Fire Station Field Trip

Last week Annaliese's preschool class took a walk to the local fire station. I got to go as a volunteer mom. Very fun to see these little ones light up when we arrived. The firefighters really liked them too I think.

This trip was especially good for Annaliese because lately she's been afraid of fires at night before she goes to sleep (nightmares I think). She had some anxiety at school when they had a fire drill so we've been talking to her regularly to help her understand that there is no fire and she needn't worry. The firefighters are there to help keep us safe.

She loved climbing up in the cab of the fire engine. She loved holding her teachers hand who had dressed up in the fire gear. She had a great time and I think she is over her fear of fire drills for now anyway.

Finished!

I did it! I read a book! It took me an entire month but I did it! Sounds like a joke but I am serious! I haven't given myself the time to read a book just for fun in years!!!! (I'm not sure I should be bragging about this...) I'm really excited for this small accomplishment- can't you tell!

I just finished "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson. Loved it! Non Fiction written like a novel! It is the true story of the World's Fair in Chicago 1893 and the architect and designers that made it happen (the white city reference). So interesting- really! I loved learning about some of Chicago's history! The part that really made it a page turner was the fact that across the street from the fair lived a serial killer...ahhh...(the devil). I thought it was pretty amazing!

A year or so ago Kermit and I enjoyed a 4 disc documentary on Chicago's history. It was fun to be reading along in this book and learn new things but also be able to say "I already knew that!" (I felt so smart!) The author really made the history come to life for me! I kept trying to imagine what it would have been like to have lived then and to have attended the fair. The whole serial killer thing was just crazy and I can't believe he got away with it for so long! Creepy but so intriguing! It really made me appreciate our modern communication, technology and police work!

So what's next? Maybe a certain vampire book. I've heard so much buzz and am curious.

Friday Night Out...

Last night Kermit surprised me with a spur of the moment night out! He arranged for a sitter and off we went! We ended up at the Music Box Theater. We love this place just for the cool old movie palace that it is. Better yet is the amazing organ performance prior to the show! I wonder how many musicians out there could work an organ like this one! We were so impressed with all the finger and footwork going on! We missed the 7:30 show so we took in the 9:40 of In the Shadow of the Moon. It was a documentary film from Sundance about the Apollo astronauts that went to the moon. Very interesting and entertaining! Kermit absolutely loved it! (I'm sure I would have LOVED it too- but I have this terrible problem of falling asleep in movies- not because I'm bored but because I'm just that tired!) What I did see I liked very much!

One thing is for sure I didn't fall asleep for dinner! It was delicious! I love good food! We tried a new place for us called Uncommon Ground near the theater. This place was supposed to have all local fresh foods on their menu. Yes, it was fresh and delicious! I thought my pistachio crusted tilapia was good (is there tilapia around here?) until I tried Kermit's pork chops with gooey yummy risotto and pumpkin sauce! WOW! Now that was tasty! Our openly buzzed and gay waiter told us later that the pumpkin ravioli was "to die for!" - Now he tells us! Oh well, next time. But it was good food all around and I like that!

Thanks Kermit for date night (or "gate night" as Annaliese calls it) - looking forward to next weekend too!

Double Trouble!

Okay, so far the kind of trouble the twins have been into has been normal, expected stuff....continually emptying drawers, getting into garbage, playing in the toilet (once with their toothbrushes), shredding an entire boxes of kleenex throughout the house, unrolling entire rolls of toilet paper, eating sand, throwing food, and of course undoing any attempt I make to clean up or organize, etc. You get the picture. So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to see this last night as I entered their bedroom......

Ahhhh!!!! NOOOOOO!!!!! Yep, that's dry erase markers....ALL over their carpet. This picture doesn't do it justice. Probably 100-150 markings throughout the room. The cleanser in the photo as you can see...didn't work. Kermit tried some acetone solution that kind of works. The thing that worked the best was a big area rug. Covering up the majority of the marks was about the best we could do. The rug we had on hand isn't my favorite so I may have to go shopping for one that will look better in that room or re carpet. Argh!

Above is the duo looking on to the cleanup....Avrie seems very concerned....Adeline completely proud (so guilty)! Mom and dad a little peeved (not pictured).

The thing that kills me is that we haven't had a dry erase board for YEARS!

First day of pre-school....

The first day of school was a happy day for Miss Annaliese! We carefully packed her lunch of Peanut Butter and Jelly and took the 1 1/2 block walk to her new school. She was calm but excited. When we arrived right on time there were kids and parents everywhere! Annaliese immediately sat down at a table with markers and began to draw. I knelt down beside her to tell her good bye and she basically said -"Bye, now get out of here." I lingered and stalled as long as possible then realized that it was ME that was having the jitters! My baby! I'm leaving my baby at school with a teacher we've only known a few weeks and with stranger kids and what if they are mean, and what if they don't see my baby as the special girl that I know she is. I walked away teary eyed. At the end of the day when I went to picke her up, her teacher told me she did great. Aparently she got sad at nap time but her teacher was able to calm her down without much effort. Sweet little thing. Love her! She is going to do great. Me, I'll get tough soon enough I hope.