  Dave and Nico went to the YMCA and I hung out at the house doing chores (boring).  After nap, we headed to Jefferson Park to the Taste of Polonia (Polish festival).  Complete with three bouncy houses, so you know Nico was in heaven.  Dave's former co-worker who is a Polish-American former Southside Chicago boy met us there, so we had a blast (even if I was a little cranky pants myself... which happens.  Sorry... it just does).  

Sunday, we headed to the YMCA in morning... where Dave and I got in pretty good workouts.  I have been doing CrossFit for four months now and I am completely jazzed about it.  I feel myself getting stronger.  Even though some of the olympic lifts continue to be hard, I feel strong.  My legs are getting more muscular... so much so that I am nervous to wash my favorite pair of jeans... afraid that they are going to be unwearable when they come out of the dryer.  You say I could just NOT dry them... to which I reply, "um gross... have you ever worn jeans that have been air dried?  yuck."  

So we finished Sunday at the Y with a swim... through a small miscommunication between Dave and myself, Nico is repeating the Beginning Pike class, when his Beginning Pike teacher says he's ready for Eel class.  this is actually okay, because the little friend he made in his first class is going to be class with him.  I also say that until Nicholas Michael is ready to put his face in the water without becoming Mr. Bargainy McBargain, that he'll be okay in the lower class.  

Monday we took the dogs to the Montrose dog beach, which was really fun.  They always have a blast whenever we go (its a dog beach on Lake Michigan).  

Seriously, what is not to love?  The water is cold and there are all kinds of dogs there.  In fact, at one point, I went to sit on our blanket but couldnt figure out how in the hell it had gotten covered in sand.  Turns out there were two dogs playing chase with each other and the little guy kept running onto our blanket.  He clearly did not care that he was invading our space.  Going to the dog beach ALWAYS wears the dogs out... but they seem to have so much fun when we go.  

Happy Birthday Nico!

Well, you know you're in bad straits when you're mom, who hardly ever posts, is all over your back about posting on your blog.  To be fair, I have started the post-birthday a couple of times, but just haven't had the time to sit down and finish it.  And last week, I did a training in downtown Chicago... where I had sketchy internet access.

That said.  The birthday.  The big 0-4!!  We had a really fun time!  Dave's mom came to town for a visit, and we started with a trip to the Children's Museum at Navy Pier.  Dave picked her up from the airport and I met them there (after leaving the office for the day).  Recall that the Children's museum was one of the places where Dave and Nico went before Nico started school.  Dave wanted to go back on Thursday night because the first Thursday night of every month is free family night.  Pro Tip: Family Free Night+summer=madness.  There is a giant ship's rigging that Nico climbed.  We also built with some play-building materials and Nico worked the construction and transportation equipment.  After, we grabbed some dinner from Harry Carey's at Navy Pier and headed home.

Nico's actual birthday started with a birthday breakfast of Dunkin Donuts (one of the perks to living 3 blocks away from a Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins).  We let Nico unwrap a couple of presents early in the day, so he would have something to do at the house.  He was thrilled to get a new Chicago Police Department shirt and Chicago Fire Department shirt.  Plus the big gift, a new bike.  With the training wheels and everything.

We made him wait till I got home later that night (after work) to open the rest.  We got him some new books and a new ambulance that he has been eying at Target.  Granny You sent him a new firefighter coat, made with real firefighter coat material.  This one looks more like the first coat he had, which actually looked like it was a slim fitting firefighter coat.  This one also has clasps that are much more reasonable than the other one.   

Grandma and Grandpa Royse got Nico some fun gifts, like a Spiderman lunch case and thermos, which Nico has been making use of.  Although, he did give me a good telling off when I tried to put cars and other vehicles in the lunch case.

  Saturday, we to Grandma Royse to swimming lessons, which Nico calls his "swim team practice". Saturday night, we had steaks and coconut cake for dinner.  Both were really delicious.  Sunday, we started with breakfast at Tre Kroner.  I went ahead and put us on the wait list, and had a few minutes to kill in the Sweden Shop (which is right next door).  Luckily, I was checking out when I saw that they had a selection of Swedish fabrics.  I say luckily, because it could have gotten ugly, with me buying 948534985 yards of their supercute fabric.  No joke.

Per usual, Nico put the muscle on his belgian waffle.  That kid can put away breakfast at Tre Kroner.

Dave and I had a soccer game, so Grandma and Nico hung out at the soccer field.
Altogether, it was an awesome birthday weekend.  Busy, but fun.

The Illinois Railway Museum

I meant to post this earlier in the week, but forgot.  Last week was pretty awesome.  We wanted to have a bit of a low-key weekend, because we still had work to do on the house.  So much stuff to do, cleaning, organizing, cleaning.  You get it.  Friday night we stayed in and hung out.  Saturday morning, I got us Panera for breakfast and Nico said the funniest thing.  He had been eating a parfait and came over to where I was sitting in the living room, with yogurt all over his face.  He made the funniest motion with his hands and said, "Here comes a snuggle from yogurt face!"  Which was hilarious.  Later, Saturday Nico had his swimming lessons.  Still weird about jumping in and putting his face in the water, but I am hoping that wears off soon.

After, Nico and I headed out to Sonic in Franklin Park.  Turns out while I love most of everything about living in Chicago, the proximity to Sonic is thus far, unsatisfactory.  After snagging some lunch we tried to take a nap at the house.  But the 20 min nap in the car was basically a cat nap that served to power Nico up for the rest of the day.  We facetimed with his BFF from Tallahassee, which basically resulted in Graham and Nico making funny faces at each other and showing each other their favorite toys.  Which was great.

There was a festival in Lincolnwood (just up the road from us), complete with a carosel, ferris wheel and rides.  So, that is where we spent Saturday evening.  The festival had gyros and beer and street food, so you know Dave and I had a good time.  The weather was delicious and Nico had a blast.  He even recognized a friend from his new school.  It's funny, because we bought the unlimited ride bracelet at the fair last year and ended up getting burned because Nico only went on like 5 rides.  This time we didnt do the bracelet, but there were like 5 rides that Nico could have ridden all night.  I guess we are there now.

Sunday, Dave and I had a soccer game.  We ended up being short 5 players, which is awesome when it's only 8 a side (you do the math).  I got shelled, but made some good saves.  I also got megged.  And that is never good for business.  Dave had found out about the Illinois Railway Museum which is in Union, IL (about an hour drive from the city).  This weekend, they had an antique car day at the museum.  So we headed out, hoping to find antique firetrucks and police cars, after our soccer game.

We got there a bit late (after the car show ended), but had a good time walking around checking out the old trains.  Nico wasn't as interested in it as we would have hoped.  The really cool thing is that they have a track that they run the old trains on, out a couple of miles into the Illinois countryside and back.   We rode on the Zephyr, which apparently used to provide service between Chicago and Nebraska.  

We can't wait for the cousins to come to town, because we think they would like it!!

Swimming Lessons

So this week has been a bit exciting.  Dave went to Florida last week for work and Nico and I hung out in Chicago.  He's not super excited about going to school yet- I think it's mostly because he doesn't have any really good friends there.  But I am working at it.

On Thursday night, we made homemade ice cream.  We did it with heavy whipping cream, so it was sort of gross... mostly because it was so greasy.  But Nico thought it was fantastic!!

Know what is really great about living 1.2 miles away from his school?  Being able to walk to pick him up from school.  Even cooler, is that the walk home took us through North Park's campus village and Peterson Park.  And we saw this girl.  Just hanging out.  

Saturday, Nico started swimming lessons at the YMCA.  He was a champ.  I was worried that he wouldnt want to do it... since he was a bit reluctant on Saturday morning when we woke up.  But he jumped in the pool and listened to his teacher and everything.  It was great.  After, we headed out to Franklin Park (near O'Hare) and had Sonic for lunch.  Then we scooped up Dad from the airport.   

Sunday, Dave and I had a game at the Foster Turf fields.  And one of Nico's sitters came and hung out with him.  I got to play in goal (I have been playing in the field).  And we won.  Does anyone else wonder how it is that the two games where I wasn't in goal are two games that we lost?  Coincidence?  I think not.  Okay, don't tell any of my teammates I said that.  :)

Wedding in Louisville

We had kind of an interesting weekend.  One of Dave's cousins got married in Louisville this weekend.  Since we haven't found a vet/dog hotel yet, I didn't go, I stayed with the dogs in Chicago when they drove down on Saturday morning.  Apparently Nico was a peach and a half.  For serious.  Here is one of the few good pics from the wedding, where Nico and his cousin Darby are apparently having a blast.  Even though I told Nico NO HAVING ANY FUN without me.  

Me?  Well, I got a workout in, plus I got a massage and saw a movie.  I headed up to Michigan on Sunday to see Uncle Scott.  In all, it was a great weekend.  Not long enough.  Not enough of the house is unpacked.  But I guess it will do. 

Orlando

This weekend we met Dave's parents (Grandma and Grandpa) and Aunt Rosie in Orlando so that they could spend some time with Nico before we move for the big city.  It was a pretty fun weekend, even if it was a little cold.

Nico had a pretty good time.  Hanging around the hotel on Saturday night, we found a new love: the Coast Guard Rescue show on the Weather Channel.  That is definitely his jam these days.  

In the show Fireman Sam, the fire trucks are named after Ancient Roman gods: Jupiter is the big ladder truck, Venus is the smaller truck with tractor tracks and Neptune is the boat they use for water rescues.  Well, Nico calls Dave's 4Runner, Jupiter and my Kia, Venus.  So much so, when Dave asked me which car I was taking to work, I responded, Venus.  Ha!!!  

The legislative session starts this week.  Boo!!  

Dave and I have decided to start eating a Mediterranean diet.  Mostly because of this article in NEJM.   Seriously, you know your findings are legit when you can get away with ending your study early because you think it is unethical to not let your control group in on the treatment action.  We already eat a Mediterranean-like diet.  We use a lot of olive oil in our cooking, and I have recently started drinking red wine.  But having the scientific evidence there is nice too.  The main difference will be eliminating a lot of the refined foods.  I'm not sure how excited Nico will be about this :(

Fun Station Junior

I got home on Friday night, to rain.  Apparently, it had been raining all day.  We have started a new thing with Nico in the mornings, which is that if he goes into school without a big fuss, he gets a quarter in his "locker".  And if he wants, we can go to Fun Station junior and play arcade games.  While I was gone, this seemed to make a big difference in the mornings.

So we did that on Saturday night.  Nico and I went to Fun Station Junior and he had a good time.  I bought 10 bucks worth of tokens and he had a blast running around the bouncy house area and playing games.  He is getting better at Skee Ball... thank god, because he was pretty terrible at it the last time we did this.  

Sunday we took advantage of the break in shitty weather to go to the park.  We had a pretty good time practicing sliding down the pole and went to the autopart store and Costco.  Yesterday Nico helped me put new wipers on the Kia (which he calls Venus, after one of the fire trucks in Fireman Sam).  Speaking of which, I want to buy him some Fireman Sam underpants.  But they only seem to have the speedo kind (not the kind with the fly).  Any thoughts on these?  Does anyone think he would care?

This week, Dave went to Boston to try to work something out with his employer on what to do for a career going forward.  It seems like it was a pretty good meeting.  It looks like we might not be in the poor house the entire time we are there.  Last night the weather computer in Tallahassee went down and they werent able to land.  The flight was diverted to Mobile and he is spending the morning driving over.  Talk about a long travel day!!  

All for now.  

Amazing weekend

This was one crazy, fun weekend.  It started on Friday night when we went to the fair.  We met up with Ovid and his parents to do fair stuff.  Turns out someone is a Cautious Charlie at the fair (Nico).  He just about had a heart attack on the fire truck ride.  And wanted basically no part of any rides.  He was all about the bounce houses, the giant slides, etc.  But no part of rides.  $15 on an unlimited ride bracelet well spent?  No.  Not at all.  Maybe this is a good thing.  Maybe he isn't a dare devil and I will therefore never have to worry about him doing the stupid shit that teenagers do when they think they will live forever.  YOLO!!

One of the funniest things from the fair was when we were walking through the Animal Barn... this is not the petting barn where animals are chilling out waiting for you to bring them noms.  This is where goats are being kept prior to their exhibition.  So there are people walking around feeding, watering, and moving goats.  We were in this one aisle where people were moving baby goats from one stall to another when Nico runs down the aisle underneath this older guy who is trying to move a baby goat, which are like squirming puppies.  He accidentally dropped a baby goat on Nico.  It was hilarious!!  

When we got home someone was a real beast... but I guess that is what we get for keeping the kid out till almost 11.  

Saturday we started off with a game at Godby, which we won (ugly).  Then, I went to get my massage (a birthday gift from Nico) and headed back to the house to scoop up Dave and Nico to go to the Greek Festival. we ran into several of Nico's friends, including Ovid and Avery (from his old school) and Ady (from his new school).  

Isn't he a good dancer? 

Going from the picture below, it looks like I might have another wiseguy on my hands.  The only thing that isnt happening in this picture is Nico pointing in the sky at an airplane, like Uncle JJ.  

Sunday morning we went out to The Egg restaurant (formerly Another Broken Egg).  It was delicious and Nico was a gem.  I hate to say anything about this, because I feel like I am jinxing myself, but he has been really good the last two times we have taken him out to dinner.  Maybe we are ready turn the corner and start going to restaurants as a family again?

After brunch, we took the dogs to Puppies in the pool.  It's pretty awesome- we've been going for 4 years now.  The dogs absolutely love it.  If you remember, the weekend before they shut down Trousdale to clean it, they open it up to dogs.  And the dogs love it.



It plum wears them out. Nico seems to really like it too.  Its fun seeing all the dogs that look like Drake and Gordon.  :)

Pumpkin Festival

So, this weekend was pretty awesome.  We started with playing at the park till dark on Friday night.  His BFF Ovid was there.  And since Dave and I have been doing tryouts all week- we wanted to let him get some play time in.  

We took Nico up to the pumpkin festival in Havana on Saturday. 

 

Ovid was there- although for some reason Nico insists on calling him Ovi.  I don't know why.  Here he is listening to Ovid's Dad, Tim read curious George.  

By far, one of Nico's favorite things ever, is to ride on these little train things they have at festivals.

This festival had two- one that had little cars mounted to a trailer, which are all linked up (like a train) and pulled by a ATV.  Note to self: if this tenure track faculty thing doesnt work out, I need to get one of these things.  They cost three tickets (=three dollars) per ride.  And Nico would have ridden it all day if we had more tickets.  Basically, the guy on the ATV pulls the train down the closed off street, turns around and goes back and turns around.  And all kinds of kids were queing up to ride.  Pretty awesome.

 

We spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out at the house.  Sunday Nico and I went to get groceries while Dave went to the gym.  Then I went to the gym and when Nico woke up, we went to play soccer.  I was given an early birthday gift when the referee opted to not give me a red card for a hard tackle against an opposing player. To make matters worse, the guy is super fast and relatively smallish... so he flew.  We both laughed about it getting up.  I fully expected to be booked for it, simply because it was a clumsy tackle.  But not ejected.  To this I have only three comments:

1.  That guy had it coming.  He'd been roughing up my defenders pretty much all day.
2.  While he did have it coming, I wasn't actually trying to get him.  I was trying to get the ball.  And contrary to popular belief, I don't always look for the hard tackle.  Sometimes I try not to get the player (like when I am playing against the girls).  Sunday night I really was trying not to get the guy. And just so we are clear, I usually fess up when I get someone on purpose.
3.  I doubt I would have been called in the Prem.  Dave says its not uncommon for that to get called in the Prem.  Of course, I think its bullshit when it's called in the Prem.  The tackle in and of itself isn't a red cardable offense (probably).  It's just that he was in a goal-scoring position and I was the last man back.  To which I argue that giving a goalkeeper a red card for a tackle that had it been committed forty yards down field would not have been a foul is unjust.  And I didnt come from behind.  But, apparently that is neither here nor there, because the other captain wanted the game to go forward playing against a goalkeeper and consulted the referee to not eject me, so I was allowed to stay on. So I guess, yay?

Le train

So, a couple of months ago, I got an email from Groupon about the SAMS Excursion Railway.  SAMS is Savannah and Mobile Shortline, which is a train that leaves from the Georgia Veteran's Memorial Park in Cordele and rides around southern georgia.  It visits Americus and Plains, which are little towns in Southern Georgia.  Plains is where President Jimmy Carter is from.  

We stopped in Plains for lunch.  When we got off the train, we wondered into a firestation, where Nico got to sit in a fire truck.  Which was pretty much awesome! You now how the boy loves fire trucks!!

It was a long day, and guess who curled up in my lap for a little sleep?  Yeah, not so big and tough now is he? Having a toddler is a lot of fun.  Seriously.

Boca Juniors and River Platte

So we had a great weekend.  Saturday morning, I woke up early and ran the Springtime Tallahassee 5K.  Yeah, it was pretty sucktastic.  On the upside, I finished only 30 seconds after Kelly the Baller.  WHAT? You say?  Jessi Bishop-Royse, you must have been booking it!!  How fast WERE you running?  OMG!!  That is amazing!!  But then I tell you that Kelly ran the 10K.  And I only ran the 5K.  Definitely FML territory.

After the race, I headed home.  The weather was weird.  Dave had his online nerd get together fantasy baseball draft, so Nico and I headed to the craft store to get some supplies.  I realized that I am not well-prepared for rainy days at the house, because I don't have any good supplies to entertain Nico.

We got a bird house for Nico to paint:

Yes, he chose the color of the paint himself.  Yes, it is pink.  Insert debate on gender and society here.  After wards as we were having lunch there was this:

I dont really know what it is that he is doing.  Although I offer this as proof to anyone who wants to know why parents of toddlers and small children are always so tired.

After nap and Dave's nerdfest baseball draft we went to the Springtime festival.  We got there pretty late, so they were basically shutting the place down, so we didnt stay long.

We swung by PoBoys and got dinner and headed home to watch U of L play Kentucky in the semi-finals.  Sunday was pretty fun.  I got to sleep in while Dave and Nico made some breakfast.

Then we went to the Sand Festival (which ended up being pretty lame).  Then Dave and Nico went swimming and I ran some errands (BORING!!)  When Nico woke up from his nap we all went to the soccer field, where Dave and I played soccer and our babysitter played with Nico.  He played baseball and soccer for two straight hours.  He was straight wore out when we got home.

After dinner last night, Dave and Nico played some soccer in the front yard.  Our good friends Mike and Mary Jo just got back from visiting their eldest son in Argentina (he is in a study abroad program).  They brought Nico two jerseys from the Argentina league (Boca Juniors and River Plate).  BJ and RP are the two main clubs in Argentina.  A lot like Man United and Chelsea.  Or Liverpool and Arsenal.  Or Boston Red Sox and NY Yankees.  Nico is wearing his Boca Juniors jersey here:


He doesnt usually play with a small ball... mostly because we have so many more full-sized balls.  So, its funny!

Funs and Travels.

We had a really fun weekend around here.  It started on Saturday when I went down to Woodville for a run and to train my new goalkeeper (side note:  She's going to be pretty good.  She is so STRONG!  has a good work ethic.  And while she has been on the verge of tears several times during training sessions, she hasn't quit goalkeeping yet.  She's a great kid, too.  And she isn't a princess.  I dont think I am going to have to have the conversation about why wearing makeup in games....this is a bonus!!)

I ran on the trail... which was like, "meh."  I was having a good time of it, feeling good (it was only a three mile run) when I get passed by a pack of GAZELLES.  Here I am, overweight, red, sweaty, puffy faced, ready to die, and this pack of gazelles moves around me like I am standing still, in their little uniforms of spandex shorts and sports bras and six packs and pin straight hair pulled back into thin ponytails.  Oh well.

On my way back into town, I stopped by the hardware store in Woodville and picked up some more plants and seeds.  When I got home, I worked in the garden a bit because Dave and Nico weren't home yet.  They had gone swimming (so much fun!).  Saturday night Dave took Nico to the Irish festival downtown, Nico got to see bagpipes, which was cool.  We had a Nap:Fail on Saturday, so they didnt stay long.  I was at home doing cleans.

Sunday, Nico and I headed out early.  We had some errands to run.  Nico needed socks and such.  We also had to take his books back to the library in Woodville.  Since we were there, we stopped and played soccer and played on the play ground.



He had a really good time.  We went home and had lunch and naps.  Sunday night, Dave and I went to go play soccer.  Nico was not really that happy about this.  Dave and I had fun.  We picked up onto another team (since our team had a bye).  We didnt think that the team would be that good... it looked like some jackassery from the start.  One of our guys was sent off with an undeserved red card.  And we played against a kick and run team with a bunch of fast Hispanic guys up front.

The bad news is that I gave up 3 goals.  Obviously not pleased with that.  But we did win and I made a bunch of saves.  Good ones.  And I got my arm scrapped up:

So that was cool.  Dave and I have some fun travel plans for the next few months.  First, we are going to Louisville for Derby week next month.  Yay.  There will be boat races and parades and hot air balloon races. Fun.  Then we are going to a wedding on Siesta Key in May.  We have also bought tickets for a soccer game  (US men v. Scotland) on May 26 in Jacksonville.  I dont think I have ever seen the US men play, so that is pretty exciting.

I have a conference in Orlando in June- so Dave and Nico might come down for a trip to Sea World.  I think that would be a major blast.  Nico would really like it, I think.  Then in July we are going to Gulf Shores, Alabama for a Bishop family holiday.  Nicole and Cody are coming East and we are heading west.  Should be lots of fun.  I am hoping to fish and swim and be a bum.

I am trying to get some players together to play in Dallas at Labor Day.  My good friend Julia lives there now (and plays).  Am hoping she might be able to take the 4 players we have put us on a team.  That would be fun.

All for now.  I am off.

Post season affective disorder.

So Super Bowl weekend was pretty fun.  We went over to Joe and Kari's house (Joe is a former press corps writer).  We have been to their house several times- so Nico had a blast.  Joe and Kari's youngest child Jack is maybe like 7 or 8- so they ran around and tore up things.  It was pretty fun.  Plus Margot and Mike were there with Zoe who is just about the most fun ever (next to Nico when he was 10.5 months old).

I didnt get any pictures of Nico... but I did manage a picture of the pie I brought.  I hope that doesnt reflect poorly on my priorities as a mother... Oh it does?  Sadface.

Other than that- not much going on here.  Settling into a nice little post-season routine.  I was telling Dave the other day that I thought I was suffering from post-season affective disorder (PSAD), because I just feel listless.  I feel like I dont want to work... I dont want to write... I dont want to work out.  I just want to go to the beach.  And sleep.  And watch movies.

I think its a feeling of getting my life back and not really sure where to start...

Or something.  But I am better now :)

I am playing on a womens soccer team in New Orleans.  I am still woefully out of shape... but it should be fun.

Hitting...

Nico is saying some funny stuff lately.  Dave just came in from giving Nico a bath and said that Nico started a sentence with, "Back when I was a little boy..."

Also, we were at the grocery today and Nico kept grabbing things to put them in the cart.  When I explained, "No, Nico, we don't need any soda today," he responded with, "Actually, we do need some more soda" or "Actually, we do need some donuts."  In all, it's pretty great.

Here is a video that I took of Nico this evening.  We are going through a loverly hitting phase.  He surprised me with a slap in the face this morning.  Awesome.  And, in case any one was wondering, I didn't deserve it.



I think I got hit with a 24 hour bug, because from Sunday night to Monday night, I felt just awful.  No appetite and tired.  I think I layed in bed so much that it made my ribs sore.  Is that possible?  Then today, when Nico and I were napping, Dave came home from the gym and started working out in the back yard.  He was hammering on a pole that he nailed Nico's basketball goal to when a swarm of weapons grade bees got him.  We think this is the same posse of bees that got Nico a couple of weeks ago.  Dave managed to escape with only a sting or two.

Other than that- we are winding the season down.  We found out today that our big center back- who got hurt at the Chiles tournament is going to be out for another 4 weeks- which means that her season and career is basically done.  Its hard to think about, since she has been such an integral part of the team since she was a freshman.  We have the district play off this week and assuming that we are playing in the championship game, we will have at least one game next week.  If we win the district championship game, then we will host next week's game, if we lose the championship game, we will go on the road to either Pensacola Catholic or Bay Co, after I shoot myself in the face.  We have a really good shot at winning next week, which will put us in regional semifinals- which is the Elite 8.  I am very hopeful, because I think next year will be a bit of a re-building year.

It's been this way for 6 years- but I sorta can't believe that the season is about to end.  Its good though- I can always tell when we get to this point in the season.  I am pretty short with Dave and the girls- and I forget what I have verbalized and what I haven't- so then I get annoyed when they dont remember the 43579348573498 things I have told them about ___________.

Go Dog Go!!

Good morning all!!  Hope everyone had a good weekend. 

Ours was pretty good. It started on Friday when I took this video of Nico reading "Go, Dog, Go!" in the car on the way home from school. 


Adorable!!

Go dog go!  Is one of Nico's favorite books.  Its great because its conceptually easy to understand.  And he loves dogs... so its a huge hit!!

Saturday morning I got Nico and my bike (with his own special Nico seat), plus helmets with the intention of going to the St. Marks Bike Trail and riding.  Turns out that from Tallahassee south, the trail is under construction and closed.  I guess we could have driven all the way down to St. Marks and rode north, but I didn't have the time (maybe next week?)

Dave and I went to see the King's Speech on Saturday night.  It was great- Colin Firth is brilliant.  It made me physically anxious to listen to him- really glad that he won for Best Actor last night. 

Sunday was a day of soccer.  After working for a few hours in the morning, I met Dave and Nico at RMS where I played in goal during our scrimmage with the U16 team.  It was pretty good.  I made several good saves, including several one v ones.  After, Dave had a game at the meadows, so we went up to Tallahassee to see him play against the Rowdies- which was pretty stacked.  Dave's team did surprising well, losing only 4-2.  This is all for us.  Hope you have a wonderful week!!