In 1492...

It's Columbus Day today.  Some of you might still be among the lucky few who still have schools or workplaces that recognize the observed holiday with a day off.  No such luck in our house!

We have been looking forward to Columbus Day for a week or two now though.  That's because Christian's first grade class learned that they would be putting on a little Columbus Day play for the parents.  To top it off, Christian was assigned the role of Christopher Columbus.

This afternoon, a gaggle of parents headed to the first grade room for the show.  Say hello to Christopher C!

At the end of the play, the kids sang a song about Columbus.  After the first time through, they asked everyone else to join in singing. I'm trying to upload a video of the song, but for some reason the video won't load.  Stay tuned!

Soccer Saturday

Yes, I know it's Monday evening.  It was such a hectic weekend that I never got around to posting a snapshot of a fun, fun Soccer Saturday.

Better late than never!

We started the day at Vetta where Connor is taking a soccer class with a group of four and five year olds.  It's been great to watch Connor get his turn at being the one on the field.  He's fast--unlike his brother, he thinks carefully about what he's doing.  Watching him, it's as though he's thinking to himself "I have to get my footwork just so...."

He's also discovered that it's fun to slide on the ground when he's heading to kick the ball.  Silly kid!

The coordination of four year olds is hysterical.  I love watching them try to do jumping jacks.  They may not be moving their arms and legs in sync, but boy they're giving it all they've got.

 After Connor's class wrapped up, we headed out to watch Chrisitian and the first grade Chargers play their third game of the season.  Heading into this game, the Chargers were 2-0.  What a fun season this has been so far.  The boys are playing much better as a team and their skills are getting stronger.

Game three was a wild ride.  The score was 0-0 deep in the second half.  The Chargers had been playing a strong game--great defense and good aggression on offense.  Despite a lot of shots on goal, nothing had made it into the net.

With five or six minutes left in the game, Christian seemed to have decided it was time to wrap the game up.  Next thing we knew, Christian was breaking away out of a pack of players at mid-field, charging toward the goal.  Boom!  GOAL!

No sooner was the ball back in play than Christian found himself with the ball again.  Boom! GOAL!

Final score: 2-0.

What a game.

First grade soccer is the best!

After Christian's game, we headed to watch the Lutheran High School South varsity team play a game.  Lutheran South had invited the area Lutheran schools to the game.  A strong showing of CCLS kids were there, most still in their red soccer jerseys from the day's games.

At halftime, there was a drawing for six kids to come on to the field for a kicking contest.  Wouldn't you just know it, but Christian's name was called.  Out he goes...

Each kid got to take five shots on goal.

Christian steps up...

He's that little-bity red speck in the middle.

He sends four of five into the net.

After the game, the grade school kids were invited onto the field to play a game.  Christian made sure that Connor came out to the field with him.

There were students from other area Lutheran schools there, but it was rather hard to tell as all of the CCLS kids were in uniform.  A sea of red.  They lined up before taking the field.

The "game" started out with all kids on the field.  After a time, the older kids came off to let the K-4 set play.  After the younger kids finished, the older kids went back on the field.

When all was done, Connor--all smiles--led the pack off the field.

Fall Fun

Yesterday, Christian had early dismissal at school.  We decided that it would be a great day to take the boys over to Eckert's Millstadt to pick apples and play.  As it turns out, it was the perfect time to go.  The weather was spectacular, and because it was a Friday afternoon, the crowds were non-existent.  The kids had a ball.

I'd given the boys a map of the farm before we arrived.  They spent much of the drive over plotting out what they wanted to do first.

First up, apple picking.

 And apple eating.

Checking out an old tractor.

Connor loved riding bikes on the bike path.

 Kettle corn

 Darren was generous to take the boys on the Pumpkin Patch spinny-thing ride.  It made me queasy just watching them.

 Here he is after the ride.

 The boys did the big Mine Shaft slide, the Tower, swung on tire swings, saw lots of pumpkins, saw some friends from school, and played on the swing ride.

But what was the most fun--and looked like loads of fun to me--was the jumping pillow.  It was very, very had to get them off of this.  Everybody, Jump, Jump!!

Social Studies

Christian was watching the news with me this morning--actually, he started off saying "I demand you turn on my shows!"

Right.  Like that's going to persuade me to put on cartoons.

So we watched the news.  After a few minutes, he started paying attention and asking some questions about the presidential election.  Yay for politics!  That led us to talking about the Constitution, which ultimately led me to introduce him to Schoolhouse Rock.  What a classic.

We watched the video about the Preamble...

Then a bit about Paul Revere

And then, Fireworks (this was Connor's favorite).

Followed by several others...YouTube is so great for pulling up these classics.

Now, it's off to a day of soccer.

Happy Fall!

Another Benefit of Chocolate

A new study shows that moderate amounts of chocolate may reduce the risk of stroke in men.  And, for once the benefits don't appear to be limited to dark chocolate.

Upon analyzing the questionnaires, the researchers found that the men who consumed the most chocolate – 63 grams or one-third of a cup of chocolate chips – had the lowest risk of stroke compared to the men who did not eat any chocolate. Overall, the highest chocolate consumers decreased their risk of stroke by 17 percent.

In previous research, dark chocolate has often been hyped for its heart health benefits. But an interesting aspect of the study revealed that 90 percent of the participants actually ate milk chocolate. Larsson said that both types of would most likely provide the same benefits, but dark chocolate may still be the better option.

I've long turned to chocolate for stress relief...maybe I'll see if I can get my sweet-tooth lacking husband to have a little more.

Diane's Divco

Tomorrow is my Mom's birthday.  It's a special one--but aren't birthdays all special?

A few weeks ago, I asked Dad if he had given any thought to Mom's birthday, after all, it is a special one.

Any guesses on his answer?

We brainstormed for a few minutes--Mom is tricky.  Humble, unassuming, selfless, and not particularly fond of being center stage.

Tricky I tell you.

The challenge was coming up with something that fell between a simple hug and "Happy birthday!" and staging a version of "This is your life" with a convention-worthy balloon drop.

Luckily, Dad knows her well. Very well.  As we talked, as I was completely puzzled, the light bulbs started popping in Dad's mind. 

Aha!

It's so sweet really, how he thought through the plan and how perfect it was.

So the plan was this--Dad enlisted the help of the Environmental Services crew.  At the appointed time, during Mom and Dad's late afternoon happy hour in the yard, every Gator, Kubota, and golf cart on the Seminary campus would descend on the yard, and the party would start.

A few days ago, Dad told me what his gift to her was--Wow, I had thought his plan was good before...this put it over the top. In family lore, the Christmas Mom got a weed-wacker that Mom still keeps in the basement to protect it got top billing as far as gift-giving stories go.

No more.

Dad got Mom her own red golf cart.

This afternoon, the boys and I headed to the campus a bit early so we stopped for a sneak peek.

This is great!

Over to the house.  I threatened all kinds of consequences for the boys if they tipped Mom off to the surprise.  It must have sunk in, because when we got to the house, other than asking for a popsicle, they wouldn't speak to her!

We headed out to the yard, but for whatever reason, Mom was a bit resistant to coming out to the yard.  Maybe it was the energy of the boys who had moved from popsicles onto climbing trees and playing soccer.

But she came.  As we sat there, Dad said, "hey, what's that?" As a decorated golf cart zipped down the street.

Maybe a wedding?

Then a whole parade of gators.

Mom started to wonder...then laugh...

Even though the front of the golf cart says this:

Mom still had to ask a few times "What is this for?"

It's for you!

The crew came prepared with snacks, drinks, and cake.  Ferdie was interested in the cake.

 So were the boys.

 Michelle made a call, and soon the carillon began to play "Happy Birthday."

 Gators, Gators everywhere.

Lots of laughs and amazement that this surprise was pulled off.

 Aren't they sweet?

A great idea from Dad, with a great assist from the Environmental Services crew...One and all, it was perfect!

A big, big thank you to all the Sem folks who helped make this happen--from hiding the red golf cart (no easy feat) to rounding up the cake, drinks, snacks, and taking time to come pull off what I heard Mom describe as her "most memorable birthday, thank you!

We love you Mom!

Come One, Come All

It's Carnival time at CCLS!

The Carnival is the main fundraiser of the year...but that's secondary to the fun.  Earlier in the week when we told the boys this was carnival weekend, that's all they were focused on.  Finally, when they asked "is it tonight that we're going to the carnival?" I could say yes.

We got there early as it was just getting started to grab a bite to eat before letting the boys loose on the rides and games.  Mom let me play with her fisheye lens for the iPhone.

Fun!

We were doing as directed by the boys...watching them on the "Tornado"--the swings.  They loved these (I did still do too).

Next up, the big slide.  Another favorite.  They were on this forever.

At least the boys were, Darren only went down once.

Off to keep Opa from getting scared on the Ferris Wheel.

Connor found a ride all to himself.

Gone fishing.

Uh oh.

A real fish--(aka our new life lesson).

So, we ran into Pets Mart five minutes before it closed to grab fish food and a little bowl.

All settled in.

Back to the carnival today!