Luke and Roger

Our new neighbor discovered that our att wire for our internet was 6 inches on to his property. He wanted it moved. So I called att - a guy came out and said yup it looks like it's on the wrong property. Genius!
We should probably move it to the new box in the other corner of the property. (this box has been here ever since we moved here 14 years ago - not new). They contract out burying the wire, so we waited. Neighbor wasn't happy.
Guy comes out before Julie and I won't let him dig. He wanted to take it directly over our septic field anyway and I told him he couldn't do that. We waited. They come out 2 more times and I sent them away. Julie finally shows up and marks our electric underground cable. Att guy was right behind him and buries the wire. Done!
Except that was on a Friday afternoon. You guessed it no internet.
How did we ever live without the internet?
long story - short...
I called they came out and now I can tell you what great fun we had last week.

Luke had his Thanksgiving sing! That's our little prilgrim sitting first in the front row.

They have 3 kindergaten classes. Luke has the same teacher that Roger had.

Then back into the city again to watch our Roger pay some basketball.
His uncle Pat is his coach and his cousin Jack plays on his team. Some family time!!!

They must have practiced bounce passes and defense last week, because they were very good at it.

It was funny how they searched for the x's on the floor to know where to stand for their positions with their arms up. It was nice to not see everyone huddled under the basket.

Teach them Young!!!

They don't keep score. They are there to learn the basics.  Roger's team was more interested in passing then shooting anyway. 

Not sure if he will become a star basketball player, but it was nice to see him having fun with his cousin.

Grandparents Day

It was a special day for us.
We visited Mary Seat of Wisdom school to meet both Roger and Luke's teachers and tour their classrooms.

We were served breakfast in the gym by the 7th and 8th graders.
Next was a mass where we were surrounded by love from all the children. They sang a hymn blessing all us grandparents. It was really special.

We first stopped in Luke's class. He has the same kindergarten teacher as Roger. Roger also got to see what Luke was up to. He gave his old teacher a shout out.

Roger was very excited to show us the new 3D printers the school has in the lab room, but the door was locked and all we got was a peak through the windows. He had plenty to share about it though.

In Rogers class, Luke got to see what Roger was up too.

Mike and I both found his teacher to be the quite type, but Bryan tells us his reading and math skills have soared.
Of course we had to make a stop in the library. Roger asked the librarian (just like the last 2 years) if he could join the reading club.
"No, you have to be in 4th grade."
"Well, then can I check out this book?" (A Boxcar Kids book he hasn't read yet)
"No, Each of the classrooms thru 3rd grade have their own libraries."
"Well, that doesn't seem fare. Yours are better."
That got a chuckle out of her. He did have a point.

Both boys are learning and growing.
Roger is really rocking second grade.
Luke was Very nervous about leaving his daycare/school and going to place where he didn't know any body and any of the rules. His only complaint is he can't eat whenever he wants too.

Walk for Luke

Again this year Mike and I joined the crowds to walk the 5K for Comers Children's Hospital. We do it in support of Luke's Dr. and his team - Team Robo Kids.
It was a perfect morning for a walk. Turns out it was warmer in Chicago than Elgin and I was a tad bit overdressed but removed my earmuff, scarf and unzipped and I was good to go.
This University of Chicago campus is beautiful and the surrounding homes.

Mike and I did cut over on a side street and cut a few blocks off the race, but we made up for it just walking back and forth from the car. Anyway that is what I'm telling myself.

The teddy bear was back for his annual checkup. Luke tended to just his ear, but Owen had to do the full exam. Blood pressure and all - ending with a flu shot.

We ended the day with a short trip to Owen's birthday party to give him his presents. He was having 8 kids (and their parents) over to his house for a party - We didn't stay for that part.
He told me he wanted a puppy for his birthday. We got him 6, along with a dog house, dog bed and a dog quilt.
We put our ideas together and came up with this. The roof opens up and there is cubbies inside for all the dogs to sleep in. He loved it.

Owen and his Dog House

Happy Birthday Owen!

Sweeper

I grew up with oaks trees in our yard. I loved to rake the leaves into piles and play in them. We would line them up into a floor plan and pretend it was a house, complete with bedrooms, living rooms and a kitchen where we would burn leaves using a magnify glass.
(Being a daughter of a firefighter I sure liked to play with fire as I sit here with a fire in the fireplace).

I don't remember the acorns. I'm pretty sure there was some, but I just don't remember them being a problem.
Living out here with 8 oak tress the acorns are everywhere. Lots of acorns. Mike would always stay on top of them by raking regularly. Though raking is a good exercise - not for people with a bad back.

Then I remembered the yellow sweeper that Dad would walk around the backyard - and if we were lucky we could help push. Dummy me thought it was to pick up all the leaves. Now I'm thinking it was for the acorns too.
Mike and I go over to the Farm n Fleet store to check their sweepers. We run into my cousin Bob who offered his sweeper to us to try before we spend the money on one.
Well as soon as Mike hooked it to my tractor and I made a few passes in the yard I told him to "Go Get Me One!"
Which he did.

My new sweeper

 This thing is crazy good. It not only picks up acorns but all the little sticks too. I sweep the yard before I mow so I can keep the grass clippings in the lawn. This takes me obviously twice as long to do the yard work, but so worth it.

A fraction of the acorns

I can't wait to see how this thing does when the leaves finally fall.

Dells

We spent a weekend with the Flory family up at the Great Wolf Lodge in WI.

 We had a separate suite that was attached to their condo and it worked out perfect. Evert time I turned around Owen was in our side trying to dial and talk on the phone. I didn't get the fascination  until Bryan filled me in. They have never seen a house phone before.

Half wall between livingroom and beds

It was the first trip for the boys to a water slide park, which was great because we practically had the place to ourselves. There was no waiting in lines (which at one point I wish there was - climbing all those stairs and then rushing right down to go back up was challenging).

Roger on the tamer Tube ride

Owen with daddy crusin down the lazy river

Luke was a Master at the lilly pads

After a hour or so at the slide park for the younger ones I walked around and discovered the wave pool area. That was all she wrote for Owen. Every time that wolf would howl for the waves to start he would go running head first into the waves.. He had no fear. He laughed so much.

Just 11 other people in the pool with us

There was racing down slides.
At one point Roger asks me and Mary if we wanted to go down the Hollow Tornado - He had just gone on it with Mike and Bryan.  Now I told myself I wasn't going to volunteer to go on any fast rides, but damn I couldn't say no to my Grandson. I honestly thought I could of died. Mary and I screamed and were both shaking when done. Needles to say that was Rogers last trip down it. Mom put her foot down and told him no more till he gets bigger. Thank the Lord Luke was too small yet. So Scary!!!
When he asked me if I wanted to race down the rapid ride I thought oh hell ya. Game on. The finish was Roger, Luke, Mary then me. I got stuck at the top. But I did go the furthest.

Luke looking back at me making sure I was OK

Owen getting dumped on

Wherever there was water flowing Owen was under it. He would stand under this until the bucket emptied then he would run over to get under that.

After a pizza delivered dinner we head on down to the arcade. They might as well call this a casino for Kids. You really have no idea how much money is going into the games until the card runs out.
But they were having fun.

Space Invaders

The boys went to bed pretty easy that night with a promise of doing it all again tomorrow.

We hit the park when it opened.
We took a break for lunch at Buffalo Phils right across the parking lot. Sharen (who has been up there many times) recommended it. It was also a huge hit. Again I'm pretty sure we were having so much fun, because it was off peak season and there was no waiting and no crowds.
Food coming in on the train. Roger and Luke unloaded.

Yes, Owens appetizer was a plate of ketchup

They also had a HUGE arcade/kiddie casino and we spent time there.

They boys watched a movie during rest period and then it was on with the wet suits and back to the water slides.

I'm not sure who was having the most fun. My first guess would be Mike for sure, but we all agreed that it's a do over. I was just so happy to spend time away with the family.

I Needed Help

I love to work around the house. I take pride in being the one who keeps it clean (still love washing windows), painted and I can handle most minor repairs.

When the weather is nice I am outside doing something. Mostly it's keeping up with the weeds. Ha..
When the neighbors tree limb fell on our deck there was some damage done to the decking. It really needed a overhaul anyway. I started scraping - Mike soon joined me and we realized this was more than a couple of hand scapers could handle and decided to rent a sander.
I really wanted to do it. In my mind I knew I could, but my body said no. Damn it!
I did get it all power washed and prepped.
Mike had to step in. He rented a sander over at the Home Depot and took a day off from golf and sanded down our decks. The machine was way too heavy for me, but it was what we needed to get it done sometime within the next 5 years. I'm pretty sure that's how long it would take me to do it all by hand.

getting started

We started on the front. I had stained it a couple years ago, but it would turn green in spots when it rained and I hated that. Time to take it down to bare wood again.

Me trying!!!!

Like I said - I want to do this stuff myself, but it was too much for me to handle. Damn It!
The sander started making strange loud noises so we let it cool down a bit and headed to the back. The reason we got in the first place.
Still making some LOUD noises. Oh boy...
Mike took it apart - It had a glob of hair and dirt in the engine so we took that out and well-la It was running like a sprinter again. (I couldn't help but think how many people would or even could take the thing apart?)

Back Deck

We had this thing for 4 hours, so we put another heavy duty pad on and do one more sweep of the front deck. You know when I say we, I mean Mike, right. Though I did follow him with the blower and kept the surface clean for him and swept up after him.

Last Pass Over

Now I get to decide just what I want to do. I do like the look of a clean white deck, but I just don't know.
Mike was at this for 3 hours with just a 5 minute break and he admitted to being sore. I never could of done this by myself.
 I needed help. Damn it!

Happy Birthday to Bryan

There is no way to get around it. Life goes on and we all add one more year to our age. Bryan, my baby is now 41.
I still remember him as a little boy. Even though I see him being a Dad with little boys of his own, I still sometimes see that little boy.
I was visiting a friend at St. Joseph Hospital on Wed. August 1 (Bryan's Birthday) so I decided to take a trip down memory lane and went up to the nursery where he was born. They wouldn't let me in, but I told them I gave birth there to my son 41 years ago to the day and I just wanted to peek at the babies.
They loved my story, but it was still a No.


We celebrated his birthday this weekend.
They all came out for a cookout.
Roger and Luke showed Papa how to fix puzzles.

Owen just wanted piggy back rides.

We took a quick trip to the creek to skip some rocks. Of course we had to stop at the fallen tree to take a yearly picture.

Happy Birthday to Bryan.