Kindergarten!

See the Story here.

Raging Waves waterpark

Mothers & More planned a family day at Raging Waves waterpark in Yorkville.  Raj and I were just $12 each, Shawn was $7, and Lilly was free! That included all day admission and a picnic lunch (Lilly shared ours). It was a great deal! Regular admission would have been $30 for Raj and me (each), $20 for Shawn, and Lilly still would've been free. Mothers & More ordered picnic lunches from Jersey Mikes in advance: Original Italian sub for Raj, the American Classic sub for Shawn, and a turkey & provolone sub for me, chips, cookies, pickles, and sodas (though they disappeared before we got any). 

(Cheeeeeese!)

Unfortunately, there was a bit of a bug problem back at home and Raj didn't feel comfortable leaving them until we got back. So he stayed behind while I got the kids out of the way.

We could've arrived as early as 10 AM, when the park opened, but we ended up getting there around 12:30 instead. We started with the picnic, walked around to get the lay of the land, dabbled our toes in a kiddie area and then watched a cheesy diving/trampoline/comedy show, Sinbad and the Search for the Golden Pineapple.

"Join Sinbad and his band of Gold Seekers on the search for the fabled Golden Pineapple.  After finding the Book of Knowledge, they sail towards a mysterious island – diving for treasure along the way.  After arriving, Sinbad has to make repairs to the ship while slapstick comedy ensues when a crew member falls into the water.  Sinbad and his crew then follow with amazing dives from 3, 5 and 10 meter platforms.

After the pandemonium subsides, the only person who can see the Golden Pineapple is the crew member on the 80 foot platform."

Though we didn't do any stunts like Sinbad or his crew, we had a lot of fun at Kangaroo Falls.

"Kids will love this Aussie-themed area filled with slides, water cannons, rope bridges, and water hoses. Whether its your child’s first or fiftieth trip to Raging Waves, they will be ecstatic when the bell goes off signaling the tipping of the giant dumping bucket! There is one thing for sure, YOU WILL GET WET."

(Shawn's in blue, scoping it out in the far left corner)
This was one of Shawn's favorite areas. He was thrilled that he was tall enough to ride all 5 of the slides in this mini-park. I was shocked that the giant bucket of water that splashed down every 10 minutes or so didn't turn him off completely, but it actually got him really excited trying to 'beat it' by jumping into a covered slide just at the right moment.

He even went in farther than I expected him to go, with me within arm's reach, of course. The farther into the pool you went, the deeper it got and the bigger the waves grew. We got in far enough that Shawn had to jump when waves came toward him in order to keep his head above water, but otherwise, he could still reach the bottom easily.

(Yup, you WILL get wet when that bucket dumps out!)
Lilly had fun splashing in a series of troughs that emptied into each other and I helped her down a small slide a few times. (I thought the water here was a bit chilly!)

We spent a couple of minutes in Koala Kove.
"A wading pool featuring tipping toucans sets the scene for those young ones making their first trip to a waterpark.  When your child is ready to try something a little more challenging, two kid-sized slides await where you can meet them on the bottom!" We were there just long enough for Shawn to go down both slides, but there were too many other exciting things to do! Lilly wasn't overly impressed by the wading pool or the bubblers and sprayers in this area.

Lilly and I liked Kookaburra Kreek and, while it might not have been his favorite of the day, I think Shawn did too (except for when he somehow flipped his inner tube and he thought he was trapped under it for a split second).
"Enjoy the relaxation of the slow current of Kookaburra Kreek, our quarter mile long lazy river.  Float on a single or double tube,  enjoy the warm weather and blue skies straight above you."

I was surprised how much Shawn enjoyed the Great Barrier Reef Wave Pool.

He even went in farther than I expected him to go, with me within arm's reach, of course. The farther into the pool you went, the deeper it got and the bigger the waves grew. We got in far enough that Shawn had to jump when waves came toward him in order to keep his head above water, but otherwise, he could still reach the bottom easily. 

(Check out the waves behind us!)
Lilly clung to me pretty tightly the whole time. I managed to pull a couple of giggles out of her in the very shallow end by lifting her up and down (just to her waist deep) over and over again. She splashed and kicked the water a little at the very edge.
"Crikey! Surf the raging waves at this 25,000 square foot wave pool! Big kids can travel to deeper depths for more wave action, while little ones can stay at shallower depths and enjoy the waves reaching kid-size heights."

It was too bad that Raj didn't make it out with us, but we found out his ticket it good until Sept 1. So, we may go back next Sunday so he can have fun with us. Then Shawn can go on some of the slides that I couldn't take him on today since I had Lilly, too.

Lake Geneva Cousins Weekend

Raj worked a half day today, so we could catch up to his cousins in Lake Geneva, who got there last night. While he was at work, I finished packing and dropped off Baron at his babysitter's house. I couldn't find Lilly's suit anywhere (I think it's tucked inside of something bigger from the laundry) and rather than stressing over it and tearing the house apart, I ran out to Target to pick up another. (I'm sure her original one will turn up as soon as we get back from the weekend!) Shawn helped me pick out snacks to share for the weekend, too. We got home just before Raj.

Because he has a CPR seminar really early Sunday morning in Westmont, we took separate cars to Lake Geneva. When we arrived at the Timber Ridge Lodge, Sandy/Sareena and Hema/Meera were napping in their rooms, but we found Manish, Milan, Simrin, Sumit, and Misha in the arcade.

After saying hi, we opted to go to Moose Mountain Falls water park. Shawn LOVED the water slide the most. Raj and I took turns riding down a 2-person inner-tube (shaped like a figure 8) with Shawn in front 'steering.' He'd squeal and shout, "WAAAAAHOOOOO!" all the way down. Just hearing his reaction was enough to entice me to go a few times. Lilly liked floating around the Lazy River, also in a 2-person inner-tube. (There were even some 2-person inner-tubes with one side closed in, so Lilly could sit in her own circle without the worry of falling through!) We found a little turtle statue near a waterfall that she'd get excited about each time we came near. There was also a big statue of a moose that she liked to point out at the base of the water slides. I almost got her to put her hands up like antlers, but she preferred me to hold up my own. We splashed in the zero depth pool, played with some water bubblers, sat under a raining mushroom, and slid down the mini-water slides. It was hard to leave, but our stomachs were grumbling for dinner and Lilly and Shawn's lips were turning blue in spite of the heated water!

We met up with Manish et al and Sumit et al for dinner. The process of getting there was a bit irritating/frustrating, but after we all arrived at the wrong place (which turned out to be a Mexican grocery, not a restaurant), then didn't know the address of the right place, then drove another 25 minutes to find the right place, and then had to wait for a table that could accommodate 13 people... The margarita pitchers were tasty and the food was fine.

After dinner, we gathered in Sumit's room while the kids watched movies and Hema taught the adults a new card game. I don't normally play cards with the Puris because it's usually poker, which I'm not very good at, but since it was a new game for everyone, I played along and ended up in 2nd place during the first game and Raj won the second game! I didn't play the second round because Lilly was in dire need of zzzz, so I brought her to our room next door and called it a night. Raj and Shawn walked in around 12:30 am!

Fun times!

Shawn has no training wheels!

See him in action here.

Shawn's instructional shoe tying video

Learn to tie your shoes from the Master Tie-er.

Oops: a stay at home day

Shawn woke up and couldn't wait to tell me about his night with Dad. In. Detail. (Short version: dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings where they played video games at their table, bath, finished reading a Star Wars book, sleep.) Lilly woke up and practically went right back to sleep for her morning nap. So, Shawn and I had a relaxed morning being silly with each other.

When we finally got around to getting dressed and ready for the day, Lilly greeted us with sleepy eyes after she trudged into my room. We all got ready and had brunch before piling into the car for a Gymboree playgroup. We were going to Wild Wednesdays at Lake View Nature Center in Oakbrook Terrace. They were having: story time, special animal visitors (this week - tarantulas!), scavenger hunt hike with prizes, fishing equipment available to borrow, paddle boats, and Nature Center exhibits. They also participate in the Passports to Adventure program, so the kids would get stamps, too.

But,

Lilly's carseat

was in Raj's car

from last night.

So,

we

weren't

going

anywhere.

Oops!

Instead, the kids played outside while I detailed my car. I took ev.er.y.thing O.U.T. That part wasn't bad, but it still felt good to clear out the junk. Then I vacuumed and vacuumed and vacuumed more. It seemed like whenever I finished an area, I'd turn around and find more Cheerios / Goldfish / crumbs / dog hair / dirt / etc. (There was a LOT.) I didn't bother with the windows or the outside - the inside was what bothered me most! I wiped down the interior*, which made the car smell great! I dusted and wiped off grime & stickiness. (Shawn volunteered to help during this part because he likes spray bottles.)

* I'm liking Ology Bathroom Cleaner Spray Peppermint from Walgreens lately. It claims: "Plant based. Tough on soap scum. Our bathroom cleaner cuts through soap scum and other dirt in the bathroom without the use of harsh solvents, chlorine or dyes, so it’s safe for you and your family. No ammonia, artificial fragrances, animal testing." It's got a strong peppermint smell, but it dissipates quickly and it's better than some ammonia/bleach cleaners  that will take your breath away!

While I scoured the van, Shawn and Lilly used it as their jungle gym and make-believe vessel. (I think I heard Shawn commanding a submarine at one point.) They pushed buttons on the console, moved all of the mirrors, turned dials... I double checked that the keys were safely in the mudroom.

I was close to done and Lilly started to melt down. She needed (a late) lunch and a nap. Badly. I left everything in the garage and headed inside. Lunch revived her nicely and she went down for a nap fairly easily. I SHOULD HAVE finished in the garage while she napped... But I fiddled with pictures for a gallery wall between the kids' rooms. Didn't make much progress. Really should've finished the van cleaning process. Oh, well.

Apparently, Lilly's nap was not long enough because she was a little 'off' the rest of the evening. Maybe turning 16 months old will do that to a girl! Luckily, Daddy came home shortly after and got her excited again. We went directly to Babies R Us for car seat shopping. The plan is to move the infant carrier to Raj's car until Lilly outgrows it. In my car, Lilly will sit in Shawn's seat turned rear facing. And Shawn now has a new seat for my car. I'll call around tomorrow to have the seats' installation checked.

At least we won't have to worry about moving seats around any more!

And, such a clean car to put them in!

Primrose Farm and Vino Van Gogh

Today, Shawn had Jr. Farm Camp at Primrose Farm.  He learned that when milking a cow, if the milk is pink that means it is bloody. If the milk is chunky, that means the cow is sick. That udder can't do milk, but another udder might be able to. They got to pet the work horses. Shawn said they were so soft! There were two pigs: a brown girl and a gray boy. (They're new to the farm, since they were not there when we collected eggs a few weeks ago.) He learned that the mother sheep was fluffier & bigger than her two (not so little) babies. They made chicken crafts using their handprints for the body and tailfeathers. There was also a cow & duck project but Shawn liked the chicken better. The kids also got to ride in a tractor pulled wagon and play in a tire swing. Shawn said his ride on the tire swing was too fast and that he wanted to get off right away!

We came home for lunch, but then I had to return a few flower pots that weren't meant for me when I picked up a small collection at a Freecycle house yesterday. Next, we zipped up to Arlington Heights for Spanish camp for Shawn & Parent/Tot class for Lilly. After class, Lilly and I found a Pier 1 and swapped the scratched floor model table for a still-in-the-box-new one and even picked up another counter stool and 2 more chairs that they had in stock. Just 2 more chairs to go, so I ordered them from our local store and they'll be available in about 10 days. Then, we rushed back to Language Stars to pick up Shawn and race to I-90 West to battle traffic on our way home.

Luckily, Raj was home when we finally made it. He helped me unload the furniture. I kissed the fam goodbye/goodnight and headed out to Aliano's restaurant in Batavia for a Vino Van Gogh night out with the Gymboree moms. 

Using acrylic and canvas, we painted Walk by the River, which (unbeknownst to us when we signed up for the painting) is the hardest painting they have available right now! Ack!

Jane, the Gymboree mom who sat next to me, started off with a solitary woman in her painting, looked at mine, and then added her husband holding hands. She said that seeing mine gave her permission to change hers and she was much happier with it. The rest of the class had individual walkers, whether male or female. 

The room was less than ideal. We were seated elbow to elbow at high tables across a long, narrow room and the instructor positioned herself at one end. She had an assistant, but she wasn't all that helpful. It was hard to see and hard to hear. Plus, the instructor went really fast and it felt like we were constantly trying to play catch up, missing steps in the process. All of that was frustrating. BUT, it was a night out for 4/5 of the Gymboree moms. Our first. We shared a bottle of moscato and gave each other moral support as we struggled through the artistic process. Though we had a few frazzled nerves because of that process, in the end, it was a blast and we said we'd definitely do it again. Now to attempt scheduling another night we can all get together...

I thought the person walking in the instructor's model looked lonely, so I changed mine to include the Puri family of four.