Conductor Max

Max conducting the Alton Symphony Band


Max wearing his honorary Alton Band hat

Each year the Alton Symphony Band comes to Chautauqua to perform. They call one of the kids up on stage to conduct the band. Max was chosen this year and took his job very seriously. He was so excited to be up there but also a little nervous. He did an awesome job!

Swimming with Dad

Chautauqua's flooded pool


Jersey County Pool

Unfortunately, we didn't get much swimming in this summer due to the flooded pool at Chautauqua. Charlie took off a few days around Children's Day and we went to the Jersey County pool a couple of times. Hanging on dad is the favorite pool activity when he is there :)

Kim and Mia's visit to Chautauqua

My cousin, Kim, and her daughter, Mia, came up to Chautauqua for a visit this summer. The kids got along great and it was fun catching up with Kim. We spent so much time together when we were little and haven't seen much of each other since we were kids. It is funny how kids help bring family back together. We toured Chautauqua and Grandma and Grandpa Callahan's cottage, went out for ice cream, and went peach picking. Hopefully they will make an annual visit each summer.

Summer Reading Club

The kids got their first "prize" from the summer library reading club- crazy glasses straws. It is a definite way to increase fluid intake. I'm thinking the glasses are going to be used on the deck only because they tend to fall off and make a mess. I hope the next prize is less maddening for parents :)

Mmmmm Watermelon

Library

This morning we went to the Grand Glaize Library to sign up for the Summer Reading Club. When we got there a storm was heading our way. The sky looked really threatening but it only ended up raining a little bit. We spent an hour or so in the library and Maura made her first public restroom stop of the day there.

Before the not-so-storm


Max and Maura



After the library I convinced the boys we should return the hermit crabs to the pet store. They STINK so BAD! And they really aren't exciting pets except when they escape from their tanks. Ben's escaped a month or so ago. I woke up in the middle of the night to this scratching sound. I thought it was a rodent or something in the vent. So I woke Charlie up. He told me I was suppose to sleep through these things. He made me leave the room because he was afraid I would start screaming- probably true. He came out and told me to come see what I was hearing. Ben's hermit crab had escaped from its tank, walked down the hall, into our room, and was making its way up a metal frame that was sitting beside the dresser. Clearly it was trying to make its way to get me in bed! Well, other than that they are just boring, stinky, little creatures who will have a much better home somewhere else. Unfortunately, they wouldn't put them back in the tank to sell them but said if they could keep the tank they could put them up for adoption. Maura made her second public restroom stop at the pet store.
Then we headed to Custom Cuts for haircuts. The boys have been insisting that their hair only be trimmed because they like longer hair. This means more frequent trips for haircuts. Maura thinks she needs her haircut everytime as well. I was able to convince her pretty easily that she couldn't get a haircut but could have a lollipop. She made her third public restroom stop here, twice.
Max has a baseball game tonight. It is the CPOP Kindergarten boys team against the girls. I think they will love playing eachother. Then we are planning on going to the Rausch's new home in Kirkwood to see the "before" the rehab.

First Weekend at Chautauqua 2010

We went to Chautauqua for the first time this season with the kids. It was fun showing them what we had done to the cottage over the winter. Ben was visually impressed by all the improvements. Max thought it looked nice but was bummed out that the Indian Giver and Pink Geranium were not open. Maura didn't remember anything from last year so she walked in and said, "This is my new house?! Where is my room?!"
Maura loved the creek and it is going to be a challenge keeping her from running off with the boys this summer. She is two but thinks she is at least five. In most ways this summer is going to be much easier than the past few since Maura is older. However, keeping Maura contained with me will be tough.
There were a few kids there this weekend which was great for the boys. Once the season starts it will be nice getting into our groove there. Maura was pretty high maintenance this weekend and it didn't help that she started with another cough so she wasn't sleeping so well. The boys were mostly happy but our family as a whole is much more even when our routine is consistent. We are in transition right now with ending school and starting summer. So I have to remind myself that it will take a few weeks for everyone to get emotionally calibrated to summer.

MerryGoRound at the park.


First frog caught this season.

Furniture Shopping

Maura and I met Charlie for lunch and furniture shopping. (Side Note: for those who have known Charlie and I since we first started dating know that he went by Charlie in highschool when I met him. In college he decided to go by Chuck. I felt weird changing what I had always called him. He had no problem with me calling him Charlie. However, as we meet new groups of people it becomes confusing when he introduces himself as Chuck and I later call him Charlie. I try to call him Chuck in social situations but it is hard! Anyway, I tell people we have an open relationship and Chuck knows all about Charlie and is ok with it). We did find a table, bench, and chairs. Not my David Stine dream table but it will do. Considering all the playdough, marker stains, and spills it will endure it is probably best we don't get the dream table this year.
Maura had a complete meltdown when we dropped Charlie off at his car to head back to work. She screamed "don't leave, daddy" for five straight minutes and then cried the rest of the way home. I was exhausted and thought she was going to have to skip her nap because I had carpool pickup. My mom was off work and offered to hang out while I did carpool so Maura could sleep. I love that woman! She slept for 3+ hours so she definitely needed the rest.
Made delicious asparagus tonight. A little olive oil and smoked pepper for the Black Hills (thanks Peggy, that pepper is YUM). Trying to find my way back on track with my healthy eating/exercise routine. I did great for four weeks, then fell off the wagon for a week. Trying to regain the willpower!