Oohs and Ahhs ahead!

Having just one road in town doesn't stop us from shutting it down for an hour, to allow for the 4th of July parade procession.

Tonight, we journey all the way to the end of our block, to watch the fireworks display that launches across the street at the park. Pretty conveniently spectacular. Enjoy the show, everyone, wherever you may be!

In other news this summer, the kids have enjoyed horse camp...

 (and art camp, baseball camp, and next week Ben has dive camp).

Ben just lost his 8th tooth...



 He also mastered the forward and back dives, now rides his bike like a champ on 2 wheels, and Sidney has made her inaugural jump off of the high dive (followed by dozens more)!

 Lastly, we are fostering a lovely 20-lb mutt named Tiger Lily. We've had her for 3 weeks and she has adapted nicely to the flow in our home. She'd make a cuddly addition to anyone's home (and maybe ours, but we're trying to make an honest attempt at fostering first).

Happy 4th of July! 

The Monkeys are Out!

It's official - we have a 2nd grader and a Kindergartener in the house!

 

Sid was so lucky to have our dear friend as her VPK teacher. I think she knows it.

Ah, the end-of-year songs from the risers.

Ours: "The World is a Raiiiinboooow, with Many Different Colors..." The kids were practicing around the house for weeks. It's running in a loop in my head.

 

Meet Mr. Popper and Spikey (look in the cage behind the kids). We're watching the K-1 class parakeets this summer. Buddy, the VPK bird, will join us on Monday. Notice Finley's laser gaze...

 

And to top off a great week, Steve and his angler Sam Kaufman scored some schwag in the five-day Don Hawley tarpon tournament. Way to go guys!



Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Ben's first year of pitching machine little league baseball has come to an end. Mother Nature often graced us with cloudy skies and breezes this spring, making those four days a week at the field much more enjoyable than is typical for this time of year. Though Ben can hit and field, he sure loves to run!

 Here he is, making a beeline for 1st base...

 

...and a mad dash to get his end-of-season trophy.

I was surprised to receive a team plaque, commemorating my service as Riverdogs Dugout Coach (aka: dugout b!*ch). Thanks guys! Stinky and sweaty as the job is, I can't wait to do it again next year.

 

Then, we were all surprised as Ben was chosen to play in the All Star game. A handful of kids from each of the four teams combine into two teams, for one playoff game.

 

That's reason to celebrate! Teammates dropped their jerseys and picked up a kickball at the post-season team picnic -where else but at the beach.

 

The All Star Red Team.

Smiles abound, though they fell behind in points. The season is over, but there's hardly time to clean the cleats. Next week, Ben will start his summer break with four hours of baseball camp in the mornings. He can hardly wait.

 

A big hand goes to Paula, Sidney, Greg, (and daddy, who's behind the lens). They were Ben's biggest fans, and at countless practices and almost every game. Team Friedman rocks!

 

Now, on to the business of signing yearbooks (I know, a yearbook for VPK??) But if you look closely, you'll see that she at least learned to write her name this year. Way to go Ms. Kara! Tomorrow is the last day of school, so there'll be another post shortly...

Happy #5 Sidney!

We spend Memorial Day much the same as the masses:  remembering those special individuals we've known, whom we now hold only in our hearts. But we have the added pleasure of celebrating a vivacious energy in our lives: It's the anniversary of the day our baby girl arrived!

 

Here's miss Sidney Lois four years ago:

 

And here she is today, 5 years old! (Awaiting her strawberry and crème crepes, in this pic.)

 

 She chose to celebrate a couple of days early by taking one special friend with her on a mainland adventure, to Build-A-Bear workshop:

 (...wishing on their bears' hearts...)

 ...and washing them after they'd been made. (Sid chose a saber tooth tiger, and recorded her own "ROAAARRRR" to place in the paw and play...and replay....)

 

 The new foursome (and me and Grama Karen) then headed to Jump-A-Roos - a padded gymnasium filled with huge inflated playing apparatus.

After three hours of boinging around, they took a spin on the carrousel.

 

A few days later, on her May 28 birthday,

 we had our annual family dinner. Face paint was one of many coveted gifts.

 

Ben got her a Lego pencil holder...and built it for her.

 

 And now, I'm proud to present, The Many Faces of Sidney Lois Friedman:

 

Mmmmm, just as the birthday girl ordered: double chocolate with strawberries.

Thank you Gram P'la!

 

She shares her birthday with her great-Uncle Jim Friedman.

 

Ahhh, the much anticipated EZ Bake Oven!

 

Then on Friday, her birthday was recognized at school by doing the annual "Walk Around the Sun." Its a lovely tradition practiced at her Montessori school, that gives especially the young kids a sense of the passage of time. And you literally get to be the center of attention - not too shabby for a little ham like Sid!

 

The months of the year are reviewed. As her mini life's story is read, Sidney walks around her circle of friends, once for every year she's been on Earth.

 

 Then she circles again, showing pictures of each milestone from birth to her age, 5.

What a blessed little life! She has a circle of loving family and friends that we give thanks for every night. We felt the good vibes from everyone all week. Many thanks and much love to you all!

Naperville in the (305)!

After enduring the recent torrential rain and high waters in the Midwest (thankfully without much damage), my folks Marc and Mary Baleiko decided to head our way towards sunny skies.

But ya gotta watch out for those sharks. Well worth it, for a Mangrove Mike's breakfast. Mmm-mmm we love those mangrove Oscars and the cinnamon roll French toast.

 

Once fueled up, we got down to business: building Sidney's big kid bed. They'd already cut and stained the pieces, and shipped them to us. Assembly was fairly smooth.

 

Sid's model matches the version that Grampa Marc made for Ben nearly 5 years ago.

 

 Signed, sealed and...

 

 ...tested. Passed inspection! Sid loves it. Finley-approved as well.

 

Later in the week we:

Visited Sidney's classroom...

...Savored the flavor of a ring pop. Can you guess its color?...

 

...Watched Ben play ball...

 

...Played memory...

And enjoyed some good eats:

BLT's...

 

...Steak and stone crab...

... and Key lime baked Alaska. Yum!

 

 The kids heard some great stories - some from books, but our favorites come from the fathoms of Grampa Marc's imagination.

Cheers P's!

 

We love and miss you already. Come back soon!