Friday, August 29, 2008
A new cousin
Chloe Elizabeth was born to Aunt Rachel and Uncle Andy at 6:40 a.m. EDT today. Congratulations to her loving parents and a wholehearted "welcome to the world" to the little lady whose Chicago family can't wait to see her.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
An August Wednesday
UPDATED
A few things from today:
First, "I decorated him," Lev said, and Linc proudly showed off about a dozen beaded necklaces.
This afternoon, a trip to Costco turned memorable when not one but two little old men on one aisle after the other stopped us about our beautiful kids, their pretty eyes and their gorgeous hair.
"Wow, two redheads, huh," one said.
Dad and Mom looked at each other and at the kids and said, "Yes, it looks like it."
Linc walked about 75 percent of the way through the store. Costco has huge carts, with double seats for the kids where they both started out, but Linc soon decided he'd much rather be on the floor. His sweet little wobbly walking left almost everyone we passed saying, "Isn't he cute." Yes, he is, we thought.
He walked outside a lot, too, and earned his first boo-boo on the knee.
Also, Lev had a trial gymnastics class today at a little kids gym about a block from the YMCA, around the corner from the library and next to our haircutting place (don't we live in a convenient neighborhood?). Since the Olympics, her interest and talk of the sport has kind of put the swimming aside. We even tried a soccer class at the Y last week, but she wanted the gymnastics.
So our girl brushed past mom introducing her gingerly to the teacher today and made herself at home in the class with a few other 3 and 4 year olds. Mom thought they would do some stretching, maybe some rolling around and maybe a little balancing on a little beam.
Well, Lev executed a routine on the uneven bars, a full-sized balance beam act and dozens of perfect little somersaults down a inclined mat. OK, really, she did jump up to a mini version of the bars, swung back and forth and then landed on her feet with a big proud "ta da!" and a huge smile. And she held her arms out so straight and balanced her way across the beam, but instead of the big jump off the end, she carefully knelt down and slid one foot down and then the other. Not pushing her luck today, that one.
Honestly, two days ago when we brought the class up, Lev was a little apprehensive. She kind of got teary and said, "But the vault is too big for me!" Sweet girl thought mom and dad were sending her to do what the big girls do. But when we explained it was a little class for little kids learning how to one day do like the big kids do, she was OK. But after today, she really thought she already was a big kid. Mom and Dad thought so, too.
A few things from today:
First, "I decorated him," Lev said, and Linc proudly showed off about a dozen beaded necklaces.
This afternoon, a trip to Costco turned memorable when not one but two little old men on one aisle after the other stopped us about our beautiful kids, their pretty eyes and their gorgeous hair.
"Wow, two redheads, huh," one said.
Dad and Mom looked at each other and at the kids and said, "Yes, it looks like it."
Linc walked about 75 percent of the way through the store. Costco has huge carts, with double seats for the kids where they both started out, but Linc soon decided he'd much rather be on the floor. His sweet little wobbly walking left almost everyone we passed saying, "Isn't he cute." Yes, he is, we thought.
He walked outside a lot, too, and earned his first boo-boo on the knee.
Also, Lev had a trial gymnastics class today at a little kids gym about a block from the YMCA, around the corner from the library and next to our haircutting place (don't we live in a convenient neighborhood?). Since the Olympics, her interest and talk of the sport has kind of put the swimming aside. We even tried a soccer class at the Y last week, but she wanted the gymnastics.
So our girl brushed past mom introducing her gingerly to the teacher today and made herself at home in the class with a few other 3 and 4 year olds. Mom thought they would do some stretching, maybe some rolling around and maybe a little balancing on a little beam.
Well, Lev executed a routine on the uneven bars, a full-sized balance beam act and dozens of perfect little somersaults down a inclined mat. OK, really, she did jump up to a mini version of the bars, swung back and forth and then landed on her feet with a big proud "ta da!" and a huge smile. And she held her arms out so straight and balanced her way across the beam, but instead of the big jump off the end, she carefully knelt down and slid one foot down and then the other. Not pushing her luck today, that one.
Honestly, two days ago when we brought the class up, Lev was a little apprehensive. She kind of got teary and said, "But the vault is too big for me!" Sweet girl thought mom and dad were sending her to do what the big girls do. But when we explained it was a little class for little kids learning how to one day do like the big kids do, she was OK. But after today, she really thought she already was a big kid. Mom and Dad thought so, too.
Monday, August 25, 2008
He's officially a walker
Something must have clicked inside that brain of Lincoln's during our trip to Louisville for the state fair. Since the day we returned, he's been walking to and from almost every one of his destinations in the house. He only scoots short distances, when it just must seem silly to bother to stand.
What an athlete!
Watch "Face the Glory" to see Levynn go for the gold.
Thanks, Grandy (and, ah, McDonald's Southern Style Chicken)!
Thanks, Grandy (and, ah, McDonald's Southern Style Chicken)!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Will the torch keep burning in her heart?
Maybe it will.
Levynn astonishes us with all she does on her own, without any prompting from us. Just look at what she did tonight while watching the closing ceremonies of the Olympics (after a long nap this afternoon).
She actually was celebrating with the athletes, for crying out loud. And it really did make Dad cry, if not out loud.
She said that she could celebrate because she did gymnastics - you've seen the tumbling routine, right? - and afterward she said she still would do gymnastics, even though the Olympics had ended.
As we all know now, girls have to be 16 to compete in Olympic gymnastics. Not that we'd want our 12-year-old daughter involved in that anyway. But how magical could a Chicago 2016 be for a child so easily inspired?
Levynn astonishes us with all she does on her own, without any prompting from us. Just look at what she did tonight while watching the closing ceremonies of the Olympics (after a long nap this afternoon).
She actually was celebrating with the athletes, for crying out loud. And it really did make Dad cry, if not out loud.
She said that she could celebrate because she did gymnastics - you've seen the tumbling routine, right? - and afterward she said she still would do gymnastics, even though the Olympics had ended.
As we all know now, girls have to be 16 to compete in Olympic gymnastics. Not that we'd want our 12-year-old daughter involved in that anyway. But how magical could a Chicago 2016 be for a child so easily inspired?
Friday, August 22, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
State Fair
Last weekend was our annual visit to the Kentucky State Fair. Though the car travel was long, the event was well worth it!
Levy, Linc and boy cousin Clark saw a few animals, had a few treats and cheered for Byron's red ribbon prize for his picture.
The Kentucky Historical Society had a big exhibit for the bicentennial of A. Lincoln's birth (in 2009) so that was a major attraction, too. We all came home with their "I, too, am a Kentuckian" shirts. Even dad.
Brunch with Todd at Lynn's capped off a great trip.
It was good to be back in Louisville, but once we made it back to "Sweet Home Chicago," Lev was so happy she hugged the post on the deck.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Base hit!
Did you know that Levynn was in a T-ball class at the YMCA? Her last class was today. We probably needn't bother mentioning that she was the best student among the group of 2-to-4-year-olds, but we'll mention it anyway: She was.
Friday, August 8, 2008
P-E-R-F-E-C-T
Perfect. Today's weather was just perfect, and we made the most of it.
The Millenium Park Family Fun Festival, of which the puppet show and Australian performers were a part, also includes daily activities that had been on our brains all summer. We finally experienced them today, while Gram is visiting.
There is a huge tent under which all the daily activities are held, and each day begins with the Wiggleworms instructors from Old Town School of Folk Music. They lead sing-and-dance-alongs with the kids. It's like storytime at our old Louisville library branch, without the stories.
For stories, there is a Reading Circle after the Wiggleworms. Mom and Levynn sat for that, and then they got a little exercise. Mom can twirl a mean hula hoop, folks.
The Grant Park Orchestra was rehearsing for tonight's show while we were there.
After we ate lunch at Park Grill and had an ice cream treat, we watched some of today's performers, the hip-hop dance group Culture Shock. Then we walked north to Tribune Tower, where Mom left us for work. She missed this, a little farther up Michigan Avenue:
Now that's a street performer.
The Millenium Park Family Fun Festival, of which the puppet show and Australian performers were a part, also includes daily activities that had been on our brains all summer. We finally experienced them today, while Gram is visiting.
There is a huge tent under which all the daily activities are held, and each day begins with the Wiggleworms instructors from Old Town School of Folk Music. They lead sing-and-dance-alongs with the kids. It's like storytime at our old Louisville library branch, without the stories.
For stories, there is a Reading Circle after the Wiggleworms. Mom and Levynn sat for that, and then they got a little exercise. Mom can twirl a mean hula hoop, folks.
The Grant Park Orchestra was rehearsing for tonight's show while we were there.
After we ate lunch at Park Grill and had an ice cream treat, we watched some of today's performers, the hip-hop dance group Culture Shock. Then we walked north to Tribune Tower, where Mom left us for work. She missed this, a little farther up Michigan Avenue:
Now that's a street performer.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Rock 'n' roll!
Dad wonders what will come to your mind when you read these four words:
Levynn went to Lollapalooza.
"She WHAT?!" perhaps?
But it was fun!
Dad had a three-day pass to the music festival in Grant Park, and he only had a small window to use it on the first day, Friday, because Mom had to get to work in the middle of the afternoon. So he decided to take Levynn with him for a couple hours.
But don't worry. They stuck to the kids' stage - dubbed Kidzapalooza - except to fetch lunch.
Almost all of the acts booked on the kids' stage were kid-friendly, as you'd hope. One, however, was of the kids, by the kids, but not for the kids. The Paul Green School of Rock All-Stars consisted of youngsters ranging in age from 12 to 17, and they really rocked. They even covered a King Diamond song, with what looked like a 12-year-old boy on vocals. Levynn just didn't pay attention.
But she did enjoy The Dream Jam Band, whose lead singer, Francine, spotted Levynn and said, "I see that girl in pink dancing. That's awesome!" And it was awesome.
Levynn went to Lollapalooza.
"She WHAT?!" perhaps?
But it was fun!
Dad had a three-day pass to the music festival in Grant Park, and he only had a small window to use it on the first day, Friday, because Mom had to get to work in the middle of the afternoon. So he decided to take Levynn with him for a couple hours.
But don't worry. They stuck to the kids' stage - dubbed Kidzapalooza - except to fetch lunch.
Almost all of the acts booked on the kids' stage were kid-friendly, as you'd hope. One, however, was of the kids, by the kids, but not for the kids. The Paul Green School of Rock All-Stars consisted of youngsters ranging in age from 12 to 17, and they really rocked. They even covered a King Diamond song, with what looked like a 12-year-old boy on vocals. Levynn just didn't pay attention.
But she did enjoy The Dream Jam Band, whose lead singer, Francine, spotted Levynn and said, "I see that girl in pink dancing. That's awesome!" And it was awesome.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)