Is This Normal?
The chaos that is the KerbersArchive for vacation
Thank you, Christopher Columbus
We all know that there is a lot of controversy surrounding Christopher Columbus and his “discovering” of America. He, according to most accounts, was a bigoted, self-centered jerk who was only looking for glory as opposed to a man exploring for the sake of science or discovery. I can’t really say that giving him credit for finding one of the best countries in the world seems really fair.
However…that being known, there is still one day every year I absolutely love ol’ Chris. You got it, it’s today…Columbus Day. Columbus Day (or our first real day off of school) always seems to get here just when you need it most. The newness of school has worn off, and the first quarter is almost done, and the day-to-day routine has become just a little bit too routine. Then comes this glorious three day weekend, just when we need it.
Today I took the kids to the babysitter in order to have the day to “get stuff done”. I felt guilty about it, but I knew that it was necessary in many ways. I had a million errands to run, laundry to do, and I really needed to sort through the kids’ clothes to get all of the summer clothes put away and all of the winter clothes inventoried, washed up, and put into their dressers. None of those things could have been done with the kids here. So, I dealt with the guilt and set out. I did get all of the previous chores listed, and I even had time to make an apple pie with the apples we picked at the apple orchard. It was a great feeling to get so much done.
Although the guilt never did completely go away, today was a really great day. Thanks, Chris…I needed it!
Ah…a Monday off
Well, today is finally Labor Day and it was really nice having our first Monday off for 2009-10 school year. Of course, there is always a bittersweet taste to Labor Day, since it traditionally signifies the end of summer. But we decided that we wouldn’t let that get us down too much, and we’d try to do something to enjoy the holiday. It started off really nice…both kids slept in and we never even heard a peep from either of them until almost 8:00! That is definitely a treat. Of course, I instantly started worrying that this treat would mean neither of them would be ready for bed at our normal bedtime, which was a problem. But I came up with a plan to help with that one…
I had really hoped that the weather would warm up enough to get one last trip to State Farm pool since it closed today, but it wasn’t really hot enough. It was pretty warm and very sunny, though, so we decided to call Aunt Theresa and ask her to crank the heat in her pool up so we could swim at her house. Dave ad Ben headed over while Emma was still napping, and then she and I met them there later. We had a great time swimming and playing in the water. It was really warm in the pool, and just chilly for a short time when you got out. And my plan worked perfectly. By the time we grilled some burgers and ate dinner there, both kids were pooped! In fact, I had to holler at Ben most of the way home to keep him awake. Bath and bedtime was a breeze, and both doors were shut by 7:26.
I’m sad that summer is officially over, but I always look forward to fall, as well. The transitional times always seem to go too quickly, so I’m really going to try to appreciate and enjoy fall while it’s here.
Come on, Labor Day
This year the calendar is not helping us transition back to school. It’s September 1st, but Labor Day is still six days away! Since Labor Day is the latest it can possibly be this year, it feels like it’s never going to get here. Typically we’re in school about a week and a half before the long weekend. This year, we’ve already been in school two weeks and there’s still a week to go!
Come on, Labor Day…we all really need that long weekend!!
The new zoo
Today we went to the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.
I had never been there, and was a little concerned with navigating the traffic to get there, but Dave thought it would be fun to try a new place, so I agreed to give it a try. We told Ben that we were going to a new zoo, and the term stuck. From this day forward, I believe the Lincoln Park Zoo will be known as “The New Zoo”.
We got there with very little problem, and it was a gorgeous day, so we were set for a day full of fun. We got it! We had a great time looking at all kinds of animals…seals, big cats, various bears, snakes, camels, monkeys, giraffes, a variety of insects, and lots and lots of fish. I think one highlight for the kids was the polar bear. He really put on a good show swimming around in his tank. They both also loved watching the penguins and the various fish tanks we saw. Makes us think that the Shedd Aquarium needs to be our next trip!
I think the most surprising part of the day was when Ben made a little friend. There was a termite hill that kids could go into, and there was a little girl named Lauren in there when Ben went in. They instantly connected and were chatting it up and became attached at the hip. I casually chatted with her mom a bit, and then thought we’d part ways. But no…they wanted to stay together, so we proceeded on to see other animals with them. 
Both of us moms were getting a kick out of them. It was so unlike Ben, but I loved to see him so outgoing and friendly. After about 15-20 minutes of walking around together, we were on our way out of the zoo, so Lauren’s mom told her they had to go on without us. Both kids were sad, and they even gave each other a hug good-bye! It was absolutely precious.
We had a lot of fun, but it was good to get home after three days up North. I was shocked, though, to see what happened almost instantly upon our arrival home. I promise you our house was completely picked up and cleaned before we left. This is what it looked like literally five minutes after we set foot in the door:
*Sigh* What can I say…it’s the story of my life right now!
They’re home!
It was so great to get the kids home today. I can’t even describe how anxious I was to have them get here. At one point, about ten minutes before they were scheduled to get here, Dave said, “here they are!” and I went running out front to greet them. Of course he was wrong, and it was some other van pulling into the subdivision. It was like I was a little kid waiting for Christmas. Then suddenly Ben appeared on the deck and shouted “Surprise!” It was awesome.
Grandma Judy and Grandpa Scott brought them all the way home because Grandpa planned to help Dave install our new sliding door. It was a long, hot job for them, but they got it done, and now we have a brand new awesome door! 
Of course, as with any home improvement job, there were a few wrinkles. For example, the screen door that came with the door was an inch too tall for the opening. Seriously? How could they get the measurements right for one door and wrong for the one that’s connected to it! I mean, really…that seems like it would be a simple concept for door retail…order the same size in the glass and the screen doors! But I digress. The fact of the matter is we now have a much nicer, more solid door that seals way better than one that’s half rotted on the bottom! I can’t wait to get the screen door in and installed so we can stain it all and be done with this project! Hopefully that all happens before the end of the summer…
So the house is sealed better and way nicer now that the kids are sleeping in their beds tonight. How can it feel so different having them sound asleep above us?? I’m not sure, but it is definitely more comforting and full of love.
Our mini-vacation
This week Ben and Emma are at Grandpa Scott & Grandma Judy’s house. I am attending a class all week, and since I can’t stay with them during the day and expected to have some homework at night, we thought it would be easier (and a lot more fun) for them to head to Sycamore for the week.
It’s really quite pathetic how excited Dave and I are about this free week. Sure, neither of us is actually going anywhere, and I’ll probably have more work than I normally do, but it’s still like having a ton of free time. I really is like a mini-vacation…just in our own home.
Let the summer begin!
Today was really the first day of our official summer break. Even though we were done with school a week ago, I worked all of last week and we were still in Sycamore most of yesterday, so today was the first day I was home with the kids. Although it’s always an adjustment to get used to each other and to get a schedule going, it’s really awesome having the summer with my kids. I know the old joke of “what’s the three best thing about teaching? June, July, and August” is just another way for many people to slam teachers, but it really is the best thing about my job.
Tonight after dinner we were outside playing and since it was overcast I decided to take the camera out with us. I was just snapping away and I really got some great shots that kind of sum up what I think our summer will be about: playing with our friends, running around like wild Indians, and getting as dirty as possible. 
I know that technically, since all of these were taken after official work time, being home with the kids didn’t really have any influence or affect on our evening of play. But it certainly helped me enjoy it more than I would have during the school year…that’s for sure.
Happy summer, everyone!
Summer…break?
I can already tell that this summer is going to be a crazy one. I’ve been off of work (well, technically, even though I’ve still had to work some of my extra time this week) for less than a week and I already feel like summer is becoming a whirlwind! Between working every day this week, running a million errands while I had some kid-free time, and playing outside as much as we can, we’ve been very busy this first week of break. I’m not complaining, though. It’s really going to be a great summer…full of fun for the kids and me. Ben is so excited that we get to stay home now, even though he loves going to Danielle’s. I think Emma will miss it a lot…she’s always ready to go “bye bye”. Maybe I just bore her. But between preschool, playdates, trips to the library, and hopefully some swimming lessons (if Mommy’s not too late to sign up for them), we’ll be on the go enough to keep her satisfied, too.
Tomorrow sort of begins the big summer kickoff…we’re heading back up to Sycamore for Ry’s graduation party. The Florida Athertons got here today, and we’re all anxious to see them. Ben can’t wait to play with Jamie and Lauren, which is awesome. It’s so nice that he’s getting to know them more and can remember them so well from Spring Break. I don’t know if Grandma’s house can take the Athertons and the Kerbers staying there, but we’ll find out! It’s going to be a very fun weekend. Now we just need to get some decent weather for the big party on Saturday. Keep your fingers crossed, because it’s not looking good! We just have to keep faith and hope, because it’s about the only thing we can do.
Back to the grind
Our first day back at work and daycare, and we survived it! Truthfully, I was kind of ready to go back. Vacation was great, but we all do so much better with a routine and a schedule. The kids were very excited to go play with their friends at Danielle’s. I said to Emma, “we get to go to Danielle’s today” when she woke up, and she said, “Ali…AJ…’Nell” (which is ‘Danielle’ in Emma speak) and had a big smile on her face. Ben even cracked a smile through his crabbiness at being woken up when I told him it was a ‘Danielle Day’. He was especially excited to give Ali her shell and Danielle her shark’s tooth that we found on the beach. It was a tiny little gesture for each, but it was huge to him.
We all struggled a little bit getting going this morning, but it was a good day. Hopefully the memories of our trip will last until the warm weather hits.
Home again, home again, jiggity jig
Well, we made it home in one piece and again the trip was remarkably smooth. Although we drove through rain a lot of the way, it wasn’t too bad, and it was way better than driving through snow like I’ve done in previous years! The kids were again so cooperative and well-behaved on the trip it was unbelievable. I’m not sure how we got so fortunate, but we were sure thankful for it.
We took off about 6:30 eastern time. Just like the trip down, we had already stopped for a potty break (and ice) within the first hour. And again, just like the trip down, I thought, “Oh man…this is a bad sign.” But luckily I was wrong again. After watching a movie we were about halfway into the second one when both kids fell asleep. I think they were both so exhausted from the busy week that they barely woke up even when we stopped for gas! It was awesome. Dave and I had to switch driving a little more often than we did on the first trip, but overall it went well. I would have to say the only glitch was while we were going through Nashville. It was about 2:00 in the morning, and I was driving. It was absolutely pouring down rain and with all of the lights and traffic it was really difficult to see the lanes of the highway. Add to that the semis flying past us and the occasional hydroplane, and it was a bit hairy. I have to admit that I was more than happy and relieved to be leaving the city. My knuckles were white and my heart was pounding!
Other than that, though, the trip was pretty uneventful. We got home about 2:00 our time. The one thing we didn’t think of…even though we were exhausted and completely worn out, we still had to be in charge of the kids, who were absolutely hyper from being kept in the car for so long. How did we miss that tiny little detail? Let’s just say that it was a long afternoon and evening, but now, finally, all is quiet and Dave and I are looking forward to falling into our own bed.
Even after a wonderful trip, it’s always good to be home.
