it's been hot and it's been humid! The mosquitoes are absolutely everywhere. I switched from nice skin-friendly organic stuff to 20% Deet a good few months back, and yesterday I was vindicated when there was a piece in the local paper by someone who had tried out a bunch of the "natural" products and concluded that in Madison, they just don't work. I am hosting a barbeque today with my friend Mitra and we are hoping for nice sunshine but not too much humidity. We are starting at 3 so that when the mosquitoes come zooming in around six, people have the choice of going home. Of course a weekend wouldn't be the weekend if we had just one major activity! Before the bbq we are going to a birthday party for a school friend of Lucas' in a local sprinkler park - the invitation says "kids should bring swimsuits". But what about the parents?? I rather fancy running through a sprinkler myself. Then tomorrow we are off to Thomas the Tank Engine's 65th birthday party in a railway museum in Illinois (Eveline visited it with us last year). It is quite a drive - we had signed up for a coach tour with the local community center and they had to cancel, so I went ahead and bought tickets just for us and will just drive down there. My car's just been serviced (total cost $46 - gotto love them Subarus!) so we're good to go. Dinner with grandma tomorrow evening which will be nice after a day on the road.
We are heading for a busy autumn as well. Lucas ' energy levels seem to be increasing (my friends here call him the Energizer Bunny) and so I want him to do lots of activities to keep his little body busy. We will continue "jump jump" which is like a pre-athletics class for preschoolers, lots of jumping around on trampolines and cushions but they are also slowly introducing equipment. Lucas loves hanging on the rings and he is pretty impressive on the balance bar. He also loves being chased around the gym by the teacher which is what happens when Lucas gets bored with one thing and decides he will now move on to something else. Then we have managed to get a place at swimming lessons, which will be for 6 weeks. Unlike the baby swimming I used to do with him, I don't go in the pool with him. That should be very interesting! And finally I signed him up for football (as I do really want to be a soccer mom, I just need a bigger car) - you may remember that last year that wasn't such a hit but since the world cup he has been inspired again and he has been asking to go for class. So let's see - I am excited for him.
Work is great, I am not sure if I already mentioned that the funding proposal I worked so hard on in Spring was successful - my full budget got approved. So that is excellent news which has also given me a lot of confidence. Semester is only round the corner - I am teaching a new course for freshmen so am working hard on the final syllabus. It will be a busy term, that's for sure!
Finally, housekeeping point - I disabled the security question for comments so if you want to leave a comment that will now be easier. If I get spammed as a result I will turn it back on but I'll let you know.
4 comments:
Say hello to all my friends at the railroad museum :) and happy birthday to Thomas ! I'll have a beer on him
Oh good! All our friends were there as well as some 20000 other people many of them under the age of 4. It was quite the excitement! Distinct absence of beer :-(
Wow! Lucas has grown so much!!! and we can match you here for the humidity - will you be visiting again any time soon? xx
Not planning it Sam - I have become a total country bumpkin and find city life stressful. I don't know how you cope with two in Manhattan!! But it would be great to see you and meet Tabitha. xx
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