Par-Tay

I think I say that same title every year LOL..it's true though..it's party time in the house..I'm so excited....the kids are all in school and while it was true that all three were in school for the first time *last* year...this year all three are in school ALL day long. WHEEE...I don't start til next week and have already sat and just marveled at the *silence*
I had all the kids up and ready on time. No buses this year....well the only school that would bus would be middle for M but I don't like the time it picks them up and Nana is here to drive them so what the heck..why not?!
Anyway...M lost his shoes this am..so we are rushing out the door and then we had to rush around..turns out they were in the entryway where they were on the mat.....he says: I never thought to look for them there...we all had a great laugh over that one. K and M start at the same time practically -5 min apart so it will be fun getting from one school to the other. He also told me when I let him out...yeah yeah Mom- I've heard it all before when I told him have a good day. Stinker. :) K looked so grown up...took my breath away..I'm hoping she's having an awesome first day. She's in all honors and is freaked b/c a lot of her classes are in the junior/senior wing of school.
AG was freaked out..so Kev and I both walked her to school..I had the kids put up their fingers for the # of year they were in school (I saw this in a magazine once but also Jill's pics reminded me- thanks Jill!!!) and I told AG to put up her finger for 1st grade and I hear Kev say: But not THAT finger A. She laughed *so* hard and was giggling the whole time. Cute. I asked what finger Daddy meant and she giggled: My middle finger. Oy. Anyway....I can't believe another year has gone by. And I hope that they are having the BEST DAY EVER...sang in my best Spongebob Squarepants VOICE! Hugs all, Fee

More Random Photos

Lots of pics lately

a random fire escape...reminder..go without kids..since I was getting scolded for stopping in the middle of the road

I've been using the camera more and it's been nice. And just to take pics of things that interest me as you will soon see :)

the "bean" downtown chicago- loved how you could see the city in it!

a different perspective from the stroller :)

<----first day of high school....notice the happy face..actually this was only orientation day.

First day- Orientation

I can't believe it..but K started High School today....funny that a week or so ago I got the invite to my 20th HS reunion (not attending but still). I dropped her off with her friends for orientation and as we speak she is outside hanging out with the "gang" to see who has what - when :)

Such an exciting time. Tonight is the first Freshman Mixer...maybe they are breaking the parents in gently to Homecoming when she attends with ALL grades? So tonight a dance...she's going with her group of friends....not sure what I'll do when she's invited to a dance by 1 person..aka a BOY - we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. She's becoming an adult so fast it seems. I managed to snap some pics. Next week I *will* get more on the first day of school LOL

I have three kids in three different schools this year- AG is in 1st grade and freaking out.....M will be in middle school and K is in high school. Fun times. I go back on the 1st of September..nice that I have a week to settle them and my Mom into a routine!

Supporting our Museums

It started as an innocent venture. I had to go to the Museum of Science and Industry's website to get tickets to go on this monday. By the time I added in the Harry Potter Exhibit and then movie tickets for the kids to see it with Sink's kids and Sink..I realized that we would be foolish to not just JOIN the museum for the year. It's been *years* since I've been there....before they remodeled and removed a bunch of stuff. But it was only $99? maybe a bit more for a year long membership and now I can take the kids whenever I want! I have got to go alone..with just adults though..because the kids rushed me through when I'd rather have READ the descriptions of things.

My observations:
-miss the stages of development with the fetuses..they claim they will be back

-miss the heart..what is the museum without the heart.

-miss the food area...sad it's gone.

-the castle is much smaller than I remembered as a child. The room was also darker than I remembered and I had no time to just listen.

-the place is now set up more like an amusement park...everything lets out into a gift shop..clever

-I like it..being involved in Science now...I really like our museum and they have reciprocal agreements with LOTS of area museums. I can't wait to go the the Milwaukee Public Museum..I've never been or if I have it was when I was a kid. I also can't wait for the Botanical Gardens in Milwaukee and our Morton Aboretum. If you haven't checked out our museums you should!

Fee

Thanks for the Memories!

I had a large gathering at my house...when you are friends with 60 women in a tight knit group it's always a risk to say- hey I am having you all over to my house....b/c while you want to see them all you think- how will I *ever* fit 60 ppl and their families in my house This get together saw only 20 of us or so. I realized after..we never took our group shot. :( But here are some pics from this wonderful gathering of friends. If you haven't hosted one..I highly recommend it...it's well worth the cost...b/c it's PRICELESS to have female bonding....I just kept grinning that MY friends were all over the place at my house..that our kids (some meeting for the first time) loved each other and that it was a well spent weekend. Laughter, friends and love...what more could you want?