A Visit From Mom

My mom got here today to visit for a few days. It has been awhile since she has been here. We just did a couple of things today because of the heat. We got Jimmy John's and took it to the park for a picnic. The kids weren't really in the mood to play. They said it was too hot. I didn't think it was too bad in the shade with the breeze blowing. After we left the park we ran a few errands and I took my mom across the bridge to show her where the flood waters had been. Tomorrow we are going to the farmer's market and then taking a trip to a pond to do a little fishing before the rain hits. I do have a meeting tomorrow night but my wife and kids are going to entertain Grandma. I don't know what they are going to do but I am positive it will be more exciting than a meeting. We don't have much planned for Wednesday but I think my son is going back home with Grandma to spend a few days in my home town. My daughter can't wait for her turn. It is still 86 outside and it is 10 pm! Unbelievable!

A Perfect Day

Yesterday was a great day! We had a lot of fun as a family. My son had one of his friends over in the afternoon. He hadn't seen his friend in about a year. He now lives in Peoria. They get along great and I think his friend is a good influence on him. His buddy is quiet and very polite. I am not saying that my son is not polite but his friend seems to have a calming influence on him. They had a blast playing PS2 and war. At around 6 or so we all went to the St. Francis picnic. All through the day I kept thinking that the heat and wind was going to blow up one heck of a storm but it never happened. It was still pretty warm at the picnic but there was a nice breeze. The kids had a blast running around with their friends and my wife and I had a good time chatting with friends. I left the picnic at around 8 and the boys were right behind me. My wife and daughter stayed a little longer but were home around 9 or so. When everyone was home my wife and I sat out on the patio and the kids played out in the yard. A family of friends stopped by at about 9:30 and we had a great time talking and watching the kids run around and play flashlight tag. As I told my wife, "This is what summers are all about!" Anyway, that was my perfect day.

Fun Summer Day

My son had a friend stay the night last night and they already beat Lego Indiana Jones! His friend stayed until 10 a.m. and then we ran errands. I had to get the rest of the stuff for putting down some quarter round and a few things at the store. My wife and I decided to take the kids out for lunch so we did the HyVee thing. The kid's loved it! They ate a ton! When we got home I put the quarter round down and the kids played. My daughter was excited because she got to go next door and play Wii with one of her little girl friends. It sure is humid out. It seems like we went from early Spring right into the middle of summer! I hate having the air on.

Summer So Far

I have been really busy so far this summer. I have done some Spring cleaning, painted part of the the garage, done some "fixin' it", cooked, taken the kids to the park and for ice cream, and walked everyday so far. I have been slacking in the blog department but I will do better. I am currently waiting for my mother in-law and my wife's Aunt to stop by with some clothes for my daughter. Yes, I have been busy but it has been a fun and stress free busy so far. I get my blood work done on Thursday for my kidney doctor visit which is next week. Vacation is right around the corner and I am really looking forward to it. My son just got Lego Indiana Jones today for his PS2 and he and his friends have been up in his "man-cave" all day playing it. He put it on reserve and has been patiently waiting it's arrival for about a month or so. The weather has been exciting around here the past couple of weeks with strong storms and tornado watches and warnings creeping up it seems like every couple of days. Anyway, enjoy your summer because I am sure enjoying mine! By the way, I rub it in to my brother every chance I get!

A Perfect Day With The Kids

I had one of those memorable, perfect days with my kids yesterday. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does, it is special. We didn't do anything special. We took a walk around the mall, visiting the music store (for me) and the pet store (for all of us). The pet store was extremely special. The way the kids reacted to the different animals, and the giggles they cut loose when they were playing with the puppies and kittens, were priceless. After our walk we ate at a restaurant in the mall and then went and saw Ratatoullie. The kids were getting along, which is unusual for my two. They were in a good mood. We had a lot of laughs and I thoroughly enjoyed their company. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids and I love spending time with them, but at their ages (6 and 9) they can be a handful when they are not getting along. My brother and I were the same way. Do all siblings scrap like this? I have a "picker"(my son) and a "whiner"(my daughter). They are good kids and don't do anything that leads me to believe that they will be incarcerated in later years. By the way, that was a funny. They do many things around the house. They are usually polite and show considerable compassion for someone (even each other) if they are hurting physically and mentally. I am a lucky man. I have a wonderful wife and two wonderful kids. I don't know if I am writing this for you guys or for me. I think every once in a while we need to step back and realize just how good we have it. This time of year, a few weeks before school starts, it seems I am always reminiscing about the past summer and what we have done, and not done. Sometimes it seems there just isn't enough time to get all the things in that you want the kids to have as memories when they get older. My theory is this: Do what you can, when you can, and always enjoy life. You can only do your best. If there is not time for everything then there is not time for everything!

The American Holiday

Well, it is that time again. It is roughly halfway through summer vacation! Unbelievable! It goes faster every year. It's time to watch the fireworks, eat hot dogs and apple pie, and enjoy a tall glass of lemonade. My family and I were lucky enough to get to watch some good fireworks over the weekend in my wife's hometown. We got pretty close and had a good view. I tried for the first time to take pictures of fireworks and they came out pretty good. The picture above was of the finale. The show was short but there were no delays in between. It also sounds like these spring temperatures are about to give way to more summer like temps. Hey, what do you expect? It is July! Enjoy the rest of summer. Catch fireflies, eat some ice cold watermelon, run through the sprinkler, go swimming, go on a picnic, go to the park, go for a long walk, sit on the porch and enjoy the summer sounds. Why do all these things? You should do them now because before you know it it will be snowing and unbearably cold! Time flies and I think many of us forget how short life is.

It's A Heat Wave!

Yeah, it's hot! Are most of us spoiled? I am sure that most of you out there, under 30 I'm guessing, grew up with air conditioning. My wife did and I did not. Yes, it is more comfortable in the the air but I really think it cut's down on our all around tolerance for the heat. I mean if I start the day out in the heat I sure don't notice it in the afternoon as much as I do if I have something to do inside in the morning and try to get going outside in the afternoon. There are only a few days, growing up, that I can remember that it was just unbearable. Those were some pretty memorable nights. I remember sitting in the living room late at night with a couple of fans blowing on my family and I. We didn't have any lights on and we were just trying to get a few zzzs, but my brother and I always managed to get a conversation started with our parents so we could stay up later and pretty soon we forgot all about the heat. I admit, I have become soft since I was younger. I have become spoiled; or maybe just old. My mom and dad just got central air around four years ago or so. I am glad they got air. I am not glad for me, but for their health. They are not spring chickens anymore and I really think it helps them cope with the summer heat. My mom still doesn't like to turn it on but she will if it gets hot enough (like today!). I think my dad benefits the most. He works in an office all day and is used to the air. It would be really hard to work in the air all day and come home to a hot-box of a house. I don't think it used to bother him much, but now I think it really drains him.

This week's temperatures are a little early! As stated on the average weather page for where I live, the average temp for June is supposed to be around 84. It was around 94 today. At least it didn't get record hot today (102!). With temperatures like this in June what do you think July and August hold for us in the Midwest. Like they say, "If you don't like the weather in the Midwest, just wait fifteen minutes."

What do you do to stay cool during hot weeks like this?

What Do Teachers Do In The Summer?

What do teachers do in the summer? That is a question that is always asked. Some of us go back to school. Some of us travel. Some of us work another job. Those of us that have kids usually spend the summer dropping off and picking up our kids from summer activities (summer ball, camps, etc.). I thought I would tell you a little about my summer.

I usually go to bed later than usual but I still usually get up around 6:30 so I can do my morning walk (about 2 1/2 miles). I do the walk that early so I can get back before my wife leaves for work. The "regular" things I do around the house are pretty mundane. I do yard work, clean, cook, and run the kids around. This year my daughter is in her second year of T-ball and my son just finished up football camp at QND. The kids are also taking swimming lessons this summer again. My son will also be attending "Kid's College" for his third consecutive year. I always have projects that I like to get done during the summer. This year I have already painted the trim on the front porch and I am working on painting the trim on the garage. Every summer I try to clean out the garage and the basement. I camp, fish, go to movies, and play ball with my kids as often as I can. By the way, my son and I just got back from Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End and I thought it was great! I thoroughly enjoy the kids!...most days. I really consider myself lucky to be able to spend this time with my kids and watch them grow and mature during the summer months. This summer, like most summers, I have to get ahead on Powerpoints for my new book in Physical Science. Next year it will hopefully be Life Science. I also try to take the kids to my parents for 4-5 days during the summer. We always spend those 4-5 days running, trying to get all the fun we can get packed into those 4-5 days.

Some of you might say that I should get another job during the summer. First of all, does this not sound like a job! Secondly, any job I would get during the summer would not even pay for daycare costs for the summer. So to all of you that are angry or jealous of the summers that teachers have, you should be. This is a special time especially when you have kids.

SCHOOL'S OUT!

Well school is out for summer. I had a great year and anticipate another great year next year. I have been out of town for a few days so I thought I better get another post up and going. I want to challenge junior high and high school kids to better themselves this summer. I don't mean just "my" kids. I mean every kid that reads this blog. I challenge kids to read more, volunteer in your community, volunteer to help an elderly person in your neighborhood, teach a younger sibling. or younger friend, something useful, etc. There are many things out there that you can do to better yourself. You will find out how good you can feel when you do something that is not required or asked of you. This type of behavior is addicting and can lead to wonderful things. I am not telling you to not have fun this summer! I am telling you to make sure that you understand that other people may not be able to have the same fun, and exciting, summer that you have planned, but with your help, they could have an enjoyable summer. Who knows, maybe you may even make some new friends and develop some great characteristics that will help you later in life. There is nothing better than hearing "thank you", or seeing a big smile on someone's face, after you help them in a situation in which they thought there was going to be no help.

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little." - Edmund Burke