Zoo Boo

Yesterday was a busy day. It started with a swimming lesson disaster. It was the last lesson of the session, which was safety day. We were running late (and later when I realized that I'd forgotten to put Astro back inside). Brian took the kids in while I parked the car, and when I got in, Brian was in the kiddy pool area and Jacob was refusing to get in the water. Given that Brian was in with him and I was out (thus presumably unaffiliated with him) - I got the opportunity to overhear two other parents commenting on how we must have enrolled him before he was ready and if we'd started him at 6 months in the parent child lesson (like they did with their precious little fishes) we wouldn't have this problem. (No contradiction at all in those two opinions :). Of course, it took about all the restraint I had to not say "well, I guess you guys are just lucky that your little angels are perfect." But I later walked in to help Brian out and hopefully just made them feel a little like a**es. It's not like Jacob has refused to get in the pool at any lesson prior to this one.

Brian and Jacob eventually ended up sitting in the waiting area while Allison finished her lesson. Then when we went to get dressed, Jacob started screaming because he didn't get his swimming lesson and he wanted in the pool. Sorry buddy - too late. He screamed all through the changing, all through Allison changing, and all the way out to the car. So Brian and Allison got to explore the farmer's market, go to the library, and Jacob and I went home. We read a Thomas book, all was well with the world, and we picked up Brian and Allison later. Perhaps his swimsuit was in a knot - who knows.

Then we watched Illinois screw up a game against Wisconsin.

After that it was into our costumes and off to the Earth Science Museum on campus, which was having a Halloween event (which was free to UW affiliates). It was a good thing it was free because I would have been disappointed if we'd paid for it. The kids did make Halloween bracelets, which was about the only thing to do. Perhaps it's because the kids have been to the museum about 20 times before, so they aren't as enamored with the displays themselves.



Finally, we drove up to Green Bay to do Zoo Boo, which was a lot of fun, but expensive. The lions were out and pacing up and down the fence, and that was neat. The bobcat was hunting something in the tree, and there was a hay bale maze that Jacob really liked. Allison didn't have her Cinderella costume yet, but given the great abundance of dress-up clothes, she went as a ballerina fairy. Jacob was a dinosaur.

On the road

I drove to Green Bay on Monday. After years of commuting to Madison from Fond du Lac (and passing the time by chatting on the phone), I find that I have a nearly pavlovian (?) desire to talk on the phone when I drive. Yes, I know, it's a terrible habit.

But what I really discovered is that electronics have taken over our cars. The van has two cigarette lighters, which when we bought it (a whopping 3 years ago) seemed like a great thing. We can charge a phone while also listening to satellite radio!

Now, there is always something that could be plugged in that's not. There is the phone (and long car rides always seem like a good time to charge a phone), the ipod (because really, the radio sucks - and we got rid of the satellite radio a while ago), and now a GPS.

What was also a little funny about the GPS is that I let it navigate me to my destination without paying too much attention (I was listening to Wait Wait on ipod), but then I also had to use it to get home because I was paying so little attention that I couldn't backtrack. Somehow, I find this kindof sad and a little scary.

Fall Days

Pictures from our nice fall weekend. We raked up the leaves, only to have as many on the ground today as we had yesterday. But the kids made a big pile at the bottom of the slide and then had fun wheelbarrowing the leaves to the street.

Last night Brian and I attending the student scholarship event e.a.t.s. where Brian was one of the cooks. (It's kindof a sampling / tasting event). He made smoked pork on a corn cake that was very well liked. Then we went out afterward with some friends and found a nice wine bar close to our house with very reasonable prices. All in all - a very nice Saturday.

Lignite

So my students were doing a lab this morning and they were supposed to dry their sand samples on Tuesday so they could sieve them today. Only, one group didn't - so they asked if they could microwave it dry. I said sure (much to their total amazement) and they went to the cafeteria. They came back a while later reporting that 5 minutes on high was plenty to dry it out. And they were amazed it worked - I don't know why.

So then another group forgot which sample was theirs so they went to dry a new sample too. Only, the girl returned in a minute saying that it started sparking and almost blew up the microwave. Turns out she had a big chunk of lignite (coal) in her sample. Ha! Could you imagine if my students would have blown up the microwave? I laughed for a while, but she was less than thrilled.

On my honor

Allison is now a girl scout Daisy - something I'm pretty sure they didn't have when I started girl scouts. She had her first meeting this afternoon, and I went as the parent helper (NOT leader). They learned the Girl Scout Pledge, which I'm pretty sure has changed a little bit too.



In our first true case of "perhaps our kid does have a common name," of 14 girls there was an Allison, two Allie's, an Ellie, and an Alyssa. I believe the three Allison's are each in a different kindergarten class. Oh well - can't change it now (and probably wouldn't even if we could).

Jacob had an unusually rough day today. His teacher said he was very contrary, which wasn't his usual MO. I don't know what the deal is, but I do know that since he "went to bed" he's had to pee three times. (I'm not sure he REALLY had to pee three times).

One month

We all feel like this:



So last month flew by. It's October already! Not that I'm counting down. Not that we're 1/3 of the way through the semester. No, not counting down at all.

Here's an update. Last weekend I took my LEC100 (freshman) class on their retreat. Thank God that's done. After having all three classes for the weekend (not by myself), I now have proof that my students are dysfunctional. But most had fun. Kristin and Joy are planning for next year (which we just got partially funded) but I'm not quite there yet.

Brian stayed home with the kids for the weekend and then brought them up to Lakewood (where the camp was), dropped Allison off to ride back on the bus with me, and then headed to Traverse City, MI with Jacob to meet Bruce and Sue for a little fishing time. Jacob caught a few fish. I heard it was rainy but very relaxing.

Allison and I enjoyed a few days of "girl time" and went shopping and out for bagels. (Seriously, I'm pretty sure that we haven't gone grocery shopping in about 6 weeks.) The CSA brings us fresh produce every week and we go from there.

Today, Brian was home again with the kids, as I took my GLG101 students on their field day. This time I made them bring rock hammers and their field guides. I think it went a little better than just me pointing things out to them. It was still a long day. Brian said the kids did well in swimming lessons this morning, with Allison having a very good paying attention day. We have a meeting with her teachers tomorrow to discuss her goals for the year and perhaps wrangle a little more aide time too.

For those who didn't get a last minute call from us regarding a health history information, Allison saw a geneticist the other week. We didn't expect much info and didn't really get much info, but they're going to run a standard chromosome picture and see if anything looks weird. They did measure her head 4 times (twice by the nurse and twice by the doctor), it's like a medical mystery head. We'll hear back in a few weeks, but the doctor said that honestly they probably wouldn't find anything. Process of elimination.

Jacob has stopped screaming when we drop him off at school. He has a lot of friends. His best friend most days is Elizabeth. Last year it was Gillian. I guess he likes the girls (though I believe there are more girls than boys there). Jacob has been the morning stinker lately, getting us up at 6am sharp,with Allison usually making it to 6:15 or 6:30 (or in rare form - we had to wake her up at 7:20am on Friday).

Anyway, here are some more pictures.

Allison in her karate outfit (and new glasses - they fit!).



We had a fun weekend at the Dells with our friends Cyndi, Corey, Andy and Josh. Jacob loved the waterslides most of all (once he dared go down them). Most were bigger than this, but this is the one I have a picture of.



And Brian made bacon from scratch. (this was August, but I haven't posted this before)

sorry

I'm sorry there have been no updates lately. This semester is going to be busy beyond what should be reasonably expected of a person. I'm preparing to take 60 college students on a weekend "camping" retreat. Should be fun.

Will have lots of pictures to post someday. We had a good weekend last weekend in the Dells. Jacob LOVED the waterslides. Allison loved the water, and making her new piggy bank at the pottery painting place. Mom and Dad enjoyed getting out of town for a fun weekend with friends.