Enjoying a Fall Day

It's a beautiful fall day here in Northern Illinois. The sun is shining, kids go their book work done, and are enjoying some fall weather by running around the yard with our 7th month old puggle.

I think it's great that even at 12/13 they still enjoy playing games. They were playing tag with Puggy.  Do your older children still enjoy playing games? Do they still enjoy running around the yard?

Mine also enjoy the computer and tablets and other things, but it does my heart good to see them outside just playing and enjoying life and each other company.



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Free Range Kids

Does the idea of letting your 9 year old with their friends sit in a movie theater with no adult chaperon scare you? Does the idea of of letting him or her ride a subway alone scare you? Or what about eating Halloween candy BEFORE it was carefully check over by an adult?

If so then perhaps raising Free Range Kids is NOT for you! Honestly, I don't know where I'm at on the spectrum, but reading (or listening) to the book Free Range Kids How To Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children.

I admit I haven't finished the book yet, but the author raised some very valid points. For example the crime rate against children are nearly the same today as they were in the 1960's. We are drowned with 24 hours news and made for reality TV, that we really don't have a clear sense of what is true Reality and what is Reality TV. Oh and those drama shows that are "ripped" from the headlines (such as law and order) are no help in determining what is reality and what is Reality TV.

I haven't come to a complete decision on things, and I would encourage my husband to listen to (or read the book) before we did anything different then what we are doing now. Of course just like with homeschooling he would have to be in agreement with me. However, often lately I've been tempted with letting Superstar, age 9, stay home while I run up the street (literally) to walmart to grab some milk and bread.  I can't tell you how many times he's begged me to let him stay home while I run to the store to get milk and bread. I know I would be gone no more then 30 minutes (if even, seeing walmart really is just up the street; after all we've have walked there).

I use his age as the reason for him not being able to stay home. I tell him he has to be at least 13. I've always been under the impression that it was the "law". However the book raised some points and now I'm not even sure if it's the "law" or not. The author did mention that only 2 states had laws regarding children that stated actual ages and Illinois was one of the 2 states. (Maryland is the second state). Even with Illinois law the author said something that made me question if the law would apply for simple, quick, walmart run. Yes, there is an age listed in the laws, but at the same time child neglect statue describes, in part, what is consider neglect as "any minor under the age of 14 years whose parent or other person responsible for the minor's welfare leaves the minor without supervision for an unreasonable period of time without regard to the mental or physical health, safety, or welfare of that minor." (705 ILCS 405/2-3 from Ch. 37, par. 802-3 (d)).  That statue goes on to list question to take into consideration, such as weather, are there other minors, day, night, duration of time, etc.

So you see, even in Illinois, it's not automatically neglectfully to leave a child under the age of 14 home alone. So would it be "okay" to leave Superstar, at 9, home alone while I ran to Walmart to get bread and milk? Could he manage for the 20-30 minutes (if even) that I was gone?  Of course, that's up to my husband and I to decide after all we know our son the BEST!! I wouldn't do anything that I've felt was dangerous. It just interesting for me to learn that things are as cut as dry as I thought. What has stopped me from allowing my son to stay home while I do a quick milk and bread run? Well his age, because I've been under the impression the "law" forbid me from leaving him home alone at 9, but now I'm not so sure. (Of course hubby would have to give his 2 cents on this and He and I together will decide what's best for our children).

I just think back when I was his age. I know that I had to have been 9, 10, 11 and Mom let us walk down to the drug store by ourselves. I remember being around that age being allowed to pretty much ride my bike anywhere I wanted in town as long as I was home before the street lights came on. Oh and there was NO cell phones!! YIKES!! Of course things are so much worst, you can't do that this day and age, or can you?? How does the crime rate today compare to that of the 60's, 70's, 80's, etc? Is it really that much different? Or have we've been sucked in to believe it's so much worst by those 24 hour news channels?

3D Fireworks Glasses

Today the kids and I went to our local children's (science) museum. We have a family membership pass. This pass allows us daily general admission to the museum for one low yearly fee. For the summer they have special events to do on Fridays/Saturdays and Mondays that are included in the general admission. So we have been going because we have our membership.

Todays activities had to do with lights: experiment with black light, capture a rainbow, construct a color viewer and more. The highlight of todays activities had to do with 3D Fireworks Glasses. Each kids was allowed to bring home a pair to keep. The kids are looking forward to viewing the 4th of July Fireworks with these glasses on!  So what's so special about these glasses? Well when you look through them this is what you see.

3D Fireworks Glasses (Lazer Viewers)- specially treated holographic lenses break light into the spectrum. Lazer Viewers (3D Fireworks Glasses) are an exciting addition to fireworks displays, laser light shows and holiday celebrations everywhere, according to the manufactures website.

The kids through out the day have been viewing the world and lights via the glasses. Imagine that the fireworks on the 4th of July will be pretty spectacular when seen through the glasses. Perhaps I'll even be able to get video of what it looks like through the glasses.

The picture above is what is "really" seen through the glasses. I just turned off the flash on the camera and held the glasses up to the camera lens and took a snap shot!

Walking with a limp.

I know at first you might be thinking this is about me and my recent fall. However it's NOT me, it's Superstar. We have been blessed that over all his recovery has been going good. Really he hasn't had issue with his walking post-surgery. Sure at first, but that was just the initial recovery from surgery. Once he started to walk post-surgery things have been good. I know we had to deal with pressure sores this week, but they didn't caused him to walk with a limp.

As I've mention before we have been given permission for Superstar to have up to 4 hours a day WITHOUT his AFO. He was even allowed to play soccer WITHOUT his AFO.  Yesterday evening we went down to the river to watch a local professional ski competition group preform/practice. Superstar, Web-princess and their friends were not interested in watching the skiers...mainly because it was rainy here yesterday and as a result none of the music was playing and there was no announcer.  They weren't even sure they would go on with the performance/practice until 5 minutes before start time. So instead of watching they played on the playground and tag hide-n-seek among the trees.

Superstar was NOT wearing his braces, because of the time of day. He had shoes on, but some how he end up hurting the bottom of his left heal. It hurts for him to put pressure on his heal. Not sure what happen. I've contact the surgeon. We are already schedule to see him Tuesday as it is, so he told us rest, Motrin, and hopefully it doesn't get worst between now and then.

I'm worried....seeing we are still recovering, etc. I know we got the okay for sports and I know his running around last night was not abnormal play. I just don't understand why he's having pain like that.

Kids Say....

So yesterday it was raining here. The kids were playing outside in between showers with Daddy. Web-princess got her clothing wet on the trampoline due to the water. She was complaining that she was wet.

At that moment Superstar turned to DH and said "Girls and their fashion issues!"

Hmmmm...............

Caution: Playground Slides Can Cause Burns!

When I was a child almost every slide was "metal". We all know how crazy hot those metal slides got, well did you know that same thing can happen to the PLASTIC slides on the playground?? This story shows how a little girl received 2nd degree burns from going down a PLASTIC slide.

This reminded me how I needed to be reminded to check the temperature of the slide before allowing the kids to slide on down. Of course if your kids are older like mine you can teach them to check themselves before going down.

Forts and little girls

Web-princess is very much that little girl that like to have hair pretties and dresses, but she is also a bit of a tomboy and enjoy using her "woman muscles". (Her words!)

To the untrained eye the above may look like a pile of sticks, but to Web-princess this is a fort that she spent almost an hour working on this afternoon. First it had to be dragged from all the way from the back of the backyard to the front of the backyard near our kitchen door. Then it needed to be painted (she used the poster paint we had out to paint the snow). Then some other sticks needed to be gather to make the finish product that you see here.

She told me to not let daddy move it because it's the most awesome fort ever! And it was hard work using those "Woman Muscles". In my daughter's and some times son's opinion woman muscles are stronger then men muscles. (Our son has been known to say things like: "Come on Mom! You can do it! Be stronger then a MAN, be a WOMAN!)

Although Superstar has his moments Web-princess is the one that keeps us in stitches the most. Just last night she read a story to Daddy and prior to reading they had a little conversation. It  went something like this.

Web-Princess: Are you excited? (She was asking if Daddy was excited about her reading.)
Daddy: Yes
Web-Princess: Well stay tuned!

Yes we have to stay tuned when it comes to her because you just never know!

A Winter Wonderland

Just some pictures of our winter wonderland. We had several suggestions for some lovely people that said that we should put Superstar's feet into some plastic bags and pull him around a sled, etc. However Superstar was not comfortable with idea...So we brought the snow inside. (I'll have those pictures posted later.) In the mean time enjoy the pictures of our winter wonderland. :)

All of these are pictures of our backyard, taken from the kitchen doorway! LOL

Lint Playdough

So I found via Google search a recipe to make some lint play dough. It took a TONS more flour then the recipe said it would, nearly a whole bag of flour to be exact.  I have made my share of play doughs over the years and this one by far is the WORST! It even after nearly a bag of flour is still "sticky". However the kids are having fun! If you don't mind the "sticky mess" then Google the recipe and give it a shot!

Kids sometimes I don't get them!

I love my kids but at times I don't get it! So yesterday was their big play. (They did a wonderful job). We had an 11 am performance and a 6:30 pm performance. In between the performance several of us at least 6 different families decided to go to a local park and let the kids just run and play. Most of the time the kids played on the play ground, but at one point we decided to take the kids hiking. (I wish I had pictures, but of course I never have a camera when I WANT pictures). In the course of the hike we came across a creek. My kids got in WITHOUT asking, socks, shoes, and all. At one point my DD jumped in and it was up to her neck! UGH.

They thankfully were able to dry out before the evening play. (we weren't able to go home before the play). Their shoes and socks were still wet so we had them go barefoot which was fine for the play seeing they were a whale and a barnacle.

Okay so now to the point of what I don't get. After our hike and walking in the water, we go back to the play ground. Once we get to the play ground the kids ask "Mommy can we roll down the hill?" I just looked at them and said "I don't care". However, in the back of my mind I'm think: What's up with that? You jump in the creek without asking, but you need my permission to roll down the hill!!! Kids are just funny!!!

Give Them A Box!

They even at 7 and 8 still enjoy playing with a box. I even got into it! LOL (note to self don't let DH know where the camera is LOL). At what age do they find a box not so entertaining? Any ideas?

Kids Love To Play!

Earlier this week we had a very short lived hail storm. It started out of nowhere and ended just as quick. The kids afterwords had fun checking out the hail! They not only liked checking out, but making it, the hail, jump up and down on our trampoline!
Oh what fun!