You ever hear people say everything happens for a reason? I’m not sure if that is positive people’s way of justifying bad things, or if it’s really true.

This Saturday night we were suppose to be on an adult scavenger hunt for Jack’s school. We bought the tickets ages ago but never booked the sitter. By the time we remembered, it was too late. We couldn’t find anyone to baby sit.

Adam said it was for the best because Jack had a baseball game that he wouldn’t miss for our plans. But it was even better when we had an unexpected surprise visit from Adam’s cousin Jackie.

“Jackie?” Ben’s ear’s perked up. Yes Ben, we have a REAL Jackie in our family.

He was so excited to meet this female cousin who was blessed with his coveted name that he didn’t even get upset that he was missing Jack’s baseball game.

Yes, we have a Jack and a Jackie. The Jewish tradition of naming your kids after relatives is strong in this family. And Adam’s Grandfather, Jack, was one of those rare people who fit all the criteria – good name, good person, and deceased.

She was here with her boyfriend, Mark. I immediately warmed to Mark when I heard he was a fellow world traveller. He is originally from Pennsylvania but has lived in Africa, Germany and Mauritius as well as travelled to countless other places in the world. Anyone who has that bug, the one where you actually enjoy submersing yourself in another culture with all the joys and frustrations it can bring, is someone I can relate to. And one day, we may even be related as well! Okay, that was corny, sorry.

Not only do they live together, but they are also starting this new business venture together as well.

Jackie was visiting Chicago while on a bit of a tour for the new company. I’m not sure how far along they are but it’s a very cool concept and hopefully I’ll be able to tell you all about it soon.

With her Ivy league education and real world business acumen and his computer skills and internet start up experience they make a formidable team.

They also endeared me with their story, which was as unlikely as Adam and my own. They met at a conference then had a crazy thought to just meet up in France for 10 days. They have been together ever since, and when they were visiting on Saturday night, they looked like two halves of a whole. It was noticeable not only when they talked, but Jackie is a little thing, like me, and tucked in perfectly just under Mark’s chin.

I’m not sure our presence was received with such ardor from their side. From the moment they arrived Ben, Sam and Aaron all jumped on them begging for attention. Ben pushed books and toys in their faces while the twins did their signature move of lifting their arms and whining until they were picked up.

Then later, after putting the twins to sleep and dressing the older boys in their superhero jammies, Ben jumped on her on the couch, grabbed Jackie’s breasts and yelled, “HULK SMASH!”.

I hope we didn’t scare them away from having kids.

Even though CPS is still in session, the kids aren’t doing much these days. Watching movies, having up to 3 recesses a day, eating lunch and looking at books they brought in from home.

Adam decided Friday was a perfect day to play hooky with Jack and Ben.

Every morning is a struggle to get Ben to go to school. He will try all kinds of tactics to get out of going. He will refuse to get dressed because he knows he can’t go to school naked. When this happens sometimes Adam will ask him what he wants to do instead of going to school. He is always very specific.

Donuts, Oz Park, MacDonalds are always on the list.

So we started the morning eating Dunkin Donut Munchkins in Oz park.

The Twins Climb Everywhere.

So Do the Older Boys.

How We Get Places. We Look Like a Pre-School When We are All Together.

Attempt at Group Shot.

Jack’s request was to go back to Go Bananas. He had so much fun there last week that he wanted more. And more he got!

One lucky time he got 250 tickets from one try.

Not having enough fun yet? Adam decided to bring them to NOT ONE but TWO toy stores as well. Some of the toys were already opened and scattered across the floor of our house, but here is some idea of the swag…

Normally I would complain about such excess. But I couldn’t. Even I got to play a little hooky. While Adam was out with the older boys, I took a long nap with the twins, then when Angelica arrived, having no one to pick up from school I went to the gym, then did a little shopping of my own.

Yesterday I took the kids to a bigger park, Adam’s Park. Now that they are dropping their naps I have the morning to play.

It was a day of firsts. For me, covering two kids this age with no gates was a challenge I’ve never had before.

For the twins they experienced their first sand box. I knew Sam would be fine, but thought it might be a problem for Aaron since he likes to put everything in his mouth. I was pleased to report they both did well. It made me realize that if I wanted to, I could take them to the beach with the older boys. I’m just not sure I want to make such a colossal effort yet.

A woman asked me at the park today if they were twins. She said she sees me all the time in the park with all my kids, chasing them with my camera. You have so many, how many do you have?” she asked.

“Four.” I replied.

“Is that four plus the twins?”

No, I don’t have six kids. That would be crazy. That would show intent to have such a large family, when clearly what is going on here is an accident.

Or maybe I should have just went with it. Okay, yes lady, I have six kids. You see me all the time because I live in the house down the street. You know the one. The one that is shaped like a shoe?

As usual, when Ben has a school trip, I make sure to attend. What can I say? The kid is very strong willed and beats to his own drum. I don’t trust him not to get himself lost, and I don’t think there is an adult out there who can keep him corralled.

Here is a perfect example. I show up for the field trip this morning. Every kid is sitting on the rug listening to the teacher read a story. And what is Ben doing?

He’s drawing on the white board.

Soon after we board the bus. Ben, bad boy that he is, insists on sitting in the back, then laughing hysterically as we go over every bump.

Today we visited North Park Village Nature Center. It’s a Chicago Park District park right in Chicago. It’s so big that we saw a few deer roaming around. Did I mention it’s right in the city? Forty Six acres of woodlands that I never even knew about!

As a bonus this time I got Emerson as well as Ben to chaperone. I love her because she can really hold her own with Ben. This weekend I caught them at a party in a bouncy house wrestling each other on the ground. I think she was winning.

Besides deer we saw all kinds of bugs, turtles, crawfish, and flowers. It was a lot of fun to poke around and because there a path without too many choices, it was not stressful at all keeping up with the group.

Of course, the best time had was in the end when they had free time to run around together like a pack of wolves in the open grassy areas.

When my high school buddy Danny texted me saying he would be in town for the weekend and was wondering if I had some time to meet up, I felt terrible telling him our schedule. It was very uninviting for a single guy who probably hoped we could have a real conversation without being interrupted every 10 seconds.

Friday night Adam took Jack and Ben to Go Banana’s for Jack’s buddy Mekhi’s graduation party.

Go Bananas!

I stayed with the twins and had 2 blissful hours to myself. I wasted it on laundry and cleaning, but it was still nice to do it without a kid or two tugging on my leg.

Saturday we were so over booked we had to divide and conquer. Adam took the twins and Jack to his last soccer game.

End of season trophies for all.

I took Ben to his classmate, Eli’s, party at Pump it Up.

Ben AKA Jackie chooses to sit with all the girls.

We all piled in the car in the afternoon for Jack’s baseball game. Adam watched Jack play while I covered the other three in a nearby playground. Not a free hand for any photo opportunities, sorry my loyal readers.

Then Adam dropped me off with Jack and Ben at Ben’s school for his school fair fundraiser. Adam took the twins home to feed them dinner and bath them. The school fair had lots of games and prizes, hot dogs and a big open space with playground to run and play. The kids loved it.

Mini Golf at the school fair.

Sunday morning Adam took Jack to the park to practice some baseball while Ben, the twins and I hit our local corner park. Jack and Adam joined us later.

Then Adam watched the twins during their nap while I took Jack and Ben to another birthday party, Zack’s bowling party at Diversey River Bowl.

Ben leaning to the left, as if willing the ball left with his body. I do that too!

Basically, we had Sunday afternoon free to meet up with Danny. I don’t think he found it a very exciting offer, and I saw him later on facebook at Wrigley and checking out some of the local festivals. Would have been nice to see him, even nicer to hit some of the festivals he was thinking about doing this weekend with him. But unfortunately it’s not the time in our lives for that. This time in our lives are all playgrounds, birthday parties, and fast food dinners.

So we finished the afternoon at Adam’s park. Jack and Ben built a moat in the sand box then basically rolled around in it. Afterwards we hit Chipolte for a quick dinner at the ungodly hour of 4:50pm. The twins left an embarrassing amount of rice and beans on the floor but luckily they never make us feel bad about it there. And now I’m home, blogging, doing MORE laundry, and cleaning the kitchen before it’s time to drag my exhausted self to bed.

Okay, I get it people. After seeing the show, I now take back all the snide comments about having a graduation for kindergardeners.

“What’s next, will they give Jack a metal for counting to 10?”

“This is what is wrong with America, they give out trophies even when your team doesn’t win!”

Today we went to a 2 hour kindergarden graduation show that was adorable, entertaining, funny, and heartfelt.

The class did sung us “Open Your Heart” by Laurie Berkner, complete with matching movements.

Next they entertained us with a play called “The Tinker.” Jack had 2 lines of his own, as well as many group lines. It was interesting to watch him up there. So many of the kids were so expressive and vocal. He was shy, but not painfully so. And he looked at us often for approval. I discovered who he was a bit more by watching him onstage today. I’m pleased that he is going to a Fine Arts Magnet. I think it will really help him in life. Learning to feel comfortable in front of an audience is a great lesson to learn, especially so early in life.

They sung and danced to Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite”.

The class also had a slide show of pictures, and a video of all the kindergardeners answering questions like what they wanted to be when they grew up. Most of the girls wanted to be veterinarians. Jack wanted to be a truck driver.

Finally they marched them one by one across the stage to with “Pomp and Circumstance” playing in the background to receive their diplomas.

Afterwards the 1st graders treated us to a reception in the gym.

Then I was down to one kid for a kindergarden lunch organized by our friend Rebecca. It was lovely to feel so free. I actually SAT DOWN to eat and had real, adult conversation.

Ben and I after the show (with his wooden spoon puppet).

Today both Jack and Ben had school performances with their drama and dance classes.

The first show was a puppet show at Ben’s school. It was early, around 9:30am. So I put the twins in the stroller, filled their trays with snacks, and headed over to Ben’s school.

Ben was standing in line waiting to get on stage when he saw me. He jumped out of line and refused to get back in. He wanted to kiss me. He wanted to crawl into the stroller and kiss the twins. But none of that was communicated by him. Instead, he looked like a crazed kid, kicking and screaming and fighting the teacher to get to us. Finally he kissed us all then I left him, kicking and screaming that he wanted Momma and went to the find a seat.

I couldn’t get a good shot of Ben because he never once stood on stage with the rest of his class. He tried to jump off when he saw me. The teacher had to basically hold him like a straight jacket to keep him there. Finally they realized he was making too much of a fuss and brought him back stage.

I wanted to be angry at him. But I couldn’t because I don’t think he got it. He saw me, he wanted to be with me. He’s three years old. He practiced that song at home all the time. But I don’t think he ever realized why. I told him I was coming to see him in his puppet show, but he still didn’t really get it. Even after they pulled him back stage, this is what I was met with…

Ben saying ‘cheese’ for the camera.

I did feel bad for that poor teacher. She was no match for Ben. I’m not sure anyone is.

Later, during the twins nap, I headed over to Jack’s school for his performance. They did 3 numbers. I song with a bunch of xylophones, then a “woodlands” song where they sang then made funny animal sounds. Finally they did a dance number to some 70s music.

Jack walked in with his shirt covering his nose and mouth and for a second I was worried I would have two very poorly behaved kids today. I was starting to wonder what I was doing wrong.

He finally uncovered his face. When I asked him about it later he said he was trying to be funny. I must remember to work on humor with him more.

Jack dancing to 70s music.

After the performance was over, he and two of his little testosterone laden buddies (Timmy and Luke) started pushing and shoving each other with absolute glee.

I don’t think I’ll ever understand boys.