Homework can be exhausting

Homecoming 2011

From 24 Orange to 89 Blue

Erin has switched soccer clubs.  After several years of being #24 and wearing the orange Strikers uniform, she's now playing for OPRF One.  The One's colors are navy blue and white, and her new number is 89.  Even tho she switched teams, she's playing in the annual Schaumburg tournament this weekend for the fourth consecutive year.  And she's still as tough as ever on the field.

Today Oak Park-River Forest High School welcomed the Class of 2015.

Two-thirds of my children are now in high school.

Thanks, Susie, for driving the girls this morning!

8th Grade Pomp and Circumstance

Tonight was Erin's eighth grade graduation.  She entered middle school a mere 12-year-old tweener, and is exiting as a mature 14-year-old, who is more than ready to tackle the challenges of high school.

8th Grade Dance

Erin's entire day (it seemed) was spent getting ready for the eighth grade graduation dance.  She was up early this morning getting her damp hair French braided so it would be wavy tonight.  About 3:00 this afternoon, Erin headed over to MB's house to get ready...

...then MB's mom and I took the girls over to Aub's place...

...where they were joined by more friends...

...and the group grew til it was just shy of a flash mob...

...and the parents went into full papparizzi mode...

...and then a few of us coordinated a caravan to get everyone over to the school, where the girls waited patiently for their "dates" to arrive from Aub's house.

Erin and Lewis truly are just friends, and yet they were both just a little nervous as they headed thru the door.

Erin said they had a great time, but that her feet hurt a lot in heals (she's still recovering from her broken toe).  About 20 minutes after arrival, she kicked her shoes off and spent the rest of the night in bare feet.

The dance was over at 10:00, and we hosted a small after-party for Erin and four of her friends.  While they all thoroughly enjoyed the dance, they were eager to ditch their dress-up clothes as soon as they walked in our house!  As the girls made themselves comfy, they realized how hungry they were (most were too nervous and excited to eat before the dance), so I served them fruit, ribs and quesadillas.

Erin looked so beautiful and grown up tonight!

It's All a Blur

Today was the Percy Julian Awards, and Erin was recognized for two accomplishments:  the Optimist Club award, and her participation on the cross country team that went to State.  This blurry picture of Julian principal Dr. Sharts congratulating Erin on her achievements seemed like a metaphor for Erin's middle school career - she's been so very busy these last few years, it's all somewhat of a blur to me!  Here are some of the things she's been involved in: 

AYSO Soccer

Strikers Soccer

Cross Country

Track and Field

Best Buddies

Yearbook

Virtual Classroom

Power Connection (church youth group)

Sunday School Worker, 4- and 5-year-olds

Awana Sparks Leader

Volunteer, Emergency Clothes Closet

"A" Honor Roll, all three years

Optimist Club Youth Award Achiever

In addition to all these activities, awards, and achievements, she attended so many birthday parties, bar and bat mitzvahs, and sleepovers, I've honestly lost count.  In all her spare time, she was babysitting.  Wow.  I'm tired just talking about her schedule and all her activities!

These last three years went just faster than I had anticipated, and they really did fly by in a blur.

Project: Completed

For the past month or so, Erin's been working diligently on an inter-disciplinary research project.  The eighth graders at Percy Julian Middle School have been learning about controls, variables, what makes a hypothesis, and drawing conclusions.  Erin chose a topic about how third graders make food choices based on their knowledge of nutrition.  She gathered her data by interviewing students at Irving.  She processed her data and made graphs.  She organized her project and put together her board.  She sweated the details.  And tonight, she presented her project, along with the rest of Team 8-2, at the annual science fair.

Erin did a good job presenting her project to all those who stopped by.  Congrats, Sweetie, on finishing this this project.  I know it's been weighing heavily on you.  Way to go!

A Party in Three Acts

Yesterday was a busy day for the whole family, but particularly Erin.  We celebrated her 14th birthday in three acts.

Act One:  Family Gifts

Technical difficulties prevented pics from being taken.  But Erin was thrilled with her gifts, especially her new dolphin necklace.

Act Two:  Not-So-Rookie Dim Sum at Phoenix in China Town

It's always so much fun to dine at authentic Chinese restaurants with someone who speaks the language.  Having the Lees along was an added bonus, since K speaks Cantonese.  Erin was an adventurous eater.  She tried shrimp wrapped in seaweed.  She stepped out even further by going for the tripe.  Then she topped all by sampling cow marrow.

A fun little diversion was window watching between courses.  Some of the floats for the St. Patrick's Day parade made their way down the street just below us en route to the parade.  How many places can you go to for authentic dim sum, with Irish-themed floats on the street below for added entertainment?!

We ended our morning with tapioca smoothies from Joy Yee, then hurried home for Act Three.

Act Three:  The Bowling Party

Of all the themed birthday parties Erin's had over the years, she'd never picked a bowling theme.  There were an even dozen middle schoolers who spent two hours bowling on two lanes.  They had a blast.  At first they tried to keep score, but then they decided it was more fun to just throw the ball with crazy approaches.  They bowled backwards.  They bowled between their legs.  They fell down laughing as they heaved the ball forwards.  Such fun!

After bowling, everyone headed back to our place for presents and cake.  Of all the presents Erin received, none made her laugh more than the T-Rex Papier Mache.

The birthday cake was poppyseed.

Once the cake was consumed, they all headed over to Rehm Park for some football and ghost in the graveyard, before scattering home.

The Cross Country girls stayed a little later than everyone else, and at one point broke into song.  They pretty much sang thru the entire XC repertoire they compiled during the fall season.  I'll be honest here:  this group runs better than they sing!

All three acts were so much fun, and I couldn't possibly think of a better way to celebrate my Erin's 14th birthday!

14

My Dearest Erin,

As soon as I saw you, I knew we would have a special bond: we are both second-born girls with a sister two years older.  Your skin was as soft as the softest feather, and your Aunt Marion remarked that it felt just like mine did when I was a baby.  Your cowlic (which was evident from the very beginning), however, is your dad's gift to you.  And your eyes.  They were blue, just like your Grand Daddy Shattuck's and your Grandma Hunter's.

By the time you could walk, we knew about your headstrong ways and your iron will.  You've always thought you were the smartest in the family, and to this day you work hard to prove that to the rest of the 5 Ring Circus.  All that behind those steel blue eyes and that beautiful smile!

By the time you were in preschool you could melt the hearts of anyone who looked your way.  Every time we ran errands, people gave you things for free because of how cute and charming you were.  I remember thinking this is how beautiful people learn to get their way with just a smile.

As you traveled thru elementary school, you made friends not just with your classmates, but with the entire staff at Irving School.  Your amazing organizational skills, which were way beyond your years even then, were recognized by everyone.  Your dad and I got used to hearing comments such as, "I'm not really sure how I ran my classroom all those years before Erin came along," and "It's hard for me to put into words how close to perfect - in every way - Erin is when she's in my classroom."

And now you're 14!  As you start this new year in your life, you are also preparing to close the middle school chapter in your journey toward adulthood.  You are beautiful inside and out, and I'm so very proud of you!

Love,

Mom



Learning How to Huskie

Tonight Erin joined hundreds of incoming freshmen at Oak Park-River Forest High School for Open House Night.  Every extra-curricular and co-curricular activity at OPRF had a table or booth so the almost-high schoolers could get a feel for what types of activities they could join.  There was everything from Chemistry Club to Students for Peace and Justice to Cross County and Ping Pong.  With thousands of people threading their way around the cafeteria, gym, and surrounding hallways, it could have felt a bit overwhelming.  Actually, it was loads of fun.

Erin and I never walked for more than a minute without running into someone we knew.  Erin saw friends she played soccer with years ago.  Her old ice skating buddies who attend the other middle school were there.  We came across neighborhood friends and acquaintances.  There was an expectant feeling of excitement in the air, as the Class of 2015 took one more step toward becoming Huskies.

While we were at the Huskie logo wear booth, I saw these t-shirts, and I just had to get one for Erin:

The shirts are a nod to the video some students shot earlier this fall to boost school spirit:

Next on the agenda:  meeting with the guidance counsellor for final course selection tomorrow night.  Yea, Erin's learning how to Huskie, and she's loving every minute of it! 

Next Steps

For more than two months now, this evening's been marked in my calendar as "Mandatory Parent Mtg @ OPRF, 7pm."  That short note in my calendar doesn't begin to tell the story.

Baird attended the meeting tonight, since it fell on a Wednesday and I was busy with Commander duties for Awana.  When I returned home, I was greeted at the door by a very enthusiastic Erin, who couldn't wait to show me OPRF's academic catalog, her placement test results, and a plethora of other papers included in the packet Baird brought home:

Even tho it was getting late, Erin and I spent almost an hour together, going over the papers and her class preferences.  She's even begun to fill out the worksheet at the back of the catalog that spells out her four-year academic plan.  Her excitement over this next phase of her life is palpable.  She's focused.  She's thrilled.  She's more than ready.

I can't believe in just a few short months, I'll have one daughter halfway thru her high school career, and another one just beginning.  As I fell asleep last night, I found myself wondering, once again, how it's gone this fast.  The days may be long, but certainly, the years are short.

Celebrating Erin

Being a middle child can be difficult.  There's the feeling of not being first or last, but rather squeezed in between.  Erin comes from a long line of middle children:  I'm a middle; my dad's a middle; his mom was a middle.

When Erin was born, it sure seemed like she came out mad at the world that she wasn't first-born.  In those first few years of her life, she began to adjust to the role of baby of the family...and then Drew was born, pushing Erin into the position of middle.  Let's just say she did not go willingly into that middle spot.

Over the years, Erin has accepted her role as the middle child, and has blossomed there.  In particular, these last two years she has flourished.  This is the second year she has been the only Shattuck at Percy Julian Middle School, and she has enjoyed being out from under the shadows of her siblings.  It's been a beautiful thing to watch.

The best part is, I'm not the only one to notice how special Erin is.  Today, Erin received a special citation from the Optimist Club in Oak Park for their annual Youth Appreciation Day.  This award is given to one student in each of the public and private schools in Oak Park for outstanding behavior in every area of his or her life.  Erin was chosen by the eighth grade teachers at Julian to receive this special award.

Baird and I attended the Optimist Club luncheon today where Erin was honored.  My heart was bursting with pride as I sat there and listened to Ms. Helm publicly praise my daughter in a way that made it seem Erin was passing the beautification process on her way to sainthood.  She mentioned Erin's leadership in cross country.  She talked about Erin's involvement in the community: her helping out with Best Buddies at school, giving up Saturday mornings for the Emergency Clothes Closet and teaching in the AWANA Sparks program on Wednesday nights.  She talked about how Erin brings a smile to the face of all the teachers at Julian, whether or not they have her in class.

I guess the only thing left to say is, congratuations, Erin.  You truly do uphold the dignity of youth, show sincere devotion to the welfare of others, and make generous and unselfish contributions to society. I couldn't be more proud of you, and I'm thrilled that you have the spotlight for such a worthy achievement.

End of Season Party

Erin's been the new kid on the block on her Strikers soccer team this fall, but she's fit in beautifully.  Today was the team's last game of the fall season, and the girls hung out on the trampoline at RC's house for awhile while the parents chatted inside.

I've really enjoyed getting to know the parents on this team, and I'm already looking forward to the spring season!

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Since Erin was in first grade, she's had a very predictable pattern with respect to her hair styles.  She grows her hair out, she donates it to Locks of Love, she grows it out again.  Today she donated her hair for the fourth time.

Here's the before...

...during...

...and after

I love her new look, and I'm so proud of her for her generosity!

State Run

This morning I got up bright and early in order to drive the cross country car pool down to Normal, IL, for the state cross country meet.  What a riot!  Yes, it's a little crazy to drive two-and-a-half hours in order to watch your child run for about 13 minutes, mostly thru a wooded area.  But this is State, and it's a huge honor just to be here.  These are my favorite pics from the day:

The runners had chips on their shoes so their times would be totally accurate.  Here's Erin showing off her chip:

Julian had 2 runners in the top 25, and the team placed 18th overall. Erin came in at 180. What impressed me more than their times and places, was their sense of comraderie. These kids really came together as a team, and have formed lasting friendships this season.

Congrats, J-Hawks, on a great season!

Success at Sectionals

Julian's varsity girls have run strong all season.  Today they had such a strong showing at Sectionals, they are headed to State!  The happy girls can't wait for the trip to Normal next weekend.

Congratulations - you've earned it!

Catching a Break (or not)

Erin is one tough cookie, and she proved it on the soccer field yesterday.  She was fighting for a ball and she went down hard.  She rolled a bit and got right back up and kept playing.  Later in the game she took her regular rest break.  As she was standing on the sidelines, she said to her coach, "Katie, my wrist really hurts."  Her fingers, wrist and forearm were swollen.  One of the soccer dads, who is also a physician, took a look at Erin and said, "It's probably broken."  He was generous enough to take us to his clinic after the game and put a temporary splint on her arm.

We spent a big part of today on x-rays and follow-up, first the hospital:

And then at the doctor's office.

We're pretty sure Erin's wrist is not broken, but we need to wait for the radiologist's report at some point tomorrow before we know for sure.  In the meantime, Erin's got the go-ahead to run cross country and play soccer.   While her wrist is swollen and sore, she's thrilled she can continue to compete.  Did I mention how tough Erin is?