Our visit to the City Museum's World Aquarium

G interacting with the Doctor Fish

E and M standing in the tank surrounded by sting rays

M, G and E standing in front of the Old Court House with the Arch in the background

I joined a local moms group upon my arrival to St. Charles called Mom N Me. During our cycle break last week they scheduled a tour for us at the City Museum in their World Aquarium. It was a private tour for our group which rocked! We had a great time and enjoyed seeing all kinds of animals. We saw sting rays, turtles, fish of all kinds, boa constrictors, otters, alligators, and played in their tunnel systems. The kids had a great time and so did I. 

After our tour some of our group grabbed lunch and we ate at Kiener Plaza. The plaza is an outdoor area complete with fountains, amphitheater and a great view of the Arch! All in all it was a great day!

Gotta get back in the game...

Our family with Uncle Tim and Aunt Jan on their boat Full Circle

Our car on the Grafton, IL ferry boat.

So, I've been absent from my own blog lately. Where, you ask? Well, it's call three kids and cycle break. As you've read, the kids are in a great year-around school system. I like the balance it is bringing to my life, my children's and their teachers. I am seeing how concentrated their class time is while they are "in-session" and what a unique opportunity I have with the kids during their time off. It is kind of like a mini-home schooling opportunity for me ;-) (Something I admire some of my classy mom friends for conquering.)

What have we been up to you ask? Some things are simple pleasures such as park play dates, picnics, riding bikes in the cul-de-sac, going to the library, etc. Others have been a little more involved such as The City Museum, Chuck E. Cheese (yes, I caved), historical St. Charles, and even an adventure on a ferry boat to Grafton, IL.

I am proud of two accomplishments I started during this three week hiatus!

1) I am teaching G to read and he LOVES it! It was suggested to us ages ago to utilize the Bob Books. I sucked it up and bought the series. I was shocked at how easy and fun the books can be for both of us. M has been helping him too (a little teacher in the making). We just started, but I am proud of him. (He read two books to his Aunt during a video chat!) My motivation came from his status for next year. He will be one of the oldest children in his kindergarten class because of the cut-off date. Any advantage I can give him will be worth it. 

2) I embarked on a teaching adventure myself. I am using Eric's aunt and uncle's boat trip to teach the kiddos (and myself) a little geography, history, currents events, etc. They have embarked on a journey called The Great Loop. By boat they will circle the eastern portion of the US starting from their home in WI, cruising through America's heartland, making their way around FL up the eastern seaboard and then home again via the Great Lakes. It will take them approximately two years. With this is mind I hope to create a monthly lesson referencing the places they have traveled. We were fortunate enough to catch them just three weeks into their journey as they passed by St. Louis. Hence the ferry boat ride to Grafton, IL last week! Check out that blog site at www.greatlooplessons.blogspot.com

All in all, I think we've had a great break. It has been frustrating at times to balance every one's likes/dislikes and overall moods. Trying to manage activities around a nap schedule is cramping my style, but I will miss those days when they are gone! 

We still have a few things to do before school starts on Monday such as a trip to the pumpkin patch, a sleep over and making fudge. Plus these kids are chomping at the bit for Halloween to arrive. A tradition that we enjoy each year!

Hugs,

SLSK

Yeah for new activities!

With each season there are new things to discover. In our house, we've grown up a little and have discovered new interests. M has started taking gymnastic again (much to her liking) plus we added Girl Scouts to our list. G had matured to the point where organized sports are becoming enjoyable both for him and us. So, he's participating in soccer. He has a lot to learn, but you've got to start somewhere, right?

The pictures are from M's first GS campfire event hosted at a local state park. Our motivation for starting GS at such a late age revolves around moving to a new city and trying to connect with new friends. Plus I wanted to expose M to the idea of being involved with her community and enjoying it. Yes, I could try to do community service activities on my own, but honestly it is easier for me to do it through an organization and not reinvent the wheel myself.

I was once a GS back in the 80's. It is funny how some of the songs are still the same, but how the organization has modernized too. Being involved in GS in a large metro area opens the doors to MANY activities as well as community service projects. Plus her troop leaders are very motivated and creative. They have some fun events organized which will help us become familiar with our surroundings. 

G's pictures are from his first soccer game. He was pumped to get out there and be the goalie. His soccer is organized through the YMCA so there is an emphasis on sportsmanship, taking turns and having fun. My neighbor and fellow soccer parent stated her three rules to soccer for her son: 1. Don't use your hands. 2. Have fun. 3. No crying. (I am particularly fond of #3.) I loved that the kids shook hands before the game and did the traditional "high 5's" at the end. All saying, "good game". 

At G's age there are two things that are very important to the players...having your OWN water bottle and waving to your parents as you play. It was very funny to watch the ball whiz by G while he was trying to give Big E a thumbs up and a wink. Something I know we will miss when he grows older and more focused. 

So, we're off to a great start. Busy, but fun!

PS - Little E is along for the ride;-)

Life at our house with NFL football

Courtesy of espn.com

So, through the recent weeks Big E has casually talked about the 2008 NFL season. Over the years he has participated in fantasy football leagues and spent many Sundays/Mondays in front of the t.v. 

When we had just one child it didn't bother me much. In fact we usually hung out, I cooked and M played quietly. Then came child #2. It still was doable, but not as carefree. We used our weekends to get the house organized for the week ahead. Big E always volunteered to do laundry while watching game after game after game. When we had newborns he gladly snuggle with them while they slept so I could have my hands free to get things done. 

Alas, there were many days when I wanted to stay put watching movies and let Big E do all the cleaning. But I must admit I am a control freak to a certain extent. It would be hard for me to "let go" and let Big E pick up and clean. So, our system had worked for us. However, not without some arguments of the years. 

So, today in our tradition, Big E set up his folding station (in front of the flat screen) and began to conquer Mt. Laundry. The littlest child was napping, the middle child was playing super heroes and the eldest was painting outside when it happened...

Eeeerrrrrrrrhhhhhhaaaa....CLUNK....SILENCE...STINKY SMELL...

THE WASHER BROKE! (Shit!)

Yes, after almost nine faithful years of service our washer broke mid-cycle during our first load today. It stinks (signs of a broken belt I think) and I am bummed. I don't want to spend my afternoon at a laundry mat. Although I could get several chapters of my book read. So, I think I will ring out the clothes by hand and call a repair man first thing in the morning. I'll get a quote and see if repairing it is better than new. However, our machine is old and if we shop around we MIGHT be able to get a new one cheaper than a repair. We'll see...;-)

SLSK

8.8.08...Olympic Theme Birthday for G

There aren't too many times when your birthday falls on the opening day of the Summer Olympic Games! So, when I figured this out I ran with the idea of celebrating G's birthday just that way. It was my homemade version of the "Backyard Olympic Games" and it was fun! 

I challenged myself to not spend too much on the decorations. I made cupcakes and decorated them in the colors of the Olympic rings. I was able to purchase leftover 4th of July supplies at a HUGE discount keeping in mind we're TEAM USA (plates, cups, napkins, and tablecloths). I found "oriental take-out" boxes at a party supply store and used them for goodie bags giving props to the host country of China. Plus they happened to have a bag of gold medals to add to the theme! We displayed a world map marking the host country's location as well as our city. I was quite pleased at how well the theme came together. The food was simple with hot dogs, cheese pizza, chips, a veggie tray and of course CUPCAKES!

G and his friends had a great time. G is counting down the days until his 6th birthday, but little does he know next year it will be a quiet family party. ;-)

Here are some pics from that wonderful day!

SLSK

Wow...

So, recently my son has started preschool. He is meeting new friends and remembering old. He is getting better at remembering names and maturing with each passing day. There is one young lad in his class that really captured his fancy on the first day. One that he talks about quite frequently. One that he wanted to emulate...really badly!

Well, this child has, according to G, "has the coolest hair cut." On and on G went about his friend's cool do. So, do you wanna know what it is...A MOHAWK. 

G kept talking about it and finally asked if he could get a mohawk too. I told him I had to ask Daddy. I didn't care that much. Heck, you're only five once, right? Big E agreed and we told G he'd have to wait until after school pics. 

But don't worry. The mohawk lasted a whole three days. G is a texture kid and didn't like it. (That is part of the reason why we let him do it in the first place...we knew it wouldn't last!) 

Now he's ready to go to boot camp with an army style buzz cut. I really miss his longer locks.

It grows back, right?

I've decided that it WILL be a good day...

When I rolled over this morning, I saw the 6:15 am flashing on the clock.  I decided to sneak out of bed, unload the dishwasher, make coffee and have 45 minutes of utter silence before our day started. Now, mind you, 10 years ago, 6:15 am could have been a bed time for me instead of a "wake-up" time, but I am not going to complain about that...yet!

So, much to my demise "little E" decided she would join me for my EARLY morning ALONE-QUIET time. If you know little E, quiet does NOT exist in her vocab. I was bugged, but scooped her up trying to think of how to distract her so I could continue on with my plan of cleanliness and caffeine. 

However, when her little hands cupped my cheeks and with her blue eyes to my blue eyes she said, "I love you Momma," I knew I was sunk. How could you say no to a morning of snuggling on the couch with cartoons??? It was hard I tell ya ;-)

So after we concocted her morning milk fix and my coffee IV. We hit the couch, played an episode of Blue's Clues and I sank into the largest sectional you've every seen! During our snuggle session I decided that I would make a decent effort to listen to my children before flying off the handle (I'm really good at that); realize that I won't get IT all done today (whatever that means) and do my best to make our morning go smoothly. 

Guess what...IT WORKED! I seriously had those "count to 10 moments", but I decided to take a deep breath before reacting. I even got the dishwasher unloaded, a lunch packed, kids dressed, breakfast x's 5 made and started laundry. My grand plan to get a shower didn't fit into that plan until later in the day, but M got off to school with a smile on her face and high 5's from her bro and sis. I was two cups of coffee into my morning and felt a sense of satisfaction rather than anger. I was able to decide what I should do next instead of what I can't get done.

However, this was not a foreign concept to my being...

In school, I was a competitive athlete and held a few leadership position. The concept of positive thinking needed to be apart of me if I wanted to be successful. My parents were great examples of it. However, somewhere along the way, I shrugged it off in early adulthood thinking I didn't need it anymore. My brain was being subjected to too images of "oh poor me". I became victim of negativity. So, I ask you, does the glass really have to be "half full"? 

Why YES IT DOES! I have been struggling with the "glass half empty" for months now and when I made a conscience effort to have a GOOD DAY...it WORKED!!! It wasn't perfect, but it was a much better morning because I decided it would be...not because it just happened.

A little elbow grease always makes things better, right? Well, I will do the same tomorrow and see how it turns out. I know I am doing myself a favor and setting a much better example for those gorgeous blue eyes that watch my every move...