The McMahon Family

Ah, Chicago.  Even while growing up near Atlanta (a great city itself) I always had a draw and love for Chicago.  I dreamed of going there and seeing it myself.  I think it did, in fact, start when I became a Cubs and Ryne Sandberg fan, but it was strange I held on to it since I was so young.  Whatever the weirdness or cause, I have always been in love with Chicago.  Any time I have a chance to go downtown, I jump at it.  I get so happy seeing the skyline, the gorgeous buildings and even all the people.  This is definitely strange as I am more of a ‘no crowds’ kind of person.  My introvert nature causes me to prefer solitude over groups.  And it’s not like I want to live in the city.  I absolutely hate driving in the traffic.  However, I love to visit.  So when Mom asked if I wanted to join her on a work chartered trip to the city to hang with her, Nicki and Nate for the day (oh and childless!) I was so excited.

We headed up on a great bus, although slightly freezing on the way there.  We met Nate at Navy Pier.  Did a little sight seeing and eating, then headed to his place and the burbs for some shopping (cannot go near Chicago without going to IKEA!).

Self shot after lunch at a river side cafe.

We had a blast hanging out with Nate.  As always, if you’re dying to know more, you can see more pics that I took complete with total explanations in captions.

From the time our boys were six weeks old and started sleeping through the night, we had very strict sleep habits and routines for them.  We agreed to this as soon as we decided to start a family.  Sleep is just too important to me and I knew I wanted my children to give me as much of it as possible.  I almost died those first six weeks with both boys, but I made it!  Then once they started sleeping through the night, they both continued with it with our training.  There were a few nights of crying it out (although, honestly, I can’t remember them, they were so few, but Shannon assures me we had our share!) and we’ve had a few stages with them getting up in the night with fears and such, but through it all, we remain firm that they sleep in their own beds, most of the time.  I tell you all of this in order for you to understand that I never got to watch my babies sleep next to me.  I always wondered what they were doing as babies while falling asleep.  I wondered if they were talking to themselves, staring at the wall, looking around or lying with their eyes closed.  We were right before the era of video monitors (at least before they were reasonably priced), so I just didn’t have that luxury.  And while I am so extremely pleased with our boys’ sleeping habits due to our strictness when they were babies, I have always missed this part of the baby stage.  They got so used to sleeping by themselves and putting themselves to sleep that I couldn’t really rock them to sleep.  They needed their own beds with their own space in order to sleep.   Mac couldn’t even nap with me as he got older.  Occasionally, he would slip in our bed in the mornings early and fall back asleep in our bed. But as soon as I woke up and started moving, he would wake up.  Now, Patrick is a little different.  He loves to sleep so much that he usually doesn’t care where he is and will allow his dad to nap with him on the weekends.  I usually don’t get that luxury as I am not too keen on napping (I think it has to do with having to get up and going once I’m asleep…like my body just needs a full night if it’s going to go to sleep, but I guess that’s its own post…).

You’re probably asking yourself, why the heck is she rambling on about her kids’ sleeping habits?  Well, I’ll tell you.  Every once in awhile, this happens:

And I am in complete heaven. 🙂

Yes, we are crazy.  During the hottest part of the summer, we decided to go to the zoo.  In our defense, we decided on Indy as they have a splash pad so we figured the kids could cool down there and it would all be okay.  So, loaded with sun block, (some of us) water and strollers, we headed to the zoo with eight kids and four adults.

First up, shark petting. With knowing what to expect, the boys were much more comfortable this year and had fun.

Waiting for the dolphin show!!! It was open this year!

Checking out the dolphins from under the water! 🙂

Okay, I could not choose which pics to put on the blog, there were too many great ones.  So please check them all out as I really do have the most adorable children. 🙂  Of course, I completely forgot to get a whole group shot of the kids, but did get several small groups at the splash pad.

Here’s how we’ve been spending our days lately.

Playing with dart guns.

Watching movies

Playing at the park.

Going to BK just so Mommy can get a Bumblebee Bobblehead.

I especially love rule number 6.

Making sticker charts for our stuffed animals.

Tearing down trees.

Nicki can do anything. Seriously.  She was pulling weeds when we realized that this tree was mostly dead.  So she said, well, let’s just take it down.  And she did!

Climbing trees.

Playing beyblades.

Inspecting bugs.

These are just a few of the many things we’ve been doing.  Most recently the boys went to VBS at church.

You can see all our fun this month in the July album.

It’s time for my boys to begin their baseball careers.  Of course, if they choose that it isn’t for them, I guess I’ll survive, but what’s the harm in introducing them to the game? 🙂  No seriously, Mac has been dying to begin playing since he started attending his cousins’ games.  I had an epic fail and didn’t get him signed up for T-ball in time before the sessions filled.  So I signed him up for the only thing open (I have been telling him he could play as soon as he was five…so I had to deliver something!)…Itty Bitty Baseball.  It’s more like a baseball clinic.  They introduce all the equipment and the basics of the game.  Which isn’t that bad considering he’s never played organized ball before.  However, it is very basic and doesn’t even take place on a field!  I am quite disappointed that it’s in a gym, but he was thrilled and loved his first week, so I guess it’ll work.

In anticipation of the start of his season, Nate and Kimberly asked if they could take him to pick out his first bat.  Since I have no idea what to get equipment wise (as much as I love the game, I’ve never played!), I happily agreed.

The boys got plenty of practice hitting while Uncle Nate was in town.  They loved the attention and the practice.

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