Carausius morosus

These are our latest pets - Indian Stick Insects. They are really interesting to look at. We've had them for about a month, now. Emily gave us two, along with two eggs (which never hatched). Charlie spritzes their habitat with water daily and gives them a length of ivy about once a week. Eventually they should start laying eggs. Wednesday we start our chick incubating!

2 Doubles and a Single

That's what Charlie hit during his first play-off game tonight. No photos, because Mary and I stayed home. But I did call Scott to get updates, throughout. They won by one run! He will play again on Wednesday, and if they win, then the championship game is on Thursday. Wish him luck!

BUSY!

This was one crazy week ~

Monday
Charlie - Summer Funner Theater, 1-4
Charlie - Baseball, 4:45 - 8:00
Sam - Vacation Bible School, 6:30 - 8:30

Tuesday
Charlie - Summer Funner Theater, 1-4
Sam, Mary and Mom - Splash Pad with Homeschool Group, 1-4
Sam - Baseball, 5:15- 7
Charlie - Vacation Bible School, 6:30 - 8:30
Mom (and Mary) - La Leche League, 7:00 - 9:00

Wednesday
Charlie - Summer Funner Theater, 1 -4
Sam and Charlie - Vacation Bible School, 6:30 - 8:30

Thursday
Charlie - Chess, 9:30 - 11
Charlie - Summer Funner Theater, 1-4
Charlie - Baseball, 4:45 - 8:00
Sam - Vacation Bible School, 6:30 - 8:30

Friday
Charlie - (other)Homeschool Group Beach Picnic, 11 - 12:30
Sam, Mary and Mom - (other) Homeschool Group Beach Picnic, 11 - 3
Charlie - Summer Funner Theater, 1- 4
Charlie, Sam, Mary Dad and Mom - Vacation Bible School "Easter" Feast, 6:30 - 8:30

Saturday
Sam - Baseball, 11:30 - 1
Charlie - Baseball, 12 - 3:30
Charlie - Summer Funner Theater, 4:15 - 8:00
Sam, Mary, Dad and Mom - Summer Funner Theater Performance, 6 - 8
Sam - All Star Game, 8 - 9:30

Sunday
Charlie, Sam, Mary, Dad and Mom - Church, 9 - 10:15
Charlie - Baseball, 10:30 - 12
Scott - RezBear (Volunteer at Church), 12:15 - 2:15
Charlie, Sam, Mary, Dad and Mom - Madeline's Birthday Party, 3 - 8

At the splash pad on Tuesday

Vacation Bible School - Pita in one hand, Bells on the other

Making 4 dozen baseball cupcakes

Sam's last game of the season :(

Charlie as a villager in Summer Funner Theater's "Tale of A Dragon"

All-Star Game - During the National Anthem

Last 'at bat' - Sam was named MVP!

Watching her big brother - under the lights!

In her party dress

Sam with his favorite somebody.

Madeline is 13!

Heading home, playing with daddy's camera phone

Listening to "The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood"

Hey there, Cupcake!

It's a good thing there are two parents, only 3 kids, and Mary is really portable! This week - fertile eggs, doctors appointments, baseball playoffs, chess, and blood work for poor Mary.

Graham Crackers, Sugar, Butter, Sweetened Condensed Milk, Egg Yolks, and Key Limes

This morning we made two key lime pies. It is actually a very simple recipe, requiring few ingredients and little effort - the most work is juicing the tiny key limes. It was good, but not tart enough.
We had to wait until after 9pm tonight to have a slice - Charlie and Sam didn't get home from VBS until then. We have a very busy week - Charlie has Summer Funner Theater every day from 1-4. They both have VBS from 6:30-8:30 with a couple of baseball games thrown in, as well.

The Never-Ending Birthday

Charlie's been 9 for a couple of months now. However, we just tonight got around to taking him for his surprise dinner. In years past, he's been to Dave and Buster's, Benihana, and The Melting Pot. Tonight we ended up at Adobo Grill. Charlie was surprised - he had to close his eyes as we were driving. He really enjoyed the table side guacamole, and the grilled shrimp. But he loved the Pastel de Tres Leches our waiter brought out for him!

British Soccer Camp

This week was busy! Sam had soccer camp each day from 10 - 12, and Charlie had camp from 1 - 4. This is Charlie's 3rd year, and Sam's 2nd attending this phenomenal camp. It's one week long and the coach is a from Great Britain. I have seen definite improvement in both boys' games as they've attended. At the end of each week, they have a "World Cup" - Charlie played for Ireland. And to celebrate they have a scrimmage against the parents and then a water fight. It's a jolly good time!

The Family Bed

And feed them on your dreams ~

Grandpa came over tonight for Father's Day - we had a fish fry with the catch from Arkansas. Grandma stopped by, too! This isn't the best picture - but it was getting late and the mosquitoes were starting to bite.

"So just look at them and sigh and know they love you."

The two best dads I've ever known. And two more to come, hopefully :)

Finally

Sam has been waiting all season for the "game ball". The last time Sam had a game, the coach told him he would receive it the next time they played - he was saving the best for last. Sam's coach told Scott that if he based it purely on skill, then Sam would have gotten it at every game.

Sam truly is an exceptional athlete - if we could, we would have him in a division of older children. However, that's not allowed. So, he's still playing with kids that sit in the middle of the outfield or spin circles/dance/walk over by their mom/run away from the ball while playing first base - you know, typical 5 year olds. Not Sam, though. He takes this game very seriously. Earlier in the season, when he was not chosen for the game ball, I was trying to console him in the car on the way home. I explained to him, that everyone needed a turn, and that it's not always about who does the best, but a matter of who is trying their best. "Even if they're awful?" was Sam's reply. Don't worry - he's a very good sport when with his team. But man, we sure are glad his time finally came!

Millennium Park

Today we took the train into Chicago. Our friends, The Merricks, came along, too. We played in the sprinkler, ate lunch on the green, and admired The Bean. It was really relaxing - there was classical music being broadcast and the weather was perfect. We then happened upon the Family Fun Fest - the kids made a couple of neat seed/garden crafts and played with some hoola hoops. Next we headed over to NBC Tower to visit Mr. Merrick at work - he's the last one from his company still working on a project there, so he had an entire 1/2 floor to himself. This was probably the highlight of the day - as the kids ran from cubicle to cubicle, calling one another, and eating ice cream bars! We then hoofed it back to Ogilvie station, just in time to miss our train - waiting the half hour for the next one gave everyone a chance to rest/cool off/have a snack. We finally made it on to our train, where the older children headed upstairs, while Rhonda and I, along with a sleeping Julia and a charming Mary, stayed below. Daddy was waiting at the station for us after a long day, and he thoughtfully suggested picking up Chinese food for dinner :)

Air Bud

There was face painting at the library today...

Sam is the one who made the connection - between the baseball Charlie chose and the puppy he chose - just like the movie!

They also caught a White-Sox game this evening, with daddy and a friend of Charlie's. This was in lieu of a (friend)party for Charlie's 9th birthday. Scott said it was the best game he had ever been to. When I asked him why, he told me he just really enjoyed watching the boys hang out together.

Mary and I had a fun girl's night out at Tina's "What Not to Wear" party. The stylist was very anti-capri :(

To plant a garden is to believe in the future

Finally - we have our garden in! This is the third spot we're trying - I hope it gets enough sun. We have corn, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and some mystery plants (courtesy of Emily). They weren't a mystery when she gave them to me, but the labels were washed out in the watering. We also planted two lilac bushes and some ivy (to feed the Indian stick insects - more on that later!).

Puppy Love

Today we visited a friend whose dog had babies 9 days ago. There are 3 of them and they are teeny tiny.

They are really cute, but I can't imagine the work. Actually, I can :)

"Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot little puppies." ~ Gene Hill

The Product of

13 years of marriage...
i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud
of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

ee cummings

Happy Anniversary, Scott!