Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all!

It's my birthday, I'll blog if I want to

Howdy!

I am alive and well, I just haven't had much time to post. Today I am 41 years old. Woot! I share my birthday with one of my favorite authors, Jane Austin and Beethoven.

Here are some snapshots.

Don't try this at home. Play doh should not be stored in any body orifice.



Here are my nephews and sons making butter for Thanksgiving.

Here are the oldest Kristan nephews making pizzas. It was a delight to have time to spend with all the guys.

Here is a shot of my kids and my baby God-son Matthew. Awww. Yes, I did dress them in matching clothes. I think it's cute, my husband thinks it's a form of mental illness.

As you can see, I have much to be thankful for and much to enjoy in my 41st year.

Halloween Cuteness & Sadness

Here are the Fairy Princess, Spiderman and Batman prepared for holiday fun.



Batman chooses his own poses.

Spiderman has a flare for the dramatic

Here we are looting the neighborhood with friends.

Sunday morning (before trick or treat in our city) Ben had to visit Acute Care because we couldn't control his asthma. JJ was ill tempered and Anna seemed to have a bad cold. So for Trick or Treating we had whining Spiderman, Wheezing Batman and the Fairy Princess O' Boogers.

On Tuesday Anna developed a high fever and rash. Wednesday she was diagnosed with Scarlet Fever. Grandma became ill on Thursday with a condition I will not detail. She was so ill on Friday that I kept Ben home from preschool rather than risk leaving her unattended. Grandma was feeling so yucky on Friday night she told me to take her to her house and leave her to die. I also noticed that my cat Keagan who still not feeling well after having his teeth cleaned on Tuesday, was vomiting after drinking water.

Saturday I called the vet and made an appointment for Keagan. I had to call back about 20 minutes later as the cat started to pant and hiss at things that were not there. I took the cat in to the vet right away. Unfortunately he was in acute renal failure with fluid in his lungs. While I could have opted for extreme, expensive emergency care the vet offered little hope that his kidneys would resume functioning. I said goodbye to my old friend and held him while the vet put him down.

Bad things always happen when John and I have plans to go out without the kids, as we did Saturday. It seems like securing a babysitter is like damning ourselves to something awful. Since the cat had been fine when he had his teeth cleaned I would never have anticipated his death. We had tickets to see our nephew Eddie in Les Miserables and dinner plans with friends, so we went. No doubt people thought my tears were the result of the over wrought teen acting. I kept thinking, could this show be anymore depressing? Why couldn't this have been something less intense like, Honk?

We did go out and have a great dinner at Bacci's. I had some fabulous seared sear scallops in a marscarpone basil sauce over angel hair pasta. It was amazing. The good food and company were comforting.

We told the kids about the cat when we got home. They cried. Anna didn't understand and kept asking to give him cat treats like she did nearly every night.

Keagan was a good cat. He slept with me most nights for the last 14 years. He was a comfort to me when I couldn't sleep. He laid next to my babies like a furry bed rail while I nursed them. He liked the kids and could always be counted on to hunt down and howl at loose socks. I imagine him in kitty heaven- giant couches to shred, fluffy beds in sunny places, socks to chase, unlimited canned cat food, and a liter box full of leather shoes to piss on.

Happy Birthday Mom!

We love you!

Changing Leaves

We could tell that something was afoot this week as our parkway grass was spray painted and marked with the little flags that warn of buried utility lines. We were hopeful that we would get trees, but more concerned that the parkway would be torn up to bury new pipes or something.

I was delighted when the flat bed truck below pulled up to the house.



When we had our other tree cut down this summer our venerable Alderman told me he would get us new trees. He felt he had a bit in his 'budget' that he could spare. (Usually home owners choose parkway trees from an approved list and then pay the costs for the purchase of the tree.) I told him that would be fine, but that we would eventually get new trees in any case. John and I had been debating various tree choices on and off.

I have to say that Peggy and and City of Waukegan made the excellent selection of Autumn Blaze Maples. They are beautiful!

The crew was the same group that cut down our old ones, so it there was a nice symmetry to it all.

The placement of the trees is a bit odd. It really seems like there should be a line of three. Sigh. Give me free trees and I get greedy.

The kids and Mom loved watching the equipment and the workers place the trees. My kids take such delight in everything, much like their Grandma. I hope that never changes.

Cubmobile Races

We had Cubmobile races Saturday at Bowen Park. Cubmobiles are go-carts with brakes that you steer with your feet. Below you can see one of my Tiger Scouts (orange cubmobile) racing an older boy. The course is on a step drive lined with hay bales. The winner gets a blue ribbon and the other boy gets a second place red ribbon. Getting to the bottom without multiple crashes was actually the biggest challenge.

Jay was a bit large for the Tiger Scout Cubmobile. You can see the look of intense concentration. His run consisted of crashing into the other guy, driving into the hay, crashing and locking with the other guy, running into the hay, crashing again and then finally crossing the finish.

Below Jay savors his improbable victory with 5/8's of his den. From left to right Juergen, Jay, Laziah, Manny and Alex.

They had a great time. Afterwards we went to sell Christmas wreaths and garland for the scouts. Sadly, today Jay and I join Rob and Joe in the miserably sick club. Jay has a sore throat and we both have fevers.

Getaway Weekend

We loaded the minivan to the maximum and trekked to Sheboygan for a long weekend at Blue Harbor Resort. Who doesn't travel with kites, pampers, and a walker?

Mom has always loved a good road trip and took the wind from Lake Michigan in stride.

This was our condo complex over looking the lake. Mom and Doug were in the lower right condo, we were in the upper left with Tina, Majid, Matthew, John's sister Bert and Oma.

When we weren't at the water park or visiting with friends we flew kites and watched kite surfers like the one below.

Housekeeping services were lacking so Matthew and Anna picked up the slack.

Of course, the kids love a good jacuzzi.

"Ho, ho, ho!"

We wanted to get a photo of the kids all together by the cool water fountain. Yeah, right.

Ben, doing things his way.

We had a great trip. We spent time with Aunt Marge, Uncle Jack, Amy and Brandon. Brandon even stayed a night at our condo. He is twelve now and just the nicest kid you could have around. We had loads of fun feeding him- Brandon can seriously eat. I suspect he will be 6 feet by the end of 2008.

Crazy Day, week, year

Every year Jay's school has spirit week allegedly to whip the kids into a frenzy for homecoming. I think it's true purpose is to make parents appreciate the uniform code. For crazy Day Jay wanted his hair spikey. After I shallaced it with moose and spray, he decided he hated it.

It actually suited him. Eventually he got used to it.

Ben liked it so much he had me do his also.

Anna wanted no part of the hair product frenzy.

We are off to Blue Harbor for the weekend!

Bad Mommy Confession of the Week

Bad Mommies listen to these guys in the mini-van

Good Mommies listen to these guys:

It's been a tough week at Casa Panini. Grandma has been sick. Grandma is cranky bordering on abusive when she is sick. Couple that with the added laundry and chores and I am fried- extra crispy.

So ....when the Bloodhouse Gang Fire Water Burn came on the mini-van radio it was audio manna from heaven to feed my weary spirit.

I know- even the donkey version is inappropriate for children. But, as Anna would say "I very needed that song." I figured I was safe because, in deference to my children and their hearing ability, I keep the radio low and the speakers set to the front of the mini-van.

Yeah, right. As I unstrapped my golden curled, doe eyed two year old from her car seat, she started to sing:

"Da woof, da woof, da woof is on Fy-ya

Da woof, da woof, da woof is on Fy-ya.."

My horror increased exponentially when her four year old brother joined in.

How many times will I have to subject myself to the Wiggles to atone for my sins? Perhaps a hair shirt be less painful.

Mystery of the Day

What both clogs a toilet and makes the water fizzy?

Anybody?

Days and days

School, preschool, physical therapy, scouts and a garage sale have kept me whirling.

This is JJ catching fish at Camp Oakarro with his scout pack.

Grandma working with Cindy, her physical therapist.

Anna rewards Grandma at the bottom of her stair workout with a snuggle.

Ben with his first fish. The Cubmaster told the boys that they should kiss their first fish for luck. Ben puckered up and planted a big one on the side of this fish before I could get the photo. Note JJ's hand pointing to the spot where Ben should kiss it. For extra luck he kissed every fish he caught that day. For some reason that skeeves me out and makes me proud all at once.

I am in the midst of transitioning out of my role as Treasurer for the preschool and into the role of Co-president, which is actually less work and responsibility. I am learning the whole Cub Scout routine and feel fairly clueless. I have a day of training coming up in November, which I hope will help.

Someone stop me before I volunteer again.

Grandma is under the weather today. She seems to be suffering from the same virus that made John ill over the weekend. Tomorrow is a Mass and celebration for 'Grandpersons' at Jay's school and I know he will be disappointed if he doesn't have a special person visit school. If it weren't so early in the day I would recruit Uncle Jay, but I know he doesn't go anywhere early in the day.

Essence of Boy

A quick peek from yesterday's Cub Scout outing at Camp Oakarro.

A peeper caught by Alec

La Vida Loca

School is in full swing. Grandma is working hard in physical therapy. Mornings are insane.

I try to be on-time. Each night I prepare: Clothes are laid out for kids and Mom, lunch is packed. Belts, socks and shoes wait on the bench. All everyone needs to do is eat breakfast and get dressed. It should be simple- but it never is that easy. Jay is motivated to get to school and play with his buddies, so he is more cooperative. Ben, Anna and Grandma are less cooperative. They could care less if we are late. I hate being late. I get cranky when I am late.

I admit that I have always seen being late as a function of poor planning, an expression of a lack of concern or consideration.

Now it seems like being on time would require bending the laws of space and time.

I just can't plan my Mom into being on-time. She knows the schedule, but could really give a rats ass if we are late. Perhaps her attitude reflects some hard learned wisdom, or perhaps she feels entitled to a grace period at age 82. Sometimes I think she just doesn't want to be bossed around.

So I must adapt. I have to control my reactions. I have considered lying about appointment times. Unfortunately, Mom always knows when I am less than truthful so we will likely be late anyway.

If only everyone could just sleep in their clothes for the next day....

First Day of School Part II

Today was Ben's first day of class at AAUW Nursery School. He and Anna were ready to rock-n-roll.

Ben's first day of AAUW Nursery School, 2006. Sniff, sniff.

Ben is delighted to be in the 4 year old Adventure class.

The kids are reading books on the rug. Notice Anna in the foreground trying to blend in. She loves it there. She wishes so much that she were old enough to stay that she told the teacher's aide that she is 5. She got to stay today (although everyone knows that she is 2), but I foresee many hissy fits during the year.

No school day is complete without a snack. Ben is seated next to his buddy Josh.

So the fun begins in earnest!

Mom has PT twice a week now. On PT days the drill will be drop Jay off, go home and load the others, take Ben to school, and drive to Mom's appointment. Anna will stay in the daycare at the Centre Club during Mom's appointment- I hope. Then we will run to get Ben and head home for lunch.

First Day of School, Part I

Jay the First Grader, August 2007

Jay the Kindergartner, August 2006. Sniff.

Meeting up with his buddies Christian and Alex

Lining up with his class and teacher, Miss Fitzgerald.
Laboring under the weight of his school supplies, Jay heads into school.

I just heard the creaky screen door of summer slam shut.

Ben starts Wednesday.