It's all about ME!

At Morgan's preschool, they have an interesting alternative to traditional Show and Tell days. It's called the "Me Bag" and Morgan just got to experience it.

The way the Me Bag works is that, each Friday, one student in the class is allowed to bring the Me Bag home. That weekend, the child is to fill the bag with items that represent them. It could include photographs, books, pictures drawn by the child and favorite toys. The student brings the bag to school the following Monday and gives a presentation showing their items and telling the class about them.

When Morgan discovered that it was her turn for the Me Bag, she was so excited! She carried the bag around all weekend, taking turns filling it with things, giving a practice presentation and then dumping everything out and filling the bag with completely different items. Every once in a while, she would exclaim "It's my FIRST Me Bag!!!!" as if it were an occasion as momentous as her first birthday, first haircut, her first lost tooth, etc.

As Sunday approached, we knew that we had to nail down the final selections to bring to school the next day. They were:
• Bear Necessities, Morgan's cuddle-buddy and constant companion
• A picture of Mommy, Da, Morgan and Sophie in Arizona visiting Mamah and PopPop
• "Morgan's Book", a photo album created by Nana of her first day as a big sister
• A picture that Morgan drew of Elphaba, the main character in her favorite musical, Wicked
• A picture that Morgan drew of Spiderman which was sure to impress the boys in the class

The day of her presentation, Morgan confessed to having a few butterflies in her stomach. But she had nothing to worry about, her teacher said that her presentation was terrific. I only wish I had been a fly on the wall to watch!

Celebration of Summer

We had a wonderful time last Sunday at the Celebration of Summer at Ravinia. For those of you not from the Chicagoland area, Ravinia is a concert venue specializing in classical music. They are famed for their outdoor pavilion and their inexpensive lawn seats. Many a wonderful picnic has been shared under the stars while listening to fantastic music.


The Celebration of Summer is a free (donation of non-perishable food suggested) afternoon full of children's activities and performances. (In fact, Vito directed a show for Child's Play Touring Theatre that performed at the event.) The lawn is dotted with bouncy houses, balloon artist and craft activites.


There are rides and games for the children as well as an instrument "petting zoo" where kids can get hands-on experience. Performances are happening on various stages throughout the park the entire afternoon.


As you can tell, Sophie REALLY loved the train. I think she rode it about five times.

She also had a great time in the Sesame Street bouncy house. (Morgan, the old pro as inflatables, surprised us all by scaling a huge inflatable climbing wall and sliding down the opposite side without even blinking. We were all so impressed that we completely forgot to take a picture!)

We'll definitely take take next year to attend the Celebration of Summer. And, I think we're going to try to picnic more often as well!

Buy Me Some Peanuts and Cracker Jacks...

The girls attended their first Cubs game over Labor Day weekend. It is a rite of passage for anyone growing up on the North Side and, with my cousin and his boys coming into town for a visit, there was no time like the present..

To get the full experience, we took the Red Line from my parents' to Wrigley. Morgan is an old pro at riding the CTA since we regularly took the El to her ballet lessons at Ballet Chicago. She stood in the crowd, holding on to the pole, as if it were no big deal. Sophie, on the other hand, was not a fan of public transportation! When we got off the train, I think that she would have knelt down and kissed the pavement if I would have let her!

Attending a baseball game with two young children certainly is an experience. Between the trips to get cotton candy/hot dogs/peanuts/water/you-name-it, requisite visit to the souvenir shop, trying to keep the kids from bopping the nice lady in front of us with the little bat that we purchased at the aforementioned souvenir shop, and potty trips, I think I watched about 15 minutes total of the game. Sadly, the Cubs lost but we all had a good time nonetheless.

End of an Era

We are marking the end of an era here. We are now a crib-less household. This morning, Vito converted Sophie's crib into a daybed and we have taken the first of many steps away from having a baby in the house.

With Morgan in preschool, we had been taking the opportunity to introduce the freedom of a "big-girl bed" to Sophie during naptime. The first couple of days, she would be out of the bed like a shot and we'd immediately pick her up and put her in the crib. The next couple of days, she became a little more stealthy but ended up back in her crib. Finally, she slept two naps in Morgan's bed and we decided that, with the long weekend upon us, it was time to make the transition.

As you can see... so far, so good. Sophie climbed into the bed and practically put herself to sleep. Of course, we've yet to try and put them down at the same time. That will be a whole new adventure tonight.

Next, I imagine will be to rid ourselves of the pacifier (or "fuss" as Sophie appropriately calls it). Then, potty-training (which Sophie is more than ready for but Mommy is not). All of these little steps, while exciting, are a little sad. It seems like Sophie's babyhood has passed so much more quickly than Morgan's. It brings to mind the lyrics of one of my favorite songs as sung on by Liz Callaway on her album, "The Story Goes On"(It's originally from the musical "Big")

Two months old, he looks up at you
How his smile melts your heart
You want to say, "Stop, time"
Don't move on
Even as you watch that look is gone
Then he's two, such a little man
So alive and so smart
Again you say, "Stop, time"
Stay just this way
But the future comes and he can't stay
Nobody warns you of this parent's paradox
You want your kid to change and grow
But when he does, another child you've just begun to know
Leaves forever
Birthdays fly - 7, 8, 9, 10
Every kid he becomes you clutch and say "Stop, time"
Hold this one fast
But it's not supposed to last
And that time has come and passed
For he's growing
And he has to go

Webkinz Mania!

I like to consider myself a trend setter rather than a trend follower but one thing that has passed my family by until recently is Webkinz. Morgan and Sophie were just a little too young when they first came out and, as time went on, I didn't feel the need to introduce them. (Frankly, I get little enough time to work on the computer as it is without someone else waiting in the wings!)

Well, the other day, Vito brought home two Lil'Kinz... a cat and a dog. Someone had left them at the park and, after a few months in the lost and found, they needed a good home. Morgan chose the cat and gave the dog to Sophie.

When asked what she wanted to name the cat, Morgan replied "Nothin'" which turned into Nuffin. Sophie's favorite turn of phrase at the moment is "Wha' Happen'?" and thus the dog had a name.

After a day or so, we logged into the Webkinz site and an obsession was born. Some of it is too complicated for Morgan to do by herself but she loves to play some of the games, make her pets move around their rooms and interact with their stuff, and take her pets to see the vet, Dr Quack.

I've begun logging on while Morgan is at school and adding a few surprises for her to find when she logs in provided that she is quiet during nap time!

So, if any of you out there are part of the Webkinz world, send a note to SoMoGio's pets Nuffin and Happen!

Morgan's First Day of Preschool

Yes, it is official. Morgan is now a preschooler.

While I wasn't always a good student, the first day of school was something I looked forward to a great deal. I think it was the idea of starting over: New crisp folders without any pen marks on them or creased corners. The clean pencil bag with newly sharpened #2s. Seeing friends. Meeting new teachers who had no idea that you weren't so keen on turning in your homework.

So, it was with great excitement that I anticipated Morgan's first day.

We awoke first thing in the morning and had a healthy breakfast of granola.



Then, she dressed in her uniform and grabbed her backpack. Morgan was all business, refusing to actually pose for pictures so I had to snap on the fly.





We lined up outside the school and all walked into the classroom. After overcoming a momentary bout of shyness, Morgan sat right down and started playing. I slowly eased myself to a far corner to watch her take her first steps of independence. And, as if she knew what was going through my mind, she turned and called "Mommy?"



I reassured her that I wouldn't leave without saying goodbye. Then, I asked her if she was ready for me to go. She nodded yes, gave me a kiss and said "Bye Mommy."
My independent, self-assured little girl beginning her own adventure. (I just hope she learns more quickly than I did that it is just as easy to do your homework and turn it in as it is to do your homework and leave it in your backpack!)

Wait for me!!!

In the ultimate example of second-child syndrome, I realize that I've written quite a bit about Morgan and very little about Sophie. Sorry sweetie! This one is for you...

Sophie thinks she is a big kid. Never was this more evident than at a playdate with some friends last week. They have a son, Rowan, who is a few months older than Morgan and another son, Gavin, who is a few months younger than Sophie. You'd think that it would work out that the big kids (joined by the five year old neighbor boy) would play together and the little kids would play together giving the Mommies a much deserved break. Not so fast. Sophie, tossing less than a glance Gavin's way, chased after the big kids the whole time calling "Wait! Wait!" Her little legs padding through the grass as fast as they could and her right arm pumping back and forth, faster and faster, as if it were willing her body along.

The main distraction on that hot day was a plastic slide set up to end in the inflatable pool. The older children were big enough that they could land and keep their heads above water but Sophie could not. Did this deter her? Nope. As soon as she stopped sputtering and choking on a mouthful of water, she would smile a proud smile, climb out of the pool and take her place in line with the big kids to do it all over again.