Rejuvenate this blog

I got a camera phone for my birthday and I am hoping to take more pictures of the kids and get them up here, so we'll see. Here is Rosie on her way home from a birthday party/tea party for her friend Gabby.

Kung Fu kids

This is a possible Christmas picture; I've been bad about taking pictures lately, as I left my good camera in MN and just have one that has a bum battery.

Settled in for the school year

Well, everyone is settled in to school now, and everyone likes their teacher! Tom has the same teacher as last year at Children's Center, although he is working in the school salad bar a few hours a week and going to the "adolescent" class one hour a week as well, to start transitioning him to the older classes.

Jim LOVES his teacher this year, and is doing well most days, though keeping quiet is still hard for him. The classwork is too easy for him is part of the problem. He is in Cub Scouts too and enjoys that.

Antonia adores everything about school, especially her young kindergarten teacher, and also Daisy Scouts (a step below Brownies). She is just mad that she goes to afternoon kindergarten so she leaves last.

Bug goes to preschool 3 mornings a week and has "berry fun there, Mom." I worried that he would be more shy, as he really hadn't been outside the family much, but he is doing great.

THe oldest three are all taking Kung Fu as well (Chinese Karate), as is Jon. They are good at it and enjoy it. They go two nights a week. So with scouts one night a week two, plus pack meetings once a month and dance on Saturdays, we are pretty busy around here!

My business has kept up pretty well, though it is much slower here in the fall as the wedding stuff slows down. I have added printed napkins and they are picking up steam. We'll see how the holiday cards and personalized Post-its do over the Christmas season.

6 kids and a dog

Here is a picture of the six Wilmes/Zack kids with Sagegirl, Grandma Mary's dog.

The puppy was a big hit with all the kids.

back from vacation, safe and sound

Well, we have been back from our 3 week vacation for a week and are finally caught up on the laundry, though the house is still a mess. Our Honda van needed a new transmission right before we left (a recall issue, fortunately for our bank account), and our whole vacation was in jeopardy. But we ended up flying out, the four kids and me, thanks to Uncle Steve. Jon drove out two weeks later and we drove home together.

The kids had a terrific time, swimming in the channel of the Mississippi that goes past Steve and Rhonda's new house, playing video games and computer games in their tech-heavy house. We went to Como Zoo, the Science Museum of MN twice, Fort Snelling, and more. We had the boys' joint birthday party at Steve's, and Luanne and her kids and Theresa and her kids came down for that. Their patio is probably still colored from the silly string!

Since getting home we've gone to our community pool almost every day and to the shore last weekend. The ocean water is a lot warmer than a month ago, when we were there last. Rosie has learned to swim, though she still can't take a breath without standing up. We are impressed. Bug is fearless in the water. He lets the waves knock him down and just rolls over, with his face going under. (The water is only up to his waist and I am right there, so it isn't dangerous, but most 3 year olds would be alarmed. He laughs.) It is a much better summer than last year, in our own place and with AIR CONDITIONING!

Here is one of the professional pictures from Rosie's dance recital. I'll get some of our vacation up soon. My camera went missing during vacation...

More car trouble, kid pics

Okay, now that we spent thousands on the van, the transmission is acting up in the lower gears. There is a recall on it for the tranny and we have an extended warranty, so it shouldn't cost us money, but WE ARE SUPPOSED TO GO TO MN next Wednesday! The soonest the dealership could see it is next Monday! AAAGGH! Hope for the best!

Tom graduated to the next belt in kung fu and I got one picture before the battery died. (Antonia had taken too many pictures of our household mess right before we left...)


Then last night Antonia had her dress rehearsal for her dance recital. It was long but she had so much fun. I got a couple of pictures of her in costume, will try to get more at the show on Friday. Something like 85 kids participating, with one teacher and a few assistants.


Above is her ballet costume; they are mice in an Alice in Wonderland sequence.


Above is her tap costume. They are tapping to "Pretty Baby"

Car repairs, trip to MN

We finally got our van back from the repair shop yesterday, after being without it for 3 weeks after a minor fender bender. Nothing is easy or cheap these days. But while it was in the shop we got new tires and some other maintenance, so it should be good to go to MN in a month. The kids are so excited about it. Tom can't wait to play Steve's video games, especially his X box which is the only system we don't have. (Of course, Tom is pricing them used as he has $50 and 4 lost teeth to pay for one with...don't ask about our tooth fairy!) Jim can't wait to play anything with Zach. Bug is sure Zach can't wait for him to come and play soccer with him. Antonia misses Jasmine, and I hear Jasmine is already planning the princesses' sleeping arrangements when we are there. It is coming soon.