Road Trip!!!

We needed to visit my family in Canada. 

We were all set to go for the Canadian Thanksgiving, but J got a job and didn't think it would be prudent to take time off ten days after starting...

It looked like the road trip was on hold. 

Until my BFF, Usher, told me his brother bailed 

on a road trip to the Buffalo, NY area. 

The next thing you know, 

Usher, Mini Me, Motor Mouth and I were on a road trip!

We visited with my parents, siblings, nieces, nephews. 

Took our annual sibling photo!

I hung out with my nieces and nephews!

We met back up with Usher for the drive back home.

There was some limbo dancing involved.

All in all, it was a really great trip.

But it's ALWAYS nice to be HOME!

Grandpa Fly Guy in the House

The other day, Grandpa Fly Guy came to visit for Grand Friends Day at school.

He is flying solo these days.

This visit was so much more fun and more relaxed than ever before. 

Grandpa Fly Guy visited Mini Me in her classroom for about an hour.

Then he visited Motor Mouth in his classroom for about an hour.

Grandpa was actively involved in each kiddo's learning environment.

The weekend was filled with fishing!!!

All in all, it was a really delightful visit.

We can hardly wait for another visit from Grandpa Fly Guy!!!

Giving Thanks

I am Canadian. Je suis Canadienne. In honor of the Canadian Thanksgiving today, I'm going to honor someone I love dearly and respect highly. I am supremely thankful for my father-in-law, Daryl Widney (aka Fly Guy).

There are precious few men in this world who are as amazing and generous as Fly Guy. Fly Guy is not one of those guys that give kisses and bear hugs. He doesn't open his mouth and say "I love you" every time. But he does show his love in many ways.

Following are excerpts from text messages I sent to my father-in-law recently...

For what it is worth, you may not have hugged me much in the last 14 years but here are my memories of how you told me you love me in your language. You could not have loved me like this if you had sat on your butt and never worked hard to eventually own your own companies. Thank you, Fly Guy. I love you back!

Experiences your love and genuineness of heart gave to me (and many of these you also gave to the rest of your family):

- telling me if I can't be your daughter-in-law I would just have to be your daughter,

- inviting me to live with your family when J and I got engaged,

- trekking me all across Texas where you had me sample foods I never heard of before,

- flying me around the country in helicopters and private jets,

- showing me off-shore drilling rigs,

- taking me to oil and gas well sites (I have not forgotten the rattlesnake scare you gave me in the Pecos desert),

- explaining the petroleum, and aeronautical industries to me,

- taking me to a flight simulator facility,

- being proud to introduce me to your millionaire friends,

- taking me to Colorado, Kansas, Ohio, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, and all over Oklahoma,

- taking time to teach me stuff about everywhere you took me,

- watching you engage with children (not just my own),

- being an amazing grandfather to my kids,

AND......

- Driving a Hummer around town
- Me, off-roading to an oil well in a HUMMER!!!
- Riding Harley's

My first 4th of July was spent on a speed boat, a yacht and a BIG yacht on Grand Lake with fireworks and the fighter jets flying over!

Vegas, Baby!!! How could I possibly forget Vegas! Grand Canyon was fogged in but you still took me there.

- The Jag (my company car)
- Scooters
- Horses
- 4-wheelers
- Dirt bikes
- The boat
- That swing by the pond!!!

Oh! Who rides a bulldozer? Much less gets to rip out a tree and help dig a pond that her kids now LOVE to fish in?!

- Shooting guns. A 9-millimeter at that.

- Karaoke. So I don't sing well but it sure was fun.

- The farm with Kent and Gene. The cows. Calf fries.

- Flying a plane to/from the farm. Me. Flying a plane!

You treat my son's birth mom's girls like your own grand children. They call you "Grandpa!"

- Disney World
- Daytona Beach
- Emory Riddle
- NASA
- 5 star hotels
- Top restaurants
- Pensacola trips x2
- Flying across country in a helicopter
- Cirque du Soleil Disney
- Downtown Disney
- Universal Florida
- Flying the coast line in a helicopter
- 2 helicopter conventions

- Bristol Tennessee to the Bell helicopter facility. Um. WoW! Flying in a corporate jet with execs then being picked up by 2 massive helicopters and flown to the Bell facility for the day. Um. Wow!

- Night vision goggles
- Laser
- Magnetic ball thing

This Canadian girl had never seen:
- the Continental Divide,
- the Mississippi River,
- the White Water Scandal river,
- the Tennessee mountains,
- the Rockies,
- swamp land in Mississippi,
- or forest fires.

- Trans Siberian Orchestra Concert!!! And dinner at Nonna's! That was one of the best nights ever as a family!!!!!

- Dinner in OKC with the Walkingsticks after great-Grandma's funeral. YOU paid for EVERYone's meal - your wife's siblings and spouses and kids!!!!!!!

The trip to Colorado was amazing for me. You took the time to explain all kinds of stuff to me. History, where we were, details, so much knowledge imparted on me.

Colorado Springs is one of my FAVORITE places and a DREAM living destination because you took me there and told me about it.
- Breckinridge, Denver, Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods.

- A volcano!!! You took me to a volcano!

I LOVE Blue Angels because you introduced flying to my son and took us to my first American air shows.

Yeah, you've given me a few hugs and said you love me a few times but I never needed that to know you valued hard work, respect, people who think and question, honesty, integrity. You taught it by giving of the fruit of your labor.

Footnote: This list may seem materialistic. It is NOT. This recognizes that everyone has their own love language. Their own way of saying they love and care about you. Their own way of hearing and receiving your love. This is the love language of my father-in-law. I think he has spoken volumes.

Thank you, Fly Guy! The Chicago Widneys love you back!

My Daily Miracle

I have to share this kooky story with my Bloggy friends.

J was laid off last November. Right before that, it seemed like my facial cleanser was almost gone. I'd been using it since September.

After J got laid off, we cut back on EVERYTHING, even more than normal. I had been ready to toss my facial cleanser but after the lay off,  I kept it and figured I would squeeze the life out of it for another month. I did.

Then another month and another month and another month went by and I was still squeezing cleanser out! This little container lasted over a year.

Every day it was a reminder to me that our needs were being taken care of. We still lived in the same home, drove the same car, had food to feed our children and were able to cloth the kids. Trust me, I needed a daily reminder.

There were days that this little bottle of facial cleanser brought me to tears. Tears of fear. Tears of relief. Tears of uncertainty. Tears of hope. Tears of anger. Tears of despair.

I finally had to part with my cleanser. It served me well. Honestly, it was hard to do. It felt like if I threw this away, the house of cards we had been living would come crashing down.

Bet the makers of Clearasil Daily Face Wash never had all this in mind when they started manufacturing their product!

Don't Judge a Book

When you look at Mini Me, you see a spunky little girl with pink hair.

She looks confident and strong. 

Mini Me is strong because she has had to fight from the start. She looks tough because her little life has not been easy for her. As a newborn, Mini Me had to detox from drugs. As a baby, she had stomach issues. She was slow to walk and slow to talk.

Mini Me now has to do eye therapy. She has had to do speech therapy for years. And she has mild sensory issues. Nothing comes easy for that girl. 

While it breaks my heart to see Mini Me have to work so hard to do what comes naturally for most people, I also appreciate her struggle. Whatever Mini Me accomplishes is through hard work. I love that she is a determined hard worker. This will serve her well in life. But I wish she didn't have to work so hard all the time.

So, when you see my little girl all smiles and powerful, know that you are also looking at a little girl that struggles to be normal.

"Where there is no struggle, there is no strength."
- Oprah Winfrey

Still I Rise

Regardless of what life throws at me, it doesn't matter.

Regardless of what time of day or night the messy life stuff comes, I know that Still I Rise.

Am I a Creeper?

So.....We needed binoculars for a theme luncheon at work. I asked several staffers of they would please bring in their binoculars. Does everyone only have itty bitty binoculars? Am I the only one with huge ones?

J bought me binoculars so I can look in the windows of neighbors across the way and to see into the offices in the Sears Tower. But now, I'm actually feeling like a creeper 'cause now I see how little everyone else's binoculars are. Not gonna stop me from creeping though...

Pinterest

I avoided Pinterest for at least the past year. I ran from it. I bad mouthed it. I foo-fooed it. And now I LOVE it!!!

What did we DO before Pinterest? Seriously? How did we live? Where did we get great ideas? How did we keep them all in one place?

I am oh. so. smitten. with. Pinterest.

Please don't ask me what my Board or name or whatever you call it is on Pinterest. I don't know. I go in through Facebook and hit a button. Or I just hit a button on my iPhone. I'm WidneyWoman on Twitter. I think I'm hooked up that way so maybe try to follow me there. And please don't send me instructions. I've decided I'm over 40 and I can be one of those old people that doesn't understand the new technology thingyies.

Gotta go! Pinterest is calling me....

Knowing Me, Knowing You - August 2012

This is formerly the monthly getting to know you meme that my dear friend, The Fairy Blogmother used to post, well, monthly. Technically, she posted this May. I'm just getting around to seeing and posting it here. Ooopsy! Fairy Blogmother devises and posts the questions and I post my answers. 

1. For you married folk out there.... Where is your wedding dress?
Repurposed as a dedication/christening gown for Mini Me. J designed it, his aunt sewed it. Mini Me wore it. Now it languishes in her closet. Next to her birth mother's communion dress.

2. Do you or have you played any organized sports?
I used to play volleyball, basketball, ran track, did long jump, and high jump. I actually have some awards for doing well in that stuff. As an adult I did 5K, 10K, and half-marathons plus one biathlon (running and bike 'cause I can't swim) for which I have some lovely t-shirts and a few finisher medals.

3. What is your favourite kind of muffin?
I prefer my muffin top. It's with me all the time.

4. Started Christmas shopping yet?
Heck no!

5. The funniest show on TV right now is.......
Absolutely nothing. It's summer and the getting is not good. Pretty much don't watch TV in the summer.

So, head on over to the Fairy Blog Mother to see her answers!

13 Years

Yesterday was our 13th wedding anniversary.

Our thoughts on marriage have changed so very much since then. I could write a book about.

The Godfather 2012

A few months ago, the kids' godfather came to town on business. Our kids LOVE their Papa Martian. 

Motor Mouth and Mini Me have really grown in to delightful creatures that can carry on engaging conversations with adults.

Did I tell you how much my kids love their godfather?

It's mutual.

Japanese Jewel

A couple of months back, we visited a city treasure. Modeled after a Japanese garden, the Osaka Gardens are peaceful and tranquil. They are hidden behind the Museum of Science and Industry in Hyde Park. 

Absolutely beautiful. And free.

Cool Kids

I love my kids. They are WAY cooler than I could have ever hoped to be at any time during my youth or childhood.

Ready for school.

Playing dress up around the loft.

Freedom Now

My kids are amazing. They are great kid. 

Polite. Friendly. Engaging. Humorous. Smart.

Delightful.

These pics mean so much more to me now.

My children are safe at home with us. 

They are truly free.

Thankful Thursday: Welcome Home!

I was so happy to have my husband and kiddos come home that I made it special for them.

To make sure it all went well, I set it all up (except for the food) two whole days before!

I love my husband and our children. They are the most important and precious people I have the honor of being loved by. Knowing my children are back home, where they belong, and safe is everything to me. 

Daniel Burnham

I've been meaning to blog this for months. 

Motor Mouth did an AMAZING job presenting on Daniel Burnham.

Motor Mouth built the display and memorized the details he researched. 

Wacky Wednesday: Mini Me & Mommy

Having fun with my baby girl!!!

And my boy!

Glasses - Pt. 1

Mini Me had some minor difficulty in school this year. Fortunately for her teachers, for us, and for Mini Me, the girl is eloquent. 

Basically, the teachers would write words and letters on the whiteboard and the students were required to write them down. Her teachers found that Mini Me was taking longer than most students. They were concerned as Mini Me was doing well in all other areas. 

One day, Mini Me said, "The letters on the board look like they are having a play date." I have three dear friends who are optometrists. After talking to my friend, Dr. C., she suggested I talk to Dr. V, an acquaintance of mine. 

Dr. V. saw Mini Me and did a number of tests. She specializes in little kids.  Mini Me needs glasses to look at the whiteboard. And she needs to do eye therapy to strengthen her eyes. Basically, most people have the ability to adjust from seeing far and seeing up close but Mini Me needs a little bit of help to work on this. 

Mini Me needs glasses but...not these glasses!

Tower Shadow

I love that my kids are learning to ride their bikes in the shadow of the Sears Tower!

Official Artist

Motor Mouth is officially an artist!

He drew the picture below while standing on our balcony

railing and looking at the Chicago skyline.

One of our neighbors, an artist, purchased this drawing for $20.

Our little artist.

And his first $20 as an artist.

Look Ma! No Wheels!

We have the most amazing village!

To teach the kids how to ride without training wheels, I took Motor Mouth and Mini Me out to the school parking lot next to our building. Bike Boy and Glass Girl saw us out there and brought their bikes down to ride with the kids. They are such awesome neighbors!!!

Our friend, Pride Girl, sent me a link to NYC's park district's learn to ride program that teaches kids to ride without training wheels. They take off the wheels and take off the pedals. Kids learn to balance faster. So I decided to try it.

 Within minutes, Motor Mouth was riding without training wheels!!! 

If it weren't for Glass Girl and Bike Boy, this would not be a success story. They were awesome with the kids.

 Bike Boy and Glass Girl are FRIENDS in the truest sense. They love our kids and include them in their lives. Seriously, we have the BEST neighbors. 

It takes a village!

Bikes Held Hostage

There was a bit of drama surrounding our kids' bikes...

The kids' bikes were held hostage in our locker room because I lost the combination to the bike locks. For a year and a half...

Anyway, we needed bolt cutters. No one in had a pair - well, I'm sure Home Depot does. 

A couple of Fridays ago, I asked a new co-worker is married to a fireman if her husband might have bolt cutters in his trunk. No such luck but he hooked me up with our local fire station. A fireman came over and rescued the bikes from their locks!

We had a great family time.

Pritzker in June

One of our favorite things to do in Chicago is to grab a blanket and enjoy the free concerts at Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park.