Owen's June T-Ball

Chillin' with his shades, Ipod, and flip flops

Have you ever seen 3rd base coaches like these?

I Escaped

At least for this summer, I’m leaving early twice a week and then working at home in the evening. This allows me to spend more time with the boys without going part-time, and opens up our schedules a bit. For our first outing, Rion and I went to the park before one of Owen’s t-ball games. Owen wasn’t allowed to join us because he refused to eat his salmon the night before. We are just starting to have issues with him refusing to eat, and it typically involves fish. As is typical, Rion is a whole different story. He’s always refused to eat food, especially if it’s at all healthy. It’s just lately that he’s willingly eating fruits and vegetables.

Six and a Half

The Trampoline

Daddy finally put the trampoline together, with Rion’s help of course. The boys love it!

My Favorite TV Show

What is your favorite TV Show?

Rion: Chuggington

Owen: Super Hero Squad

Daddy: 24

Mommy: Currently, Friday Night Lights. But, it is the only show we are watching this summer.

We found a new, effective, form of punishment for Rion. He’s hard to punish, because he’s so stubborn, but this one has gotten to him. We erase one of his shows off of the DVR. He’s down to just one Chuggington left, which is why I think he mentioned it above! - N

A Stay At Home Mom

Since I had to provide transportation for the zoo camp, I decided to take the week off and pretend I was a stay at home mom. For all of you that do it full time, I’m amazed! I had a great time with the boys, but was worn out and ready to go back to work.  I drove car pool, we had play dates, went to birthday parties, went to the pool (Check out the giant water slide Owen went down) and the park, played in the yard, did some planting (Rion’s growing broccoli. We’ll see if he’ll also eat it.), had a few t-ball games, and built many things out of legos.

Zoo camp

Owen and Rion attended Brookfield zoo’s ½ day camp this week. This was Owen’s 3^rd year, but the first time in the older child group. This was Rion’s 1^st year. He’s been waiting, not very patiently, for two years now. He’s never been able to understand why Owen, who typically never wants to go to the zoo, got to go and he didn’t. They both had a wonderful time! It is a great program. The only downside is that they are able to see all of the animals at the zoo, which makes them want to see them when we go. It’s impossible to see everything in an hour, which is about the maximum amount of time I care to stay there. The first year Owen went, he came home so excited. When I asked him why, he said, “Mommy! There are animals in those buildings we walk by at the zoo!” Busted! Next thing you know, they’ll tell them that the zoo really is open in the winter. J - N

Once upon a time, there was a person named Owen and Rion who wasn’t signed up for zoo camp. And then their mommy and daddy signed them up for zoo camp. And then one day one of our teachers was named Miss Brittney and we walked around the zoo. We rode the train. We saw the dolphin show. We went to stingray bay. We saw a bat every day we went over there. We saw the giraffes. Done. I saw the wombats, like all of the animals, the wombats, and the lizards, and the snakes, and the fishies, and all of the other stuff in the bat house. I didn’t see Joyce who’s here elephant, and not Christy. She moved up to heaven already. I was in the butterfly house. We went in the farm though. - Rion

Rion’s favorite thing at zoo camp: The eagle beaver story

I went to zoo camp last week and me and Rion got new zoo camp shirts. We got to color them the first day and then I went to the bat house, to see the lions, to see the tigers, and to see the snow leopards. The second day I saw the dolphin show, and the whole Africa. Then on Wednesday I saw the under-viewing of the dolphin show and did you know that there was a new dolphin. She’s only 4 years old and I don’t remember her name. On Thursday I went to see Australia, and the elephants, hippos, and the rhinos. And, I went on the carousel. Friday, we had our show. My show was called Alligator. Rion’s show was called Farm. And, we saw a lot of animals that day. We saw the swamp. It was really cool. And my best friend named Jack at zoo camp told me to put my hand in this water. So, I put my hand in the water and my hand was wet. So, I had to go to the bathroom to wipe it off. Then, I saw Rion. Then, Rion left and I went in this boat and I watched TV. Then, I walked over and out of the swamp and I didn’t see, oh I forgot, I saw the butterflies on Monday. It was raining three days in a row – Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Then, we did a show and me and some other kids, like Jack, Magnus, and Ryan, John, and Cindy. After the show we went on this obstacle course from the Chicago Fire. Then when we were done we went out of the zoo and we went to the pool. And, I went on a water slide for 8 year olds. And, my mom wouldn’t let me go on this purple water slide. - Owen
Owen’s favorite thing at zoo camp: Seeing the wombat and an aardvark

Owen's First Round of Golf

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father’s Day! Mike spent father’s day golfing with Owen and cooking on his new grill from Rion.

Sports Zone Soccer

To Do List for this Summer

Here's the boys to do list for this summer. After hearing Owen's initial list of sports venues around the country, we had to make a new rule about things which do not require a plane trip. That's why he has the reference to Chicago. The good news is that we'd already planned to take him to the games, and Rion's trips to the park and museum will be easy. His other item is eating a fudgesicle. They only get dessert once in a while, and only if they are good eaters. He missed his chance the other night and is trying to "earn" it. We'll see. His chances are better than normal. We think he's going through a growth spurt with the volume of food he's been eating!

The World Cup

Owen loved watching the World Cup soccer games. He would find the countries on his globe and use his Lego people to create his own games.

Reliving his youth

Daddy's Boy

Who says he can't entertain himself?

Rion spent close to an hour decorating his scooter with a kite. At one point, he had tied himself to the scooter. Then, he decided to try roller skating.

This Week in Sports

I watched the soccer game. Did you hear about the England vs. USA soccer game? Well, I watched it. Do you know where the game was? Where was the game Mommy? It was in South Africa. Do you know anything about South Africa? I’m telling you one thing, that’s where they play the World Cup. And, I also know a friend who lives in Africa. They live really close to where they play the World Cup. Did you watch the Stanley cup this week? Well, I didn’t, but I heard the Blackhawks won. Have the Blackhawks won twice in the Stanley Cup? So, can you answer that question what I asked you on the computer? - Owen

You can tell summer is almost here

I got a haircut and I don’t have any hair. The end. All done. Done. – Rion

BEFORE

AFTER