Two Little Girls and Two Island Adventures

Last week we took our family vacation to St. Maarten/St. Martin.  Even though it is only 37 square miles, St. Maarten/St. Martin is packed with rich history and breathtaking beaches!!  We were blown away beyond belief at how beautiful the island was, how friendly the people were and how UNSPOILED this special place was!!  We spent the week relaxing, and trying to explore their 37 beaches!  The sand between our toes felt as soft as powder! 

Meet the NEIGHBORS?  Yes, please!  St. Maarten/St. Martin is located right in the middle of a five-island cluster!  It was the perfect jumping-off point to visit their jaw-droppingly beautiful neighbors, which were small hops away!  Saba, St. Barth, St. Eustatius and Anguilla.  After spending 6 days in SM, we headed to Marigot, where we caught a ferry over to beautiful Anguilla.  $20 and a 20-minute boat ride later, we were in a new paradise for the next 4 days.  How was the dining experience?  Anguilla has featured among the BEST culinary destinations in the Caribbean for decades.  The food on both islands was absolutely amazing….in fact, I think my mouth is still watering.

While we were away, Isabella was not feeling well.  We had the island doctor come and visit her where he diagnosed her with an upper respiratory infection so she was able to get a few prescriptions to make her feel better.  Although she was not feeling 100%, she sure did LOVE swimming in the ocean, finding sea shells and building sand castles with her sister Giselle.  Those two girls absolutely LOVE swimming.  If we would let them, they would stay in the water forever! 

Bob and I loved watching the girls enjoy the islands and even making new friends.  If we ever go back, it would be fun to explore the other islands with the girls.  They thought it was really neat to be able to take a short boat ride to a brand-new place.  I did too.  Until next time……….

The Pizza Hut BOOK IT! Program

I can remember when I was a little girl in grade school, I participated in the Pizza Hut BOOK IT! Program.  It was a cute little button that looked like the one pictured below.  After you read five books and filled up your pin, you got to go to Pizza Hut and get a PIZZA!  And I always looked forward to that PIZZA!  Who doesn't love pizza, right?!!

Fast forward 30 years, and wouldn't you know they still have that program in the schools for the children?  It is a little different from when I was growing up.  For example, the children no longer receive a button, instead, they receive a paper calendar and have to color in the days that they read.  It also differs by grade level.  Giselle is in kindergarten, so her monthly reading goal is to read for 20 days out of the month for 20 minutes.  Isabella is in 2nd grade, and she is required to read the entire month, each day for 20 minutes.  Once they turn in their monthly calendars, they receive a coupon for a free personal pan pizza! 

The girls really enjoy this program and why wouldn't they?  Statistically, the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.  Yesterday, I took them to redeem their certificate for reading for the month of October.  Their cheese pizzas were gone in about 5 minutes! 

Keep reading girls!!

Is it NOVEMBER? Already?

October FLEW by us like a G6!  Where should I start?  We had so many firsts in October!  For starters, Bob took us to Kentucky for a weekend, where he went to college and showed us around.  Isabella and Giselle got to see where daddy went to college, where he lived and even his favorite places to eat.  We spent Friday at Keeneland where the girls got to learn about 80 years of the action and excitement of thoroughbred racing – their first time at a track.  It was a beautiful SUNSHINY kind of day and we took it ALL IN!  Isabella and Giselle got to touch a few horses up close and they were very excited to cheer for their favorite horse during the races!

On Saturday, we woke up early and went to the store to get some apparel for the football game – GO KENTUCKY WILDCATS!!  After that, we met up with Kevin, whom Bob went to college with.  We tailgated in the parking lot before the game where we enjoyed playing bags and having snacks.  Another SUNSHINY day – the girls were cheering for the Wildcats, and THEY WON.  We had such a fun, relaxing weekend and the girls learned a lot about racing, horses, football, and where daddy went to college!

Isabella and Giselle also got to go to their very FIRST Chicago Blackhawks hockey game.  And guess where they got to sit for their first game?  In a SUITE, up high, where they could see all the action!  Bob received four tickets from a client at work, so I scooped up the girls from school and we met him downtown.  Isabella was glued to the hockey game the entire time and asking lots of questions.  What was Giselle doing?  Plugging her ears and smiling.  She doesn’t like loud noises so much and you know every time they score a goalie, the horns sound off. Woot Woot!!

Both girls wrapped up their 12 week gymnastics class in October as well.  They attended a 12-week program for one hour a week and it really helped them to develop hand-eye coordination, and enhanced their physical abilities.  Giselle REALLY enjoyed the program.  You should see her flipping over those bars like it’s nobody’s business.  Isabella liked gymnastics, however I think she would rather be playing chess.  Both girls received high scores on their progress note at the end of the sessions.  I asked them if they would like to continue with gymnastics and Giselle said YES and Isabella said NO.  We plan to sign up Giselle for gymnastics after the holidays.

BIG NEWS!!!  Isabella got her expander out of her mouth, as it has been in since April 23^rd.  You should see her MILLION-dollar SMILE and the confidence that came with getting that out of her mouth.  She does need to get more braces put in her mouth, however not until December.  I am unbelievably proud of her for being so BRAVE throughout this entire experience, as I know it has been painful and not easy for her.

Lastly, for Halloween, Isabella was a witch and Giselle was a mermaid princess.  It was probably the NICEST Halloween that I can remember having in the last five years!  It is ALWAYS raining or snowing or crazy cold for the kids and this year the sun was shining and it was almost 70 degrees!  Bob and I attended their parades at school and then afterwards we took them trick or treating for a few hours.  I love seeing their excitement as they RACE from door to door.  You should see all the candy we have!!

And that my friends, was October.  For now, both girls are actively involved in their Girl Scouts meetings and activities and are enrolled in a 12-week chess program (which they both love)!  They place chess together at home and it’s priceless. 

What will November bring?  We shall see!