All the rice you can eat ?!
My Step-Daughter Shannon “let” us babysit for my granddaughter starting at 6:30 am today. The little one is oh so cute and really easy to watch except she bosses all of us around. (it’s still adorable but ask again in a few years) She sat on my lap to watch her TV shows and had a special eyes in the back of the head sense that knew when I was trying to close my eyes….Like I said…6:30am! Her mom works and goes to school so we don’t get to see her as often as we’d like but today we got a special treat. I got a phone call later in the day asking if we’d like to go to the Chinese Buffet with them. Heck yeah, No need to ask twice. The boys had never been and I’m sure believed Chinese food only gets delivered in little white boxes. When I told Ian about it he said…Rice? As much as we can eat? Whoo Hooo!!!!! Rice? the poor boy. I have deprived him. If you haven’t been there….The Chinese Buffet is warehouse sized. There must have been at least 7 double sided buffet lines and people scampering everywhere to make sure they are well stocked including a fresh sushi bar. I told the boys to try anything and everything they ever wanted to. We had a lot of firsts on our table. Hayden ate lots of crab legs, and Caleb finally tried sushi (hated the sticky rice..ended up trying to flick it off his fingers like a….well…like a….he said booger ewww I know but it was funny). Ian, well, Ian came back with something different every time. No food was wasted as they ate like they had been starving. One of my highlights was when they kept sneaking back to the table with a fortune cookie…They really thought they were sneaking…I had to remind them it was part of the buffet and paid for….The floodgates were open on the fortunes after that! The night began with rubbing Buddha’s belly for luck and ended with wishes in the koi pond. We had a great time and they have declared this their new favorite restaurant. One more new experience down…a million and two to go!
Palos Heights Pool
The boys are finally out of school for the summer and we can concentrate on what’s important. FUN IN THE SUN. I work nights so Summertime is great for family activities. We can spend a whole day doing things before I have to get ready to go in. Time is not an issue. It’s the money and motivation that I struggle with. Today was met with inclement weather predictions and was a little cloudy but ohhhh so Hoooootttt! We decided to go ahead with plans to swim until the rain shut us down. Well, we arrived in the parking lot and the sun came out in full force. Amazing! I found a chaise in the shade (ok. so I pushed it deep into the shade) opened a book and pointed the boys to the slides and diving board. They stayed busy for over three hours before whining for Taco Bell. The prices were inexpensive the pool was sparkling clean and well staffed and the snack bar was open for business. Not a single complaint…until we got home and realized that while still in the shade of an evergreen I was just as sunburned as the kids. See, I can always find something! Kids already want to go back tomorrow…We’ll see…….I still have a few dollars left over!
Palos Heights Pool 7607 W. College Drive Palos Heights, Il 60643
Riley’s Trick Shop
We LOVE going to Riley’s Trick Shop. Each time we go it’s a new adventure. The kids look forward to going because, as a small family owned shop, they always greet you with a smile and are always pleased to let the kids explore as long as they’d like. My kids will ask to see just about everything demonstrated and they have yet to lose patience even once. This place is wall to wall costumes and novelties. If you can’t find something you want there it’s because you haven’t opened your eyes. Even the ceiling is dripping with hats and masks. You can spend a lot of money in there but you don’t have too. The kids always walk away with a trick or a gag and the smile they get is a mile wide. Here are some of the pics of one visit there. Ian asked for a pad of gigantic dollar bills, Hayden got a trick spill cup and Caleb ended up with a can of exploding worms…Classic! I wouldn’t let them get the can of fart spray! They got to smell it through the can because the owner said it really works and it’s vile so NO spraying it in the store. LOL I’ve been going there since I was a little kid. I’m not sure who enjoys going there more. Even my oldest and I stopped in when he came for his last visit home. You are never too young or too old for Riley’s.
Riley’s Trick Shop 6442 W. 111th Street Worth, IL 60482
Movies Anyone?
My kids haven’t been to too many movies at the actual theater. I’ve tried taking them before. Generally with my kids it has to be one child per adult. If you knew them you wouldn’t be questioning that statement..You would be thinking ONLY one adult per child???? Last time I took them we had to barricade both ends of the aisle with an adult and sit near the back so Hayden who can’t sit still would be able to run to the bathroom every 11 minutes and fewer people would notice that Caleb will inevitability spill whatever snack he’s chosen before bursting into tears. Ian…well, Ian would be more concerned with the other patrons than the movie and the back of the theatre provides the least distraction.
Well, I really wanted to try it again. They had been talking about the movie trailer for Night At The Museum Battle Of The Smithsonian since it came out. I thought, they’ve grown a bit, it should be fine. I lined up my helpers. Grandma, Gavin and Veronica and I even offered to bring a few of Gavin’s friends. Well, Grandma got a better offer and off she went to visit her sister in law (my favorite aunt so I can’t complain). Gavin and his GF ditched me at the last possible moment. Literally, shoes were on, keys in hand. So, I pulled on my big girl pants and said…FINE! I’ll take them by myself! (Yes, I was worried but if they know you’re afraid they’ve got you!) We went early to the mall and with a little time on our hands attempted to look in a candy store (OMG NOT) then took two rides on the carousel and put a few quarters in the little kids video rides for Ian.
I shouldn’t have worried (AS MUCH) Hayden only wanted to leave twice, once with Ian in tow but for the most part it was a blast. I watched them as much as I did the movie. It was adorable. We each got our own individual snacks and the kids took turn dipping Hayden’s Twizzlers and Ian’s popcorn into Caleb’s nacho cheese sauce.
I’d do it again…hopefully not alone…but glad I know I can do it!
Chicago Ridge Mall. Chicago Ridge IL 60415
Looking For Something To Do With Your Kids? Maybe There's A Circus At Your Library
I can’t speak for anyone else but I always look for inexpensive entertainment for my kids. It was easy with one, but now with the three little ones… Yikes! If I build up the mental stamina I need to take them someplace by myself there is little left of the physical stamina required to entertain them when we get there. This is one reason why I love my library. They always have activities planned all throughout the month for a wide variety of age groups, and best of all they are almost always, without fail FREE! Today the Palos Heights Public Library hosted the Pocket Circus “the smallest circus in the world” (www.pocketcircusweb.com ). I only brought my two youngest as my two oldest decided they’d rather sit at home, stay in their pajama pants and Wii…(It was a bonding moment.) The Pocket Circus was a combination of magic, balloon art, clowns and juggling all done by a couple hailing from Argentina. My kids were enthralled for a full hour. If you know my kids…this is a feat! There was no wandering around, no whining, no asking when it would be over. It was wonderful. One of the benefits of a library show are smaller audiences so your kids have a real chance to sit up close and be picked to participate. It was so nice to get the kids out of the house after being trapped inside too long in this freezing Chicago weather. After the show we picked up some tacos and a video game. We’re set…for a few more hours at least. So, if you are looking for something to do, Give your local library a chance to save the day…and your sanity.
