Almost spring

Well, we can just skip over February, right? Because it's a dark, cold month.  But we did have some fun despite it being the worst time of the year.  Noah finally achieved his ultimate goal of Black Belt! He had done a lot over the last 6 months especially to prepare for this day.  We prepared by making signs and gathering a good crowd to watch!

He was a little nervous heading in, but mostly just excited!

 Fred and Philie came with a sign too!

 His buddy Ari came right from basketball to join the spectators.

 He got that belt!

 So many Noah fans were there!

 We went back to the house and had a good time celebrating too!

Noah also had a play at school.  Plays/musicals are not his jam, but he did well nonetheless!

 The boys had a half day off school and Bamma took them to a new spot: Cinnaholics!  They discovered some great treats.

 Isaac joined the ranks of the toothless 1st graders!

 I had a nasty bout with shingles, it was a week I'd like to forget for sure!

 Tiny kitten, Minnie, is getting bigger and braver.  She now climbs around everywhere.

 It's really been a pretty mild winter with not a ton of snow, but we did get enough to scoop up and bring in for the cats to explore.

 We got together with the Rodriguez crew to celebrate Papa's 70th!

 And, Fred and Noah revealed some big news - the 6th graders are heading to Universal Studios in May!  Philie and I have been talking about this trip for ages and planning it for the past several months, so we are relieved to finally have the surprise out!

 Monica and Daren came over for a night of cocktail making.  Malort never tastes good, end of story!

 Minnie was spayed and had to wear the inflatable collar of shame for a week.  She was not a fan.

 Finally some sunny days to be outside!

 Sam and Isaac and I headed to the Nerge Fun Fair.

 And the cats continue to be cats, lazy and adorable or wild and mischievous! 

So now into March and the birthday gauntlet, can't wait!

Christmas and Cats!

We had a great holiday season!  We kicked off the break with some cookie baking with our buds, so fun! 

 Molly and Noah have a special relationship.  Mostly he tries to love on her and she tells him to go away, it's cute.

 Christmas Eve was spent with the Rodriguez side of the family and all the cousins!

 Christmas morning at home began right around 6:30am!

 Isaac was happy with some beyblade toys!

 Noah was happy with his pokemon swag and controller.

 Sam was happy with the new hoverboard!

 No adults were injured in this filming!

 Emily came in her best Christmas attire.

 Isaac was pretty excited about his new snorkel mask.

 Kjersten found Josh a mystery puzzle box that began with duct tape unwrapping: totally perfect!

The day after Christmas, we headed over the Burr Ridge for some Benhart family fun.  Bamma and JoJo took on a project with (gasp) glitter!

 Mike introduced the adults to Malort.

 Josh is not a fan.

 Ella, Adeline, and Meg resurrected a toy tattoo machine that I had gifted them many years ago and re-gifted it to Isaac.  He happily obliged by giving everyone a tattoo.

 I mean, EVERYONE.

 When the 11/12 year old crowd is grinning, usually no good comes of it.

 Several of us went to see the new Star Wars after the kids slept over at Bamma's house; good times!

 I took the kids to gather with the ole high school crew, we had a good turn out this year!

 How have we known each other for over 20 years?!

Then, came the big excitement of getting the new kitten.  We settled on the name Minerva (aka Minnie), because she looks like the cat Professor McGonagall (from Harry Potter) transfigures into.  And, Minnie and Molly sound pretty cute together.  We got her from Barb's Precious Rescue, in Palatine!

The boys were all very excited to get her home!

 After just a few minutes of acclimating, she quickly started her take over of the house and it's inhabitants.  She is a force!

 Within the first couple days she was comfortable roaming the house and meeting Barry.

 Molly took some convincing.  She parked herself on the top of the couch and just glared for a good few days.  Finally, she started to come around to the idea that maybe this little one isn't so bad.  Sam did a nice job of trying to get them to play near each other.

 Noah got some hand me downs from Nick and is looking more like his older cousin every day!

 Miss Minnie makes herself cozy wherever she sees fit.

 She can also be very helpful when you are learning to tie your shoes.

 She's pretty social and comfortable being handled.  Noah enjoyed a Lion King-esque moment.

 We really enjoyed a lot of down time our last portion of break.  Sam and I experienced a historic triple war, which he of course won.

 Molly started to get more comfortable and decided she could now tolerate us all again.

 Tiny girl loves her belly rubs!

 Lazy winter days on the couch are the best!

 Back to school and Noah got his new 6th grade shirt.  Only a few short months of elementary school left! His future is so bright!

 Spot claimed!

 Sam and his antics.  He put his legs thru the arms of his sweatshirt and looked like some sort of circus act.

 Everyone is settled now, truces have be made and we are happy.

 Noah is gearing up for his black belt exam, in just one week!

 She's a good supervisor of puzzles.

 How can you resist these cute faces!

 As a  residual of being bottlefed, Minnie enjoys a nightly nibble on my fingers.

 She's starting to get bigger, just like all the kids in this house.

 So peace and order restored, ready to hunker down for winter and spend time staying warm!

Happy Holidays 2019!

It is that magical time of year again, where we wish you all a Happy Holiday Season and share our greatest quotes of 2019!

New Years Eve 2018 - Uncle Stan uses an anatomy book to explain to Isaac how they will be placing screw in his leg to secure a tendon. Isaac looks right at him and says “when you pass away do they get the screw back?!”

February - Recently we adopted 2 kittens. While tucking Sam into bed he sweetly strokes my hair as he often does and then says, "before we had kittens, I thought your hair was so soft. But after petting the kittens soft fur, your hair just feels like cardboard."


February student lead, parent teacher conferences: Sam had a project to make a video commercial for a destination from a book he enjoys. The idea was to encourage tourists to come visit. He made a 2 minute video about the attractions of.... Tornado Alley.
We had eaten McDonald’s quickly in between conferences for dinner. I reminded the boys not to burp in public. Isaac said “oh we burp all the time in Miss Jerzyk’s class. I think she likes it!”During Isaac's conference he starts with, “Lemme tell you about my subtraction problem, it’s more pleasant”

February - I was asking Mike which wall I should install toothbrush holder on, Sam helpfully offers “you should probably put it in the bathroom.”

February - Isaac taking about mistletoe, “mom what’s that plant at Christmas with like the shoe for kissing?”

April - Nerge school nurse called to tell me about Isaac walking into a door divider at school. Apparently he showed up in her office, declaring "I banged my skull!" She said he was probably the first kindergartener to ever come and tell her that.

May - we jokingly talk about how big/fat/fluffy our longer haired cat, Lily, has gotten, Isaac says “she has a fluffy heart too.”

June - Isaac “when my butt gets itchy, I fart.”

June - Isaac asking Sam if he will get married one day “Sam will you be single or double?”

June - Isaac was eating breakfast with Mike, who had Frosted Flakes and talked about how he had them as a kid. Isaac asks if they were an older, classic version way back then.

July - playing uno at lake, smack talking Sam says Bamma does too many cross word puzzles and her "brain is probably criss crossed!"

July - Sam talks about evolution of humans, "first we were savage cave men, then in the 70s we were all fancy, now we are savages again."

July - Sam and Isaac lost lawn scissors somewhere in the yard. The next day I had to remind them several times to find them and how dangerous it was to have them out there if the landscapers come or if they are running around out there. Finally, I ask Sam if he found them. He says "Yep!" I say, "OK. Bring them in." Sam and Isaac look around blankly. Sam: "Now I have to re-find them."

July - Josh was joking with Isaac about being lost in the ocean in Mexico and being eaten by man-eating sharks. He pauses and asks about “what if it’s a woman”

August - Sam asks Isaac “do you know about fact families?” And Isaac says “is that when families talk about the facts?”

August - Shared by Bamma: So Isaac is asking how Pops and Jojo are related to me. I explain the concept of a sister in law by saying that if Sam got married Becky (Sam chose the name) would be Isaac’s sister in law. Isaac’s response??? “I am going to be single when I grow up so I have more time to party with my brothers”

August - As I clear out my iPad in preparation for school, I discover some of Isaac's internet searches. He is a pro at using dictation in order to add text. Some of his searches include:
"my heart is pumping so fast and i was shaking and i think I'm going to pass out."
"i can't type anymore due to the stuff."
"my vacation feels that's going to go blurry."
"i'm on my bed and i feel this disease"
"it's too bad i sleep with my eyes open"
"actually don't sleep, i sleep with my eyes open."

August - On the Friday after the first week of school, I get a call from the school nurse. She shares that Isaac has been in her office every day this week with one complaint or another. Her favorite: "he told me his bursa sac in his knee was a bit achy."

October student lead, parent teacher conferences:
Outside 1st grade, there are several "my hero" projects hung up. Most have mom or dad. Isaac has “a scientist, because he protects us from the acid”

October - Noah was giving me the judgey side eye about my caffeinated drink. I jokingly say “you don’t know me, you don't know my life!” Sam says “actually we live with you, we know you.” Noah adds “we ARE your life.”

October - Sam was struggling with math but pushing thru after dinner. Hard stuff, pre algebra. He was really trying to hold it together. Noah came over and asked Sam what he takes for lunch. Noah then proceeds to pack Sam’s lunch for him, saying, “I know math can be hard sometimes.”

November - Isaac "most trees contain dead animals, when the animals die, their bodies produce nutrients for the trees. So you can say a tree is made from dead animals."
November - Sam asks me, "mom what’s that disease when you are afraid of small spaces?" (Claustrophobia). Isaac, without missing a beat says "small pox."

December - On a Sunday afternoon with the Bears game on, Mike sits down on the couch next to me and asks, "how are you doing?" I smile at his sweetness and reply, "a little tired, but ok." He chuckles and says, "I meant in fantasy, how is your fantasy football team doing?"

December - Mike pays the kids allowance as he does each week for chores. He doesn't have enough singles for Sam's allowance, and needs $5 change. Sam brings him literally $5 in coins.

December - Sam and Isaac discover they can talk to each other through the vents from the first floor to the second floor. In order to test this out and try other vents, they start yelling "yo mama" jokes to each other through the vents.

So, that's our year. It's been another good one! I hope you and yours are all happy and healthy and spending time with those you love! See ya in 2020!