Hawaii!

I can't possibly blog about our days in Hawaii - where would I begin? Here are a few random photos.

All packed and ready to go!

My bags are packed and I'm ready for Hawaii. L has been moping around a bit - she says she's sad I'm leaving, but is looking forward to spending time with Grandma Barbara. I'm sure she'll be fine the moment I'm gone.

L and B might ride with us to the train station this afternoon to drop me off. E has to stay home and walk a neighbor's dog so we said our good-byes this morning.

Happy Valentine's Day

A bouquet of spring flowers ... for me!

Note for the Tooth Fairy

After bringing home the tooth L lost at Grandma's house last night, L put it in a plastic bag with this note:

Dear Tooth Fairy,
I would like if you could give me my money, but leave my tooth please.
P.S. Here's a gift.

The gift was a chocolate gold coin, which I believe was left over from her Christmas stocking.

The note worked. This morning, L found $1.25 in the baggie with the tooth and the chocolate coin was gone.

Another tooth

L has made it a habit recently to pack up a suitcase of clothes, stuffed animals and sodas on Friday nights and head to Grandma's apartment. They play games, watch TV, visit the vending machines and stay up late. L has a great time.

Before she left tonight, she tried and tried to pull her wiggly tooth out. It's been bothering her and we were afraid she wouldn't have much fun at Grandma's if she was worried about her tooth. She went any way and we got a call at about 8 p.m. - L was calling to say she pulled out her tooth! She'll be bringing it home tomorrow so the tooth fairy can visit.

Japanese?

We were back at the high school last night for E to submit her choices of classes for her freshman year. She followed the district's recommendations for math, biology, English and world history, then added Japanese as an elective. I warned her that she won't be getting any help from me if she runs into trouble in Japanese class. She assured me that won't be a problem. I'm keeping my fingers crossed all goes well.

Funniest part of the night was when we saw my friend, N. Her daughter has the same counselor as E so she was sitting in on the same lecture. After the lecture, when we were choosing classes, she said, "He's (the counselor) really young. I have pants that are older than him!" She's probably right about that.

E is also planning on attending summer school. The high school recommends it as a way for students to familiarize themselves with the building and teachers. At the moment she's planning on taking health and possibly a consumer education course - both requirements to graduate - that will free up her regular school year for more electives.

Go Huskies!

Last night was the open house at Oak Park-River Forest High School incoming freshmen. E left us as soon as we walked in the main entrance and bolted for the Boosters' Huskie wear stand to buy a "Teach me how to Huskie" T-shirt (with her own money!). After that, she went into the fieldhouse where every club and sport had set up an information table. She gave her email address to the Business Club and got a free T-shirt. This is the back of it. I like the huskie's blue eyes.


She had a great time. Tonight we go back to meet with her counselor and figure out what classes she's going to take.

More snow?!

Just before L got home from school today, it started snowing - again! She had to stop along the way, scoop up from fresh snow and eat it. Yuck.

And here's Andy a few hours later after watlking home four blocks from the train.

Another snow day?

It was highly unusual for the kids to have a snow day yesterday. The district hasn't closed school for snow long before E was in kindergarten. Today, they had another snow day.

E went over to her friend A's house to play in the snow, L was at a friend's house and B had his friend L come over here to play. Andy did go back to work today, though.

Snow day!

The snow started falling yesterday afternoon and with the wind whipping it around (I heard up to 60 mph gusts) the snow in our back yard was 17 inches this morning. The kids had their first-ever snow day. Andy took E and L out early this morning to see how much snow there was and to take some pictures. Andy didn't even go into work. Instead, he spent the day snow-blowing and shoveling and helping the neighbors clear their snow. B went sledding with a couple of his friends, but came home after falling face first - twice. This is Chicago's third worst ever snowfall, according to the news stations. Hardly anyone was driving around yesterday.

Here are E and L on the snow hill this morning at Irving. In the background you can see the very top of our house.

Can't do this very often - L was able to stand in the middle of Ridgeland Avenue this morning with no cars in sight. This view is looking south.

I like the way the snow was blown onto the garage. It took Andy quite a while to shovel the apron.

This picture shows how deep the snow was on the sidewalk. This is looking west from our house.

Andy and the neighbors piled snow from the alley between our garages. E and her friend A couldn't resist climbing to the top of the heap. A even got up on our garage roof.

It's coming

About 2 p.m. today, the snow started falling. And it got heavy fast. It's snowing and blowing and Chicago is expected to get 24 inches (!) over the next day or so. That would be Chicago's biggest snow ever. I picked B and E up from school and as we ran from the garage to the house, the wind was blowing the snow from the ground into our faces.

The kids are hoping the schools are closed tomorrow for their first-ever snow day. So far, the school cancelled all of its after-school programs today. Here's L listening to the school district's recorded message telling us the schools will be closed tomorrow.

My dentist called yesterday to change my cleaning from Wednesday afternoon to today. I got there at 1 p.m. and left in time to pick up a gallon of milk and a few other items at the neighboring grocery store before the snow started.

It's going to be a good night to stay inside and cuddle under some warm blankets.