Old MacDonald..

my piano man update, he has been playing just a little over a month and learning so much. This is a debut of Old MacDonald, just started practicing this one tonight, fun to watch him play with both hands now. I attempted to help him with his piano homework, notes, etc. and he told me I got them all wrong, oops!

Hike!

Xander's flag football team got their first W last night, Go Jaguars!

How bout them apples?

Some parents volunteered to help with caramel apples for Johnny Appleseed week, the second and fourth grade book buddies got together to enjoy it. It was a riot, these kids actually listen and are quite funny.


dude where's your caramel?

Whose kid is this (CINDY?!) Quite the comedian, every time he saw me he would pose with a cute face.

Mrs.Davis sportin a shabby apron serving Brady her future son in law perhaps?

Shutters and Gutters

before

after

TGIF

Bring the fam and eat at Lemmy's this Friday night!! Any pizza purchased between 5 and 10pm will help support the Gymnastics Team.

You get the best of both girls!

Rockstar Party

Happy Birthday Grayson and Wesley!! Attended a rockin party last night, may have to make a slideshow too many cute pics to not share, thank you Zekas for a rockin good time!

thanks to Liz and girls for the entertainment!

have you ever seen such a cute pregnant chickendancer?

School Fitness Challenge

Go Mustangs!! Xander ran in our 3rd annual school fitness cross country run today. Not sure what place the school finished, but Xander told me he finished 10th, he and we were so proud, he is definitely not my competitive kid. He did tell me first place got 10 million dollars, not sure that was completely accurate. I didn't get attend, but heard it was even more chaotic than years prior and Trav even got a couple of pics, good job babes!

CDO

My little dude is turning into such a big boy! Jude the Dude started Childrens Day Out this week and I started getting anxious about how I could best spend my free-time. Should I go for a run, clean, organize my house, life, grocery shop, read?? Instead I went to hob-lob, staples, the mall and finished w/ an impromptu fab lunch date with girlfriends.

Going Green

After reading up on green, I have discovered it is supposed to evoke a sense of peace, tranquility and relaxation. I'll let you know what happens...
gutters, shutters, trim and windows and we will be complete.

Witch Hazel

We, mostly JAKE, the friend, neighbor, businessman, plumber, housepainter is painting our house this week, and I am SOOO EXCITED...
Funny, that the color I chose, inspired by Shannon and Houlihan's is a greenish, gray, khaki named Witch Hazel. I immediately thought, this is what we use for moms bottoms after they have babies, Trav immediately thought it was our neighbors house color. Went with the color anyway, despite the name, and I am loving it!

BEFORE (After we took our shutters and gutters down)

Little sneak peek of the porch.

Bring on the Bible Study

Some friends and I have started this bible study this week that Lord knows I need.

American Girl

The American Girl Place in Chicago is amazing!! The pics don't do much but it is brand new on the magnificent mile. Several of the dolls are showcased with their stories, upstairs you will find the salon, sweet shop, doll hospital, t-shirt design, photo studio and more. I could have spent several hours but we had a few boys with us that actually were very good sports.


for Monroe and Elizabeth matching American Girl Chicago hats with a singing star outfit

for Mia, a photographer outfit and glasses, probably not a good idea for kids to wear.


thanks for the clothes and accessories Grandma, love the shopper in you!

Gone Fishin

who says Chicago has to be stressful? My parents live in the suburbs and it is quite peaceful for a block two anyway...

took teamwork to dig up the giganto worms from the backyard

good results


and they're off

Xander caught 6, and Monroe wasn't too far behing that, they were ecstatic. Even Jude was eating it up, mostly throwing all the bobbers in the pond, so Grampy could fish them out later.

Monroe stayed longer with her dad, to try and catch up her fishhooking numbers to her brother, I think they would have stayed till dark.

Hula Grandma

We visited the number one voted most stressful city to live in this weekend, according to forbes/on my yahoo homepage today. We made the long overdue 10hr drive with the kiddos to visit my parents and Granny in Chicagoland. Watching my mom hula alone was worth it. I see where Monroe and Aunt Angie get their effortless hula-ing abilities. My mom who is so uncoordinated and was never able to swim or do a somersault could break records. This hula hoop she is using is SOOO HEAVY and supposed to be some workout program. She doesn't make it look like a workout thats for sure. More chi-town pics to follow.

Come one, come all!

to Purple Power Play tonight!! Buy your kids and yourself some cotton candy to help support the Gymnastics Team.

Chocolate covered strawberries...

and faces.