VBS
OK, I will admit it....I have always been drawn to the signs in front of any church offering VBS. When they were little it meant "free" daycare and a few hours of sanity, as they have grown I have come to see it as a "free" taste of camp that I can't afford to send all of them to. The crafts are great, the staff (volunteers) genuinely like being part of VBS, and the message is always a wholesome one. The kids were THRILLED to find out that a closeby church was having Vacation Bible School this week. In past years they had always gone to one by our old house, but there was no way I was willing to make the drive this year, especially with the price of gas!
VBS kicked off with a free family dinner and carnival Sunday evening. I couldn't believe how nice the set up was and that it was all free. Cade and Sophie were so excited because there was free cotton candy and sno cones, they thought it was so cool they could get as many as they wanted free! We had hotdogs, chips, cookies and drinks for dinner. The kids got to play 6 different games. The boys favorite was the dunking booth and both Cade and Jacob managed to hit the target and dunk the youth director. Cade was so excited about the hip pack with binoculars that he won. Everyone standing in line was shocked at their aim, especially since most of the older kids couldn't hit the target. Grant missed on his 3 tosses (he must be saving his arm for the county baseball tournament).
The rest of the week the kids have been able to go at 5 PM and have dinner for $1 each. Monday was subs, Tuesday was bbq, Wednesday was taco salad and tonight was hotdogs. There is always a couple of side items, chips, fruit (grapes and apples) and something to drink. I certainly couldn't feed them at home that well for $1 each! Following dinner they go off into their groups and do crafts, watch videos, sing songs and listen to bible stories. The theme this year is the Serengetti so most things are animal/safari related. VBS runs from 6 to 9 PM.
They are having an absolute ball and really look forward to going each night. Cade and Jacob want me to find them another VBS to go to, I think they might be disappointed if it isn't a GREAT as this one has been!
Hannah has stayed every night and helped in Sophie's class. Sophie loves that her big sister is there and Hannah likes helping and meeting new people. She is very outgoing and mature beyond her 13 years. The teachers seem to appreciate her staying and come up and hug her as soon as we get to the church each night.
A friend from Grant's baseball team has invited us to their VBS which is the second week in August and is held in the morning. We might check it out, especially if it happens to be the week my mom goes back to work(she is taking 4 weeks off to be with my dad...this being week 1), because their church is only about 5 minutes from my parents house. It would be great to drop them there and then go and visit with my dad for a bit!
Anyone remember the Seinfeld episode "the summer of George"? Maybe this will be our "summer of VBS"!
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Professional Portraits
Kas commented that she feels ashamed, her daughter Shelby, who is the same age as Sophie only has had professional pictures taken one time and I go and get Will's taken every month......so before you start handing out the good mom award, I need to tell you all something...It is only out of pure spite that he gets his pictures taken so often!
I only go and get his picture done each month because JC Penney ticked me off when we had the family picture done last September. They wanted to charge us $9.99 PER PERSON sitting fee despite the fact that I had a coupon for a free sitting (read the fine print!) which would have cost me an extra $89.91 (fees for 9 people, one of us was free with the coupon) ...so I HAD no choice but to pay $39.95 for their darn portrait club (saving me $50)....I looked at the manager as I paid for my puchase and smiled and said "you all will regret me getting this protrait club card" and I vowed to myself as I left that we would be back every month to take advantage of the "free" aspects of the card: free smiles by wire (they email me all the pics for each sitting) and a free sheet each time I go in!
So I buy the $7.99 package (and use a $3 coupon that is printed on the flap of each portrait package envelope I get back) so I pay $5.34 (4.99 + tax) each time I go in and am guarenteed a good pic for his scrapbook and also get the pics emailed to me for the web/blog.
I took each of the kids on their birthdays for pictures and plan to do a family one again this fall...we were there 3 times in less than 2 weeks in April for the boys birthdays... The stupid card doesn't expire until 9/09...so they have to deal with me until Brett is 19...they will be doing his "senior" portraits....heck probably even Hannah's too (I have never figured out what year she would graduate!). Hmmm...she turns 18 in Feburary 2010 so I would get her "senior" pictures done in the fall of 2009....guess I will do them in September!
JC Penney is the one who is losing out on this deal!
Kas commented that she feels ashamed, her daughter Shelby, who is the same age as Sophie only has had professional pictures taken one time and I go and get Will's taken every month......so before you start handing out the good mom award, I need to tell you all something...It is only out of pure spite that he gets his pictures taken so often!
I only go and get his picture done each month because JC Penney ticked me off when we had the family picture done last September. They wanted to charge us $9.99 PER PERSON sitting fee despite the fact that I had a coupon for a free sitting (read the fine print!) which would have cost me an extra $89.91 (fees for 9 people, one of us was free with the coupon) ...so I HAD no choice but to pay $39.95 for their darn portrait club (saving me $50)....I looked at the manager as I paid for my puchase and smiled and said "you all will regret me getting this protrait club card" and I vowed to myself as I left that we would be back every month to take advantage of the "free" aspects of the card: free smiles by wire (they email me all the pics for each sitting) and a free sheet each time I go in!
So I buy the $7.99 package (and use a $3 coupon that is printed on the flap of each portrait package envelope I get back) so I pay $5.34 (4.99 + tax) each time I go in and am guarenteed a good pic for his scrapbook and also get the pics emailed to me for the web/blog.
I took each of the kids on their birthdays for pictures and plan to do a family one again this fall...we were there 3 times in less than 2 weeks in April for the boys birthdays... The stupid card doesn't expire until 9/09...so they have to deal with me until Brett is 19...they will be doing his "senior" portraits....heck probably even Hannah's too (I have never figured out what year she would graduate!). Hmmm...she turns 18 in Feburary 2010 so I would get her "senior" pictures done in the fall of 2009....guess I will do them in September!
JC Penney is the one who is losing out on this deal!
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
I am having a blast with this new feature!
Here is a picture of Brett and his friend Sarah at the homeschool prom that was held back in May! He had such a great time. They had dinner and dancing at A Touch Of Elegance and then after the prom ended they went glow bowling at a local bolwing alley. The final event of the night (or shall I say morning) was breakfast at IHOP!
It brought tears to my eyes to see my baby boy all dressed up. He looked more like a man than a child!
Just fiddling around with Blogger's new feature that lets you insert a photo in a post. This is another one of Will's first birthday pictures. He weighed in at 21 lb at his one year check-up and was 30". He is in the 25% for weight and the 50% for height, although you would never know it looking at his little "buddha" belly!
He has started taking steps, nothing all that impressive, his longest walk that any of us have seem has been 9 steps, but he is getting more confident each day! It is just so odd for me to see someone so small walking about!
County Tournament
Grant's team had their second game in the county tournament last night and to say it was a nailbiter would be an understatement. The game was tied after 5 innings so we had to go into extra innings. The other team (WT Sharks) were up to bat first and thanks in part to a poor throw on my son's part (he plays catcher) and a missed catch on the first baseman's part we ended up down 3 runs. The bad thing was we knew the first baseman was the first batter up in our half of the inning and he was crying because he hadn't made the play at first. Doesn't paint too bright of a picture when your first kid up to bat is that upset!
He did manage to make it to first baseball (only to be tagged out as he tried to slide home, but we managed to load up the bases. The other team had only one pitcher, so he was TIRED and couldn't get the ball over the plate. The bottom of our order was up. Jay told the boys to go up there and NOT SWING THE BAT....it was HILARIOUS to LISTEN to him tell the kids "DON'T SWING THE BAT" and then have them swing anyway! One of the kids on the teams grandfather was watching and was LAUGHING and kept saying "what this, he is going to swing!" AMAZINGLY, they listened well enough to get themselves on base. The final batter in our order was up at the plate with 2 outs. Jay again said "DON'T SWING THE BAT!" and we all breathed a HUGE sigh as the 4th ball crossed the plate! We walked in the winning run!
It was hard to watch the pitcher from the other team cry as he left the mound. The weight of the world (or at least so it seemed to him) was on his shoulders. It is this point in the season where it really shows if a coach has developed any depth to his team.
So we advance to the semifinals in the tournament. The next game should be quite a battle. Hopefully I won't be the one with a crying child at the end of our next game! Hard to believe that baseball season is almost over! We will be putting on those football pads and helmets before I know it!
Grant's team had their second game in the county tournament last night and to say it was a nailbiter would be an understatement. The game was tied after 5 innings so we had to go into extra innings. The other team (WT Sharks) were up to bat first and thanks in part to a poor throw on my son's part (he plays catcher) and a missed catch on the first baseman's part we ended up down 3 runs. The bad thing was we knew the first baseman was the first batter up in our half of the inning and he was crying because he hadn't made the play at first. Doesn't paint too bright of a picture when your first kid up to bat is that upset!
He did manage to make it to first baseball (only to be tagged out as he tried to slide home, but we managed to load up the bases. The other team had only one pitcher, so he was TIRED and couldn't get the ball over the plate. The bottom of our order was up. Jay told the boys to go up there and NOT SWING THE BAT....it was HILARIOUS to LISTEN to him tell the kids "DON'T SWING THE BAT" and then have them swing anyway! One of the kids on the teams grandfather was watching and was LAUGHING and kept saying "what this, he is going to swing!" AMAZINGLY, they listened well enough to get themselves on base. The final batter in our order was up at the plate with 2 outs. Jay again said "DON'T SWING THE BAT!" and we all breathed a HUGE sigh as the 4th ball crossed the plate! We walked in the winning run!
It was hard to watch the pitcher from the other team cry as he left the mound. The weight of the world (or at least so it seemed to him) was on his shoulders. It is this point in the season where it really shows if a coach has developed any depth to his team.
So we advance to the semifinals in the tournament. The next game should be quite a battle. Hopefully I won't be the one with a crying child at the end of our next game! Hard to believe that baseball season is almost over! We will be putting on those football pads and helmets before I know it!
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Anti-homeschooling article
Home Schools Run By Well-Meaning AmateursBy Dave Arnold (a member of the Illinois Education Association, is head custodian at Brownstown Elementary School in Southern Illinois)
The article starts with.....
"There's nothing like having the right person with the right experience, skills and tools to accomplish a specific task. Certain jobs are best left to the pros, such as, formal education."
The entire text can be found here: http://www.nea.org/espcolumns/dv040220.html
The link came through on one of the many homeschooling list I am on. Unfortunately, there is no link to email the author, poor guy would be bombarded by homeschooling parents if there was one!
Can't wait to hear what you think!
Laura<~~~teacher "wannabe"
Home Schools Run By Well-Meaning AmateursBy Dave Arnold (a member of the Illinois Education Association, is head custodian at Brownstown Elementary School in Southern Illinois)
The article starts with.....
"There's nothing like having the right person with the right experience, skills and tools to accomplish a specific task. Certain jobs are best left to the pros, such as, formal education."
The entire text can be found here: http://www.nea.org/espcolumns/dv040220.html
The link came through on one of the many homeschooling list I am on. Unfortunately, there is no link to email the author, poor guy would be bombarded by homeschooling parents if there was one!
Can't wait to hear what you think!
Laura<~~~teacher "wannabe"
Monday, July 11, 2005
Emily turns 11!
Time seems to fly sometimes. It is hard to believe 11 years ago I was in labor with Emily (she was born at 3:55 PM). Labor was fairly quick, only about 2 hours, and I transitioned quickly, yelling at Jay to go find ANYONE because the baby was coming NOW....fortunately he grabbed a nurse and not a janitor because by the time she reached the bedside Emily had completely crowned....but she didn't come out any further....just a HEAD....her darn shoulders got stuck. The nurse pushed the call button and SCREAMED for help STAT...a resident walked in and seemed puzzled as to what to do...thankfully the nurse was a "veteran"...she straddled my body...literally her butt was in my face....and she SHOVED down on my massive abdomen...the resident "caught" his first baby...Emily weighed in at a whooping 10 lbs 3 oz and only 20" (she was quite the butterball). She ended up with a broken collarbone, but wasn't too worse for the wear!
She is at camp today with one of her buddies from the dance studio. I am a bit sad that she didn't get to spend her birthday with us, but she will be home tonight for dinner and cake. She is only spending Thurs and Fri nights at camp, she didn't want to spend the whole week. Luckily her friend felt the same way!
Ironically Emily was supposed to be our "last" baby. She was the "perfect" baby...never cried, slept all night, was happy to just hang out in her bouncer seat (and later her exersaucer) and just watch what was going on around her. I sometimes joke that God gave us a "good" one so that we would be open to His plan for growing our family! I don't think I would have believed anyone 11 years ago if they told me she would be a big sister 5 times over!
Happy Birthday Miss Emily!
Time seems to fly sometimes. It is hard to believe 11 years ago I was in labor with Emily (she was born at 3:55 PM). Labor was fairly quick, only about 2 hours, and I transitioned quickly, yelling at Jay to go find ANYONE because the baby was coming NOW....fortunately he grabbed a nurse and not a janitor because by the time she reached the bedside Emily had completely crowned....but she didn't come out any further....just a HEAD....her darn shoulders got stuck. The nurse pushed the call button and SCREAMED for help STAT...a resident walked in and seemed puzzled as to what to do...thankfully the nurse was a "veteran"...she straddled my body...literally her butt was in my face....and she SHOVED down on my massive abdomen...the resident "caught" his first baby...Emily weighed in at a whooping 10 lbs 3 oz and only 20" (she was quite the butterball). She ended up with a broken collarbone, but wasn't too worse for the wear!
She is at camp today with one of her buddies from the dance studio. I am a bit sad that she didn't get to spend her birthday with us, but she will be home tonight for dinner and cake. She is only spending Thurs and Fri nights at camp, she didn't want to spend the whole week. Luckily her friend felt the same way!
Ironically Emily was supposed to be our "last" baby. She was the "perfect" baby...never cried, slept all night, was happy to just hang out in her bouncer seat (and later her exersaucer) and just watch what was going on around her. I sometimes joke that God gave us a "good" one so that we would be open to His plan for growing our family! I don't think I would have believed anyone 11 years ago if they told me she would be a big sister 5 times over!
Happy Birthday Miss Emily!
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Happy Birthday, Philip!
Today is my brother's 29th birthday. Unfortunately it is also just 5 days shy of the 29th anniversary of his death. He was only home for 2 days before he died of what at the time they ruled SIDS. A bit of research, a copy of his autopsy report and a little research have lead me to believe he probably actually died of group B strep, the irony of this being that I almost lost my 5th child to group B strep 22 years later (hence my researching group B strep and coming to the conclusion I did)...but I digress....
Today there should be a big family cookout celebrate that last birthday before the BIG 3-0! But it wasn't to be. I was standing next to my mom when she found him dead in his crib, I will never forget how he looked. I will never forget the scream that escaped from her lips, at a pitch that sounded like every ounce of air was drawn from her body and in a way it was. She was never the same. Life was never the same. She distanced herself from my other brother and me because I think she feared losing us too....it was easier to be distant than to risk being hurt. She returned to work to have something else to focus on, so not only did we lose our brother but also our mother.
I used to spend so much time as a child and teen wondering what he would look like, what he would be doing, what he would be like. As I became an adult, I didn't think about it nearly as much, until I was pregnant with Emily who was due in August. I prayed every day of my pregnancy that she not be born on my brother's birthday. God was good and she arrived on July 11, clearing his birthday by a whole 2 days. But I wasn't out of the woods, I had never thought to pray for her safety on the anniversary of his death. On July 14, I watched my mother fall apart on my front lawn as we had to have Emily emergency transported to Children's Hospital, almost 18 years to the hour of Philip's death. She wailed and stormed heaven with prayers, that her daughter not suffer the pain of losing a child and that her granddaughter live. Fortunately a week later, we brought Emily back home.
I focused on raising my family and I put thoughts of Philip in the back of my mind, until the minute I looked into my son Jacob's eyes for the first time and I saw a carbon copy of that baby I saw for the last time dead in my father's friend's arms (my dad's friend was the responding paramedic). When they wisked Jacob away to ICU, I feared I would lose my son as I had my brother so many years before. We were told Jacob was septic with group B strep and as I read and researched it I came to conclude that maybe that was what robbed our family of my brother (his autopsy shows the presence of strep).
There have been years when I have almost "forgotten" his birthday and of that I feel ashamed. There are times when I cry for all the "nevers" and "no"...no graduation, no wedding, no children. And there are days that I realize that only because he wasn't here did I become the person that I am.
Today, there was some cause for celebration on his birthday. Grant scored the winning run in the first game of the county knothole tournament. My dad was send home from rehab, almost a week ahead of schedule! Maybe Philip was looking down on us today, smiling.
Happy Birthday baby brother. I sure miss you!
Today is my brother's 29th birthday. Unfortunately it is also just 5 days shy of the 29th anniversary of his death. He was only home for 2 days before he died of what at the time they ruled SIDS. A bit of research, a copy of his autopsy report and a little research have lead me to believe he probably actually died of group B strep, the irony of this being that I almost lost my 5th child to group B strep 22 years later (hence my researching group B strep and coming to the conclusion I did)...but I digress....
Today there should be a big family cookout celebrate that last birthday before the BIG 3-0! But it wasn't to be. I was standing next to my mom when she found him dead in his crib, I will never forget how he looked. I will never forget the scream that escaped from her lips, at a pitch that sounded like every ounce of air was drawn from her body and in a way it was. She was never the same. Life was never the same. She distanced herself from my other brother and me because I think she feared losing us too....it was easier to be distant than to risk being hurt. She returned to work to have something else to focus on, so not only did we lose our brother but also our mother.
I used to spend so much time as a child and teen wondering what he would look like, what he would be doing, what he would be like. As I became an adult, I didn't think about it nearly as much, until I was pregnant with Emily who was due in August. I prayed every day of my pregnancy that she not be born on my brother's birthday. God was good and she arrived on July 11, clearing his birthday by a whole 2 days. But I wasn't out of the woods, I had never thought to pray for her safety on the anniversary of his death. On July 14, I watched my mother fall apart on my front lawn as we had to have Emily emergency transported to Children's Hospital, almost 18 years to the hour of Philip's death. She wailed and stormed heaven with prayers, that her daughter not suffer the pain of losing a child and that her granddaughter live. Fortunately a week later, we brought Emily back home.
I focused on raising my family and I put thoughts of Philip in the back of my mind, until the minute I looked into my son Jacob's eyes for the first time and I saw a carbon copy of that baby I saw for the last time dead in my father's friend's arms (my dad's friend was the responding paramedic). When they wisked Jacob away to ICU, I feared I would lose my son as I had my brother so many years before. We were told Jacob was septic with group B strep and as I read and researched it I came to conclude that maybe that was what robbed our family of my brother (his autopsy shows the presence of strep).
There have been years when I have almost "forgotten" his birthday and of that I feel ashamed. There are times when I cry for all the "nevers" and "no"...no graduation, no wedding, no children. And there are days that I realize that only because he wasn't here did I become the person that I am.
Today, there was some cause for celebration on his birthday. Grant scored the winning run in the first game of the county knothole tournament. My dad was send home from rehab, almost a week ahead of schedule! Maybe Philip was looking down on us today, smiling.
Happy Birthday baby brother. I sure miss you!
Park Programs for 2005-2006
One of the things I have done since the first year we started homeschooling was set up park programs at the local parks. The first year I crossed my fingers that I could get the required minimum of 10 kids (and even ended up counting Cade who was a baby at the time) and now we are pretty much guarenteed that we have at least 25 or 30 kids.
September 13th 11 AM: Stream Study (at Sycamore Park, Batavia)-seining nets, hand lenses, and other collecting tools are used to sample and identify the macroinvertebrate population of a local stream and to assess water quality. Student data will be submitted to the Little Miami River Watershed Database.
September 27th 1 PM and 2 PM Fossils at Sharon Woods, Sharonville. Plan to wear old sneakers, watershoes or boots as we will be in the creek and getting wet. Meet by the vending machines in the Sharon Center. My family plans to get there around noon and picnic before heading off on the program.
October 11th 11 AM: Fossils Then & Now (Sycamore Park, Batavia) investigate a collection of Clermont County fossils, learn what our area was like 450 million years ago, what the creatures were like when alive, and how fossils are formed. What park would you recommend?
November 8th 11 AM: Kelley Nature Preserve(Loveland/Milford) Orienteering with maps and compass
December 13th 10 AM and 11 AM Woodland Mound: Bird Count. Meet at Seasongood Nature center.
January 10th : Owl Night Hike: Sycamore Park, Batavia...we have to double check the time, probably around 6 PM or 6:30 PM, whenever it gets dark!
Feburary 7th 11 AM: Local Habitat at Pattision Park Lodge, Owensville - looking at local examples, students will define habitat, the basic needs of all life, and discover what lives here. Beat cabin fever and pack a picnic lunch, we are welcome to stay and eat/hang out in the lodge once the program is over!
March 14th 11 AM: Awesome Amphibians at Crooked Run Nature Preserve, Chilo. The preserve is home to several species of frogs and salamanders. We'll discover what adaptations these amphibians have to help them live in the water. Then we will take a walk to the pond and discover which frogs and salamanders are active.
March 28th: 1 PM and 2 PM Salamanders at Sharon Woods, Sharonville. Plan to wear old sneakers, watershoes or boots as we may be in the creek and might get wet (we are supposed to be staying on the banks, but you all know kids and water!). Meet by the vending machines in the Sharon Center. My family plans to get there around noon and picnic before heading off on the program.
April 11th 11 AM: Spring Wildflower Walk Sycamore Park, Batavia Sycamore Park is alive with color each spring. Dutchman's Breeches, Sessile Trillium, Trout Lilies, and Virginia Bluebells are just a few of the flowers that will bloom along the wooded walking trail at Sycamore Park. Because each species of flower blooms at a certain time, each week is sure to have a different flower showing off it's colors.
May 9th 11 AM: Wondrous Wetland Expedition Crooked Run Nature Preserve, Chilo. Have you ever wondered why wetlands are important and what lives in them? On this expedition we'll visit the wetland, with nets, in search of clues. Waterproof boots are recommended.
One of the things I have done since the first year we started homeschooling was set up park programs at the local parks. The first year I crossed my fingers that I could get the required minimum of 10 kids (and even ended up counting Cade who was a baby at the time) and now we are pretty much guarenteed that we have at least 25 or 30 kids.
September 13th 11 AM: Stream Study (at Sycamore Park, Batavia)-seining nets, hand lenses, and other collecting tools are used to sample and identify the macroinvertebrate population of a local stream and to assess water quality. Student data will be submitted to the Little Miami River Watershed Database.
September 27th 1 PM and 2 PM Fossils at Sharon Woods, Sharonville. Plan to wear old sneakers, watershoes or boots as we will be in the creek and getting wet. Meet by the vending machines in the Sharon Center. My family plans to get there around noon and picnic before heading off on the program.
October 11th 11 AM: Fossils Then & Now (Sycamore Park, Batavia) investigate a collection of Clermont County fossils, learn what our area was like 450 million years ago, what the creatures were like when alive, and how fossils are formed. What park would you recommend?
November 8th 11 AM: Kelley Nature Preserve(Loveland/Milford) Orienteering with maps and compass
December 13th 10 AM and 11 AM Woodland Mound: Bird Count. Meet at Seasongood Nature center.
January 10th : Owl Night Hike: Sycamore Park, Batavia...we have to double check the time, probably around 6 PM or 6:30 PM, whenever it gets dark!
Feburary 7th 11 AM: Local Habitat at Pattision Park Lodge, Owensville - looking at local examples, students will define habitat, the basic needs of all life, and discover what lives here. Beat cabin fever and pack a picnic lunch, we are welcome to stay and eat/hang out in the lodge once the program is over!
March 14th 11 AM: Awesome Amphibians at Crooked Run Nature Preserve, Chilo. The preserve is home to several species of frogs and salamanders. We'll discover what adaptations these amphibians have to help them live in the water. Then we will take a walk to the pond and discover which frogs and salamanders are active.
March 28th: 1 PM and 2 PM Salamanders at Sharon Woods, Sharonville. Plan to wear old sneakers, watershoes or boots as we may be in the creek and might get wet (we are supposed to be staying on the banks, but you all know kids and water!). Meet by the vending machines in the Sharon Center. My family plans to get there around noon and picnic before heading off on the program.
April 11th 11 AM: Spring Wildflower Walk Sycamore Park, Batavia Sycamore Park is alive with color each spring. Dutchman's Breeches, Sessile Trillium, Trout Lilies, and Virginia Bluebells are just a few of the flowers that will bloom along the wooded walking trail at Sycamore Park. Because each species of flower blooms at a certain time, each week is sure to have a different flower showing off it's colors.
May 9th 11 AM: Wondrous Wetland Expedition Crooked Run Nature Preserve, Chilo. Have you ever wondered why wetlands are important and what lives in them? On this expedition we'll visit the wetland, with nets, in search of clues. Waterproof boots are recommended.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Getting ready for 4-H judging
This is our first year involved with 4-H and the judging deadline is upon us. Tomorrow morning the kids have to take their projects to the fairground to be judged. They have been busy finishing up their projects. Emily and Grant are doing Art as Expression and Hannah is doing one that involves childcare/being home alone (can't think of the technical name for it). They are all a bit apprehensive about being "judged" but they are also excited.
The 4-H books are WONDERFUL and the girls are already planning what project they plan to do for next year. They decided on sewing and art and a handful of others. I have a feeling that the judging tomorrow with either inspire them or have them decide they don't want to do anything! Hopefully it will go well!
This is our first year involved with 4-H and the judging deadline is upon us. Tomorrow morning the kids have to take their projects to the fairground to be judged. They have been busy finishing up their projects. Emily and Grant are doing Art as Expression and Hannah is doing one that involves childcare/being home alone (can't think of the technical name for it). They are all a bit apprehensive about being "judged" but they are also excited.
The 4-H books are WONDERFUL and the girls are already planning what project they plan to do for next year. They decided on sewing and art and a handful of others. I have a feeling that the judging tomorrow with either inspire them or have them decide they don't want to do anything! Hopefully it will go well!
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
The city we live in has a rather LARGE 4th of July parade. The kids eagerly decorated their bikes so that they could participate. Hannah spend hours decorating the bike trailer for "princess" Sophie to ride it. Her hard work paid off...Sophie won 3rd place! There were probably 100 entires, so Hannah was THRILLED!
The parade was LONG but the kids had a blast. We walked home before the fireworks started, since Cade can't stand the sound of them. We would see them from the yard and they were still pretty loud!
Ended up with an impromptu dinner....hotdogs, brats, mac and cheese and baked beans since we had to leave the cookout we attended earlier in the day before dinner was served so that we could make the parade. I guess there are pros and cons for having the parade in the evening. It did work out nicely though, that we didn't end up with extra kids asking to spend the night because we left early...usually we end up with at least a few friends coming with us when we go to these types of gatherings.
Hoping everyone had a blessed 4th!
The parade was LONG but the kids had a blast. We walked home before the fireworks started, since Cade can't stand the sound of them. We would see them from the yard and they were still pretty loud!
Ended up with an impromptu dinner....hotdogs, brats, mac and cheese and baked beans since we had to leave the cookout we attended earlier in the day before dinner was served so that we could make the parade. I guess there are pros and cons for having the parade in the evening. It did work out nicely though, that we didn't end up with extra kids asking to spend the night because we left early...usually we end up with at least a few friends coming with us when we go to these types of gatherings.
Hoping everyone had a blessed 4th!
Horns...
Last night as I was nursing Will, I noticed a bug bite on the right side of his head, towards the top.....as I ran my hand across the rest of his still bald head, I found another bug bite, in almost the exact same place on the left side of his head.
I looked at Jay and said "We better watch out, Will is growing horns!"
Will let go of my boob and LAUGHED when I said it. He must know something we don't!
Last night as I was nursing Will, I noticed a bug bite on the right side of his head, towards the top.....as I ran my hand across the rest of his still bald head, I found another bug bite, in almost the exact same place on the left side of his head.
I looked at Jay and said "We better watch out, Will is growing horns!"
Will let go of my boob and LAUGHED when I said it. He must know something we don't!
Sunday, July 03, 2005
A mixed bag of news.....
I talked with my mom the other day. They are planning to release my dad from Drake on July 13th, less than two weeks from now. Although I am THRILLED that he is doing well enough to come home because even a month ago I would have sworn it would have never happened, I am really concerned with how this will all transpire.
First off, he reacted to the drug they were giving him for the multiple myeloma, the only hope for buying him time, and he has had to quit taking it. They were told that they had to see the oncologist again before making any decisions about whether to continue with it or not. I am not stupid, I know my father is terminal, but I was so hoping to buy him some more time. I am worried about how quickly he will deteriorate without treatment.
Secondly, he still needs dialysis 3 times a week. This means taking him to the clinic and waiting the 3 to 4 hours it takes for them to dialysize him. This also involves the "hassle" of transporting him with the wheelchair or walker because he is weak when he is finished.
Thirdly, my mother plans to continue working FULL TIME once he is home. OK don't get me wrong, I know she needs to have their benefits continued and needs to support them....
So, you see where this is leading don't you? She has read me the riot act about needing help...and I want to help....but I feel selfish because I want to put my children first. She said she needs someone at the house from at least 7 AM to 5 PM every day and on the days he has dialysis he will need to be driven there. She said she "needs" my help. I gently suggested that she bring him here (although I don't really like the idea) but he says my house is too LOUD and BUSY (he LOVES his grandchildren, but would prefer they sit still!). No, it would definitely be better if I could come to their house.
I have played through every possible senario to try to get this to work. I talked to Jay about maybe having the older kids (Brett and Hannah) each spend a day of the week with him, but I have my reservations. It is a HUGE responsibility to put on a young teenager. What if my dad was to pass out (as he often does following dialysis), what if he gets sick (no one likes cleaning up puke, but I think it is a lot to ask of a kid), and what about the diapers...hell, I can't get Brett to change the baby, I certainly can't ask him to change a man!
OK...and there is something else. My mom has NEVER been crazy about the idea of us homeschooling and we have never really explained to her that we actually unschool (she believes and we have never corrected her, that we are working with an "approved" curriculum). She was really upset when she learned Brett decided not to go to highschool. I honestly think that she sees this as her way of "making" me put the kids back in school. In her mind, if she gets me "away" from them all day, they would have to be enrolled in school. Kind of reminenscent of how in the early 1990s, she tried to get me to put Brett and Hannah in daycare by offering to pay for it and pay my tution if I would just go back to college and "do something" with my life.
So I sit here feeling like a complete SELFISH BRAT because I don't want to go and sit with my dad all day. I do worry about what it says to my kids, about "family". I guess the up side of having 8 children, is that they would each only have to pitch in less than once a week, instead of it all being put on one of them.
No real point here...just had to get it off my chest.
I talked with my mom the other day. They are planning to release my dad from Drake on July 13th, less than two weeks from now. Although I am THRILLED that he is doing well enough to come home because even a month ago I would have sworn it would have never happened, I am really concerned with how this will all transpire.
First off, he reacted to the drug they were giving him for the multiple myeloma, the only hope for buying him time, and he has had to quit taking it. They were told that they had to see the oncologist again before making any decisions about whether to continue with it or not. I am not stupid, I know my father is terminal, but I was so hoping to buy him some more time. I am worried about how quickly he will deteriorate without treatment.
Secondly, he still needs dialysis 3 times a week. This means taking him to the clinic and waiting the 3 to 4 hours it takes for them to dialysize him. This also involves the "hassle" of transporting him with the wheelchair or walker because he is weak when he is finished.
Thirdly, my mother plans to continue working FULL TIME once he is home. OK don't get me wrong, I know she needs to have their benefits continued and needs to support them....
So, you see where this is leading don't you? She has read me the riot act about needing help...and I want to help....but I feel selfish because I want to put my children first. She said she needs someone at the house from at least 7 AM to 5 PM every day and on the days he has dialysis he will need to be driven there. She said she "needs" my help. I gently suggested that she bring him here (although I don't really like the idea) but he says my house is too LOUD and BUSY (he LOVES his grandchildren, but would prefer they sit still!). No, it would definitely be better if I could come to their house.
I have played through every possible senario to try to get this to work. I talked to Jay about maybe having the older kids (Brett and Hannah) each spend a day of the week with him, but I have my reservations. It is a HUGE responsibility to put on a young teenager. What if my dad was to pass out (as he often does following dialysis), what if he gets sick (no one likes cleaning up puke, but I think it is a lot to ask of a kid), and what about the diapers...hell, I can't get Brett to change the baby, I certainly can't ask him to change a man!
OK...and there is something else. My mom has NEVER been crazy about the idea of us homeschooling and we have never really explained to her that we actually unschool (she believes and we have never corrected her, that we are working with an "approved" curriculum). She was really upset when she learned Brett decided not to go to highschool. I honestly think that she sees this as her way of "making" me put the kids back in school. In her mind, if she gets me "away" from them all day, they would have to be enrolled in school. Kind of reminenscent of how in the early 1990s, she tried to get me to put Brett and Hannah in daycare by offering to pay for it and pay my tution if I would just go back to college and "do something" with my life.
So I sit here feeling like a complete SELFISH BRAT because I don't want to go and sit with my dad all day. I do worry about what it says to my kids, about "family". I guess the up side of having 8 children, is that they would each only have to pitch in less than once a week, instead of it all being put on one of them.
No real point here...just had to get it off my chest.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Be careful what you wish for:
OK...so it is a silly little "joke" but it made me laugh so I had to share it.....
A man walks into a restaurant with an ostrich behind him, and as he sits,
the waitress comes over and asks for their order. The man says, "I'll
have a hamburger, fries and a coke," and turns to the ostrich. "What's
yours?" "I'll have the same," says the ostrich. A short time later the
waitress returns with the order. "That will be $6.40 please," and the man
reaches into his pocket and pulls out exact change for payment.
The next day, the man and the ostrich come again and the man says, "I'll have a hamburger, fries and a coke," and the ostrich says, "I'll have the same." Once again the man reaches into his pocket and pays with exact change. This becomes a routine until late one evening, the two enter again. "The usual?" asks the waitress. "No,this Friday night, so I will have a steak, baked potato and salad," says the man. "Same for me," says the ostrich. A short time later the waitress comes with the order and says, "That will be $12.62." Once again the man pulls exact change out of his pocket and places it on the table. The waitress can't hold back her curiosity any longer. "Excuse me, sir. How do you manage to always come up with the exact change out of your pocket every time?" "Well," says the man,"several years ago I was cleaning the attic and I found an old lamp. When I rubbed it a Genie appeared and offered me two wishes. My first wish was that if I
ever had to pay for anything, just put my hand in my pocket, and the right
amount of money would always be there." "That's brilliant!" says the waitress.
"Most people would wish for a million dollars or something, but you'll
always be as rich as you want for as long as you live!" "That's right! Whether it's a gallon of milk or a Porsche, the exact money is always there," says the man. The waitress asks, "One other thing, sir, what's with the ostrich?" The man replies, "My second wish was for a chick with long legs."
OK...so it is a silly little "joke" but it made me laugh so I had to share it.....
A man walks into a restaurant with an ostrich behind him, and as he sits,
the waitress comes over and asks for their order. The man says, "I'll
have a hamburger, fries and a coke," and turns to the ostrich. "What's
yours?" "I'll have the same," says the ostrich. A short time later the
waitress returns with the order. "That will be $6.40 please," and the man
reaches into his pocket and pulls out exact change for payment.
The next day, the man and the ostrich come again and the man says, "I'll have a hamburger, fries and a coke," and the ostrich says, "I'll have the same." Once again the man reaches into his pocket and pays with exact change. This becomes a routine until late one evening, the two enter again. "The usual?" asks the waitress. "No,this Friday night, so I will have a steak, baked potato and salad," says the man. "Same for me," says the ostrich. A short time later the waitress comes with the order and says, "That will be $12.62." Once again the man pulls exact change out of his pocket and places it on the table. The waitress can't hold back her curiosity any longer. "Excuse me, sir. How do you manage to always come up with the exact change out of your pocket every time?" "Well," says the man,"several years ago I was cleaning the attic and I found an old lamp. When I rubbed it a Genie appeared and offered me two wishes. My first wish was that if I
ever had to pay for anything, just put my hand in my pocket, and the right
amount of money would always be there." "That's brilliant!" says the waitress.
"Most people would wish for a million dollars or something, but you'll
always be as rich as you want for as long as you live!" "That's right! Whether it's a gallon of milk or a Porsche, the exact money is always there," says the man. The waitress asks, "One other thing, sir, what's with the ostrich?" The man replies, "My second wish was for a chick with long legs."
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Will's First Birthday!
OK, I will admit is was a bit lame, but as I headed out for nationals, I send the following email to our friends:
Please join us.....As we celebrate William's first birthday!
When: Tuesday, June 28, 2005 5:30 PM to dark
Where: Riverview Park Loveland, Ohio (directions below)
We will provide the meat (hotdogs and hamburgers) , cake.ice and all paper products! Please bring a sidedish/snack/dessert to share and a 2 liter of softdrink/juice/etc. Per park policy, no alcohol is permitted in the park(OK teens, this message was for your parents not you!). We will serve dinner at 6:30 PM and have cake at 7:30 PM. Gifts optional, the gathering is a celebration of Will's first year and we think the best way to celebrate is surrounded by friends! Will's first year was quite a roller coaster ride, we are all just AMAZED we have made it to his first birthday!
There is playground equipment, large fields for playing (and if there are no games, also 2 baseball fields so I am sure someone will figure out how to get a wiffle ball game going), we will have cornhole and plenty of room for just hanging out with friends. You never know, we may even come up with a party game or two to play!
Please RSVP by email to theriesenbergs@cinci.rr.com or by calling us at 831-3165 and leaving a message so we can know if you will be attending or not. This will help with planning for food and cake!
Directions: Take I-275 to exit #52 (Loveland-Indian Hill). At the bottom of the exit ramp turn LEFT onto Loveland-Maderia Rd. At the first light that you can turn RIGHT at, TURN RIGHT...you are now on Branch Hill Loveland Rd. Go 1/2 mile and you will see a small brown sign on the right hand side of the road that reads Miami Riverview Park and points LEFT....TURN LEFT (you are still on Branch-Hill Loveland Rd). Go 1 mile to the park entrance on the RIGHT hand side. The shelter is behind the playground.
We were THRILLED to have 45 people at the cookout to celebrate our little man's first birthday! The weather looked threatening in the afternoon (I even sent out the emergency "RAIN OR SHINE" email and had the kids straighten up the house just in case we had to relocate here)but turned into a WONDERFUL evening. There were ballgames on the baseball fields, but it didn't even seem like there was anyone there!
The kids had a BLAST and Will seemed to like the attention. He feel asleep before dinner, but woke up (with the help of his brother) in time for cake! Everyone brought food to share and it was great....of course I just LOVE brats on the grill!
It was so wonderful to see our friends and to just spend an evening enjoying each others company! We found out that our friend Melodie is having a BABY GIRL (her hubby wanted a boy, but we are THRILLED to find out that she is carrying a healthy baby girl!).
Jay arranged games for the kids to play...corn hole tournament, waterballoon toss and a baseball hitting contest. Jay was in his element surrounds by kids!
OK, I will admit is was a bit lame, but as I headed out for nationals, I send the following email to our friends:
Please join us.....As we celebrate William's first birthday!
When: Tuesday, June 28, 2005 5:30 PM to dark
Where: Riverview Park Loveland, Ohio (directions below)
We will provide the meat (hotdogs and hamburgers) , cake.ice and all paper products! Please bring a sidedish/snack/dessert to share and a 2 liter of softdrink/juice/etc. Per park policy, no alcohol is permitted in the park(OK teens, this message was for your parents not you!). We will serve dinner at 6:30 PM and have cake at 7:30 PM. Gifts optional, the gathering is a celebration of Will's first year and we think the best way to celebrate is surrounded by friends! Will's first year was quite a roller coaster ride, we are all just AMAZED we have made it to his first birthday!
There is playground equipment, large fields for playing (and if there are no games, also 2 baseball fields so I am sure someone will figure out how to get a wiffle ball game going), we will have cornhole and plenty of room for just hanging out with friends. You never know, we may even come up with a party game or two to play!
Please RSVP by email to theriesenbergs@cinci.rr.com or by calling us at 831-3165 and leaving a message so we can know if you will be attending or not. This will help with planning for food and cake!
Directions: Take I-275 to exit #52 (Loveland-Indian Hill). At the bottom of the exit ramp turn LEFT onto Loveland-Maderia Rd. At the first light that you can turn RIGHT at, TURN RIGHT...you are now on Branch Hill Loveland Rd. Go 1/2 mile and you will see a small brown sign on the right hand side of the road that reads Miami Riverview Park and points LEFT....TURN LEFT (you are still on Branch-Hill Loveland Rd). Go 1 mile to the park entrance on the RIGHT hand side. The shelter is behind the playground.
We were THRILLED to have 45 people at the cookout to celebrate our little man's first birthday! The weather looked threatening in the afternoon (I even sent out the emergency "RAIN OR SHINE" email and had the kids straighten up the house just in case we had to relocate here)but turned into a WONDERFUL evening. There were ballgames on the baseball fields, but it didn't even seem like there was anyone there!
The kids had a BLAST and Will seemed to like the attention. He feel asleep before dinner, but woke up (with the help of his brother) in time for cake! Everyone brought food to share and it was great....of course I just LOVE brats on the grill!
It was so wonderful to see our friends and to just spend an evening enjoying each others company! We found out that our friend Melodie is having a BABY GIRL (her hubby wanted a boy, but we are THRILLED to find out that she is carrying a healthy baby girl!).
Jay arranged games for the kids to play...corn hole tournament, waterballoon toss and a baseball hitting contest. Jay was in his element surrounds by kids!
Monday, June 27, 2005
"I got my backbone back"
That was the message I called and left on the answering machine Tuesday night upon arriving in Chicago. Wouldn't make sense to anyone but my husband who when he called back simply asked "so who pissed you off?".
So here is the story. Before leaving for Chicago I was in tears, crying to my husband that since the accident 2 months early I feel like a completely different person, that I do everything I can to avoid confrontation and that I just want other people to take care of everything. This coming from someone who is always opnionated, outspoken and doesn't mind confrontation. I NEVER cry, it isn't me (well at least not until 2 months ago). It was as if I lost my backbone.
Upon arriving in Chicago and arriving at the hotel (that I had called an confirmed our reservation at the day before) we were told the hotel was OVERBOOKED and we didn't have a room. The manager told us they had made alternate arrangements for us and for us to go to this other hotel about 10 minutes away. I pressed him for details, but he wouldn't say anything, only that I would find out when I got to the other hotel and if I had any problems that he would do whatever it took to make it right.
I was STEAMING. I had gotten everyone out of the van, the little ones were crabby, when had sat in traffic around Chicago for hours and I was at the end of my rope. We went down the road, I was mumbling and ranting the whole way. When we got to the other hotel I explained that I was sent from TownePlace and the woman at the desk, Diane, cheerfully checked us in. She then commented that TownePlace was paying for one night of our stay and then tells me that I owe is over $400 for the other 3 nights. WAIT A MINUTE....the rate I was quoted when I booked my reservation was $89 a night, why was it so much? She answers their room rate is $129 a night! I tell her "no, I am only paying $89 a night, that was what I was promised". Surprisingly she AGREES and adjusts the rate. Then as we finish up and she hands me the keys, I asks about breakfast (TownePlace had a free breakfast) and she tells me breakfast is $9.95 PER PERSON! I just about lost it. Knowing she had no control over what was going on, I called TownePlace back and asked to talk to the manager, Ron Shelton.
The first 2 times I called Ron couldn't come to the phone. The third time I called I refused to hang up until he talked to me. When he got on the phone I asked him what he was planning to do to "make this right", since I hadn't planned on buying breakfast each day. His solution was for us to drive the 10 minutes to his hotel to eat. I told him it wouldn't work, that I wasn't dragging two toddlers and the other girls to his hotel and that he needed to provide and pay for our breakfast at the new hotel since he had sent us there. He hemmed and hawed for a few minutes and I then asked if I needed to call corporate because I would be happy to. He then said they would pay for it but I told him I would not hang up with him until he spoke with the manager at the new hotel. He did and it was taken care of.
As the other displaced families arrived I made sure they were aware that they needed to contact him to have him take care of thier room rate and breakfast (they were all charged the higher rate and not given breakfast). Ironically once the 5 families called and demanded the same deal, he didn't send ANYONE else to that property but to another hotel.
I still am not happy about the whole thing. The point of the trip was "TEAM" building and because my girls weren't with their teammates it didn't happen. The rooms didn't have the kitchen like we were supposed to, adding to my food bill. There was no fridge to keep our drinks cold. The rooms at the original hotel were nice, new, remodeled with new beds, spacious bathrooms and living space, ours was OLD with uncomfortable beds and had peeling wallpaper in the bathrooms. The hotel was noisy and unfortunately we were directly across for the icemachine that was LOUD. We were also 10 minutes further from the competition. Figures I have to drive a gas guzzler, doesn't it?
The only pluses...we had the pool to ourselves and the buffet breakfast with cooked to order omlets and waffles far surpassed the "cold" complimentary breakfast the other hotel offered.
That was the message I called and left on the answering machine Tuesday night upon arriving in Chicago. Wouldn't make sense to anyone but my husband who when he called back simply asked "so who pissed you off?".
So here is the story. Before leaving for Chicago I was in tears, crying to my husband that since the accident 2 months early I feel like a completely different person, that I do everything I can to avoid confrontation and that I just want other people to take care of everything. This coming from someone who is always opnionated, outspoken and doesn't mind confrontation. I NEVER cry, it isn't me (well at least not until 2 months ago). It was as if I lost my backbone.
Upon arriving in Chicago and arriving at the hotel (that I had called an confirmed our reservation at the day before) we were told the hotel was OVERBOOKED and we didn't have a room. The manager told us they had made alternate arrangements for us and for us to go to this other hotel about 10 minutes away. I pressed him for details, but he wouldn't say anything, only that I would find out when I got to the other hotel and if I had any problems that he would do whatever it took to make it right.
I was STEAMING. I had gotten everyone out of the van, the little ones were crabby, when had sat in traffic around Chicago for hours and I was at the end of my rope. We went down the road, I was mumbling and ranting the whole way. When we got to the other hotel I explained that I was sent from TownePlace and the woman at the desk, Diane, cheerfully checked us in. She then commented that TownePlace was paying for one night of our stay and then tells me that I owe is over $400 for the other 3 nights. WAIT A MINUTE....the rate I was quoted when I booked my reservation was $89 a night, why was it so much? She answers their room rate is $129 a night! I tell her "no, I am only paying $89 a night, that was what I was promised". Surprisingly she AGREES and adjusts the rate. Then as we finish up and she hands me the keys, I asks about breakfast (TownePlace had a free breakfast) and she tells me breakfast is $9.95 PER PERSON! I just about lost it. Knowing she had no control over what was going on, I called TownePlace back and asked to talk to the manager, Ron Shelton.
The first 2 times I called Ron couldn't come to the phone. The third time I called I refused to hang up until he talked to me. When he got on the phone I asked him what he was planning to do to "make this right", since I hadn't planned on buying breakfast each day. His solution was for us to drive the 10 minutes to his hotel to eat. I told him it wouldn't work, that I wasn't dragging two toddlers and the other girls to his hotel and that he needed to provide and pay for our breakfast at the new hotel since he had sent us there. He hemmed and hawed for a few minutes and I then asked if I needed to call corporate because I would be happy to. He then said they would pay for it but I told him I would not hang up with him until he spoke with the manager at the new hotel. He did and it was taken care of.
As the other displaced families arrived I made sure they were aware that they needed to contact him to have him take care of thier room rate and breakfast (they were all charged the higher rate and not given breakfast). Ironically once the 5 families called and demanded the same deal, he didn't send ANYONE else to that property but to another hotel.
I still am not happy about the whole thing. The point of the trip was "TEAM" building and because my girls weren't with their teammates it didn't happen. The rooms didn't have the kitchen like we were supposed to, adding to my food bill. There was no fridge to keep our drinks cold. The rooms at the original hotel were nice, new, remodeled with new beds, spacious bathrooms and living space, ours was OLD with uncomfortable beds and had peeling wallpaper in the bathrooms. The hotel was noisy and unfortunately we were directly across for the icemachine that was LOUD. We were also 10 minutes further from the competition. Figures I have to drive a gas guzzler, doesn't it?
The only pluses...we had the pool to ourselves and the buffet breakfast with cooked to order omlets and waffles far surpassed the "cold" complimentary breakfast the other hotel offered.
American Girl Adventure
Wednesday, June 22 2005
Dinner seating at 5:15 PM
When we got into Chicago and FINALLY got settled into a hotel, I took a minute to call American Girl Place to see if they had any cancellation for dinner the following night. We had brunch reservations for Thursday, but after looking at the train schedule and knowing when we needed to be at the competition, I knew it just wasn't doable. The operator said the store was closed but that I should try to call the following morning as early as possible and plead my case with the employees at the cafe. So once I had Emily ready to go on stage Wed morning I called and asked the operator to connect me to the cafe. She was skeptical that I would get through to anyone since it was still so early and also doubted that they would change our reservation. Ironically, the woman at the cafe answered on the first ring and very little pleading was needed, she simply switched the reservation and said she would see us that evening.
Once Emily had completed 3 of her routines (Carousel, Gypsies, and Sugar and Spice)we stayed to awards. We were shocked when Sugar and Spice (the routine the instructor didn't want to bring ane we had brought just for fun) finished in the top 5 and qualified for the Quest for the Best on Saturday. The day was turning our perfect! We left the competition and headed back to the hotel to potty. We then went to the METRA station to catch the 2:33 PM train.
Parking at the station was confusing and it took a while to figure out how to get to the station, but once we got in, a kind local woman took pity on us and explained the whole train thing and how to catch the return train. Even I was surprised as the train rolled in with how massive it was. As we boarded the train, we were shocked to hear people calling our names. About 6 other families from the studio were on the train and were also heading to AG (although not for dinner).
The ride took a little over an hour. Tickets were $4.10 for Hannah and me. Em, Sophie and Will were free. Will slept the whole ride in (such a blessing!). Once we got off the train (double stroller, diaperbag, sling, and AG dolls in tow), a kindly METRA employee showed us how to get to the street and where we would need to go to buy return tickets (if you buy your tickets on the train when there is a ticket agent on duty there is a $2 surcharge per ticket!). The weather was gorgeous and the streets well shaded by the buildings (it reminded me of something I heard after the World Trade Centers fell, about the people finally seeing the sun, because the buildings blocked the light). We began the walk, little did I know that it was over 29 blocks away! (Translated into over 3 miles one way!). Sophie slept the whole way and luckily Will stayed in the stroller! My arm is still giving me so much trouble there was no way I could have carried him! Even with the shade it was hot and I had made the mistake of wearing sandals and a shirt. Well my fat thighs kept rubbing and I ended up with chapped/chaffed thighs! If I ever do it again I will wear capris and gym shoes!
It took us almost an hour to walk to the store. We became encourged the closer we got as we saw more and more AG bags! We got into the store and checked in at the cafe. We were assigned to table 13 (my lucky number!) and we spent the next 30 minutes shopping (seating for dinner began at 5:15 PM). The store was huge adn overwhelming, the girls just loved it! We were shocked to see that in the hair salon it was $10 to just put the dolls hair in a ponytail. (It became our joke the rest of the week as we styled the dolls hair in the hotel and would tell each other that the price was $50 or $70!).
When they seated us in the cafe, there were special chairs for the AG dolls and pretty striped hairties on the napkins for the dolls to wear. They brought out little cups and plates for the girls to feed the dolls with. Dinner began with cinnamon buns. They were sticky and gooey and heavenly! They brought us out pink lemonade to drink. They brought out an appetizer of veggies, hummus, stuffed potatoes and fruit kabobs! Emily had pasta for dinner, Sophie had pizza and Hannah and I both had the stuffed chicken breast. Dessert was chocolate mouse, a butterfly shaped sugar cookie and bite sized heart shaped cake. They sang Happy Birthday to Sophie. I thought the meal and dining experience was well worth the $18 per person. Will of course was free(he shared Sophie's pizza and all the appetizers!)! He was so well behaved during dinner, even the waiteresses said they didn't even know he was there!
Once we finished the girls picked out what they wanted to buy. We ended up with Marisol(Hannah bought with her babysitting money), Nellie (Emily's early birhtday present) and 2 t-shirts (one for Em and one for Sophie). The girls declared it the "best time ever!". We walked out of the store shortly after 7 PM and then went to teh DIsney Store because they were having a huge sale! Sophie got a stuffed Dory and Nemo and a Nemo plate. She was so excited. Will fell asleep in the stroller. We finished up and began walking back to the station. When we got to Michigan and Adams a clock showed the time as 8:01 PM. We had 29 minutes to make our train ...meaning get to the station, buy tickets and board! We starting RUNNING!
Through gasping breaths we commented that we were running the AMAZING RACE! Stroller, packages, toddlers and all we made it to the station with 8 minutes to spare. Will was very crabby the ride back and the train was PACKED! One of the commuters kept "flirting" with him to try to get him to laugh..it helped a little!
Disembarking the train was scary, but we did it! We finally got back to the hotel around 10 PM!
Sophie was a bit disappointed that she didn't get a new doll, so she kept taking Nellie from Emily. We ended up going to Target and buying her a "pretend" AG doll named Chelsea. She LOVED it and thought it was cool her doll came with a puppy and Em's and Hannah's didn't! It is so nice when they are 3 and can't read! And of course Chelsea has had her fair shair of $50 hairdos!
Wednesday, June 22 2005
Dinner seating at 5:15 PM
When we got into Chicago and FINALLY got settled into a hotel, I took a minute to call American Girl Place to see if they had any cancellation for dinner the following night. We had brunch reservations for Thursday, but after looking at the train schedule and knowing when we needed to be at the competition, I knew it just wasn't doable. The operator said the store was closed but that I should try to call the following morning as early as possible and plead my case with the employees at the cafe. So once I had Emily ready to go on stage Wed morning I called and asked the operator to connect me to the cafe. She was skeptical that I would get through to anyone since it was still so early and also doubted that they would change our reservation. Ironically, the woman at the cafe answered on the first ring and very little pleading was needed, she simply switched the reservation and said she would see us that evening.
Once Emily had completed 3 of her routines (Carousel, Gypsies, and Sugar and Spice)we stayed to awards. We were shocked when Sugar and Spice (the routine the instructor didn't want to bring ane we had brought just for fun) finished in the top 5 and qualified for the Quest for the Best on Saturday. The day was turning our perfect! We left the competition and headed back to the hotel to potty. We then went to the METRA station to catch the 2:33 PM train.
Parking at the station was confusing and it took a while to figure out how to get to the station, but once we got in, a kind local woman took pity on us and explained the whole train thing and how to catch the return train. Even I was surprised as the train rolled in with how massive it was. As we boarded the train, we were shocked to hear people calling our names. About 6 other families from the studio were on the train and were also heading to AG (although not for dinner).
The ride took a little over an hour. Tickets were $4.10 for Hannah and me. Em, Sophie and Will were free. Will slept the whole ride in (such a blessing!). Once we got off the train (double stroller, diaperbag, sling, and AG dolls in tow), a kindly METRA employee showed us how to get to the street and where we would need to go to buy return tickets (if you buy your tickets on the train when there is a ticket agent on duty there is a $2 surcharge per ticket!). The weather was gorgeous and the streets well shaded by the buildings (it reminded me of something I heard after the World Trade Centers fell, about the people finally seeing the sun, because the buildings blocked the light). We began the walk, little did I know that it was over 29 blocks away! (Translated into over 3 miles one way!). Sophie slept the whole way and luckily Will stayed in the stroller! My arm is still giving me so much trouble there was no way I could have carried him! Even with the shade it was hot and I had made the mistake of wearing sandals and a shirt. Well my fat thighs kept rubbing and I ended up with chapped/chaffed thighs! If I ever do it again I will wear capris and gym shoes!
It took us almost an hour to walk to the store. We became encourged the closer we got as we saw more and more AG bags! We got into the store and checked in at the cafe. We were assigned to table 13 (my lucky number!) and we spent the next 30 minutes shopping (seating for dinner began at 5:15 PM). The store was huge adn overwhelming, the girls just loved it! We were shocked to see that in the hair salon it was $10 to just put the dolls hair in a ponytail. (It became our joke the rest of the week as we styled the dolls hair in the hotel and would tell each other that the price was $50 or $70!).
When they seated us in the cafe, there were special chairs for the AG dolls and pretty striped hairties on the napkins for the dolls to wear. They brought out little cups and plates for the girls to feed the dolls with. Dinner began with cinnamon buns. They were sticky and gooey and heavenly! They brought us out pink lemonade to drink. They brought out an appetizer of veggies, hummus, stuffed potatoes and fruit kabobs! Emily had pasta for dinner, Sophie had pizza and Hannah and I both had the stuffed chicken breast. Dessert was chocolate mouse, a butterfly shaped sugar cookie and bite sized heart shaped cake. They sang Happy Birthday to Sophie. I thought the meal and dining experience was well worth the $18 per person. Will of course was free(he shared Sophie's pizza and all the appetizers!)! He was so well behaved during dinner, even the waiteresses said they didn't even know he was there!
Once we finished the girls picked out what they wanted to buy. We ended up with Marisol(Hannah bought with her babysitting money), Nellie (Emily's early birhtday present) and 2 t-shirts (one for Em and one for Sophie). The girls declared it the "best time ever!". We walked out of the store shortly after 7 PM and then went to teh DIsney Store because they were having a huge sale! Sophie got a stuffed Dory and Nemo and a Nemo plate. She was so excited. Will fell asleep in the stroller. We finished up and began walking back to the station. When we got to Michigan and Adams a clock showed the time as 8:01 PM. We had 29 minutes to make our train ...meaning get to the station, buy tickets and board! We starting RUNNING!
Through gasping breaths we commented that we were running the AMAZING RACE! Stroller, packages, toddlers and all we made it to the station with 8 minutes to spare. Will was very crabby the ride back and the train was PACKED! One of the commuters kept "flirting" with him to try to get him to laugh..it helped a little!
Disembarking the train was scary, but we did it! We finally got back to the hotel around 10 PM!
Sophie was a bit disappointed that she didn't get a new doll, so she kept taking Nellie from Emily. We ended up going to Target and buying her a "pretend" AG doll named Chelsea. She LOVED it and thought it was cool her doll came with a puppy and Em's and Hannah's didn't! It is so nice when they are 3 and can't read! And of course Chelsea has had her fair shair of $50 hairdos!
Blame it on our forefathers
During our trip to Chicago I came to the following conclusion: It is our forefathers fault that there are 15 Jacobs running around at every baseball game and 26 Emilys at ever dance competition.
Now how did I come to this conclusion? Well, because of the COMPLETE LACK of creativity involved in naming cities. Had our forefathers been more creative, then we as parents would have felt inspired to look beyond Jennifer and Jason.
My foggy brain remembers the following cities close to my hometown that we passed on our journey Roselawn (IN), Lebanon (IN), Aurora (IL), Batavia (IL), Frankfort (IN), Dayton (IN).
The funniest thing was as we pulled off of I-88 to go to the dance competition and saw the sign pointing towards Batavia. Hannah comments "We just drove 7 hours to end up 5 miles from our starting point" (Batavia OH is only minutes from Eastgate where our journey began).
During our trip to Chicago I came to the following conclusion: It is our forefathers fault that there are 15 Jacobs running around at every baseball game and 26 Emilys at ever dance competition.
Now how did I come to this conclusion? Well, because of the COMPLETE LACK of creativity involved in naming cities. Had our forefathers been more creative, then we as parents would have felt inspired to look beyond Jennifer and Jason.
My foggy brain remembers the following cities close to my hometown that we passed on our journey Roselawn (IN), Lebanon (IN), Aurora (IL), Batavia (IL), Frankfort (IN), Dayton (IN).
The funniest thing was as we pulled off of I-88 to go to the dance competition and saw the sign pointing towards Batavia. Hannah comments "We just drove 7 hours to end up 5 miles from our starting point" (Batavia OH is only minutes from Eastgate where our journey began).
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Pox Watch:
I found out this morning that the kids were most likely exposed to chicken pox on Wednesday evening and Grant was exposed to them again today, so we are beginning our pox watch!
When Em was little I tried exposing her to chicken pox 5 times in a two month period and she never got them. Since Grant was born we have only known one other family with them (and yes I tried to expose both him and Emily with no luck!). Brett and Hannah had them when they were little, but none of the other kids have had them. I would really like them to get the natural immunity to them, but for some reason my kids seem to be a bit more resistant to them than most!
My only fear is I will unknowingly carry the virus to my dad who is undergoing chemo for the multiple myeloma. He is undergoing therapy for his stroke at the Drake Center and I try to go down and visit with him at least every other day, sometimes some of the kids go with me. I am going to have to be hypervigilant about watching the kids for signs of the pox in a couple of weeks. The last thing we need is for him to get shingles!
Does anyone know if I can immune carry them to my dad? Would I have to have shingles myself to give them to him? I probably just won't take the little kids down to the hospital until our risk of infection is over!
I found out this morning that the kids were most likely exposed to chicken pox on Wednesday evening and Grant was exposed to them again today, so we are beginning our pox watch!
When Em was little I tried exposing her to chicken pox 5 times in a two month period and she never got them. Since Grant was born we have only known one other family with them (and yes I tried to expose both him and Emily with no luck!). Brett and Hannah had them when they were little, but none of the other kids have had them. I would really like them to get the natural immunity to them, but for some reason my kids seem to be a bit more resistant to them than most!
My only fear is I will unknowingly carry the virus to my dad who is undergoing chemo for the multiple myeloma. He is undergoing therapy for his stroke at the Drake Center and I try to go down and visit with him at least every other day, sometimes some of the kids go with me. I am going to have to be hypervigilant about watching the kids for signs of the pox in a couple of weeks. The last thing we need is for him to get shingles!
Does anyone know if I can immune carry them to my dad? Would I have to have shingles myself to give them to him? I probably just won't take the little kids down to the hospital until our risk of infection is over!
The need for space.....
My dear pal Kas has been posting a lot in her journal lately about "space" and "living arrangements" as she gets her home ready for her new son. It got me thinking about another question/statement people tend to make when they find out that you have more than the typical 2.3 children. "Boy you must have a HUGE house. How many bedrooms do you have?". I tend to like the look they get on their face when I now answer "THREE".
The boys have the largest bedroom since eventually there will be 5 of them in there. The girls bedroom is in the middle sizewise since there are only 3 of them. Mine and Jay's is the smallest, since it need only hold our king size bed and a couple dressers! We don't need space on the floor to play polly pocket or WWE wrestling figures or for our lego creations to sprawl.
It seems that the majority of the people I encounter equate bedrooms with space. They also seem to believe that all children NEED their own bedrooms. I do think that people sometimes need SPACE, a place they can go to be alone, but why should that mean their own bedroom???...it can be a nook in the family room, a playroom, a craft room, an office, the basement, the front porch, a deck. Sure it is great to have a place so the kids things are strewn everywhere...but what do toys/things have to do with sleep?
I believe that most people woudln't "chose" to sleep alone. How often do you run into another mom who might say "My husband is out of town, I just can't sleep." So it is "normal" for a 30+ year old woman to not want to sleep alone, but we should shove babies and toddlers into their "own" space? Doesn't make a heck of a lot of sense now does it?
Our kids have always graduated from our bed into a room with a sibling, usually the same bed as a sibling. They like the closeness, they feel safe. I love sneaking into their rooms in the morning and seeing the tangle of bodies. The choice of when it happens has been their own, usually it is in the months following the arrivial of their newest sibling (they discover it is quieter in another room).
My children realize that their friends with only one or two siblings usually have their own bedrooms. The times we have talked about it, the kids always come up with more negatives than positives about having their own rooms. Could be that they are such social creatures, that they are just used to having to share bed(room)s, that they don't like the idea of being alone? You could argue that they don't say they want their own rooms because they know it won't happen, but I disagree. I KNOW I can't have that 1960's mustang convertible, but that doesn't mean I don't drool over everyone I see!
Brett bugs me at least once or twice a week with the question of whether Will is sleeping through the night yet. He asks this because he knows when the answer is finally "yes" it means his baby brother will join the other boys in their bedroom. Will will be "one of the boys" and not the "baby". Brett hasn't quite yet figured out that mommy will be holding onto her baby as long as she can!
OK so I jumped from "space" to the family bed and cosleeping. Don't know that there is really a point here. Just my musings and ramblings.....
My dear pal Kas has been posting a lot in her journal lately about "space" and "living arrangements" as she gets her home ready for her new son. It got me thinking about another question/statement people tend to make when they find out that you have more than the typical 2.3 children. "Boy you must have a HUGE house. How many bedrooms do you have?". I tend to like the look they get on their face when I now answer "THREE".
The boys have the largest bedroom since eventually there will be 5 of them in there. The girls bedroom is in the middle sizewise since there are only 3 of them. Mine and Jay's is the smallest, since it need only hold our king size bed and a couple dressers! We don't need space on the floor to play polly pocket or WWE wrestling figures or for our lego creations to sprawl.
It seems that the majority of the people I encounter equate bedrooms with space. They also seem to believe that all children NEED their own bedrooms. I do think that people sometimes need SPACE, a place they can go to be alone, but why should that mean their own bedroom???...it can be a nook in the family room, a playroom, a craft room, an office, the basement, the front porch, a deck. Sure it is great to have a place so the kids things are strewn everywhere...but what do toys/things have to do with sleep?
I believe that most people woudln't "chose" to sleep alone. How often do you run into another mom who might say "My husband is out of town, I just can't sleep." So it is "normal" for a 30+ year old woman to not want to sleep alone, but we should shove babies and toddlers into their "own" space? Doesn't make a heck of a lot of sense now does it?
Our kids have always graduated from our bed into a room with a sibling, usually the same bed as a sibling. They like the closeness, they feel safe. I love sneaking into their rooms in the morning and seeing the tangle of bodies. The choice of when it happens has been their own, usually it is in the months following the arrivial of their newest sibling (they discover it is quieter in another room).
My children realize that their friends with only one or two siblings usually have their own bedrooms. The times we have talked about it, the kids always come up with more negatives than positives about having their own rooms. Could be that they are such social creatures, that they are just used to having to share bed(room)s, that they don't like the idea of being alone? You could argue that they don't say they want their own rooms because they know it won't happen, but I disagree. I KNOW I can't have that 1960's mustang convertible, but that doesn't mean I don't drool over everyone I see!
Brett bugs me at least once or twice a week with the question of whether Will is sleeping through the night yet. He asks this because he knows when the answer is finally "yes" it means his baby brother will join the other boys in their bedroom. Will will be "one of the boys" and not the "baby". Brett hasn't quite yet figured out that mommy will be holding onto her baby as long as she can!
OK so I jumped from "space" to the family bed and cosleeping. Don't know that there is really a point here. Just my musings and ramblings.....
A Day in Will's life......
As Will's first year is quickly drawing to a close (just over a week and counting...SNIFF!) I thought it would be neat if I wrote down what a typical baby day is like. Wish I had thought to do it each month of his first year, it would have made for a nice entry in his scrapbook (lol, poor Will, his scrapbook is so far behind)...anyhow....
6 AM: Will wakes up and nurses, usually for about 45 minutes or so. I know at first it is out of HUNGER as he gulps, but later is it more about comfort and spending some quiet time with mom. Since he sleeps right next to me, he never crys when he wakes up, he just crawls up closer to me for boob access! He usually falls back asleep before 7 AM and sleeps until...
8:30 AM: Will gets up for the morning. He usually eats breakfast almost immediately. Breakfast is usually dry cereal (cheerios, Kix), fresh fruit (melon, apple, peaches) and/or yogurt. Except for the yogurt, he feeds himself. He has learned to sign "more" to get more food. After breakfast Will crawls off to play. At somepoint, I will snag him and get him dressed for the day. His favorite plaything right now (besides his penis) is any BALL and he likes to watch BABY EINSTEIN DVDs. Midmorning he will sometimes have a bottle of yogurt juice or watered down cranberry juice or if he finds me sitting someplace (like on the computer), will crawl into my lap to nurse..
Noon: Time for lunch. Will usually eats left overs from last nights dinner, so the meal can run the gammet from pizza to noodles and veggies. He also usually eats some kind of canned fruit/applesauce with lunch. Except for the applesauce, he feeds himself. He drinks water, cranberry juice or yogurt juice from his juicecup. After lunch, if weather permits, the girls usually take him for a walk often with a sidetrip to the park. Depending on how dirty he gets, he may get a bath when he gets home and puts on clean clothes. After the walk/bath he usually nurses for about 20 to 30 minutes and then goes down for his afternoon nap.
2:30-4:30: NAPTIME! If the day permits or if I am exhausted from being up the night before, I might even nap WITH Will! When he gets up from his nap, he usually has a snack...ricecakes are his favorite right now! When then pack up for our evening activities.
5 PM- 9 PM: This time of year, most days we are at the ballfields. We have games Mon, Wed, Fri and Saturdays (although Sat are mornings). He spends most of the time at the ballfields being held. Will LOVES being at the ballfields, although he has recently discovered the DIRT (which means another bath once he gets home). He usually is either holding a ball or a bat. On the nights we don't have baseball games, we usually walk down to park and play. The river is right next to the park and Will loves watching the kids throw rocks and seeing the ducks. He also LOVES the slides (and climbing up them the wrong way)He usually nurses at some point during the evening and may have a snack (crackers, ricecakes, whatever he can snag from one of his siblings).
9 PM: Dinner...Will eats whatever I make, although sometimes minus the meat. He LOVES noodles, rice, green beans, peas and corn. He feeds himself his dinner. Usually has water or yogurt juice from his juicecup. If he is dirty (from ballfields, park, dinner) one of the girls will give him a bath after he eats.
10 PM: Will plays with the other kids for a bit and around 10:30 will usually seek me out (crawl up in my lap) and DEMAND to nurse (this is quite vocal and invovles him pulling up my shirt and jabbering and signing "milk"). He usually nurses until about 11 PM. Depending on the night, he either nurses in the living room in the big chair or in bed. If I happen to still want to stay up, I go at this point and lay him in bed with Jay (he usually heads to bed by 10 PM). Obviously, if I am in bed, we usually just fall asleep with him still nursing.
Depending on if he is cutting teeth, battling a cold/has one of his odd fevers or had gotten ahold of red food dye during the day he will either sleep until about 5:30 or 6 AM or be up most of the night. Luckily if he is just needy, and wants to nurse, it isn't an issue, since he is right next to me and I can usually sleep some while he nurse. If he is overly fussy and needs to be up and out of bed, Jay will usually go out in the living room and sit with him and watch some movie on late night TV (the nice thing about a hubby who keeps an odd schedule and doesn't sleep!) One can NEVER predict which will happen!
He still has poopy diapers numerous times a day (sometimes I think this is because he is sensitive to a lot of food additives and of course corn just goes right through him), they are always soft, never hard/solid. We have not introduced cow's milk, as Em had a severe allergic reaction at 13 months, so I tend to avoid it until they are about 15 months old...but he tolerates yogurt and icecream, so I don't think it will be a problem!
He is right on the edge of being able to walk. We is so goofy. He can stand alone, but won't do it unless he is holding something (like a basketball or baseball bat). You would think holding a rather large object (compared to his tiny frame) would make it harder to stand! He only has days left to take his first step before his first birthday!
As Will's first year is quickly drawing to a close (just over a week and counting...SNIFF!) I thought it would be neat if I wrote down what a typical baby day is like. Wish I had thought to do it each month of his first year, it would have made for a nice entry in his scrapbook (lol, poor Will, his scrapbook is so far behind)...anyhow....
6 AM: Will wakes up and nurses, usually for about 45 minutes or so. I know at first it is out of HUNGER as he gulps, but later is it more about comfort and spending some quiet time with mom. Since he sleeps right next to me, he never crys when he wakes up, he just crawls up closer to me for boob access! He usually falls back asleep before 7 AM and sleeps until...
8:30 AM: Will gets up for the morning. He usually eats breakfast almost immediately. Breakfast is usually dry cereal (cheerios, Kix), fresh fruit (melon, apple, peaches) and/or yogurt. Except for the yogurt, he feeds himself. He has learned to sign "more" to get more food. After breakfast Will crawls off to play. At somepoint, I will snag him and get him dressed for the day. His favorite plaything right now (besides his penis) is any BALL and he likes to watch BABY EINSTEIN DVDs. Midmorning he will sometimes have a bottle of yogurt juice or watered down cranberry juice or if he finds me sitting someplace (like on the computer), will crawl into my lap to nurse..
Noon: Time for lunch. Will usually eats left overs from last nights dinner, so the meal can run the gammet from pizza to noodles and veggies. He also usually eats some kind of canned fruit/applesauce with lunch. Except for the applesauce, he feeds himself. He drinks water, cranberry juice or yogurt juice from his juicecup. After lunch, if weather permits, the girls usually take him for a walk often with a sidetrip to the park. Depending on how dirty he gets, he may get a bath when he gets home and puts on clean clothes. After the walk/bath he usually nurses for about 20 to 30 minutes and then goes down for his afternoon nap.
2:30-4:30: NAPTIME! If the day permits or if I am exhausted from being up the night before, I might even nap WITH Will! When he gets up from his nap, he usually has a snack...ricecakes are his favorite right now! When then pack up for our evening activities.
5 PM- 9 PM: This time of year, most days we are at the ballfields. We have games Mon, Wed, Fri and Saturdays (although Sat are mornings). He spends most of the time at the ballfields being held. Will LOVES being at the ballfields, although he has recently discovered the DIRT (which means another bath once he gets home). He usually is either holding a ball or a bat. On the nights we don't have baseball games, we usually walk down to park and play. The river is right next to the park and Will loves watching the kids throw rocks and seeing the ducks. He also LOVES the slides (and climbing up them the wrong way)He usually nurses at some point during the evening and may have a snack (crackers, ricecakes, whatever he can snag from one of his siblings).
9 PM: Dinner...Will eats whatever I make, although sometimes minus the meat. He LOVES noodles, rice, green beans, peas and corn. He feeds himself his dinner. Usually has water or yogurt juice from his juicecup. If he is dirty (from ballfields, park, dinner) one of the girls will give him a bath after he eats.
10 PM: Will plays with the other kids for a bit and around 10:30 will usually seek me out (crawl up in my lap) and DEMAND to nurse (this is quite vocal and invovles him pulling up my shirt and jabbering and signing "milk"). He usually nurses until about 11 PM. Depending on the night, he either nurses in the living room in the big chair or in bed. If I happen to still want to stay up, I go at this point and lay him in bed with Jay (he usually heads to bed by 10 PM). Obviously, if I am in bed, we usually just fall asleep with him still nursing.
Depending on if he is cutting teeth, battling a cold/has one of his odd fevers or had gotten ahold of red food dye during the day he will either sleep until about 5:30 or 6 AM or be up most of the night. Luckily if he is just needy, and wants to nurse, it isn't an issue, since he is right next to me and I can usually sleep some while he nurse. If he is overly fussy and needs to be up and out of bed, Jay will usually go out in the living room and sit with him and watch some movie on late night TV (the nice thing about a hubby who keeps an odd schedule and doesn't sleep!) One can NEVER predict which will happen!
He still has poopy diapers numerous times a day (sometimes I think this is because he is sensitive to a lot of food additives and of course corn just goes right through him), they are always soft, never hard/solid. We have not introduced cow's milk, as Em had a severe allergic reaction at 13 months, so I tend to avoid it until they are about 15 months old...but he tolerates yogurt and icecream, so I don't think it will be a problem!
He is right on the edge of being able to walk. We is so goofy. He can stand alone, but won't do it unless he is holding something (like a basketball or baseball bat). You would think holding a rather large object (compared to his tiny frame) would make it harder to stand! He only has days left to take his first step before his first birthday!
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Comic Relief
Jay and I both agree that we think God send Cade to our family to provide comic relief. Not a day goes by that he doesn't make us laugh. Take this afternoon for instance. Cade was helping me make brownies....
Cade: God made trees to give us fruit and wood, right mom?
Me: Yes, and to help clean the air.
Cade: God made trees because he loves us right?
Me: Yes
Cade: God made everything right?
Me: Right
Cade: He made William right?
Me: Yes
Cade: And he made boys with weiners and girls without weiners. I don't know why he made girls with no weiners, he must have forgot.
Jay and I both agree that we think God send Cade to our family to provide comic relief. Not a day goes by that he doesn't make us laugh. Take this afternoon for instance. Cade was helping me make brownies....
Cade: God made trees to give us fruit and wood, right mom?
Me: Yes, and to help clean the air.
Cade: God made trees because he loves us right?
Me: Yes
Cade: God made everything right?
Me: Right
Cade: He made William right?
Me: Yes
Cade: And he made boys with weiners and girls without weiners. I don't know why he made girls with no weiners, he must have forgot.
Deadly Immunity:
Check out: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/_/id/7395411?rnd=1118891195281&has-player=true&version=6.0.11.847
Since I tend to think "outside" what is considered to be the norm, I always get a kick out of it when I find something in the mainstream media that I actually agree with. Of course, then again, I always love a good conspiracy theory!
I strongly suspect my 7 year old, Jacob, has vaccine damage. Once I made the connection, not one more drop of vaccine entered ANY of my children.
Check out: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/_/id/7395411?rnd=1118891195281&has-player=true&version=6.0.11.847
Since I tend to think "outside" what is considered to be the norm, I always get a kick out of it when I find something in the mainstream media that I actually agree with. Of course, then again, I always love a good conspiracy theory!
I strongly suspect my 7 year old, Jacob, has vaccine damage. Once I made the connection, not one more drop of vaccine entered ANY of my children.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Just another day.....
I actually managed to roll out of bed early enough this morning to go down and volunteer at Granny's Garden. I had ever intention of going down before today, but I kept getting up around 8 AM and knew it would be too hot by the time I got down there to do two hours of work. I quickly woke Hannah and Emily and we drove down to the garden. Granny wasn't there yet, but another, more seasoned volunteer got us started. There was this huge pile of mulch that had to be scooped into wheelbarrows and spread in the learning center area. Scooping up the mulch was too much for my still sore arm, so I most spread it with my feet once the girls got it dumped. I hope that our gardening time might help with Hannah's attitude, she was grumbling and complaining, saying she would pay the $40 fee for garden school (the fee is waved for volunteers) if I never made her come again. We spend the time talking about attitude and contributing and giving back. As we talked her mood seemed to improve. Eventually some of the kids that attend summer daycare at the school came out and Hannah loved that Granny let her "oversee" their work. I loved getting to talk with Granny, she seems to see things along the same lines that I do. The value of family, of being with your children, of respecting them. As we finished up with our time, she told the girls to gather bouquets of flowers to take home. She insisted I pick a bouquet also and I mentioned that I would take it down to my dad. She told me taht her mom had a stroke about 6 years ago and we shared some similiar experiences. I feel so blessed to have found this wonderful earthy caring soul! IF sending us home with boquets wasn't enough, she sent us home with a bunch of perrinnials, the girls plan to plant some here in the flowerbeds adn then surprise their grandma by planting some in her back garden (with dad in the hospital, her garden has been sadly neglected!).
We left the gardens and came home. Hannah and I both showered and then I ran her up to dance. After dropping her off, I went down to Drake to see my dad. I try to get down there as often as I can. When I walked into his room today he was in a wheelchair eating lunch. The only problem was he was feeding himself with his KNIFE! I am so grateful that I got ther before he managed to cut his tongue open (it has just healed from a deep cut he put in it while in ICU). We talked a bit and he told me that I had to have Thanksgiving dinner at my house this year because it would be too much work for mom...I agreed with him, the way one would with a child that they want to be quite. I brought down some pictures for the speech thearapist (Jenna) to use when working with him. I got a bit miffed when he said Cade and Jacob were two of the worst kids....he so mistakes their high enegy for being bad. In ways he reminds me of his dad (my grandfather) who always paced around after my brother and I making sure we didn't break anything. He equates good with quiet...and that is one thing my boys aren't! I ended up spending about 3 hours down there, it is so hard to leave him when he is awake...he looks at you with these big sad eyes! A HUGE storm rolled through and the sounds seemed to lull him to sleep, so I snuck out as the storm subsided.
I got home to see that I had missed a call from my friend Kas. I called her back and her husband, David, answered the phone. I was completely taken aback (he has never answered the phone in the 2 years I have been calling there)....He must have said "hello" 3 times before I asked for Kas. AMAZINGLY, she was AWAKE and we got to spend about an hour talking (such a privledge with busy babies and toddlers). She is so excited, they may be adopting a WONDERFUL neighboy, Darren. They are hoping that his grandfather (who has custody of him) might be willing to let them adopt him because he is having trouble controlling him. This is a sweet kid, who would thrive with a little more attention and less medication!I head this HAPPINESS in Kas voice today that I don't think I have heard before. I keep praying it will work out. Darren couldn't find a nicer family! We will have to plan an adoption shower when everything is finalized!!
The girls found out they got jobs as propmaasters in the local play. Em seemed quite relieved that she wouldn't have to sing on stage...Hannah seemed a bit disappointed. They went to the first meeting tonight, we will see how it goes once they get home.
Jacob has his first game in the end of the year coachpitch tournament tonight up at Tealtown at 8:30 PM. They get to play under the lights! Jay took him up to his game and Grant and Cade decided to tag along. Brett is busy watching some movie holding Will and Sophie is napping. I am enjoying the quiet!
Tomorrow we go back to Garden School. Can't wait to see what we do this week!
I actually managed to roll out of bed early enough this morning to go down and volunteer at Granny's Garden. I had ever intention of going down before today, but I kept getting up around 8 AM and knew it would be too hot by the time I got down there to do two hours of work. I quickly woke Hannah and Emily and we drove down to the garden. Granny wasn't there yet, but another, more seasoned volunteer got us started. There was this huge pile of mulch that had to be scooped into wheelbarrows and spread in the learning center area. Scooping up the mulch was too much for my still sore arm, so I most spread it with my feet once the girls got it dumped. I hope that our gardening time might help with Hannah's attitude, she was grumbling and complaining, saying she would pay the $40 fee for garden school (the fee is waved for volunteers) if I never made her come again. We spend the time talking about attitude and contributing and giving back. As we talked her mood seemed to improve. Eventually some of the kids that attend summer daycare at the school came out and Hannah loved that Granny let her "oversee" their work. I loved getting to talk with Granny, she seems to see things along the same lines that I do. The value of family, of being with your children, of respecting them. As we finished up with our time, she told the girls to gather bouquets of flowers to take home. She insisted I pick a bouquet also and I mentioned that I would take it down to my dad. She told me taht her mom had a stroke about 6 years ago and we shared some similiar experiences. I feel so blessed to have found this wonderful earthy caring soul! IF sending us home with boquets wasn't enough, she sent us home with a bunch of perrinnials, the girls plan to plant some here in the flowerbeds adn then surprise their grandma by planting some in her back garden (with dad in the hospital, her garden has been sadly neglected!).
We left the gardens and came home. Hannah and I both showered and then I ran her up to dance. After dropping her off, I went down to Drake to see my dad. I try to get down there as often as I can. When I walked into his room today he was in a wheelchair eating lunch. The only problem was he was feeding himself with his KNIFE! I am so grateful that I got ther before he managed to cut his tongue open (it has just healed from a deep cut he put in it while in ICU). We talked a bit and he told me that I had to have Thanksgiving dinner at my house this year because it would be too much work for mom...I agreed with him, the way one would with a child that they want to be quite. I brought down some pictures for the speech thearapist (Jenna) to use when working with him. I got a bit miffed when he said Cade and Jacob were two of the worst kids....he so mistakes their high enegy for being bad. In ways he reminds me of his dad (my grandfather) who always paced around after my brother and I making sure we didn't break anything. He equates good with quiet...and that is one thing my boys aren't! I ended up spending about 3 hours down there, it is so hard to leave him when he is awake...he looks at you with these big sad eyes! A HUGE storm rolled through and the sounds seemed to lull him to sleep, so I snuck out as the storm subsided.
I got home to see that I had missed a call from my friend Kas. I called her back and her husband, David, answered the phone. I was completely taken aback (he has never answered the phone in the 2 years I have been calling there)....He must have said "hello" 3 times before I asked for Kas. AMAZINGLY, she was AWAKE and we got to spend about an hour talking (such a privledge with busy babies and toddlers). She is so excited, they may be adopting a WONDERFUL neighboy, Darren. They are hoping that his grandfather (who has custody of him) might be willing to let them adopt him because he is having trouble controlling him. This is a sweet kid, who would thrive with a little more attention and less medication!I head this HAPPINESS in Kas voice today that I don't think I have heard before. I keep praying it will work out. Darren couldn't find a nicer family! We will have to plan an adoption shower when everything is finalized!!
The girls found out they got jobs as propmaasters in the local play. Em seemed quite relieved that she wouldn't have to sing on stage...Hannah seemed a bit disappointed. They went to the first meeting tonight, we will see how it goes once they get home.
Jacob has his first game in the end of the year coachpitch tournament tonight up at Tealtown at 8:30 PM. They get to play under the lights! Jay took him up to his game and Grant and Cade decided to tag along. Brett is busy watching some movie holding Will and Sophie is napping. I am enjoying the quiet!
Tomorrow we go back to Garden School. Can't wait to see what we do this week!
Monday, June 13, 2005
Eight is enough????????
Saturday when I was at the bank trying to straighten out a mistake with my checking account, the young woman (OK turns out she was only 3 years younger than me, but somehow not having children makes a woman LOOK so much younger!) who was helping me said something which made me respond with an answer that revealed I had 8 children. She was in utter shock and then started into the typical litany of questions I often hear...how old are they?...how many boys? girls? how old am I? Am I married to their day? Did I always want that many kids? and the BIG ONE....are you planning to have more?
Years ago, back on baby 4 or 5, I would always answer "If the Lord choses to send us more, I will embrace them with open arms." After my horrible pregnancy with Will and the resulting aftermath that left him in NICU on C-PAP my new mantra soon became "Eight is enough." and to myself would say I am tired, I worry about the energy I can give to each child I already have. Once the trauma of his birth passed, I revised my answer and would say "I don't think my body can handle another pregnancy, but if the Lord sees fit to send me a baby another way, I will gladly raise it."
On Saturday, when I gave her that response, for the first time I was sad. I have been sad ever since, I suppose mourning the thought of not carrying another child. I know a lot of it has to do with Will's impending 1st birthday, just over 2 weeks away. Some of it has to do with feeling "too old" to carry another pregnancy (I know many of you would disagree that 36 is certainly not too old...sideways glance at my pal Kas). Honestly, there is nothing keeping me from getting pregnant again.....well other than the fact that my cycles haven't returned yet and Will is such an avid nurser. We aren't "careful" and Jay refuses to take any permanent measures...I suppose it could happen, but I just have the strongest feeling that it won't....does that make any sense?
Maybe it is having teens that makes me feel this way. Last night the girls went down to the local theater to try out for a play (well actually a musical, we didn't realize that, my girls aren't singers!) and I watched this adorable 17 year old boy fall all over my 13 year old daughter (she looks older than 13 but she quickly made sure he knew her age! It didn't seem to deter him!)...maybe just maybe that has added to me feeling "past my prime".
There is really no point to this entry...just my rambling....heck the last time I was this sappy about not being pregnant (my birthday in Nov 2003), those two little lines appeared on the stick not even 2 weeks later....OK...so that better not happen....I guess I should be careful what a lament over!
Saturday when I was at the bank trying to straighten out a mistake with my checking account, the young woman (OK turns out she was only 3 years younger than me, but somehow not having children makes a woman LOOK so much younger!) who was helping me said something which made me respond with an answer that revealed I had 8 children. She was in utter shock and then started into the typical litany of questions I often hear...how old are they?...how many boys? girls? how old am I? Am I married to their day? Did I always want that many kids? and the BIG ONE....are you planning to have more?
Years ago, back on baby 4 or 5, I would always answer "If the Lord choses to send us more, I will embrace them with open arms." After my horrible pregnancy with Will and the resulting aftermath that left him in NICU on C-PAP my new mantra soon became "Eight is enough." and to myself would say I am tired, I worry about the energy I can give to each child I already have. Once the trauma of his birth passed, I revised my answer and would say "I don't think my body can handle another pregnancy, but if the Lord sees fit to send me a baby another way, I will gladly raise it."
On Saturday, when I gave her that response, for the first time I was sad. I have been sad ever since, I suppose mourning the thought of not carrying another child. I know a lot of it has to do with Will's impending 1st birthday, just over 2 weeks away. Some of it has to do with feeling "too old" to carry another pregnancy (I know many of you would disagree that 36 is certainly not too old...sideways glance at my pal Kas). Honestly, there is nothing keeping me from getting pregnant again.....well other than the fact that my cycles haven't returned yet and Will is such an avid nurser. We aren't "careful" and Jay refuses to take any permanent measures...I suppose it could happen, but I just have the strongest feeling that it won't....does that make any sense?
Maybe it is having teens that makes me feel this way. Last night the girls went down to the local theater to try out for a play (well actually a musical, we didn't realize that, my girls aren't singers!) and I watched this adorable 17 year old boy fall all over my 13 year old daughter (she looks older than 13 but she quickly made sure he knew her age! It didn't seem to deter him!)...maybe just maybe that has added to me feeling "past my prime".
There is really no point to this entry...just my rambling....heck the last time I was this sappy about not being pregnant (my birthday in Nov 2003), those two little lines appeared on the stick not even 2 weeks later....OK...so that better not happen....I guess I should be careful what a lament over!
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Granny's Garden School, Inc.
Summer in Granny's Garden
http://grannysgardenschool.com/Summer_program.html
On the grounds of the Loveland Primary & Elementary School
550-600 Loveland-Madeira Road
The summer series is once a week for 8 weeks. The registration fee is $40 per family plus a $5 supply fee for each family member. Bring a friend special - If you are not planning to bring children, bring a friend and you will be charged the family rate.
There are two sessions to chose from, morning and evening. Wednesday morning 9-11 a.m., June 8th - July 27 or Thursday evening, 7-9 p.m., June 9th - July 28. Participants are welcome to pick a bouquet after each class.
The summer program is a family experience with parents and children working and learning together. Each class is a combination of gardening and craft experiences. Participants learn to press flowers, propagate mums, build garden structures and cook with herbs among other activities. Woodworking is almost as much a part of the summer program as gardening. The first thing we do is build garden boxes. We use these for lots of things including sitting on while weeding the gardens. The summer program is a great way to make new friends and spend time with old ones and make special memories with your children.
A variety of gardening and craft activities, including:
Planting a vegetable garden
How to grow annuals and perennials from seed
Exploring the nature trail and the creatures that live there
Planting a fall garden
Seed saving
Starting mums and other plants from cuttings (water - soil)
Planting a sunflower garden
Harvesting produce
Building a garden box
Garden photography
Pressing flowers
Drying flowers
Making a cutting jar
Glass painting
Flower arranging
Concrete leaf casting
Today was our first adventure in Granny's Garden. Hannah, Grant, Jacob, Cade, Sophie and I went down to the elementary school and met Granny and the other families and dove into the activities. We seperated zinnia seeds and planted them, planted sunflowers, cut and pressed flowers (using a phonebook) and cut our own boquets to take home. Everyone seemed to have a really good time, despite it being VERY HOT! We can't wait to go back next week. I snapped some pictures, still can't find the cable to hook the camera up to the computer, but when I do, I will share the pictures with everyone!
Summer in Granny's Garden
http://grannysgardenschool.com/Summer_program.html
On the grounds of the Loveland Primary & Elementary School
550-600 Loveland-Madeira Road
The summer series is once a week for 8 weeks. The registration fee is $40 per family plus a $5 supply fee for each family member. Bring a friend special - If you are not planning to bring children, bring a friend and you will be charged the family rate.
There are two sessions to chose from, morning and evening. Wednesday morning 9-11 a.m., June 8th - July 27 or Thursday evening, 7-9 p.m., June 9th - July 28. Participants are welcome to pick a bouquet after each class.
The summer program is a family experience with parents and children working and learning together. Each class is a combination of gardening and craft experiences. Participants learn to press flowers, propagate mums, build garden structures and cook with herbs among other activities. Woodworking is almost as much a part of the summer program as gardening. The first thing we do is build garden boxes. We use these for lots of things including sitting on while weeding the gardens. The summer program is a great way to make new friends and spend time with old ones and make special memories with your children.
A variety of gardening and craft activities, including:
Planting a vegetable garden
How to grow annuals and perennials from seed
Exploring the nature trail and the creatures that live there
Planting a fall garden
Seed saving
Starting mums and other plants from cuttings (water - soil)
Planting a sunflower garden
Harvesting produce
Building a garden box
Garden photography
Pressing flowers
Drying flowers
Making a cutting jar
Glass painting
Flower arranging
Concrete leaf casting
Today was our first adventure in Granny's Garden. Hannah, Grant, Jacob, Cade, Sophie and I went down to the elementary school and met Granny and the other families and dove into the activities. We seperated zinnia seeds and planted them, planted sunflowers, cut and pressed flowers (using a phonebook) and cut our own boquets to take home. Everyone seemed to have a really good time, despite it being VERY HOT! We can't wait to go back next week. I snapped some pictures, still can't find the cable to hook the camera up to the computer, but when I do, I will share the pictures with everyone!
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Beach Waterpark
http://www.thebeachwaterpark.com/
We spent the better park of Sunday, a good portion of Monday and some of Tuesday at a local waterpark called THE BEACH.
William LOVES the water! He started splashing in it immediately. What amazed me most was that he actually left his sunhat on the ENTIRE time we were at the waterpark. He loves playing with those swishy squirty toys, he carries them around in his mouth. I took some pictures of him with a waterproof camera, I hope they turn out! And knock on wood, I have managed to have him in the sun for over 13 hours and HAVEN'T gotten him SUNBURNT! Unfortunately I can't say the same for Brett....he left putting sunblock on his back up to Grant,not a good idea...you can see one vertical and one horizontal line where Grant attempted to smear some on!
Sophie surprised me with how "brave" she was, getting in the water, putting her face in, playing in the kid play area. Such a change from the clingy child she was last year.
Cade is putting his face underwater this year and LOVES playing in the kid area. He even ventured into the wavepool, I couldn't believe it! He is usually the most cautious of the kids, reluctant to try new things. He has to wear goggles the entire time he is at the waterpark.
The little ones love SPLASH MOUNTAIN with its inner tube rapids, a water flume, a belly-flopping slide, and an oversized children's pool. Both Sophie and Cade call the inner tube rapids the "Little Miami"...or in Sophie's vocabulary the "MY" AMI......it is HERS....when you ask her if she wants to go to the "Little Miami" she will so "go to MY ami, not your ami". She cracks me up!
Jacob, Grant, Emily, Hannah and Brett have been hitting all the slides/rides. The park has been pretty empty (except for Sunday) so there have been no lines. It is so nice to have the place practically to yourself!
http://www.thebeachwaterpark.com/
We spent the better park of Sunday, a good portion of Monday and some of Tuesday at a local waterpark called THE BEACH.
William LOVES the water! He started splashing in it immediately. What amazed me most was that he actually left his sunhat on the ENTIRE time we were at the waterpark. He loves playing with those swishy squirty toys, he carries them around in his mouth. I took some pictures of him with a waterproof camera, I hope they turn out! And knock on wood, I have managed to have him in the sun for over 13 hours and HAVEN'T gotten him SUNBURNT! Unfortunately I can't say the same for Brett....he left putting sunblock on his back up to Grant,not a good idea...you can see one vertical and one horizontal line where Grant attempted to smear some on!
Sophie surprised me with how "brave" she was, getting in the water, putting her face in, playing in the kid play area. Such a change from the clingy child she was last year.
Cade is putting his face underwater this year and LOVES playing in the kid area. He even ventured into the wavepool, I couldn't believe it! He is usually the most cautious of the kids, reluctant to try new things. He has to wear goggles the entire time he is at the waterpark.
The little ones love SPLASH MOUNTAIN with its inner tube rapids, a water flume, a belly-flopping slide, and an oversized children's pool. Both Sophie and Cade call the inner tube rapids the "Little Miami"...or in Sophie's vocabulary the "MY" AMI......it is HERS....when you ask her if she wants to go to the "Little Miami" she will so "go to MY ami, not your ami". She cracks me up!
Jacob, Grant, Emily, Hannah and Brett have been hitting all the slides/rides. The park has been pretty empty (except for Sunday) so there have been no lines. It is so nice to have the place practically to yourself!
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Altered Book Opportunity
Thursday June 2 7PM
Ridiman Home, Newport KY
Kas Ridiman has offered her home for anyone who would like to work on an altered book this Thursday (6-2) evening from 7 PM -10 PM (although people are welcome to leave earlier or hang out later). Please bring a snack to share, Kas will be providing beverages. Also, if you are so inclined, the hot tub is available for use, so bring a swimsuit and towel.
What to bring for working on your book: altered books (any hardback book you would like to alter), any stamps/stickers/craft items you would like to use or to share, adhesive, scissors, old magazines for cutting up, etc. There will be plenty of paper, paint and misc supplies available to be shared! There will also be The Angel Company Catalog available for looking through as they have some wonderful sets on sale this month (no pressure to buy, just the opportunity if you are so inclined!).
If you would like more info on altered books, check out this website: http://jennysartspace.com/alteredbooks/
If you would like to see The Angel Company catalog online, check out this website: http://www.stampingimpressions.com/TACcatalog/index.html
Contact Kas Ridiman at hestiahomeschool@aol.com or Laura Riesenberg at theriesenbergs@cinci.rr.com with any questions.
Thursday June 2 7PM
Ridiman Home, Newport KY
Kas Ridiman has offered her home for anyone who would like to work on an altered book this Thursday (6-2) evening from 7 PM -10 PM (although people are welcome to leave earlier or hang out later). Please bring a snack to share, Kas will be providing beverages. Also, if you are so inclined, the hot tub is available for use, so bring a swimsuit and towel.
What to bring for working on your book: altered books (any hardback book you would like to alter), any stamps/stickers/craft items you would like to use or to share, adhesive, scissors, old magazines for cutting up, etc. There will be plenty of paper, paint and misc supplies available to be shared! There will also be The Angel Company Catalog available for looking through as they have some wonderful sets on sale this month (no pressure to buy, just the opportunity if you are so inclined!).
If you would like more info on altered books, check out this website: http://jennysartspace.com/alteredbooks/
If you would like to see The Angel Company catalog online, check out this website: http://www.stampingimpressions.com/TACcatalog/index.html
Contact Kas Ridiman at hestiahomeschool@aol.com or Laura Riesenberg at theriesenbergs@cinci.rr.com with any questions.
Grant's 2nd half baseball schedule:
In Knothole, the kids play half of the season and then the teams are redistributed according to their record. Because we went 8-0 in the first half, we now play the toughest teams the remainder of the season. The boys automatically make it into the county tournament and if we finish in the top 3 in the division we can also play in the city tournament. It should be fun to see how we do!
Saturday June 4 vs. Batavia Cougars @ Batavia team drinks: Richey
Wednesday June 8 vs. NR Stingers @ Tealtown team drinks: Riesenberg
Saturday June 11 vs. Milford Storm @ Tealtown team drinks: Stegman
Monday June 13 vs. Tealtown Thunder @ Tealtown team drinks: Vance
Wednsday June 15 vs. Tealtown Scorpions @ Tealtown team drinks: Alldred
Saturday June 18 vs. Amelia Dodgers @ Tealtown team drinks: Gabriele
Wednesday June 22 vs. Amelia Red Sox @ Amelia team drinks: Hartman
Saturday June 25 BYE
Wednesday June 29 vs. CNE Swarm @ CNE team drinks: Hehemann
We need to know ASAP if/when any families will be vacationing in June.
We need to know ASAP if/when any families will be vacationing in July. The city tournament tournament starts July 5th and the county tournament starts July 9th. We can not enter these tournaments if we do not have enough players to field a team.
In Knothole, the kids play half of the season and then the teams are redistributed according to their record. Because we went 8-0 in the first half, we now play the toughest teams the remainder of the season. The boys automatically make it into the county tournament and if we finish in the top 3 in the division we can also play in the city tournament. It should be fun to see how we do!
Saturday June 4 vs. Batavia Cougars @ Batavia team drinks: Richey
Wednesday June 8 vs. NR Stingers @ Tealtown team drinks: Riesenberg
Saturday June 11 vs. Milford Storm @ Tealtown team drinks: Stegman
Monday June 13 vs. Tealtown Thunder @ Tealtown team drinks: Vance
Wednsday June 15 vs. Tealtown Scorpions @ Tealtown team drinks: Alldred
Saturday June 18 vs. Amelia Dodgers @ Tealtown team drinks: Gabriele
Wednesday June 22 vs. Amelia Red Sox @ Amelia team drinks: Hartman
Saturday June 25 BYE
Wednesday June 29 vs. CNE Swarm @ CNE team drinks: Hehemann
We need to know ASAP if/when any families will be vacationing in June.
We need to know ASAP if/when any families will be vacationing in July. The city tournament tournament starts July 5th and the county tournament starts July 9th. We can not enter these tournaments if we do not have enough players to field a team.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Wednesday, June 1, 2005;10 AM and 11 AM:
Park Program: Pond Exploring (all ages) + TEEN GET TOGETHER (see end of email)Woodland Mound Park
I wrote: Remember, my family plans to picnic and go the the water play area (frisbee golf for the teens) after the program! Please stay and play with us!
There is nothing like exploring the pond in the spring! Put on your play clothes and your boots/watershoes and join us as we explore one of the many ponds at Woodland Mound. Meet at the Seasongood Nature Center. The naturalist will present a short program, and then take us to muck up the pond. The program is FREE!
The following families are assigned to the following timeslot: 10 AM: Fetters, Bayes, Braswell11 AM: Riesenberg, Ridiman, Webel, Hensley, Leland, Ballman
According to the weather channel, it looks like a gorgeous day! We will picnic and hit the waterpark or the playground after our hike. Program held rain or shine!
Attention TEENS...any teen that would like to come and HANG OUT and PLAY at the park but doesn't want to attend the pond program, plan to meet us at NOON for lunch and then if you would like, the teens can go and play frisbee golf while the younger kids hit the water area and playground. Brett and Hannah would LOVE to have you join them!Teens attending: Brett and Hannah , Veronica, Christopher, and Anthony , Sarah, Mandy , and Braswells
The pond exploring trip ended up being even more exciting than usual! When we pulled into the park we noticed a local police cruiser (unusual since all you usally see are the park rangers) and then as we pulled up to the nature center we saw a state patrol car. Hannah and I both wondered what was going on. We quickly found out as we tried to exit our van...there was a "fugitive" in the woods. Initially we were told he was armed, but we soon learned he wasn't...that he had been involved in a burgarly and had fled on foot when his car was stopped. The helicopter was circling overhead and they had scent dogs on his trail. Needless to say, the pond program was delayed just a bit!
Once we got to start the program (the fugitive fled west of the park) we had a usual good time with our naturalist friend, Trina. The pond was unusually low (thanks to some construction) so the kids got QUITE MUDDY whiling mucking in the pond looking for critters. Will decided that the program was a nursingfest and nursed the entire hour we were attending. They had a great time. Once we finished exploring the pond, we hosed off, grabbed our lunch and headed to the wet play area for some fun......the teens went to play frisbee golf (and took Will with them) and everyone else played on the wet playground. Sophie and Cade had a BLAST! We ended up staying at the park until almost 3 PM.
Unfortunately Em was sick and stayed home.....hopefully she will be feeling better soon!
Park Program: Pond Exploring (all ages) + TEEN GET TOGETHER (see end of email)Woodland Mound Park
I wrote: Remember, my family plans to picnic and go the the water play area (frisbee golf for the teens) after the program! Please stay and play with us!
There is nothing like exploring the pond in the spring! Put on your play clothes and your boots/watershoes and join us as we explore one of the many ponds at Woodland Mound. Meet at the Seasongood Nature Center. The naturalist will present a short program, and then take us to muck up the pond. The program is FREE!
The following families are assigned to the following timeslot: 10 AM: Fetters, Bayes, Braswell11 AM: Riesenberg, Ridiman, Webel, Hensley, Leland, Ballman
According to the weather channel, it looks like a gorgeous day! We will picnic and hit the waterpark or the playground after our hike. Program held rain or shine!
Attention TEENS...any teen that would like to come and HANG OUT and PLAY at the park but doesn't want to attend the pond program, plan to meet us at NOON for lunch and then if you would like, the teens can go and play frisbee golf while the younger kids hit the water area and playground. Brett and Hannah would LOVE to have you join them!Teens attending: Brett and Hannah , Veronica, Christopher, and Anthony , Sarah, Mandy , and Braswells
The pond exploring trip ended up being even more exciting than usual! When we pulled into the park we noticed a local police cruiser (unusual since all you usally see are the park rangers) and then as we pulled up to the nature center we saw a state patrol car. Hannah and I both wondered what was going on. We quickly found out as we tried to exit our van...there was a "fugitive" in the woods. Initially we were told he was armed, but we soon learned he wasn't...that he had been involved in a burgarly and had fled on foot when his car was stopped. The helicopter was circling overhead and they had scent dogs on his trail. Needless to say, the pond program was delayed just a bit!
Once we got to start the program (the fugitive fled west of the park) we had a usual good time with our naturalist friend, Trina. The pond was unusually low (thanks to some construction) so the kids got QUITE MUDDY whiling mucking in the pond looking for critters. Will decided that the program was a nursingfest and nursed the entire hour we were attending. They had a great time. Once we finished exploring the pond, we hosed off, grabbed our lunch and headed to the wet play area for some fun......the teens went to play frisbee golf (and took Will with them) and everyone else played on the wet playground. Sophie and Cade had a BLAST! We ended up staying at the park until almost 3 PM.
Unfortunately Em was sick and stayed home.....hopefully she will be feeling better soon!
Thursday, May 26, 2005
NOAH'S ARK FARM
Thursday May 26th at 1:00 pm.
Korin writes: Please e-mail me if you want to come, and how many of you will be coming.Noah's Ark Farm is very much like a giant petting zoo, except that there are many odd animals who all get along together, that you wouldn't normally see.... let alone get to hold. We should have a general tour, get to see and hold many animals in the small handling barn, then after we see the >horses, goats, water buffalo, zebu and 1000 lb. hog we will be offered pony rides (much longer ones than parky's farm!) after that we are left alone to enjoy ourselves for as long as we want. They have food you can scoop out >into cake cones to feed the sheep/goats for 25 cents (on the honor system.... there is just a jar to put change in). One of the things I liked about this place, other than the ODD assortment of animals, is that after Wanda has shown you everything, and what animals you can hold touch etc. she goes away to work.... you can hold and touch whatever you want! All the >animals in the handling barn are not only tame enough for handling, but get along with everything else in the barn so they can all run around at the same time. I found it a bit surreal to have a baby pig, 4 rabbits, a ferret, kittens, a duck, turtles and a south american cavie all hanging out together! They also have llamas, emus, a giant long-horned steer and buffalo.
Noah's Ark Farm is located in California KY ...... 3269 Koehler Rd. 41007 if you want to mapquest. It is off the AA highway which you would get to via 471/US 27. To give you an idea.....I will send a detailed set of directions to those of you who will be attending.I would suggest carpooling for those few of you who can as I don't remember a lot of room to park, although I'm sure they don't care where you parkalong their road.
COST: 5$ per person. I'm not sure if this includes 3 and under or what.... I'd say you should plan on everyone paying (even little ones) when you make your decision to come and hopefully they won't have to. Also, you should probably assume you're going to do the pony ride.
Directions from Mapquest:
4: Merge onto I-275 S via the ramp on the LEFT toward OH-32/KENTUCKY.
5: Merge onto AA HWY/KY-9 S via Alexandria Pike
6: Turn RIGHT onto CALIFORNIA CROSS RD. 0.8 miles
7: Turn LEFT onto KY-10. 0.7 miles
8: Turn RIGHT onto KOEHLER RD. 0.1 miles
It took a while to get to the farm,but it was worth the drive. Unfortunately I forgot Will's sling and there wasn't a stroller in the car so I had to "beg" my homeschooling friends for a stroller or a sling, I still can't carry him because my arm is still sore and swollen over a month after the accident.....a wonderful mom lent me her stroller that I used while Will slept and then another mom lent me her sling when he woke up.
The farm hosted a large assortment of animals...the beautiful long horned steers among my favorite (I had never seen one in person before). The kids got to feed baby goats bottles and handfeed the adult goats (they put the feed in an icecream cone). Cade even rode the pony. I took a bunch of pictures with the regular "film" camera, so it will be a while before I can scan them into the computer (I can't find the charger or USB cable for the regular camera since the move...it must be buried in a box!
Thursday May 26th at 1:00 pm.
Korin writes: Please e-mail me if you want to come, and how many of you will be coming.Noah's Ark Farm is very much like a giant petting zoo, except that there are many odd animals who all get along together, that you wouldn't normally see.... let alone get to hold. We should have a general tour, get to see and hold many animals in the small handling barn, then after we see the >horses, goats, water buffalo, zebu and 1000 lb. hog we will be offered pony rides (much longer ones than parky's farm!) after that we are left alone to enjoy ourselves for as long as we want. They have food you can scoop out >into cake cones to feed the sheep/goats for 25 cents (on the honor system.... there is just a jar to put change in). One of the things I liked about this place, other than the ODD assortment of animals, is that after Wanda has shown you everything, and what animals you can hold touch etc. she goes away to work.... you can hold and touch whatever you want! All the >animals in the handling barn are not only tame enough for handling, but get along with everything else in the barn so they can all run around at the same time. I found it a bit surreal to have a baby pig, 4 rabbits, a ferret, kittens, a duck, turtles and a south american cavie all hanging out together! They also have llamas, emus, a giant long-horned steer and buffalo.
Noah's Ark Farm is located in California KY ...... 3269 Koehler Rd. 41007 if you want to mapquest. It is off the AA highway which you would get to via 471/US 27. To give you an idea.....I will send a detailed set of directions to those of you who will be attending.I would suggest carpooling for those few of you who can as I don't remember a lot of room to park, although I'm sure they don't care where you parkalong their road.
COST: 5$ per person. I'm not sure if this includes 3 and under or what.... I'd say you should plan on everyone paying (even little ones) when you make your decision to come and hopefully they won't have to. Also, you should probably assume you're going to do the pony ride.
Directions from Mapquest:
4: Merge onto I-275 S via the ramp on the LEFT toward OH-32/KENTUCKY.
5: Merge onto AA HWY/KY-9 S via Alexandria Pike
6: Turn RIGHT onto CALIFORNIA CROSS RD. 0.8 miles
7: Turn LEFT onto KY-10. 0.7 miles
8: Turn RIGHT onto KOEHLER RD. 0.1 miles
It took a while to get to the farm,but it was worth the drive. Unfortunately I forgot Will's sling and there wasn't a stroller in the car so I had to "beg" my homeschooling friends for a stroller or a sling, I still can't carry him because my arm is still sore and swollen over a month after the accident.....a wonderful mom lent me her stroller that I used while Will slept and then another mom lent me her sling when he woke up.
The farm hosted a large assortment of animals...the beautiful long horned steers among my favorite (I had never seen one in person before). The kids got to feed baby goats bottles and handfeed the adult goats (they put the feed in an icecream cone). Cade even rode the pony. I took a bunch of pictures with the regular "film" camera, so it will be a while before I can scan them into the computer (I can't find the charger or USB cable for the regular camera since the move...it must be buried in a box!
Monday, May 23, 2005
Girl Scouts:
UNMUSEUM tour
Monday, May 23
10 AM
Just wanted to remind everyone that I set up a tour of the UNMUSEUM for MONDAY May 23 at 10 AM (90 minute tour). The Unmuseum is part of the Contemporary Art Center downtown and is a wonderful exhibit (and hands on so we will have no problem with our toddlers...Sophie loved our last visit). It is FREE!
Check it out: http://www.contemporaryartscenter.org/unmuseum/default.html
The trip downtown is always trying, parking is hard to find and I don't particualarly like walking with the kids on the busy streets, but as things go the journey was uneventful. The docent met our group (my kids, the Malott family and the Ridiman girls) and took us on a tour of the exhibits, talked a lot about art and interpretting it and then turned the kids lose to work on some art of their own (collages). The kids had a GREAT TIME!
UNMUSEUM tour
Monday, May 23
10 AM
Just wanted to remind everyone that I set up a tour of the UNMUSEUM for MONDAY May 23 at 10 AM (90 minute tour). The Unmuseum is part of the Contemporary Art Center downtown and is a wonderful exhibit (and hands on so we will have no problem with our toddlers...Sophie loved our last visit). It is FREE!
Check it out: http://www.contemporaryartscenter.org/unmuseum/default.html
The trip downtown is always trying, parking is hard to find and I don't particualarly like walking with the kids on the busy streets, but as things go the journey was uneventful. The docent met our group (my kids, the Malott family and the Ridiman girls) and took us on a tour of the exhibits, talked a lot about art and interpretting it and then turned the kids lose to work on some art of their own (collages). The kids had a GREAT TIME!
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Long time, no update!
So much has happened here in the last 4 weeks...almost too much to comprehend!
The Tuesday after our van wreck, my mom called from the hospital saying she was in the ER with my dad and that they were running test on him. I got to the hospital about 10 minutes later (ironically I was in the van heading home and was one exit from the hospital). Within the hour they were telling us my dad had multiple myeloma, an incurrable blood cancer. They sent him up to ICU because he was in kidney failure (as a result of the cancer...it throws the calcium from the bones it destroys into the kidneys, causing them to get blocked) and because he was suffering from confusion. Today is day 26 and he is STILL IN ICU!!!! Turns out he also had a stroke (only took them 2 weeks to figure it out) and then he got pneumonia. He was on a ventilator all last week and was finally weaned off of it Thursday! Dad is undergoing chemo for the cancer and dialysis for his kidneys so those of you who are the praying kind, please add him (Dave Hanks) to your prayers! I try to spend whatever time I can each day at the hospital. My mom and I are like oil and water, but I am TRYING to be patient and supportive. Somedays are harder than others!
My arm is still VERY SORE and it is hard to hold or carry anything! I can't even carry my purse, it really sucks! I still have a lot of numbness and get sore when trying to type or when driving. I was going to see a chiropractor, but things have been so hectic with my dad that I haven't been able to keep up with the visits. Hannah still complains of knee pain occassionally. Emily, Sophie and Will seem to have healed physically, but emotionally it is still hard. Sophie talks about the wreck all the time. The van is STILL in the shop (they decided to repair it to the tune of almost $10,000 because bluebook on it was still so high). The damn rental van they gave us ended up with a shattered passenger window, luckily none of the kids were hurt by the flying glass....I have NEVER known a window to just "explode" by simply shutting the door (and I mean shutting, not slamming!).
I also managed to get a UTI that the first antibiotic didn't clear up at all. I honestly think it is a remnant from the UTI I had back in early April, it never felt like it cleared up quite right. I finally got a 3rd antibiotic last Sunday and am feeling much better.
The older kids have finished up their Monday co-op for the schoolyear. I was disappointed to have to miss their ending day preformances (because I was at the hospital with my dad). Grant and Jacob still have one more week of their reading class and then we will fall into our "summer" schedule! I still have to turn in our "assessment"letter along with the paperwork for next schoolyear, probably will try to get that done here in the next week or so.
We attended a wonderful class yesterday presented by the Ohio River Foundation. I will post the details in another entry!
Will is growing like a weed...still cruising and momentarily standing on his own. I am wondering if he will start walking before his first birthday or not. The kids have been pretty evenly divided ....4 walked before their first birthdays and 3 walked after.
Baseball is in full swing. Grant's team just finished up the first half of the season with a perfect record! They will be heading to the gold division for the second half of the season! It should make for some really exciting games. Jacob is enjoying playing for the Tealtown Dragons (coach pitched) and Cade LOVES his first year of t-ball. He came home from practice the night they got their uniform t-shirts with every players name and number memorized!
One final bright note, we have found a wonderful new home, but the chaos of moving only adds to the hectic pace I am keeping!
So much has happened here in the last 4 weeks...almost too much to comprehend!
The Tuesday after our van wreck, my mom called from the hospital saying she was in the ER with my dad and that they were running test on him. I got to the hospital about 10 minutes later (ironically I was in the van heading home and was one exit from the hospital). Within the hour they were telling us my dad had multiple myeloma, an incurrable blood cancer. They sent him up to ICU because he was in kidney failure (as a result of the cancer...it throws the calcium from the bones it destroys into the kidneys, causing them to get blocked) and because he was suffering from confusion. Today is day 26 and he is STILL IN ICU!!!! Turns out he also had a stroke (only took them 2 weeks to figure it out) and then he got pneumonia. He was on a ventilator all last week and was finally weaned off of it Thursday! Dad is undergoing chemo for the cancer and dialysis for his kidneys so those of you who are the praying kind, please add him (Dave Hanks) to your prayers! I try to spend whatever time I can each day at the hospital. My mom and I are like oil and water, but I am TRYING to be patient and supportive. Somedays are harder than others!
My arm is still VERY SORE and it is hard to hold or carry anything! I can't even carry my purse, it really sucks! I still have a lot of numbness and get sore when trying to type or when driving. I was going to see a chiropractor, but things have been so hectic with my dad that I haven't been able to keep up with the visits. Hannah still complains of knee pain occassionally. Emily, Sophie and Will seem to have healed physically, but emotionally it is still hard. Sophie talks about the wreck all the time. The van is STILL in the shop (they decided to repair it to the tune of almost $10,000 because bluebook on it was still so high). The damn rental van they gave us ended up with a shattered passenger window, luckily none of the kids were hurt by the flying glass....I have NEVER known a window to just "explode" by simply shutting the door (and I mean shutting, not slamming!).
I also managed to get a UTI that the first antibiotic didn't clear up at all. I honestly think it is a remnant from the UTI I had back in early April, it never felt like it cleared up quite right. I finally got a 3rd antibiotic last Sunday and am feeling much better.
The older kids have finished up their Monday co-op for the schoolyear. I was disappointed to have to miss their ending day preformances (because I was at the hospital with my dad). Grant and Jacob still have one more week of their reading class and then we will fall into our "summer" schedule! I still have to turn in our "assessment"letter along with the paperwork for next schoolyear, probably will try to get that done here in the next week or so.
We attended a wonderful class yesterday presented by the Ohio River Foundation. I will post the details in another entry!
Will is growing like a weed...still cruising and momentarily standing on his own. I am wondering if he will start walking before his first birthday or not. The kids have been pretty evenly divided ....4 walked before their first birthdays and 3 walked after.
Baseball is in full swing. Grant's team just finished up the first half of the season with a perfect record! They will be heading to the gold division for the second half of the season! It should make for some really exciting games. Jacob is enjoying playing for the Tealtown Dragons (coach pitched) and Cade LOVES his first year of t-ball. He came home from practice the night they got their uniform t-shirts with every players name and number memorized!
One final bright note, we have found a wonderful new home, but the chaos of moving only adds to the hectic pace I am keeping!
Ohio River Foundation Field Trip
Friday May 20th
Fernbank Park (located on Hwy 50 close to Sayler Park Schools)9:30 AM to 2 PMCost: $6 per child (payable the day of event..cash or check) kindergarten through highschool
Program held rain or shine!
Remember to bring a picnic/brown bag lunch and sunscreen.
Here is the most updated list for Friday's Ohio River Explorers Fieldtrip. If your name isn't on the list, please email me at theriesenbergs@cinci.rr.com and let me know:
Michelle age 11 grade 5
Ben age 11 grade 5
Deanna age 12 grade 6
Erica age 13 grade 7
Andy age 16
Courtney age 11 grade 5
Shannon age 6 grade K
Hanna age 11 grade 5
Michael age 12 grade 6
Steven age 12 grade 6
Brendon age 11 grade 5
Matthew age 9 grade 3
Zach (age 10)
Levi (age 5)
Jeff (age 10)
Nathan (age 13) grade 8
Jacob (age 11) grade 5
Spenser (age 8) grade 2
Robbie (age 10)
Raquel (age 8)
Sarah (age 16)
Chris (age 9)
Tabby (age 10)
Mandy (age 17)
Miles 2nd grade
Noah6th grade
Brett (age 14) grade 9
Emily (age 10) grade 5
Grant (age 9) grade 3
Jacob (age 7) grade 1
True (age 8) grade 3
Liam (age 6)
Josh(age 14)
Gaige (age 10)
Daniel (age 12) grade 6
Lillianna (age 7)
Jessica (age 14)
Kelly (age 9) grade 4
Lauren grade 12
Malcolm age 6
Alexander age 5
Anthony(age 13) grade 7
Xander (age 7) grade 2
Erin (age 8) grade 3
Jessica (age 7) grade 2
Jessica (age 6) K
Richard(9yrs, 3rd grade)Sam (6yrs, K)
Olivia age 11 grade 5
Patrick age 10 grade 4
Pahren
Amy (age 8) 2nd grade
Directions to Fernbank Park (6601 River Rd. Cincinnati , OH 45233) Fernbank Park lies between River Road and the Ohio River in Sayler Park. From the looks of things, you get onto Rt. 50 WEST (River Rd.) in downtown and go out about 11 miles. If anyone is familiar with the park and this seems wrong, please email me and let me know so I can update everyone. Check out http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cityparks/pages/-4698-/ and scroll down page for additional maps.
Recap of fieldtrip:
Note: this program is usually geared for grades 4-12, but she will be working with me to have the programs meet the needs of our diverse group. Our hope is to divide the kids in groups by ages (say K-3, 4-6, and jr. high and up) to rotate through the learning stations. Here is a link to the Ohio RIver Foundation's webpage: http://www.ohioriverfdn.org
Field Trip Timetable : A typical field trip lasts 4-5 hours with a 30 minute sack lunch break. Lunch is not provided by Ohio River Foundation and should be brought by the student. All students will rotate through each of the learning stations for 1 hour per station.
9:30am: The group arrives and is greeted by the Ohio River Foundation leader, who discusses the day's plans and safe behavior.
9:45am: Learning Station 1
10:50am: Learning Station 2
11:55am: Lunch Break
12:30pm: Learning Station 3
1:35pm: Closing Activity
2:00pm: Group Departure
Learning Stations:Below is a description of the 3 learning stations that will be presented at this activity. Generally, program participants rotate through the available learning stations for 1 hour per station. This format allows us to connect with students in small groups where hands-on learning is easier to facilitate.
• Mussel Mania : Did you know there are monkey face and pig snouts in the Ohio River? Just what does a baby bi-valve look like? How many eggs do mussels produce at one time? Discover the unique life cycles of the mussels of the Ohio River and see how they have evolved to survive as a part of the river's ecosystem. Learn how the mussels' well adapted anatomy helps them resist attack from most predators. Did you know the Zebras are attacking? This exotic invasive species is muscling its way into the ecosystem, destroying the native populations, and has made species such as the pink mucket, orangefoot, fat pocketbook, clubshell, and fanshell endangered. Learn how these interlopers starve the natives and what can be done to stop them!
• Fish Factor: What can you tell about the way a fish lives by how it is physically structured? The answer is… everything! Don gloves and examine preserved and live fish specimens to learn about fish morphology, life cycle, and population levels. Biology at its best!
• River Chemistry: C.S.I. team needed! We found some dead fishes and we need a top notch investigative team to figure out why. Our prime suspect is the water. We need you to test samples of river water for oxygen, temperature, and more. Learn why these parameters are so important to river health and fish longevity and vitality.Through discussion and hands on activities, all modules will explore what changes, small and large, can improve the environment and the Ohio River. By learning about their individual roles in the environment, students will be empowered to live in an ecologically friendly way.
Please RSVP to Laura at http://www.blogger.com/ . I will need an accurate count to pass on to Annie (the education coordinator) by Wed. May 18th. Please include your children's name(s), age(s)/grade level(s) when RSVPing. Also feel free to contact me with any questions or for more information.
Remember to bring a sack lunch for your child/family.
I am asking that a parent/responsible adult stay with all children under the age of 10 (it is fine for younger children to come with a friend as long as they know they have an adult around should they need help). Children 11 and up are welcome to be "dropped off" for the program (provided you pick them up when the program is over!)
Friday May 20th
Fernbank Park (located on Hwy 50 close to Sayler Park Schools)9:30 AM to 2 PMCost: $6 per child (payable the day of event..cash or check) kindergarten through highschool
Program held rain or shine!
Remember to bring a picnic/brown bag lunch and sunscreen.
Here is the most updated list for Friday's Ohio River Explorers Fieldtrip. If your name isn't on the list, please email me at theriesenbergs@cinci.rr.com and let me know:
Michelle age 11 grade 5
Ben age 11 grade 5
Deanna age 12 grade 6
Erica age 13 grade 7
Andy age 16
Courtney age 11 grade 5
Shannon age 6 grade K
Hanna age 11 grade 5
Michael age 12 grade 6
Steven age 12 grade 6
Brendon age 11 grade 5
Matthew age 9 grade 3
Zach (age 10)
Levi (age 5)
Jeff (age 10)
Nathan (age 13) grade 8
Jacob (age 11) grade 5
Spenser (age 8) grade 2
Robbie (age 10)
Raquel (age 8)
Sarah (age 16)
Chris (age 9)
Tabby (age 10)
Mandy (age 17)
Miles 2nd grade
Noah6th grade
Brett (age 14) grade 9
Emily (age 10) grade 5
Grant (age 9) grade 3
Jacob (age 7) grade 1
True (age 8) grade 3
Liam (age 6)
Josh(age 14)
Gaige (age 10)
Daniel (age 12) grade 6
Lillianna (age 7)
Jessica (age 14)
Kelly (age 9) grade 4
Lauren grade 12
Malcolm age 6
Alexander age 5
Anthony(age 13) grade 7
Xander (age 7) grade 2
Erin (age 8) grade 3
Jessica (age 7) grade 2
Jessica (age 6) K
Richard(9yrs, 3rd grade)Sam (6yrs, K)
Olivia age 11 grade 5
Patrick age 10 grade 4
Pahren
Amy (age 8) 2nd grade
Directions to Fernbank Park (6601 River Rd. Cincinnati , OH 45233) Fernbank Park lies between River Road and the Ohio River in Sayler Park. From the looks of things, you get onto Rt. 50 WEST (River Rd.) in downtown and go out about 11 miles. If anyone is familiar with the park and this seems wrong, please email me and let me know so I can update everyone. Check out http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cityparks/pages/-4698-/ and scroll down page for additional maps.
Recap of fieldtrip:
Note: this program is usually geared for grades 4-12, but she will be working with me to have the programs meet the needs of our diverse group. Our hope is to divide the kids in groups by ages (say K-3, 4-6, and jr. high and up) to rotate through the learning stations. Here is a link to the Ohio RIver Foundation's webpage: http://www.ohioriverfdn.org
Field Trip Timetable : A typical field trip lasts 4-5 hours with a 30 minute sack lunch break. Lunch is not provided by Ohio River Foundation and should be brought by the student. All students will rotate through each of the learning stations for 1 hour per station.
9:30am: The group arrives and is greeted by the Ohio River Foundation leader, who discusses the day's plans and safe behavior.
9:45am: Learning Station 1
10:50am: Learning Station 2
11:55am: Lunch Break
12:30pm: Learning Station 3
1:35pm: Closing Activity
2:00pm: Group Departure
Learning Stations:Below is a description of the 3 learning stations that will be presented at this activity. Generally, program participants rotate through the available learning stations for 1 hour per station. This format allows us to connect with students in small groups where hands-on learning is easier to facilitate.
• Mussel Mania : Did you know there are monkey face and pig snouts in the Ohio River? Just what does a baby bi-valve look like? How many eggs do mussels produce at one time? Discover the unique life cycles of the mussels of the Ohio River and see how they have evolved to survive as a part of the river's ecosystem. Learn how the mussels' well adapted anatomy helps them resist attack from most predators. Did you know the Zebras are attacking? This exotic invasive species is muscling its way into the ecosystem, destroying the native populations, and has made species such as the pink mucket, orangefoot, fat pocketbook, clubshell, and fanshell endangered. Learn how these interlopers starve the natives and what can be done to stop them!
• Fish Factor: What can you tell about the way a fish lives by how it is physically structured? The answer is… everything! Don gloves and examine preserved and live fish specimens to learn about fish morphology, life cycle, and population levels. Biology at its best!
• River Chemistry: C.S.I. team needed! We found some dead fishes and we need a top notch investigative team to figure out why. Our prime suspect is the water. We need you to test samples of river water for oxygen, temperature, and more. Learn why these parameters are so important to river health and fish longevity and vitality.Through discussion and hands on activities, all modules will explore what changes, small and large, can improve the environment and the Ohio River. By learning about their individual roles in the environment, students will be empowered to live in an ecologically friendly way.
Please RSVP to Laura at http://www.blogger.com/ . I will need an accurate count to pass on to Annie (the education coordinator) by Wed. May 18th. Please include your children's name(s), age(s)/grade level(s) when RSVPing. Also feel free to contact me with any questions or for more information.
Remember to bring a sack lunch for your child/family.
I am asking that a parent/responsible adult stay with all children under the age of 10 (it is fine for younger children to come with a friend as long as they know they have an adult around should they need help). Children 11 and up are welcome to be "dropped off" for the program (provided you pick them up when the program is over!)
Monday, April 25, 2005
I am VERY SORE, I really thought I would be feeling better today, but I am feeling worse. My arm has a pins and needles feeling all the time with some sharp pain thrown in every once in a while. My back, right knee and neck/head hurt....the doc thinks my forearm has a deep bone bruise (although it might be broken...he wants to x-ray it again next week). Hannah's knee is bothering her to the point she can't put pressure on it (not good for a dancer) but her face is looking better (oh the joy of being young and healing quickly!). Em's doing OK, a little tender,but on the mend. The little ones seem to be fine physically, although Will isn't sleeping at all (I literally mean this...he sleeps 20 or 30 minutes and then wakes up screaming for about 30 minutes to an hour...then sleeps 20 minutes....then screams for an hour...this goes on the whole night)....I actually had a chiropractor adjust him today...we will see if he sleeps tonight.
We went and picked up the rental van today...I actually drove the 5 miles home with only a bit of that "panicky" feeling...I was fine running the typical errands to the ballfields and dance, but I don't know how I will do on a less familiar course! I can only imagine how I will feel the first time I try to drive the route of the accident.
We went and picked up the rental van today...I actually drove the 5 miles home with only a bit of that "panicky" feeling...I was fine running the typical errands to the ballfields and dance, but I don't know how I will do on a less familiar course! I can only imagine how I will feel the first time I try to drive the route of the accident.
Sunday, April 24, 2005
CMC Pilot Program for grades 4-6
When this GREAT opportunity was posted to one of the homeschooling lists we belong to, I jumped at the opportunity to have the kids included. We didn't have a chance to do any of the museum center Mondays due to our finances, so when they offered this wonderful program for FREE, I was really excited! Now hopefully the kids will be excited (I am a bit apprehensive because of the volume of activities they would like to have the children complete before the visit and we only got the packet on Sunday for a Tuesday session).
Local homeschooling list posted: The Museum Center is looking for homeschoolers, grades 4-6 (or older or younger homeschoolers who are comfortable with work at that grade level),who would be interested in participating in a pilot program at no charge.This program is a pilot for a new approach to learning labs offered by theMuseum Center in which students will be exploring parts of the three museumsat the Museum Center around one theme. The Cincinnati Museum Center is offering the one day program, "History ofthe Ohio River" April 26, April 27, May 11 and May 12, from 9 a. m. until12p.m.
Students will participate in activities centered on the theme,"Humans affect the river and the river affects humans." These activities will cover topics, such as:
* How the Ohio River helped determine the location of Cincinnati
* The importance of river trade to the Ohio River Valley
* The difficulty of flatboat travel and its importance to thesettlement of the area
* The impact that 19th century industry had on the water quality ofthe Ohio River
* The effect that river trade and the shipping industry had on 19thCentury Cincinnati
* How water-borne diseases spread through Cincinnati in the 19thcentury
* How locks and dams changed the Ohio River
* Pollution, and its effects on the river's ecology
* Bridging the Ohio River
We would like to offer the first session April 26 or April 27. If thesedates are not convenient for you, please let us know what dates are moreconvenient for your schedule. We can accomodate a group from 10 to 30 students. Please forward this email to other homeschool parents who may beinterested in participating in this unique opportunity. We look forward tohearing from you soon. Please reply to rhall@cincymuseum.org or 513-287-7000 ext. 2394.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Regina Hall
Exhibit Program Coordinator Museum of Natural History & ScienceCincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal1301 Western AvenueCincinnati, Ohio 45203(513) 287-7000 ext. 2394Fax (513) 287-7029rhall@cincymuseum.org
Pre-Visit Activities
1. Ask your students to talk to their parents, grandparents or caregivers about their memories of the Ohio River. Have them ask what effect the river had on their lives when they were growing up and what memories they have of the river. Although the Ohio River is the focus of this program, not every family may have always lived in this area, so students may gather oral histories about any kind of natural landmark, i.e. oceans, rivers, mountains, etc…Have students take notes while their family members are relaying their stories.
After the students have interviewed a family member, have them write a paper where they compare and contrast their memories and experiences with the river to that of their family’s.
2. Have students create a timeline of their life, recording at least one important event for each year.
3. Have the class divide into groups and research Cincinnati and the Ohio River in three time periods, 1800-1820, 1860-1880 and 1900-1920. Then have a discussion about the pros and cons of each time period for Cincinnatians and the Ohio River, in terms of population, industry, culture, and/or transportation.
4. In one of the activities, your students will encounter a variety of first-person characters from the year 1859, including a pork merchant, an apothecary, a steamboat captain or clerk, an African-American daguerreotypist, and a commission merchant. These people will be available to talk about the impact that 19th century Cincinnati industry and culture had on the Ohio River and how the river impacted early Cincinnati. Please have your students write questions to ask of these people, based on their knowledge of 19th century Cincinnati.
Key Terms and Concepts
Lock – part of a canal or other water way in which the level of the water can be changed, lowering or raising boats, by the operation of gates
Dam – a barrier preventing the flow of water
Flatboat – a boat with a flat bottom and square ends used for transportation in shallow waters
Steamboat – a boat driven by steam power
Trade – an exchange of goods, usually without the use of money
Pollution – alteration in the character or quality of an environment rendering it unsuitable or harmful for certain uses.
Riparian Zone – land adjacent to a river
Impermeable Surfaces – a surface that water cannot pass through to go into the ground
Runoff – water that flows over the ground to a river, stream or lake
Eutrophic Environment – an environment formed when pollutants cause the river to
become rich in nutrients
Algae – a photosynthetic organism
Silt- very tiny particles of soil or rock
Watershed- the land area from which surface runoff drains into a stream, lake, reservoir, or other body of water; also called a drainage basin
Water cycle- also known as the hydrologic cycle, is the journey water takes as it circulates from the land to the sky and back again
Water treatment plants- facilities that treat water to remove contaminants so that it can be safely used
When this GREAT opportunity was posted to one of the homeschooling lists we belong to, I jumped at the opportunity to have the kids included. We didn't have a chance to do any of the museum center Mondays due to our finances, so when they offered this wonderful program for FREE, I was really excited! Now hopefully the kids will be excited (I am a bit apprehensive because of the volume of activities they would like to have the children complete before the visit and we only got the packet on Sunday for a Tuesday session).
Local homeschooling list posted: The Museum Center is looking for homeschoolers, grades 4-6 (or older or younger homeschoolers who are comfortable with work at that grade level),who would be interested in participating in a pilot program at no charge.This program is a pilot for a new approach to learning labs offered by theMuseum Center in which students will be exploring parts of the three museumsat the Museum Center around one theme. The Cincinnati Museum Center is offering the one day program, "History ofthe Ohio River" April 26, April 27, May 11 and May 12, from 9 a. m. until12p.m.
Students will participate in activities centered on the theme,"Humans affect the river and the river affects humans." These activities will cover topics, such as:
* How the Ohio River helped determine the location of Cincinnati
* The importance of river trade to the Ohio River Valley
* The difficulty of flatboat travel and its importance to thesettlement of the area
* The impact that 19th century industry had on the water quality ofthe Ohio River
* The effect that river trade and the shipping industry had on 19thCentury Cincinnati
* How water-borne diseases spread through Cincinnati in the 19thcentury
* How locks and dams changed the Ohio River
* Pollution, and its effects on the river's ecology
* Bridging the Ohio River
We would like to offer the first session April 26 or April 27. If thesedates are not convenient for you, please let us know what dates are moreconvenient for your schedule. We can accomodate a group from 10 to 30 students. Please forward this email to other homeschool parents who may beinterested in participating in this unique opportunity. We look forward tohearing from you soon. Please reply to rhall@cincymuseum.org or 513-287-7000 ext. 2394.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Regina Hall
Exhibit Program Coordinator Museum of Natural History & ScienceCincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal1301 Western AvenueCincinnati, Ohio 45203(513) 287-7000 ext. 2394Fax (513) 287-7029rhall@cincymuseum.org
Pre-Visit Activities
1. Ask your students to talk to their parents, grandparents or caregivers about their memories of the Ohio River. Have them ask what effect the river had on their lives when they were growing up and what memories they have of the river. Although the Ohio River is the focus of this program, not every family may have always lived in this area, so students may gather oral histories about any kind of natural landmark, i.e. oceans, rivers, mountains, etc…Have students take notes while their family members are relaying their stories.
After the students have interviewed a family member, have them write a paper where they compare and contrast their memories and experiences with the river to that of their family’s.
2. Have students create a timeline of their life, recording at least one important event for each year.
3. Have the class divide into groups and research Cincinnati and the Ohio River in three time periods, 1800-1820, 1860-1880 and 1900-1920. Then have a discussion about the pros and cons of each time period for Cincinnatians and the Ohio River, in terms of population, industry, culture, and/or transportation.
4. In one of the activities, your students will encounter a variety of first-person characters from the year 1859, including a pork merchant, an apothecary, a steamboat captain or clerk, an African-American daguerreotypist, and a commission merchant. These people will be available to talk about the impact that 19th century Cincinnati industry and culture had on the Ohio River and how the river impacted early Cincinnati. Please have your students write questions to ask of these people, based on their knowledge of 19th century Cincinnati.
Key Terms and Concepts
Lock – part of a canal or other water way in which the level of the water can be changed, lowering or raising boats, by the operation of gates
Dam – a barrier preventing the flow of water
Flatboat – a boat with a flat bottom and square ends used for transportation in shallow waters
Steamboat – a boat driven by steam power
Trade – an exchange of goods, usually without the use of money
Pollution – alteration in the character or quality of an environment rendering it unsuitable or harmful for certain uses.
Riparian Zone – land adjacent to a river
Impermeable Surfaces – a surface that water cannot pass through to go into the ground
Runoff – water that flows over the ground to a river, stream or lake
Eutrophic Environment – an environment formed when pollutants cause the river to
become rich in nutrients
Algae – a photosynthetic organism
Silt- very tiny particles of soil or rock
Watershed- the land area from which surface runoff drains into a stream, lake, reservoir, or other body of water; also called a drainage basin
Water cycle- also known as the hydrologic cycle, is the journey water takes as it circulates from the land to the sky and back again
Water treatment plants- facilities that treat water to remove contaminants so that it can be safely used
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Slow going.....
I know healing isn't an instant thing and everyone keeps warning me I will feel worse before I feel better...but I can't believe what a number this whole thing is doing on me.
All I want to do right now is sleep...of course I am really sore, now it isn't just my right arm, but my back, right knee and I have a horrible headache. I tried to act like things were fine yesterday, I took the kids to the flower show to be interviewed for the newspaper and to be photographed by the show photographers but I just wanted to run away the whole time I was there....Jay took me to the grocery with him but I couldn't even push the cart, I felt almost claustophobic in the store, I just wanted to get out of there...in my rational mind, I know a lot of how I feel emotionally has to do with dealing with my own mortality and the fact that I might have lived but lost one of my children. Jay can't even bring himself to talk about that possibility.
Hannah says her face really hurts and she got really wiped out at dance yesterday. She had to sit during most of her leaps and turns class because her head hurt. Luckily the teacher seemed to understand.
Em seems to be doing OK...she rested most of the day yesterday. She says her knee is tender but not too bad.
Sophie keeps talking about the crash. Other than putting her in the police cruiser to come home, she hasn't been back in a car. It should be interesting to see how she reacts.
Will is more fussy than usual. He is clingy and wants to nurse all the time. Unfortunately the crash (or my lack of eating and drinking after it) has really wrecked havoc on my milk supply. It doesn't help that I can't hold him with my right arm so we have to lay down in bed anytime he wants to nurse! I hate having to have someone else have to pick him up and hand him to me...
On a brighter note....changing poopy diapers and pull-ups is impossible with one arm...I am gladly passing diaper duty off to those more capable! You should hear them complain!
So today is a new day....we shall see what it brings!
I know healing isn't an instant thing and everyone keeps warning me I will feel worse before I feel better...but I can't believe what a number this whole thing is doing on me.
All I want to do right now is sleep...of course I am really sore, now it isn't just my right arm, but my back, right knee and I have a horrible headache. I tried to act like things were fine yesterday, I took the kids to the flower show to be interviewed for the newspaper and to be photographed by the show photographers but I just wanted to run away the whole time I was there....Jay took me to the grocery with him but I couldn't even push the cart, I felt almost claustophobic in the store, I just wanted to get out of there...in my rational mind, I know a lot of how I feel emotionally has to do with dealing with my own mortality and the fact that I might have lived but lost one of my children. Jay can't even bring himself to talk about that possibility.
Hannah says her face really hurts and she got really wiped out at dance yesterday. She had to sit during most of her leaps and turns class because her head hurt. Luckily the teacher seemed to understand.
Em seems to be doing OK...she rested most of the day yesterday. She says her knee is tender but not too bad.
Sophie keeps talking about the crash. Other than putting her in the police cruiser to come home, she hasn't been back in a car. It should be interesting to see how she reacts.
Will is more fussy than usual. He is clingy and wants to nurse all the time. Unfortunately the crash (or my lack of eating and drinking after it) has really wrecked havoc on my milk supply. It doesn't help that I can't hold him with my right arm so we have to lay down in bed anytime he wants to nurse! I hate having to have someone else have to pick him up and hand him to me...
On a brighter note....changing poopy diapers and pull-ups is impossible with one arm...I am gladly passing diaper duty off to those more capable! You should hear them complain!
So today is a new day....we shall see what it brings!
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