Category: outing

Field Trip: 6/11

June 12, 2010

It’s field trip season!

We kicked off the year with a night of camping, which the kids have never done. As fate would have it, rain was in the forecast for days on end. I crossed my fingers and toes and anything else I could think of crossing, and did little anti-rain dances.

I’m happy to announce it mostly worked.

As I arrived at 4pm to start meeting people, the skies opened up and it poured for about five solid minutes. Then there was thunder for about an hour. And then? The sun came out.

Seven families came out to brave the elements, and we had a fantastic time. Kids ran and chased and played. Adults set up tents, made dinner, and caught up around the campfire. It must have been a really good time because I completely forgot to take out the camera.

I shot this one photo the next morning. As dawn broke, the rain started. Just a sprinkle as we brewed coffee, and by the time breakfast was served, it was raining buckets. We broke down the tents in the pouring rain. Some kids splashed in puddles while others huddled under umbrellas or in cars. All the adults were soaking wet, but in great spirits.

If we had that much fun with questionable weather, our next family camping trip can only be better!
Picnic

June 11, 2010

I was busy cleaning up the kitchen when I noticed Neko kept zipping in and out, grabbing snacks and a few other things.

When I hadn’t heard voices for a few minutes, I looked out the window and saw all three of my little ones, having a picnic under the big tree, talking and laughing with one another.

Hello, summer.
Last day of school: Shep

May 28, 2010

We made it to the last day of preschool for Shep! Swimming and a picnic cap off the year. Shep was running around so quickly, I barely had a chance to catch him in the frame.

After years of walking in Neko’s shadow, it’s been exciting to see him step out on his own.
Wait, I DO love our town!

April 24, 2010

There are times when I doubt our decision to live here. As I stood amidst the skyscrapers in Chicago, watching Neko beg to try public transit as we tried to make a choice between our many museum options, I was having a few doubts. Are they too far from art and culture? Should they feel the pulse of a big city? Goodness knows this town could use some more diversity, both culturally and in terms of ideas. There are times where we feel like we don’t quite fit in.

Tom left for Chicago with Shep yesterday, so I was on my own with the girls. As I picked Neko up from her art class, we spotted our friend Jacob, hopping aboard a double-decker bicycle. We flagged him down, and discovered he was headed to the Kinetic Sculpture Race, the first to happen in our town.

Now, I should say, folks in town (myself included) were a bit befuddled as to what this was. (A quick Google search reveals they happen all over the place, and I can see the amazing possibilities.) So there were less than ten entries. But as I watched all these folks make their way down the road, I thought, “Now here are our people!” If they do it next year, I’m sure Tom will be tinkering for weeks on an entry.

(I should mention that last photo is a mobile cornhole game. The guy in front has a cornhole board attached to the top of his bike and the guy behind him is catapulting beanbags at it.)

After the race, we walked down to a breakfast place that our friends own. We got to chat for a bit before our table was ready. When I had to take the girls to the bathroom, I only had to look one table over and ask our painter and his son to watch our table for us.

By the end of the day, we tossed in a trip to the library and a two-hour skating show (featuring Neko’s friends Celeste and Mercy).

I fell into bed that night, exhausted from our day full of rich experiences. And fantastic people. All right here in our back yard. A good reminder that there are good people and great ideas just about anywhere—you just have to find them.

(Special thanks to Neko for having her camera with her…thank goodness!)
The next generation

April 5, 2010

I sort of didn’t realize we had no school today. Some in-service/conference/something-or-other day. Anyway, no school. So I quickly texted Marlo, when I remembered Vince was on spring break this week.

Nancy joined us with the triplets and we all headed to the zoo. (Griffin was in school and very much missed.)

I barely took any photos, but I did snap this one, which makes me smile. These three girls, holding hands, who weren’t even around when this friendship of families began.
Zoo visitors

March 17, 2010

One of the great things about living near a college is all the great things our kids get to experience. The Zoology Club brought in a group from a neighboring zoo, who brought with them a selection of exotic animals. The kids got a bit squirrelly, but wheee! Animals!

Did I mention the weather is gorgeous? And that I forgot to send my first grader to school wearing something green on St. Patrick’s Day. I have clearly dashed my chances on that Mother of the Year Award.
Consolation prize

March 7, 2010

The idea started brewing mid-week. It was kind of a joke where a few friends started talking about boarding a plane this weekend to get away from the February grey skies.

And then we all started asking if maybe we could really make it happen. And for a few hours, we thought it might. Husbands offered to watch children. We compared itineraries. But, alas, it wasn’t meant to be.

As a consolation, Beth and Becky came down for the day and joined Anne, Libby, and I for a girlie day out. And Mother Nature sent the sun out to make a guest appearance. Not quite the beach, but I’ll take what I can get.
Sheep!

January 23, 2010

We headed over to Duncan’s house for dinner. The sun was about to set, so the kids squeezed in a quick visit with the sheep. (Which, wheeee! Sheep! I’d have a whole farm full of animals if Tom weren’t here to keep me in check.)

Then there was this great ramp, which was excellent for running and leaping.

And the hairless rat, which Neko held the entire time we were there and tried to smuggle into her shirt and take home.

For the grown-ups? Moroccan stew and good company.
Winter walk

January 23, 2010

We’ve been inside too many days in a row. Folks are getting restless, grouchy, and mean. I’ll even put myself in this category.

Mid-afternoon, I decided we needed to get out, but the only one I managed to round up was Neko. (Note to self: next time a breath of fresh air should not be optional.)

She went flying out the door.

Together, we took stock of what you can see on a muddy winter day. Fresh deer tracks. Waning sheets of ice. Melted snow finding its way from the fields to the creek. Patches of green (if you look carefully). Perfectly round holes in the hay, doorways to the winter homes of many furry friends. The occasional milkweed pod that never set sail.
Gone skiing

January 15, 2010

Our district had one of those weird days off to file paper or something of that ilk, so Nancy and I took advantage of the day to take Neko and Mary Beth skiing.

Since most folks were still in school, the slopes weren't very crowded. The girls were skiing down the green hill by the end of the day thanks to a guardian angel ski instructor named Bill, who had the patience and demeanor you find in few folks, but was just what we needed.

(The song in the background can be heard sung quite loudly around our house by Neko, thanks to the school music program. I love when kids learn to sing “real” songs!)