Dog Days of Summer

This is not a surprise for midwesterners, especially St. Louisians, but every year everyone stands around and laments the heat and humidity of this two-rivered town. And it is hot. Very hot. Today, all three of the kids and I have summer colds and coughs, which makes things a little worse. No outside water play, all inside entertainment. Difficult to say the least. We knew it was bad when Jack put himself down for naptime today. That has never happened. Caroline and Brooke both have colds, but are mercifully sleeping, which is good.

Brooke and Caroline are marching into the terrible 2s, learning the rules of the playground jungle, even if it is just in our house. The general stuff, no taking things away from others, NO BITING (that's why they are both in time out in the photo above.) Seriously, there is something in our DNA that produces biters. It's so mean and vicious, I am shocked when I see them do this to each other. Jackson is really a big boy. He is having a good time in preschool, though he only goes three days a week this summer. On Saturday, we had the first family movie night and watched the first Toy Story, which was enjoyed by all. I took them to the Merry-Go-Round at the local mall. Brooke and Jack loved the ride, Miss Caroline, who I fear has inherited my motion sickness, did not enjoy the ride and just rode in my arms. Today, school for Jack, naps for the twins, job searching and bill paying for me.

I've been thinking a lot about stages of life lately and how I was so smug in my early 20s and 30s, thinking that people who take time off or lower level jobs we just not ambitious enough. Recall, though that I also was in a sham of a marriage or getting out of one and really had no friends. Live for work, die for work. My life is so much more balanced now, but it is time to get back into work. The trouble is that I am starting over. I have the luxury of starting over, but I am starting over, yet again. I just read a book that  said that the Chinese word for crisis (which I of course do not remember) is the same work as opportunity. Viewing this change as an opportunity.....not just for a new career, but for a more balanced life that incorporates more joy. With more purpose.

In the pictures, Jack and Aunt Emmy on our back deck on the 4th, Emmy is showing him how to pull those champagne 'poppers,' me and Jack, Brooke and Caroline in aforementioned time out, rare moments of sibling love between Brooke and Jack (sickness seems to make them nicer to each other, go figure.), me and J in a rare shot.

Family Ties

We are very thankful this week to have Aunt Emmy visiting from Baltimore. We have been keeping her busy. Today we went to the Missouri Botanical Gardens to see the Dinoquest exhibit. Our dinosaur fan really liked it, as he has been roaring like a dinosaur and startling all of us for the last few days. MoBot placed dinosaurs within the plants, which was interesting and a little creepy. In the first three pictures, Emily and the kiddos in front of the Dale Chihuly (sp?) glass ball display in the sculpture garden (his beautiful artwork is all over the garden, it is a sight to behold.). Me and Jack in front of the T-Rex, Aunt Emmy and Jack in front of some other dinosaur. Great fun was had by all, although Emmy and I are exhausted tonight. We're planning on an early bedtime for Jack (we already got the twins in bed) and a nice movie with popcorn. J is on his Friday night boys' ritual at the Ol' Timer.

On Wednesday, we went to Forest Park and the Art Museum. Jack has recently become a fan of Olivia, who spends rainy days at her art museum and looks at paintings, specifically Edgar Degas and Jackson Pollack. (He gets a kick out of sharing Jackson Pollack's first name.) I knew that the art museum had Degas, I wasn't sure about Pollack. (No Pollack was found, though I think that the local modern art museum might have it, I'll have to look into it.) Successful art museum attendance by all.

It is great to have Emmy around for company and for help with the kiddies! I think the most difficult thing about being home is being lonely. It's hard somedays, that's for certain, though I am glad I have had this time with the kids. I have a big interview on the 14th for a lobbyist position, which is good and bad. Good, because I need to head back to work soon and bad because I have not had any luck in finding an attorney job on this side of the river. Any side of the river for that matter. And so, the worry does continue. I am blessed to have the luxury of taking my time and finding the right job, but it is hard to trust that the right thing will come along. I am working on my faith and trust, as always. Signing off.....

Wide Open Spaces

We headed east this weekend to visit Justin's dad and stepmom for Father's Day weekend in Lexington, KY. About 10 years ago, they bought this property and have set about becoming Kentucky horse farmers. It's pretty, but quite a lot of work for them, it seems. In the pictures, the farmhouse, Grandpa and Jack feed horses, Jack takes his first horse ride, me and Brookie near the barns, Jack and Daddy at the KY Horse Farm pony rides, Caroline and Brooke on the Gator and Brookie and Jackson on the ride home. All in all, a relatively successful trip.

Gallbladders, Promotions and Homeowner Association Violations

The alignment and order of these pictures represents the confusion and irriation of the last two weeks! In brief, I had a gallbladder attack, an ERCP, which is an outpatient removal of gallstones from a bile duct, an ER visit, new doctors, removal of cystic duct and gallbladder, hospital stay and recuperation at home. I had not been feeling well for a long time, the gallbladder was the culprit. I'm happy to report that after switching doctors and hospitals, I got great care and am feeling much more like my old self. I have to head back for a stint removal at the end of June, but otherwise, should be back to normal now. Phew! There was much drama surrounding the whole Illinois vs. Missouri medical systems. Go Missouri. Enough said. In lighter news, the kiddos enjoy the slip n' slide, though they really liked the fountains on the sides more than the sliding. Jack was promoted to his next year in preschool (he'll have 3 years due to his birthday falling in the middle of September.) His beloved Ms. Karen is retiring after 23 years of teaching 3 year olds. That's a long career of anything, particularly of managing little ones, god bless her. Ms. Angie will be Jack's teacher next year again.

Counselor Kuehn

Well, it was a long time coming, but here it is, I'm officially sworn in and an officer of the court. We in the 5th district (southern Illinois) were sworn in at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville. There were about 140 new attorneys. Nana, Mike and Jack came in support, which was nice. J was asked by Justice Karmeire, presiding Illinois Supreme Court justice, to make the motion that our class be certified by the court. He did a lovely job. Nana and Mike didn't hear him, but the class did and he gave a great little speech about the honor and responsibility of the profession.

In the pictures, a lovely congratulations bouquet from Emmy, me and my license, me and J at the ceremony, me accepting the license (Nana took the picture, but I didn't pause long enough), the swearing in room and Jack and me and J near the podium. (I look terrible due to my recovery from a kidney infection, but the antibiotics have kicked in and I feel a great deal better.)

May Day

Here we are at the beginning of May, soccer practice has begun as has running by Brooke and Caroline. Our Jack continues to march to the beat of his own drummer, not listening to his teachers or soccer coaches when we'd like, but at least he's not a sheep. Today he has insisted that his name is "Tuck." Anytime any of us call him anything else he reminds us, "My name is Tuck." And so it goes. I received flowers from my father in law today, which shocked me a bit, but he said there a great deal of mothering of all in this house. I laughed. Everyone's doing well, the twins are getting so big.

I generally say "Come on, girls," when we travel around the house and Caroline and Brooke have now been saying "Come on!" to us when they feel we aren't moving fast enough. Brooke is our academic, I think, because she sits and reads her books quietly while Caroline and Jack are destroying the house.

Jack bit a child at school, hard enough to have bite marks. Great. Not only that, he bit the teacher's child.....I say if you're going to bite, let's try not to bite the teacher's kin? Kidding. Of course, great teaching moment there.

In the pictures, Justin and the babies, Brooke and Caroline watch soccer practice, the three color on the kitchen floor (so glad they are all starting to play together), Jack kicking the soccer ball!

Grandparents Day

Jackson had his first grandparents day at school. While he is blessed with three grandparents, one is in Florida as a snowbird right now, one in Kansas City and one shares his time between our town and Kentucky. Thankfully, Grandpa was in town and able to come to Grandparents Day. Big fun was had by all. Grandpa and Jack made a hat, had ice cream floats and played in the playground. I never had a grandparent near by growing up and am really glad that Jack and the twins have theirs around. Grandpa was a little outside of his comfort zone, but he really enjoyed himself and Jack enjoyed showing him school. In the pictures, Jack and Grandpa, the twins play at Jack's school during Grandparents' Day and Brookie enjoys the first ice cream of the year.