Extreme heat alert:
Heat Index: near 95°F
High: 92°F
Low: 72°F
Feels like 95°F
Chance of Precipitation 20%
Wind S 14 mph
Humidity 61%
(Around 8 pm, it was still +90°F! Yuck!)
Free day at Shedd Aquarium. Most schools are back in session, so it seemed like a good place to go to stay cool.
"The
journey is half the adventure," but in reality, leaving the house is
half the adventure! Finally left around 11:00 am. (I'd like to say we
were avoiding rush hour traffic...) Hardly any cars on the road near us,
but instant traffic jam when we got to 290E... Our path for 26 miles!
Luckily, Lilly took the opportunity to nap (she's been on a morning nap
strike the past few days). After 30 min and 3 miles, we narrowed to 1
lane to get around construction, then the road opened and the jam was
cleared. Phew! Smooth sailing the rest of the way. Even parking was a
breeze at the indoor lot under Soldier Field.
Hardly a line at the
Shedd. That was a win, but free was just referring to basic admission which enabled us to open and walk through the doors. To see
dolphins, sharks, jellies, penguins, etc. we had to buy wrist bands,
minus the few bucks that general admission would've cost. Parking wasn't
free either. A pricey day for being labeled 'Free!' Oh, well.
Highlights:
Sea horse
Touch lake sturgeon
Lilly & I watched dolphins under water while S played in a submarine
Wild reef
I
was a little disheartened by the computer screens & games that were
scattered throughout the exhibits. They were at Shawn's height and he
gravitated to them (by design, I'm sure) rather than the actual, living
creatures. They were all very educational and fit perfectly with the
exhibits, i.e. illustrating the dangers of invasive species in a way Shawn
could understand. Those add-ons could've easily been posted on their
website to followup at home or even on a smart phone right there, if
visitors were so inclined. I felt like they were really intrusive to
our visit.
After we were all done visiting the exhibits, the sub in the Polar Play Zone snagged Shawn.
Penguin
playground, submarine again, potty break, watch trainers working w
dolphins (missed the last show earlier... probably while playing in the
sub!), then sub again until close 5 pm
Leisurely walk back to car,
stopped for a cool drink at street vendor cart, S asleep by 5:30, though
L was starving on drive home. (Good thing S snacked on a pb&nutella
and blueberries before falling asleep - dinner?)
L devoured her oatmeal for dinner and then Skyped w Oma & Opa
S
slept for a while, but wasn't out for the night. He woke around 7:30
pm. Refreshed. Damn. We tried to keep a pretty low key evening, but
bedtime was still a battle around 10 pm.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Shawn's white belt
It's
entertaining for me to see the difference between Shawn's
semi-coordinated, high effort flailing at his 3rd class and the much
more in synch & deliberate actions of kids who have been practicing
just a few weeks longer than him. He's so proud of himself after each
class. I'm excited to watch him grow.
 |
| Instructors: Mr. Arnaldo Rosas & Mr. Tony Roller |
Little sister
Shawn
woke around 4:30 am and wanted to tell Raj about our date night last
night. He eventually got back in bed. But, around 5:30 am, he came to
Lilly's room looking for me. After a bathroom trip, water, adjusting his
blankets, etc. he (and I) was still awake at 6:30
am.
Rather than work to get him back to sleep when he'd need to wake in 30
minutes, I invited him to have a breakfast date with me while Daddy and
Lilly slept. We watched he sun rise, had breakfast (which he normally
eats at school), and read two books. It was a great morning, even
though he was still not thrilled about going to school.
Later...
Me: Lilly, it's time to get Shawn from school!
Lilly:
Still later:
Apparently, Shawn was talking about our dates all day to his teachers. They informed me that Shawn said we are having another date tonight, but we have other plans I think he'll enjoy just as much...
At home, we brought two kitchen chairs, drinks, and snacks outside with our bag of library books. We sat in the shade by our front step, reading book after book, enjoying the gorgeous day. (High 73°F, sunny)
A few hours later, it was time for karate class. It was his third class: promotion to white belt. Not surprisingly, he fell asleep during the five minute drive it takes to get there. He was really excited about getting his belt, so I didn't feel too badly about dragging him out of the car once we got there. He woke up quickly, though I could tell he was a bit dazed and wasn't focusing very well. (Not that anyone in the group of mostly 4 year olds really 'focuses' all that well!)
The teachers went over each student's progress card and determined who was ready for a new belt or stripe. Shawn was one of three. The class went through warm ups and exercises. They practice chunbi (CHOON-bee) a lot. It means "Ready: Stand with outside edge of feet parallel, inside edge of feet spaced shoulder width apart; place fists one inch apart and one inch in front of belt knot." It's a call to attention, but they also practice 30 seconds of holding still regardless of distractions from the instructors (requests for high fives, checks for untied shoes though they're barefoot, etc.) Shawn is very proud of himself during these because he doesn't let the instructors trick him into moving, other than smiles. They also do a sit down - stand up game that really tests their listening skills. The instructors call out silly commands, made up words, and rhyming words, but the only ones that the kids are supposed to respond to are 'sit down' and 'chunbi.' It's encouraging to see how well Shawn listens and follows directions in this class! Later, they run through an obstacle course a few times, occasionally having to stop in their tracks for chunbi.
Then, bath, quiet time, story, and BED! (Aside from the few moments of shut-eye in the car before karate, I'm shocked he's still functioning! He must've been running off of momentum alone.)
What a (very long, yet exciting) day!
Later...
Me: Lilly, it's time to get Shawn from school!
Lilly:
Apparently, Shawn was talking about our dates all day to his teachers. They informed me that Shawn said we are having another date tonight, but we have other plans I think he'll enjoy just as much...
At home, we brought two kitchen chairs, drinks, and snacks outside with our bag of library books. We sat in the shade by our front step, reading book after book, enjoying the gorgeous day. (High 73°F, sunny)
A few hours later, it was time for karate class. It was his third class: promotion to white belt. Not surprisingly, he fell asleep during the five minute drive it takes to get there. He was really excited about getting his belt, so I didn't feel too badly about dragging him out of the car once we got there. He woke up quickly, though I could tell he was a bit dazed and wasn't focusing very well. (Not that anyone in the group of mostly 4 year olds really 'focuses' all that well!)
The teachers went over each student's progress card and determined who was ready for a new belt or stripe. Shawn was one of three. The class went through warm ups and exercises. They practice chunbi (CHOON-bee) a lot. It means "Ready: Stand with outside edge of feet parallel, inside edge of feet spaced shoulder width apart; place fists one inch apart and one inch in front of belt knot." It's a call to attention, but they also practice 30 seconds of holding still regardless of distractions from the instructors (requests for high fives, checks for untied shoes though they're barefoot, etc.) Shawn is very proud of himself during these because he doesn't let the instructors trick him into moving, other than smiles. They also do a sit down - stand up game that really tests their listening skills. The instructors call out silly commands, made up words, and rhyming words, but the only ones that the kids are supposed to respond to are 'sit down' and 'chunbi.' It's encouraging to see how well Shawn listens and follows directions in this class! Later, they run through an obstacle course a few times, occasionally having to stop in their tracks for chunbi.
In
the last few minutes, the parents of the three students being
tested/promoted were invited into the room for a better view of the
process. (I think my being there & recording it contributed to
Shawn's lack of focus, but he did what he needed to do.)
Only
the students receiving their white belts and black belts get a
certificate with their promotion. Shawn thought that was pretty special. The
instructors do a nice job emphasizing the commitment and effort each
promotion has demonstrated and that future ones require. Painted on the
back wall of their room is the motto,
"Black belts started as white
belts…they just never quit!"
 |
| Instructors: Mr. Arnaldo Rosas & Mr. Tony Roller |
I
picked up Raj at home, but then surprised Shawn with dinner at Pilot
Pete's. I even got the waitress to bring Shawn a cup of root beer to
turn his kids' meal ice cream dessert into a float. Happy Day!
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Date night
Raj
had a farewell party for Jeanne after work, so he wouldn't be home
until late. In his absence, Shawn and I had a date at home.
I made
'fancy' sloppy joes (not too sloppy, extra chunks of tomatoes, and
served in a crescent roll). Shawn often tries to dim the dining room
lights at dinner time, but Raj complains that he can't see and turns the
lights back on. So, since Raj wasn't going to home for dinner, I let
Shawn adjust the lights and even brought out candles, which I let him
help light. Then, we dined by candlelight. For a little while, we even
had our date on our own, but when Lilly woke from her evening nap, Shawn
invited her to join us. After dinner, I introduced Shawn to the joys of
an ice cream float. We watched the soda fill in the gaps in the ice
cream, we ate the foam that mounded at the top of our glasses, slurped
the creamy soda through funny straws, and licked the crystallized ice
cream off our spoons. He was impressed (especially when I told him that
floats sometime use root beer)! It was a fun treat for our special date.
In
bed, Shawn wanted to hold Lilly during their bedtime story. She cuddled
with him long enough to take a picture, then got squirmy. Shawn fell
asleep just a few paragraphs into our bedtime story. SWEET dreams!
 |
| (It's hard to take good pictures in dim light.) |
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Plans A, B, and C
We had tickets for a Cubs' game for today (free from Jeanne at
Raj's office), but we think they accidentally fell into the recycling
pile on trash night last week. Doh!
Plan B
Instead, we visited Samip at his new condo downtown and took him out to breakfast. (We forgot the bottle of wine we were going to give him as a house warming gift. Rats!)
After a tasty breakfast and saying goodbye to Samip, we headed to the Shedd Aquarium to spend the day. Shawn loved seeing the lake and ogling at the skyscrapers. But, when we got to Shedd, there were immense (even that's a ridiculous understatement!) lines to get in winding around the park in front of the main doors. We hoped the lines were for a special event that we could avoid, but found out it was for general admission and the wait was at LEAST an hour to get in the door. No. Thank you.
Plan C
We walked to the Field Museum, where we were relieved to find a short line (just a few minutes), which was all in the shaded, A/C indoors. Plus, I scored an Illinois teacher discount (using an old id card) for my admission and got a AAA discount for the family!
Field Museum 3 Shedd 0
We visited:
Underground Adventure- Get a bug’s-eye view of the world when you magically “shrink” to 1/100th of your actual size—smaller than a penny—to explore an immersive environment of worm tunnels and soil chambers. This exhibition reveals soil to be home to an incredible diversity of living things, and shows how not a single plant or animal could survive without it. After regaining your regular size, become a soil scientist to investigate how life above ground connects to life below.
Egypt (I was flooded with memories of yearly field trips with 6th graders from Blackhawk Middle School to specifically see this exhibit during our Ancient Civilizations unit) - The Field Museum is one of the few places in the country where you can explore an ancient Egyptian tomb. The Museum’s three-story recreation of a mastaba features two authentic rooms from the 5,000-year-old tomb of pharoah’s son Unis-Ankh. From hieroglyphs, mummies, and a Book of the Dead, to a marketplace showing artifacts from everyday life, this exhibition demonstrates how the elaborate preparations that ancient Egyptians made for the afterlife give clues to their lives on Earth—and to what ancient Egyptians might have had in common with people today.
Evolving Planet - Evolving Planet takes visitors on an awe-inspiring journey through 4 billion years of life on Earth, from single-celled organisms to towering dinosaurs and our extended human family. Unique fossils, animated videos, hands-on interactive displays, and recreated sea- and landscapes help tell the compelling story of evolution—the single process that connects everything that’s ever lived on Earth.
Sue the Tyrannosaurus Rex - The world-famous fossil known as “Sue” is the largest, best-preserved, and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex ever found. Sue measures 42 feet long from snout to tail and 13 feet tall at the hip. She boasts 58 dagger-like teeth and cuts a fine figure as the Museum’s most popular backdrop for visitor photos. A replica skull crowns the skeleton in Stanley Field Hall, while Sue’s original skull, which weighs 600 pounds, rests within an exhibition on the Museum’s balcony, under a mural depicting this majestic creature in the flesh.
3D dino movie (a bit too realistic for Shawn, so he watched it sans 3D glasses.)
Hall of Jades - Discover the stone that is more than a stone in The Field Museum’s newly renovated Elizabeth Hubert Malott Hall of Jades. This stunning permanent display of more than 450 objects from the Museum’s collection takes you on a walk through China’s history, from prehistoric burials through two thousand years of the world’s most enduring empire.
Grainger Hall of Gems (beautiful, but not as exciting without the Hope Diamond in the collection) - Explore the natural beauty of Earth’s gems and witness their magical transformation from rough specimens, to stunning stones, to spectacular jewelry in The Field Museum’s newly renovated Grainger Hall of Gems. Exquisite rare jewels and gold objects from around the world, as well as never-before-seen creations from top designers, await you in the most comprehensive exhibition of its kind between the east and west coasts.
Creatures of light: Nature's Bioluminescence - Delve into the mysterious world of bioluminescence and revel in the beauty of this remarkable natural phenomenon in Creatures of Light. Come discover the thousands of living organisms that blink, glow, flash, and flicker—from fireflies and fishes to glowworms and mushrooms—and immerse yourself in their magical world of “living light,” only at The Field Museum.
Shawn fell asleep on the way home, not surprisingly. Raj mustered the strength to go out with some friends in the evening.
Around 8:30 pm, Shawn woke up complaining that I put his "yellow Twizzler box on the movie creator!!" Huh???????? Later, he confessed that it MIGHT have been a dream and we giggled about it for a few days afterwards.
Plan B
Instead, we visited Samip at his new condo downtown and took him out to breakfast. (We forgot the bottle of wine we were going to give him as a house warming gift. Rats!)
After a tasty breakfast and saying goodbye to Samip, we headed to the Shedd Aquarium to spend the day. Shawn loved seeing the lake and ogling at the skyscrapers. But, when we got to Shedd, there were immense (even that's a ridiculous understatement!) lines to get in winding around the park in front of the main doors. We hoped the lines were for a special event that we could avoid, but found out it was for general admission and the wait was at LEAST an hour to get in the door. No. Thank you.
Plan C
We walked to the Field Museum, where we were relieved to find a short line (just a few minutes), which was all in the shaded, A/C indoors. Plus, I scored an Illinois teacher discount (using an old id card) for my admission and got a AAA discount for the family!
Field Museum 3 Shedd 0
We visited:
Underground Adventure- Get a bug’s-eye view of the world when you magically “shrink” to 1/100th of your actual size—smaller than a penny—to explore an immersive environment of worm tunnels and soil chambers. This exhibition reveals soil to be home to an incredible diversity of living things, and shows how not a single plant or animal could survive without it. After regaining your regular size, become a soil scientist to investigate how life above ground connects to life below.
Egypt (I was flooded with memories of yearly field trips with 6th graders from Blackhawk Middle School to specifically see this exhibit during our Ancient Civilizations unit) - The Field Museum is one of the few places in the country where you can explore an ancient Egyptian tomb. The Museum’s three-story recreation of a mastaba features two authentic rooms from the 5,000-year-old tomb of pharoah’s son Unis-Ankh. From hieroglyphs, mummies, and a Book of the Dead, to a marketplace showing artifacts from everyday life, this exhibition demonstrates how the elaborate preparations that ancient Egyptians made for the afterlife give clues to their lives on Earth—and to what ancient Egyptians might have had in common with people today.
Evolving Planet - Evolving Planet takes visitors on an awe-inspiring journey through 4 billion years of life on Earth, from single-celled organisms to towering dinosaurs and our extended human family. Unique fossils, animated videos, hands-on interactive displays, and recreated sea- and landscapes help tell the compelling story of evolution—the single process that connects everything that’s ever lived on Earth.
Sue the Tyrannosaurus Rex - The world-famous fossil known as “Sue” is the largest, best-preserved, and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex ever found. Sue measures 42 feet long from snout to tail and 13 feet tall at the hip. She boasts 58 dagger-like teeth and cuts a fine figure as the Museum’s most popular backdrop for visitor photos. A replica skull crowns the skeleton in Stanley Field Hall, while Sue’s original skull, which weighs 600 pounds, rests within an exhibition on the Museum’s balcony, under a mural depicting this majestic creature in the flesh.
3D dino movie (a bit too realistic for Shawn, so he watched it sans 3D glasses.)
Hall of Jades - Discover the stone that is more than a stone in The Field Museum’s newly renovated Elizabeth Hubert Malott Hall of Jades. This stunning permanent display of more than 450 objects from the Museum’s collection takes you on a walk through China’s history, from prehistoric burials through two thousand years of the world’s most enduring empire.
Grainger Hall of Gems (beautiful, but not as exciting without the Hope Diamond in the collection) - Explore the natural beauty of Earth’s gems and witness their magical transformation from rough specimens, to stunning stones, to spectacular jewelry in The Field Museum’s newly renovated Grainger Hall of Gems. Exquisite rare jewels and gold objects from around the world, as well as never-before-seen creations from top designers, await you in the most comprehensive exhibition of its kind between the east and west coasts.
Creatures of light: Nature's Bioluminescence - Delve into the mysterious world of bioluminescence and revel in the beauty of this remarkable natural phenomenon in Creatures of Light. Come discover the thousands of living organisms that blink, glow, flash, and flicker—from fireflies and fishes to glowworms and mushrooms—and immerse yourself in their magical world of “living light,” only at The Field Museum.
Shawn fell asleep on the way home, not surprisingly. Raj mustered the strength to go out with some friends in the evening.
Around 8:30 pm, Shawn woke up complaining that I put his "yellow Twizzler box on the movie creator!!" Huh???????? Later, he confessed that it MIGHT have been a dream and we giggled about it for a few days afterwards.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
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