The Curtis Clan - Spring 2008

Spring Equinox to Summer Solstice

Easter

Spring started with the Easter, which arrived earlier than at any other time in our lives a few days after the vernal equinox. As has been our tradition the last few years, we drove up to Alton to visit Uncle Charlie and participate in the Christian Hill Easter Egg Hunt at Riverview Park on Saturday. The eggs filled with candy were very easy to find and provided the girls with enough candy to last until summer. It was a chilly 38 so we didn’t linger outside afterwards. On Easter itself we had now flurries throughout the day but they it didn’t stick (darn the luck). The girl’s stash grew even larger with the Easter Bunny’s basket and additional gifts from the family and church.

Jane and Cate gathering Easter eggs on Christian Hill in Alton

Cate Jane and Lilly with their Easter baskets

2008_03_23 CJnLilly w Easter Basckets.jpg

Cate and Jane try out the airplane seats at the History Museum (with far more legroom than in a real plane)	Good to the last crumb

Cate taking a nap on Bethany

(a rare maternal treat as she gets older)

Cate at 4!

The last Sunday in March, Cate turned 4. Although it seems that all of her friends at pre-school were getting event parties, we felt that since Jane didn’t get a party with friends until turning 5, neither would Cate. We had a low-key family gathering at the house with family, take-out pizza and cake.

Cate at 4

Cate opening her present from Jane

(a My Little Pony, which proved to be her favorite)

Three pieces of gum and a Quicktrip run
Or selecting a school for your child on seemingly insignificant criteria

The beginning of March also marked Webster Groves kindergarten orientation and registration. We visited both the local elementary school Avery and the District’s “Computer School”, a small magnate school within the District. We had been impressed with other neighbor’s kids experience at both schools. The technological focus and more importantly the small nature of the Computer School was very appealing (only 1 class of 22 per grade). A rule change, giving preferential treatment to enrolling siblings, eliminated our main hang-up with the “Computer School”, that Jane might make the lottery but her sister might not (there was still the 2 mile commute). On the other hand there was the very embracing culture and long traditions of parental involvement at Avery, 3 blocks from the house, with recognized achievement. However, it was the largest school in the District, with 3-4 classes per grade, though new construction made the temporary “shack” classrooms obsolete. So we went to orientation with an open mind that either school would be fine and weren’t expecting to find out anything to nudge us one way or another (or at least Randy did, Bethany would have preferred a parochial education like she had).

The Avery presentation included the three kindergarten teachers along with the hot male principal Dr. McDreamy. Although the teachers had nice matching fleeces with the Avery All Star “A”, ALL THREE OF THEM were chewing gum in this briefing to the incoming kindergarten parents of 50 or so. Our concerns ratcheted up a notch when principal McDreamy opined in his best Matthew McConaughey's “Dazed and Confused” drawl that they didn’t have believe in desks in rows and stressed their emphasis on fun as “That’s how we roll at Avery.” As an end of the line baby boomer, whose first grade teacher whacked naughty kids on the knuckles with a ruler in public school and a veteran parochial schooler, this did not positively impress us about the discipline or focus of the school. We weren’t looking for frustrated nuns but really, not one of them thought about how any of this came across (or worse, they cultivated the laid back image). It should be confessed that Randy has a default long standing distrust of GQ/metro sexual men. Attending the “Computer School” presentation matched our expectations for decorum and structure we came away with definite hopes of making the lottery but we didn’t voice too strongly, since we might not get in.

Oompa loompa doompety doo

I've got another puzzle for you

Oompa loompa doompeda dee

If you are wise you'll listen to me

Gum chewing's fine when it's once in a while

It stops you from smoking and brightens your smile

But it's repulsive, revolting and wrong

Chewing and chewing all day long

The way that a cow does

A week later, we took Jane to Avery and the Computer School on the designated registration day (aside - what an over blown process registering for kindergarten is from 4 decades ago). At Avery, they hired substitutes so the three teachers could meet each child, which they did in the main hallway (no gum this time). One took Jane to see the classroom and we went through the paper work shuffle with the secretary. At this point, Principal McDreamy arrives and the two remaining teachers happily chat (flirt?) with him about 10 feet from us about whether it was time for his Quicktrip run. Excuse me, the principal leaves the school on a regular basis to get some java treat and they don’t think anything about discussing this in front of perspective parents? Besides the high maintenance and indulgent aspects of it, it struck us as completely at odds of our image of what a principal's priorities should be. Despite the state recognized achievements of Avery’s academics, even the hard-core public schooler Randy began wondering if perhaps we might feel more at home at one of the parochial schools (not that he told Bethany at the time). Happily Jane won a lottery slot to the Computer School. Randy is a bit disappointed that there is no PTA play in his future, nor will the girls walk to school but it seems like a good fit (at least on the surface).

Jane and Cate on Earth Day

which has nothing to do with the story

April

We celebrated Bethany’s mom’s birthday with a portion of the Sage tribe with the St. Louis grandchildren helping her blow out the candles. A pleasant evening marking another annual milestone.

Half the grandkids helping Gramy blow out her candles

Camping in Webster?

For the last three years, Randy has taken Jane (and Cate for the last 2) on a father-child camping trip to Meramec Springs. It has developed into an annual thing with a few other dads with kids of a similar age. The plans were set for the weekend of the 19th. In the past the weather has always cooperated and they have been wonderful gatherings for the dads and kids (not to mention the moms who were kid free for a weekend). This year, the odds finally caught up with us. Heavy spring rains had flooded the campgrounds several times including the weekend before our trip. Even if they reopened by Thursday afternoon, there were predictions of heavy rains with relative cold temperatures, so we decided to develop Plan B. Plan B became “camping” at our house for the Columbia and Indianapolis dads and their girls, which didn’t disappoint Jane and Cate in the least (nor Bethany who got a weekend respite at a local Marriott on special point rates). Friday night was a slumber party, where sleep was late in coming.

The gang waiting for the Metrolink Trolley

The next day, the three dads (Randy, Anthony and John) took the seven girls (ages 4-8) on the Metro link downtown to explore the City Museum. They had a great time together exploring all the caves, tunnels and excitement.

Jane the magnificent

At the circus demonstration, Jane was selected as the Magician’s helper for a scarf trick. Although a bit of a ham, she became a bit stage struck, just grinning at the audience but doing little assisting to the chagrin of the magician, who was adept at handling kids. Afterwards, we had Imo’s at the house and another slumber party; though the girls drifted off much more quickly after they’re full day.

The girls after their visit to the City Museum

The following week Jane had her first ballet and dance recital after about 8 months of weekly practices at the Crestwood Recreation complex. She went through two routines with about 8 other pre-schoolers in a program that included all the other classes including adults. We beamed with pride but aren’t figuring that Julliard will be on her short list of colleges.

Janie Ballerina

May

Indy trip

The next weekend we made a family road trip to Indianapolis for Bethany’s godchild/niece Katie Sage’s first Communion. The Indy Sages had just moved into a new home so the trip was particularly exciting for the cousins as they had new and expanded digs to play in. We left STL after picking the girls from school, so we got to Indy in time for dinner, which everyone loved since Jenny made a separate meal for the kids than for the adults. Other elements of the tribe also showed up to, so even though it was a much bigger house, it was still filled up over the weekend. Since the house includes a pool, a return in the summer seems likely (if it can fit in the crowed schedule).

The Curti in their Sunday best

Sage Tribe in Indy for Katie's 1st communion

All six Sage cousins in Indy

California or Bust (and Oregon too)

2008 May Family Trip to the West Coast 6-16 May 2008 - We ended up posting so many pictures from our trip that it was choking out most people's memory for 1 web page, so we split it out.

Curtis clan at Crater Lake

2008_05_12 Crater Lake RBJC.jpg

Christ the King Picnic

A carney company approached the girl’s parish about providing rides for the annual picnic for the first times in a decade or more. So we went on Saturday of Memorial day weekend thinking to drop $10-15. At $3 a ride for the kiddie rides, we quickly upped our donation thinking and began feeling a lot better about the value of Six Flags. The girls happily rode the spinning teacups and dizzy dinosaur rides.

All smiles on the CKS picnic teacup ride

On the toddler roller coaster, Jane who trashed talked most of last summer about riding the Screaming Eagle, clenched the grab bar and her eyes the whole time with her sister following suit. There was also a ducky pond and lollipop tree where everyone’s a winner.

Hands gripping grab bar and eyes closed on the CKS picnic coaster of death?

2008_05_24 CKS picnic eyes wide shut.jpg

Afterwards the girls were pretty tired out and took quiet time naps. We had a bit of a panic for a moment when Cate was missing from her bed. Randy looked under her bed, on the floor of her closet, in her sister’s room, in her parent’s room before doing it again and seeing where he overlooked her.

Cate asleep in tub of toys in her closet

2008_05_24 Cate asleep in tub of toys.jpg

In mid-May, Bethany’s brother Micah accepted a job in Colorado Springs to start in mid-June. As such there was a going away pizza gathering held in his and Tiffany honor prior to them heading west. With the short notice, the Indy Sages weren’t able to make it in, when it worked for everyone else but everyone else did. We wish them well in the front of the Rocky Mountains and now have and even stronger incentive to take a skiing vacation in the future.

Sage Tribe at Micah and Tiffany's Farewell Pizsa Party

2008_05_31 Sage Tribe at Micah Tiff Farewell Party.jpg

School's Out for Summer

School ended the Wednesday after Memorial Day, with both girls, particularly Jane expressing disappointment that it was over for the summer. Bethany was also feeling a bit of melancholy but for a different reason: having both kids home all day, all summer. We had planned ahead an signed the girls up for a variety of day camps. The first week, Cate was in kinder-camp offered through the parks department that Jane took the previous year. She also started ballet classes through the Crestwood rec center, o hopefully she’ll be able to catch up to Jane and they can be in the same class in the fall (less parental taxiing and taxing).

Cate is all set for her 1st ballet class

We took a week off camp circuit and we went to Six Flags (see below). The last week of spring, they both went to Webster Groves Safety Camp, where they learned about a number of different safety issues including: crossing streets, avoiding strangers, bikes and helmets, fire safety and the like. On the positive side, Jane took a marked interest in learning to pedal her 2-wheeer with training wheels in anticipation of having to do so in front of her peers. On the down side, she was haunted for weeks with fears about the house catching fire when going to bed at night.

2nd Year of Six Flags over Us

The girls poise with Scooby Doo

Given the success of last year, our friends from Columbia Anthony, Leasha, Alex and Amanda came in for a visit a visit to Six Flags on Sunday the 8th. the occasion to join us. Once again, we warmed up with the kids section: Bugs Bunny National Park, which we rode a number of times before moving on to the bigger rides. Cate grew to 42-inches and could now officially ride on many of the rides including the Screamin’ Eagle, but ALL the girls declined to try it (including Jane who trashed talked about it for months afterwards last year ). Once again the parents took turns going with the kids, so not all of us had to be soaked or go on the super-spinny rides (Randy did try the swings-twice). A good time was had by all but Cate did take a snooze during a show we took in to get out of the heat (it was the hottest dy o the year so far then). Nobody had trouble falling to sleep that night.

On in the swings at Six Flags.jpg

2008_06_08 in the swings at Six Flags.jpg

Father's Day marked the last weekend in spring and the Indy Sages made it for the weekend, resulting in a picnic at Shaw Park and a pool party with the cousins. It was lots of fun but we didn't get any good pictures of it. Randy only partially particitpated having volunteered to work the weekend night shift at the Corps' Emergency Operations Center (EOC) while there was flooding on the upper Mississippi River. This proved to be foreshadowing of how he would spend his summer and much of fall.

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