Make Way for Ducklings

Did you ever consider how stressed those two ducks were when they looked for a proper home for their chicks? I feel years slip from my life everytime I set out on the drive to Daddy's work where we p/u the shuttle to O'Hare. We get to security after stopping at the necessary room b/c it's been 1.5 hours since we left home. As I watch my chicks handle security with all their coats, backpacks and booster seats like pros. Decide which area we need to head to for the gate (God forbid E or F in a short time period, or either end of C for that matter). We get settled at the gate area and wait for announcements of who gets stand-by seats. By then, I'm at least 20 years older - or at least I feel it. When we do get the news on seats yay or nay, a little life rushes back through me, but there is also the other end of the flight. I'm boosted when I see my three chicks handle first class and shmooze the uptight flight attendant who has had their fill of painful children. It's worth every second of the transport when I get to watch my children's faces and hear the words of support from around us and approval. But the stress is weighed against the thrill of travel every time I decide to spirit them on the wings. I can truely relate to those ducks in this story book who finally decided on a pleasant island in Boston's urban area. I don't wish it were easier, but I do wish I didn't feel such stress in getting them across town (with nary a grid pattern street to be had) or across country. It's the expedition that teaches us all.

Snow and snot, but let's read a book

Hey, Alice in Wonderland was fun/ weird, but done and now it's Black Beauty. Got the idea while in Chick Fil a TN where the kid's meal included a condensed version of the same. Number One enjoyed it so much. And I'm a sucker for a horse story anytime any place. It's that whole farm girl thing... So, we're more than half way done with reading for the year and will broach the precipice of same with math. Discussion of reptiles is underway and listening to a kid's story about a private eye named Chet Gecko reinforces my attempts in two ways. A trip to the aquarium is still on the calendar soon. We are getting to some lessons in Story of the World that I'm looking forward to; i.e. Phoenicians, Assyrians and Babylon again. Once we get to Greeks it's all down hill toward summer.

Speaking of summer, Dora gardener in the house helped me plant globe amaranth and two colors of alyssum 2 weeks ago. Those are now ready to transplant into plugs which all three junior gardeners roled from uncolored newsprint. Many other seeds were started yesterday while the three were working on AWANA Pinewood derby entries. AND prior to shopping for the superbowl gorge, Daddy registered little boys for park district soccer.

Tomorrow is a visit to the dentist for a field trip. I keep praying for a kid-friendly family dentist on our dental plan. I've already tried 2 different dentists. This third one should be the charmer. Then a playdate for our little girl. I get to visit with the mom too, so that's cool. More piano lessons for Number One who isn't hating it completely. Doesn't hurt that the family where he takes piano also has a drummer and a huge drum set to mess with each week. Plans are in the works for a late February trip to Utah and a national park or two. We'll see how the wind blows.

Blustery Winter Day at the Discovery Center Museum

Daddy took on the job of directing the expedition to Rockford Saturday for a most excellent visit. The picture of the Air Tubes exhibit was a big hit as the children were introduced to so much motion! Outside the windows in the background you can see how cold it was.

I promised pictures

Road Trips are more than OK

Well, more later, but we did well to travel last week and will post pictures too. Eastern Tennessee was good to us even though it wasn't much warmer than Chicagoland. The brightest memory for me was the brain busters at American Museum of Science and Energy. My kids are young, but AMSE was accommodating even at the lower age bracket of interest. The Museum of Appalachia was a hit too. We even got to see brand new baby lambs and "talk" to the turkeys. Yippee! The January trip came off without injury and only one night of extended stay due to canceled planes and no standby seats to be had.

Travel Awaits Us

We passed up the trip to nature hike Timber Ridge in order to meet Grampa at the airport and jet off to visit AMSE Oak Ridge TN this week. Well, we've done a little school work what with reading, grammar, spelling (#1 is doing a brilliant job - wonder if it has to do with his voracious reading and great memory???). We've finished listening to the Hobbit and are doing ok to narrate what happens in each chapter while listening to Alice in Wonderland. Math isn't so bad for each and all are familiar with the books of the New Testament now. Again, the oldest has memorized them. But the others will soon. We've done some finishing touches on huge word search exercises that helped test the northern and southern border states and capitols. All that was in preparation for the eastern Tennessee trip. We are continuing the initial year of life science study by reviewing exactly how to classify five types of animal groups. Fish were finished today. It helps to get a big shot of science at the museum this week.

IT'S BEEN FOREVER!

Sorry for the insufferable hiatus, but here goes once again. Events over Christmas lead us to the Kris Kringle market in Dailey plaza and the store front activities of downtown Chicago. Donut makers were appreciated as a family gift and the Monkeys enjoyed all family visits.

More pictures available. Just write me to ask about those.