Cello, you've got base~

Sam had his first cello performance. As part of the Suzuki program, they have a community service day, going to various nursing homes, and playing for the residents.

Waiting to begin~

Mary was a hit with all of the residents, as well. She loved the music~
And here's Sam plucking "Ants"~

Afterward we rushed to Sam's soccer game. It was a very busy morning, and one that ended with a migraine for me :(

Apple Picking

Today we visited Apples On Oak, in Joliet. It took us less than 30 minutes to get there, thanks to the new 355 extension. This was our first time visiting this orchard. I think we'll go back again next year, though, because it's nearby, run by a family living on the premises, and they only charge for apples picked (no admission like other places). Also, they don't have any of the agri-tainment (moon jump, etc...) like so many other apple orchards and pumpkin farms, which I don't care for. I just want my kids to have an opportunity to see where food comes from and participate in that in even a small way. Unfortunately, they didn't have many apples left, but they did have an abundance of Asian Pears. They are super sweet pears that are round like apples. The boys actually thought they were too sweet, but they really enjoyed the apples~



We brought our friend, Cole, along~
And Mary hung out, all 11 months(!) of her~ We plan to make some apple/pear sauce and also some oatmeal pear cookies.

Prodigium

Sam called for me to look what he made with the blocks today - Charlie helped with the "N", but otherwise, this was all Sam!

Football (International and American)

This morning Sam had a soccer game, and his favorite someone came to watch~A couple of weeks ago, Sam overheard me talking about a homeschooling "parent's night out" and asked, "When you and Daddy go, can Christina babysit us, if she's available?"


Later we headed to the south side for Luke and Madeline's football games. We caught the tail end of Luke's and saw Madeline's in it's entirety. Here's Sammy with his godfather~
Mary was delighted by Luke~

My baby with Darlene's baby~
Luke was the first person I ever saw be born, he's one of the only kids I know who says "I love you" before he hangs up the telephone, and he is so good with Mary~

Sam catching Jack's pass~

Hanging out~


Darlene and Madeline~
Mary is surrounded by love~
We all had a lot of fun today!

Friday Night Lights

We took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather today, and rode our bikes up to the library. It was hot!
Charlie, too cool for photos~
Now, that's hot ;) ~
Happy now, my dear, but you've still got a couple of miles 'til home...and your nap~
And tonight we caught our first football game of the season. Living so close to the high school definitely has its advantages (easy parking :). It was Homecoming, complete with half-time entertainment, and fireworks (Mary's first time seeing them - she was mesmerized)!

Sam, agreeing to a photograph (wearing his Notre Dame shirt)~

Mary's favorite thing - pulling up~
Yes, they're all related~

Sam, Mary and I came home after halftime, but Charlie and Scott stayed 'til the end, and the Rams victory!

Replogle Globes

Today we visited the Replogle Globe factory in Broadview. Grandma actually took the boys, and we met them there after Mary's doctor's appointment. According to Charlie and Sam it was really interesting to see how they actually put the globes together. They saw each step, from start to finish.

Here's Charlie afterwards (Sam is camera shy lately)~
In front of the big sign (again, no Sam)~
Rhonda tried to sneak out with a globe under her shirt~
The company gave each of the children a free "wonda-globe" - see it being used below as an old-fashioned GPS~
There was no charge for the tour, and they gave everyone the globes mentioned above, as well as a wall map of North America - what a generous company! Be sure to look for the Replogle brand the next time you're shopping :)

After the tour, we headed over to a nearby forest preserve with some friends to enjoy our lunch and the nice weather~

A Visit to the Wade Center

Today after Sam's cello lesson, we stopped by Wheaton College's Wade Center to see the exhibit, Pauline Baynes: A Lifetime of Illustration.

In front of the wardrobe that was C.S. Lewis' inspiration~
A nice painting of Aslan, by a Wheaton college student~
Charlie's favorite - the map of Narnia~
This looks good~
On my "to read" list~
Detail of wardrobe drawers~
If only~
And outside in the lovely "english" garden~

A small collection, to be sure, but worth stopping by for, if you're in the area.

On our way home, I almost hit a deer! The first I saw of it, was in front of my car. It was literally a couple of inches from my front bumper (I heard it's hooves). I have terrible reflexes, and only the deer's speed saved it. I didn't even break after the fact :( The kids were oblivious, too, and only realized what was happening by my shriek.

And as if that weren't enough drama for one day, Charlie started howling abruptly after dinner. He was screaming that his eye hurt - completely out of the blue. We looked and saw nothing. We tried flushing it with water and saline solution. An hour and a half later, with no end in sight, Charlie, Mary and I headed over to the urgent care center. We figured, better to go at 8pm than at midnight. We saw the doctor after about 1/2 hour (not quite as quick as the "no-wait" emergency room). He looked at Charlie's eye, saw some artificial "up and down" scratches on his cornea, and then turned Charlie's eyelid inside out. Underneath there, causing all that pain, was an unidentified crying object. It was about a quarter the size of a pencil eraser. The doctor thought it might be a leaf or something. We have no idea how it happened. But Charlie felt immediately better just having it removed. We left after an hour with a prescription for some antibiotic drops.