Vistors

This past weekend, Mom and Dad came to visit! We all decided it would be really fun to surprise the kids. On the day Mom and Dad flew in, I picked them up at the airport while Rick picked the kids up. Rick made sure the kids were kept occupied while Mom, Dad and I snuck into the house. Then Rick called the kids downstairs for something and they were so surprised. The look on AJ's and Ashleigh's faces was priceless. I don't think they stopped smiling the entire time Mom and Dad were here.

Rick and I were able to take some time off work while they were here, but AJ and Ashleigh had to go to school. Ashleigh had already missed too much school when she was sick. On Friday, we took Mom and Dad to this delicious burger place in Chicago called Kuma's Corner. If you are ever in Chicago, this is definitely the place to go. Rick and I saw this place on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives a few months ago and knew we had to try it. The burgers are huge!

After the kids got home from school, we stayed around the house and they kept Mom and Dad entertained the entire night. On Saturday, we ran to the mall and shopped for a little while. On Sunday, everyone went to the Racine Zoo in Wisconsin. It's a very small zoo, but really nice because everything is at the kids level. We saw lots of animals. I think everyone enjoyed it.

On Monday, we decided wanted to do a Thanksgiving dinner since everyone was together. I can't believe it has been 3 years since we have had Thanksgiving together. It was so delicious! I think everyone over ate. On Tuesday, Rick and I had to go back to work, so Mom and Dad had some time to themselves and took a drive! Everyone was sad to see them leave on Wednesday, but it will only be 5 weeks until we are all together again! Thanks Mom and Dad for visiting! We had so much fun! Can't wait until Christmas time! :)

First Day of Soccer

Tonight was AJ's first practice for soccer. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate! It was 58 degrees and the winds were gusting at 20 miles per hour. Needless to say this is how AJ was dressed for soccer practice.

He is very excited about playing this year. AJ has practice on Mondays and Wednesdays and then games on Saturdays. The season is only about 7 weeks long which is kind of nice. At least it will go by quickly. I am sure Rick, Ashleigh and I are going to be freezing on the sidelines, but we will be there for every practice and every game. Even if we have to sit in the car to get warm. I guess we will be layering up and learning how to stay warm. Here are a few more pictures of him at practice today.

You know it's cold outside when Ashleigh and Rick are bundled up together!

We will take lots more pictures throughout the season! Pray that it won't be freezing cold for all of us that are sitting on the sidelines!

It's been a while

I know it's been a while since I last posted. Now that AJ and Ashleigh are both in school, it seems like Monday thru Friday, I don't have any time to sit down to post. We are always so busy with homework, reading and starting tomorrow soccer. It's pretty crazy in our house from about the time I get home from work until 7 o'clock or so. It's so rush, rush! If someone was looking in from the outside, it would look like chaos, but it works for us!

AJ is enjoying the third grade so far. He has a great teacher this year and he seems to be really striving to do his best. He is still struggling a little bit with reading, but it's better than last year. AJ is starting soccer on Monday. He is really excited about playing. I am just hoping it goes better than last time. For those of you who don't remember or don't know, AJ played soccer when he was 4 years old and did not do so well. In fact, I am pretty sure you would not technically consider it playing, if you run away from the ball which is what AJ did if the ball came near him. His practices will be Mondays and Wednesdays and then his games will be on Saturdays. I will definitely take lots of pictures.

Ashleigh has had a little bit of a hard time adjusting to kindergarten. I think the fact that she does not take a nap and a few new rules have really thrown her for a loop. She has gotten a couple of notes sent home from school, which of course is just devastating for her because she does not like to get caught getting into trouble. Most of the time when Rick picks the kids up from school, Ashleigh falls asleep in the car on the ride home. So, we know she is exhausted. But of course, she won't admit it. She is learning quite a bit so far. She is also really excited about learning new things. Over the last couple of weeks, Rick and I have both tried working with Ashleigh on getting the training wheels off her bike, however, I think those training wheels will be on her bike until she's 10 years old! Ashleigh wants nothing to do with learning how to ride without training wheels, as you can see from the scowl on her face in the picture below. Although, she was very excited the other night when she lost her other front tooth. So she is now toothless in front which is so super cute!

Hopefully, I will do a little better about keeping everyone up to date! Hope everyone has a great week!

Re-enlistment and a Fun Weekend

This past weekend has been packed full of fun and excitement. On Tuesday, Marcus flew in for a visit! AJ and Ashleigh were so excited to see him! As I tell everyone when the come to visit, forget your privacy while you are here. The kids talked his ear off for the entire visit and I don’t think he got a moments peace, but Marcus said that he enjoys it! The reason for Marcus’s visit was because Rick re-enlisted in the Navy for the last time! This will be a 6 year enlistment and will take him out to his 20 years and then he will retire! It was an exciting day not only for Rick, but also for the kids. AJ and Ashleigh got to attend his re-enlistment. They were very excited for their Daddy! Rick’s XO did the honors of re-enlisting him. I am so proud of Rick!

I’m pretty sure that Marcus and Rick ate their way through Marcus’s visit here. Every time I turned around they were eating something else. (Don’t worry Dad, they ate your share of White Castle for you!) Rick and I were really excited to take Marcus to Kuma’s Korner which is this really great burger restaurant in Chicago. We saw it on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives a couple of months ago and knew it was a place that we had to try. All Marcus kept saying was “this better be worth it!” before we got there because you have to get there at least ½ hour before it opens so that you don’t have to wait for a table! Afterwards, I don’t think I have heard him be that quiet before! We were so stuffed when we got finished, but Marcus said it was more than worth it! This is definitely the best burger place ever!

On Saturday, we all went to the Lincoln Park Zoo and had a blast! We walked the entire zoo, went to the farm inside the zoo and then the fresh market outside the zoo. The kids had a blast. We packed a picnic lunch and spent most of the day there. We saw so many different animals! It always amazes me how much AJ and Ashleigh remember from the last visit. Each of them have their own favorites for the animals and we always make sure they get to see their favorites.

We also did some picnics at the park and took a walk on the beach. I am not sure who had more fun – the kids, Rick or Marcus! It’s always fun to watch all of them play.
Rick and Marcus fished almost everyday! And everyday, the kids would ask if they caught anything. Most days the answer was NO, but on the last day the answer was YES! The kids were so excited to see what they caught! I think AJ and Ashleigh were expecting something much larger!

Marcus flew out on Sunday and everyone was sad to see him go! Now it’s back to school tomorrow.

P.S. – Is this a sign that Fall is coming soon? Are the leaves really changing already????

First Day of School

Today was AJ and Ashleigh's first day of school. I think they were both pretty excited. Although, I think Ashleigh was a little nervous. We have been talking with the kids for the past few weeks about school getting ready to begin and how to help get them prepared for the changes the school year brings. We had their orientation last week and they got to meet their teachers and see where their classrooms were going to be.

AJ already knew who his teacher would be because she is the same teacher who taught third grade last year, so it was no big surprise for him. He was a litle shy during the orientation, I think mostly because he knew the summer was ending and he was going to be starting school. He was very excited to see his friends from last year and meet a few new ones today.

Ashleigh got to meet her teacher for the first time during orientation. Her teacher is new to the school this year. I was a little disappointed when I found out she did not get the other kindergarten teacher, but I am sure all will be fine. Ashleigh was very excited about school starting, she has been talking about it for weeks. I think she was mostly excited about going to the same school as AJ. On the ride to school this morning, she got a little quiet and Rick and I think she was getting a little nervous. Once we got to the school, Rick and I helped the kids carry in all of their school supplies. We first went to Ashleigh's classroom and dropped off all of her stuff and then she went with us to drop off AJ's stuff. We left AJ in his classroom and then went back down to Ashleigh's room and she sat down at her desk and said "goodbye"! She was ready to start the day!

When Rick picked the kids up from school, both of the kids said they had a really good day and enjoyed themselves.

Here are som pictures from this morning of the kids!

Hopefully they will stay this excited about school! I doubt it, but I can always hope!