Week Ten Complete!

And, today is the last day of boy soccer. It's a bit brisk out here in Chicagoland, but those kids are determined to hold up their end of the team this morning and then go to the coach's party at McD. Later, the older boy is doing his part for the scout troop at school/church And then we all go to eat spaghetti at a fundraiser for the babysitter's high school band. I've added a picture of our bike trip last week in the woods and would have had the boys on bikes too if it weren't for the fact that they are fast. They'd already rounded the corner before we could get them in the picture.

Our babysitter has spent over 2 years in Germany and helped us with a lapbook study that we started yesterday. Some of the other Notebooking2Learn moms recommended that I teach the kids a few key phrases and their numbers. So, since Daddy and I had a date last nite and the babysitter was coming over anyway, she got to let them hear the accent and all those consonants in each word. HA! German is new to me and it'll be interesting to see how things go come November.

This week we got the little boy's staples out of his head where he'd been hurt on the SFO trip 10 days ago. It was a great trip to the doctor's office for him. Also, all three kids had a spectacular trip to the dentist who does such a wonderful job with them. No cavities AND loose teeth where they are supposed to be AND front teeth just below the surface finally coming in to a cheesy smile. JOY!

Everyone is very excited about halloween this next week and I'm excited that it's not snowing yet ;-)

Bike Riding at Fullersburg Woods

It is a beautiful day to ride bicycles as a family. The leaves in the forest at Fullersburg Woods weren't quite right, but the breeze was just right. Everyone went round the paths without complaining. The little girl may even be getting better at peddling... ;-)

Exploratorium Visit

It was a wee bit of a haul from our airport hotel room, but it was an opportunity to field trip for free as part of our ASTE membership. We took the free hotel shuttle to the airport. We then rode the BART to Montgomery station with my new full-price round trip tix and the kids' Sunday discounted tix. THEN we took the 30 Stockton bus to the end of its path. We saw things that we'd seen on Sunday during the bus trip IE. Union Square, Chinatown, Pier 39 and Hyde St Pier. But then we walked two blocks to see the Exploratorium. I was thrilled to have seen my children experience this place, a landmark to remember. Yes, that is a cow's eye dissection. And when you turn around from the last landscape picture, you are next to the water that is just entered under the Golden Gate Bridge with container ships included.

Two out of three isn't bad

The sign says, "Please keep off rail."

Hyde Street Pier is a magnificent location for history, science, math and FUN! We took the daddy on a cable car past Lombard Street and Chinatown too Ghiardelli Square and Transamerican pointed tower.

A Sunday in San Francisco with Daddy

Not a painting, but a good day showing Daddy what we've seen and what we needed to see. Here the Gs are in Chinatown at the corner of Grant and Clay.

True Women Galore!

While attending the True Woman conference in Schaumburg Illinois this week, I made some observations about the 6000+ mommys in the room. 99.9% believe you when you say that comfy shoes are better than heals while attending a conference. There were so many women and so little room on the conference hall chairs. I will be more exact and say that the conference chairs were not built for child-bearing hips sitting in a row. Simple as that...

I enjoyed hearing Dr Piper, Nancy Leigh Demoss, Mary Kassain, Karen Loritts, Holly Elliff, Devi Titus, and to some extent, Janet Parshall. I'd heard everything Mrs. Parshall said while listening to the Revive Our Hearts podcasts, so it wasn't that earth shaking. I met ladies from California, Chicago, Kansas, Missouri, Maryland and everywhere (except Vermont and Hawaii). There was a huge group from the Dominican Republic. I needed this time and now...

I have to pack for the attempt to get to SFO with Daddy and the kids. Take care :-)

Our little girl reads her first Little Golden Book!

Independent readers are popping up all over the place! Yes, first graders are reading stories and little golden books about a "shy little kitten." I'm pleased as punch and look forward to independent readers. Readers who read away hours of cold Chicagoland nights and days. I pray for time used wisely to explore pages and pages of books.

October is Pastor Appreciation Month

Our family enjoyed dinner with a young pastor and his wife from New Church last night. They pastor the 20 somethings group at church and they pray that God will take them to the Middle East mission field next summer. We shared some histories for each of us and got to know each other better. The children had spent some time with this couple one evening, shortly after they found out they were pregnant, while Daddy and I went to a meeting. But now, it's almost time for their first baby to arrive. I'm so glad to get to know them and their goals for the future.

Have you visited openly with one of your pastors lately? Real life visits are rewarding.

Brisk Chicagoland

I prepared the first hot chocolate of the season today too.

Wood floors in the living and dining room are done. School is still being held in my bedroom until Daddy is home long enough for us to move the furniture out of the library/den.