crystal experiment

Andrew earned a crystal growing kit a while back and we finally got to doing it. Well, Daniel did it with him. I can't take any credit. I just kept the girls at bay. Anyway, here is the clear crystal set-up:
Here is the final product! I don't know how well you can see them, but it turned out pretty cool

And this next one will be filled with a purple solution to grow...purple ones. Sorry for the lack of technical terms. The boys even made these plaster molds. And we thank our landscapers for all the rocks.
They filled this container with a dark purple solution and...a week later...

The color is a little funky in places, but they really sparkle in the light.

wee frogs

About two weeks ago Andrew collected two frogs from the home of a church friend. I guess they have LOTS of these frogs all over their back yard. A breeding ground of sorts. He and Abby were so thrilled to put together this cute habitat for the critters. The tiny frogs were just slow enough to be able to keep track of, hold, and have fun with. We kept them about a day and a half then decided they should be free. Since then Abby has collected a small caterpillar, made him a habitat, and had him sleep above her bed on a shelf. He is now roaming her room as the lid was not on tight.

Pike Lake

We all took a jaunt a week and a half ago to Pike Lake, about 25 minutes NorthWest of here. What a great place--grass, woods, playground, and swimming! I've been wanting to go back but the summer really feels more like spring and it's not warm enough (for me) to swim! What I'm NOT going to do is complain about how I can count the days I actually felt hot this year on one hand. Nope. I'm not going to say that.

Phase two in the gym saga

I know you are all dying to know. I found out (from my friend Vicki, who does the ironman, is a chiropractor, and who worked from an office in the gym) that Wisconsin Health and Fitness had been in financial trouble for a while. Vicki said Sneakers had offered her an office in their builing about 6 months ago, but she said no thanks. Well, the owner of WHF hadn't been paying his energy bills for a while and they just shut off the power on a Wednesday. Vicki was informed Tuesday night at 9:30. Wednesday she met with patients by candle light! Fortunately Sneakers has taken her in. I guess this lack of funds explains why they never replaced the hot water heater that broke over 2 months ago!

Because Sneakers only has 2 hours of childcare a day, and they charge, I've been avoiding taking the kids. And so far, really, there's something to be said about getting up early! And a couple times I've come home (7:30ish) and the kids were still asleep. Nice! In fact, thanks to staying up way too late, everyone's still snoozing and I've got a morning to myself. Wow.

Sneakers is a beautiful, sunny, huge gym. Much nicer than the other (thus the higher prices). But I am enjoying the nice, new facility. And I've seen quite a few familiar faces, so it's been fun.

Oh, dear. I ramble so. I better write something about the kids, right? Is that what you really want?

Sold!

No glitches, no hangups, no delays. Our dear house on Baldwin Street is officially in the hands of a new happy family. I wish them the best and will always be a little jealous of their front porch.

Busy with a capital B!

This week has been our busiest summer week as far as "events" go. Every day we've had "discovery days" which is our friend's church's version of Bible School. Andrew and Abby have gone each morning from 9-11:15. On top of that we've had a ballet lesson, family zoo trip, play date at Andrew's friends, friends over for lunch, over for lunch at a friends, board game night with neighbors at our place, juggler/story teller performing at the library, Aladdin performed at the high school. And tomorrow we have the finale of discovery days, babysit my neighbors, and take off for a date at Festa Italiana in Milwaukee! Oh, and Saturday we were invited over for a BBQ at a friends. I could almost relax, but Monday the missionaries are coming over for dinner! NO MORE PLANS, PLEASE!

Tiring, but fun, I say.

When does school start?

Gone. Forever.

I woke up this morning at 6:15 so I could go exercise before Daniel left for work. I zipped out of bed, threw on my running clothes and left the apartment with water bottle and fruit bar in hand. A few moments later I arrived, on foot, to my gym. But something was not right: Dark. It was dark! Then I notice the half sheet printed up and taped on the door. It went something like this:

Due to unforeseen circumstances Wisconsin Health and Fitness is closed. You will be getting your refunds...yadda yadda. Sneakers (akin to Golds) will be offering a discount to the suckers who showed up this morning.

CLOSED???

I was just in shock. My little routine of walking with my kids to the gym, saying hi to friends I've made, keeping healthy, having an hour to myself, all just crumbled. I can't walk to Sneakers. Sneakers charges for child care. If I went with the kids at the same frequency I go now I'd be paying more per month for child care than for the membership. I guess there's the Y, but that's a longer drive and...oh whatever.

And what's with dropping the ball with no warning? Nobody knew last week? Yesterday? I guess I can't say bye to friends I've made there, or the nice ladies who watch my kids, or the hilarious smoothie maker who celebrated every time my kids walked through the door. I don't even know who to be mad at, and that's probably good.

So, I went home, dropped off my water bottle and went on a run outside.

Later, I saw my friend who is an active Christian. She went to that gym before she got pregnant so I knew she'd be interested. She saw I was upset and said, "First, in all things be grateful." Sheesh. Way to be chastised. But really, I had told myself earlier, amidst all the bad feelings, that there was a silver lining. At least I had THAT gym to start with. Because it was more affordable and close, it was a convenient way to start exercising. Now that I know I need and enjoy it, I will be willing to go a little farther to get there. So, Wisconsin Heath and Fitness, thanks for getting me going. But it may be a few days before I forgive you. (now that's not a very nice thank you is it?)

Tonight's thoughts on romance

Something came up about someone (a tv person?) having a crush.
Andrew: I know what a crush is.
Dad: What is it?
Andrew: I'm not telling. It's SICK!


Picture me on my knees, rolled in a ball, dead tired on floor waiting to get kids there for prayer. Daniel comes over and says "Watch what happens when I do this..." He teasingly nudges me with his foot to tip me over. Abby says, "Don't do that, do something romantic!" Then carries on (capitalizing on our laughter) "Hug her and kiss her and ask her to marry you!"

zerbert!

sleeping arrangements

Andrew and Abby desperately wanted to share the loft bed...and who can say no in the middle of summer!? The giggles, chatter, and laughing were well worth the price of staying up a little late. They did this a couple nights and then decided to both try Abby's bed! I was sure there would be "man overboard" in the night, but they both stayed on! Isn't childhood the best?

odes to potty training

there once was a girl who wore undies
she thought that they were so fundies
she made pee pee in the potty
but the poops were still naughty
that adorable girl who wore undies

roses are red
violets are blue
I just bought some oxy
to clean panties of poo


take your pick.

Strawberry Festival

A week ago we took a trip to a neighboring city and went to their "strawberry festival." It was a lot like Portland's "Saturday market" with the selling of lots of handmade arts. Really neat stuff. Then there was "fair" food, the occasional musician, and strawberry desserts. Even strawberry brats. (eeew) The highlight for the girls was Hello Kitty live! Does life get any better!? We did think there would be more celebration of the strawberry though. Only one booth we saw sold them, and they were pricey. I think it's just an excuse to have a street-sale! And drink beer? Anyway, it was a fun little outing.

New Clothes

I suppose Field Day is old news...as it was held a week before school let out. But it's worth noting! I volunteered at Andrew's field day--a Jr. Olympics type fun day outside. I have never worked so hard for a t-shirt, and loved it so much! I was in the parachute games rotation along with 4-5 other women. When we all stood there looking at each other, staring at the parachute, watching the children running in, I decided it was time to make a leader of myself. Or else we were going to be taken over by a bunch of 7 year olds! I said I'd be happy to lead the games, unless anyone else would like to...they all seemed very happy to give me the job.

It was so fun and SO crazy!! FUN--I love working with kids (these were K-2). I was back in my elementary education element! It was just great. Following some other Mom wouldn't have been half as fun! And I got to see my happy Andrew and his school friends! Even my little neighbor kid came with his class and he was just so cutely surprised (I know cutely is not a word, work with me) to see me there. It was adorable. CRAZY--the w-i-n-d. It was a really windy day and that makes handling a very large parachute incredibly challenging. We were yanked, pulled, and bullied by the wind. When we told the parachute to go up, it'd be sucked down and we'd pull up with all our might and make little progress. Or when we said down it'd fill with a mighty gust of wind. It was exhausting to get it to cooperate! I ended up with a blister or two on my knuckles. And the noise--yelling over the wind (and kids) for two straight hours. Wow. And the rain. We ended in a downpour. The kids and I actually did the "bubble" and hid under the chute for as long as we could, but our make-shift umbrella could not outlast the rain and we bolted for the building. Luckily this was the last rotation and we were about done anyway. What a day! I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

That orange shirt? I ran a 5K! First organized "run" since the Bolder Boulder 10K back in 2002! I guess I was overdue. My friend told me about it since she knew I had my eye out for a 5K. She gave me the info on the 3rd of July, and the run was the morning of the 4th! We decided to do it together. Me and her. She...she just happens to be 44 and training for her third IRON MAN (scroll over, that's a link). Needless to say, I was a little nervous. But she said she'd take it easy and I told her my measly beginner goals. Honesty is the best policy when running with someone who can kick your trash. It's funny, after the run I say, "The run went great! So fun!" But if you asked me during mile two, "Oh my gosh, I want to slow down! Why am I doing this anyway? I'm going to diiiiiieeeeeeeee...." Anyway, running with Vicki helped me not quit or jog at snail's pace, so it was really good to run with her. I'm glad I did it and plan to do another one...


later.