The girls had the opportunity to sing in a kids choir this summer at The Chapel in Southwest Fort Wayne. They met on Tuesday mornings for a little more than a month and were taught right from the first rehearsal to stand confidently on the stage. My girls (especially Hannah) really surprised me...they did awesome. They sang on a special Super Saturday evening service which ended with a Wizards night! There were hotdogs, cracker jack and of course baseball-themed games for the kids.
We had so much fun! Afterwards, Hannah said, "That was so much fun...it might even be more fun than our church." Ha!
POSTSCRIPT: Tonight we also met a little girl from Ukraine who is here for a 3-week vacation...her name is Katya. She is 10 years old and an orphan. We are praying for her and that God's plan for her life will come quickly.
Swimming at the POOL!
We had our first experience today at Northside Pool which is so close to our home that I hate to admit not having been there before today. My friend and her kids were staying after swimming lessons and so we planned to join them.
There are four main features to this water park:
1) A splash area for little kids.
2) 2 water slides that end in about 3 feet deep water.
3) A larger pool with a diving off to one end and an up to 4 feet entrance area.
4) A sand and water table...which Hannah couldn't get enough of!
There are four main features to this water park:
1) A splash area for little kids.
2) 2 water slides that end in about 3 feet deep water.
3) A larger pool with a diving off to one end and an up to 4 feet entrance area.
4) A sand and water table...which Hannah couldn't get enough of!
Windy City-part III
After our full morning, we were ready to head back for lunch, so I said, "Okay, Hannah your turn to lead!" Since we left the park at a slightly varied location from our entrance, she looked a little shocked at first, but after I reminded her that the last thing we'd passed was the bike rental...she looked at the sign ahead and said, "Alright, this way!" She did very well finding our way back to the condo. Claire & I were surprised at just how well...future city-dweller?
Once back, we had our lunch and waited for daddy to arrive. It was taking a bit longer than I had anticipated, so that gave us time enough for showers and fancier clothes. See, we had told the girls that we were going to "find" American Girl Place and have a look around...something daddy had intended to do on one of his trips, but hadn't yet. Of course, we knew where we were going and took a couple turns to shake their confidence, but then we turned the corner and saw it...AGP. (Okay, now I know why they don't abbreviate it.)
Our sweet girls had NO idea, NO IDEA what was in store.
We casually went inside and took a look around (floor one-book store), then up the escalator and we entered another dimension...clothes, tents, food, chairs, beds, pets, anything a little "doll" could wish for...if she could wish. Aaron & Claire were off to the larger room with bordering displays of all the historical dolls from Addy to Julie. Hannah pulled me off to the side to show me the lifesize displays (I think I could easily have missed them.) and began to tell me all these details of the books she had read so far. [Confession: I didn't even know that she had read some of these books.] "Oh, mom, that's her sampler...it's just like the book said." "I haven't read about her yet!" [Yet-yeah!]
After sufficient time spent oggling over each doll's display and all of their extras, we took the escalator up to the Just Like You doll area. We also saw the doll of the year, Mia, and her fun ice skating stuff...I think that may have something to do with the olympics being this summer, but I may be wrong. At this point, we just about lost Claire who said, "It's really no fun to look if you don't have a doll." I know this sounds bratty, but she said it so sweetly. (And only after continually reminding herself, "We're just looking, we're just looking" downstairs!)
Aaron turned to me and said...we need to do it now. I quickly grabbed my camera and said, "Let's get a picture." Claire just about didn't bite, but then she moved over toward her sister. I got one picture off...
...and then Daddy told them the surprise! All I heard was "dolls" and the girls faces changed dramatically! That was the closest I've ever seen my kids to speechless.
It was all fun and frills from that point on. They both decided which doll they'd pick and we headed back down to the historical dolls (YES!) to pick up Kitt for Claire and Molly for Hannah. Notice: Molly has glasses, just like Hannah! And Claire just loves Kitt's short blond hair (I think she reminds her of...someone she loves very much. ha ha)
I have to admit that I was slow to jump on the band wagon of these dolls. I have friends who have them and others who won't (ever) and I wasn't sure where I stood, but it was a great experience and I'm glad that our girls were thankful and appreciative. Claire: "This is the most generous thing you've ever done for me." Hannah: "I just want to say thank you for the forty hundred thousandth time!" (Okay, we'll get back to our math next week!)
Once back, we had our lunch and waited for daddy to arrive. It was taking a bit longer than I had anticipated, so that gave us time enough for showers and fancier clothes. See, we had told the girls that we were going to "find" American Girl Place and have a look around...something daddy had intended to do on one of his trips, but hadn't yet. Of course, we knew where we were going and took a couple turns to shake their confidence, but then we turned the corner and saw it...AGP. (Okay, now I know why they don't abbreviate it.)
Our sweet girls had NO idea, NO IDEA what was in store.
We casually went inside and took a look around (floor one-book store), then up the escalator and we entered another dimension...clothes, tents, food, chairs, beds, pets, anything a little "doll" could wish for...if she could wish. Aaron & Claire were off to the larger room with bordering displays of all the historical dolls from Addy to Julie. Hannah pulled me off to the side to show me the lifesize displays (I think I could easily have missed them.) and began to tell me all these details of the books she had read so far. [Confession: I didn't even know that she had read some of these books.] "Oh, mom, that's her sampler...it's just like the book said." "I haven't read about her yet!" [Yet-yeah!]
After sufficient time spent oggling over each doll's display and all of their extras, we took the escalator up to the Just Like You doll area. We also saw the doll of the year, Mia, and her fun ice skating stuff...I think that may have something to do with the olympics being this summer, but I may be wrong. At this point, we just about lost Claire who said, "It's really no fun to look if you don't have a doll." I know this sounds bratty, but she said it so sweetly. (And only after continually reminding herself, "We're just looking, we're just looking" downstairs!)
Aaron turned to me and said...we need to do it now. I quickly grabbed my camera and said, "Let's get a picture." Claire just about didn't bite, but then she moved over toward her sister. I got one picture off...
...and then Daddy told them the surprise! All I heard was "dolls" and the girls faces changed dramatically! That was the closest I've ever seen my kids to speechless.
It was all fun and frills from that point on. They both decided which doll they'd pick and we headed back down to the historical dolls (YES!) to pick up Kitt for Claire and Molly for Hannah. Notice: Molly has glasses, just like Hannah! And Claire just loves Kitt's short blond hair (I think she reminds her of...someone she loves very much. ha ha)
I have to admit that I was slow to jump on the band wagon of these dolls. I have friends who have them and others who won't (ever) and I wasn't sure where I stood, but it was a great experience and I'm glad that our girls were thankful and appreciative. Claire: "This is the most generous thing you've ever done for me." Hannah: "I just want to say thank you for the forty hundred thousandth time!" (Okay, we'll get back to our math next week!)
Windy City-part II
This morning, Aaron made an early commute around 7am EST. Post breakfast, the girls (clad in bathing suits and dresses) and I ventured out on our first "girls only" city tour. We made our way to Millennium Park and checked out the shiny, huge amphitheater. Next, we found signs indicating what new art projects were under-construction. Cool stuff happening there! Then on to "the bean" to finally let the girls TOUCH the thing we've seen oh so many times on our drives into the city. It was great.
Lastly, (or so we thought) we made it to our destination...the Crown Fountains. These awesome things show pictures of faces and once your mesmerized by their odd looking expressions, they "spit" water on you. Of course, it's only coming from the fountain, but it's a bit shocking when you're not expecting it. At first, Hannah & Claire were the only ones splashing around, but soon there were close to 50 kids having a blast in the VERY, VERY shallow water. (I was trying to do some sketching, but I couldn't keep my focus...they were all having so much fun!)
After this we found a sign indicating that there were Free Family Fun days under a tent in the park for all of July. These were sponsored by Target and the Chicago Children's Museum (the one at Navy Pier). So we meandered over there for a bit. The music was a bit preschoolish for the girls so they made puppets craft table. Then we all played with the blocks for a bit before heading back to the condo for lunch...see the next post for details of how we got there!
Lastly, (or so we thought) we made it to our destination...the Crown Fountains. These awesome things show pictures of faces and once your mesmerized by their odd looking expressions, they "spit" water on you. Of course, it's only coming from the fountain, but it's a bit shocking when you're not expecting it. At first, Hannah & Claire were the only ones splashing around, but soon there were close to 50 kids having a blast in the VERY, VERY shallow water. (I was trying to do some sketching, but I couldn't keep my focus...they were all having so much fun!)
After this we found a sign indicating that there were Free Family Fun days under a tent in the park for all of July. These were sponsored by Target and the Chicago Children's Museum (the one at Navy Pier). So we meandered over there for a bit. The music was a bit preschoolish for the girls so they made puppets craft table. Then we all played with the blocks for a bit before heading back to the condo for lunch...see the next post for details of how we got there!
Windy City-part I
This week we FINALLY had a chance to join Aaron in Chicago after a long spring of anticipation. Since his travel schedule sped up in February and then slowed in May...we've been unable to find a "free" week to travel with him. This is one of the main reasons we have the girls home for school, but when you join co-ops and take dance classes, you run into those same schedule conflicts as those subject to weekly/daily schedules. BUT, this week we FINALLY had a chance to join Aaron in Chicago...one of our favorite locales! Especially since he had secured (as his home away from home while in the city)a FAB condo just between Michigan Ave & Navy Pier...great location.
So yesterday, after our last choir practice, we headed out for the city (not to be confused with The CITY) and, after dropping Aaron at his job in suburbia, made our way to...(drum roll)...IKEA! We had so much FUN! The girls always hope to spend an hour in Small Land. When we arrived they were full, but the great gal at the counter said they'd have room for 2 in just 10 minutes! Great, just enough time to go potty and redo 2 ponytails! So the girls had a blast (sans ball pit: under repairs) and I got to shop ALONE for a whole hour! The bonus was not having to drag Aaron through his not so favorite store--TERRIFIC!! Wanna see what I got?
So yesterday, after our last choir practice, we headed out for the city (not to be confused with The CITY) and, after dropping Aaron at his job in suburbia, made our way to...(drum roll)...IKEA! We had so much FUN! The girls always hope to spend an hour in Small Land. When we arrived they were full, but the great gal at the counter said they'd have room for 2 in just 10 minutes! Great, just enough time to go potty and redo 2 ponytails! So the girls had a blast (sans ball pit: under repairs) and I got to shop ALONE for a whole hour! The bonus was not having to drag Aaron through his not so favorite store--TERRIFIC!! Wanna see what I got?
Bicycling for Two!
This year we are enjoying our first summer with bikes for the whole family. Aaron decided last fall that if he ran...he was alone, but if we could all ride we'd be spending time together and getting (much needed) exercise.
So, last fall we all got bikes and the girls got training wheels. Since we live on an inclined street, the sidewalks are slanted in two ways...downhill and toward the street. So we began our weekend-ly routine of going SW to ride the trails. They are awesome and you can cover a lot of ground quite easily. Okay, "easily" if you don't have training wheels. Aaron would hang back with the girls and I would take off for a little BURN...then we'd switch and he'd have a ride off into the sunset. (Don't worry he always came back.) This was great for the fall, but come spring...Hannah was forewarned (if you know her, you know this was a necessary step)...that the training wheels weren't leaving their place of winter rest [read: the basement]! She was prepared for this and when we took our first "ride" this year...she was successful, but fast! I suppose this is usual for beginning riders since they have to keep moving in order to stay balanced, but frankly, I couldn't keep up with her. Thankfully, Aaron could trail her across a parking lot while Claire had a good old time--with extra-wheels still attached. (I played water girl.)
So now it's Claire's turn...she has been slowly improving, but she tends to hit the pavement more than I'd like. So, I hide behind the camera, say "Oooh!" and "Ouch!" This weekend we found a new spot to ride and I must say we all really liked it. Whispering Meadows elementary school has a gated parking lot (no cars to worry about) directly adjacent to their playground...there's also a huge map of the US painted on that lot! (I think it would make for a fun Geography game sometime!)
Anyway, Claire is improving each time we get out...
And Hannah rocks on two wheels!
So, last fall we all got bikes and the girls got training wheels. Since we live on an inclined street, the sidewalks are slanted in two ways...downhill and toward the street. So we began our weekend-ly routine of going SW to ride the trails. They are awesome and you can cover a lot of ground quite easily. Okay, "easily" if you don't have training wheels. Aaron would hang back with the girls and I would take off for a little BURN...then we'd switch and he'd have a ride off into the sunset. (Don't worry he always came back.) This was great for the fall, but come spring...Hannah was forewarned (if you know her, you know this was a necessary step)...that the training wheels weren't leaving their place of winter rest [read: the basement]! She was prepared for this and when we took our first "ride" this year...she was successful, but fast! I suppose this is usual for beginning riders since they have to keep moving in order to stay balanced, but frankly, I couldn't keep up with her. Thankfully, Aaron could trail her across a parking lot while Claire had a good old time--with extra-wheels still attached. (I played water girl.)
So now it's Claire's turn...she has been slowly improving, but she tends to hit the pavement more than I'd like. So, I hide behind the camera, say "Oooh!" and "Ouch!" This weekend we found a new spot to ride and I must say we all really liked it. Whispering Meadows elementary school has a gated parking lot (no cars to worry about) directly adjacent to their playground...there's also a huge map of the US painted on that lot! (I think it would make for a fun Geography game sometime!)
Anyway, Claire is improving each time we get out...
And Hannah rocks on two wheels!
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