just like those darn bradys

Back in the day, when Jonah was a tiny, darling thing, we took him to the lowe's to help us pick out a lamp. Check it out.
Three years later, while playing ball in the house, Jonah broke that dear lamp. The poor monkey lost his paw. My sweet son told me, "sorry, mom. You think Daddy will be mad?" Nothing a little glue can't fix.

six degrees of lee dewyze

You'd a thought everyone in town won the lottery. Better yet, you'd a thought it was 2003 and the Cubs were in the playoffs again. Or even better, we all got into our hot tub time machines to 1985 to watch the greatest team of all time make it to Super Bowl xx. The town of Mt. Prospect's gone mad--the culprit--our very own Idol. People are smiling and so giddy you'd think they were all drinking the Kool Aid or something. And it's all because of Lee. The Lee DeWyze bug has bit the northwest suburbs and we can't get enough.

About a month ago, Jonah, Kev and I went on a walk in downtown Mt. Prospect and ended up taking some great shots of Leesigns. I've turned this into one of my first real photo essay in years.

We've never watched American Idol in the Schmaranzer-O'Neill house. Okay, we did, but only the first episode when the contestants embarrass themselves. Our only connection to past seasons was when a patron of Grammy at the AH memorial library was featured in a segment as one of the worst singers of all time. But this Lee kid's changed the Schmaranzer-O'Neill tv habits. We've been watching faithfully every week and Jonah goes to bed after Lee's performance.

Jonah's been dancing watching the show and even said "Lee" the other day and said E-E when he saw the Lee shirt I designed. a proud moment. Just yesterday, we saw a sign VOTE 4 Lee outside Bogies and Jonah said "four". Another proud moment.

Well, with Lee being in the final three now, it's LeeMania in these parts. It's all everyone's talking about and, for those of you who live far away, I thought we could play a little six degrees of Lee DeWyze because Jonah's got some mad connections to the young man who's put our nice li'l town on the map! And, well, I prefer to make lists anyhow.

Jonah was born at Northwest Community Hospital; Lee's mom works at Northwest Community Hospital.

Jonah's grammy's friend Roseanne's son grew up with Lee from kindergarten thru 8th grade.

Lee sold Jonah's grandpa's next door neighbor Lenny paint at the Mt. Prospect Paint Store. According to Lenny, "He's a real nice f#$*ing kid. I would only buy paint from him. He's a good kid."

Jonah's mommy's former student Amy Cull dated Lee for years.

Jonah's Auntie Kim's friend Michelle met Lee at the Mt. Prospect Paint Store.

Jonah's gone with his mommy to Steve's Automotive. Lee's significant friend's dad is a mechanic at Steve's automotive.

Jonah's mom swears she's seen Lee's dad at the Home Depot.

Jonah's mommy even works in the building where Lee went to school in like '03/'04--back in the day. It's safe to say she's been in the field house or caf at the same time as him.

But don't expect Jonah's super grandma to leave bingo early tonight to watch the show. That's not happening.

Vote for Lee.

oh, and let's go hawks.

what happened to mommy's mall?

Daddy showing Jonah his latest project...the renovation of Randhurst Mall, soon to be Randhurst Living Center or something like that. I still miss frosted brownies with Pammy at the coffee shop next to 9 West. It's cool, we prefer Golf Mill anyhow.

car parties

This kid sure has his own sound opinions. To sound as polite as possible, his tastes are developing and he's becoming quite particular. I guess every child rebels against his parents' music. Jonah's daddy claims his own music tastes peaked in '92 and his mommy's music helps her pretend she was a teenager in the 60s. But Jonah, pop music from the Mix 101.9? Really. Really?

Pandora a la iphone's really helped him branch out a bit. I have to say we are impressed at times, like when he rocks out to the Ramones but when he bebops to Ciara, Pitbull and Rihanna, it's downright frightening. The boy is into pop and if we don't do something about it now, it may be too late.

Breakfast with the Beatles used to be a staple every Sunday morning from 8:30 to 10 on XRT. These day, instead, he brings me his Chipmunks cd or wants to listen to Lady Gaga or the Black Eyed Peas. Where did this come from? Whatever shall we do?

Lately, instead of a bath during level 4 tantrums, we've turned to car parties. It's like a playpen for toddlers. We'll deal with the pop music for now.

sundays with super g-ma

Super G-ma is turning 87 soon! We get to spend every Sunday with her and, sometimes, when jonah's being a good boy, she lets him do some scratchoff tix. Please don't tell him these are loser tickets. shhhh. We tricked him!

eastertime

hunting for eggs. i like eggs.
new buddies.
pimp shirt.
The bear trying out his new trains.

bigfoot

Another trip to Jonah's favorite mall Golf Mill. Jonah need a new pair of shoes for his monster 9 double wide feet. Bad news--- Jonah's favorite shoe store Stride Rite is closing.