The Curtis Clan - Summer 2014
Summer Solstice to Fall Equinox
Six Flags
The last Sunday in June the Holmes family came in from Columbia to join us, Charlie and Joann Stocker sans children at enjoy the restaurants and wineries in Grafton & Alton, IL (Loading Dock, Ares Winery and Bosa Nova). The girls stayed home and watched movies. The following day the whole gang spent a full day at Six Flags on Monday. Going on Monday has been our tradition as there is generally line-free access to all the attractions. As expected, it was a very hot day but the water rides and dozens of water/lemonade mix in our $13 bottomless cup made it bearable. For lunch we skipped the substandard fare at the park and enjoyed a lunch of pre-made Subway foot long sandwiches in the parking lot (a far tastier and cheaper choice that the abysmal park fare). Cate advanced to enjoying roller coasters riding the American Flyer (a.k.a. Evil Knevil) several times with her Dad. Jane preferred the Log Flume going 17 times in around with Alex and Amanda. A new favorite with all the gang was the Tsunami Soaker updated from the old Barrel ride was a big hit. I was particularly fun squirting the teenage boys on the sides or on the ride. Some times age and tenacity makes a difference.
| Selfie of the adults on the Log Flume |
Alex and Cate barrelling on the Tsuanmi Soaker |
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The younger girls marthoning rides on the Log Flume
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| Jane mans a Tsuanmi Soaker |
Cate, Anthony & Bethany Soakers of teenage boys |
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4th of July
The night before the Independence Day, Jane dyed the tips of her hair red with Kool-Aid with the help of her sister who was the one who really wanted to dye her hair. She would get to months later after finally cleaning up the mess in her room (strong willed/stubborn is a family trait).
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Cate helping Jane dye her hair with Kool-Aid
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This year we broke down and joined the save-a-spot to watch the parade craziness by placing a couple chairs in front of the library. If we hadn’t we’d wouldn’t have found a spot for blocks (our neighbors Britt and Tina were glad to share our space).
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Jane and Cate ready for the parade in front of the WG library
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| Jane and Pepper feeling patriotic |
Dogpile with Cate Gussie and Pepper |
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Afterwards visited with the neighbors at Lucy and Dave Byrne’s pool in the afternoon as has become the holiday tradition.
| Jane and Caate feeiling too cool talking with high school girls and drinking Coke |
Underwater fun with the waterproof camera |
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In the evening, we set off some minor fireworks with our Tuxedo neighbors and in our driveway but most of the day was spent making sure we’re ready for our two week vacation that started the next day for Wyoming (on it's own web page as it would make this one too long).
Back Home again
We got back from our vacation in time for a weekend Sage Tribe gathering in honor of our nephew Joseph Benjamin Sage Baptism, with Bethany. On Saturday, we had Sage Pizza night at Gramy and Gral’s. On Sunday we had an afternoon of Sage FFF at VanGwenJoe’s.
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Joseph's Parents and Godpaarents (yes, he's very big for 5 months)
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Sage tribe at Joseph Benjam Sage's Baptism (Niece/Goddaughter Kaite only seems to be slighlty taller than Aunt Bea with those 1 inch heels she's sporting.)
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The following weekend, we met there again to celebrate Gwen’s 40th Birthday party that Bethany did a great deal to help out with (no pictures though). Later, Randy celebrated his 51st Birthday.
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Jane and Cate help their Dad with his cake
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August
On the second weekend of August, Randy rented a converted Sienna van to drive his mother Nancy to the NHL Booster club contention being held in St. Louis this year hosted by the Blueliners. It was the first time she left the hospital or Manor Grove for a non-medical issue and we were glad she wanted to do it. It was a treat to see her hang out with the friends she’s developed over the last 27 years of going to these conventions all across the country. She went both Friday and Saturday, afternoons for about 4-5 hours. On the Saturday Cate when with us too, which made her Nana very happy and Cate enjoyed it more than expected.
| Randy and Nancy at NHLBC convention |
Cate hoisting the cup in a 1980-81 jersey |
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Meanwhile, Bethany and Jane went to see the Spencer Tracey – Elizabeth Taylor Father of the Bride film at the Hi-Pointe theatre. That’s them wearing Amy and Bethany’s bridal veils from their first weddings as encouraged by the organizers.
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Bethany and Jane in the spirit for Father of the Bride
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As always, exposing the girls to various movies was part of the family curriculum. At home, we watched:
• Toby McGuire Spiderman and Spiderman 2, which the girls really liked
• Whale Rider - Meh…
• Disney’s 1967 Happiest Millionaire with the Sherman Brother’s score and Tommy Steele stealing the show. How many kids do you know can sing Fortuacity on que?
• Hello Dolly
By going a second year, we made a tradition of visiting the Skyview Drive In, in Belleville, IL, seeing Guardians of the Galaxy. The reality of the light pollution from the Schnucks next door, the horns of the passing trains and poor viewing angle made for a less than ideal cinema experience but there is still a great nostalgic Americana romance to going the drive-in. At the Hi-Pointe, we took in To Have and Have Not at the classics series (Bogey and Bacall at their steamy best) and enjoyed a special showing of the 100 foot Journey with the Bombay Food Junkie food truck dinner outside.
| Skyview Drive-In |
Bombay Food Junkie |
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Jane at 12
Our eldest daughter continues progressing into a teenager and young adult. Like most changes in life, it’s a gradual progression interrupted or punctuated by rapid large changes. The very visible changes of late came during her birthday week when she got braces and gave up her Harry Potter glasses for contacts. The visual change was dramatic. The emotional changes are less distinct.
| Before |
After |
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Her favorite vice / treat / play toy are LEGOS and most of her allowance, birthday $ and lawn mowing earnings have gone to purchasing Lego Friends or bins of miscellaneous Legos from the store (too be honest Cate is as much of a fan too). They have bought a few of the more boy oriented kits (e.g. Star Wars or Scooby Doo) but regularly lament that they no longer manufacture the Legos they really want: the out of date Harry Potter ones, only available on E-Bay at stratospheric prices.
Jane continues to swim and is steadily improving and doesn’t seem that concerned she isn’t headed for greatness. She enjoys exercising and that’s good enough for her and us. Swim practices are an hour long Monday, Wednesday and Friday and provide Randy with a reason for going to the Y’s gym while she swims.
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Jane's Birthday lunch at Steak and Shake
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We see sputtering bursts of early adulthood along side moments of infantile brattiness. She remains very responsible and loves following rules and reminding others to do so as well (No idea where she got that from? ?). Cate remains her best friend and companion but the two bicker often with lots of shrieking and arguing punctuating their times together, at least at home.
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Birthday cake fun with cousins
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With her birthday, she passed the parental limit of having to wait until she was 12 to read the long awaited “Hunger Games” knocking it out in two days. Volumes 2 and 3, Catching Fire and Mockingjay were done before the week was out and her sister Cate simmered in envy.
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Jane and Cate at STL BreadCo. (Cate sporting her cool new glasses and Jane without)
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A couple weeks after her birthday, Jane started 6th grade which saw her leaving the cocoon of 21 kids, 9 of which were girls in class, to ALL the kids in the district being mixed into one school just one flight of stairs up from where they had grade school. The 6th Grade Center is divided into four teams, which only intermingle slightly so it isn’t exactly like Jr. High/High School yet but there is still a grand mixing of the various elements of the middle class from the school District. She ended up in the “Vega” group and was greatly relieved that her best friend was in the group as well. The relief was somewhat short lived as the friend now had a number of her soccer team mates at school too and Jane’s preeminence as BFF went unreciprocated (they’re still friends but Jane is one among many). She’s making other friends but not being besties was a tough lesson in life (with many more sure to follow).
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Jane and Cate start the 2014-15 school year
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The girls started 5th and 6th grades on Wednesday, August 13, 2014. Note how Cate has got her backpack on only one shoulder while Jane has both shoulder straps on but needs to (they had her get lots of stuff).
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Bethany celebrating her birthday with Elisabeth and Maria
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The day after school started Randy left on an eight day vacation float the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument, with long time friends for a 4 day / 3 night river rafting trip through the Gates of Lodore canyon in Utah and Colorado. A great trip that Randy waxed on more than us usual amount on big vacation trips (~5200 words, so still a "short story" plus it includes lots of pictures).
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Randy celebrating a double rainbow along the Green River at DNM
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September
| Dogpile of girls and puppies welcome dad home |
Cate canoodling with Gussie and Pepper on the porch |
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On Labor Day, Randy took the girls to the City Museum for the day. The outside Monster City was terrific fun particularly as Cate led us through most of it. Jane followed too, most of the time. It’s always a treat to go with kids and the young at heart as there are always changes and new updates to discover every time we go, which is only once a year at best.
| Cate exploring the heights of Monster City |
Jane crawling through the tunnels on the ceiling |
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The end of summer brought a number of trips to Bush Stadium. On Friday, August 29th, our friends Will and Erin Boyle shared with us (Bethany and Randy) their “green seats” bounty from a friend to enjoy a Cardinals / Cubs game. More formally known as the Cardinals Club at nearly $300 a seat, it was a major pampering experience of a buffet dinner followed by an endless stream of snacks and drinks brought to us throughout the game. Fun and a terrific way to experience the game. Still we can’t imagine ever spending that amount on ourselves to see a game. The following week was the last “Businessman Special” weekday afternoon Cardinal game and Randy took the afternoon off with his team (bookending the season, having gone to the first one as well). The whole family spent the last evening of summer at WGCS night at the Cardinal game, which was also the last regular home game of the season. WGCS night has become a ritual for the past half a decade with us once again perched in the last row at the top of the stadium, enjoying the game and the girls getting to sing Take Me Out to the Ballpark during the 7th Inning stretch.
| Bethany and Randy enjoy the Greenseats |
The Curti ending the summer at the top of Busch Stadium |
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Bethany's Book Club's August meeting
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