More pictures of the kids at Millenium Park
Friday, August 29, 2008
Cousins
Our cousins came to visit us before they leave for Italy for 3 years!!! We were so excited to see them and have a fun day in the city together. They are so fun to be with and we are going to miss them while they are away! 
The Chicago Triathlon for kids
Tate did the Chicago triathlon for kids last Saturday. He was number 10307 in heat number 33, as you can see from his body markings. We were so proud of his great effort and for not stopping or giving up during the race.
4th of July in August
Marissa came down to breakfast in this very festive outfit one morning this week.
The high five
A couple weeks ago, I took the kids to a swimming pool that had a high dive. I have to tell you about my little Garett. He jumped right in line behind Tate to jump off, not really thinking through whether or not he really could go through with it. He walked to the end of the board, looked down, looked over at me with fear in his eyes, and then turned around and walked back down the ladder. We had a little pep talk, he tried again. He came back. He tried again, looked down, came back. This time in tears. I told him he didn't have to do it. It was fine. We could come back again next year and try. Three minutes later, he was back in line. Determined. He walks to the end, looks down, then turns around to climb down the ladder. He stands in line again. At this point, I am seeing visions of tears of regret at bedtime. So I give him a big speech about overcoming your fears, obstacles often seem bigger than they really are, you don't want to have any regrets, etc. Truly motivational stuff that Mom's are made of. This time, he goes up, seriously considers jumping, sits down on the end of the diving board, tries to scoot his butt off, gets up and climbs back down the ladder. He sits next to me for a minute and we continue my motivational soliloquy. I told him just to go run and jump off. Not to look down. He jumps in line. When it is his turn, he runs down the board...and then looks down. Dead halt. He starts to climb back down the ladder. Just as he is climbing down the ladder, a kids says something to him. He gets this huge grin on his face, turns around, runs, halts, looks down, knees wobbling like there is no tomorrow, and JUMPS!!! The entire pool erupts. Cheers, dancing, high fives. He gets out of the pool and, of course, the first thing he wants to do is go do it again. I say, "Stop! What in the world did that kid say to you that made you turn around and jump?" He says, "The boy said he'd give me 5 bucks."
Fotty girl
We were driving home from gymnastics this week and I asked Marissa if she had a good time. This was her answer, "Well, I was a 'fotty' girl (translation: farty girl). I was going fot, fot, fot, fot, fot. And then...I had the grand finale. Fot, fot, fot, fot, fot, fot."
The glory days of gymnastics may come to a halt if her teacher doesn't ask fotty girl to come back!
The glory days of gymnastics may come to a halt if her teacher doesn't ask fotty girl to come back!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Little Missy
Little Marissa on her sort of first day of school. She is going to do some preschool things at home with Mom (she has started to read some 3 letter words- see, mat, cat, sat, sam) but she will also go to the preschool down the street on Tuesday and Thursday mornings starting the first of September. She is getting along with her numbers and to see her count is the neatest thing in the whole world! She takes out the number of fingers she is adding together and taps her fingers on her forehead or cheek to get to a sum. Future rocket scientist on our hands here folks!!!
This last picture is Marissa being "found" by Mom playing "hide-n-go-n-seek" (that is what she calls it).
Garett's first day of 1st grade!!!
Garett is ready for 1st grade!!! He is a good student and as long as he gets his snack midmorning- we are set for a successful day of school! He brightens any room he is in with his energy and enthusiasm. He'll be home with me this year plugging away at school since you have to be in 3rd grade to do the program Tate is doing. Garett will, however, get to go to HEART which is an enrichment program for homeschooled kids where he will get to take classes in art, music, science, unit study, gym and Spanish. Good luck Garett!!!
Tate's first day of school
This is a picture of Tate headed off to his first day of semi private semi homeschool. His school is called Classical Consortium and he attends every Monday from 8am to 3:45pm. He takes classes in Latin, Literature and Composition, Spanish, Zoology, Biblical Studies, and Omnibus (which is history). I teach him grammar, spelling and math in addition to those subjects. He has a syllabus to follow and he has to turn all of his work into the school and get graded by them. This lets Mom (me) off the hook for grading. He is excited about it but it is a little overwhelming the amount of work we are facing. I have no clue about Latin. Calling all Latin tutors!!!
School Store 2008
These are pictures of the kids lined up to shop at our School Store. Items were carefully handselected from the finest discount suppliers available and the kids loaded up on school supplies for the coming year. Garett has loved his dry erase world map where he can locate ALL 7 continents and almost all the oceans. Tate was particularly pleased with his York Peppermint Patties (you know, brain food). Marissa was tickled pink with her new pink scissors and Barbie numbers book.
Dinner
Kevin made me a fabulous dinner the other night. This was his eggplant appetizer with goat cheese, tomatoes and fresh parsley. He made a garlic tomato bread appetizer and a cream cheese chipotle saucy thing that was so yummy, too. I've been asking for the recipes but he is holding out.
Tate's bag
Tate needed a bag to carry his peppermints. So I came up the stairs and he was holding this. He "sewed" it all by himself and showed me his final product. I think Martha Stewart has nothing on him.