Friday, August 31, 2007

First Day of School

I now have one in fifth grader, a third grader and a kindergartener! I followed the bus to school that first day so that I could walk Jed into his classroom. He didn't really see the need for that because when he got off the bus and I greeted him he said, "Why are you here...I already know where my class is!" And then on Friday when Doug picked up the kids from school for a surprise Jed walks out of school looks at Doug and says "Hi dad! Bye Dad!" The proceeds to get on the bus...Doug of course says "Hey bud, you can come home with me." Jed looks like he's gonna cry as he tells Doug, "But Mrs. S said I have to get on the bus!"

Well, since school has started Christian has been home a day and a half and Jed has been home a day because they are running fevers. Um...hello...y'all need to go to school!




I know Christian looks homeless here...but I guess it's his amazing fashion sense that put this outfit together...in his defense he made the shirt he's wearing to celebrate his New York report...I guess that is a good reason to wear it?? For those of you that have all girls...boys this age acquire an enormous ratty T-shirt collection and they love every last one of them. I'd give my eye teeth to dress him like a prep...but I also don't want him to get beat up on the playground...anyway....just be grateful for stuff like bows, pink camo and little girls who want to wear skirts everyday!!!




See ya later bud...I'll miss ya! Love you!

Monday, August 27, 2007

Rainy Days and Mondays...

I'm beginning to hate the sound of the rain...our basement has gotten water at least three times this year. It's been a huge mystery because there are no cracks in our foundation and the sump pump is working without fail...so last Thursday when it looked like Armageddon and the tornado sirens were going off we were down in the basement waiting for the water to start filling the basement floor. And there it was...coming over the top of the bump out and running down the walls.

We talked this over with Dave D and he said that it's possible that the step at the kitchen door had come away from the house and that the water was getting trapped and was coming in from there. So he cement caulked it and now we are crossing our fingers hoping that did the trick. I'm a bit of a skeptic just because fixes usually don't come that cheap or easy...but we'll see. I'm hoping but not hopeful...now we just need to wait for rain.

On another note...the kids have been in school for a total of 3 1/2 days and today the office already called and told me I needed to come pick up Christian because he wasn't feeling well...this better NOT be a pattern!!!!

Well...Happy Monday to all...

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Big Shout Out to Dave!

This is a shout out to Dave D. for volunteering to fix our water issues in the basement and for making my laundry room look like a real functioning room! Thanks so much Dave! Thanks!

Welcome Noah!


Via C-section baby Noah has arrived and entered the biermaclan. Congratulations to Dan & Becky & Clara. He was 9lbs 7ozs and was 23 1/2 inches long! Becky posted this info on facebook, so I think I'm safe letting you all know!

We do think it ironic that Noah arrived on the morning of the worst flooding here in the past 20 years! = )

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Is it wrong?

To love movies like Waterboy, Ricky Bobby, Scary Movie and American Pie?
To really enjoy a glass of two buck chuck on a Sunday evening?
To count the days until school starts?
To not only crave french fries but to go out and buy them?
To ignore the dishes and hope someone else sees them?
To love driving a mini-van?
To relish the return of big earrings and wide belts?
To to cry when Troy and Gabriella got back together?
To be jealous of another woman's butt?
To tell your two year old to just go in his diaper?
To buy a cup of Dunkin' Donuts coffee when there is a full pot at home?
To check your email more than once a day?

Sunday, August 12, 2007

I took all your advice...

After Jen's comment I took off my name, address and phone number...after Jana's comment I took off everybody else's last names...although what I'm saying is completly my opinion and I don't think I'm slandering anyone??? But I'll take your advice everybody...I'm starting to cool off can you tell?

Which is sweeter?

I love summer! I love hot weather, the pool, relaxing for hours, spending time with friends, sleeping in, corn on the cob, popscicles and fireworks. BUT there is always a moment in time when in the blink of an eye I NEED summer to end. At that point I start dreaming of cooler temps, quiet time, clean floors, schedules, bedtimes and camp fires. So my question to you all is which is sweeter...the beginning of June or the end of August?

Friday, August 10, 2007

I HATE DUTCH CR'S WHO FEEL THEY ARE BETTER THAN ME...HERE'S A PIECE OF MY MIND!

To: The Southwest Transportation Committee
From: Doug & Christine
CC: Jack, Bob, Terry, Jane
Date: August 9, 2007

We are writing to express our disappointment and concern over the New Life, New Lenox bus route. It is our understanding that this year the bus route has been redesigned to include two bus routes in order to conserve gasoline and cut costs. The consequence of that decision is that our children have to get on the bus 25 minutes earlier than last year and off the bus 30 minutes later than last year. The actual times are on at 7:05 and off at 4:36; that is a 9 ½ hour day for my 5, 8 and 10 year old children. This consequence, in our opinion, is too high. It has been presented to other concerned parents that this long day is because of our choice to live outside of the boundaries but we believe this consequence our children have to make is because of your decision to combine the bus routes because of the monetary bottom line without considering the individual students it effects.

The individual students include JB and AE who are 5 years old and entering full day kindergarten which alone will be a big adjustment, JM a 6 year old who is entering first grade, EB and OE who are 8 years old entering third grade and CB, CE and JM who are 10 years old, entering fifth grade. It concerns us that the committee finds it appropriate to have these children travel for more than an hour on the bus both in the morning and in the evening.

In the winter, these children will be getting on the bus in the dark and off the bus in the dark. They will have to go hours without eating, have severely limited time to do homework or any other outside activities that would encourage their personal growth. Their daily schedule will consist of getting up at 6 am traveling on the bus for over an hour, spending 6 hours in school, traveling on the bus for over an hour again in the evening, getting off the bus close to 5pm, eating dinner and going to bed at 7:15pm in order for them to be well rested enough to learn the next day at school. We believe that this schedule will negatively impact their learning ability and severely impact their ability to get enough sleep, time to be with their families or time to be a child.

We urge you to reconsider your decision to combine the bus routes, not for our personal comfort but for the sake of the students. We urge you to reconsider the boundaries that exclude our families. We understand that the bottom line needs to be considered but we also believe that the school has a responsibility to consider the learning environment it is creating both on campus and through the buses it provides.

Concerned Parents,
Doug and Christine

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Christian's 10 year birthday trip

Many years ago my oldest son was complaining about never flying on an airplane. We explained to him that because he was from such a large family chances were that we'd never take a plane on vacation because of cost. I came up with a brilliant plan that when the children turned 10 years old Doug and I would take them on their very own trip and they could choose the location.

Well, in the blink of an eye Christian turned 10! I can't believe how fast it happened and he never forgot that promise I had made him. So, he chose to go to New York and more specifically Niagara Falls. Part of the deal was he had to do a report on the location and explain to us why he wanted to visit that state. He did a bang up report and I made the reservations.

We had such a good time with him last weekend. It's not often that we get to spend so much quantity and quality time with just one of the children. It was strange because it seemed that he got younger and more innocent when we took the responsibility of being "oldest" off his shoulders.

We did all the typical things the Maid of the Mist(a boat ride straight to the center of the hose shoe falls), "Journey behind the falls"(traveling through tunnels that actually take you straight behind the falls...it's amazing!), touring the American Falls(my personal favorite) and many other "junk" touristy stuff.

The maid of the mist boat ride was probably my favorite "ride". As you enter the building they give everyone a yellow rain poncho...and you wonder, "will I really need this?" As you get closer to the falls themselves and enter the mist cloud it feels as if you are standing in the middle of a downpour. The water comes at you from all directions. It is amazing!






When you are on the maid of the mist this rainbow follows you all the way into and out of the falls. It's really cool... whenever you look toward the bridge...there it is.

This is the rainbow bridge into the United States. The line of cars never gets shorter all day long.

These are just a few pictures because my digital camera died and I haven't developed my old fashioned film yet.

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

It's Wednesday...I'd be wrong not to serve coffee!


In honor of my Wednesday morning coffee club I thought I'd give you all the opportunity to get free coffee! Hope you enjoy it!

Coffee is a Vitamin Not a Drug!

My new blogging friend will make you laugh


...and most certainly blush but I promise you'll laugh. Laugh like you do at movies like "Ricky Bobby" or "Dodgeball" or "40 year old Virgin" I love those kind of laughs. It's not wholesome, she doesn't talk about laundry, potty training or have cute antidotes...so beware! Click here if you want to share in her crazy job! Her blog is called Miss Sarcastic.

Keep up the good work Heidi. Survival is the name of the game in customer service...I'm glad you can keep your sense of humor.
So if you do stop by say "hi" and tell her I sent ya!