I Didn't Expect This in Kindergarten!

Today, one of Alex's little 'girl'friend's mother informed me that her daughter told her yesterday that she "told Alex her phone number, showed him where she lived, and told him to call or visit anytime." I don't know whether to be worried or impressed that Alex is a babe magnet. LOL

I DID IT--My 5K Goal Achieved!!

About a year ago, while watching the kids while Daddy ran his 5K, I took notice of all the people who were running it. Sure, there were your 'typical' runners...lean legs, ridiculous running shorts, expensive running shoes, and I Pod gear to the nines...but, mostly there were people just like me. Men and women who did not look at all like avid runners, many of who were heavier than I was at the time...and they were all at the starting line and were going to give it their all. I decided right then and there that I was going to run it next year...and that was yesterday,
and I did!
It wasn't beautiful by any means and I have a blister to prove it, but I ran they entire way. I wasn't going to give in to the pressure of walking even though there were plenty of others around me who were dropping like flies. Yes, I am a little irritated that there were a few around me who walked a bit and still beat me (They were what I call walk/sprinters...sprint like mad for awhile only to have to drop down to a walking pace. Then when slow poke me has to pass them, they think to themselves "Crap, she passed me...I need to sprint again." And then, they're off again), but I'll get over it...I have never been fast and never will claim to be. I finished in about 39:40...I am unsure of my 'official' time, but I blasted my personal goal of 42:00 (Daddy thought I should aim for 36:00 and I actually wasn't too far off from it!). It certainly isn't spectacular to those of you who can run it in 21:00 (ahem...Daddy), but for me...after running around the neighborhood for practice, attending every Saturday workout possible to help train, and dropping 25 lbs to help lessen the load...it is amazing! Maybe I'll even consider doing it again sometime...we'll see...because, in reality, I still hate to run!!

Trying to Squeeze it All In

As the weeks of Summer were winding down, I suddenly had a surge of anxiety about all the time wasted and activities that Alex still had to do before he started Kindergarten. Our activities were endless, pictures as evidence are few and far between...Our broken camera 'situation' has finally ended... Daddy has finally bought me a new camera! At last! Nonetheless, in the last few weeks of Summer, we crammed it all in...A trip to Wrigley for a Cub/Cardinal game, a trip down memory lane in Lincoln and to Abe's Carmelcorn Shop, Route 66 Adventures to Sugar Grove Nature Center and Pontiac, IL, Alex's first visit to a fair (and first time riding the Himalaya...Let's just say that Mommy was real gung ho on that one and it was definitely a bad idea...Lots of tears shed during and after the ride by Alex made Mommy feel like the worst Mommy on Earth and I feared I had just wasted a ton of money on 'unlimited wrist bands' only to ruin it by putting him on the Himalaya for the first ride. I thought for a few minutes that we were done for the day, but he came around.), Alex's first rock climbing adventure, checking out the Redbirds in action at the Red/White scrimmage, and finally a trip to the movie theater to see Toy Story 3.

Climbing trees at Sugar Grove! Alex became a little scared when he got to the top, but he soon let the boy in him take over and went across the large branch to the left.

Wigwam fun at Sugar Grove!

Crusin' with 'Abe the Babe' on Route 66!

Alex at Pontiac's wonderful War Museum...It doesn't seem like much from their website, but it is a 'must see.'

The 'Gang' in front of the Pontiac Walldog mural!

Mommy, Julia, and Reggie!!

Alex was so excited to climb the rock wall...
Unfortunately, this is about as high as he was able to go!!

Cheering on the Redbirds!!

At Wrigley...Wait a second? Where are the kids? Oh wait...That is an adventure for another summer! After all, Mommy had to wait over 30 years for this one...the kids can wait a few more!! :)

Lessons Learned from Kindergarten...By Mommy, That Is

If a girl tells Alex that she will marry him, he will take her up on that offer.

Show and Tell is not really about providing an educational opportunity from home, it is an opportunity to show off who has the best Lego set.

I am officially the meanest Mommy because I made him take the guns off his snowspeeder and out of the hands of the storm trooper before taking it in for Show and Tell. "But so and so's stormtroopers had their guns in their hands!" So sue me for being concerned about you being front page news for being suspended as a Kindergartner for a Lego gun because of a 'zero tolerance' policy.

Alex's sign of true love: Whether or not she can tie his shoes or not..."She can even double knot it like you, Mommy."

"Mommy, how come you don't put a water bottle in my backpack for snack time? Everyone else's Mommy does!" Sorry...I didn't know that they were allowed. Back in my day, school officials were worried that a Kindergartner might have Vodka instead of water in that water bottle. Apparently, they have lightened up a bit...

Alex is NOT tired at the end of the day. He even seems to still be going full steam ahead...His attitude, however, does show that he might be going full steam ahead, but he is indeed tired and is in terrible need of a nap!

Impromtu New Salem Adventure

It is amazing how the little things amuse the kids! To think that people used to have to get their water from wells and crank it up in a bucket! I know what Julia would say..."I do it, Mommy!!"

Julia also doesn't think that shaping wood to make things would be that bad either! She would probably drive her Daddy nuts if we were pioneers!

Peeking out through the gates at the Mill!

The wells just never got old for Alex and Julia. Almost every homestead had one and they both had to practice getting water at every one!

Both Alex and Julia got a kick out of seeing the horse...Julia wasn't interested in getting too close though!

Say CHEESE!!

Taking a rest...It was a little hot that day!

Pioneer Julia...She looked so cute with the bonnet on. Mommy tried to convince Daddy to buy it at the bargain price of $9.99, but he said "NO!" What a scrooge!!

Julia in her bonnet and the precious rabbit skin she wanted. Both Alex and Julia wanted one, but I had to put my foot down. No rabbit furs for these kids...I cry when Duke eats them!

Alex and Julia enjoyed the hale bail...why? I don't know!

I told the kids to make me some stew! They were enjoying bringing me imaginary bowls of pioneer stew until Daddy stole my thunder and told me that it wasn't a pot for cooking, but for wool making! Read the signs Mommy!

Imagining what it would be like on the Oregon Trail...

Yes...Sometimes they do act like they love each other!

Chillin' with the Railsplitter

Both Alex and Julia were trying to give Abraham Lincoln a hug in this picture!!

All in all, it was a great trip! A family going out party for Alex starting up with Kindergarten! What an adventure...It was fun and the kids learned! A great combination for a great day!

And So It Begins...Soccer

Alex had his first soccer game a few weekends ago...The pictures aren't great. It isn't easy to tell what kind of picture you're taking when your LCD screen is broken (hint, hint Daddy). But, nonetheless, these pictures give you an idea the layout of Alex's game. He has ten players on his team and they run two games at once allowing for six players on the field (three per field). They run the game in quarters and the kids take turns sitting on the sideline. It is a little chaotic, but it works!
Alex's first soccer games was a success for him! He scored two goals and just narrowly missed getting a third. It just went wide to the left by only a few inches...bummer! We celebrated with a little Taco Bell afterward and Alex is now looking forward to his next game this weekend!

Garden Updates

Alex and Julia's garden has been a great success this year! As you can see that it flourished this year and we have had tons of tomatoes, cucumbers, and pumpkins. The pumpkins are still going strong and we should have several to display on the front porch this fall. Our only disappointment was really the corn...the Japanese Beetles really went after the silks this year, so pollination never occurred. The sweet corn was spotty and generally was just icky! I noticed that my tomato plant wasn't looking so hot and was missing quite a few leaves...only to discover that we have a Tomato Hormworm on our plant. We put him in a bug box this morning and Alex took him to school for show and tell. He was pretty excited and thought that he would be the 'winner for best show and tell' this week. It is hard to tell whether there really is such a thing! :) No worries...We'll put the Tomato Hornworm back on the plant tonight when Alex gets home from school. I figure that my tomato plant is pretty much done for the year, so he can eat away!!