Archive for January 2014

Creative crafts for the 2014 Chinese New Year

Creative crafts for the 2014 Chinese New Year
Happy Chinese New Year! The Year of the Horse  began on January 31st and is the start of a week long celebration. There are numerous activities going on around Chicago to honor the occasion. For an extensive list of these events check out Show Me Chicago’s Chinese New Year Events in Chicago and Envisioning China... Read more »
By Christine Arreola,
January 31, 2014 at 8:55 pm • 

Learning through play: weight with preschoolers

Learning through play: weight with preschoolers
I don’t normally write about a new game or toy that the kids received, but I decided to write about this one because they can’t keep their hands off of it. And that’s a good thing. Franky got a game from our neighbor for his birthday yesterday. It’s pretty simple actually. It involves a scale,... Read more »
By Christine Arreola,
January 30, 2014 at 7:50 pm • 

He'll never be three again

He'll never be three again
Four years ago today, Francisco Javier was born at 11:14 a.m. Who is that, you ask? Why, that would be my little (I mean, big boy if he asks) Franky. We have men of many names in this house. Franky is a junior, which means that Fran’s full name is Francisco Javier as well. Fran... Read more »
By Christine Arreola,
January 29, 2014 at 11:57 am • 
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Frozen Lake Michigan is otherworldly

Frozen Lake Michigan is otherworldly
This is the second day in a row that school has been canceled due to the cold. So far, I’ve eaten almost all of the apple crumb pie and we’ve had our morning coffee and hot chocolate. Backing up, before we got into the morning dessert, we bundled up and went for a car ride.... Read more »
By Christine Arreola,
January 28, 2014 at 11:42 am • 

Baking an apple crumb pie for beginners

Baking an apple crumb pie for beginners
Today’s adventure in pie cooking was all Lilia’s idea. In fairness, Franky has been talking about a spaghetti ice cream pie for months now, but we always kind of glaze over that suggestion. They were asking me the usual question of, “What’s our new thing?” Honestly, I hadn’t planned anything out. This is the millionth... Read more »
By Christine Arreola,
January 27, 2014 at 9:28 pm • 

Polar Vortex or not, we're going sledding

Polar Vortex or not, we're going sledding
We made it! This is my final post in my week long series, “Take Back the Weather!” Finally, it will be warm tomorrow and, oh wait, what’s that? School is canceled tomorrow and maybe Tuesday because the Polar Vortex is coming back? Well, that’s interesting. Okay, no rocking myself in the corner. Think warm, happy... Read more »
By Christine Arreola,
January 26, 2014 at 4:50 pm • 
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My rice cooker makes magic

My rice cooker makes magic
This is day 6 of my week long series of posts called “Take Back the Weather!” This afternoon I was actually signed up to do the Lakeview Polar Bear plunge. Guess what? It’s too cold! They canceled the event because it’s just not safe. Apparently instead of running on the sand into the water, there... Read more »
By Christine Arreola,
January 25, 2014 at 9:31 pm • 

10 happy songs to brighten your winter

10 happy songs to brighten your winter
This is day 5 of my week long series called “Take Back the Weather!” Chicago is currently colder than my freezer and it’s only getting worse. I just heard today that school might be called off again next week because temperatures will be below zero with dangerous wind chills. Today was gray, windy and cold.... Read more »
By Christine Arreola,
January 24, 2014 at 9:41 pm • 

Would you eat this ice cream?

Would you eat this ice cream?
This is day 4 of a series of posts I’m writing called “Take Back the Weather!” due to the fact that Chicago has turned into the Arctic tundra. No worries here. We’ve got plenty of things to do like… Eat ice cream! Last weekend Lilia and I spotted a poster at a Dunkin Donuts/Baskin-Robbins for... Read more »
By Christine Arreola,
January 23, 2014 at 9:32 pm • 
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When it's cold outside, bring the snow indoors

When it's cold outside, bring the snow indoors
Today is day 3 of my “Take Back the Weather!” challenge. This is due to the crazy amount of snow and cold Chicago is experiencing this winter. It’s our way of telling the weather that we run things around here! This morning it was 2°F when we walked to the bus stop and around 10°F... Read more »
By Christine Arreola,
January 22, 2014 at 7:32 pm •