School and Birthdays and Friends, Oh My!!!

Well it seems as though September just flew on by so, lucky you all, you get a combined September/October posting from Illinois! You don't have to hear me ramble on two months in a row. But I bet I can guarantee that I'll ramble two months worth of words atcha. I've been known to be a bit of a talker.

School is in full swing and now that Isaac reports on more than just what he ate for lunch, my heart is at ease. Both of the kids are loving school and we are really happy with it as parents as well. Isaac is now reading at a 14th grade level and will be going off to college as of next year. Wish him luck! He is in full swing with fall soccer and plays on a 1st grade boys team through the parks and rec department here in Naperville. He has made friends easily (shocker) and still has cheeks that any one of you could bbq for dinner. My favorite Isaac quote for the month came just two days ago when Cora and Anna were trying to describe summer church camp for next year. After 45 minutes of getting Ike pumped up to attend camp he said, quite honestly, "Ya! Mom, can I go by myself pleeeeaaasssee? Um. Wait a minute. Guys.....I don't know if I can read my bible for an hour though." You gotta love this kid.

Sadie is doing well in school and still enjoying gymnastics. She has chosen to be in the school chorus so once a week she goes to school an hour early for practice and will have 3 concerts throughout the year. She was also chosen to be an "ambassador" at her school so every Friday she gets to go to a 3rd grade classroom and help another student with school. She loves both of these new opportunities. Miraculously, the child WILL get to compete as a level 7 gymnast this year because and ONLY because of the support of all of you who sponsored her Tumble a Thon. Sadie was able to raise the entire $1300 she needed this year in order to be able to compete. Thank you so much from the bottom of her heart!!!!!

"Look Mom! I finally got my giants!"

A school field trip to Danada Farms Forest Preserve

Sadie's teacher, Ms. Swift, is in the green shirt

Sadie w/a good buddy from school, Niya

Sadie also turned 10 this month. Didn't know THAT could bring such stress. All she wanted was a scavenger hunt. That's it. Simple. Fun. No problem. Until I realized that meant I had to somewhat perform. I couldn't be the mom who had the dud of a scavenger hunt. But what the $%#^ IS a scavenger hunt? Are you supposed to be looking for something? Is there a prize at the end for everyone that we couldn't possibly afford? Will my clues be too easy? Will my clues be too hard? All of a sudden it was no longer about my daughter turning 10 it was about her mother going down into the Guinness Book of World Records for, notably, the coolest party ever. Nonetheless (and, no, it wasn't the coolest party ever but I think they had fun), I stayed up until 1 a.m. the night before writing clues because I don't succeed at ANYTHING without procrastinating. Eight girls crammed our house for a slumber party, we had fondue for dessert and all was quiet on the midwestern front.

September and October were also busy months for seeing friends and family! Mariah's mom came for a week in September and although she couldn't possibly imagine making banana bread with chocolate chips in it like her crazy daughter does, we had a GREAT time seeing her! The kids were happy to have her walk them to school and show her off. Just last week we were able to spend some wonderful time with our wonderful friends Kelly and Amy. In town on business, and celebrating an anniversary, we actually found that Kelly and Amy showed Mark and I more of Chicago then we showed them! We had long talks and long walks coupled with a couple of trips to some really fun places. We visited the John Hancock building's 96th floor lounge (with an AMAZING view of the city, especially from the ladie's bathroom), the Red Head Piano Bar where we spent hours singing around a piano, one of Rick Bayless' Mexican restaurants called the Frontera Grill which, by the way, had the best Mexican food I have ever put into my mouth and, more than anything, just had some very valuable time with people very dear to our hearts. We thank God for that refreshment. Last but certainly not least, our best friends came to visit us again from Michigan. We visited the Aquarium and Planetarium in Chicago for the first time and mostly just enjoyed watching Gianni embrace his future career as a stunt man. I swear God made that kid out of rubber.

Frontera Grill

Red-Headed Amy in front of the Red-Head Piano Bar

Man, they are growing up fast!!!!!!

Mark is recovering from two weeks off of work b/c he is on a year round schedule. It was nice to be able to spend time together and have him get involved in the kids' daily schedules with school and such. He continues to love his job and where he is teaching although he would welcome the chance to teach closer to home at any time in the future.

I obtained a part time job near the end of September as a Children's Program Coordinator for World Reliefe, a refugee resettlement agency. I only work 10-12 hours per week and it is absolutely perfect with the children's schedule and my desire to be an "at home mom". It has helped financially and to God we are grateful for that. Should I attend graduate school at UIC next Fall, World Relief could also be an internship site for me and I have LOVED the thought of that since I was doing undergrad studies in Idaho six years ago!

Whew! I think that about covers it. With so much to say there is little time left over for humor. But hopefully you feel caught up on our life and, rest assured, we'd love to get caught up on all of yours. We hope fall is bringing you peace as the "mellow" time of year rolls around.

First Day of School!

Yep....it's official.....my kids have gone off to school. And by that I mean, I have sent them to the pack of wolves in serious hopes that they return alive some day and somewhat intact. Both were excited to start school until Sadie was asked by Jeremiah (cutest lil' brown boy you ever did see) on her second day if she wanted to be his girlfriend. She responded to the tune of, "No! I'm only 9!" When he proceeded to ask her if she was "ever gonna have kids" she further explained that she doesn't EVER want a boyfriend, at least not until she's 15 or so. When he then stated she was only his half friend she shrugged her shoulders and said, "okay, that's weird but whatever." Thankfully Jeremiah came to his senses the next morning and re-advised her that she was, in fact, his full friend which also made her say, "okay, whatever, I guess we're friends then." Um.......hmmmm......what do I even say to that? At least my kid can hold her own? Don't have to worry about planned parenthood yet? Well, thank goodness b/c I don't know that they would see my fourth grader to begin with. Sheesh.

Isaac, on the other hand, reports daily that he forgot to ask anyone if they wanted to play with him, can't remember the name of who he sat by at the lunch table and doesn't remember what he learned or if he has any homework. Mothers of boys.....is this NORMAL???? He's like a vault baby. I can't get anything out of this kid except that he liked the chocolate milk he drank in the lunchroom. Can he hold his own? I don't know! Does he want a girlfriend? I don't know! Is he planning on having kids? I don't know! And there is NO planned parenthood for boys!!!!

Homeschooling is looking better and better by the minute......where's my Lexapro?

He lost that second bottom tooth just yesterday

At least they knew SOMEONE! They had met Michelle a week before school and she and Sadie are in the same class. Isaac loves playing with Michelle's younger sister, Makayla.

Anyone know where my Lexapro is? I wasn't joking when I asked earlier. Suddenly I can't breathe. My children are about to enter a school with 725 other little varmants that I am convinced are planning on eating them alive.

Or maybe their just planning on marrying them early and having babies by the time their 20. Well, phew.....NOTHING TO PANICK ABOUT THEN!!!!!

Sadie Meets Nastia!

Okay, so you all heard me say that Sadie won an essay contest and a chance to go shopping with Olympic Gymnast Nastia Luikin at a local JCPenney here in Illinois. The day was really fun. Sadie and most of her teammates here went to the mall together so that everyone could get autographs during the meet and greet with Nastia then Sadie and four other children got to do a mini-shopping experience with Nastia following the meet and greet. Nastia placed Supergirl capes on each of the essay winners and was extremely sweet (something I was really surprised about). Considering she's about two feel tall without her 16 inch pumps on, I would have squashed her like a bug (or cut the bit...nevermind, that's just Lafonda talking) had she NOT been kind.

The gang getting ready to go in....wait a minute....did Aubrey Winslow sneak in to this event?

Radio Disney was there and did a big pre-autograph radio show with entertainment, singing and dancing for the audience. Very fun for the girls to participate in.







The girls sang loud enough into the microphone that they all won free Nastia T-shirts.

Isaac opted out of the shopping experience to go play with dad. Something to the tune of, "I'd rather snort hot mustard through my nose then have to participate in this girly crap...."

Alas, Sadie has been informed that she is more than welcome to enter any future contest that she wishes but is NOT allowed to include her cancer story unless the sole purpose is to inspire and motivate or help others that may need to hear her story. Two Olympic gymnasts is enough for one parents, I mean, child's lifetime.

Oh Canada!

So my sister and her wonderful boyfriend, Joseph, came to visit for a week at the end of July. What a refreshing time for us to spend with people we know and love! It cured the lonely spell I was having, for sure. Amongst some of the fun things we did were a trip to Navy Pier, our first ever visit to the Museum of Science and Industry, a date to the local movie theatre/bar/restaurant which has become our favorite place to go and, of course, a trip to Giordanos Pizza, voted the #1 pizza in America. There's a reason for that. My butt will prove it.

We started the day with a trip to "Central Park" in Naperville

Walking downtown Chicago on our way to Navy Pier

Millenium Park downtown Chicago. One of our favorite places to visit. There are two structures hand made of glass bricks and they spit out water for kids and adults to play in.

Really? Are you joking me? Could we NOT take a picture at this now famous to the Shafers landmark?

Taking in Lake Michigan at Navy Pier. Fan-freakin-tastic.....

Wouldn't be a family trip without appropriately torturing the children.
We all walked a total of about 15 miles that day. Blisters on feet, dehydration......doesn't get better than that.

Auntie succombs to hair torture by Sadie





First trip to Museum of Science and Industry. These were taken in the Farm Tech area where we would soon get excited to bring Gianni!

Kristin and Joseph, we miss you so much already. For the rest of you, we can't wait to see you whenever we get a chance to. Come and visit! We promise not to throw you all into the Lake. We reserve that only for offspring.

BON JOVI TAKE......5

Okay, this is for all of you Bon Jovi luva's out there. Bon Jovi concert take 5 was in Soldier Field in Chicago with my sister, Kristin. 65,000 people in an open air football arena (does it GET any better than this for me?) and Kid Rock to open. Now, I will tell you that I initially felt like vomiting when I realized I had to watch Kid Rock but I was pleasantly surprised and absolutely LOVED his show. Very musically talented person though morally completely corrupt. :0)

A view of Chicago city skyline from Soldier Field. Fan-freakin-tastic.



Now THAT'S a smile we've never caught on camera before!

This one's for you, Kel!

Sing it to us, Jonny!

Acoustic version of "Diamond Ring"

And here ya have it.....Jon in a Chicago Blackhaws Jersey (Um....that's the professional Hockey team here for you ladies who don't know.....which I think is pretty much all of you). It's simply gorgeous to look at.

Anyways, ladies.....I snuck in this blog just for you. You won't hear from me again until late August.

Or if I get to meet Jon this evening during his second stint here in the windy city. Too bad it didn't rain on him during the concert.......yuuuuuumy.

Patriotic Adventures

Okay, last post for July, I promise! I told you I'd only do this once per month so this month was a doozie.

As any good patriotic American should do (ahem...insert joking laugh here), my friend Genesis and I took the kids to Williamsburg, Virginia for the 4th of July holiday this year. We spent one week in a lovely timeshare (insert embarrassment b/c it sounds as though I am a rich, snobby person now when, in reality, this was the last week of our timeshare we could use b/c we are too ghetto to keep paying on it). Although we had to dodge 109 degree weather on some days and assist Sadie in getting through a random illness while we were there, we had a grand old time. My personal favorite was Busch Gardens Europe where we got to watch Celtic Fyre, an Irish song and dance production inside what was called the Abbey Stone Theatre. It was like a free, mini broadway show and was amazing! Colonial Williamsburg was fantastic. We enjoyed learning about how people lived back in the 1700's. We also visited Jamestown Settlement where we got to see how the Powhatan Indians lived when they arrived in America in the 1600's. Isaac loved touring three ships that came over back then. Sadie enjoyed figuring out how to turn every sidewalk into a balance beam. Ah, well.....plenty of time to force history down her throat. I will leave you with pictures and favorite quotes from the trip:

1. While Genesis and Mariah take a bath in the pool sized bathtub in the bathroom, Sadie comes in to ask, "Did you guys turn the romance on?" b/c we had dim lighting so as to not see each other's t-shirted bodies. THAT wasn't uncomfortable.

2. While at the Cracker Barrel, Genesis showed Isaac a variety of T-shirts that all had one word on them such as "believe" and "spunky". When she asked Isaac which T-shirt he felt described him the best he replied by saying, "Um....I think Positive b/c I'm a pretty positive person.....well....cept' when I lie."

3. At the hotel in Ohio, on our way home, Isaac checked the air conditioning to see if it was on and when he noticed it wasn't he asked, "Where's that conthermonstane to help it get colder?" (thermostat)

4. Lastly, Isaac asked Genesis that night, while she was wearing her tye-dyed t-shirt if she had a casserole on her shirt. Um....we confirmed that he meant "swirly". But of course....casserole and swirly sound exactly the same.

Love to all!

The pool sized bathtub

The basketweavers at Colonial Williamsburg. Sadie was most interested in this. WHY did we EVER stop using this form of punishment???? Looks like it could win a Mariah parenting award. Quit laughing all of you who knew me back when I swore my child would NEVER own a weapon. This is what Isaac bought with his spending money. A wooden pistol. Good thing he's a peaceful hearted little twerp.Watching fireworks in the parking lot of Cracker Barrell. That's right....we couldn't last at Colonial Williamsburg so we chose the next best thing. The Powhatan Indian Village at Jamestown Settlement. Grinding corn.The "Susan Constant". This was the largest of the three ships that carried over the European Settlers that first settled Jamestown.Souvenir #2 (and the final souvenir of his choice)....the wooden sword. It's all out the window now.Waiting in line for the "Curse of the DarKastle" at Busch Gardens. Neither child kept their eyes open for the 3-D ride but Gen and I LOVED it! Sadie and Isaac have two mommies.....and our little family matches. Celtic Fyre Production. It was a re-enactment of an Irish wedding reception with AMAZING singing and dance. There were even a cage of live birds that were released to fly over the audience. Isaac thought that was the shiz.Some of the most amazing tap dancing duels I have ever seen. Well.....I've never seen tap dancing duels but I imagine this is one of the best out there.