Kindergarten!

I moved up to Ms. Taiya's room and it was so fun cuz we got to move up and

we didn't have to do work that day, only if our teacher said. We didn't have
to do work all that week. And, we didn't have to do anything. We only got to
play and not do work. We got to play and draw and I think we went outside to
play, I think that day. No, we didn't go outside cuz it was raining but we
stayed at our school inside but it was cool cuz water was dripping down. We
just have circle time, but I was in math class when it was circle time. -
RiStuff

May Charity

I'm helping a giraffe. I am adopting a giraffe. I just got a stuffed animal

today, just after breakfast. I didn't like tomorrow, it's Memorial Day, and
it's a Cubs game and I don't like baseball games. I'm helping a giraffe and
it's a girl. I'm giving her love and I'm going there once in a while. I'm
giving the zookeeper lots of money so they can pay for the food. I am
adopting the giraffe at Brookfield zoo and we just got a card something, a
magnet for our house, and we got a picture of it, and I got something I can
stick on my window. That's it. - RiSt

Wrigley Field

You know I was just talking about Lake Michigan, and we went to Wrigley
Field after that. We had an amazing time there, but the Cubs lost 7 to 12.
They were playing against the Astros and I can't believe the Astros beat
them. And, guess what. Do you know what happened? Someone on the Astros hit
a three run homer. I had a scorecard. It was really fun to read it but I
still don't know why I wasn't doing that well on my scorecard. I didn't do
some of it. And, guess what happened in the game. The Astros hit three home
runs. Pretty cool, huh! And, that's the end of the game. And, I liked seeing
the jets and the eagle, cuz there were jets that flew over the stadium in
the fifth inning and the eagle flew in the air after the National Anthem. It
was really cool. And, we got to sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame. I sung it
and it was really cool. So, that's the baseball game. - Owen

I saw the Cubs game at Wrigley Field on Memorial Day. Memorial Day was so
fun cuz we got to see the Cubs pitch, the Cubs hit, the Cubs catch. And, I
got to see the Astros. The Astros won. The Cubs were winning though. They
were playing with one ball and a bat. I liked when the Cubs were on the
field. It was funny. The Cubs sometimes throw bad balls. I sanged Take Me
Out to the Ballgame at the field and I had ice cream! And, I saw an eagle
and some airplanes. The ice cream was for my afternoon snack. I only had one
ice cream for one day. I sawed four airplanes. They are jet planes. They are
loud. They are like a wild rumpus. - RiSt

It was a beautiful day for a ballgame at Wrigley. It was hot and sunny, but
we were in the shade with a nice breeze. The fly by from the jets was very
loud and the eagle flying onto the mound from the scoreboard was really nice
to see. That being said, this is not the Cubs' year! They were horrible. The
funniest part of the game - Rion came back from the bathroom and decided to
drink out of someone else's cup because they had soda and he didn't. That
child has no boundaries! - N

Lake Michigan

We went to Lake Michigan and the water was COOOLD! I did not like it there.

It was freezing. There was water up by the lake. It was so cool and we got
to go in it, but my pants were soaking. It was the day the Cubs game. I was
in the water. And, the Cubs had some bad pitches. I asked mom if we could go
to Lake Michigan and she said yes, so we got to go. Our dad couldn't find
us, but I knew where they were. I sawed them. But, it was hard to see them.
We were going to go to the Sear's tower but it was a humungous line, so
that's why we didn't go. - Rion

On Memorial Day when we were going to Wrigley Field, we stopped at Lake
Michigan to play because there was enough time to play a little bit. I
played in the water a little bit, but I had to go in time out because I sat
in the water with shorts on. And, I got soaked so I got my socks and my
shoes on and I went back to the car with dad. It wasn't really fun. The lake
was freezing! There was this puddle in there. That was really warm so I
didn't get that cold. So, that's pretty much the whole time at Lake Michigan
- Owen S.

Storms

I'm freaked out. Today I'm at home and there was a storm. Right before this Memorial Day. Have you ever sawed a storm on Memorial Day? I don't like storms when there is thunder, I don't like so loud stuff. So, that's why I don't like storms. - RiSt

We'd originally planned to spend the weekend visitng The Field Museum, Navy Pier, Morton Arboretum (to see the tadpoles), Willis Tower, and Wrigey Field. With all of the storms, we were rained out for Navy Pier and the arboretum. In addition, since we only had one nice day, the line for Willis Tower was TOO long to stand in. Rion has already started asking when we're going to go back. - N

Look who can buckle himself in both cars!

Legoland

I went to Legoland and it was so fun cuz we got to go on a dragon ride and

we got to go on a lego ride. We got a map and if we filled in all of them,
we got a treasure chest. And, we sawed a movie, a lego movie. And, we went
to see it cuz we really wanted to go to Legoland. - RiS
At Legoland it was Pirate day. That means they were handing out treasure
maps and you could get a treasure chest if you finished the whole thing. It
was so cool. We got to go on a ride called the dragon ride. And, we got to
go through the jungle, and we saw a monkey holding a treasure chest. And,
these pirates were in Chicago. We saw them pushing down a treasure chest. It
had the letter "S" on it. And, the only the monkey was holding had an "O" on
it. We got to eat pizza and chips, and drink lemonade. It was so fun that I
wanted to stay there but mom said no we had to go, so pretty cool. And,
after that we got to go to the toy store. I bought a Pirates of the
Caribbean lego that I really want to build. Rion was going to buy a boat,
but he got in trouble so he couldn't. So, that's pretty much all of the day
at Legoland. - Owen

Memorial Day Weekend - The Field Museum

I loved the Field Museum, especially seeing Sue. We got to see Sue's head in
a big glass box. I got to see a movie about Sue. At the beginning she
growled at us and when she was fighting a triceratops she got poked in the
leg and she bit the triceratops until it died. We saw animals in the Ice
Age. We saw a saber tooth cat and we saw dinosaurs. We saw triceratops,
ankleasaurus, duck billed dinosaur, brontosaurus. We went to the underground
adventure where we were tiny and we saw humungous bugs and worms and
spiders. We learned about whales and horses when we went in their exhibit. I
even got to play some games. I love the museum! After we went I bought an
alligator and I knew why I got the alligator, because we missed one exhibit.
It was over by Egypt. It was called the wild animal exhibit. In Egypt we
went in a pyramid full of mummies, real ones. Well, it was freaky. Me and
dad saw an Egypt boat and we learned that in Africa people became slaves. I
already knew that. I love The Field Museum! Done. - Owen
 
I went to the Field Museum and it was so fun because we got to look at stuff
there, but it was boring to walk. I didn't like walking because I don't like
walking a lot. It's gross. I don't like it because it's like pizza when we
have to walk. It's like walking with no legs because I don't like walking.
That's it. I wanted to go and I really wanted to go because I had never been
there and I sawed Sue. I went to the toy place but we didn't get to buy
anything and then we went to another one, but we didn't get to buy anything
there. And, we went to the third one and I got to buy something there. I
bought Sue. That's it. I sawed some Indians but they weren't real. I saw
costumes, bow and arrows, a place where like Indians sleep with like
blankets made out of buffalo skin. I sawed lots of stuff like dinosaurs,
lots of bones, a stegosaurus bone, triceratops, a duck dinosaur, a
brontosaurus, anklesaurus, a t-rex, Sue is a t-rex. I saw a t-rex. I sawed
lots of bones of stuff and we saw big bugs. My brother said we shrinked, but
we didn't for real. We went in lots of areas. We went in different
countries. We went in a pyramid. There was mummies that were real and there
was a village where Indians were, but it wasn't real. And we were in a
pyramid and there were real mummies in Egypt. Africa we went in. I only saw
meteors and the solar system. I saw more stuff but I don't want to tell you
anything else. - RiSt

You can't tell from the weather...

You can't tell from the weather... but it must be the start of summer. Just look at these before and after pictures.
Before

AFTER
Yesterday daddy cut my hair and I didn't like it at all but be said to stop
whining. He said just stop it. It kind of hurt because his clipper wasn't
working that much. So, my hair is pretty short and I don't want it to grow
because I want to have short hair like him. So, I pretty appreciated that he
cut my hair. Next time, I hope I go get my haircut not at my house. The end. - Owen
I got a haircut. My hair is so little now. Owen got the same as me. It's a

2/3, so that's why we like that. My person who cuts my hair off. She cutted
lots of my hair off. And, I'm growing a braid and it's a little bigger than
the last time. That's it. Done. - Rion
Rion's growing a Padawan braid! He's SO knows himself and what he wants. As hard as we've tried, we just can't talk him out of it. - N

Tang Soo Do

Today I am doing a blog about tang soo do. I from a different place, I am doing it. I really want to be a karate teacher, so that's why I'm trying to practice to be a karate teacher. I went to tang soo do and the teacher says we have to go in holes and always before class we warm up and then we practice. That's it. - Rion

No Training Wheels

I rided my bike and it was so fun, with two wheels. It was so hard. I can't

ride it yet but it's hard to because I can't ride it yet cuz I just fall
when I'm on it. I just fall. - RiSt
We finally got the training wheels off of a bicycle, just the wrong one.
Owen still hasn't been on a two wheel bike. Rion liked putting on the safety
stuff but wasn't too excited about actually riding the bike. He hasn't been
back on it since. Then again, it's been raining like crazy! - N

Owen's Last Soccer Game

We played the Sounders. One of my friends is on the Sounders. His name is Jason. He's pretty good. We won 8-3. It was our last game and we only lost two games the whole year, against the Crew and the I think it was the Nationals. We lost 4-1 against the Nationals and we lot 6-3 against the Crew. We were really good this year. I love soccer! So, see you next time. - Owen

Owen's Baseball Game Under the Lights

On our night game it was against the Rays. It was Bennett's birthday. He is
one of my best friends. I knew three people on their team. We had a picnic
before the game with a team in Minor named the Rangers. One of my best
friends was on their team, named Javier. We were playing a rookie team that
hasn't lost a single game of the year. They're really good. And, I love
Saturdays. That's when we played that game. In the game we get the lights
on. It's really cool. I hit a single in the game and the other team caught a
pop fly. Pretty cool! We almost had a double play at second because second
threw it to third, but he was safe. So, we tried really hard that game, but we lost. It was a good game. - Owen

Owen's Games - Rion's point of view

It seems like all we've done lately is attend Owen's soccer and baseball
practices and games. Rion has racked up quite a bit of Leapster and Ipod
time. We, well maybe everyone except Owen, will be happy when the seasons
end in a few weeks. - N
I don't like Owen's baseball games because I think always, I think the ball
can hit us. So, that's why I don't like any of the games. And, I get tired
at some of the games and don't listen that much. And, I don't like Owen's
soccer games because pretty much Owen gets snacks and I don't. And, that's
why I don't like his games a lot. Done. - RiSt

 
 

The difference between 7 year olds and 34 year olds? Boys and girls?

Owen: Who's Castro's name?
Mommy: Fidel. How do you know him?
Owen: I know the Cubs.
Mommy: It's Starlin Castro, not Fidel.
Owen: Who's Fidel?
Mommy: Kind of the President of Cuba, another country
Owen: Oh, he's not on Sox. (At that point, he completely lost interest in the conversation.)

You're Hot

Owen is a little full of himself. I had enough one day and told him he couldn't say another word until he thought of something that didn't involve telling me about how wonderful he is. It took him 4 or 5 tries before he came up with this, and it still didn't quite meet the criteria.
Owen: Do you know what "you're hot" means?
Mommy: Yes, do you?
Owen: It doesn't mean the weather.
It took a while, but he finally admitted that a first grade girl told him he was hot, meaning he was cute, and he said it back to her.
Everything starts so young!

Mother's Day

So, Sunday was Mother’s Day. We made mom breakfast in bed. We made her a cutie, sausage, and waffles. I wanted mom to have orange juice for a drink but she got water instead. She said it was a very good breakfast. And, we went for dim sum in Chinatown because she picked it out, because it was Mother’s day. My favorite thing there was the shrimp dumplings. They were so good. After that we went home and me and Rion played the game Monster 4 Rion has and it was a really good game. We tied. I was going to give mom a massage but I couldn’t because they were closed and Dad didn’t do it online. And, I made her a mother’s day book, what I did at school. It was so fun doing that. I made her a card too. – Owen

Mother’s day I had a good day. Mom’s day we went to Chinatown and it was so cool. Cuz we got to eat something I did like. It was gitcha-gitcha good. It was egg drop soup. Mother’s day I woke up at Italian ice. And then, we went home. And then it was dinner time. And then that’s all the day. That’s everything we did. The end. I got my mom a necklace and a beeping watch too. And, I did something she would like. I made her a flower pen at school. I loved it cuz I didn’t do the pen but I made the bucket where we put the pen in. That’s all. Goodbye. – Rion Stufflebeam

Rion's Good Behavior

Rion’s had great behavior at daycare lately! The bribing is working. – N

I had a green day today because I was so good. When I’m good it means you’re green. Green is the same color as go. And green is another thing for let’s go. It means you get stuff you want. I’ve been having green days a lot and this is what I do. I track my thing. It goes green, yellow, red. I’ve been earning TV or candy but only if I have a green day. I have to choose. Whatever I want, I want. I have to choose candy or TV. I get to watch Star Wars VI if I have a green week. Star Wars V I earned last week and I earned to see Rio. Star Wars V Luke Skywalker got his hand cut off. I sawed Rio get captured but he didn’t know how to fly until the end and this guy tried to grab him but he flew far, far away and then these people who tried to capture him got in jail. At the end it showed us. That’s it. – Rion Stufflebeam

 

Fun Run

On the Fun Run, I ran one mile in 7 minutes, 38 seconds. That was really fast. I did that on Saturday. I was really fast. I saw my friends Evan, Daniella, Micah. I saw this girl named Jessica and I saw Jason. When they started and I was at the third quarter of the mile, three people passed me. It’s called a fun run, because fun means they don’t keep score and run means you run. After the fun run, I got a snack. Water, banana, and crackers. Yeah, it was good. Rion was there too. He was watching Star Wars the Clone Wars and mom was taking pictures. I overlapped Daddy by a quarter mile. Dad got smoked. That’s what happened at the fun run. - Owen

I pledge allegiance

Rion learned the pledge of allegiance! He’s working very hard trying to get ready for Kindergarten. He wants to master everything he is supposed to learn in Kindergarten before he gets there. I’m not sure what he’ll do then. That thought is a little scary!

Owen's 1st 2011 Baseball Game

We found out that this year baseball doesn’t interfere with soccer, so we let Owen sign up, although it was late. He was so excited to join his friend Bennett’s team. - N

Our first game in baseball we played the Sox. They were a very good team. I knew somebody on their team. His name was Jacob, but we called him Jake. He was on my soccer team last year. I hit a double and a single, and I almost caught a pop fly. I dropped it when I was trying to catch it. I threw it to second when he was coming in, but he slid in. But, I tried my best. I’m on the Cubs and I know two people, Bennett and Ethan, from my school. My number is 15 and one of my lucky players is Gordon Beckham who plays for the Sox. – Owen

Rockford CocoKey

We took the boys to Rockford’s CocoKey water park to celebrate Owen’s good report cards. Owen was able to go on all of the waterslides, even the big “adult” ones. And, Rion finally enjoyed the lazy river. It’s a first for him. I think we traumatized him as a baby, getting stuck under one of the waterfalls, and he has refused to try them ever since. – N

We went to CocoKeys. We went on the red, blue, orange, and green waterslides. By the red waterslide there was a pirate ship and you got to walk up stairs and then there is a waterslide. You would go down it onto this flat mat that’s under water. By that place there was a basketball hoop and these cones that were full of water and dropped all over you. On the other one I GOT TO GO ON WATERSLIDES OUTSIDE OF COCOKEYS!!! I got to go on these three waterslides that are called Barracuda Blast, Gator Gulp, and Sharks Slam. And, I went on this inner-tubing thing that you got to float around and there was water shooting at you. It was really, really fun. I love CocoKeys. – Owen

It was so fun at CocoKey because we went on an inner tube. I got to go on lots of slides, but Owen got to go on more. I got to go on six, but Owen got to go on nine. I got to play and I got to go on an inner tube. I know how to walk in it. And, I falled off of it and I landed in the water and I was under my inner tube. I liked the water slides the best. The water slides were my favorite thing to go on, but I didn’t go on them much because we didn’t get to because there was huge line on blue, but there was no line orange and green. – Rion Stufflebeam