Spring Break

It is finally Spring Break. I am sorry for the lack of blogging as of late, but I have been run ragged with school and grad school and baby Audrey and life in general. It really hasn't sunk-in that I'm on break, but hopefully when Kim's morning alarm goes off and I don't have to go to work, it willhit home! :-)

As the daylight increases, so does my energy and activity level. I am always amazed every spring how we survive such dark, cold winters. I am starting to understand why people move South for the winters. I am doing my best, when not at work, to not pay attention to the time and just enjoy whatever is in front of me or whatever it is I am doing. I am doing my best to be in the "now" and it is helping me to search-out more detail and focus more effectively on tasks at hand or games with Audrey.

Speaking of, Ms. Audrey Ruth is doing quite well. Her 18-month check-up was a success in terms of her bill of health, which is quite clean! However, Audrey did not take too kindly to receiving two vaccination shots, one in each leg. Some vanilla ice cream at home helped ease the temporary pain.

Tomorrow will be a special day because Grandpa Ted and Grandma Lisa will be arriving from Texas for a few days. It will be a treat to introduce them to Audrey and spend some time showing them around Chicago and the burbs. Some of the items we have on tap include walks with the dog, the zoo, Chicago style pizza, and Ted and Lisa will Audreysit while Kim and I get to a movie or sleep in the car in the driveway! :-)

Pictures and stories to follow soon!

-a

Taco Night

Tonight is taco night in the Orelove household. No survivors were reported.





-a

Spring Walks

We've been out and about these past couple weeks, traveling all over to visit friends and family. Last weekend we were in South Bend, and this weekend we had a nice lunch with friends at a Japanese Steak House! It is always fascinating to have an entire meal cooked right before you! Audrey expecially enjoyed the sizzling and boiling and steaming of her meal, and mainly stuck to the comfortable familiarity of rice and the occasional bit of chicken.

The weather, while not perfect, is finally transitioning into spring! It is still very gray most of the time, but the temperature has found a new home in the high 40's most of the time, with the infrequent visit to the mid 50's. This means walks with Audrey in the jogger and Phoebe accompanying. We did about 6 miles today around the subdivision over three different walks today. Audrey is able to verbally identify dogs, geese, ducks, rabbits, and birds. For the most part, however, she is very quiet and seems to enjoy the fresh air and constantly-changing scenery as we move down each street.

Spring break is a mere two weeks away, and the Summer vacation is on the horizon! More updates and pictures soon. Happy Spring!

-a

March Update

Audrey making a mess!

It is nice to finally be in March. It gives us hope that this gray that is winter will finally find a time to move on. The constant gray days and ever-present snow has given a sense of hibernation at least in myself. I have found my eyes wandering over the calendar days more and more as spring approaches with the promise of more sunlight and warmer temperatures. In years past, I have never really minded the long winter days, but I am eager to see green grass and be able to walk with my daughter and dog on summer mornings.

The past two weeks have been a blur, including the weekends. Two weeks ago we made a trip down to Indianapolis to visit my friend, Amy and her new baby boy, Dexter. I know that Amy and Gary will be wonderful parents, and I look forward to having many more play days with Audrey and Dex in the future! We also spend some quality time with Beth and Mark at their house, while our dog, Phoebe, savored having access to a backyard whenever the urge struck her! We also got some nice hang-out time with cousin Gail and some Beatles Rock Band! Thanks for dinner cousin Gail!

Momma Amy and Baby Dexter

Last weekend, our little family visited South Bend because it’s been a while since our last trip there. It is always nice for Audrey to have some time with her Grandmothers and family on Kim’s side. I have been desperately trying to finish my most recent book because I have a stack of about eight that I need to get to at the moment. However, graduate papers and books along with standardized testing in school and preparing for the final push in the year have really consumed most of my time.

I am also very much looking forward to my spring break, as my step-father, Ted, and his wife, Lisa, will be visiting our house from Texas. This will be their first time meeting Audrey, and I am very much excited about this. It has also been a couple years since we’ve seen each other, and I miss him very much.

The days are slowly becoming lighter, the weather a little warmer a degree or two at a time. Audrey gets bigger, laughs louder, and is walking all over. She is saying lots of new words, especially animals: bat, pig, sink, socks, shirt, among others. Here are some pictures from a recent time when she found her way into our flour jar!

-a

Look who is getting into some trouble!

Audrey and Phoebe: A Symbiotic Relationship.

Happy Valentine's Day to all. I am more happy about President's Day tomorrow, as it affords me a day off from work! Things are well around the Orelove household. Kim and I went to Rosebud in Naperville for a nice dinner with friends this weekend. Audrey is moving steadily onward and upward and is learning new things every minute of the day. currently, she is enamored with pigs and saying "snow".

Phoebe Awaits the spill of Oats!

Here are some pictures from this morning with Audrey, Phoebe, and some hot cinnamon oatmeal on a cold February morning!

Cheers,

-a

February Blah

Audrey helping blow out the candles on my 30th

First of all, it is time to be done with this weather. The grey days and cold make me want to do nothing more than burrow further under the blankets. I cannot wait until the spring when I can resume my walks with Audrey and the dog around the neighborhood and observe the occasional rabbit or bird.

Other than that, things are fine. Not too much since my 30th. I've been working very hard with school and my new graduate courses, so I've often found a lack of time in terms of this blog. It feels good, though, to feel that I am improving with my profession and making an impact on my students and their education and lives in general.

Audrey caught feeding the dog from the table!!!

Audrey continues to flourish. Her vocabulary is building at a staggering rate. She has many sight words down pat, and is babbling like crazy, just a few vowels short of words and complete sentences. She loves to greet the dog every day when we return home, and books are still her greatest love, although the occasional block tower building session is becoming a favorite, too.

Upsidedown kisses from Daddy!

Today we will be traveling North a bit to see my friends from my old school district in Villa Park. It should be a nice reunion of sorts before an evening of cleaning, organizing, and reading. I have a plethora of books that I want to read, and I am desperately trying to find room for personal enjoyment reading amongst all of my school-required texts and classroom curriculum!

I hope this finds everyone doing well.

-a

Guess Who's 30?

Well, it has already been a week since my big 3-0, but it has been a nice transiting into the next "phase" of my life. The last month or so leading up to my 30th birthday was a period of reflection and looking towards the future. I have had a wonderful life and am thankful for every moment of it. I am truly blessed to have so many people in my life who love me and whom I love as well.

We celebrated in comfortable fashion last week in South Bend. Kim's mom had a cake and gifts for me and then we had a double birthday celebration with Uncle Bob and the other side of the family. I was spoiled with nice gifts including a couple of Bear's sweatshirts that I have been wearing constantly since receiving. I have also received a bunch of very nice gifts from my own family, so I am very thankful for all of my new treasures!

Now it is back to the grind, so to speak. Last week I started the new semester of classes at Roosevelt University for my administration degree. The professor in the first class looks to be a breath of fresh air as he has a good sense of humor and understands the hours we are all putting in on top of our daily work schedules. I am looking forward to learning more about creating community ties through the school.

Audrey is wonderful. We visited some friends in Villa Park yesterday and brought them doughnuts. Today we've already cleaned the downstairs, played with blocks, taken a bath, and she is currently taking her late morning nap. I may follow suit shortly. Afterall, I am getting more and more tired in my old age! :-)