Anniversary

It's been 17 years and 15 days since Zach and I got married.  So much has changed over these past 17 years--jobs, homes, vehicles, kids, hobbies, hairlines, weight--but I am so thankful that just as much has stayed the same.  I am still so in love with this amazing man.  I still love talking to him, laughing with him, and spending time with him.  He is a great partner, a great father, a great provider, and a great man.  There is no one else I'd rather spend my life with.  I am so thankful for that day 17 years (and 15 days) ago that started this life together.  I couldn't imagine my life any other way.

Off

Today Adelie decided that she no longer wanted training wheels on her bike.  Zach took them off and within an hour, Adelie was riding by herself without any help, including making turns and stopping.  Apart from a little help to get started, she is now an independent, training-wheels-free bike rider...

...and she's pretty happy about it!

What a big girl!!

September Fun

We had a fun and full September.  Apparently it was so fun and full that I didn't have time to blog most of it, so prepare for a photo-heavy synopsis of this past month.

Staley participated in the 2nd grade Monarch program at school.

All the 2nd grade classes learned about the life cycle of monarchs.  They were encouraged to bring  monarch caterpillars to school so that they could watch the life cycle and then release the butterflies at the program.

Staley found 2 monarch caterpillars and helped make this great little house for them.  They both formed chrysalises, but neither hatched in time to be released for the program.

Although Staley was a little disappointed that she didn't have any butterflies to release, she still enjoyed singing the songs and being a part of the program.

Briggs and I have enjoyed two trips to Rader Farms with cousins while his sisters were in school.

He has so many favorites at Rader Farms.  He's gotten much braver and now enjoys the rat rollers, jumping pillow, and tunnel slides.

Of course, his very favorites are still the barrel train and the sandboxes.

We enjoyed a family outing to Ackerman Farms on a beautiful week-end day to look at pumpkins and check out the animals.

The hayrack ride is always a highlight.

We followed up our pumpkin farm outing with a trip to a fun, newly redesigned playground in Morton topped off with dinner out and ice cream.  It was such a fun family day!!

We (and by we, of course I mean Zach) put in a basketball hoop in our driveway.  Staley has been diligently practicing and has gotten much better.

It was good timing as both Staley and Adelie just started a little basketball clinic that will continue through the next month.

Staley had a friend over for her first ever friend sleepover.  The girls had a great time playing dolls, followed by pizza, a movie, and ice cream. 

 The next day, inspired by pictures in the American Girl doll catalog, they spent the entire morning getting themselves and their American Dolls ready for a photo shoot.

We went to our neighbor's beautiful yard and the girls had the best time picking out locations and posing for pictures.  (The American Girl "flag" that they made was in each and every picture.)

Briggs was a good sport and even got in on some of the pictures.

The girls also got to enjoy a sleepover with cousins at Uma and Papa's house while Zach and I went out for our anniversary.  So much fun!!

We took advantage of free admission at the Shedd Aquarium during the month of September with a day trip up to Chicago.

We had a great time at the aquarium.  Some highlights were the dolphin show, the beluga whales, touching sea stars, the penguins, the sharks, and the sea horses.  One of the highlights for Zach and I was finding street parking just a few blocks from the aquarium.  #winning

Staley had her class field trip to Tanner's Orchard.

Riding the bus and spending the day with 70 second graders is not necessarily my idea of a great time.

However, I love seeing Staley with her friends and being part of a fun memory for her.  The chaos and noise level is totally worth it just for that.

I watched our neighbor's little girl for a day.  Briggs had the best time spending the day with Grace.

We went to the library, the park, the zoo, and McDonald's.  It was a fun day!!

And we finished off the month with the Homecoming parade.  It was fun for the kids to see people they knew in the parade, and, of course, the candy is always a highlight.

What a great, full, fun month!  And with the beginning of fall weather, we're looking forward to some more fall fun next month.  Bring it on, October.  We're ready for you!!

Personality Traits

The other day I was at the grade school and noticed a project outside of Staley's classroom.  The kids each had colored a paper flower and they were supposed to write traits that describe them on each of the flower petals.  When I saw Staley's, I smiled as I read how she accurately described some of the positive traits that I see in her:  loving, courageous, fun, honest, nice, and kind.  And then I laughed when I saw that she also described herself as humble.  I'm sure she is quite convinced that she is way better at being humble than everyone else.

Loving?  Yes!

Kind?  Yes!

Courageous?  In many instances, yes!

But humble?  Maybe she was just running out of adjectives.

None of Your Business!

When you are a little kid and you get upset, you generally have a relatively small repertoire of things to yell that express your displeasure.  You've got your "No fair!"  The ever-popular "FINE!"  The simple, "NO!"  Or, if the opportunity presents itself, you can always pull out the "Go away!", "Leave me alone!", or "Stop bothering me!"  Accompanied by a loud voice, foot stomp, and perhaps a slamming door, these can all effectively express your displeasure in any given circumstance.

Lately, Briggs has been trying out a little something new.  When he gets upset, Briggs' new go-to phrase of displeasure is "None of your business!"  However, I don't think Briggs knows exactly what this means and has not yet figured out how to use this in the appropriate context.  For example, when we tell Briggs it's time to wash up for dinner, he might yell, "None of your business!"  Or if his sisters say they don't want to play cars with him, his mad response might be "None of your business!"  I generally prefer that my children learn to handle their emotions with as little yelling as possible.  However, if they must yell, it is a little more amusing when they are yelling things in anger that make absolutely no sense.  I could try to correct Briggs and teach him the correct meaning and use of his new mad phrase.  On the other hand, it usually makes me laugh...

...and it's really none of my business.

Homework

It's no secret that my girls are very different from one another.  And with both girls now in school all day, some of their differences are becoming more and more obvious.  Staley was custom made for school.  She loves to sit.  She loves to learn.  She loves to follow the rules.  When Staley comes home from school, she immediately wants to finish any homework she brought home.  Or she'll head up to her room to read for awhile.  Staley doesn't really require any down time before diving back into school mode.

Adelie also does well in school.  She behaves well.  She is smart and has no difficulty with her school work.  But when Adelie gets out of school for the day, she is done.  All the energy and movement that she has held in all day long at school needs to come out.  When Adelie gets home from school, she needs to run and jump and hang upside down and be active.  Keeping it together all day at school means that when she gets home she needs to let it out.  Movement.  Emotion.  It all comes out when Adelie gets home from school.

Staley had the same kindergarten teacher that Adelie does.  This teacher sends home optional homework packets each Friday.  The kids can complete them and turn them in in exchange for caring coupons. Staley always wanted to do her homework and have it ready to turn in on Monday after the week-end.  She would often finish it in one sitting.  A few weeks ago, Adelie brought home her first homework packet.  She wanted to get the caring coupons, but she just couldn't do it.  The work was easy and Adelie got bored, she got antsy, she got sloppy, she got emotional, and even with my help, she only lasted about 5 minutes before she (and I) couldn't take it anymore.  Then and there Adelie decided that there were other ways to get caring coupons and doing schoolwork at home was not worth it.

I know as Adelie grows and matures, she'll improve with her ability to complete learning activities at home.  I know that there will be times that she'll have to complete work at home whether she wants to or now.  I know that she does not currently need the extra practice that Kindergarten homework will provide.  Adelie is doing well at school, and for that I am so grateful.  Adelie loves her school time, but she needs her home time to meet her other needs, and right now, homework just doesn't fit into that picture.

Same, but oh so different.

Family Pictures

With my brother in town from Chicago and our last big family pictures taken when Briggs was a baby and my youngest niece (who is now almost 2) was not even born, we figured it was time to up-date our family pictures with my side of the family.

Pictures of my kids together are slowly but surely getting easier.

We haven't reached perfection, but definitely heading in the right direction.

When all 3 kids look good AND Zach has his eyes open, I consider that a win.

#winningagain

It's definitely easier to get the kids one at a time.

Although Adelie generally prefers doing silly pictures, she'll usually cooperate for a few nice ones too.

And Staley will pose for as long as you'll let her.

Big family picture with good smiles and everyone looking at the camera.  Hooray!

Grandparents and the kids

The cousin pictures were a struggle.  We didn't ever achieve that winning shot.

(Exhibit A:  Briggs' face)

Exhibit B:  Lucy preparing to walk out of the picture

Now the grown-up kids? We rocked it!  No one even had to bribe us with Smarties.

Erik and his family

Doesn't Elliott look so grown up now??

Evan and his photo-friendly family.

Liam...

Caroline...

and Lucy.

Family pictures are getting easier and better...

...obviously!

#photogenic

#Christmascard2018