Adam had about 15 seconds of fame last night. While at Welles Park for the Midnight Circus, the WGN crew trolled for comments from CPS parents about the continuing strike.

Shortly before 9pm I got a text from my friend Adrienne, who works at WGN, telling me she just edited a sound bite of my husband for the 9pm news.

Hmmm, I guess the saying, “the camera adds ten pounds” is actually a fallacy.

What, you want to know what his comment was? Okay, okay, I was busy being star struck.

He said, “I understand both sides but at some point you have to put the kids first and resolve this as quickly as possible because it is highly disruptive to the kids and their families.”

Last weekend Adam ran a charity 5K race. He often runs races around the city, but this one was special.

It was organized by 12 year old twins, the son and daughter of Adam’s long time friend Steve.

For their upcoming bar/bat mitzvah, they wanted to give something to the charity of their choice. Although it is recommended, an act of charity is not required for this rite of passage.

They chose the Anti-Defamation League, which mission statement is to “stop defamation of the Jewish people… to secure justice and fair treatment to all.”

No bikini clad car washes, like we used to do in our day. Or standing on the street corner begging for cash with a tin can. These two entrepreneurial kids pulled permits from Glencoe, organized metals, T-shirts, snacks, marketed and charted out a race which almost 100 people attended!

Still those numbers were no match for my super fast husband. Armed with his new Vibram Five Finger shoes he beat almost all the other racers even though he had the additional handicap of a double stroller in front of him! He placed third, only behind two high school track runners.

Ben napped while Jack’s eagle eye spotted every runner. He would point to them and yell for Adam to pass them.

Here is an article on it, Glencoe Seventh Grade Twins Raise $3500.

As my friend Laura always says, “It’s on like Donkey Kong.”

And so it was – three days into the strike we were back in full blown summer mode.

Twins in the Pack and Play

Our friend Jenn threw down the gauntlet – A day at the beach.

These were some of the most fun days we had over the summer. They were also the most difficult to organize.

It takes me a good hour to make food, organize all the toys, towels, chairs, umbrella, repack the diaper bag, yada, yada, yada, and fit it all, along with a wagon, pack & play, and double stroller in the trunk of our car.

But at the end of every beach day I realize it was all worth it. Each beach day is a blast. Each beach day is completely different from the one before. Having the largest sandbox combined with the largest zero depth entry pool makes for endless possibilities.

As we did most of the summer, we invited Jack’s buddy Tim. Tim attended Jack’s preschool and also won one of the precious few lottery spots at his new school. A bit more work in the beginning to have an extra kid around, but a lot less work once we are there. Jack never tells me he’s bored and wants to go home when Tim is around. Ben loves him too.

Ice Cream Break

Much as I’m enjoying our endless summer, I’m a bit worried about how long they are out of school. I heard when the strike is over they tack the days the kids missed on to the end of the year. I just hope that June next year isn’t as hot as it was this year, Jack’s classroom doesn’t have air conditioning!

Pam’s idea to keep our kids really bored every day of the strike ended today. Let’s face it, we were given a bonus of time with our kids and other CPS kids during one of the most beautiful months of the year. Why not go out and enjoy it?

Emma, Angus and Jack

So, we met Pam and our other friend Jennifer at the Blue Park, the real name is actually South Lakeview Playground. Jennifer wasn’t there when we arrived, just her daughter was. Jennifer was at the doctor’s office on an emergency visit getting the acorn that her two year old had wedged up his nose out.

Angelica Feeding Sam

Otherwise it was a perfectly lovely day, almost like summer was still here. We had been given the gift of MORE summer! I just have to keep thinking of it that way when the kids are fighting with each other and I am at my wits end juggling them all.

One difference from summer is now Angelica instead of Kristen helps with the kids and listened to my non stop ramblings. I feel bad that Angelica, our other sitter, didn’t like her job and quit. But it’s such a windfall for me! I’m so pleased that I continue to get such great helpers for my kids. I’m very lucky.

Can’t wait to see what other strike days bring…

I must have jinxed myself this summer. Since the twins were born people often ask me how I’m doing. I kept telling them, “All I have to do is make it to September when the older two are in school, then I’ll be fine.”

Today was suppose to be Ben’s first day at school, Jack has been in school a week.

I had plans to redo the closets for fall clothes, clean up all the cabinets in the kitchen that are a mess, go back to the gym and start working out again, and so much more.

But right now I’m still sitting in my jammies at 9am and everyone is at home. Why? Because the Chicago Teacher’s Union is ON STRIKE.

So far I’ve been up from 2am – 4am feeding babies, then up for good at 5:50am with Aaron, then Sam 10 minutes later, then Jack 15 minutes after that. Ben brought up the rear around 15 minutes after that.

Adam kept trying to leave for work, but there were too many babies crying coupled with older kids doing naughty things. I finally got both babies down for their first nap and he exited quickly before another emergency emerged.

Luckily Adam had the foresight to hire the sitter for an 11am start instead of her normal 2:30pm arrival. I just have to make it until then.

My first instinct was to book a play date, but after speaking with my friend Pam I decided against it. She said she was trying to make it as boring as possible for her kids so that they would want to go back to school.

Probably a good idea given Jack’s first week at school. I’ve already been pulled aside by the teacher to talk about Jack’s behavioral problems. Apparently he does not want to do anything the teacher asks, refusing to move onto new activities when prompted.

Okay, two more hours to go until help arrives. Wish me luck.

Yesterday afternoon Adam’s Aunt Aloha and Uncle Ronnie came to see the twins.

They live in California and were in town for Aloha’s 50th high school reunion.

They are also proud parents of four children and every time they come to visit they are very good with all our kids.

Within a minute of them entering the house I had them both on baby duty.

I handed the kids over then, half jokingly said, “Well, I guess I can go now.”

Only the fact that Adam had taken the older boys out this morning kept me there, feeling refreshed and in the mood for conversation.

When Adam came back he said, “Did you rest?”

No, I didn’t. The twins were on opposite schedules so one was up at all times. But I still felt like he gave me a big break from the normal ridiculous hectic days I have during the week.

With only two around, I cleaned the entire house, did the laundry, prepped lunch and even make a zucchini bread. I had so much time. I can’t believe that I’m writing this, but only having two infants around was so easy! Please teachers, don’t strike!

Who is the jerk that snuck into our family picture?!

Adam’s childhood friend and long time buddy Steve generously gave us his White Sox tickets to last night’s game. They were incredible seats WITH a parking pass.

The game was ‘Half way to St Paddy’s Day’ and they gave out green Sox hats to celebrate. The south side of Chicago is known for it’s big population of Irish and these hats plus the bag pipe procession before the game confirmed it. Jack thought it was hilarious that the men in kilts were wearing skirts.

It was a cool, crisp evening. One that reminds you that falling leaves, apple picking, and Halloween are just around the corner.

We hardly ever come to the south side of Chicago. Even though we were only a couple miles from home, the mirror image of the skyline made me feel like we were in a different city altogether.

This was my first time to Cellular field. As one of the mom’s from Jack’s school said – it’s like a shopping mall. And so it was!

I was very pleased with the food and wine selection. We’ve come a long way when I can get a choice of 10 different wines by the glass and eat a veggie burger at a ball park.

I loved how they shot fireworks off at the beginning of the game and for every home run. The kids waited eagerly for the next show.

Besides the fireworks, there were other things that made it much more friendly for kids. They had a kid area, “Fundamentals”, where they could bat, pitch, and do other things that we didn’t manage to see, due to a potty emergency. I guess it’s something to look forward to next time…