Fall day

I spent the day with my amazing daughter. It is beyond beautiful to have a conversation with her and just begin to understand the innerworkings of her mind and keen humor and insights of a three year old.

A new way

As usual it has been too long between posts. I blame technology in part as the power cord to the laptop is shot and I haven't had access to the Internet save my iPhone. As recent events unfold and life races past at an unbelievable rate, I have found myself more and more emailing and communicating through my phone more than anything. This includes video and picture taking, as well. So as life changes, so must this blog. I will attempt to make more frequent updates and picture updates via this blog application. This will allow for more spontaneous pictures and immediate updates. The major drawback will be smaller posts of writing, as the screen size is limited and typing with thumbs and constant spell check is tiring and frustrating.

So with that, I wish you all a blessed new year and I hope that you are all finding peace and contentment in your own ways.

Times of Transition

Where to start? The past few weeks have been very full and wonderful. The last breaths of summer have found our small family celebrating and enjoying time together. While the summer sizzle has been slowly declining, we have been packing the days with laughter and trips all over the place and some new family memories.

With the school year now two weeks old, time is rapidly consumed between planning, and homelife. I have another wonderful class of students with a supreme school administration and staff to support me. It is a new sensation returning for my third consecutive year, and I feel comfortable and in-control for the most part. While I do not know everything that will be this year, I am confident that I have the tools and experience to undertake whatever circumstances are presented.

Just before the beginning of school, a family reunion of sorts took place in Chicago, with my sister visiting fresh from her graduation from the University of Pittsburgh, my Aunt Irene and Uncle Fred from Virginia, my Uncle Michael from Oregon, and my Uncle Stuart from the North side of the city. Making a surprise appearance was my cousin, Sam, who recently graduated himself and is now busy traveling all over the Midwest. Reunions of this sort are so bittersweet in the sense that it is beautiful to reunite and to have the chance to look around the table and feel absolute contentment when studying every face. Our history, my life, the future of our lineage, all at one dinner table for an evening. It is also difficult, as the next day we assemble at a playground for a few more minutes together before having to admit that time is demanding our return to the paths we have chosen for ourselves and having to say goodbye, not knowing when the next time we will all be together will be. Still, it is better to have met for a brief period, than to not have met at all, right? I love my family, and am blessed to be a part of it.

Now the Fall season is more than a blurry idea off on the distant horizon. The weather fluctuates from extreme hot to cool evenings and such on a much more regular basis. The plants and trees seem to be tightening in anticipation of change. While one can still wear a t-shirt outside, the thought of unpacking the fall wardrobe cannot be too far out of mind.

This Labor Day Weekend, we spent in South Bend. From the terrible Notre Dame season opener to Aunt Beth's birthday celebration, to time spend lazing around the house, I feel like summer is finally over and have come to accept this idea with a sigh of understanding. We celebrated this notion by traveling to Fair Oaks Dairy Farm about an hour and a half away, to experience cows in all of their glory. While I now know more about systematic milking than I care to admit, the day was filled with many warm memories that I will cherish as we move forward into cooler temperatures. Audrey, in particular, ran with sheer glee from one point of interest to another, trailed by grandma and mommy and daddy. From bouncing on a giant air pocket, to witnessing several calf births (which I couldn't stomach) to savoring a large vanilla milkshake with the freshest of dairy, Audrey ravished every opportunity to have fun and laugh during these final hours of summer.

So now what? While the overall tone of this blog may be melancholy, I actually very much look forward to the Fall and changing of the seasons. It is truly the most beautiful time of year when the colors of the Midwest leaves explode in their final defiant act of Winter. Our family now prepares for a second daughter in November and the upcoming holiday seasons. Long walks in the leaves and the final month of my training before the marathon I have decided to run await. And even when the first flakes of snow fall on our roof, it is satisfying to know that we will be hunkered down below, making memories and sharing laughter and joy that will warm us long after the final leaf has hit the ground.

-a

End of Summer

The days of summer have passed and our family is now entering another transition phase that will ultimately bring us into the fall season. The pressures of returning to education are mounting and will reach a boil at the first in-service next week. While I look forward with much anticipation to another school year, it is always difficult to let go of the comfortable, tensionless, summer schedule shared by Audrey and I over the past couple months.

As football season approaches, our little family looks forward to fall activities and the possibility of preschool in a few months. It is almost absurd to think that Audrey will be 3-years-old next month and she will have a baby sister in three months, also! Plans for Audrey's new room are almost complete, as the painting is done and new carpet arrives next week! All that remains will be to purchase and assemble her new "big girl" bed and dresser. Pictures will be posted when work is complete! Needless to say, Audrey is very excited about this transition, although I am sure there will be times in the future when she questions whether having this little sister was worth the new room!

Kim is doing well with the pregnancy and life is pretty much scooting along at a calm pace, although November will be a radical shift in living and schedules for all of us. While only a few days of summer remain for me, I am very much looking forward to seeing my sister and other family members this week for an Orelove reunion of sorts in Chicago. While summer days sift through our grasp, it is pleasant to think back over summer memories and envision more happy moments in the near future!

-a

This first batch of pictures are of Audrey's 3-year photo shoot yesterday!

(This dress was Kim's at the same age!)

These next couple pictures are from Beth and Mark's wedding celebration in Indianapolis. Audrey danced for roughly five hours! She also slept for two solid days after! Rock on Audrey!

Below are Beth and Mark. Happy Life you two!

Photos from July

Abel sitting where the Forest Gump bench was located, but has since been moved to a museum.

Nice fence in Savannah...look closely! Haunted Fence?!?!?

A view along the river walk through downtown Savannah.

Abel and Kim at the wedding reception in Savannah.

Audrey at the Children's Museum on Chicago. Is she drinking from a worm?

"The Fountain" in Savannah.

Abel and Kim in front of "The Fountain"

The Mercer Williams House in the Victorian District of Savannah.

An Update of Sorts

I cannot even remember the last post for this blog, and I don't care too much to look back to find the exact date. The bottom line is the summer is passing quickly, as it always does. While the days grow hotter, and the nights flourish with fireflies and stars, something in the back of my mind whispers of the return to teaching and finding our way into the fall season. I know it is sinful to mention fall in the middle of July, but I cannot help but admit that it is already playing in my subconscious.

So what has the family been up to this past chunk of time that makes summer minutes seem like seconds? Let me take a moment to review past summer days...

The daily routines consist of quiet breakfasts with Audrey and Daddy after mommy has gone off to work. Oatmeal or cereal and fruit are usually on the menu, although pancakes make an occasional appearance. Usually after that it is games, toys, blocks, drawing, painting, walks to the park, etc.

My stepfather (Ted) and his wife (Lisa) visited for a few days at the beginning of the month. It is always special when Audrey gets to see parts of my family. Grandpa Ted enjoyed having tea served to him by Audrey and also sharing some deep fried ice cream! We took several walks to different parks and got a chance to check out the neighborhood! One evening we attended a Kane County Cougars game, which was an absolute delight. While everyone watched the baseball, Audrey stood up between innings to see witness the comedic acts of the mascot, Ozzy the Cougar. The home team won and fireworks and a run around the bases were enjoyed after!

At the end of their stay, Grandma Dixie came to visit and watch Audrey for the night while Ted and Lisa took Kim and I downtown into Chicago for the U2 concert. While I am not a huge fan, I can definitely appreciate the production value of their show and the quality of their music. Before entering Soldier Field, we ate at 11 Diner and nearly everyone there was going to "The Show". The stage was indescribable, and the music was outstanding.

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This dotted line represents about two weeks of time that has just passed since I started this entry. Time just moves differently during the summer.

After the U2 concert, we spend a short period of time getting the house organized and cleaned up and then we drove to South Bend for an evening and left Audrey with Grandma while Kim and I drove during the early morning hours to Savannah, Georgia. Officially attending a wedding, this was our unofficial vacation. The trip was actually our first vacation ever in terms of just having some time to be tourists and hold very little responsibility.

We rented a beach house on Tybee Island, about twenty minutes outside of Savannah. Between running on the Island and touring through the historic Victorian District, we had a lovely time. The hot, steamy weather was staved off with iced tea and afternoon naps on the island. We savored many delicious meals and shared many laughs with our friends. Having not role other than spectator for the wedding, it was a beautiful thing to only have to show up at the wedding and then dance and be merry!

The historic houses and beautiful squares are a pleasure to stroll around. We even took part in a haunted trolley tour on the Trolley of the DOOMED! Overall, our experience was exceptional and as we departed from the city listening to our audio book of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", I couldn't help but think that we will return at some point in the future to enjoy another helping of history and fried green tomatoes.

Now that we are back to our normal summer schedule, Kim is working hard and we are counting down the days until the arrival of our second daughter. While it is not official, "Violet" seems to be the leading name candidate. Audrey is full of energy and spirit and faces every day with determination to learn and explore and find joy in everything she does. These last couple weeks before I return to school will be met with time at the zoo, children's museum, and many different parks.

I continue to run with my neighbor and train for a marathon in October. While I will not be participating in the Chicago Marathon, I plan on running one of several held around the same time. I did participate in a seven mile race this weekend in Davenport, Iowa while we visited some friends out there. I have never participated in a race before, and this was an absolute treat, and I had a blast with all of the crowds, the runners, the music, and the post race activities.

So here we are, August 1st. In two weeks I return to school on an official capacity, and our family moves forward in preparations for a new child and finishing all small projects around the house before my time is transferred back to lesson plans and classroom activities. Many photos to be posted in the near future. But until then, it is time to get back to my summer and watch some Sports Center and sip coffee on the couch before Audrey wakes up.

-a

A Perfect Summer Day

Playing at the water table

It has been extremely hot and muggy the past few days here in the Chicagoland area, and finding different ways to stay cool yet active during the waking hours can be challenging with a 2 1/2 year-old!

A couple days ago, after our morning dog walk/stroller/breakfast in the stroller ride to the park, Audrey and I headed to the DuPage Children's Museum for a morning of exploring. This is one of my favorite places to visit with Audrey, as it has many areas of science and mathematics to explore for young minds and keep hands busy! The tactile experiences are wonderful, and I always leave wondering how much it would cost me to install a 25-foot water table in my house!

After the museum, we headed home for a lunch of peanut butter sandwiches, apple slices, juice, and veggie-straws (kind of a cross between potato chips and french fries, minus all the trans fats!) With full bellies and brains, an afternoon nap was in order. Cool dreams took the place of a hot afternoon sun!

After nap time, Audrey and I found our way over to the library and checked out the music, movies, and of course the books. Next it was off around the corner to her new favorite little ice cream shop, where she now orders the vanilla "Kiddie Cone". With ice cream in hand, we stroll down main street and find a bench upon which to sit and observe the passing traffic of people and cars.

We end the evening with a walk/shoulder ride around the block and eventually back home to have dinner and a movie with mommy.

Summer is grand. Life is grand.

In the wind tunnel. Something about this picture evokes images of 2001: A Space Odyssey

Inserting glow sticks while experimenting with black light

Building a town while experimenting with shadows and moving light

Gravity + Spheres = Fun & Learning

Ending the day with the Kiddie Cone!