He's 12!

My baby's a dozen years old today!

H A P P Y   B I R T H D A Y   D R E W ! ! !

 

Rookie Season for Julian XC

On your mark...

Get Set...

Go!

The Percy Julian cross country season is officially underway.

Drew finished a respectable 7th place overall on a super-hot, humid afternoon - a good start to what I'm sure will be a great season!

It's the First Day of Sixth Grade

For the first time in 13 years, I no longer prepared for the first day of elementary school.  Drew has moved up to the big campus at Percy Julian Middle School.

Irving's Class of 2012 is now officially a part of Julian's Class of 2015!

Basketball Rookie

Drew's been a casual basketball player for several years, but this year he asked if he could play organized ball.  He landed on the same park district team as about half of the Irving fifth grade boys, and they've been having a very successful season so far.  Honestly, I had no idea Drew's as good as he is - he sunk a three-pointer today!

Playoffs begin next week - our own little version of March Madness.

Drew's 11!

I'm not exactly sure how this happened...my baby turned 11 today.  Well, actually, I know how it happened.  I just don't understand how it's been 11 years already.

It seems like just a few months ago my doctor was telling me I'd need a Halloween costume for my third child.  "Yeah, right,"  I replied. "You told me to plan on a February birth for my last baby, and she was born on March 12!  I don't believe you.  In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm going to see Election Day still pregnant."

Well, my doctor was right, and on October 23, 2000, Andrew Warren Shattuck was born.  It was clear from the beginning that Drew provides the link between his polar opposite sisters.  He has Kelsey's dark, dark eyes but he also has a cowlick like Erin.  While he's certainly a blend of the girls, he's louder and has more energy than the two of them combined.

When we brought Drew home from the hospital, his sisters couldn't wait to hold him.  They were both running green snot out of their noses and I remember thinking, Please, God, keep him healthy for the first six weeks.  He's just too little to be sick!

And then there's today:

While Drew often feels like his sisters are conspiring against him, they really do love him dearly.  Drew brings an exuberance for life and a passion for spiritual things that's truly inspiring.  Our family wouldn't be complete without the (not so) Little Dude around.

Happy birthday, Drew.  We love you!

A New Project

A couple of weeks ago, Baird and Drew participated in a market research study involving a new video game.  They took part of the money and bought this enormous Lego Star Wars project.  It's over 1,000 pieces, and the instruction manual is so large, it's actually two volumes.

Drew's been waiting all week for it to arrive, and it finally came via UPS this evening.  This should keep them both busy for awhile!

Retrieving Drew

I left Mom and Dad's place at o'dark thirty and headed northeast into Wisconsin to pick up Drew from Camp Timber-lee.  I pulled over shortly after crossing the Mississippi River to stretch my legs and catch the gorgeous sunrise:

I retrieved Drew and headed for home.  Here's the rundown of the week he experienced:

0:  number of showers Drew took while at camp

1:  number of times he brushed his teeth

2:  number of times he changed his underwear

3:  number of times Drew made the highlight reel

4:  number of times Drew wrote home (altho we haven’t received all the letters yet)

5:  number of days he ate Cocoa Crisp for breakfast

6:  number of days he spent at the lake

And here's how he looked when I pulled up to the house:

Welcome back, Drew!

Drew's Big Heart

Drew and I have been doing a study of I Peter this summer, in preparation for the Bible Bee event next month.  Today we were challenged to do something nice for someone and expect nothing in return.  Drew decided he wanted to make chocolate chip cookies and give them away to friends and neighbors.  He donned an apron and began cooking.

Drew made a double batch, and we kept just two dozen cookies for our family.  He blessed several friends and neighbors with his homemade goodies.  He said he really liked seeing the joy on people's faces when he handed them the cookies, and that everyone loved the fact that he used real butter!

Drew has made great strides toward maturity in the past few months, and it's been fun to watch.  He's always had a big, generous heart, but this ability to offer up a good deed and expect nothing in return is a new step for him.  I'm so proud of him!

Where Did I Go Wrong?

We're leaving for Cousins Camp tomorrow, which made today Last Call for Laundry Day.  Each of the kids was told that any clothes they wanted washed to take with them to Cousins Camp had to be down the laundry shoot by noon.

I do my level best to tackle laundry every day so it doesn't stack up.  I honestly don't mind doing a load or two a day; however, I despise getting stuck on laundry all day long when it gets out of control.  So, I was none too pleased to see the mountain Drew shoved down the shoot around 10am today.

As I started sorting thru the pile, I found a t-shirt of Drew's that was still neatly folded, and very clearly had not been worn.  Here was the exchange that followed:

Me:  Drew!  I just found a t-shirt of yours in the dirty clothes that was unworn and still perfectly folded.  That's not ok, do you understand?

Drew:  Yes I do.  From now on, before I throw my clothes down the laundry, I need to unfold them.

Um, where did I go wrong?

Irving's Winter Concert

Every year, the production that is the Irving Winter Concert never ceases to amaze me.  The music teachers are wildly talented musicians and composers, and yet they choose to teach elementary school children.  All three of my kids have truly been blessed to sit under the influence of Ms. H and Ms. T

This year, Drew was chosen to be a part of an African drum ensemble that accompanied the first song the fourth graders performed.

As great as the concert was, it was very clear that the Irving School Rap stole the show!  All the kids really got into the beat, and they rocked the house not just with the song, but with pride in their school.

Disloding a Tooth

Drew's had a stubborn loose tooth that's been hanging on all month.  He's tugged at it.  He's poked it with a toothpick.  He's bitten down on hard objects in an attempt to dislodge it from the only home it's ever known.  Tonight at wrestling practice, during a take down, that tooth finally came out!

Looks like the tooth fairy'll have to visit tonight.  I hope she remembers :-)

A Decade of Drew

From this:

to this:

Ten years ago I went to the hospital in the morning, and Drew was born after 7pm that same day.  He was my longest and most difficult labor, but I wouldn't trade him for anything!  He brings a joy, energy and passion to our house that I can't imagine living without.  He's smart, funny, and wildly generous.  He'll talk to anyone who will listen.  Happy birthday to my Little Dude.  Thanks for making this past decade so wonderful!

Four Square Continues

I mentioned before about the boys at Irving playing four square.  I'm so glad they've continued this before-school ritual and I must admit I'm completely fascinated by it.  This game is a study in the diversity of Oak Park.  Here's why:

*The players are different ages (students from second grade thru fifth grade participate)

*The game transcends gender (yea, there's girls who play, and they're pretty good)

*It's an integrated game (at a glance, it's easy to see at least four races represented)

*The game is self-governed by the players, and tough calls are handled by a simple vote (If you think Charlie's out, raise your hand...Charlie, majority rules, you're out!)

Honestly, this morning ritual at Irving is ripe for study by a sociologist in need of a thesis!

Hands on Homework

This afternoon, Drew had an extra credit project as part of his homework.  He needed to figure out how to hang a magnet and make it swing above four other magnets.  He worked hard on his idea...

and was thrilled when he got it to work!

All homework should be this fun and creative!

Fast Times at Thatcher Woods

This afternoon, Julian, Brooks, and Roosevelt Middle Schools ran a cross country meet at Thatcher Woods.  Drew asked Coach Benson if he could run with the JV boys, and he got the nod to join them.

Drew's never run competitively before, let alone with boys two years older than he is.  He was running in the top third from the start, and he never looked back.  Drew ended up finishing the race fourth overall!  Here he is right as he was approaching the finish line:

Congrats, Drew, on such a fantastic finish to your very first race!

Hanging Out with the Big Boys

On one of our many jaunts to the zoo this summer, Drew entered a drawing for free White Sox tickets.  Wouldn't you know it, he won!  Even tho it was a school night, Drew took Matt and Vic to watch the Sox chase the Twins for the AL Central division title.  The Sox lost badly.  It looks as if this is the beginning of the end of this year's pennat chase for our White Sox.  Regardless, Drew thoroughly enjoyed the treat of getting to hang out with his 20-something friends at the ball park on a school night.
Thanks, Brookfield Zoo, for promoting our favorite baseball team.  And thanks too, Vic and Matt, for being willing to spend the evening at the ball park with Drew.

Solo Ride

This morning I let Drew take his first bike trip to Maze Library all by himself.  Here's the difference between Child #1 and Child #3:  when Kelsey took her first trip to Maze, I followed in the minivan to be sure she arrived safely.  When Drew took off this morning, I went outside to snap a few pictures (he wasn't happy, he just wanted to be on his way!), but I didn't follow him.

Drew made it there and back in about an hour, and he was thrilled to pieces that his boundaries have expanded.  And I can't believe how mature my little dude is becoming!

Thank God for Friends

Drew and SiMi are both home this week with nothing but each other to entertain themselves. No set plans. No camps. No day trips. Both are stuck with moms who are working from home. Their plans this week include bouncing between houses whenever the mood strikes. Suddenly, for Drew, everything that was humdrum last week is now fun again, because there's a friend to share it with. For now at least, the cries of boredom have been stiffled.  Drew couldn't be happier, and neither could I!  TGFF:  Thank God For Friends!

Learning from Legends

Our friend JW won a day of football training with some of the 1985 Bears.  Boys ages 6-20 were eligible.  Since JW's only child is an eight-month-old girl, she thought of Drew.  Early this morning we headed out to Northern Illinois University in DeKalb so Drew could participate in a few hours of drills led by men who, in my opinion, were the best ever at their positions when they played the game.

Yes, Drew caught the pass that was thrown to him by Reggie Phillips, who in 1985, as a rookie cornerback, returned a 28-yard interception for a touchdown in the Super Bowl.

Afterward, the kids were allowed to get autographs from the players.  When Drew approached Emery Moorehead for an autograph, he said to Drew, "I remember you!  You're Speedy Gonzales!"  That's because Drew was first in line for every single drill, all morning long.

Drew walked away with a hatful of autographs and an unforgettable experience.  Thanks, JW - what a special treat!

Boredom Sets In

There comes a point in every summer where those lazy days begin to get a bit tiresome and the days become tedious.  The pool is no longer exciting, bike rides seem mundane, and the library's summer reading program has come to an end.  The very suggestion of a zoo trip is met with, "Oh, please Mom!  Not again!"

While Kelsey's still in summer school, and doesn't even feel like summer's begun, this is a long week for Drew.  It seems like every single one of his friends is either on vacation or in camp this week, and poor Drew is just about dying of boredom (or so he says).

This afternoon I found Drew lying on the floor talking to Garfield.  While I think an active imagination is a good thing, clearly, the boy needs to get out more.  I hope he likes what's coming up on Friday!