Saddles, T-squares, and Sippy Cups

So, you might remember the Robinson Family who came to visit us for the 4th. And maybe you recall that we put Andy to work.

We have decided to make it a tradition. If you come to our house you will be put to work.

I think of it as my Master Plan for Accomplishing the "Maybe Someday, Eventually, If There is Ever Time, (Yeah, Right!) To Do List," but I call it my Master Plan for short.

The gate is fixed but there is still some sanding to do.

Or some mortar to patch. And don't think that any excuse like only being in town overnight, like Paul, is going to get you out it!Now, this isn't all bad, you know. We wouldn't want you to feel like all we did was stand around and take pictures of you.

So Chris will help too.
And if you do really good work there could even be a reward in it for you!
How about this? She is pretty proud of herself for getting in that chair all by herself but she is up for a cuddle or two.

Honest.

See?
And if she hesitates we are happy to volunteer your iPhone as an incentive!
Aunt Elise trained her to appreciate all an iPhone can do. And despite all her fanaticism for it she is willing to share and won't let you miss an important call.And really, if that sweetness is not enough, we might be able to inspire your work ethic with good company, yummy treats and a birthday song or two!

(You might think that Grandpa gets some cake because he sanded so well but really it was all that cheesy smile training he did with Noah!)


So now you know the particulars of my Master Plan. I hesitated to reveal all my secrets but I think that it might be just the thing to inspire all our friends and family to stop off in WI for a visit!

Elise, my sister, scored some cheap plane tickets and came up for a short mommy vacation. "Short" being the operative word. But then it is never long enough! And Saint Daniel (and I mean this with absolutely no sarcasm-my sister picked a keeper for sure!) had the kids for the weekend. Ok, we understand it had to be short but still.

She was flying into Chicago and Ian, my brother, and his family had just moved nearby. I drove to his house and he chauffeured us around Chicago after we stopped at the airport to pick up Elise.

Oliver joined us. First stop, breakfast.

Then we walked to the John Hancock building and saw the sights.

Navy Pier
Some tall building...
Lake shore heading north

Chicago skyline
Lincoln Park (I think. I know I am a country girl and the fact that I gravitate to the green parts in any urban sprawl prove it to me over and over!)

After that we walked back down the Magnificent Mile, ate delicious popcorn and walked some more we stopped for a break to cool off a bit. Elise, doing her thing:)
Millennial Park and the bean were part of the tour.
There was more walking and more things to see. Elise did a better job recording the whole thing than I, check it out.

After all that we stopped for a late lunch of deep dish deliciousness. Not to be repeating myself but everything I ate that was decadent deliciousness!
After lunch we headed back to the car and arrived just in time to get out of the rain. We drove back to Ian's house and visited with the whole gang. Ate some brownies and then found our way home to WI in the dark.

Sunday was Sunday and it was fun to have Elise sit in the pew with me and help entertain the wee one. She stands as witness that Chris is bishop.

Monday we planned to have a photo shoot. I have regretted, in years past, not making family pictures more of a priority and this was my first step towards improvement. The weather worked against me and after much hullabaloo about clothes (I don't like it when everyone matches but we still gotta go together. This is harder to achieve for me than actual matching, however!) we had to wait for it to get warm enough to go out. I never thought I would be the one to complain that it needed to be warmer!
But we got some wonderful pictures despite the grumpy baby and chilly wind. We went back the next morning to get some solo pictures of the more recalcitrant ones.

Now, hard work like clothes selecting and family photo taking deserves a reward.

For Elise, we planned a once in a lifetime opportunity for a Toilet Smash.
There was something in there. Hidden to the naked eye, stuck good and refusing to come out.

Curiosity drove us to find what required the replacement of a toilet. Safety glasses in place, they tried sticks.
Moved onto the hammer,

And then called in Dad. He found it. The happy meal toy that ruined my budget for the month of August!
Elise and I also got a bit of shopping in and I finally used my b-day gift card from my parents.

Then we went off to Sprecher's Brewery for the tour and tasting. The tour was a little pitiful but the soda was, wait for it, delicious!

Tuesday we visited a Cheese Shoppe and got some yummy snacks. I had sausage and herb and spice Havarti for lunch that day!
We came home for naps and had to get in some chick flick time. We opted for Anne of Green Gables, a long time favorite. We finished and ran off to the library to get Anne of Avonlea! We didn't finish it before we had to take Elise to catch her shuttle back to O'Hare.

But since I am due to see her TX this week (same screaming plane ticket deal!), we may finish it then!

When we were looking for a place to live schools were in the top three most important thing on our priority list.

I think we succeeded, but it's only been a few weeks and Noah is our first kindergartener.
September 1st was the first day of school. We had everything ready and we set out to walk to school. We have been making the trip a couple of times a week for a few weeks to get ready for the big day.

It was hot. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to walk to the school. We aren't on a bus route because we live to close to school.

Noah led the way. He was pleased with his blue backpack, Transformer (which he has never seen!) lunch bag, and brain food snack. On previous visits to the school he has always been disappointed that he didn't get to "stay and do more kindergarten things."

This was his chance and he was happy to take it.

We have all-day kindergarten. I have to admit that I was glad I didn't have choice. I didn't have to make a choice between art, music, gym and Spanish and coming home early. I don't have a sad boy who doesn't get to each lunch with the kids in his class. I don't have to feel guilty about him not getting any naps. (Yes, he still took about 2 a week.) And as immature as it may sound, I didn't have to worry about what other mother's might have said if I had opted for full-day kindergarten of my own free will and choice.

I don't know what I would have chosen but I have enjoyed the fact that I didn't have to choose!

I was doing good all morning. I didn't think I would cry despite a lot of trepidation on my part and even some sleeplessness. I was even feeling a little cranky by the time we got to the school because it was so hot. I wasn't even in the mood to be a cry baby about the whole thing.

I was doing good until this moment:
Then it was like "Wait, that's my baby, I almost can't see him anymore, where are you taking him?!?!" Definitely reminiscent of the doctor coming at you with a needle and thinking just wait a darn minute and let me get a hand to hold! Ok, Elise might be the only who can relate to that feeling but it is definitely a moment in which I recognized that I didn't have control of the situation and it gave me a zing of panic.

It was split second freak out that took me totally by surprise. The tears welled...and then were re-absorbed.

There was nothing left to do but walk back home. Ian thought that was a less than stellar idea.
The next day...we drove.

And Noah has cheerfully (thankfully!) gone back to school every weekday since.