Bang Bang Chicken

For those of you who have been to Bonefish Grill know what the words "Bang Bang" mean.  It means delicious sauce on some sort of protein.  Well, I would have to honestly say this fried chicken is AMAZING without anything else.  The sauce just adds to the awesomeness.  Let me just try and describe how yummy this chicken is... can you tell how excited I am?  I hate to use the word moist but there really isn't any other word to describe it.  The chicken wasn't dry, the outside was CRISPY and full of favor.  And for those of you who know me I get a craving for good crispy fried chicken every now and again and this was AWESOME.  I thought that it might be a little spicy for the kids because there was some hot sauce in the batter but it wasn't... it just added delicious flavors.  :)  So, you should make this because... well, it's frickin' delicious.  AND it wasn't greasy.  Double score.  AND it didn't take that long to make.

http://www.navywifecook.com/2012/11/bang-bang-chicken.html

JVG

Pool time

We went to our first pool last Saturday.  Quebra invited us over to use their complexes pool, which was very generous of her!  The weather was just warm enough that it was nice to be outside, but not scorching and the pool was very warm.  We had made plans to hang out because our significant others were attending Tally's bachelor's party on the other side of the state and since she had to work and I was watching the kiddos we didn't go to Pipi's bachelorette... however, Gaetan didn't end up going because he was just worn out from all the traveling done prior in the week (Chicago) and just didn't have 5+ hours of drive time in him.  So, I kept my plans with Quebra and used that time that we were gone for him to just relax and be.  :)  Everybody needs downtime and quiet, and I was glad I could give it to him still!

My plan was going to put Norah in the backpack and just watch the crazies play in the pool.  I didn't think that they were going to be to adventurous because they generally don't go hog wild (in a dangerous way) in aquatic settings.  It was also nice to have Quebra helping out with the kiddos too!  So, thank you!  Since Norah was going to be in the pool I figured I should get her a bathing suit, but she fits into the one that Lucy has, so I thought it would be nice to get Lucy another one.  I took her to Target to pick one out and she picked out a cute blue one, so we bought it and came home.  We tried it on her and it was too big... :(  So, during their naptime I returned it and got different one.  Turns out she's not quite into big girl sizes yet but I did find a cute one for her.  :)  I also found this shirt with A CAPE on it.... I thought Dude would love it.  So I picked that up too.

Goose in her new suit

Dude playing on the ladder... Norah strapped on!

The kids did have a great time at the pool.  They were literally jumping up and down and all around their apartment.  When we got there Norah wasn't thrilled about being in the carseat so she was screaming during the transfer into the backpack, but she piped down and actually went to sleep.  The water in the pool was fabulous.  There weren't a lot of people there which was nice.  The kids just liked to play on the steps for the first bit.  Eventually I got Dude to ride on my back to the other side of the pool and he wanted to play on the ladder.  So, Lucy saw him do that and wanted to as well, so Quebra helped out with that one.  It seemed like a quick visit because we were busy the entire time!

There was a bit of pool drama which is always fun to watch unfold... the rules are you can't bring coolers or food or glass bottles into the pool area and these two girls (I'm judging them by the way they looked... but they looked like they would've been better off if their brains were as big as their big ole fake.... yup...) anyhoo, they came in with a cooler and weren't even trying to hide the fact that they were drinking beer, out of GLASS bottles!  And it was crappy beer at that!  Well, a maintenance guy came and pretty much told them they couldn't do that and it's so interesting watching body language.  You could tell that they were irritated that they didn't get away with it and that they thought their pretty looks (in the eye of the beholder) was going to allow them to get away with this... and when he didn't budge you could see them getting pissy.  Good times good times.  They left in a bit of a huff after a rather muscley looking dude came to gather them.

Well, by the time we had to get going a lot of families were showing up so it was a good time to leave! :)  I'm glad that we could hang out a little bit and that the kids had some time to get their pool experience in.

JVG

Boys trip to Chicago

The big day has arrived!  Gaetan had planned this train trip to Chicago a few weeks ago and I didn't know who was more excited about the trip... Gaetan or Dude.  Well, Dude didn't actually know what was going on for quite some time.  My Dad showed up in the morning and he thought that was the big surprise... that Don was at OUR house.  But, then, when we told him that they were going somewhere he thought that riding in Don's car was the big surprise.  haha.  When they pulled into the station Dude didn't really know where they were, but then he saw the words TRAIN on the side of the building and he got really excited because he thought that they were going to be train watching all day... but little did he know that it was going to get immensely better.  He did realize that he was actually going to be riding the train when it pulled up... he started jumping up and down and flapping his arms (signs of real excitement).  He was just beside himself that he was actually going to be able to RIDE on a train.

Getting ready for his big adventure... and he doesn't know what's in store for him!

Excited just to be at the train station

Thinking they get to watch trains all day

Jumping up and down when he realizes he gets to RIDE a train

During the train ride he was just glued to watching out the window.  Seeing places that he recognized in Kalamazoo... watching other trains go by... and of course, he was riding with Papa and Don.  There was a point where they were delayed on the tracks for about 10 minutes and he didn't care... he was LOVING every moment of it.

Chicago on the horizon

Once they got to Chicago, he thought that the big surprise was the ride... so when they told him where they were he was out of control excited.  The first thing they did was get on the L, so ANOTHER train.  Which led them to a subway... TRAIN UNDERGROUND!!!  They went to the Hancock building, which is 9 stories shorter than the Sears Tower.. but it's still 1,030 feet up!  Dude, the monkey that he is rode the entire elevator ride upside down.  Once they got to the top he was just in awe.  He doesn't share the same feelings about heights as his Momma does... he just climbed right next to the window and was looking around.  He thought it was great.  My Dad liked that there was urban gardens ... couldn't get over them really.  :)  Dude spotted a beach while they were up there and wanted to go, and since it was so hot they went!

Waiting for the L

Waiting for the subway

Can you feel the excitement?!

Emerging from the subway

Hancock building

Sears tower

Old water tower

The beaches in Chicago are all public and free so that was a bonus.  Dude went into the water, which was warm (so I'm told).  He was in the water when a wave came and took his legs out so he was sitting on his bunda and then another one came and covered him.  Gaetan said that he loved it!  And that's good because I was hoping that he would get over his fear of getting his head wet so that we could start to have a lot of fun in the water!








They hit up the Lego Store next.  Which was one of the reasons they went to Chicago... Dude just stood there in awe of all the Legos.  He ended up getting a bin with a bunch of pieces which was a better deal than the wall with all the different shapes and sizes.  I honestly think that the Lego Store might've been the least exciting part for him, which was still exciting!






He also got to play in the fountains that he played in two years ago, which he loved.  Last time he was hesitant about it, but this time he was right in there loving the random spurts that the water would shoot out.  And it was so hot that it was a nice way for him to cool off.  There was a point where the air was just so saturated it felt like it was raining, but it really wasn't.



They stopped and had some Pot Belly's for lunch and then went to the Ferris Wheel on Navy Pier.  Personally, that sounds like hell on earth but, again, he doesn't share the same feelings I do about heights.  He thought that it was amazing.  Not nervous at all!  My Dad just kept saying how many cool things there were there and next time he wanted to stay a couple of days in order to explore it all.  Dude was such a sweet heart and kept saying that Lucy should come next time because she would love it.  And meanwhile at home she was saying how much she missed Ba-Boo... they love each other... sometimes ;)

He loved the ferris wheel... no hesitations about being up high!

Ferris wheel view

They were going to stop and get the famous Chicago deep dish style pizza but the cook time was to long for it and they didn't think they were going to make their train.  And it turns out that they almost didn't!  They ended up getting back to the station after getting some delicious burritos just minutes before it took off!  On the train ride back Dude kept asking people if he could give them a tour of the train... which is adorable.  And he made it the entire ride back awake.  He got to ride 6 different trains all together and I think he was heaven.

Dinner on the train!

Dude asking people if he can give them a tour of the train

I think that the next time we will try and all go, but for this I thought it would be best for just the guys.  There are so many free things there, the childrens museum, the zoo, beaches, fountains!  Oh my!  And one of the museums has Sue, the largest T Rex skeleton, which we thought he would like next time too.  I'm so glad that they could have that time together and from the sounds of it, it was awesome.  I'm so glad that Dude has a Papa that gets excited about doing fun things with and for him.  :)

JVG

Girls Day

While the boys were out having their big adventure in Chicago the girls stayed home and had some fun!  Sweet Norah was an excellent sleeper, but that also meant that we were kind of locked in at home waiting for her to get up.  The morning didn't start to early, which was good!  After the boys had left Lucy and I cleaned up a bit.  The kitchen and dining area was in desperate need of some attention, so she was my big helper girl with that!  Afterwards we read for a bit and ran around being silly waiting for Norah to get up.  Once she got up we played upstairs for a little while... Lucy got to play with the dinosaur train and the train tracks without any disturbances!  We eventually went downstairs and did our first girly thing... nail painting.  I was going to go to the store with them and have her pick out some color but then I remembered I had a few colors... so I dug those out and she loved it!  Painted her toes first... and I was pleasantly surprised that she held still for the entire thing and then waited until they were dry to walk around.  She asked me if it was going to hurt, so I reassured her that it wouldn't.  :)  So, now our sweet little girlie has red toes, which she loves!  She wanted to try her finger nails next, but since I'm not that great at nail painting and her nails are so small, I decided to do it with this clear sparkly polish... just incase it went everywhere.  But she did really well with that too!  For awhile afterwards she walked around very carefully to make sure not to bump her toes on stuff and she fanned her fingers so they wouldn't touch either... it was very cute.

Norah after she woke up

Goose playing hide and seek... crazy girl hair!

Her cute little toes

Finger nails done!

Her choice of colors today

The hair style she requested

She thought it needed some jazzing up...

Yup. That about sums it up.

After that Norah was pretty tired so she went to bed and it was about time for Lucy's nap as well.  She was so excited that she was going to be able to take a nap in Ba-Boo's bed!  She went straight up there and didn't throw a fit or anything and just laid right now... it was amazing.  After her nap we had some lunch and waited for Norah to get up so that we could run some more errands!  We ended up going to the mall so that she could ride the carousel.  Again, she was just so excited that she got to ride in Ba-Boo's carseat!  haha.  I'm glad that the small things in life make her happy.

On the carosal.  She wasn't amused until it started

She was pretty happy once it started

When we got back our complex was having their annual BBQ.  They had a big water slide and a dunk tank, but they were both to big for Lucy.  And it was so hot out it was pretty unbearable.  We only stayed about 45 minutes because we were chatting it up with our neighbor Kim... but we had to go home.  Poor Norah's nose was sweating and she had sweated through her clothes, so I figured it was to hot for a sweet babe.  We got home and all took baths/showers, which was much better.  By that time it was time for bed.  We had some quick dinner and then that was the end of our girls day.  Not nearly as exciting as it was for the boys, but we had a lot of fun together.  :)

JVG