Monster Jam is coming to Chicago!

Monster Jam is coming to the Allstate Arena in Rosemont THIS weekend!  I have always wanted to go to a Monster Jam event!  It seems like every time they come to Atlanta, I have at least 5 friends who are posting from there about what a good time that they are having (and most of these friends are the ones without kids)!  I think this will be such a fun event for not only Ian (who loooves his Monster Trucks), but for Dave & I as well!

(read this in your Monster Jam announcer voice for the best effect)

Monster Jam is the most exciting form of family motorsports entertainment on the planet.  The stars of the show are the biggest performers on four wheels: the Monster Jam trucks! The12 ft. tall, 10,000-pound machines will bring you to your feet, racing and ripping up a custom-designed track full of obstacles to soar over - OR smash through. The 2014 touring season brings more Monster Jam excitement providing entertainment tailored perfectly for your family's budget, and these colorful, larger-than-life beasts are sure to capture the hearts of both young and old.

The Chicago shows are coming to the Allstate Arena in Rosemont February 7-9th!  You can purchase tickets online now at www.ticketmaster.com!  Ticket prices vary according to show so visit Ticket Master for details!


Showtimes:  Friday, February 7 - 7:30 PM.  Saturday, February 8 - 2 PM & 7:30 PM.  Sunday, February 9 - 2 PM & 7:30 PM.

Kids tickets are just $12!

Monster Jam Pit Party-  Pit Party prior to each 2 PM performance from 11 AM - 1 PM.  Walk the track, meet the drivers & grab autographs.  Pit passes available for $10 online and through the Allstate Arena box office! 

Here's your chance to save!  Adults can save 30% off on all performances using code MOM - click here!  Discount does not apply to Front Row VIP or Gold Circle seats.  No double discounts.  Service charges, handling, and facility fees may apply!  All tickets $2 more on day of show!

*Disclaimer:  I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided  me and my family with complimentary tickets to Feld shows as well as opportunities to attend private Feld pre-show events.  All opinions expressed in this blog are mine and mine alone.

halloween '11

i'm back!  we're all moved.  (almost) all settled in.  10 days later i am finally not having to "borrow" internet from unsuspecting neighbors anymore (thank you).  we spent our 1st night in our home as a family the sunday before halloween and we were ready to celebrate the big day with treats & costume.  we had only 6 trick or treaters, so we left to take ian around our little circle & then took him to the park district's halloween celebration.  i figured that this would probably be the last year i would get to choose ian's halloween costume, and while i thought that this one would be absolutely hysterical, we decided to go with something ian loves.  i love dressing up for halloween because it's a perfect time to bust out your inner skank i like creating a unique costume that might make you laugh and normally costs less than $15.  that's how i roll.  this year was no different.  we bought the little guy his costume, and then made dave & myself part of his crew.  photos abound!

introducing dj lance rock (who hates being photographed)

 dj lance does pause for a photo with mom & dad.

 

dad & mom's homemade muno & foofa costumes.  mom couldn't find her pink pants though!  boo.  inspiration from pinterest

yo family family!

do you still dress up? 

more on halloween later, but first, this...

"I enjoy Halloween so much that I wrote this last year: "Being a parent of young kids sucks. Don't let anyone tell you differently. About six months ago, I wanted to start a Twitter account of quotes my wife screamed in the heat of those my-kids-are-driving-me-crazy-moments such as these: 'If you don't stop crying, I am going to stick you in the microwave!!!!' and 'Fine, climb up the stairs again; I hope you fall down, I really do!' She wouldn't let me because she thought child services would arrest us. The truth is, every parent snaps from time to time. We can't help it. Our kids' job is to suck all forms of life from us, frighten us, embarrass us in public and prevent us from sleeping until they turn four. We pretend it's not so bad when, really, it's mostly horrible and even somewhat indefensible. But — and this is a big but — they parcel out just enough, 'Wow, I'm so glad I had kids' moments to make it all worth it. And that's what Halloween is: an entire 'Wow, I'm so glad I had kids' day. At least until they eat too much chocolate and wake us up at 5 a.m. the next morning because they're Exorcist vomiting."

- bill simmons*

*quote and article linked from here.  

1st Birthday Party!

i originally wasn't sure if i was going to do a theme for ian's birthday party- but i found the perfect invitations and it all fell into place!  i think things turned out splendidly!  lucky little guy had not 1, but 2 1st birthday parties!  first we celebrate with our friends and family in georgia, and then we celelbrated with our friends and family here in illniois!

enjoy!

invites from paperheart press- etsy!

baseball themed party fare- top (l-r) popcorn, chocolate and vanilla "ice cream" funfetti cupcakes, peanuts, animal crackers & goldfish.  bottom (l-r) ice cream cupcake, ian's baseball smash cake (with homemade banana frosting), cracker jack. we also grilled hotdogs!

atlanta party:

a few of our party friends, including my buddy ryan, opening gifts with mommy & daddy, and then checking them out for myself.  ian's first birthday cake- he definitely wasn't sure about it.  birthday crown from betterthannormal - etsy!

ian was supposed to have a raglan baseball tee with his name and "1" on the back, but it's so difficult to find infant-sized baseball shirts.  it just wasn't meant to be.  

chicago party:

photos (click collage to enlarge) top (l to r) daddy & ian w\ cousins jason & christian, checking out presents, face full of frosting, reading a book upside down.  middle (l to r) grammy trying to entertain me as i get restless, more frosting face, riding in my brand new wagon w\ jason, my party baby friends!  bottom (l to r) checking out gifts w\ jason, opening gifts with mommy & daddy.

embroidered birthday bib: ginghambunny - etsy!

happy birthday!

halloween

our halloween didn't exactly turn out as we expected- ian got hurt, and we weren't able to take him trick or treating. 

but, he was the cutest pickle ever.  ever.