Keeping Up With The Gayeski's: March 2010

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Hanging with the ladies...

We sure are making good use of our Zoo membership! Today we enjoyed the 70+ weather and went to the zoo with two of my best friends and their kiddos. Aidan LOVED hanging out with the girls and he hasn't stopped talking about his buddy "Mantha" since we got home. Samantha was a life saver because once Aidan knew we were going to the zoo with the older girls he refused to take the stroller with, so Samantha chased him around for me! Thanks guys - it was great catching up with you! Let's do it again soon!

April Fools....

I love this idea...if Nate doesn't read this before tomorrow I may have to try it out!

Colorful Cupcakes....

The first surprise here: there's not a grain of sugar in these cupcakes. The second surprise: your kids will love them anyway.

Ingredients:

MEAT LOAF
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
3 tablespoons ketchup
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

POTATO FROSTING
3 cups mashed potatoes
Food coloring

Instructions:

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line 12 muffin tin cups with foil bake cups.
2. In a large bowl, mix together all of the meat loaf ingredients until well combined. Divide the mixture evenly among the lined cups (the liners should be about three quarters full).
3. Place the filled muffin tins on cookie sheets and bake the cupcakes for about 15 minutes or until cooked through.
4. Divide the mashed potatoes among three small bowls and stir a few drops of food coloring into each batch to create blue, yellow, and pink pastel frostings. Spread a generous dollop on each cupcake. Makes 12 cupcakes.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

ahhhh....massages....

I forget how amazing massages can be....I was gifted one (thanks Paula!) from Bloom Yoga Studio in Lincoln Square (http://www.bloomyogastudio.com/) and took advantage of it last night - it was A M A Z I N G!!!! Definately need to do it again before the baby arrives!

Monday, March 29, 2010

New goggles...

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Planetarium on a Saturday...

Kerri and I decided to take Aidan and Brendan to a new exhibit at the Planetarium yesterday...on a Saturday...I thought she was crazy suggesting a Saturday, the first Saturday after the exhibit opened, but thought oh well. I am determined to enjoy my weekends now that I have them back (and am not working)! We saw the line wrapping a few blocks to get into the aquarium and I got nervous...much to my delight there was hardly anyone at the planetarium and we had a great time! The boys had a blast exploring and being little astronauts!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Wishing...

I haven't taken pictures for fun in a long time - haven't had much time.

I'm looking forward to doing more of that! These pics below remind me that Spring is coming to Chicago soon...please come soon!

Chicago Conservatory

So with it feeling like Spring outside, but certainly not looking like it yet we went out on two adventures this week...Tuesday to the Chicago Conservatory (with Mom) and Wednesday to the Botanic Gardens (with Katie and Mom).

I love the Botanic Gardens in the summer - great place to walk around, see gorgeous flowers and scenery - awesome natural backdrops and a fountain that Aidan can splash and play in...not so much fun though in March! They still had snow on the ground! But we were able to find some lovely scenery anyway...enjoy....

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Waiting for Daddy...

Each night Aidan sits on the back porch and waits for Nate to come home...I'm sure the entire neighborhood knows he's waiting as he constantly yells "Dad" in every voice he can come up with! Yesterday he decided Chloe should wait for daddy as well.