Norah loves to read to herself, and now she has discovered that Susannah will listen to her read, too!
What a good big sister, entertaining the baby so mommy can get some work done!
The Life and Times of James, Chiara, Norah, Luke and Susannah Hemsley
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Big Sister
Free!
JC Penney is giving FREE haircuts to kids for the whole month of August, and since so few things in life are truly free, I decided to take them up on it. Luca was a wild-card--I wasn't sure if he would throw a fit or just sit like a deer in headlights. He chose to sit like a deer in headlights, and sucked on his nuk furiously! Norah was really excited beforehand, but she just sat there looking sad the whole time.
Anyway, Luke's bangs are a little crooked, and there is a piece of hair that I will have to cut in the back of Norah's head, but other than that, not bad for free! :-)
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Herding Cats!
"Norah, go stand over there. Luca, go stand next to your sister. Now hold hands! Now look at mommy. Luca! Luca! Luca! Aghhh!" *click*
Chicago City
The kids and I took a trip to the Shedd Aquarium today and afterward, we took some photos by the lake. They had a great time seeing all the fish, the dolphins, the eels, and then the sailboats!
10 short years
James and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary on August 11! We got a sitter, ditched the kids, and went downtown to a fancy dinner! It does NOT feel like we have been married for 10 years! It's been a great ride, and, 3 kids later, we are still looking for more adventures!
I go zoo!
Luca has been saying "I go zoo ee ion!" (I want to go to the zoo to see the lions!) for a few weeks now. It's been so bleeding hot that we haven't been able to go until last week. We got ourselves there, and it turned out the lions weren't out! Luca still found plenty of cool animals to look at, though!
Kitchen Before, During, and After
Thursday, August 9, 2012
New Garden!
While the parents were here this weekend, we also had a chance to work on our ongoing project, the front garden! James and I made the new path ourselves, and then he dug out all the sod to the right of the path, and then Maria and Chiara planted flowers and mulched the whole thing. What do you think?
A can of worms from the mind of a 5 year old
Norah: “How did Iris get the virus?”
Me: She probably ate it or breathed it in.
Norah: “Did she know she was eating the virus?”
Me: No, viruses are really really tiny.
Norah: “How did the virus make her sick?”
Me: It went into her cells in her body and made them not work right. Her body got mad and she got sick.
Norah: “What does a virus look like?”
Me: Here, let me show you (on Google Images).
Norah, upon seeing the virus: “What are those spikey things for?”
Me: those are things that help the virus know where it is, and if there are other viruses around, and when it can start making more viruses.
Norah: “How big is the virus?”
Me: Here, let me show you (an animation found on Google search that shows the relative sizes from a coffee bean to bacteria, to viruses, to proteins, to atoms).
Norah: “How do we breathe viruses in?”
Me: they are so little they can float in the air if someone who has the virus sneezes nearby. You can’t see them they are so tiny!
Norah: “How do we know what they look like?”
Me: Scientists use microscopes to look at them.
Norah: “What’s a microscope?”
Me: Here, let me show you what a microscope looks like (thanks, Google Images!).
Norah: “How does the virus stay under the microscope if it can float in the air?”
Me: Good question! We have slides that we can put tiny things on and cover them up so they can’t move. Here, let me show you (Google Images to the rescue again!).
Norah: “But how do scientists GET the viruses if they are so little and you can’t see them?”
Me: Another good question! They get them from taking some blood from people who are sick, or maybe from someone’s sneezes, or from surfaces like doorknobs, tables, chairs, that people touch. Viruses are everywhere!]
Norah: “Okay, thanks! I’m going to go play now.”
Monday, August 6, 2012
Bathroom Before and After
I'm 2 months old!
Name: Susannah
Nicknames: Zu-Zu (daddy), Suzy-Q (mommy), oo-ana (Luca), and Princess Poo-poo (she earned it!)
I like: swinging, taking walks outside, looking at the trees and the sky
I can: hold my head up pretty well, smile, coo, bat at toys (sometimes)
I love: to be held and cuddled!
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Stunt Kite
Vinny took his stunt kite to the beach, and here is James giving it a whirl. As you can see, at this point, the kite was practically flying at sand-level--then he got it to go back up!
Kids in a pit
There is nothing better than digging a big pit at the beach and throwing the kids into it and seeing how long it takes them to get out!
Offspring
Here are all the grandkids from the Jasinski side of the family:
L to R: Ivana, Luca, Norah, Freida, Breeana, Susannah, Ethan, Lucia
Together
My brother Marco came from NY to Mi so all five "kids" were together. Of course, cheesy pictures were in order!
Oma and the Grandkids
Here's Oma with some (but not all) of her grandkids! From L to R: Luca, Lucia, Norah, Ethan, Susannah
Cousins (and friends!)
Norah and Ethan played so well together this summer! They would give each other big hugs when they met, and Norah would always ask me if Ethan would be where they were going. I am glad that they are really starting to be friends. I was always good friends with my cousin James growing up, and he was about 6 months younger than me, too.
Rock Quarry
We went to Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. They have an AWESOME kids' area, complete with a "rock quarry" (sandbox) where the kids can dig for fossils. Here are Luca and Lucia practicing their digging skills!
Luca the fish
Luca could practically live in the pool if we would let him. He loved swimming and blowing bubbles and jumping and floating and checking the temperature (which was always 85, according to him).
Enough goggles?
Lucia does not particularly like going in the pool, but she sure does love getting geared up for the pool! I count 4 pairs of goggles!
Popsicle twins
Luca and Lucia love popsicles! Popsicles love to drip! Popsicle juice loves to stain clothes!
Therefore, no clothes and a dip in the pool right after these popsicles!
Rapt Attention
Here are the kids listening to a lesson from Alessia! Just kidding--she was just sitting there and they are still sitting still because they are still eating.
Love the Beach!
Here's Norah Bear at L. Michigan! I live these "puddle jumpers"--they help parents relax a little and let the kids jump around in the waves!