2 More Days Until Christmas

Two merry blue eyes
A very little nose
A long snowy beard
And cheeks like a rose
A round chubby man
A big bulging pack
Hurrah for Old Santa
I know two little girls, Isabella and Giselle who are glad he's coming back.

Look at them.  The innocence.  The sparkle in their eyes.  The excitement. What did they talk about with Santa?  Two more days……

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!

GO CUBS GO

I know two little girls who want the CUBS to win the World Series!  Isabella and Giselle were waving the W flag proudly this morning and singing the song, GO CUBS GO!  We are excited to watch the game TONIGHT and HOPE THEY WIN!!

The Cubs won back-to-back World Series championships in 1907 and 1908, becoming the first Major League team to play in three consecutive World Series, and the first to win it twice. The team has appeared in a total of eleven World Series, most recently in 2016. The Cubs have not won the World Series in 108 years, and they had not won the National League pennant in 71 years until finally winning it in 2016, both of which are record "droughts" in Major League Baseball. Since the start of divisional play in 1969, the Cubs have appeared in the postseason eight times. This included five trips to the League Championship Series—in 1984, 1989, 2003, 2015, and 2016 which they won.

I hope you all will be watching the game tonight and CHEERING GO CUBS GO!  We want Chicago to WIN this WORLD SERIES!  108 years is too long!  Here is to making HISTORY Isabella and Giselle : )

Pumpkin Patch AND Our Annual Pumpkin Painting/Carving Contest

A few weeks ago, Bob and I took the girls down the street from our house where a family grows pumpkins in their front yard!  They are a small, family farm with about 2 acres and have been growing pumpkins for about 9 years.  The girls picked out the biggest pumpkins they could find!  Just look at those SMILES......

Over the weekend, we had our 12th annual pumpkin painting/carving contest, a tradition Bob and I started together when we were dating.  Years later, it has now become a family event with nieces, nephews and cousins! 

We were lucky that the weather was nice on Sunday and we were able to enjoy the outdoors while crafting with our pumpkins.  Baxie loved it too!  Bob grilled chicken, I made mini pumpkin pies, Aunt Jenn brought some goodies and Lynn brought a nacho machine!  YUMMY!!  We had a great afternoon adventure together!!  PICK or VOTE for your favorite pumpkin today!  All votes matter!  Until next year.......

Mustang Color Run - 5K

On Sunday, October 23rd, the students, staff, family & community members came out to participate in the 5K Mustang Color Run!  Funds raised from this event go directly back to the students in the form of classroom supplies, assemblies, technology needs and school improvements.

What a beautiful, fall morning to run with my family!  And all proceeds go back to the school to benefit the students?  WHY NOT!  Isabella and Giselle enjoyed running a little over three miles where at each mile marker, they got sprayed with colorful powder.  Along the running path, they even met up with some of their friends and played while they ran.

Isabella is one fast runner!  Or maybe I am out of shape?  Lots of laughs!  Little Giselle needed some encouragement along the way to keep running however she kept going and finished!  This morning, she woke up and said, "Mommy, my legs hurt!"  I imagine for her little legs, running three miles is probably equivalent to running 10 miles?

All in all, it was a great way to start our Sunday, and for a great cause.  The girls had fun with all of the color blasting, their teachers and classmates.  I think it will only take all of us about 5 more showers until we get the color dye out of our skin and hair!  A big THANK YOU to everyone who sponsored this event!!