Mother's Day Hike and Picnic

Later on today (after post-party recuperation) Super Monkey came out with me and my family to celebrate Mother's Day. My Mom requested a hike and picnic for the celebration modus operandi, so today we ventured out to Cooper Mill and the Black River Trails. Let's begin.

Here Super Monkey is at the start of the trail with the old mill in the background (sorry it's a bit blurry):



Along the hike we saw so many pretty sights, like wildflowers, ducklings, and beautiful tall trees!







After a bit of walking, SM waited for us while we took a rest.



For our amusement he decided to play around acting like a regular earth monkey, as opposed to the super alien monkey he really is. Here he is hanging from a tree:



When we finally reached the clearing we spread out our food and had a great big picnic! Super Monkey and I stuffed ourselves!



Another fun day!

Feeling Sick

Sorry there have been no posts this week. I've been feeling a bit sick, and also a bit down. It's been a tough couple of weeks. Tonight I tried to relax with a nice hot shower and a cup of noodle soup. Super Monkey was happy to join me for some soup:



I promised him soon we'd do some more exciting things. He's been very patient with me!

Tuesday the 29th

Today was a busy day for Super Monkey!! As his bio told me (as did SM himself) one of his favorite activities is kickboxing. Lucky for him I just so happen to take a kickboxing class every Tuesday at 6am! Here we are arriving at the gym, still a littly sleepy, since we had to get up at 5am to get there on time.



SM tried to use one of our gloves but sadly it was too big for him, so a fellow kickboxer gave him a ride on it instead:



My instructor was so excited to have a new student!



SM observed us for awhile first, to see what level we were at:



But then joined in when my instructor offered some personal attention (she's holding him here in the back):



After a good sweaty workout, I showered (SM didn't sweat since he's a superhero), and then we headed upstairs to work! I had to read some emails so Super Monkey sat around on my cube waiting for people to walk by so he could meet them!



I told him if he needed something super-hero-y to do to entertain himself he could take my spot on our Business Continuity Planning Team as Deputy Fire Warden. He liked wearing my hat, and hoped he could help out if there was trouble!



After I had caught up, I took SM over to the board room so he could get some experience in kicking ass and taking names. I told him he couldn't work for the man until he had mastered that skill.







Then I taught him the art of chatting at the water cooler, another important corporate company skill:



After that, he wanted a little chill time, away from cubicle land, and settled himself in our ficus to see the outside views:



Before we left work for the day I introduced Super Monkey to one of our local work mascots, Coconut George, a regular earth monkey made of coconut:



After that, we went out for Mexican food, where Super Monkey got to meet my GREAT friend Anne, as well as having some tasty chips and salsa.



Then we got some balloon animal friends from the restaurant's balloon guy so that Super Monkey would have someone to hang with while we had girl talk.



Now we are both exhausted! I will be watching yet another playoff hockey game, but I think Super Monkey will rest or go for a flight around the world. He hasn't been much luck yet with my Hockey team, but I think it's cause he's not really a hockey fan. More of a bowling guy as I understand it!

Average day - smoothie and park

Today was an average day for me, not too exciting for Super Monkey. In the morning I set about making a fruit smoothie for me and SM for breakfast. He got impatient while I was chopping the fruit, and stole my strawberries (see that guilty look in his eyes?)



But then when I explained he would get some of the smoothie when it was finished he gave them back, but told me to hurry it up he was hungry! When I finally gave him the smoothie he enjoyed it very much, and the cool sake glass I served it to him in...



After that we took a ride to one of my favorite local parks, so that I could get some exercise! Here we are driving there (SM claimed this as his spot while driving so that he can keep his eye on the road AND me!):



SuperMonkey doesn't care for walking, he'd rather fly around, so while I walked he flew for awhile and then was intrigued by the dog park at my park, and silently observed from the car:



Here is a pic of the park we went to. It's called Wood Dale County Park. Click on the pic for the full view - it's really beautiful at this time of year.



Later I set up this blog for Super Monkey, but he wanted to give his full seal of approval before it went live. Here he is giving it an inspection...



Later in the day we watched CSI, took a nap, made dinner, and watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of fire on TV. Then we went to bed!

Day 1 - Super Monkey Arrives from England!

So, a beautiful package was waiting for me when I got home from work last night...

When I first cracked open the lid and peeked in, I saw this:



But as soon as I opened the lid a little further, a SUPER MONKEY alien sprang out, ready for action (or defense, as it turned out)...



He immediately flew up to my chandelier and wouldn't come back down (he thought I had stolen the box in transit and tried to kidnap him!)



It wasn't until I showed him this postcard of his home addressed to me that he finally realized I was his hostess!



Partly to break up the embarrassing moment now passed, and partly because he'd been crammed in a box all week, SM decided to take a quick flight around the world (one of his favorite activities). He likes to be like Superman and get exercise at the same time!



While he was gone I took pics of some of the stuff he brought with him:





When he got back he was hungry so we had a snack, some of the lovely candy he brought as a hostess gift. It was delicious, and unlike anything I'd had before!



On my way home from work last night I stopped at Bed, Bath, and Beyond to buy something I had long desired - a recipe stand! Tired of getting food on my cookbooks, and having to wash my hands every time I wanted to open to the page, you know? So Super Monkey offered to use his super fast skills and put it together for me. Here's an action shot of the putting together (I'm surprised it's not blurry he was so fast!) and a shot of him modeling the finished product:





So then I immediately set about making dinner. SM hung around while I cooked. Quite literally.



Later, I wanted to paint my nails. I asked SM if he would hold the bottle for me while I did. He rolled his eyes at such a girly and mundane task, but obliged me all the same (cause secretly he can be a softy at times, though he likes to maintain his other-wordly superness exterior).



Finally, I set down to my evening activity of watching my favorite ice hockey team (the NY Rangers) in their first second round playoff game against the Pittsburg Penguins. Super Monkey watched for a little while, but then nodded off on my shoulder.



When I finally tucked him in for the night he made me promise to post this pic and tell Mr and Ms Loops that he said "Goodnight!"