Words Cannot Convey

Yesterday, Ayize's paternal grandfather and his wonderful wife came over for an impromptu belated baby birthday party/Christmas celebration. They brought along a huge wrapped box, which turned out to be a little pony, complete with "horsey" music. He went completely out of his gourd! And this morning, in the middle of eating his yogurt, he must have suddenly remembered it, because he dashed towards the living room so fast that I thought he would trip over his own two feet...and he was CRAWLING! I'm posting up the video. It was funny stuff.

Anyway, we were reminiscing about the day he was born and I was complaining about how few photos I have from our time in the hospital, since I forgot my camera in my mad dash to the delivery room. I know, I know, I haven't reached this part of our story yet in my blog, I'll get there, I promise! But -- spoiler alert -- let's just say, everything happened in a hurry at the end.

Long story short, my own dad overheard, and last night, he combed through his photo archives and sent me the pictures he took when he came to meet the baby. I don't even remember him coming. Surprise! The photos above are all taken approximately thirty to forty minutes after Ayize was born, in the room I labored and delivered in. Ayize was being monitored and my mom and sister were already present when my dad came. The last two are of me an hour later, after I was moved upstairs to the mommy ward. (NO, I was not on any drugs!! Just super busted after my long night!)

I had no idea what to expect when I saw the first email, so I casually opened it. When I saw the photo, my jaw dropped and I started crying. I couldn't stop tearing up at each one thereafter. I was sorry when I opened the last one.

I will never be able to thank my dad enough. I have wished and hoped a thousand times since Ayize's birth for photos of that special time, because it was such a momentous event but I was super foggy. I think it was something, too, about being alone that day. At the time, I played it tough for everyone's benefit, but on the inside, I felt a terrible ache and sense of loss to be going it alone. Yes, I was so very lucky to have my mom and sister by my side, and I am grateful and indebted to them for that, but I felt the absence of Ayize's dad very bitterly on that day, and somehow, seeing my own dad's photos, lovingly and proudly snapped that day, I feel as if some small salve has been applied to that long-sore spot.

Christmas Babies!

Dear Ayize,

I'm remembering this day last year and how teeny tiny you were, 12 days old. I'm thinking about baby Avery, and how she was born in Evanston Hospital, all four of us under one roof, back when you had chicken pox. Lisa was visiting us at the time, and she and I oohed and aahed over Avery's cameraphone photo, tears welling in our eyes with joy and excitement for Tina, Xan and Ozzy, another Christmas baby. And I met your newest friend, baby Adrian tonight, and tears filled my eyes when I saw him and all the other little newbies through the glass window of the nursery. Then I headed down the hall to visit Alyssa and Juan, passing room 3610 as I went. Ours was one of only a handful of empty rooms. I poked my head in; I couldn't resist. It was silent and peaceful and inviting and familiar and my eyes got all squeezy and wet again remembering the wonderful days we spent there getting to know each other.

Merry Christmas, Little Man, and happy birthday to baby Adrian! His parents are standing at the brink of so many incredible things in the year to come! I'm so excited and happy for them!!

And I'm outrageously crazy about you. Your Christmas kisses will be arriving in about 0.2 seconds, as soon as I get upstairs.

Here's to another incredible year, Baby Boy!

All my love, always,

Mom

Things That Go Bump in the Night

What I expected: Friday, October 17, from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. and Saturday, October 18, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. At the Emily Oaks Nature Center at 4650 Brummel in Skokie. Kids under three free. The rest of us schmoes have to fork over 5 bucks. Pre-registration strongly recommended, usually sells out according to the lady I talked to on the phone. Same price at the door if you get lucky and they have tickets day of. Sounds super fun. Trail guide takes your group around three areas where people in animal costumes act out different skits. After the trail, you hit up a big campfire with stories, snacks, etc.

What I got:
We had already spent an exciting day at Wagner Farm's Harvest Festival, but after a brief nap, Ayize was totally back up and at 'em, so we headed over to Emily Oaks to check out their Halloween nighttime nature walk. We snagged Liz and Greta en route and drove there via Starbucks, so we got to slurp down big ol' caramel salted hot chocolates, a solid beginning to any adventure!
Next, we arrived to find the first few tours sold out (one leaves every fifteen minutes from 6 p.m. to 7:30) so we had to kill time while we waited for the first available one to begin at 6:30. In their defense, they did tell me on the phone when I called days earlier that they recommended buying tickets in advance, but at the time, I ignored their advice. Oops! Fortunately, the parking lot abuts an awesome playground.
Let me just pause here for a moment to give props to the Skokie park district. They have the Exploritorium, this awesome nature center, and were big proponents of building Pooch Park, not to mention their freaking awesome playgrounds. Except for the lame-o-ness of prohibiting pets in parks (yuk!), in all other ways, theirs are so freaking superior to Evanston's, it's shameful. This one was no exception. It had swinging bridges, three climbing structures connected by monkey bar arches, a small climbing wall, and whistles and bells galore. I would post my photo but it soooo doesn't do the park justice, as my flash went all hinky and the picture sucks. You'll just have to take my word for it. Anyway: big bonus, and made our waiting time fly by. We practically had to drag the babes away.
We went and stood in line with a bunch of other families (I think we had the only bitty babies though!) until our very nervous tour guide arrived. He told us several times that this was his first TTGBITN tour ever.
Plus: very eager and excited about the tour.
Minus: super shy and soft-spoken so I think I only heard about three words he said the whole time. On the other hand, he really didn't have to do much but guide our trails down to the real action at each stop. But I'm getting ahead of myself...
So there are three trails, each marked by these totally creative faux jack-o-lanterns. I mean, they look totally real until you see them shot with a flash, at which point you notice they're actually just plastic trick-or-treat buckets with candles inside and black paper cutouts pasted on the fronts.
Each trail has a wildlife conservation theme: Things That Fly in the Night; Things That Go Bump in the Night; and Things That Used to Go Bump in the Night. At the end of each trail is a tent with bench seating and decorations. Two costumed animals emerge from the dark woods at each stop, singing and dancing cute, hokey nature tunes, like "Don't Fence Me In", and when they have everyone's attention, they do little skits, complete with funny props of crap staff has found discarded in the woods (Village Inn Pizzeria paper menus, cigarette butts, etc.). The kids are pretty mesmerized, and even Ayize was into the animal antics (as the attached video attests).
Things went off without a hitch except (1) his hands were super cold and his gloves wouldn't stay on, so I expended a lot of energy and angst trying to stretch his snowsuit arms over his hands. Next time, I'll bring gloves-on-a-string so I can stress less. (2) He got super hungry during one of the skits and I realized I had forgotten baby food, so I had to slink behind one of the picnic bench seats and park ass on the frozen concrete flooring and covertly nurse him through seventeen layers of clothes. Pretty funny stuff. So again -- note to self: a little extra pre-planning next time.
After walking along all three trails, it became clear that we had completed a small circle that brought us back by the park entrance to an enclosed area where there was a roaring bonfire. A small tent was set up, lit by lanterns, and some super sweet volunteers dispensed store-bought cookies and hot apple cider to our group.
After collecting our snacks, we filed into the campfire circle and sat on log benches to listen to a lady play acoustic guitar and sing. She led us in some fun songs, including kid-friendly-customized versions of tunes that were pretty hilarious. The one in the second of the two videos was meant to reassure kids that animals won't eat them, and it was very sweet and earnest, but I couldn't stop giggling at the lyrics (they passed out a songsheet when we entered the campfire ring which I wish I could still find, some of the lyrics were truly terrible).
Afterwards, we headed to the parking lot by way of the restrooms. After a quick combination potty break/diaper change, we headed towards the car, passing a very pretty pond surrounded by tall growth and low trees. Picturesque and peaceful, and a very nice nature statue bids you farewell as you exit the grounds.

Will I go next year?:
Yes! It was a super cold night, but I should have planned better for the weather in terms of extra layers for me and better gloves for the baby. Well worth the five bucks: very entertaining for Ayize, despite it being aimed at slightly older kids, because jack-o-lanterns and tasty snacks and costumed characters and spooky wood walks and bonfires and music and cool playgrounds all rule in his universe. And surprisingly entertaining for the grown-ups, too, in terms of humor aimed at parents without being condescending to kids.
All in all, a lot of fun was had. We'll definitely hit this up again next year.

The Chaotic Glory That Is His Hair

Note to Jake (and anyone else who got thrown off by my posting videos for the first time in "Kid Comedy"): I lied! There is no big triangular "play" button in the middle of the video stills, oops, you're right!! There is, however, a small one in the bottom left corner, so that can be your future tip-off. Oh -- and you and G Ball will be disappointed to know that I ain't cutting his hair anytime soon! The Hasidic Jew curly mullet locks are here to stay (for now)!!

Kid Comedy

December 17, 2008

I still have the best of intentions re: revisiting pregnancy, but as usual, I'm island-hopping from topic to topic. I just can't put my head down on my pillow tonight without posting some scenes from today.
Today was crazy. Actually, let me backtrack. This week was crazy. Crazy fun! Ayize turned one on Saturday so the weekend and all of this week has been filled with fun doings!! The only downside to turning one is the doctor's appointment that must inevitably follow. And that took place today.
But let me begin at the beginning. There is nothing better than waking up to a funny little man racing around the room in a crab-crawl, busily "organizing" his toys. I could even forgive the fact that it was freaking 6:45 a.m. (and sadly, this was a good morning, when he actually slept in!). I thought I could hide out under the covers and catch a couple more z-z-z's but Ayize thwarted my plans by climbing back into bed beside me.
He lay on his back and stretched out his legs and looked at me so comically that I started to crack up. Then he started making a "waa, waa" sound and beating his belly in frustration at something, so I poked him, and as he doubled over and chuckled in his best Pillsbury dough boy imitation, I used the temporary distraction to stretch out my legs too. Then I beat on my own belly and imitated his sound. He stopped short like he had just seen a fish riding a skateboard, and stared until I stopped. After a moment, he cautiously repeated his "waa, waa" belly-beat, then stopped -- and I did the same. He started giggling like crazy, eyes wide with excitement and anticipation. As his mouth opened, I noticed two more toothly nubbies had sprouted overnight (that's 7 and 8 for those of you keeping count), and I felt the silliest stab of pain in my heart. I can't believe how fast he's growing up and how many radical changes have happened this past few months alone. Sometimes I want to stop time and hold us here forever.
At any rate, the game had to go on, so I raised my arms in the air and waved them wildly over my chest. It took him only a second to catch on, and then he did the same, giggling all the while. After a couple rounds of this, I clapped my hands instead, and he followed suit, chortling through his teeth, his eyes smiling as much as his mouth was.
After a couple call-and-response clapping rounds, I stopped, waiting to see what he would do. He watched me for a few seconds, and then, realizing it was "his turn", he beat his belly again furiously, then stuck his fingers in his mouth and fixed his gaze on me, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of both lips, excitement in his eyes, as he waited to see what would happen. When I lifted my hands, he was all eyes. When I slapped my stomach and smiled back at him, he abandoned himself to laughing out loud in pure, unadulterated joy.
I cursed myself then for not having a charged battery in my camera, and resolved to charge away, then lug the thing around with me for the rest of the day lest I miss out on any more precious, silly stuff (this whole turning-one business has me even more sentimental than my usual sloppy self).
Hence, these three videos:
(1) 10 a.m. Bath time! I was trying to get Ayize to flash his new pearly nubs -- a lost cause, but as a bonus, I DID manage to capture a game of towel peek-a-boo on film.
(2) 2 p.m. One-year checkup! Despite the misery of a boatload of vaccines AND a "big boy" blood draw (he hated the tourniquet almost as much as the needle), he still took time out of his busy schedule between pincushion practice to hang out in the hallway in nothing but a nappy, shouting out warnings (I think the actual translation from Babyese is: "This place is no good, take my word for it, get out while the getting's good!") to the girl across the way, two passing nurses, and a toddling boy from down the hall who kept coming to "visit" us while his parents paid attention to their newborn.
(3) 6 p.m. Da-da-da-dawgs! Thank God Alfie's deaf, is all I can say. If she wasn't already, she would be now!

Oh Poop!

I wrote this August 5, 2008, after a particularly difficult day with Ayize, and I guess I never got around to posting it. Thank God he's done with this phase! Just reading this post, the memories come fast and furious...

* * * * *

Dear Ayize,

I'm sorry that I got crabby with you today -- not once, but TWICE, for doing things that probably seemed perfectly reasonable to you.

This morning I was rushing around trying to get us out the door and to our yoga class on time, for once. We hopped in the tub and had a grand time. You were so clean and sweet-smelling when I lifted you out and lay you on your fluffy, fresh towel. Then you peed everywhere and I was so sad! Fortunately, not all the water had drained out of the tub yet so back in we went for a quick rinse. I lifted you out and laid you on the carpet on top of my towel while I went to get another dry diaper and another hooded towel and returned to find...your butt and back rolling around in a HUGE pile of fresh poop that you were attempting to finger paint the tub with! I realize you were just trying to get a jump start on your future fine arts education but that was little consolation. I totally lost my mind and implored the impassive bathroom walls, "Why...why...why???" which made you tear up, so I had to turn on a fake smile as I dealt with the Biohazard Level 5 cleanup.

And then this afternoon we entered the big battleground for the umpteenth time this week. Hand-to-hand combat -- i.e. my hands fighting your hands to keep them OUT of your diaper during changes. It's not so bad when your diaper is just wet cuz then the most damage you can inflict is to squeeze yourself so hard that you wrinkle up your face like, "Ow...who's that squeezing me and preventing mom from having future grandchildren...oh wait, that would be me!" But when your pants are -- ahem, muddy -- then your hands do a lot more damage in a lot less time. To make matters worse, your new trick of undoing the tapes on your diapers has quickly outgrown its initial cute quaintness. And when the two came together, as they did this afternoon on our bed...well, let's just say that your nickname "The Master of Disaster" seemed all-too appropriate at that moment.

So I lost it again and wailed at the wordless white walls, asking them to tell me what I had ever done to deserve such pungent punishment, but then your bottom lip popped out and began to tremble and quiver, and your eyebrows drew together in consternation. Before you could complete the picture with tears and a heart-piercing wail, I once again called upon my inner happy face reserve and managed to produce some semblance of a smile, enough to satiate you momentarily while I got out the latex gloves and chemical-splash protection goggles suitable for handling such scatalogical carnage.

And at 8:30 tonight, when the bedroom was finally deemed suitable for human occupation once more, and you were all cleaned up and sweet-smelling again, and dressed in your little jammies, smiling your toothy, sleepy grin at me, I lay you down and within two minutes you were totally tuckered out -- eyes shut tight, face slack, lips parted, deep breathing. I love you little man. I wouldn't change any of it, not for anything in the world. Good night, sweet prince, and rest up. Tomorrow will be another dirty day!

Happy Birthday

Dear Ayize,

Sitting here in my room, surrounded by strands of colorful Christmas lights, and listening to the gentle sound of your sleeping breaths, it's hard to believe that it's only been a year. In fact, it was EXACTLY one year ago, December 12th, 11:30 p.m., when I got into the passenger side of Grandma's car for the ride to the hospital.

I know I haven't "got" here yet in my retro blogging, but I just wanted to send a shout-out to you, Baby Boy, before I kiss your forehead and hit the sack. It was exactly one year ago tonight when the last leg of our long pregnant journey finally began. It was a wonderful night, early morning, and morning, filled with joy and hard work and laughter and sweat and anticipation and anxiety and excitement and exhaustion, and even -- at the tail end -- great fear, but after all that, there was triumph when I finally got to hold you in my arms, to touch see hear smell feel you, and you were here at last and real real real. And the best of my life, I knew at that moment, had just begun.

Happy Birthday, sweet prince! I care more for you than there are words to say.

All my love, always,

Mom

Fall's Freebie List!

This is an old list but (a) a lot of the stuff on here still applies, i.e. links to free days at the Big Three museums; and (b) it serves as a good introduction to my coming "review" blogs of this stuff, in case anyone is interested in sussing out possible fall 2009 activities. I seriously hit up 90% of this stuff but in my blogging mayhem, you would never know, as I've only had time to write up ONE review so far. My bad! If anything on here looks good to you and you wanna see how it turned out, check back in a bit, and by then I will hopefully have posted a description and some photos. I'll link the reviews as I go.

Enjoy!

* * * * *

Here's an updated Zoomdog Free and Cheap Finds Around Town Guide...

Wagner Farm -- Glenview
http://www.wagnerfarm.org/Events.html
Scarecrow Fest -- 10/11 (Saturday) ~ 5 bucks/adults, babies free -- bring clothes and build a scarecrow, they provide head and stuffing!
Harvest Fest -- 10/18 (Saturday) ~ 3 bucks/adults, babies free -- meet the farm animals, horse wagon rides, corn picking, farm-made food for sale

Exploritorium -- Skokie (Oakton and Skokie Blvd)
http://www.skokieparkdistrict.org/spdcm/default.aspx?c=1022
Indoor playground, climbing area, etc. Never been but have heard rave reviews from other moms! Babies free, adults are $2 for Skokie folks, $4 for the rest of us. Closed Thursdays and Sundays. Head's up -- socks are required to play on the indoor playground!

Splash Landings -- Glenview
http://www.glenviewparkdist.org/Swimming/Splash-Landings/Splash-Landings.htm
$5.75 for a fun afternoon. My niece had a birthday party here when I was pregnant and it was awesome. Little waterslides and lots of water guns and interactive water pipes and other stuff. Ayize is waaaaaay into pools so I vote for this one, despite the price (I know, it's incredibly expensive compared to the other stuff on this list LOL but it's *** water *** so Ayize feels it deserves inclusion!)

The Tree House (for lack of better title!) -- Northbrook Court shopping mall, off the 94
http://www.northbrookcourt.com/html/AttractionDetail.asp?aid=78
It's really too bad there's no picture of this gynormous, oddly-seasonal tree with tons of kids crawling on, up, and around it. Also -- centrally located in the food mall LOL by three coffee shops (including a Starbucks) which I always appreciate, AND my secret vice, The Magic Pan (a place that makes crepe meals, I cannot describe it, you just have to try it!) We have hit the tree house on many a rainy day when the little dude just needed to get out and climb and shout a lot (no one seems to notice here).

Botanic Gardens -- Northbrook, also off the 94
http://www.chicagobotanic.org/visit/admission
The trick here is that admission is free -- as Tamara can vouch! riding her bike there -- but of course, parking is $15 LOL! I have a membership so whoever can cram in my car can come and park for free, and if any other moms in this group are members, they could pack some moms in too. If not, scrap this idea, but the place is a ton of fun. Great for strolling with the kids, picnicking, lots of places for them to run wild and climb, a tram ride and a miniature train garden that costs extra (a few bucks) but the kiddies seem to love!

Heaven Meets Earth Yoga Studio -- Evanston
This place has a couple kid-friendly free things happening. First --
http://newparents.meetup.com/504/
A yoga studio on Central Street, on the corner of Ewing. Nearest stoplight is at McDaniel (that intersection also has a GREAT park!). Free playgroup for the kids with what appears to be mostly hippie and/or new-to-the-area moms. I've never been so I just joined up and am attending a meet-up next Tuesday for the first time. I have no idea if the talk will be all my-sling-is-better-than-yours or just exchanging fun baby stories but at any rate, I'm cheap, it's free, and Ayize will surely adore rolling around on the yoga mats and stealing other kid's toys, so why not? The only thing that scares me is that by joining I am officially declaring myself "hip" -- a scary thought, to be sure!! But we'll save that one for the shrinks...
Same place --
http://www.heavenmeetsearthyoga.com/aboutus.html
There's an extremely animated lady who does Story Hour here on Tuesday afternoons, it's from 4 to 4:30. Free! Ayize loved this but I have school now. Well, not today, obviously, as I'm spending the whole morning compiling my crazy skinflint finds LOL...I have a recheck with the doc, so I'm hoping to hit up story hour this afternoon afterwards when I'll be good and tired and needing some entertainment for Ayize.

* * * * *

Halloween Extravaganza Special Edition of Free and Cheaps!!

Three cool Skokie Park District happ'nins...
http://www.skokieparkdistrict.org/specialEvents.asp
(1) Ex-Scare-itorium. October 30, 3 to 6 p.m. At the abovementioned Exploritorium, might be a fun intro to it as I have not been yet. More expensive than normal $7 (or $5 if you have a friend in Skokie who will buy you a ticket!) but still not bad. Kids under 3 free. Call for pre-registration to get cheaper rate. Description at bottom of link above. Don't forget socks!!
(2) Scooter's Halloween Party. Friday October 24, starts at 6 p.m. At Skatium Ice Arena in Weber Center and hayrides on the Golf Course behind. By Church and Gross Point Road. Hayrides are 50 cents apiece. Fun fair is games for kids, 25 cents apiece. Storytelling at 6:30 is free. Ice skating starts at 7 p.m. for $2.50 skate rental. Costume contest for kids and babies!
(3) Things That Go Bump in the Night -- went! Click here for the review! Friday, October 17, from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. and Saturday, October 18, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. At the Emily Oaks Nature Center at 4650 Brummel. Kids under three free. The rest of us schmoes have to fork over 5 bucks. Pre-registration strongly recommended, usually sells out according to the lady I talked to on the phone. Same price at door if you get lucky and they have door tickets day of. Sounds super fun. Trail guide takes your group around three areas where people in animal costumes act out different skits. After the trail, you hit up a big campfire with stories, snacks, etc.

North Branch Library -- Evanston
http://www.epl.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=79&Itemid=311
On Central Street, conveniently located by the Linz and Vail coffee house and yet another Starbucks! Saturday October 25th from 3 to 5 p.m. Free Halloween party! Kids are encouraged to wear costumes. Storytelling, songs, costume "parade", games and the library provides treats for the kids!
Also, looking ahead -- Book Babies for kids 1 - 2 (basically, the librarian doing a story hour) is free too but you must register in advance and spaces fill really fast, as my sister can tell you from experience! Ayize doesn't make the age cut yet but we're waiting eagerly for it. One draggy thing: usually all the slots fill fast but by the second or third week, half the parents stop coming. This really bites cuz they won't let anyone add on once the session has started. I go see my nieces there sometimes, particularly in the summer, and there are like five kids instead of twenty by the end of a session. A big bummer for those who missed out on registering, so I would recommend only doing so if you know you're really gonna make it for sure...

South Branch Library -- Evanston
http://www.epl.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=80&Itemid=312
On Chicago Avenue, by Main Street. Thursday, October 30th from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free Halloween party also, but aimed at a little older kids (kindergarten-age)/parents who work. Costumes also encouraged, she said parents should dress up too if they want (! yikes !). "Scary" stories that she said are not really scary, songs, games, making Oreo cookie spider treats.
Book babies also available here -- same advice applies as above though I've never been to their story hour so I have no idea how their attrition rates are LOL!!

Ecology Center -- Evanston
http://www.laddarboretum.org/programs.htm#bugaboo
The Ecology Center is the little house-like structure (parking across the street) in the middle of the Ladd Arboretum that runs along McCormick and intersects with Bridge Street AKA Payne Street. It is also by the coolest park this side of Evanston! With three climbing walls and a great wooden climbing structure too. Actually, there's another great park right across the bridge too! But anyway...enough off topic...
October 25 -- Halloween/Bug-a-Boo thang. Preregistration required. $2.50 if you're lucky enough to be a member, or $4.50 for the rest of us schmucks! Dress super warm for a walk through the Arboretum which is supposedly decked out in a not-that-scary-but-festive (??) way and then snacks are served inside at the end. The whole thing runs an hour, tours leave every twenty minutes. Costume your kid for extra kicks!
November 21 -- Hibernation Hoe Down. This name just has me dying laughing but since I am STILL trying to hit a hoedown (one where I'm not busy feeding the baby when the hoes are actually getting down, or however you split that verb!!) I would love to do this one. Preregistration required. Four bucks. Music and dancing and animals, Ayize will be thrilled, def worth the price. Also because I have a current obsession with Ecology Center oddities (ask me the "spider crapping eggs for the kids' Easter egg hunt in the middle of last winter's snowstorm" or the "solar car last week at Green Fest that couldn't move, even in direct sunlight" stories if this makes you go, Huh??)

Women's Club -- Evanston
http://www.wcofe.org/events/fairyTaleTrail.php
The Fairy Tale Trail runs Friday 10/24 from 4 to 7 p.m. and again Saturday 10/25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Is it just me, or does Alice look like a man in this picture?? Supposed to be not-scary, though the photo has me wondering... Anyhow, the Women's Club is in downtown Evanston, across the street from Whole Foods. I think it runs 5 bucks for this event, though they don't say on the web page. Bummer. Bring the babes in costume. Every room is set up like a different fairy tale. Sounds super cool! Ayize will have to get in touch with his feminine side cuz we're definitely hitting this one up!

Robert Crown also has two parties, one is actually a skating Halloween party, but I can't find this year's dates. Kids in costume, free, lots of fun stuff (if you're into ice skating LOL) and they also have a free party for the little kiddies every year (babies to kindergarten) with the same type of stuff to be found at the libraries...the dates are not yet up, but I'll try to check it out next time we're by there.

Definitely not as baby-friendly but -- there are a couple of homecoming celebrations coming up for sports fan babies...
Saturday 10/11 is ETHS. No parade, but a cheap pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 in the morning to benefit my alma mater, yay! and our awesome jazz band plays during the breakfast -- if you like jazz as much as Ayize does, it's well worth it though they are no pros. But pretty good! Then the game will happen against Niles in I believe the new and improved football field, that crazy construction all summer finally paying off! The game used to be free...I'm not into football games so I doubt we'll hit that up anyway!
Friday 10/17 is the NU parade. Sheridan Road and Chicago Avenue is where it generally starts. It's late -- 8 p.m. but Ayize likes music and marching bands and parades so much we will probably go anyway.

And here are the slightly more far-flung adventures for anyone feeling game...all free!

Chicago Children's Museum
http://www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org/target_philosophy.html
Free on the first Monday of the month! Never been but am dying to go. Looks totally fantastic! CTA goes down with either a bus or trolley (!) the rest of the way to Navv Pier. There is parking too.
http://www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org/permanent_exhibits.html
This is a listing of some of the permanent exhibits, I didn't make it through all the pages (!) but have heard great things about "Kid's Town" and the dinosaur and backyard exhibits among others...

Adler Planetarium
http://adlerplanetarium.org/plan/index.shtml#discountdays
Free on Mondays and Tuesdays of October and November! Parking may be pricey though...I can't remember.

Museum of Science and Industry
http://www.msichicago.org/visit-the-museum/museum-info/admission/free-days/
Of course, the free days are all holidays...grumble, grumble.

Shedd Aquarium (sorry, had to add this one too -- why not go for the big three! Ayize is OBSESSED with fish right now anyway...)
http://www.sheddaquarium.org/discounts.html
Still a bunch of free days left...

One other far-flung (but well worth it! adventure) --
tp://www.mortonarb.org/main.taf?p=2,3,1
Sadly, adults are $9 to enter though I got in free with my Chicago Botanic Garden card. Babies are free. It took me almost an hour to drive here so I know most folks would not be game, but we had a blast here! Came for my nephew's fourth birthday party a few weeks ago. Arrived at noon and stayed til almost 7. And still had not played on everything in the Children's Garden (which is only one part of the actual arboretum) sufficiently!! There was SO much to do, Ayize was agog. Climbing stuff, tree houses, suspended bridges among tree tops that he loved crossing (they're very safe!), a pond with stepping stones that we obsessively "walked" around, a huge tree with walking ramps to the top and crazy slides down built into the tree thing, a hedge maze and at its center a platform lookout built into another huge tree -- Ayize adored the spiral stairs and we had to climb up and down and up again -- and so much more. It was completely insane! I never even made it into the arboretum proper, as the 70% of the Children's Garden we saw easily ate up the seven hours! Did I mention the cafeteria was fantastic? And that they have a Starbucks onsite?? If anyone ever feels like making a fun day trek before the fall gets too cold, or maybe sometime in the spring when the weather starts warming again, Ayize and I are totally down! This place ruled!!

OK, anyone else exhausted?? Sorry this is so long...but I'm sure there's way more! I just haven't had time to look recently as health issues and school are sucking up all the little spare time my new boss permits me! I'll keep you guys posted though on any other good stuff that comes up. Hoping for another fire station open house soon... :)

Winter Free and Cheaps!

Okay people, strap on your seatbelts and let’s roll! The Zoomdawg End-of-Year Extravaganza of Free and Cheaps Around Town has officially arrived. (I'll post the back ones too next chance I get...between bouts of baby-wrangling...!)

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Hey guys! One additional thing...I ended up signing up for the Wednesday 7 - 13 month Gymboree "Sing and Play" class at Old Orchard at one (ahem!) of our trial classes LOL, but so far it has been well worth it. The open gym times are every weekday afternoon and last 2 - 3 hours, and since most of our other playtimes (Family Room, Ridgeville, playgroups etc.) are in the mornings, it gives us a nice afternoon activity to look forward to on these cold, dark afternoons! Ayize is getting pretty adept at ramp-climbing and tunnel-running, though occasionally I find myself mentally lapsing back into my old agility class with my beloved former dog, Montrose. At least I have yet to find myself running alongside the ramp, clapping and yelling, "C'mon Ayize, UP, you can do it!" Anyway, if you do get bored and try a trial class, try to do it on a Wednesday at 1:15! :) Ok. Onwards!

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Tuesday 11/25
Fountain Square, downtown Evanston, 5:30 PM
FREE! Holiday Tree Lighting. Yay! Need I say more??
Free parking in the Rotary Center lot after 5 PM. The tree lighting is at 5:30 PM after the mayor and Santa arrive…in a fire truck LOL! The Chicago Children’s Choir is set to sing too, among other fun and goofy stuff. Then the Rotary Center across the street has refreshments in their café afterwards, so people can warm up. Don’t forget to come to the Menorah lighting (see below) and the Kwanzaa celebration (see below) if you want to round out your holiday experience LOL! Ayize and I are soooo gunning to hit up all three if we can swing it! Free food at all three, and free religious instruction for my poor godless son to salve my conscience, so why not??
http://www.evmark.org/newsite/displayEvtCategory.asp?Cat=FUNEV

Saturday 11/29
Unitarian Church, Evanston, 1330 Ridge Avenue, 11:30 AM - 5 PM
FREE! Holiday C.A.R.E. Faire
This is one of my fave Evanston doings and it benefits the homeless dogs and cats of Evanston so I highly recommend everyone to come! Free, but if you donate a can of pet food or a bag of pet treats, even better!! (Collection boxes at the door). A kind of wild but very fun event. Dogs everywhere but owners are required to use standardized short leashes so the chaos stays at bay. The best part is the cookie walk because it's so cheap and tasty! Volunteers (myself included) bake cookies all night and bring them to the church that morning. I think it's 5 bucks per pound of fresh cookies, you walk a looong line of goodies with a plastic glove and pick out however many of whatever kind you want. The best ones go fast and they go first, so plan on getting there early! There’s also pet pictures with Santa, super good quality and funny to see (some brave folks lug their cats, rabbits, birds, etc. too) and an awesome silent auction, not the high-end crazy-priced kind, plus free pet (and sometimes people) massages and therapy dog demos, etc. Ayize is crazy about animals so we'll def be here and I may even have my two canines in tow. It can get crowded so I would recommend an Ergo or umbrella stroller for better maneuverability. P.S. Whoah! I just checked out the raffle prizes. Sweetness! I was Medical Director there for eleven and a half years and we never had that kind of stuff before. Very cool.
http://www.care-evanston.org/faire.htm

Saturday 12/6
Mitsuwa Marketplace (Japanese Mall), Arlington Heights,10 AM -- 4 PM
FREE! Children's Festival, "Holiday Delight"
Taiko drumming, Japanese lute demo, Japanese dance demo, crafts, shopping, Japanese Santa Claus LOL...we're basically going for the Taiko drumming. Ayize is bonkers about it! There are at least two sessions during the festival; times are posted on the website. Come dance with us too; Japanese dancing is pretty crazy! It only takes us about 15 or 20 minutes to drive here from Evanston.
http://www.jasc-chicago.org/60th/hd06.html

Saturday 12/6
Barnes and Noble, downtown Evanston, 9 AM - 11 PM
FREE! Bookfair/choir performance.
The Haven Middle School Choir is coming through to sing holiday songs at 11 AM, woo hoo! Also, head’s up – see below for regular story hour days and times. I'm going to try to hit the choir gig AND story hour if I can get him to swing both. And then the Japanese festival above in the same day LOL! Hmm…
http://storelocator.barnesandnoble.com/storedetail.do?store=2236

Sunday 12/7
Central Street Holiday Open House, 12 PM – 4 PM
FREE! A bunch of shops, including Tony Macarony, host a two-block-long holiday open house. Strolling elves and a Mrs. Claus plus a kiddy passport game all sound fun to me, as does anything library-related (I think the North Branch is sponsoring the passport game)…sounds good to me. I love Central Street anyway and there’s an awesome park across the street if I bring Ayize’s snowsuit LOL – Independence Park, one of our faves in the area. Also, Starbucks and their deadly-delicious salted caramel hot chocolates are located smack bang in the middle of the street fair, so dammit, that seals the deal!
http://www.centralstreet-evanston.com/events

Sunday 12/14
Lake Street Church, 607 Lake Street, Evanston, 3:30 PM
FREE! Evanston Children’s Choir Holiday Concert (but voluntary donations accepted at door, per website. I would probably give like a buck?) A celebration of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. The main and junior choirs plus a guest violinist. Ayize is crazy about music/singing so we will def hit this one up!
http://www.evanstonchildrenschoir.org/index.php?option=com_gigcal&task=details&gigcal_gigs_id=35&Itemid=2

Sunday 12/28
Fountain Square, downtown Evanston, 4 PM
FREE! Giant Menorah lighting. A boy’s choir to sing, among other music, plus more free refreshments, though I’m not sure how filling. The Rotary Center may offer perks at their café again, like they do after the tree lighting, but I’m not sure. If not, I will surely head over to Potbellys afterwards to soothe my hungry tummy! Speaking of Potbellys, see below…

Monday 12/29
Fleetwood-Jourdain, 1655 Foster, Evanston, 6 PM
FREE! Kwanzaa Community Celebration! Arts and crafts, music, singing, free soul food. Woo hoo, it’s on! Followed by a ceremonial candle lighting and some readings.
http://www.cityofevanston.org/departments/parks/centers/fleetwood.shtml

Saturday 1/17
Fleetwood-Jourdain, 1655 Foster, Evanston, 3 PM
FREE! Community Celebration Honoring the Birthday of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. The Evanston Northshore Community Mass Choir will sing, along with poetry, readings, and dance.
(same email address as above)

Friday 1/23
Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge, Evanston, 1 PM
FREE! Fran Randall Memorial Concert.
"Vocal duet doing a variety of different music styles". Ayize and I love us some good music, so we’re going to try to brave this one, since it’s free and sounds really interesting. On the other hand, the place may well be populated by a bunch of senior citizens who get pissed off at me dragging a baby into their midst, disturbing the show. Or will they swarm him with elder love?? Stay tuned, for the answers to these and other exciting questions…!
http://www.cityofevanston.org/departments/parks/levy-index.shtml

Sunday 1/25
Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes, Evanston, 3 - 5 PM
FREE! Opening reception for the Black History Month Exhibition. 20 professional African-American woman artists will have their works on display, plus the Walter Clark Trio to play live music, and free food to boot! We’re so there!
http://www.cityofevanston.org/departments/parks/news/noyes_art_exhitibitons.shtml

These are just a random smattering of some of the upcoming holiday events. There SO MANY free and cheap holiday celebrations that my mind is boggled! I am also gonna scour the info boards at local churches/temples as I want to drag Ayize to some holiday events around town, midnight masses and Baptist Christmas choirs and all that. My mom and I used to like to sneak in (though we are supposedly Buddhist) just to hear lovely, wild, tricked-out, crazy Churchy antics in full fledged spirit at various places around town and I plan on dragging Ayize down with us this year as we spy and sing along and let it all hang out in the spirit of the holidaze...I recommend y’all try it too! Always free and people are invariably cool, even when we stick out like two (and now three!) sore thumbs! A good time is guaranteed…

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Ongoing Free & Cheaps Around Town:

The CTA Holiday Line! Need I say more???
http://www.transitchicago.com/news/whatsnew2.wu?action=displaynewspostingdetail&articleid=112928

Dave’s Down to Earth Rock Shop, 704 Main Street, Evanston
FREE! Prehistoric Life Museum. Located in the basement LOL may just be a bunch of cool-looking rocks but what the heck?? It’s inside and I’m sure Ayize will be interested if we go there for a frozen afternoon indoor outing. Besides which, it’s next door to Lupita’s…again, need I say more?
http://www.davesdowntoearthrockshop.com/mus1.htm

Dearborn Observatory of Northwestern University, 2131 Tech Drive, Evanston
FREE! Fridays from 8 – 10 p.m. “Young eyes can roam the skies” i.e. play with some crazy telescope there to check out planets and stars. Ayize and I will def go some time if only to check out the place itself for kicks and because he is unnaturally obsessed with all things complex. Based on the website photo, I have a feeling he will totally geek out there and be happy just to look around on a boring, chilly winter night. FYI some staircases are involved to access the top of the dome! Strong backs, unite!! And dress warm!
http://www.astro.northwestern.edu/observatory.php

Barnes & Noble, downtown Evanston, Saturdays and Mondays, 10:30 AM
FREE! Storytime in the children's room. We are going to start hitting them up as soon as school's out and I get a little breathing space.
http://storelocator.barnesandnoble.com/storedetail.do?store=2236

Chandler-Newberger Center, 1028 Central Street – 2 things:
(1) FREE! Saturday Family Fun Nights. 12/13, 1/17 and 2/21 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. The whole place is set up with various sports and board games, but the North Gym is set aside specially for toddler play. I assume it’s well-padded and there’s some climbing gym type stuff (if memory serves…I took tumbling there when I was, like, 7!)
(2) Time-Together Drop-In Program. January 6 – March 19, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM – 11 AM. Sounds like you basically bring your babes (aged birth to 4 years) to this well-padded gym so they can hurtle around and smash up the place, climb all over the gym, play with a ton of supplied toys, and sing and hear stories at the end while Mom kicks back, eats free snacks, and sips Starbucks. And sighs with contentment that all this Ayize-destruction is wholeheartedly acceptable! 10 bucks/drop-in fee. 8-visit punch card saves you 25% at 60 bucks.
http://www.cityofevanston.org/departments/parks/centers/chandler.shtml

FYI – I’ve never been here but I’m sure it’s a great workout for the kids. Check out the Family Room in Evanston for a probably way-better (but more expensive) alternative…we’re doing that now, and it’s AWESOME! (And, they offer a sliding scale based on income! Phew!!)
http://www.famroom.org/Programs.html

Potbellys, Old Orchard, Tuesdays, 11 AM – 1 PM
FREE! Personal Wiggleworms-like performance, basically. (Okay, the price of a food item, unless you want to risk getting thrown out! But they make the hard-to-find “brownie cookie” here which is so well worth the dollar price tag!)
Yes, I know there are a buttload of Potbellys all over this area…but most of them are crowded during the lunch hour and the music is great but a little too “grown-up” for Ayize to really groove to while Mama ignores him and gets her eat on! Here, the guy will almost always tailor it to the babes if he sees Ayize in the “crowd”. I use that term loosely because the place is always dead on Tuesdays at this time (at least it was all summer and fall) and so he invariably flipped into rousing renditions of “Wheels on the Bus” and other delightful foot-stomping faves that had Ayize hopping in his highchair. Having said that, I haven’t been there in a month or two and sometimes they change-up their musician. But I hope not, as this guy has been AWESOME and doesn’t seem to care that the other (few) patrons don’t dig the kiddy tunes. Ha ha! He’s on our side!! Though I fear this branch will shut down soon LOL as there are never more than one or two other people eating every time I’m there! So enjoy it while it lasts!
http://www.centerstagechicago.com/restaurants/potbellys/skokie.html

If you’re really desperate by the time February and March roll around, go online and sign up for a free trial class at either www.gymboreeclasses.com or www.mygym.com or – what the heck?? – both. If you’re REALLY desperate and REALLY cheap, like me, do one now -- then, in a couple months, when they have forgotten your face, sign up for another using an alternate email address! That’s the only way they track you so you could theoretically sign up for many LOL not that I would ever do such a thing (wink, wink). I am also about to try out my first free Kindermusik class, probably next Monday, at Northwestern. Here’s the web address for their class times and listings:

http://www.music.northwestern.edu/precollegecommunity/musicacademy/classes.html#kindermusik

Truth be told, if I actually got radical! and signed up for any of these (budget allowing), it would be Gymboree or My Gym as they both issue a bunch of coupons and discounts and also waive the registration fee if you sign up the same day of your (or should I say, ONE of your!) free classes. Given all those perks, plus the fact that taking a class entitles you to using their gym three or four days a week for free, makes them sound pretty worthwhile to me for the coming cold months. Ayize loved the ramps and tunnels and climbing structures at the Old Orchard Gymboree (we haven’t tried My Gym yet, which looks a little cheaper – there’s one in Skokie – but I need to check out their open gym policy), and I was just overjoyed with the heavily-padded floors! The singing/circle time Gymboree class was somewhat lame after experiencing Our Heavenly Diana from Wiggleworms (though amusing enough if you’re not terrified of Gymbo, the creepy clown that keeps coming out, and the parachute was a great bonus), but the thought of Ayize running himself ragged in that nice padded indoor playground several times a week for two hour open gym sessions with a bunch of other babies, more than makes up for any lameness on the part of the class…