What's new with you??

Homework deductions


Road construction


Captive audience


Storytelling apprenticeship


Letters to know


Room to grow


Great news on the career front. Kola has decided to abandon his plans to become a girl (Sara, in particular) and become a doctor. He will be "Dr. Joe" and will only give checkups and see how people are feeling, but not give shots. At first Ethan was worried. Previous plans have had them both working in the transportation field, so Ethan wanted to know if he and Kola could still be family if they have different jobs. The good news is yes, but explaining to him how or why Kola might change his name to Joe was a little trickier.

Their train hobbies persist and they managed to ride trains for 3 out of 4 days this week. The train is not always the most direct or convenient way to get where we're going, so sometimes I'm dropping the boys and sig off via car and picking them up on the other side. Other logistical challenges were Christmas, where they took the train and I drove the presents, and a potluck brunch, where I needed the car to transport the food. Ethan's binder of train maps and schedules from around the area and world is really fattening up, and some days he'll walk around the house with a timetable, letting me know what trains are entering and leaving various stations.

Recently, the boys had their 4 and 6 year checkups. Ethan came in at a towering 4' which floored me, since I started high school at 4'11". A few years ago my dad said he was glad that of the houses we shopped, we picked a victorian with high ceilings;)

I was very honored a few weeks ago to receive a Citizen's Achievement award from the Illinois Park and Recreation Association for the environmental work I've done in the past year-ish with our park district. I've just re-upped for another three years with the park district's citizen's advisory group and will work again this year as the chair for the Greening Advisory group. It's rewarding to see this venture grow as we continue to implement our environmental policy with the launch of a zero waste initiative and a park stewardship program this spring.

We'd love to see and hear what's new with you. Thanks for checking in! xo b/s/e/k

Last days of lock down

Yummy Construction


Origami, Cats and Dogs


Mardi Party, German Style


R/R


R-n-R


kola expressing his sunny side


once known as serious tower, by ethan


The weather today broke like a fever, and it seems we've made it through winter without going crazy. Though, you might be a better judge of that than we are. These past few weeks, the boyz have been hesitant to go outside - a little finicky for the right conditions, like groundhogs who just aren't ready yet. I guess there was still a bit of a to-do list, including the gingerbread house we didn't get to before Christmas, art and train constructions, down days watching videos with their "friends"...Making the most of the great indoors before their attention is shifted outdoors.

Our train layouts were refreshed with some of the boyz birthday cash and a few toys they sold on craigslist. They took their $80 booty to the hobby shop and bought a Metra set and a freight engine. If they could, the boys would set up a gift registry there - they're already planning their Christmas wish list with more double decker passenger cars and CTA cars. For now, this is the first step on Ethan's career path, which he most recently reported as a train map maker, a train driver, and a train announcer. I think all that cross-"training" will ensure job security.

I also had the pleasure to visit Ethan's school to guide the kids in Art Appreciation - origami. It was such fun to be with his class and see the kids' discoveries from one fold to the next.

We met with Kola's teacher this week for his first conference, and it was such a pleasure to hear how well he's doing, writing his letters, being a good friend and listener, and making new discoveries. The teacher thinks he's beyond caught up for his age, and by the end of the meeting, I hadn't heard anything negative. One thing he can work on is sticking to one thing (puzzles, paintings, but no problem with cars or trains) a little longer, which she guesses will build with maturity. We're very proud of him for such a great report.

As the boyz get older and my focus shifts away from constant safety patrol, I'm noticing more things around me (I've heard this referred to as coming out of the toddler fog - or is it my new progressive lenses??) Today, after a year and a half, I found that the blog has spell check. Now I need to see if I have the capacity to remember to use it. I also noticed that our water heater doesn't have the insulated wrap we put on in previous houses. things that make ya go hmmmm....xo b/s/e/k