Summer Fun

Ellie making the most of her summer vacation! Seen here she continues swim lessons - this is the jumping in part, and playing miniature golf at State Farm Park!

Celebrate!

Lessons from the Stanley Cup journey

This was my favorite after the game moment .. veteran goalie congratulates younger, playoff MVP goalie .. respect, experience and tradition at its finest!!

The Consequences of Caring
By Bill Simmons on June 8, 2012
From his daughter's passion for the Cup-less Kings to his own for the aged Celtics, Bill Simmons gets a refresher course in disappointment


This article was WAY too long to put in the blog, but it's an amazing story of a dad (sports fan, journalist) and the lessons of his young daughter becoming a sports fan.


Click HERE for full article.

Pool Time

Leaving a Legacy

Today's date has stood out for me as far back as I can remember. June 7th was the day my father died. I was 8 years old. He died exactly one week after my birthday.

I've always taken time on June 7th to recall my father and all that I remember of him. And all the traits I'm told that I inherited. I know he was a proud man who believed strongly in his faith, his country and his family.

I've treasured all the stories people have told me about him, always looking for something to hold onto. I know that a legacy is something you create with your actions, your beliefs and how you choose to live. He only lived 39 years, but he left a legacy.

I've learned to value June 7th for another reason for nearly 10 years as well. State Farm began on June 7, 1922. We celebrate this day every year as Founder's Day with pomp and circumstance recalling the 'old days' and optimistically projecting what the future will be like. Today we celebrated our 90th anniversary. That's quite a feat these days with companies that come and go.

I'm proud to work for a company that believes in many of things my father believed in. I'm part of my father's legacy, and now I'm part of State Farm's legacy as well. We're a State Farm family as Bill celebrates 10 years with the company in a few months, and I celebrated 7 years in January. And with all the State Farm influence of living in Bloomington Ellie has already told us she plans to work there too. That, too, is quite a legacy!

SF Family Fun Day

As you can see Ellie loved everything .. the petting zoo, rides, games, meeting new friends and of course, the wonderful fair food!

Another Happy Birthday

I turned 46 today. Now I'm officially closer to 50 than 40. Hmmm .... This year has been such a great one for me and for our family. Ellie has thrived in Kindergarten, adjusted to our new location, making friends and having so much fun!

Bill has adjusted to a new job, new location and new friends and is a new slimmer self 5 months into the year. I, too, feel so good about where we are, and where we're headed.

My greatest gift during the last year was the people in my life. Beginning with my family .. the one that lives with me! They are my greatest joy. My family, extended family and friends far and wide. And instead of moving to IL feeling as though I had to give up friends, I continued some wonderful friendships and have been lucky enough to make several meaningful friendship in just the year I've been here.

I continue to remind myself - a life well lived is not about the car you drive, the purse you carry or the clothes you wear. To me it's the relationships you nurture and the causes you dedicate your time to that creates the legacy you leave behind. And that means the most to me. I'm grateful for another wonderful year!

Another Ellie story

Ellie asked me the other day if I was scared on my first day of work when we moved to Bloomington.

Trying to figure out what prompted that question I said, "well, I was a little scared, do you want to know why?" She nodded, and I continued, "when I first started I didn't know my boss, who was on my team or what to do when I got to my desk."

She seemed very interested so I kept going, "but it got easier because I got to know my boss, how to do my job and made friends with people who make me happy to go to work now."

Then I asked her, "Ellie are you scared of starting the First Grade?" She looked a little sheepish and said, 'yes.' When asked why she was scared she replied, "Because they learn Science in First Grade, and I don't know Science!"

I smiled at her and said, "that's why they'll be teaching you Science, because you don't know it yet. You're not supposed to!" This all transpired because she got to sit with a current First grader, Alex and he explained what First grade was like.

I asked her if there was anything she liked about sitting with him. Immediately she lit up and said, "They have a really cool math book in First Grade that Alex said I would get when I get there!" "So, there you see,' I explained, 'although you don't know your teacher or which of your friends will be in your new class, there is SO much to look forward to in First Grade.

Before you know it the end of August will be here and you'll be back in school." She seemed happy enough with our talk. My only hope is I continue to have the answers that she can find comfort in .....

Memorial Day Celebration

We spent most of our three day weekend at the pool .. the State Farm Park Pool. It was a wonderfully warm weekend, perfect for swimming and lounging by the pool! We hung our flag and added little red, white and blues to line our sidewalk. We are amazed that the end of May is here already ... in just two months we'll be arriving in Saratoga for a long weekend, and four months away is our departure on a Disney Cruise .. time flies!!

Summer has arrived!

Today the pool and water park opened at State Farm Park! We were there as the gates opened and people flooded in! There was plenty of room for everyone .. saw a few friends .. ate at the pool grill! What a terrific day!

Last Day of Kindergarten

Yesterday was Ellie's last day of Kindergarten. The day was filled with memories, good-byes and a few tears .. oh yeah, those were mine! She was very excited to know that she will be moving on to First Grade next year. These pictures are of a box that Miss Dillow made for each of her students. She carried it like a suitcase and it was filled with so many memories. The front has a picture from the very first day and the nearly last day of school to show how much they've grown. It also shows a hand print from the first and last days. The back is a wonderful array of group class shots from different holidays and events they celebrated. The best part is the box is FILLED with all the wonderful work Ellie completed this year. Lots of writing, coloring, worksheets and photos. It was an amazing thing for Ellie to sit with me last night and say, "Mommy, remember when I drew people and they all had belly buttons? I saw so silly then!" Hardly seems that long ago, but to her it was at the BEGINNING of the year! What a treasure that Miss Dillow has provided us! It's a keeper for sure!!

Cornbelters Baseball Game

Ellie earned our tickets to tonight's Cornbelters' baseball game by completing a reading challenge at school. Lots of kids from all the local elementary schools were there. It was a perfect night for a game. A recent addition to this team Cornbelters team(May 12, 2012) was Reuben Sierra, Jr .. that's right, Reuben Sierra the former Yankee is his dad. We saw him get a great base hit right in front of us! Good game!

End of Spring Soccer Season

Really Special People Day at School

"R" Day at school was Really Special People Day and all the parents were invited to school for a special performance in Ellie's classroom. They sang songs, did dances, and showed us what they've learned as a Kindergarten. IT's hard to believe that Ellie will finish Kindergarten in two weeks! Where has the time gone? You'll see from the photos that her class is fun and active. Of course Ellie and her bestie, Julia are front and center together. They tend to not make a move without the other in tow. Julia was here at our house last Sunday for a play date. She's so sweet! They are like two little old ladies together!

A Little Rain Never Hurt Anyone

Friendship

An amazingly touching card arrived in my mailbox today from an awesome, longtime friend. We've carried our friendship across the miles from the start. The first move was when she moved from next door to across town and we thought we wouldn't survive .. and now 40 years later and many, many moves on both our parts she remains in my heart as a true friend.

Sprinkly Saturday

Hat Day

At school Ellie has a different theme day for every letter of the alphabet ... yesterday was Game Day, today was Hat Day ... Insect Day on Friday .. stay tuned for more photos!

Glad where you are ...

When we were house hunting last May in Bloomington we just loved the purple flowers outside our front door ... and now, here they are again .. seems a month early .. but as I tell Ellie, 'the one thing you can't change is the weather!'

And a new one I always tell her when she's being crabby ... 'You bring your own weather to the picnic!"

One I learned last week from a new friend, Sam. She tells her 9 year old son, "you can be sad or glad in the same pants, my friend!"

Here's to being glad exactly where you are!

Freezing cold Saturday Soccer

Ellie has another full weekend ... up this morning at 4:30am asking if we could go downstairs! Soccer game at 8am, and a Chuck E Cheese birthday party for Allie at noon. She keep us running! I'm pretty sure a nap is in store for her this afternoon whether she thinks so or not!