Minor adjustment

SO, as all of you know moving to Boston has created some new challenges for us as a family; one being childcare. We were sending the kids to an amazing daycare in the North End and spending a fortune!!! I'm talking more than most normal mortgages!!! So, I went on a hunt for a nanny to care for the kids. We found Rose. Things started off good. Now I know it's only been about a month but things are about to change. She's not living up to my expectations and is a bit mean to Brenden. You know my boy...he's outspoken and honest. Rose calls him "fresh", I call him refreshing! I have spent the past 5 years trying to raise an individual who's not afraid to stand on his own. I'm not going to stop now...So, I'm back on the hunt! Cross your fingers, add me to your prayer list, hop on one foot or whatever it is that we all do to ask for help 'cause I need it now! I will find a loving caregiver for my children!!!

Lookout Farm, MA

This weekend the kids and I went apple pickin just outside of Boston at the Lookout Farm. It's a beautiful 180-acre farm that has amazing fruit, a huge pumpkin patch (going back to pick pumpkins) and a great area for the kids! The kids climbed the huge hay pyramid, talked to the goats, rode the caterpillar train and YES picked fruit. I was introduced to the most amazing Asian Pears...Annie ate 2 all by herself! We picked until Annie lost her cool, after all it was WAY past her nap time. So after hours of playing and picking, we drove the 40 minutes back into the city for rest and more good eatin'!!

The Perkins School

So, having taught for a total of 9 days I'm beginning to fall in love with my students. It happens every September for me. It is a time of great reflection for me. I have been handed 18 of the brightest children who trust most of what I say. It is beautiful! At the Perkins School, I teach 9 5th graders and 9 4th graders. It is a very peculiar existence! Most of my 4th graders are reading above my 5th graders and my 5th graders are now beginning to realize it. Today we talked about perseverance and oh my do we have our work cut for us! I have one student, let's call him E, he is 12 in the fifth grade, his twin sister is a grade above him because he was retained last year, he's attempted suicide more than once, last spring he broke the window with his head, and now...he's mine. I love him already! He and I are learning to trust each other (I actually have to go to a 2 day training on strategic restraint for him). Yesterday he was faced with a teacher who does NOT love him as I do and after yelling and throwing a fit, he walked out. We talked it out and to my joy and amazement he turned it all around! In just 9 days with E, I have been reminded why I teach. E has reached into my heart and allowed me to shine! I am sure we will struggle. We'll bump heads! But this time we do it together. I am a teacher!

Thank You...

Today in a quiet moment all to myself, I thought about all of you and I wanted to thank each and every one of you! I have been on quite the journey and all of you have been so amazing! Your love has been undeniable, your support has been incredible and your faith in me has been what has really kept me going!
Dad, as always you have been there to walk me through this process. I couldn't have been as calm as I have been without you. Kid, you my sister, ROCK as usual! With everything that you are doing, you find the time to listen and support...simply amazing. Lana, your love and support have been my rock. You allow me to vent and help me to find my way through it all! Jenny, you listen and come to my rescue. Not to mention that my children adore you almost as much as you adore them! My door is always open to you. And finally Troy, you have loved me through it all and allowed me to join you on this journey.
To all of you I thank you and love you with all that I am! I am blessed to have you in my life and heart.

My Boy is 5!!!

I can't believe it, Brenden is now 5! Where has the time gone? He's grown up so quickly. Today at the aquarium I watched in wonder as he talked to strangers, asked great questions, and fell in love with the wonders of the sea. It's hard for me to really believe that he's five.

After the aquarium, we came home where Brenden and Troy baked THE Spider Man cake (I did my best to make it actually LOOK like spiderman). Great to see Brenden spending much needed time with his Dad! Presents were awesome, thanks to all who sent cards and gifts!

New England Aquarium

Today was Brenden's birthday and we went to the aquarium (thanks to Papa we are now members)! It was really cool. It's not as big or exciting as The Shed in Chicago, but it is great for cold winter mornings with nothing to do.

The best feature of the whole place is the 200,000 gallon tank in the middle of the building. It's unique because the tank is three stories tall and not very big around. They've built a ramp that spirals the whole thing with huge picture windows all over so you can stop and view all the fishes! Annie was sooo excited to see the "FISHES" which she continued to yell, while Brenden was enthralled by everything.

Annie is 2!!

Yesterday was Annie's 2nd birthday! We had a great day! Troy took the kids to the Boston Children's Museum. They explored and played and had lunch by the water. While Annie took her nap, Brenden and Troy baked her cake. It was great! Later Brenden helped me write her name on the cake. We ate a special Daddy dinner, opened presents (thank you to all of you), and ate cake.

I can't believe how big Annie is. She even looks like a little girl now. Every day she's using new vocabulary and trying to express herself. She adores her big brother and tries to emulate his every move! She just started "imaginary play". She got a set of Disney princesses and has been having conversations with them and it is hilarious!! Last night she put Sleeping Beauty to bed and put Belle in time out, stating "No, no, no". Simply Amazing to watch her! I can't believe how much I love her!

Haircuts...

Brenden and Annie got new hairdo's! Brenden got his standard short-as-can-be military style do, while Annie got her very first cut! She sat still and listened nicely. I'm hoping that her hair will thicken up, but we'll see.

I know that I should post pictures of our new apartment...BUT I need to do some more work before YOU can see it!

Jenny's Visit

My friend Jenny came to visit with us last weekend. I loved it!! I needed someone to be here with me and we got to play tourists in Boston. On Saturday, we became members of the Children's Museum and had our first visit there. It was fun. The kids (and Jenny) had a blast while I had a run in with a very interesting woman and her temper...in the a place all about children! I will not give her any more thought than that! On, Sunday we took the kids to the sprinkler park. Boston has planned some great green spaces for families! It is a park totally enclosed by short walls with grass and and short fountains set up for those hot days. The kids had a blast! We then ate lunch in the Quincy Market and watched a couple of street acts. Then we were off to The North End to tour Little Italy. The kids did a great job of being well behaved and I tried to hang in there. All in all, we had a delightful time with Jenny in Boston! we were VERY sad to send her back to Chicago!!!