St. Patrick's Day Parades

This last weekend while Kristi was painting the kitchen and bathroom (both which she did a very fine job, indeed) the kids and I decided to take advantage of a few St. Patrick's Day parades nearby in Royal Oak and Detroit on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

The first one was notably windy and cold, but the kids made the best of it and bundled up to stay warm. It was a short parade, but there was some good ol' Irish music (Finnegan's Wake was classic as always) and the kids got gobs of candy and collected a dozen new treasures: Green beaded necklaces. Fortunately the parade was short enough that we didn't freeze any limbs off and then it was off to warm up and head to a Mc Donald's for lunch.

The next day was absolutely beautiful and warm (65 at least) so we ventured out to the park on Shiawassee by the church and Noah's preschool for a picnic lunch, a bit of climbing and sliding antics, and then off to Corktown for some more Irish shenanigans. There we managed to eek out few feet of street-side space with "Charlie" the wagon as quickly as possible and met Tracy and her son Brannigan who was Noah's age. They were both very nice and friendly and having someone to play with definitely helped entertain the kids during the long and slow parade. Although they only walked away with one piece of candy each (which they both ate on the way back to the car), we said good bye and left after about an hour and a half into the parade. They both behaved exceptionally well and we all had a really good time.

Alas, I'd forgotten the camera at home for Saturday's parade, so the first picture was captured on my phone.   The rest are from Sunday's picnic and downtown. Enjoy :)

St. Patrick's Day Parades 2012

Ready to go!

Just found our spot...

where's the parade...?

Meeting Tracy and Brannigan

Yay!!! It's starting!!!

Noah taught Brannigan the "sleeping" game

I didn't think Capt. Jack Sparrow was Irish...

Goodbye parade! See you next year

"Monumental Kitty"

Kitchen Update

Everyone's been asking to see pictures of the newly updated kitchen and even though it's not quite finished yet, I thought I'd post a couple of pictures anyway :) We are still going to be putting in new hardware floors, I have some decorating ideas/projects in the works and I'm still trying to find outlet covers. Do you know how difficult it can be to find outlet covers? Ugghhh... Anyway, what do you think???

My Mama, the rock star, put in all the tile work :)

OK, had to put in a picture of these. Grant always brings me home flowers on Friday (isn't he wonderful??) and he knows I love lilies. These are hands down the biggest lilies I have ever seen! On Friday afternoon they were all closed up tight and are now starting to open.

RIP Davy Jones

As I'm sure anyone who actually reads our blog on a regular basis ('cause you actually know me ;-)) will recall that I am a huge Monkees fan. Yes, I'm well aware of the fact that I'm not really part of the generation you would consider to be part of the Monkeemania craze, but that has never really stopped me. From the first time I remember anyone asking me, my favorite song has been "Daydream Believer" (well, there was quite a stint with "Kokomo" by the Beach Boys, too, but that is beside the point) At last count I had well over 30 Monkees CD's and my collection ranges from all the episodes on DVD (and some on VHS as well!) to puzzles, a lunch box, concert shirts, pajamas and on and on and on... While other girls had pictures of 'N Sync in their lockers, mine was plastered with the Monkees. I'm a freak, I know it and will proudly fly my freak flag high :)

All that being said, I was so bummed out earlier to get a text from Shell saying "your dream beau died" then to tell me at the age of 66 Davy Jones passed away from an apparent heart attack earlier today. While Shell's always been a Peter fan and Sarah's a Micky girl (sorry sisters, outing your Monkee freakdom a bit, too ;-) Though let's be honest, I left you no choice!) I have always been devoted to Davy. So I'm sure that you can imagine my sadness that not only is my favorite no longer around but my 'fab 4' is now only a trio. (Well, they would be if Mike ever bothered getting his act in gear...) What a bummer to think that the four of them will never get the chance to be on stage together again.

It did make me extremely thankful for the opportunity for my mom and I to go see them (for a second time!) this past June here in Detroit. The year I graduated high school we went and saw them together and both of us agreed we thought they were loads better 10 years later. So in case I didn't say it enough at the time - Thanks for my 5 year anniversary gift, Grant :)

I'm instituting a 48 hour period of mourning here at the Gatchel household during which only Monkees music is to be played. Shouldn't have to worry about running out of music anytime soon given my collection ;-) Thoughts and prayers go out to each of 'the guys', Davy's family and all my fellow Monkee fans out there. Thanks for the memories, Rest in Peace, Davy!

Paczki!

Yesterday Grant took the kiddos and found an authentic Polish bakery to buy paczki for Fat Tuesday. So this morning my kiddos are enjoying their first taste of authentic paczki :) Mikayla picked blueberry and Noah has apple. You don't think they enjoyed them or anything, do ya?