Ridgland Commons Skatefest!

Well, I finally had enough courage to bring M ice skating at Ridgeland Common Park in Oak Park. Growing up in the south didn't expose me much to the sport, and I recall going a time or two as a teenager, destroying my hip and tailbone.

Knowing that any four year old will have some balance problems, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to stay up enough to help her.

I'm happy and proud to say no one was injured, M and I had a blast, and ice walkers are the best thing ever invented! We're going again very soon!

Happy skating!

Yes, help has arrived!

A key to my survival (besides my wife):

My Mother-in-Law

Nanni was up from Mississippi for the holidays and is always a ton of help.

She held A for hours on end,

and played with M for hours!

She even made a cookie castle...I'm awestruck!

When you're handed snow...

GO SLEDDING!

So, saturday was our first real snow of the season, arriving the day after Christmas. M was begging to go sledding during the past 2 small snowfalls this winter, but daddo's been a bit tired. We layered up and headed out to the Barrie Park snow hill. Mommie went with us to document the fun and mayhem. What a blast...and M had a screamin' good ol' time!

Two paths diverged in a wood...

Raising children in a semi-urban environment has it's challenges. One of those challenges is getting them exposed to the great outdoors, without a long drive to waste time and energy. I've discovered a few nearby areas within a half hour of our home.

The closest is Thatcher Woods, connected with the Desplaines River Trail.






While the trails there are a bit soggy much of the time, M loves to get down to the river or just run around in the woods.


While a bit further away, Fullersburg Woods is a great place for kids and adults. The nature building allows kids to explore, assemble a very large wooden bug and other puzzles, and climb into an indoor treehouse. The trails are great for running, with or without a jogging stroller, biking (even with training wheels), walking/hiking, and finding lots of creeks and ponds to feed the ducks and geese. Baby stroller assess isn't impossible either...we took A there when she was 2 months old!
Attached to the preserve is Graue Mill, an old water powered grain mill which facinates both M and I.
These pics borrowed from a flicker shot found through a google search:

Fluffy...

Pancakes!!

Yes, I have a thing for a luscious, fluffy homemade pancake. M loves everything pancake too, which is really cool. Come to think of it, I've never met a kid who doesn't love em.

I also love anything made with sweet potatoe or pumpkin. I have an amazing pumpkin pancake recipe, compliments of epicurious. One of the keys to this recipe is separating the eggs and wisking the egg whites. Super fluffy. It's such a great idea, that I've tried the egg white wisk with other recipes. All have been great. Enjoy. Sorry, no pics (we eat them way too fast)

Beware, this recipe makes at least 12 large pancakes.

1 1/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups whole milk
3/4 cup canned pure pumpkin
4 large eggs, separated
1/8 cup (1/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted

1/8 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Vegetable oil
Maple syrup

Whisk first 5 ingredients in large bowl to blend. Whisk milk, pumpkin, egg yolks, melted butter, vegetable oil, and vanilla in medium bowl to blend well. Add pumpkin mixture to dry ingredients; whisk just until smooth (batter will be thick). Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in another medium bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold whites into batter in 2 additions. Brush large nonstick skillet with oil; heat over medium heat. Working in batches, pour batter by 1/3 cupfuls into skillet. Cook until bubbles form on surface of pancakes and bottoms are brown, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining batter, brushing skillet with oil between batches. Serve with syrup.

An introduction: A and M, P and me

Reading the blogs of my family members , including :

P's thefrigs,

UncleM's basementworkflop,

Mel's kohlrabidiaries,

and friend's A's pfour

and M's elsmofour blogs,

I've enjoyed learning more about them and their families. So, here goes nothing.

I am a father of 2 beautiful girls A and M, and live in a near western suburb of Chicago. My wife P works full time, which allows me to stay at home part time with my girls. I'm proud to be a stay-at-home-dad (SAHD)!

Here are my two monkeys: M on the left, A on the R