Happy Labor Day!

My Little Amelie

Amelie is one of my all time favorite movies. 
If you haven't seen it, you should.

New Additions to the Zoo Crew!

Yesterday was the last day of school in Fayette County.  And I am now officially the mother to a freshman high school student.  Yikes!  How did that happen?  What I did realize however (like a smack in the face) is how incredibly fast time flies and how very quickly our babies grow up.  I have been promising the girls a kitten forever.  But you know what?  Why not today?  So off we went to the Lexington Humane Society and picked us two up.  Meet Cuddles and Polka Dot!  We're all in love with them.  Luckily David was out of town and couldn't stop us.  Although the humane society did call and ask for his permission since he showed up as the owner of our house.  What is this 1913?!

Busy Bees

This spring is the first time that all three kids have been involved in an activity at the same time.  Jonah in baseball and Caroline and Kate in soccer.  Between practices and games we stay pretty busy.  Plus David's playing softball on Wednesdays.  Plus I volunteered to be team mom for Jonah's team and been studying for my RN boards.  The very first Saturday of the season all three of their games fell at the exact same time.  Of course.  Luckily Jonah's old enough to be dropped off alone.  Dropped Jonah off, took C to her game, and then K to her game.  Luckily the fields were right next to each other so I ran back and forth trying to watch parts of both games.  Then once their games were over we headed back to the baseball field to catch the end of JB's game.  Shwoo!  They all love it however.  The girls' season is already over.  They were thrilled to each get a trophy.  Baseball continues into June.  I know this season was just a preview of how it will be in the years to come.

Caroline!

Kate!

Jonah!

PS  This new blog format is making me nuts.  

Holiday Weekend

This year Caroline's birthday fell on Good Friday, just as she was born on Good Friday, which made for a very eventful birthday. Her preschool class had an Easter egg hunt, an Easter party and birthday cupcakes all on her birthday. The kids all screamed, "Happy birthday Caroline!" as soon as we walked in the door which was very sweet. Caroline was thrilled. Can you believe she's five? She's registered and all set for kindergarten this fall.

Dave's in charge of coloring eggs now.

CHICAGO!

The big event that occurs at Jonah's middle school that all the kids anxiously anticipate is the seventh grade field trip to Chicago. Jessie Clark Middle School seventh graders have been making this trip for something like over twenty years, maybe even thirty. The teachers have the trip down to an exact science. The kids spend 3 nights and 3 activity packed days in the Windy City, and without parents. Parents are not allowed to chaperone, only current teachers and even retired teachers. I can't even believe how much they do while they're there.

Wednesday evening: Arrive and check into hotel. Can you imagine checking in with almost 200 kids?
Thursday: Walking tour of city, lunch at Tommy Gun's Garage, Navy Pier with 3-D movie, dinner at Hard Rock, and Hancock Observatory.
Friday: Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum of Natural History, Art Institute, Woodfield Mall, and dinner at Medieval Times
Saturday: Sears Tower, Museum of Science and Industry, depart home to Lexington with driving tour of Windmill Farms in IN.

Wow! I was pretty jealous myself. The teachers said this year they had the best weather they can remember. Plus the trip fell during St. Patrick's Day this year as an added bonus. The teachers made a blog if you're interested... http://jcmschicago.wordpress.com/

Some of Jonah's photos. Chicago skyline.

St. Patty's green fountain.

That is one big mall!

Millennium Park

A cool car! Still some boy in him.

I'm guessing the Field Museum of Natural History.

Medieval Times

Jonah likes Van Gogh.

Machine gun on a submarine at the Museum of Science and Industry.
That's my boy! Loves cars and guns.

I think this the Hancock Observatory. That's Jonah's foot.
This picture makes me nauseous!

The Chicago 2012 field trip class photo. I can't find Jonah in it.
But I know he had an amazing time that I'm sure he'll remember forever.

Take Two!

A little over a week ago Kate asked to get her ears pierced. So I replied, "Of course!" And off we went to the mall to the same place Caroline's were pierced. They do both ears at the same time which I like.

"I want these!" she said.

Little gold and blue butterflies. She didn't cry. She didn't even flinch.
Her future flashed before my eyes and involved many piercings and tattoos.

Time for the traditional post piercing icee. Yum!

The New Schanding Theme Song!

Caroline learned this song at school recently. As you may notice I had to offer make up as a trade for allowing me to video her. This song cracks me up!