It is 10:00pm in the Sterling home.....Matt is watching a movie on the tube, Ben is still gone at summer camp, (www.fvbcsummercamp.blogspot.com), Jacob just ran in from being at a movie with friends (Evan Almighty) just to go back out to sleep at one of their houses, and nathan went to sleep about a half hour ago, after I read to him. It is hard to remember the time when all of the boys were young enough to tell them to get in their p.j's and have them go to sleep at 8:30 at the latest.
It is funny.....the older the boys get, the less time Matt and I have to ourselves at night. Of course, when they are all out the house, with friends or whatever, we do---but then it seems so quiet. I can't believe we will have a high schooler, a middle schooler and an elementary student next fall. Time sure flies. I suppose that means that Matt and I are getting older, too. How come it still sometimes feels like we are right out of college? (Not really--my wrinkles in my face tell me the truth.)
My puppy dog Emmy is laying on my feet right now--she is 5 already. She is getting older, too! Pretty soon we will have an "older dog" on our hands. Seems like just yesterday we brought her home in her little crate from the breeder. How cute she was!
Speaking of Emmy.....poor thing is in the middle of her allergy season, and it is starting to show. Her "itchy ears" are a given---she goes around shaking them. But this year, she keeps rubbing her nose on the carpet, too. She has rubbed some of her fur right off between her nose and her upper lip, from the repetative rubbing. It looks pink and sore. :0( If it doesn't get better soon, I will need to talk to the vet about a new plan for medicating her. Right now, she takes Claritin (Yes, the human kind). Before that, two years ago, she took Benedryl. Claritin seems to work better......but now I am wondering if that is working well enough. We will see.
In the next couple of weeks, it will be time for me to to take Nathan to the orthodontist. His teeth are so screwed up! Poor kid looks a bit like a Jack-O-Lantern right now. He was always my photogenic one! He is still a cute kid.....but right now he is just a bit cuter when his mouth is closed! How sad is that! As I have been asking around inquiring about good orthodontists--the one common thing everyone tells me is just to make sure that we go to someone close to home. Since you end up going often and the visits are sometimes like a whole 5 minutes long....it is better to not travel very far. (Especially since most of the time appointments need to be made during school hours.) Sadly, the two orthodontists I had concluded were our best choices, are not even on our insurance plan! The closest one is in Batavia (two towns over) or over by Campton fields, clear across town. I also know nothing about them.....as I have done my main "research" on the ones closest to us. Oh well....the saga continues. I just need to go somewhere soon! :0)
Okay, my fingers are tired and so am I. So to bed with me.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
pool passes
So, we finally took the plunge, and got pool passes again this summer. Last year, we got them, and hardly used them. (Probally because I made a rule that no one was allowed to ask to go, or we would automatically NOT go---I know that sounds harsh, but being asked nonstop everyday gets to you!) Anyway, this year I questioned getting them, because they are not entirely cheap, and we would have to go at least 10 times each to make it worth it.
After a very slow first two weeks of summer--with the boys already claiming they are bored, I figured we needed to just go get our passes. We got them Monday, and we have already been twice, so I guess we are doing better than last year. Plus, I would like Jacob and Nate to be a little more comfortable in the water--and that only comes with lots of time experimenting in the water.
Our town pool is really nice, and when I am there I actually enjoy myself--it is the stopping what I am doing, giving up a couple of hours, to leave and go, that I don't like. Of course, I tell myself that these are the kinds of things that memories are made of, not sitting in the house passing time while mom cleans in the air conditioning, right?
I suppose we will go again today. It is very hot outside, and the kids keep coming in with sweat dripping off their faces. I guess will do my duty as a nice mom, and let them swim. :0)
Here is a link to see the pool:
http://www.st-charlesparks.org/links/pottawatomieswimmingpool.htm
If you'd like to tak a look at what our town park district offers:
http://www.st-charlesparks.org/index.htm
After a very slow first two weeks of summer--with the boys already claiming they are bored, I figured we needed to just go get our passes. We got them Monday, and we have already been twice, so I guess we are doing better than last year. Plus, I would like Jacob and Nate to be a little more comfortable in the water--and that only comes with lots of time experimenting in the water.
Our town pool is really nice, and when I am there I actually enjoy myself--it is the stopping what I am doing, giving up a couple of hours, to leave and go, that I don't like. Of course, I tell myself that these are the kinds of things that memories are made of, not sitting in the house passing time while mom cleans in the air conditioning, right?
I suppose we will go again today. It is very hot outside, and the kids keep coming in with sweat dripping off their faces. I guess will do my duty as a nice mom, and let them swim. :0)
Here is a link to see the pool:
http://www.st-charlesparks.org/links/pottawatomieswimmingpool.htm
If you'd like to tak a look at what our town park district offers:
http://www.st-charlesparks.org/index.htm
Saturday, June 16, 2007
no where fast
We are getting no where fast around here.....as usual. I originally had big plans for painting our bedroom this weekend, but it is already 11:30am on Saturday, and it doesn't look like it is going to happen. Maybe if we are lucky we will get the ceiling painted.
Jacob has his last soccer game today in Lisle. We need to leave at 2:30 for a 4pm game. We will only get home about 6:30, then we will have to eat dinner, etc.
Ben leaves for Youth Summer Camp tomorrow at 9am (on Father's Day?...bad planning) and we don't have anything ready for that yet. I still need to go shopping for snacks for him to bring. AND-figure out what he will wear for "Villian night", "Parent night", and "Sport's night". They are all put on teams for the week....and compete with silly games all week long. Fro each of those nights they get points for each person on the team that dress up. One person will be picked for the best costume for each night. Their team gets extra points. Parent Night we sort of thought out.....Ben will dress like Matt. He will wear a computer T-shirt, tan shorts (he will tuck-in the T-shirt, and most likely wear a belt, even though Matt only does this some of the time) :0), he will also wear black Samba sneakers, and a baseball cap for full effect. We are clueless for Villian night. Sadly, I JUST threw away a Darth Vader Mask I had around for about 5 years. I threw it away when we were decluttering. Oh well. I also needs to find a Yellow shirt....because ben is on the yellow team (and they are supposed to wear their color). And, finally I will need to locate "Lumberjack" clothes, because Ben and his friend Jonah have this tradition of doing Lumberjack skits for Youth Events. They won for their Lumberjack video they made for the Movie Night in the Winter. I think everyone has come to expect this routine from them. I have yet to see them in action. Supposedly, they are quite funny.
Jacob and Matt are watching soccer on TV right now....while I am typing this blog. Can you see why I think nothing will get done this weekend?
Sadly, i have no big ideas for Father's Day tomorrow. Matt has suggested all kinds of present ideas---none that seem within the budget. :0) I think we will end up buying him boring things...like a new suit and shoes. (Which he has to go shopping with me for...) I suppose with my lack of planning--I should at least have him not feel like he has to work his bottom off doing house painting and bush trimming on his day. We will most likely take him for brunch. And, I might make Beef n' cheese foldover for dinner......since we haven't had that in a while and he likes it. I'd rather have BBQ, but then HE'D have to cook. Point lost.
Jacob has his last soccer game today in Lisle. We need to leave at 2:30 for a 4pm game. We will only get home about 6:30, then we will have to eat dinner, etc.
Ben leaves for Youth Summer Camp tomorrow at 9am (on Father's Day?...bad planning) and we don't have anything ready for that yet. I still need to go shopping for snacks for him to bring. AND-figure out what he will wear for "Villian night", "Parent night", and "Sport's night". They are all put on teams for the week....and compete with silly games all week long. Fro each of those nights they get points for each person on the team that dress up. One person will be picked for the best costume for each night. Their team gets extra points. Parent Night we sort of thought out.....Ben will dress like Matt. He will wear a computer T-shirt, tan shorts (he will tuck-in the T-shirt, and most likely wear a belt, even though Matt only does this some of the time) :0), he will also wear black Samba sneakers, and a baseball cap for full effect. We are clueless for Villian night. Sadly, I JUST threw away a Darth Vader Mask I had around for about 5 years. I threw it away when we were decluttering. Oh well. I also needs to find a Yellow shirt....because ben is on the yellow team (and they are supposed to wear their color). And, finally I will need to locate "Lumberjack" clothes, because Ben and his friend Jonah have this tradition of doing Lumberjack skits for Youth Events. They won for their Lumberjack video they made for the Movie Night in the Winter. I think everyone has come to expect this routine from them. I have yet to see them in action. Supposedly, they are quite funny.
Jacob and Matt are watching soccer on TV right now....while I am typing this blog. Can you see why I think nothing will get done this weekend?
Sadly, i have no big ideas for Father's Day tomorrow. Matt has suggested all kinds of present ideas---none that seem within the budget. :0) I think we will end up buying him boring things...like a new suit and shoes. (Which he has to go shopping with me for...) I suppose with my lack of planning--I should at least have him not feel like he has to work his bottom off doing house painting and bush trimming on his day. We will most likely take him for brunch. And, I might make Beef n' cheese foldover for dinner......since we haven't had that in a while and he likes it. I'd rather have BBQ, but then HE'D have to cook. Point lost.
Monday, June 11, 2007
preparing the house
So, we have been working our tails off trying to get our house ready to sell. The main work happened a week ago, when we boxed up about 10 boxes of "clutter" and cleaned our hearts out the whole weekend to be ready to show our house to neighbors that were interested.
Since then, we have walked through about 6 houses, dreamed of moving, narrowed down neighborhoods, AND learned that the neighbors we were so hopeful about buying our house decided to go with a different one. :0( Oh well.... Of course, now we are trying to decide if we move forward and put our house officially on the market, or just give up until next Spring. We haven't decided what to do yet....but in the meantime, we took down the wallpaper in our master bedroom this weekend. Today I go shopping for paint. Hopefully by the end of the coming weekend our Master will look fresh and updated.
Jake and Nate's room will be tackled next, I guess. So many projects we could do.....we just have to figure out what is the ones that would be important for us to sell. We may have to do work in our kitchen---the color is not overly nuetral, and the counters would be nicer if we changed them for granite, or corian.....but I am wondering how much of a difference that would make to buyers in our house's price range. Of course it would look nicer.....but would it bump up the price? Or would we get the same amount anyway? We will need to speak with a realtor, I guess, to know what their opinion is.
Summer boredom is already settling in for the boys. I developed a list of extra chores the boys could do to help me out and earn a little (let me stress a little) extra money. These chores are beyond what their normal weekly jobs are, but would help us out, keep them busy, and be a way to earn money to go see a movie with a friend, etc. For example, Jacob took on a huge basket of unmatched socks to match up.....when he is done, and the socks are put in the appropriate family member's room, he'll get an extra $1 added to his allowance this week. (I hate this chore....and it is worth the $1 to get it done!) Not to mention, instead of handing out money for social invites left and right....the boys will have to earn their way! :0)
Since then, we have walked through about 6 houses, dreamed of moving, narrowed down neighborhoods, AND learned that the neighbors we were so hopeful about buying our house decided to go with a different one. :0( Oh well.... Of course, now we are trying to decide if we move forward and put our house officially on the market, or just give up until next Spring. We haven't decided what to do yet....but in the meantime, we took down the wallpaper in our master bedroom this weekend. Today I go shopping for paint. Hopefully by the end of the coming weekend our Master will look fresh and updated.
Jake and Nate's room will be tackled next, I guess. So many projects we could do.....we just have to figure out what is the ones that would be important for us to sell. We may have to do work in our kitchen---the color is not overly nuetral, and the counters would be nicer if we changed them for granite, or corian.....but I am wondering how much of a difference that would make to buyers in our house's price range. Of course it would look nicer.....but would it bump up the price? Or would we get the same amount anyway? We will need to speak with a realtor, I guess, to know what their opinion is.
Summer boredom is already settling in for the boys. I developed a list of extra chores the boys could do to help me out and earn a little (let me stress a little) extra money. These chores are beyond what their normal weekly jobs are, but would help us out, keep them busy, and be a way to earn money to go see a movie with a friend, etc. For example, Jacob took on a huge basket of unmatched socks to match up.....when he is done, and the socks are put in the appropriate family member's room, he'll get an extra $1 added to his allowance this week. (I hate this chore....and it is worth the $1 to get it done!) Not to mention, instead of handing out money for social invites left and right....the boys will have to earn their way! :0)
Thursday, May 24, 2007
It is always nuts over here!
So, it is Thursday night--we just got back from visiting Wredling Middle school with Jake for Parent's Night. Before then, I was supervising Ben making two different recipes, because he announced on Sunday that he had to make 10 recipes before Friday for Family Consumer Science. Nothing like leaving things for the last minute! Guess what I did on Monday afternoon after work? Spent way too $$$$ buying recipe ingredients! ARGH! It would have been hard enough to fit in that many recipes in that short period of time.....but try doing that when Monday he has soccer practice from 5-7:30, Wednesday he had a game we were gone for from 5-8pm (and he gets home from school at 4pm), and tonight I was leaving for the meeting. CRAZINESS!
Jacob was finishing up the three projects he had due on Friday.....a Cival War project, a Reading Responsibilities packet that he's been working on all quarter, and a final copy of a paper that he has to give to next year's Language Art's teacher.
Nathan was practicing one Math "timed test " after another, because no matter how hard he tries....he just can't seem to pass the two minute time period he has for 36 problems. Poor kid. It gets him so upset. He knows his facts, he just can't seem to do them quick enough! Tomorrow is the last one for the year.....and he soooo wants to pass it. He has gotten it done in 2 minutes and 5 seconds, but he hasn't completed it all by the required 2 minute deadline, even once. Pray for speed for him! He thinks he is stupid--because he can't pass. It kills me. I hate timed tests.
All that, and I am also preoccupied with thoughts of moving (maybe) and all that would entail!!
This weekend, starting at 5pm tomorrow night starts the Midwest Cup. We have a minimum of 7 games over the weekend--more if the boys teams win. We also have Parking Lot duty on Saturday for 4 hours. I think we'd also like to squeeze in a look-see at a couple of houses if we can manage it.....are we insane or what?
To make me a little more crazy......the cicadas will probally emerge, too. My favorite.
Jacob was finishing up the three projects he had due on Friday.....a Cival War project, a Reading Responsibilities packet that he's been working on all quarter, and a final copy of a paper that he has to give to next year's Language Art's teacher.
Nathan was practicing one Math "timed test " after another, because no matter how hard he tries....he just can't seem to pass the two minute time period he has for 36 problems. Poor kid. It gets him so upset. He knows his facts, he just can't seem to do them quick enough! Tomorrow is the last one for the year.....and he soooo wants to pass it. He has gotten it done in 2 minutes and 5 seconds, but he hasn't completed it all by the required 2 minute deadline, even once. Pray for speed for him! He thinks he is stupid--because he can't pass. It kills me. I hate timed tests.
All that, and I am also preoccupied with thoughts of moving (maybe) and all that would entail!!
This weekend, starting at 5pm tomorrow night starts the Midwest Cup. We have a minimum of 7 games over the weekend--more if the boys teams win. We also have Parking Lot duty on Saturday for 4 hours. I think we'd also like to squeeze in a look-see at a couple of houses if we can manage it.....are we insane or what?
To make me a little more crazy......the cicadas will probally emerge, too. My favorite.
INSANITY!
This will come out of the blue, because I haven't mentioned this......but the topic of moving has come up again. Not to Colorado (thought I better specify that) but to another house in St. Charles, that will accomodate us better. It has been an on and off topic for years now, as you well know. Well, our friends that live in Reneaux Manor have been lobbying for us to move out by them, which is much closer to the Campton Fields, close to a train station for Matt, and also in one of our target neighborhoods for schools. None of the kids would have to change. Well, we saw a house we thought we might be interested in there, so it got the subject started up again in our house.
At the family picnic for Lincoln on Thursday, I was talking to Amy and Colleen (my neighbors) about it. Amy told me that if we decided to move, we should let her know before we put the house on the market because she might be interested in it. I told Matt that, and he said we should probally go take a look at that house then. Selling our house was one of the things we were concerned about....houses just aren't moving quickly, and we couldn't afford two house payments, while we waited to sell. THEN--here is the insane part.....
Colleen called me today, and asked if were serious about moving. I told her I wasn't sure. She said that if we were, her sister and brother-in-law, who just sold their house across the street would be seriously interested in ours!! That is two different possibilities without us even trying! Maybe this IS the time to do it......
Pray for us, that God will show us if this is the right time to just do it. YIKES!! Never a dull moment.....
At the family picnic for Lincoln on Thursday, I was talking to Amy and Colleen (my neighbors) about it. Amy told me that if we decided to move, we should let her know before we put the house on the market because she might be interested in it. I told Matt that, and he said we should probally go take a look at that house then. Selling our house was one of the things we were concerned about....houses just aren't moving quickly, and we couldn't afford two house payments, while we waited to sell. THEN--here is the insane part.....
Colleen called me today, and asked if were serious about moving. I told her I wasn't sure. She said that if we were, her sister and brother-in-law, who just sold their house across the street would be seriously interested in ours!! That is two different possibilities without us even trying! Maybe this IS the time to do it......
Pray for us, that God will show us if this is the right time to just do it. YIKES!! Never a dull moment.....
Still no Cicadas....
Thought I'd give the Cicada update at the Sterling Home.....NONE.....so far. They have been reported in a bunch of towns around Chicago, but not here yet. I am not complaining--I am dreading them. I know they are coming, so I am almost hoping we can just get it over with, but the pictures I have seen with them all piled on eachother around the base of trees are pretty gross. Stay tuned.....:0)
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