Z. Daisy Blog

Boy Stuff

There are so many great things about boys and so often they get neglected in my blogging.  It is so easy to get excited about all the girly things and sometimes the cool boy stuff gets overlooked.  So, I thought I'd post a few fun things that my boys have been up to this week.  First off is Samson's obsession with bugs.  He loves all things that he can catch with a net and put in a jar.  He spends hours in the park by our house digging around for stuff.  He came home with this "beauty" the other day and he was quite proud.  He loved the way the wings looked when he opened them up.  I guess it is pretty cool.... for a dead bug. =) 
Next up is my sweet Zach.  He's almost 10 and I must say the years have flown by.  His closest friend had a birthday party today and he was keen on getting him Cubs baseball cards.  Anyway, we found this picture in the newspaper this morning of his friend's favorite player and ended up making some great wrapping paper out of it.  He was sooo proud and excited to give this little box of baseball cards to his friend.  Oh the simple things in life when you're only 9 years old. 

Handful of Flowers, Handful of Love

WOW!  Has it been a whole month since I last posted?  Time is flying by this summer.  Time is also very limited with all the kids at home.  We've been having lots of fun though, so please forgive our absence.  Here are all the treasures the girls brought me while on our walk today.  These are the prettiest little weed flowers I've ever seen.  I must say, they picked me a lovely handful of flowers and love. 
We've also been pretty busy with some exciting new things for Z. Daisy.  We have some big announcements coming up!  Check back soon!

-Lorri

Promise Kept

A few months ago I made a pool bag for my oldest daughter.  After I made hers, my younger daughter decided she wanted one too, of course.  I promised I would make her one, but wasn't sure when time would permit.  She certainly didn't forget my promise and reminded every chance she got.  I started working on it a few months ago and finally finished it up today.  Phew!  The warm summer days and trips to the pool have certainly been good motivation.   Here's a list of her requests:

1) Lots of pink.  CHECK.
2) Cupcake.  CHECK.
3) Butterly.  (Reverse side.) CHECK.
4) Ruffles.  CHECK.

I took a very deep breathe after this little project was done.  No mother enjoys having an unkept promise hanging over head.  I love making things for her though because she is the best appreciator.  She is always so proud and goes on and on about how much she loves it.  That's always good motivation too. =) 

I do have a little cupcake applique pattern to post.  I'll try to do that in the next few days.  Who knows, maybe you have a little one who's requested a cupcake with a cherry on top too!  Oh to be 6 again and only dream of pink, cupcakes, butterflies and ruffles.  Very sweet.

Happy Father's Day!

Here's a little photo journal of our morning at Lake Michigan.  There were lots of rocks which means...
Lotsa climbing...
Lotsa throwing...
And lotsa collecting.  Hope you all had good times with your dads today.  Here's a shout out to my dad if you happen to read this.  Happy Father's Day!  Love you and wish you were here!
Lorri

Another Favorite Place...

We visited Catigny Park yesterday, which is now one of my new favorite places to visit in town.  

It's another old mansion estate filled with gardens, ponds, pools and fountains.  Aren't those lily pads beautiful! 

The kids would run and run, but then stop to take in the beauty of the elements around them. 

There's no better way to top off a sumer outing than by dipping your toes in cold little creek!  We will definitely be going back!

Favorite Places

Do you have any places that you really enjoy?  There are lots of far away locations on the beach or in the mountains that I thoroughly enjoy, but there are also a few sweet spots close to home.  One of my absolute favorites here in town is Adams Park.
This fountain once graced the front of John Quincy Adam's mansion which stood where this park is now located.  (Not THE John Quincy Adams, but his distant cousin.)  The park is right downtown close to all the yummy ice cream shops and the train tracks.  Our family frequents here on many summer nights.
The peonies were in full bloom the other night.  So pretty.
There's no playground here, but the kids always love it - the fountain, the water, the winding paths, simple kid fun. 
Our good friends were with us this weekend, this is their daughter and one of our boys.  It was a good time together.

2 Little Monkeys

Today has turned out to be a fabulous Saturday.  It's absolutely gorgeous here - sunny and low 70s.  Ahhhhh....  Started off with soccer and baseball and ended with some very relaxing time at home as a family.  The girls have spent their afternoon swinging in the willow tree by the pond while the boys played baseball together.  I just love watching them have fun together.  Hopefully they'll still love each other when they're teenagers!  For now, I'm enjoying their sweetness.
Lorri

Proud Mama

I had such a fun time this afternoon at my kids' school.  All the 3rd grade classes put on a Living Art display for us to come and check out.  Each kid was assigned an artist and their job was to research their artist and do mini presentations at the Living Art show.  It was soooo cute - all these 8/9 year olds in full costume for their particular artists standing next to their own reproductions of their artist's art.  You just wandered around the classrooms and met all the artists and they told you all about "themselves" and their art.  It seemed like every artist was laughed at as a kid and didn't do well in school, lived a strange life, but then did this amazing art that we're all still loving today.  Makes me wander what little Pablo Picassos are floating around these days.  Hmmm...  Anyway, this is my son's reproduction of Edward Hopper's "The Long Leg".  If he were here he'd tell you the exact size it is and at what museum it is currently residing - he was very proud of his artist and his mama is very proud of him.  He did a great job for a 9 year old boy who is usually playing baseball.

Lorri

Signs of the Times

We spent the day at Navy Pier  yesterday and had great family day!  We loved walking along the pier, looking at the boats and enjoying Lake Michigan.  We also hit the Chicago Children's Museum and had some overpriced Happy Meals at Mickey D's. =)  During our fun day out I found myself being obsessed with all the signs everywhere - I mean, they were EVERYWHERE!  Some of them were familiar and some were new, but all were intriguing me and I couldn't figure out why!
Then it finally occurred to me on our drive home why I am so obsessed!  You see, we've been working on some new packaging for our Binkie Bungees for quite some time now and I am subconsciously always taking note of how companies brand themselves and make a statement about their product.  Unfortunately, taking these pictures hasn't helped me make any decisions just yet, but hopefully it will come to me in time. 
Surprisingly, the Starbucks sign became most interesting to me.  It is a sign I see everyday and who knows how much money my husband spends there a year!  Although I recognize it, I've never paid attention to it before.  For example, what it that in the middle?!?  Is that a two finned mermaid? Why is that on their logo?  If any of you know, please tell me! 

Okay, enough about the signs.  Here's a picture of me and 4 of the kids on the Pier.  There's also a picture of all of them at the Children's Museum behind the shadow wall.  They had so much fun dancing behind there.  That's my husband behind there making the peace sign.  He's like my 6th child sometimes!  Enjoy!

Spring Break in Chicago

Spring Break is officially here.  I was asking my oldest son what he wanted to do during his week off and these were the top 2 things on his list:

First on his list was to visit the Robie House.  Never wanting my children to know that they know something that I don't I pretended to know exactly what he was talking about.  Fortunately, he provided me with all kinds of unsolicited info so I could continue my image of "all knowing mother".  Apparently, it is a very famous building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright - oh yeah, Frank Lloyd Wright... I've heard of him.  So this will be our first stop.
Next he wants to go to the Art Institute of Chicago to see all the painting of the artists he's been studying in his art class.  Really though, what 9.5 year old boy wants to do these things!  I was thinking he would suggest going to the arcade, going bowling, maybe visiting a water park... I would have never guessed he would pick the Robie House and Art Institute of Chicago!  Remind me later to write a letter to his teacher thanking her for successfully engaging his mind and curiosity into the arts.  Thanks to her, this will be our second stop.  I'll let you know how it all goes.