Tears

High temperatures, an insufficient number of hours of sleep, and just plain ol' resistance to having to do homework resulted in high drama.

Sharon and I both worked to calm Arianna down and focused. And, after the tears were dried, she was able to finish her tasks.

It's just the first full week of school. Nothing to be overly concerned about, right?

Last gasp?

The heat seems to rise from the cracks in the ground. The flower garden -- so much of which bloomed well in advance of its typical time -- is looking more than a bit tired.

The Zinnias I started from seed way back in May are at their peek.



Bees love all the flowers. The Zinnias, Agastache, and Goldenrod are continually topped with them.

Slow transition

This past week was up and down. It's always a slow transition back to the routines of the school year. Luckily, Mrs. Schnell -- Arianna's new home room teacher -- didn't assign home work. Mrs. Garrigan -- Arianna's math teacher -- sent home 10 arithmetic problems on Thursday that nearly leveled Arianna. It takes a couple of weeks, but even then I anticipate a lot of resistance. --Arianna just hates homework. And, she finds it takes a herculean effort to focus and get the work finished.

As with every year, Arianna's departure for school results in Bruno's mood changing to combative and surly. He misses her. So, naturally, he's got to make Sharon and me suffer.

Imagine what our lives will be like if he's still around in eight years (when she starts college).

First day of 5th grade

Sharon begins teaching today.

Arianna begins 5th grade.

A busy morning.



Although Arianna left the house with a smile on her face . . .



. . . once at St. Catherine's, her mood shifted . . .






It was only a half day today. Grandpa and I collected Arianna at Noon and then we bought her a hamburger at Maxwell's - a family-owned joint that serves Chicago-style dogs and burgers, which Arianna enjoys for its hustle and bustle ambiance.

Loose Ends

Just a few errands to run with Arianna today: library, Walgreens . . . nothing special.



And, we started tidying up the basement too.



Tomorrow Arianna and Sharon start the 2010-2011 school year.

120 Months Old

In comparison to yesterday's excitement, today cold not compare. Although, at day's end . . . Sharon and received a "thumbs up" for our attempt to make Arianna's 10th birthday memorable.

After Mass, I sprang for a dozen donuts, about which Sharon was a bit disappointed. --She'd planned to make Arianna's favorite . . .
Arianna, still at the hospital

French Toast. No matter. French Toast and chocolate glazed donuts go very well together.

Since Grandpa had retired after his bowl of cereal, there was a bit of a wait until Arianna was allowed to tear into her gifts.



Arianna, 1 year old




Arianna, 1 year old

But, once he woke up, she was anxious not to lose any more time.



Arianna opens the gift she received from Uncle Greg (her Godfather) Aunt Ronda, Lorelei, and Sabina

Her gifts opened, we ventured out to a movie and dinner. Nanny McPhee Returns was a hit with everybody. (Though Grandpa is becoming more vocal about Arianna's preference for fantasy stories.)



Arianna and Grandpa


The drive from Barrington to Elgin is not long and soon Arianna was enjoying one of her favorite Thai dishes, Lad Nar -- a beef and broccoli dish served on home-made noodles that are thick and wide. She loves it.

After supper, we returned to the house, played a game of Sorry -- a new game -- and later enjoyed birthday cake.

The day ended with Arianna burning the last of her Independence Day sparklers.




Arianna sparkles

Ill-prepared

I've been thinking a lot about Arianna's birthday tomorrow. The thought of her reaching 10 years overwhelms me. How is it possible that in the next decade she will grow beyond us: high school, a driver's license, girl friends, boy friends, Summer jobs, college.

I don't know about Sharon, but I'm not prepared.

I embrace what is to come . . . however hesitantly . . . but I shall always have the most treasured memories of her first ten years.



January 31, 2003 - Arianna, 2 years old

10th Birthday Party

Nine girls from Arianna's class accepted her invitation to celebrate her 10th birthday. We scheduled the party for Saturday, August 21. Although morning clouds threatened rain, by the time the first guests arrived sunshine and heat prevailed.

Arianna planned much of this party herself. She chose a circus theme. Each of the guests were asked to come prepared to entertain their friends. But, before the circus "acts" were to be showcased, there were various games outside.



Once the girls began to perspire from all their outdoor activities, it was time to move into the basement. There, all sorts of animal tricks, acrobatics and magic . . .



astonished the audience . . . .



And what would a birthday party be, without cake and ice cream?



Gifts from school friends -- all of whom crowded around Arianna to see what she'd received.



The whole troop . . .

Vegetables

Although the site for my raised vegetable beds is sunnier than where Bruno plants tomatoes, the deer have enjoyed the fruits of my labor more than the family. My tomato plants, pea pods, beans, beets, and peppers and have been a picnic for them.

Astonishingly, they have yet to find the pumpkin . . .




. . . of which only one seed germinated and only one fruit has developed.

Neither are they paying much attention to the winter squash. I've a half dozen of these growing and I'm cautiously optimistic that neither the deer nor the raccoons will damage them before harvest.



As for the cucumbers . . . deer eat the leaves, but disregard the fruit. The hot, humid weather resulted in a dozen cucumbers to date. These were supposed to be for pickling, but nobody wanted to wait!

Preparations

Arianna is a buzz with planning her 10th birthday party on Saturday.

The party is going to have a circus theme. The girls who Arianna invited to the party are supposed to entertain the group with an "act".

Aside from performing magic tricks, I'm not aware of Arianna's act. However, I'm not as involved in the planning as Sharon and Arianna are.

I imagine this week will pass quickly -- what with all the tidying, decorating, and organizing of games and activities that have to be completed by 1 o'clock, Saturday.

Dog Days

Yes, these are the dog-days, Fortunatus
The heather lies limp and dead
On the mountain . . . .

-- WH Auden

Yesterday Sharon went shopping with Arianna for shoes; today I went with her shopping for school supplies. Although Summer rages in the Fox River Valley, the community pool will close on Sunday. Sharon and Arianna's swim earlier today was probably the last for the season.

I confirmed my intention to teach CCD this year. Like last year, I'll be assigned a 3rd grade class on Wednesday evenings. I'm looking forward to it and have already some ideas about how to make the class enjoyable for the kids.

Even as our minds (grudgingly) turn to Autumn activities, Summer's hold on us is tight. High temperatures and high humidity persist. We eat supper sitting at the bar in the basement. Sharon and Arianna sleep in the basement.

"A house full"

"A house full." That's the way my Mom characterized Bruce and Laurie's visit. No trouble at all, really.

For the most part the Iowa Kilarskis spent a very low key three days in Sleepy Hollow. Bruce and Alex played pinochle with Bruno. Sharon sometimes joined in, but three-handed play was the order of the day. Laurie relaxed with a book. And Jane and Alana and Arianna entertained themselves with toys.

The kids have grown considerably since the last time we saw them. --Especially the girls.

While sitting and observing them, I recollected Bruce and Laurie's visit to KCMO back in . . . 98 or 99. It seems like yesterday I spent time with Alex at the park, pushing him on the swing. And the girls . . . they were just babes in arms.

Of course, with Arianna's 10th birthday just around the corner I'm emotionally tender. 'Der alte Hund' isn't merely a whimsical moniker anymore. It's become a fact. Alex, Jane, Alana, Ben, William, Arianna are all growing so much faster than I'm ready for them to.

Foot of the Burr Oak

Lichen, moss, fungus alive at the foot of the Burr Oak

Dragonfly at rest

A better camera . . . A better photographer . . . A better image. Still, a moment of quiet wonder at the beginning of the day.

Petting Zoo

In contrast to yesterday's overcast day, today was sunny and warm.

Arianna had wanted to go to the petting zoo at Randall Oaks all week. Not only did we go to the zoo, we enjoyed a picnic lunch in the park afterward.

A pleasant afternoon, which even Bruno was able to take part in.






I. Arianna feeds the cow




I. Arianna feeds the goats