Happy Halloween

Happy witch!

oh my wonderful, beautiful little witch!

Hockey Night

Ellie with mascots Scorch and that Zebra guy - she loved them!

The results of Chuck-a-Puck!

Face off to the left of us.  We had great seats too!

Last night we went to Ellie's very first hockey game!  She has watched the playoffs with me and one of her favorite movies is Miracle, so when she asked if I would take her to a 'real' hockey game, I found the first opportunity to do just that!

State Farm offered a package for the home opener on Friday night and we took advantage of that.  Center ice seats, popcorn voucher and a Chuck a Puck to use between the 2nd and 3rd periods to win prizes.  All for $10 a person.

The Bloomington Thunder played the Peoria Rivermen, and lost 5-1.  Ellie learned a lot of about penalties, the penalty box and even five-on-three.  Yikes - we saw a five minute major result in a 5 minute power play for Peoria, and twice they fought off five-on-three when they were two men down due to overlapping penalties.  Peoria was a just a stronger team at this point in the season.  Hopefully we'll attend another game soon to be able to see how much they'll grow together as a team.

I was surprised but she didn't want to get up and walk around between periods.  She stayed for the activities happening on the ice.  And even wanted to stay until the very end.  Not sure if that was just a ploy to stay up later, or she really loved it.  She cheered and booed.  And wasn't really happy about all the checking into the boards.  She said, "Mommy, someone is going to get hurt doing that!"

We talked center ice, blue lines, icing, power plays, and when I went to explain why the goalie scuffs up the ice in front of the net before the period starts she said, "Mommy I already know why he does that.  It's to slow the puck down!"  And when asked how she knew that she said, "I saw it in the movie Miracle."

Her knowledge of sports continues to amaze me.  But I guess it should come as no surprise with the amount of sports she is forced to watch exposed to at home!  I'm glad she takes it in stride and wants to continue to learn more … imagine me having someone to share all my love of hockey with!  It's like a dream come true!  One might call it a MIRACLE!

Parent Teacher Conference Friday

Here's what the letter says:

"Dear Mommy and Daddy,

I LOVE school very much.  Writing is my favorite thing to do.  Reading is another one of my favorite things to do.  Soccer is one of the things that I am really good at.  Baseball is a sport I watch all the time.  Science is one of the things I like to study.  I really LOVE art.  I need to work on math, social studies and music.  I hope you have a good night.

your daughter, Ellie"

No school for Ellie on Friday for Parent Teacher conferences.  Good thing for us - we had ours on Monday since that was a time we could make work!

Mrs. Kimmel, Ellie's second grade teacher undertands Ellie well.  She told us she's often the last one to finish at her table and when the other kids have to wait on her that frustrates her.  But not as much as when she finishes first and has to wait on them!

She presented us with this letter from Ellie, and up-to-the-minute grades.  From an academic standpoint Ellie is doing well - she reads fluently, learned to tell time and understand money extremely quickly.  She's getting better at math and science daily.  On the working-on list she is learning to balance speed and accuracy with her handwriting, making improvement on her reading comprehension.  Overall she reads above level, pays attention and is eager to learn.

This was all very good news.  Things she's good at, and things to keep improving.

The best part of the conference was when Mrs. Kimmel told us what she really appreciates about Ellie is how kind she is.  She told us how she interacts with her classmates and shows how inclusive she is by happily taking in the left out students into her group.  That made me extremely proud!

We often talk about being 'kind and caring', and I'm thrilled that she is putting those lessons into practice!

Following in footsteps

As you can see Ellie is ready for the World Series to start!  She's picked her team, and is ready for the games to begin..... not so fast, you say.  Just wait, there's more to this story...

When I was born, my dad was a NY Yankees fan.  And if I look it up in my baby book, he has written (yes, in his hand-writing) that the Yankees lost the day I was born 5-4.  It seems like I've always loved baseball, I just haven't always loved the same team.  And that's okay too since teams change from year to year.  And the line-up of the team that wins the World Series rarely looks the same the following Spring Training.

As a kid I remember asking to stay up just to watch baseball.  And the answer was always, 'no'.  Alicia (best friend from next door) said, "I can stay up but the only thing on the t.v. is baseball!"  Boy, did I think I was growing up in the wrong house!

So these days when Ellie asks to stay up to watch a game I wince a bit.  I couldn't be happier that she is a baseball fan.  She's learning the rules, she loves to cheer after a strikeout, call a ball fair or foul and yells out for a home run.  She told me she's not ready for football yet, she still wants baseball.

She's somewhat like me, in the fact that I love baseball so much that even when my team is eliminated I'll find another team to follow.

Ellie had decided that the Cardinals were her 'other' team before the season was over.  Partly because she's been to Busch Stadium, she has the t-shirts and she's learning the players by collecting baseball cards.  No, she hasn't given up her allegiance to the Yankees, she's just chosen a National League team to follow.

The point of my increasingly unending story is that I'm so proud of her for choosing her team to follow and for her interest in baseball.  I was the same way.  No, I didn't grow up a Yankee fan - but I would have if circumstances were different - because my dad was a Yankee fan.  Ellie's dad is a Yankee fan too.  Which has created a wonderful bond between them.

I can't wait to teach Ellie to keep score.  That is ... once I can convince her that a "K" represents a strikeout.  "Why not an 'S', Mommy?"  "An 'S' is a save, Ellie." I'm still working on it ....

I'm so proud of this amazing little girl who knows what she likes, isn't afraid to show it and proudly wears her Cardinals t-shirt (with many others in the midwest, I might add)!  For those friends of mine on Facebook who thought they would comment on her picture by saying, "she's wearing the wrong shirt" because she isn't routing for the Red Sox I say, "you don't know Ellie!  She's a girl who makes up her own mind!"  And as Bill would say, 'like someone else I know!"

But I don't know what HE is talking about .....

Final Soccer Saturday!

This was her shot that SCORED!

Team Tiger Lilies - Fall 2013

Wouldn't be complete without after-game congratulations line!

Final BREAK of the season - TEAMWORK!

Today was the last soccer game Saturday for 2013.  We'll begin again in the spring - but for now the season is complete!  It was windy today which made 50 degrees seem colder ... especially sitting and watching the game!

It didn't bother the girls though.  They ran, kicked and scored.  What a tremendous effort and improvement from the first practice to the last game they show.  And for me the best part is the smiles on their faces!  Of course they want to score - but without official scorekeeping - the fun is still in the teamwork and the sense of accomplishment!

Ellie had a much better game this week - avoiding both falling down and getting the ball to the head - as she suffered through last Saturday.  She scored a goal, had an awesome corner kick that a team mate was able to score on AND a couple of awesome blocks on defense.

What I continue to praise her for is the effort and attitude she shows while playing.  That's what I'm most proud of ... and of course, she loves to make Coach Frank happy too!

We've Been BOO'd !!

Gift bag with instructions, ghost to hand in window and candy treats in the bottom!

In central Illinois there are several traditions at Halloween that are kinda fun and absolutely worth being able to play along.

First, as you may recall, there is the Great Pumpkin.  After each child goes Trick or Treating and returns home, they choose 10 pieces of their favorite and put it aside for later.  Then the rest goes in a bag awaiting the arrival of The Great Pumpkin.   Later that evening, he arrives to collect candy for those kids who were unable to Trick or Treat.  It's a win-win!

And secondly, is the tradition of Booing other houses.  A bag arrives on your doorstep after dark with a note that says you've been BOO'd.  It's got a ghost to hang in your window to show you've been chosen - and candy treats in the bag, and instructions for the next set of bags are also included!

This is what the note says:

So, yes, we've been BOO'd already this year.  And we've also continued the tradition by sharing bags with two other families.  Ellie chose Lindsay, across the street and Hannah (Miss Laura who works with Bill)'s daughter - who she met at Labor Day when we went to their house for a picnic.

We had fun with it.  And pretended we didn't know anything when Lindsay arrived last night to play - and asked Ellie, "did you Boo our house?"  And Ellie said, 'No, and we don't know you boo'd us either!"

School Holiday

Ellie sitting in Bill's chair at his desk!

What a feast they split for lunch!
Papa Gino's pizza, turkey wrap and fries .. and all that ketchup!!

Today being Columbus Day, Ellie had the day off school.  It was also a planned day closed at Bright Horizons - our coverage for school vacations, late start days and other random days off.  So a decision needed to be made.  Who stays home with Ellie.

Although we could have divided the day, Bill chose to stay home with Ellie.  And as soon as I knew we had coverage AND a day off I went to find how to schedule her teeth cleaning and flu shot!  Of course, you know that's exactly what I got done!

No cavities !!!  Very proud girl who left with stickers, pencil and new toothbrush!  Her teeth are coming in extremely well and now the two top incisors are loose!  Before we know it she'll have a full mouth of permanent teeth.

And, yes, the flu shot - but it's the nasal spray which she prefers and has worked well for the past several years.

But from the pictures you can see the fun began earlier in the day.  Bill took Ellie to his office for a tour and lunch.  She got to visit with Miss Pam, one of our Girl Scout Leaders from last year and sit at his desk.  She was thrilled to ride the escalators all the way to the 4th floor!

What a day the two of them  had together.

Second Grade Pictures

I thought it might be a good idea to compare Ellie's new 2nd Grade picture with my picture.  Wow!  What a difference in the pictures.  She is growing into her own little person .. with goals, dreams, ideas of her own.

Ellie - age 7
2nd Grade - Grove Elementary School

Jude - age 7
2nd Grade - Division Street School

Ellie and her adventures

Making their project at Home Depot

Ellie face painted as a Kitten

Joe's Crab Shack in Peoria on the water

Ellie digging into a lobster claw

After Ellie's soccer game was cancelled due to incoming storms, we rearranged our day and found an opportunity for new adventures.  Bill wanted to go to Home Depot to look for something so off we went as a family.

Little did we know that the first Saturday of the month is a Kid's Day.  They have a build your own project, ASPCA with a friendly dog, face painting and a fire truck to explore!  Now we know.

Ellie and Bill made a wooden fire fighting airplane complete with nails, glue, stickers and paint.  Of course she took part in the face painting, pet the dog and the best part seemed to be the fire truck.  Bill asked more questions than any of the kids.  It was a terrific group of fire fighters that gave a full tour, answered question after question and happily helped the kids on and off the rig.  What an event!

And then off we went to Joe's Crab Shack in Peoria for dinner.  Another adventure as we hadn't been before.  I anticipated something different than our normal surroundings in Bloomington and it certainly was.  We ate dinner right on the water overlooking the Illinois river ... and did we eat.

Ellie had crab, lobster, mussels and scallops all in one sitting.  OF course she also enjoyed red potatoes and hush puppies as well!  We shared a couple of big steam pots as well as garlic steamed mussels and our sides.  Since we arrived for an early dinner we got a table on the deck, overlooking the water which added to our adventure.

What a great way to celebrate our anniversary as a family.  Bill and I will have our own celebration when our sitter, Shannon is available over the next few Saturday nights!

Times flies ...

Bill & Jude
October 5, 2002

Jude & Bill
October 5, 2013
11 year anniversary!

Today Bill and I celebrate our 11th anniversary.  Seems like it passed in the blink of an eye.  Until we look around .... in those eleven years so much has changed!

Ellie made us a family - and is 7 1/2 years old!
This is the 3rd state we've lived in since we were married.
Who knew the mid-west we agree with us the way it has?
We've lost people in that time:  Nana and Grampa Al
Ellie gained a cousin, Gianni who's going on 4 years old himself
Bill & I have both had multiple jobs, in multiple departments since then.
We've vacationed - together, apart, as a family, as a couple and continue to enjoy the adventure.
Friendships have grown, and fallen away.
We're grateful for the ones we have to celebrate and support us.

And those are the 'big' ones.

Yet there are so many memories we've made in those eleven years.  The jokes we share, the familiar places and the dreams we continue to make.

Someone once told me that balance doesn't come in days, it comes in years.  That's how a marriage is built as well.  It's not just about marking the years, but finding something every day to celebrate and be grateful for ... and I know, some days are harder than others.

Those of us in this big club, called marriage, know what I mean.  It's not always the tough stuff that makes the difference .. it's the wonderfully, small and memorable moments all strung together that make a life.

Happy anniversary to the man I married 11 years ago today.  And in the words of Ellie during a recent game of Candy Crush, "this is easier when we do it together!"  She's absolutely right!

Power of Friendship

Jude & Alicia - First Communion
St. Peter's Church - Saratoga Springs, NY

Alicia and I have been friends for over 40 years.  I like to call her my 'oldest' friend, but that's only because it's a special joke between us because she's almost exactly 6 months older than I am.  She's happy when my birthday rolls around so we're the 'same' age again.

I know I've referenced her before .. our friendship has endured many years, marriages, children, moves to different states - even lived in the same state but decades apart, book club, and lots of coffee dates.  Alicia is not only my oldest friend, she was my very first best friend.

As kids we were next door neighbors and we'd have sleepovers, make forts, sing songs to the radio, have crushes on boys like Frank D'Andrea and Kevin LeRoux.  We've stayed in touch and can pick up whenever the opportunity occurs without hesitation.

Alicia and I both lost our dads at an early age.  Our moms remarried and our lives carried on.  She married Shaun and then Trevor and Brendon made their family complete.  She shared them all with me.  I've always been so happy for her.  What a terrific family.

We now share another thing in common.  The father that raised her died today, as did Al last year.  Her dad was affectionally referred to as Knobby.  He owned the Singer Sewing store in Pyramid Mall when we were kids.

Alicia was the person I was with when my dad got sick when I was 7 years old.  She was the one who told me everything would be alright.  Her parents were back-up for mine when all that was happening.  They were a safe place to go - lots of kids, food and noise to blend into.

Her dad gave my mom a job as a bookkeeper after my dad died.  Her dad was a good man, with a kind heart and a sweet smile.  He was quiet and caring.  The kind of dad that always had all these kids around him.

I know he knew how much his family and friends loved him.  That's the important part.

Keep telling people what they mean to you.  It will mean more to them to hear it now than for you to wish you'd said something sooner.

Alicia knows I love her too.  She's my oldest and dearest friend .. and our coffee date is long overdue.

Ellie stories

I really like to get to the end of the week, and Ellie has had a good week.  And by this I don't just mean behavior that's approved by grown-ups.  What I truly appreciate is that she's growing and learning before our eyes.  At seven years old she knows who she is, understands the challenges and continue to make strides in learning and evolving.

She's funny, smart, curious, witty, inquisitive, kind, helpful and pretty amazing!

Wednesday in her school (and many in her district) they had a Code Red Drill.  They've explained that to the kids to mean:  a time when we have a gas leak or an intruder in the building.  They have a plan, they execute on their plan and the kids listen and follow instructions.  In this instance they take them to a nearby church.

Things have certainly come a long way from my time as an elementary student.  We had the ordinary fire drills and then the drills where we'd go to the cafeteria at St. Peter's Elementary school and sit under the lunch tables with our hands on our heads.  But we never talked about, or even thought about an intruder that might enter the school.

Things have changed.

I talked to Ellie on Wednesday morning to remind her that the Code Red drill was that morning.  I reminded her the importance of listening.  It was a good time to talk about 'look for the helpers'.  I told her there would be plenty of helpers since this was a drill - and again the importance of listening.

This was her response.  Verbatim.  "Mommy that's going to be a stretch for me.  I'm a talkative girl!"

Oh, the beauty of self-awareness!  Yes, you are my dear - and you also have to be a listening girl!

On Thursday when I picked her up I had mint M&Ms for her.  She was thrilled and ate them on the way home.  I needed to stop for a prescription and when we got out she said, "Mommy if I give you two M&Ms would you give me two hugs and kisses?"

"Ellie I will give you hugs and kisses whenever you want, and whenever I can sneak them in!  In fact, why don't I have one candy and you have the other.  Is that a deal?"

"No Mommy, I made the deal and you can have the candy!"

Lots of conversation and hugs and kisses in the CVS parking lot were part of my best parts of the day.

Friday was first trimester progress report time!  Parent/Teacher conferences are coming up in October so this was a great time to share some progress.  She's been in school over a month ...

Her reading level and her 'learner characteristics' were shared.  From following directions to actively participating in class to demonstrates self-control in words and actions - she is 'consistently observed' as demonstrating those characteristics.  In other words we didn't see an area to work on behavior-wise.  She's also progressed already in her reading level ... so, so proud of this amazing young lady!

Family shots from the Orchard

September 2013 - Family photo

Hmmm, two peas in a pod? No, two nuts!

She loves these cut-off head things to stand behind and have her picture taken!!

Me and my girl!

Daddy and his little princess

Half Birthday Adventure

Ellie is 7 1/2 today.  I know, how can that be already?  But I assure you, it is!  Halfway to 8 years old ... So off we went first thing this morning to Speer, IL (about 1 hour and 20 minutes North West of here) to Tanner's Orchard.  Lots of pumpkins, apples, donuts, cider and much more!

Ellie wanted to go through the Corn Maze and visit the animals first.  Although we convinced her that at our 9:30 arrival time - it seemed perfect for an apple cider donut and another cup of coffee.  Since donuts were involved she was easily convinced!

We trekked through the orchards, the corn maze, the animals and the pumpkins.  We had a full day in our 2 1/2 hours there.  And we left with lots of treats too!  Including tonight's dessert - caramel apples!

What a terrific, sunny weekend we had .. and for the first day of Fall we took full advantage of our gorgeous fall weather!

Sitting on a big pumpkin!

Surrounded by pumpkins!

Ellie's friend, Billy the goat!

Entering the Corn Maze

Another pumpkin!

Panning for gemstones - she loved this part!

Special Treat!

After game de-brief with Coach Frank - Ellie says, "He's like family!"

After game treat for a great game - and goal scored!

Ellie had a terrific game today - she played a strong defensive game and scored a goal as well.  She is getting more and more skilled with her ball control and dribbling each game.  Her team outmatched the other team today and they were terrific sports about it.

We celebrated with a special treat at a self-serve frozen yogurt place called Cocomero.  You put your own yogurt from the machine in the cup and then choose all your own toppings from fresh fruit, candies, nuts and even Fruity Pebbles cereal.

The container is weighed at the end ... and that was a fortune for the 3 of us!  It was truly a special treat!  And well deserved by our special girl!

Happy Birthday Papa!

Today is Papa's birthday and we'll celebrate his day from afar ... knowing that he's enjoying his day is what counts!  We know he's one to celebrate even when it's not a birthday, makes it even more special to remember him on his special day!

Papa and Ellie - Thanksgiving 2012

Swim Accomplishment!

This was a rare night where both Bill and I were there for Ellie's Wednesday night swim lesson.  For the most part Bill takes her to swim.  Tonight I left work on time and managed to meet up with them as she was leaving after school care ... and went to swim with them!

She did awesome!  And not just because she's my kid!  She was swimming so well and for so long.  The instructor worked them hard... up and down the lane time after time.  Freestyle, backstroke, side kick, one after another.  

And with a red, proud face at the end of the night she received her next sticker from Miss Heather!  She gets to ring the bell and everyone at the pool claps to acknowledge her accomplishment.  She did awesome!

Sitting on the side of the pool waiting to jump in!

So happy to have accomplished another swim skill!

Sunday supper

Today's weather from yesterday's sunshine and cool breeze.  We awoke to clouds, knowing the rain wasn't too far away.  To me, the cooler weather and even rain are an invitation to make a pot of soup and sauce with meatballs.  It makes this week's meals so much easier to have pots in the fridge ready to heat.

And Ellie was ready to jump in and help.  You'll see from the photos she took an active roll in the meatballs and the pasta making.  And for the soup she was my chopped veggie collector .. as she scooped them up and added them to the pot - baked potato soup!

When 3pm rolled around we were all ready for Sunday supper of fresh pasta and meatballs.  And then they crew was off to play a few games of Wii baseball.

Her debut (so she tells me) at mixing the meatball meat!

Kneading the pasta dough ... of course involved a spelling lesson in the difference between 'needing' and 'kneading'

Solo kneading of the dough - she's happy to have her hands in it

Finished product - fresh pasta with meatballs!

Two helpings later - she's still doing her best!

First Soccer Saturday

Today was Ellie's first soccer game of the Fall season.  And what a difference a few practices make.  She's dribbling better and now playing forward instead of defense all the time.  She hustled the entire game - 4 quarters!  So proud of her effort and sportsmanship!

Pre-game photo op

Warming up with ball control practice

Helping get all the soccer balls out of the goal 

Action shot - she's got her  hands in the air ready to kick

Whew!  Good game - but exhausting!

She's sticks close to Coach Frank who always has an encouraging word for her hard work!