They're Home :)

Bob and Erin arrived home last night to 3 kids who were very excited to have them home.

We prepared a proper welcoming.

There were signs...

And a celebratory cake.

I baked the cake before they got home from school,
but when they got home from school we made homemade chocolate frosting
to ramp it up a bit.
Homemade frosting....yum.
Canned frosting....um..ick.

Welcome home, Bob and Erin.
Welcome home :0)

Reality TV?

Although the TV rarely EVER goes on during the days when I am home...

just don't really like the sound of it in the
background during the peace and quiet of the day....



I do admit that when evening comes...




I am a reality show junkie.

Jim also shares this mini obsession.

My (our) favorite reality shows would have to be cooking themed...Top Chef; Next Food Network Star; Top Chef Masters.


But I also love Biggest Loser (for obvious reasons). Even though the results are skewed and impossible to obtain for the average overweight person, it IS highly motivating.

Jim and I love Survivor, too.
After 20 shows, it still hasn't gotten stale (for us, anyway).

We ALL love
The Amazing Race...amazingly (ha ha) we didn't start watching this until late in the game...just a year or two ago.
It's a big favorite now.

Jim and I have enjoyed The Apprentice
for some time now....it's fascinating observing how people of
wildly different backgrounds and skills find ways
to work together to get a job done.


Taylor and I watch Project Runway together...love watching aspiring designers at work.


House Hunters International lets us live vicariously through (usually weird) couples buying properties in exotic locales we can only dream about.

Like the couple who just bought a vacation home for themselves and their 3 kids in Fiji. Yes, Fiji.

There are a lot of shows I DON'T watch too....
I never watch Bachelor, Big Brother, DWTS, Hell's Kitchen, as well as many, many others.
You would be astonished at the sheer #
of reality shows currently playing on cable and network channels.
At least 75. Maybe more.

But our once a year standout fix comes from
Incredible singers; heartfelt stories; laughter and tears.
Always wished I could sing well, but was definitely not born with the gift.
I think that is why I admire it so.

Jim and I were thrilled to hear that Paris, Sophie and Chaz
love American Idol too.

We have had such fun sharing
snuggles on the
couch while critiquing the
singing performances.
My dear nieces and nephew......we will miss you next week!
;0[

Random thoughts....

Another batch of random photo's shot since last night...

This first one was taken at the twins favorite restaurant...Portillo's.
Chaz couldn't WAIT for us to try the "dogs"...and the fries...and the burgers...and the chocolate cake...and see the decor [very eclectic].
Chocolate cake. milk. yum.

Breakfast out this morning...another yum.

A quiet moment in the house made me grab my camera this evening to see what everyone was doing so QUIETLY...definitely an abnormality :0)

Paris was reading....

Chaz was reading too....

Sophie was diligently doing homework...(after another 2.5 hr volleyball practice!)

Dabi was handling laundry chores....

Me...well....er...um....computer "issues".....

Snuck in a picture of the purse I found at Marshalls in downtown Chicago yesterday.
Big enough to hold my stuff....AND my camera....AND my computer!

And Jim was out grilling burgers....another double yum.

Dinner w/ the fam.

After which we snuggled on the couches and watched American Idol.I just love this family.
Thanks, Bob and Erin.

Hello, Chicago....

.....it's been years since we've seen you.

About 26 years, to be exact.

And today, we saw some of you again, but the day was damp, foggy and very cloudy.



We did like what we saw, though.


Especially
The Bean.
Known officially as the Cloud Gate.

It's a very amazing sculpture.
Highly polished to a mirror like appearance.
Here's how Wikipedia describes it:
Cloud Gate, a public sculpture by Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor, is the centerpiece of the AT&T Plaza in Millennium Park within the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois, United States. The sculpture and AT&T Plaza are located on top of Park Grill, between the Chase Promenade and McCormick Tribune Plaza & Ice Rink. Constructed between 2004 and 2006, the sculpture is nicknamed "The Bean" because of its bean-like shape.


It is 33 feet by 66 feet by 42 feet (10 m × 20 m × 13 m), and weighs 110 short tons ; 98 long tons). Kapoor's design was inspired by liquid mercury and the sculpture's surface reflects and distorts the city's skyline. Visitors are able to walk around and under Cloud Gate's 12-foot
(3.7 m) high arch.

On the underside is the "omphalos" (Greek for "navel"), a concave chamber that warps and multiplies reflections.

The Bean is located in Millenium Park, where there are also other cool sculptures,as well as an outdoor skating rink.

What a day.