Wow! It's been a month since I've put anything new up....oops! In my defense, February IS a short month! LOL Just kidding! February was a good month for us! :) Right now I'm trying my best to remember all the reasons. Last time I posted we had just celebrated Reagan's birthday, and Ellery and I were taking swim lessons. Well, we ended up dropping out of swim class. We missed a week because I had the flu and the next week when we went back to the YWCA Ellery started crying hysterically as soon as we got in the building saying "go, go, go"...so we left. I didn't want her to be scared for life! ;)
Jason also had a business trip to LA during February. He was looking forward to some nice weather, but it was actually nicer hear and unseasonably warm while he was gone.
On Valentine's day we headed to Iowa City for the day with Ellery....what a disaster. She fell asleep about 15 minutes before we got there. We were going to go out for a nice/late lunch but the wait EVERYWHERE was long and Ellery needed to eat. So, we ended up eating at the food court in the mall! LOL We walked around and went to a few stores outside the mall, but we didn't buy anything all day. So, we spent 3 hours in the car and ate Chick-fil-a for Valentine's Day. Oh well, neither one of us really care that much about Valentine's day. But, we did get each other some nice gifts that we each picked out. Jason got a beautiful new watch and I got a great new Kate Spade handbag. We were both happy!
On the 20th Grandpa turned 64! I made dinner and cake for everyone at mom and dad's house. I made what we have started calling "Erin chicken". I'm hungry just thinking about it! I take a chicken breast and slice it in half so that I have 2 thin pieces of chicken, then I pound it out even thinner. Moisten the chicken with a little olive oil, then coat it in seasoned bread crumbs. Then it's pan fried in butter....this meal is FAR from fat free...Finally take one half and put it on a cookie sheet. Spread some garlic/herb spreadable cheese onto the chicken and then put the other half on top. Bake in the oven long enough to heat the cheese and cook the chicken through. Then I drizzle it with dill butter! YUMMY! For dessert we had chocolate fudge cake with chocolate frosting! It's no wonder why we're all carrying around a few extra pounds! But, we're happy! :)
Last weekend Jason and I went to Chicago, just the two of us, for a night alone! It was the first time I've EVER left her. She's almost 19 months old, so it was time. We stayed at the Westin on Michigan Ave. It was a very nice, beautiful hotel. After we got there we spent the afternoon walking around and shopping on Michigan Ave. I don't recommend visiting Chicago this time of year if you can't handle the wind and the cold. Oh my goodness it was chilly....and this is coming from an Iowa girl! Remember we had -30 plus windchill a few months ago, but the wind in Chicago coming off the lake is bone numbing! But, it didn't keep us from walking several miles. It was a beautiful sunny day, and we were excited to be in the city. Jason let me pick the restaurant for dinner. We ate at Catch 35. It was a seafood restaurant that I randomly picked out of a catalog/book. The ironic thing was that our waitress grew up in Clinton and graduated 4 years after me! I had lobster tail and Jason had the sea scallops. After dinner we headed to the John Hancock building to have drinks in the bar on the 96th floor. If you've never done this, it is something that everyone who ever visits Chicago HAS to do! The view is amazing! On the way back to the hotel we stopped in the Cheesecake Factory to pick up 2 desserts to go. We didn't get out of bed until after 9 on Saturday morning....I haven't done that in a year and a half! We were planning on having breakfast at Fox & Obel, but it was getting late by the time we got there so we just walked around. Fox & Obel is the coolest market I've ever been to. They have food items you would never find other places. We bought 3 cheeses, some fancy spicey salami, and some hard to find candy that I love. Then it was time for lunch. Jason picked lunch, and lets just say it was an adventure! While watching Diners, Drive in's and dive's on the food network late one night months ago he saw Guy eat at a place called Cemita's Puebla. So we hoped into the car and decided to find it. Let's just say that Cemita's isn't in the nicest neighborhood, in fact it is definitely a DIVE! We parked outside and debated going in....but after driving 40 plus blocks through Chicago, we were going to try Cemita's Puebla!!! The place was also a dive inside, but the food was wonderful! We both ate every bite and ended up buying more to take home. It was well worth the trip to the ghetto! On the way back to Clinton we stopped at IKEA and got a few things, I love that place! It was great to get away, but it was even better to come home to Ellery!
So, that brings us up to this week. I worked Monday and Tuesday....grandpa's office has been very busy. This morning he did 10 surgeries and every week is filling up fast. So my work days are pretty busy, but it's been nice to get out of the house. Last week Jason finished another class and he got another 'A". So far he's gotten straight 'A's'. He's doing great and enjoying his classes. Now he's even talking about getting his master's after finishing his BA. Custom-Pak is paying for everything but his books, it's been a great opportunity that's he's very grateful to have! Sammy, Sally and TomCat (or fish) got a new home today. It's the 3rd home Sammy has had since joining our family....I should have bought a nice aquarium to begin with! Ellery has her 18 month check up tomorrow, so that should be fun!
Emily and Matt finally closed on their new house and have been spending the last few weeks tearing out and redoing the bathrooms....maybe one of these days they'll actually move in! Reagan and Ellery have become even closer. They play almost everyday and they are best buddies. Everyday they ask to play with the other. Both of them are talking up a storm and adding to their vocabulary daily. Today Ellery started saying "bus".
I took this picture this morning right after Jason left for work. She had funny hair when she woke up.
This picture was taken last night after her bath. Ellery has curls! They are adorable. She definitely got that from her daddy!
A picture of Michigan Ave, that I didn't take. I took my camera and didn't take a single picture.
Our hotel on Michigan Ave. It was right downtown so it was easy to get to everything.
The view from the bar in the John Hancock building....you should see it in real life!
Cemita's Puebla....Yummy!
Happy Birthday Grandpa. I had forgotten that Ellery had a bloody nose that night, I don't even remember how she got it now.
Ellery's new obsession is brushing her teeth like a big girl. She does this like 4 times a day!
Valentine's day storytime at the library singing "head, shoulder's, knee's and toe's". Her favorite song!
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