Questions for EJ

Hi everyone.  It has been too long since I have been on here.  To kick things off with me back in the saddle I bring you questions for EJ.  

EJ asked me this morning for more questions and since I'm her dad I can't say no to that. You know the drill send me questions in comments here or on Facebook. 

I can already tell these questions are going to be easy

Coming to America - Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July!  On this day I think of my Grandmother's journey just to get to this country.  This is the story in her words:

My Dad came here in 1921, from what is now Slovenia, leaving behind our Mom and my sister Mary and me – ages 4 and 2. It took 7 years for him to be able to send for us. So in 1928, my Mom packed everything she could, into 2 large suitcases and we sadly kissed our grandmother goodbye. My uncle took us to board the train for Ljubljana , our largest city, where we met up with about 20 others who were leaving by train for Le Havre, France, the port near Paris, where we were to board the French Liner – Ile De France—sailing to America. . The ocean trip took about 4 ½ days. One day the fog horns were blasting away—we were saluting a ship going East—their fog horns sounded in salute also – the noise was deafening—It was the steamship America bound for Europe. Two huge ships passing in the middle of the ocean!!! I think many of the passengers came on deck to see this. And again  when we sailed into NY harbor very early in the morning of June the 6^TH, , everyone was on deck to see the Statue of Liberty. Many people cried, their emotions were  so overwhelming!!

     On Ellis Island, we were given physicals , and our papers were checked. Some people were sent back, for whatever reason. I wonder at how efficient  the whole process was. It didn’t take long, considering the large numbers. We were met by a Slovenian travel agent who escorted us to a train

     He pinned identification tags on us – with our names and destination. On the train , there was a man carrying a huge tray supported by a band around his neck—he was selling cigarettes and candy. We pleaded with our Mom to buy us the candy, but she refused – she didn’t know how much it would take of the money she had. Two men sitting across the aisle form us bought us the candy and we thanked them in Slovenian , as we didn’t know a word of English!! We slept on the train, and the next morning the conductor who had been put  in charge of us, came and put us off the train in Youngstown, where our Dad was waiting. Happy Day!!!

Life has been good  and I am here at 93 to tell how it came about.

This is only part of the story but it is amazing to see what people went through to be able to have the freedoms that we cherish and celebrate today.  

My Grandma and some of her Great-Grandchildren

Music That Doesn't Suck

Hey!  Lots to be happy about today...4 day weekend coming up, nice weather and most importantly healthy kids.  Today we made a trip to a heart specialist for M due to a heart murmur that hasn't gone away.  I tried my best up until today not to freak out about it mostly because M's pediatrician wasn't worried.  Once you are in the office and the nurse comes in and does her thing and leaves and then a resident (I think) comes in and leaves and then the main doctor comes in and listens to his heart for what felt like 45 minutes you start to worry.  No need though it is what is called an "innocent murmur" which means it should go away on its own and our Dr. was right, no worries.

Anyways on to some music...The Mowgli's are playing this year at Lollapalooza and this song is just so upbeat and happy it feels right today so ENJOY!!!

Me and my little trooper

Roadtrip with the kids part 1

Hi everyone.  Miss me?  We went on a trip with the kids for 11 days to California, Oregon & Washington.  Between packed days and early nights blogging took a back seat.  I would say I'm looking forward to some normalcy but we got home on a Sunday and left on that Friday to head to Jersey for the weekend for a wedding.  Anyways, here is part 1 of the breakdown of the trip:

Thursday - Fly from Chicago to San Francisco...kids were pretty good on the flight and M actually slept for some of it.  Stopped by a Target to get some stuff we didn't want to bring/didn't fit in our bags and then continued on to Santa Cruz.  The impetus behind this trip was a friend's wedding in Santa Cruz, so we stayed here until Sunday.

EJ & El hanging at the hotel

Santa Cruz was great!  They have an old time boardwalk with rides and games which the kids loved.  We walked on the beach and out on the wharf where we saw some sea lions.  The highlight for me, though, was being woken up one of the nights at 3 in the morning by EJ screaming "Daddy! Daddy! Help me! I can't get out!"  I walk out to where she was sleeping (fold out couch) and somehow she is under the fitted sheet in the middle of the bed like she burrowed under it or something.  The fitted sheet is still tucked in all the way around so I have no idea how it happened.

This ride was a big hit with M.  EJ had some issues making the plane go up.

Lounging at the pool. (don't mind the glare coming from the left side of the photo)

The wedding was up in the mountains outside of Santa Cruz in a redwood forest.  We had to take a 45 minute train ride to this awesome clearing called "Cathedral Grove." Very picturesque and unique.  Adults only wedding so we had my SIL come up from San Diego to hang with the kids (adults night out yea!).

Figured you needed a pic of the wedding for proof.