He Shoots, He Scores!

Basketball season is in full swing here. Mary is a lovely little spectator~
Although sometimes, she does need to stretch her legs a bit~

Charlie's game has improved so much since last year - he (and his team) are really starting to work together, rather than just hogging the ball~

Mary was so funny today - she kept pulling this hat off, and putting it on (not quite straight) and then lurching around the hallway with her eyes half covered~

Sam has had some GREAT games, too! Recently he made three baskets in one game - not bad for the smallest kid on the team :)

Sleep Over

Charlie's friend Isaac is sleeping over tonight. They were watching something (I think a pioneer show) here and looked so sweet. Another benefit of homeschooling - midweek slumber parties :)

Art Institute

We took the train downtown today, then walked over to the Art Institute. The kids are moving through the impressionists and into modern art right now. In front of the Seurat (Sam was there, just uninterested in having his picture taken)~
We were disappointed to find that every Picasso (along with all the armor - a perennial favorite) was in storage, but we had beautiful weather and enjoyed the day.

Criminal Minds

Today we saw another show at College of Dupage - CSI: LIVE!. This picture is fuzzy (photography was not allowed and we didn't want our flash to give us away), but I wanted to include it because Charlie was chosen as a volunteer from the audience (my dream come true as a child - isn't it everyone's?)~

Green Lake

Last week, our good friends, The Humphreys, invited us up to John's parents' house in Wisconsin for a quick winter getaway. Scott had to work, but Wednesday, I went up for a couple of days with the kids. We had a great time - it was just the break we needed. There were many games of Yahtzee! (Sam must be losing here)~
Mary fell in love with Elliot all over again~

When we shared with Reagan about our New Year's Eve Polar Dash, she was game to try it up at Green Lake~

It actually wasn't that cold, just lots of snow~

Elliot even got in on the action~

Ice skating on the frozen lake~

And Saturday morning before we left, John took them tubing behind the car~

On the deserted road~

What fun~

It was an action-packed, yet also relaxing, weekend. John took the kids swimming, and Audrey (their house sitter) made sugar cookies, which they had fun decorating one afternoon. We watched some Indiana Jones, and another great movie "The Ultimate Gift" (which I highly recommend). Mary was a good little traveler (relatively speaking), and I'm really glad Tracy convinced me to go. What great (and generous and helpful) friends we have!

The Rules of the Game

It looks like Charlie is explaining why Mary can't foul Sam~

iLove

After bowling today, the boys worked on their Valentines. We found a really cute one in Family Fun magazine - it's a box of conversation hearts wrapped up to look like an iPod, with Hershey's kisses ear buds~
Yesterday we saw an excellent play at College of Dupage, "Walk On: The Story of Rosa Parks". We've seen several performances there over the last couple of years, and we're always impressed.

Chase

We've been enjoying the break in the cold weather, and each other. Mary is crazy about her big brothers, and they adore her.

Psalm 100

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 86:1-4

Hear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.
You are my God; save your servant
who trusts in you.
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant,
for to you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.

Skating in the Wind

by Kristine O'Connell George

I crouched, my brother Bill shoved hard.
I held up my jacket
the wind caught it.
I shaped it like a giant sail.
The wind slammed into my back.
My skates clattered, skidding and skimming like butter on a hot skillet.
Mouth dry, the wind roared in my ears.
Bill said I was almost flying-
until the fence.

Super!

This afternoon we celebrated Sam's big day with the family. He said he wanted to play a football game on the real field before we watched the Super Bowl. It was really cold, so the kids just ended up playing in our yard.
Mary gets a ride from Madeline~

Here is the dog cake he wanted~

Say cheese~

Sam loves lighting candles~

Make a wish~

Another year, another Super Birthday Party! It's fitting that Sam's birthday falls so close to the big game. He loves football - and we have lots of video of him demonstrating all the referee calls at the young age of 2 years old :) His first word, after Mom and Dad, was "ball". He's a sports fanatic!