Oh noooo!

Lucy's been pretty resistant to napping since the girls have gone back to school.  We're struggling over here!  I will not give up, I know she needs one.  Just now,  as I rocked her before her nap, she sat up on my lap, smiled at me, pointed to her crib and shook her head no.  I contained my laughter placed her back on my shoulder, and continued to rock.  Again, she sat up, smiled, pointed at the crib and shook her head no.  This girl has spunk.

So happy together

Lucy is a bit lost without her sisters at home all day.  Especially this one.

She's just not quite herself until Ellie Eleanor (neither Lucy or I can get that one right) gets home from school.  All day, I don't dare get out of Lucy's sight, better yet, best to have slung around my side.  We've tried the park, our own backyard, playing on the floor, reading books but nothing is quite right until our Ellie gets home.

I love....

that I live with readers.  Readers of differing ability levels and interests but drop everything, can't wait another moment to get back to it readers all the same.

Honeycrisps were calling...

and we answered!  We spent a fantastic morning with Grandma and Grandpa picking apples at Eckert's. We have apples coming out of our ears and lots and lots and lots of ideas for how to use them all up!  I've already eaten 3 today....

A new year

The Baum girls are back in school!  

Dear Eleanor,

You are amazing.  Walking quietly along next to you on our way to school was one of the most delightful moments of my year.  As we waited on the kindergarten playground before school began I was so proud of you.   Rather than become overwhelmed by the cameras, the children running, playing, crying, clinging, true to your nature you sat and observed all that was happening around you, not missing a detail. When it was time to line up you hugged me tightly and with more poise then many adults posses you walked into line and became a kindergartner. 

I love you.

                   Dear Emma,
You are such a fabulous big sister.  Watching you comfort and help your sister this morning reminded me of what a great kid you are.  Second grade!  Hard to believe and yet so perfect.  This year you have your dream teacher....I did too in second grade and I still remember her with much love.  I hope and pray the same will be true for you.
                                                                   I love you!

The backpacks were hung by the front door with care....

Ready or not school starts tomorrow!

One

I'm part of a book club that meets once a month to discuss one chapter of the book we're reading.  It's non-fiction and each chapter can stand alone.  Genius!  I can commit to that.   Last month the author, Barbara Brown Taylor, suggested what it would be to answer the question "where do you want to be in life" with "right here, since this is where I am".  Clearly not all of life can be lived in such a simple way, plans must be made, goals set, items crossed off the list.  But to be firmly grounded in what is today to embrace that beauty, I've come to believe that is where the joy in life lies.
8.9.11 came and our baby girl turned 1.  What a gift she is, truly Heaven sent.  Over the last year I've seen her sisters become caretakers, patient in ways I was unaware they were capable, loving and open, ready to help.  Confident with their place in our family, aware of our need for each one.  I've seen us all take a deep breath and "check out".   Life continued on around us but rarely did we feel the pull of it's unnecessary buzz.  A newborn baby can do that.  I'm not sad that our baby is one.  Oh, she's a fun one!  Talking, pointing, rolling merrily along.   My prayer is not to keep her little bitty, it's to keep us all "right here" embracing the now, focusing on the real life that is all around us.

Summer Scene 5: Wowzers!

It's the end of summer and we're lazy, lazy.  Judging by our t.v. habits over the last few days you'd think we were junkies.  The girls are obsessed with the Inspector Gadget cartoon, streaming nonstop from Netflix.  I guess I could worry, think they're watching too much.  I'm not.  I'm all for playing outside, reading, writing, using your imagination, being bored, getting unstuck and creating your summer away.  But truth be told I'm also all for relaxing and being lazy for a a few days!  While the girls are getting their fill of Gadget, Lucy and I are listening to The Hunger Games on Audible and perfecting her block destroying, and stair climbing.  Here's to a Go-Go Gadget summer!

Yikes!  I think they've just entered into a t.v. coma!

Travelogue: Chicago Summer 2011

We've been looking forward to our Chicago getaway since late May.  Top billing was given to the train ride to and from Chicago.  Oh the fun to be had, UNO, the snack car, watching the landscape blur by.   Perfect!   With giddy smiles, and tapping feet we showed up to the train station on Friday at 6:50am for our 7:05am departure.
Fast forward thirty seconds....
train's gone
left at 6:40
no such thing as 7:05 train
must wait until 3:00pm
Dad's MAD (at himself)
kids are crying
Mom has to act fast!
Fast forward thirty minutes....
tears are dried
negotiating is done
in the van
on the way
to Chicago
we'll be there soon!

The train didn't work out but the trip was a smashing success.

We ate a late lunch/early dinner at XOCO , which Kevin has been talking about for months.  I now understand why.   It is incredibly tasty.  Rarely do I think "I must know how to make this"  but I really must know how to make their ahogada sauce (never even heard of the stuff before).     Here we are slurping cold mexican chocolate mint drinks as we walked back to the hotel.  Love, love, love that memory!   And yes, Ellie is a little big to be riding around town in a stroller!   

On Saturday we took a double decker bus tour of the city.  It was very fun, except when we got off at Navy Pier.  We will never, not ever, do that again.

After the bus tour we shopped till we dropped on Michigan Avenue.  Here are two very sleepy girls riding the elevator to our room.  Once there we rented Yogi Bear, which made the girls laugh so hard I thought they'd pee their pants!  

Lucy was a fabulous travel companion.  If you look very hard you can see her crib in the background.  It's in the bathroom.  There were two bathrooms in the hotel room and we used one as Lulu's bedroom.  She fell asleep at 7 each night,  so we turned on some white noise in the bathroom and she slept like a log.  Plus the kids could laugh like crazy at silly movies and not wake the baby!  

Of course asleep by 7 means up really early...especially for vacation.  Kevin and Lucy enjoyed early morning runs on our trip!

On Sunday we went to the aquarium, which is really amazing.  Then we ate our weight in Garrett's popcorn.  And probably against our better judgement (but hey!  we had the van) went to Ikea on the way out of town.

It was a quick trip but one none of us will soon forget!