Post-show

Owen and I had a wonderful time at "Seussical" today. As I mentioned earlier, we met up with his friend Jan and his family at the theater. We waited a long time for face painting before the show, but it was well worth it, as these before and after pictures show.

And I think it was a very fun show for Jan's family. The Zimmermanns are from Germany, where Dr. Seuss is known but not often read as the rhyme scheme, as you can imagine, doesn't translate well into other languages.

But Jan is learning both languages, and his family enjoyed the Seuss stories, which I think made a lot more sense in this musical form.

Maya and Amy stayed home from the show. Her ear was sensitive to loud noises earlier today, so we decided she would do better to stay home and recover instead.

And recover she did. The antibiotics kicked in quickly and Maya ended what had been a three-day fast. She ate two yogurts, some cheese, bread ... the list goes on and on. Amy said it was something to behold.

Ear Infection and the Thinks You Can Think

Daylight Savings Time is here. The time changes are normally not a happy thing for us. Our two years in Arizona taught us how silly it is to Spring Ahead and Fall Back, a sentiment that was further cemented once we had kids and realized how the turn impacted sleep for the better part of a week after.

Today, though, wasn't so bad. Maya, we found out today, has an ear infection and has been sleeping poorly. Last night was better than the night before, but not perfect. Fortunately, Amy and I took advantage of the time change and were in bed at 9 pm old time and weren't roused by the kids for good until 7:30 new.

Note I said, "for good." We were up with Maya for almost a half hour in the middle of the night. She's been sleeping so poorly, and eating worse. While she was up last night, Amy had her in the potty Owen came charging into the bedroom following a nightmare. I walked him back to his room and got him settled, then passed Amy and Maya en route to Maya's room, with Maya repeating "Owen's sad" in a half-roused mantra all the way. We ultimately settled again, though, and I, at least, felt a little more rested today. I got to exercise for the first time in three days, and had time to run to the store and bake some scones for breakfast, doing my part to get everyone else's day started on the right foot.

Speaking of the potty, Maya's pretty much potty trained herself. She knows when it's coming, and we rush there as fast as we can, probably with a 85% success rating. Pretty amazing for a little girl who turns two in 11 days.

This afternoon we're going to one of the Family Series events at the BCPA. "Seussical" is returning. We took the kids when Maya was just born and had a wonderful time. We'll be meeting Owen's friend Jan and his family at the show. But before, Amy is taking Owen to visit a friend of hers who works in the astronomy department at Illinois State to see some space rocks.

Last weekend I drove to Sioux City to judge a show choir competition at Sioux City East High School. This was my fourth time at this competition, a fun weekend filled with good friends, and a good chance to visit others en route. I also got to stop and pick up some UI gear for the kids.

A new Nerf football for Owen ...

And a short-sleeved Iowa outfit for Maya ...

A couple more pictures from the week follow.

Matchboxes around Owen, and a shot sure to make the graduation picture board.

Has it really been that long?

Regrettably, yes it has.

So many things have happened since I last wrote.

Owen and I had a nice visit to Grandpa and Nana's over the Martin Luther King holiday. Owen and Grandpa had fun playing (see below) and I had a wonderful visit with Mom. Since that visit she's become more adventurous in her getting out on the town and three months after her "all clear" diagnosis from the doctor remains on her healing path.

A week later, I managed to not kill Garrison Keillor as I drove him back and forth between Bloomington and Peoria despite Winter Weather Advisory conditions. The 15 cars in the ditch gave us lots to talk about on one trip. On the way back, he put the final tweaks on this article which was due the next morning.

The next couple of weeks are a blur. Needless to say, the kids have been wonderful. Maya is talking and talking and is full of pizzaz.

She's all about sentences now. Each day is a discovery of new words put together in perfect ways she's never put them together before. Favorite topics, though, include, "Owen, Mommy, Daddy are nice," and "He's naked!" when talking about a Michelangelo's David bookmark we have.

She's also discovered makeup, as you can see below, and has her first set of perfectly painted toes.


Owen, meanwhile, tried out a new face painting option, a lizard, at a Family Series event at the BCPA in January. He's always gone for tigers before.

He looked great!

... and perhaps it was foreshadowing for the dragon parade he participated in at his school last week. All the kids decorated boxes and the class went on a march around the building with Chinese music playing.

Happy Year of the (wait for it) Tiger!

And he continues to amaze us with all he remembers. The other day I checked out a book about the man who walked on a tightrope between the Twin Towers. We'd read the book about a year before, about the same time I saw the "Man On Wire" move on DVD. Picking books one night I asked Owen what he would like to read. "The book about Philippe," he said. I was confused, but when he pointed out exactly which book I immediately remembered and knew he was right.

Philippe Petit.

Owen, if I'm ever on "Millionaire," my lifeline is you.

We also had a great time celebrating Nana's birthday two weeks ago. I drove up to see her for a couple of hours on the 9th. The weather was crummy and Amy was sick at home, but the opportunity to spend time with Mom on her special day, especially with Daniel visiting from Massachusetts, was just too good to pass up. Happy birthday, Mom! We're all very proud of you.

Jungle Jack Hanna

Owen was tired, but still had a wonderful time with his mom, Auntie Pam, and me at the Jack Hanna show at the BCPA last night. So many amazing animals on stage, including a cheetah, penguin, owl, two-toed sloth, and this cute civet cat Joel got to meet before the show.

Jack was a wonderful guy. He stayed around almost an hour and a half after the show to sign autographs for all who were waiting.

Maya stayed at home with some sitting help from our good friends the Merrills across the street. Amazingly she fought going down until we got home. Owen went straight to sleep when he and Amy returned at 9:30, and Amy was just finishing with Maya when I returned an hour later.

They are both still sound asleep at 8:30 this morning, a rare feat for our house.

Gotta Dance!

A LEGO creation update ...

This has been the big doings around here this week.

From this police LEGO set ...

Has emerged this LEGO Police Space Shuttle ...

(And, yes, the cargo bay door opens.)

Merry Christmas, Part 2

We extended the holidays through the entire week this year, getting together with Nana and Grandpa Aalberts to celebrate Christmas over the New Year's weekend. Aunt Lorie and Jason, who at 18 is now the tallest cousin of us all, joined us. It was a fun visit that included some presents, stomping through the snow, and sledding, despite the seemingly sub-zero temperatures. The visit also gave us a nice time to share some special time with Mom and Dad as Mom continues to recover from her surgery, treatments, and a persistent virus that has her still feeling worse than we would all wish for her ...


The presents were fun. Maya enjoyed many more books and some more babies to add to her brood. She's a great caretaker of all her little ones, cuddling them and always making sure they have what they need in the way of blankets, pacifiers, and clothes.





Owen's Christmas was all about LEGO's. He got several new sets which (see below) we made quick work at assembling.

And of course there was lots of time for hugs and play ...

We were all very thankful for a wonderful Christmas and the family that made it possible.

Just as we were thankful for whatever moments of peace could be found on the car trip home ...