More Kittens

No, I have not rescued anymore but we found some hiding in our neighbors tree a few weeks ago and I just had to share some pictures I took. Thank heavens for a really long lens I didn't disturb them at all just stood in my driveway and waited for heads to pop up. They are so cute!

This is Mommy wondering what I am doing...


Isn't she beautiful!


Two little black balls of fluff.



With huge blue eyes like their Mommy

It's been amazing watching her in this tree take very good care of her babies...

End of School Events

Finally getting around to posting about the end of school events... yes, I know school was out on May 29th. We've had a couple of busy weeks and are getting ready for Nicholas' graduation next week and a friend of Wayne's will be visiting over the 4th of July. Both of the girls had great school years and made beautiful progress in their studies, friendships and extracurricular activities.

Before school was done Isabela and I went on a field trip to the Brookfield Zoo, in the rain on a cold day. The kids loved it but mostly because they weren't in a classroom. I can honestly say I wasn't impressed with the zoo but they were doing a lot of construction and well the weather may have had something to do with it.

Isabela and her friend playing games on the long bus ride to the zoo.

Isabela and I have something in common - we don't like our picture taken.

Gotcha! Over the shoulder and upside down... my skills are improving!

The kids in my group. All wet, cold and tired. We were only at the zoo for an hour and a half but that was long enough for us all to get chilled and soaked to the bone. The kids had a science project they were working on (the reason for the trip) and I don't think I've ever seen a group of teenagers finish a school project faster than these guys. Nothing like a little motivation - a nice warm school bus!

Leopard

Tiger

Snow Leopard

Polar Bear

Baby Geese wandering with Mom and Dad (out of frame of course) by the picnic grounds. The kids in my group had a great time feeding half of their lunches to all the Geese, Pigeons and other critters begging for food.

You may not be able to see it but this monkey (can't remember it's name) was screaming at everyone. Just running from treetop to treetop screaming at all of us. Made an impressive noise and had even more impressive fangs...

Monkey lounging in a nice warm monkey house. If the smell wasn't so hideous I think we would have stayed a lot longer in there.

Kids checking out the pitiful Camel exhibit. Poor things were laying in the only patch of sand they had. All and all it was a fun trip amazingly enough. The kids were really good and I got to know several of Isabela's friends and classmates. Can't wait for when Rhianna goes in a couple of years!

Our other end of school event was the quarterly band concert. They did very well and as always had fun with it. Mr. Hunter picks some good music for them to play.

Getting ready...

Isabela is right in front of Mr. Hunter.

She not only plays the Flute but the Piccolo too. She's had a couple of solos in the last concerts and she really likes it. I think she really likes hitting the very high notes and watching the dogs go nuts.

Piccolos squeak worse then Clarinets did you know that?

Not a large band but a good one!

Rhianna's end of school year activities included a field day, an end of our elementary years party and getting all signed up for junior high. She will be in band next year too. She tried out for flute and clarinet - guess which one will grace our household next fall??? Nope couldn't have been that easy on our pocket book we have to buy a clarinet. I think we definitely have a full band of our own at home. Rhianna is really looking forward to it. Evidently she had a great tryout and Mr. Hunter feels she is very talented. Nothing like being graced with musically talented kids. Now, if they would just get their homework done!

4B4The4th - A Spina Bifida Fundaraising Campaign

Hello Everyone!
As many of you know Rhianna, the youngest Prince Family member, was born with Spina Bifida. It has been a life changing event for all of us and her persistence to overcome obstacles amazes us daily. She is getting to the age of awareness - awareness of her differences socially and physically as well as the need to have others understand about her challenges, about Spina Bifida.

We’ve made a commitment to support the vital work of the Spina Bifida Association (SBA). They launched an awareness and fundraising effort called 4b4the4th to support people with this birth defect.

If you don’t know what Spina Bifida is, it is the most frequently occurring permanently disabling birth defect. Every day about eight babies born in the United States have Spina Bifida or a similar birth defect of the brain and spine.

Approximately 185,000 people in the United States are living with Spina Bifida. More children have Spina Bifida than have muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and cystic fibrosis combined. Find out more information on this challenging complex birth defect by visiting http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/.

Now we would like you to join the cause. Support 4b4the4th by reaching out to 4, 40, 400 or 4,000 friends to each donate $4, $14, $40, $400 or more before the 4th of July – all in an effort to raise $100,000 to benefit the SBA and let more people know about Spina Bifida.

Please make a donation of $4, $14, $40, $400 or more by clicking www.spinabifidaassociation.org/4b4the4th to support SBA.

As always if we can answer your questions about Spina Bifida please let us know. Rhianna is happy to tell you all about her life - good and bad! When a kiddo like Rhianna loves life as much as she does don't they deserve to have you support them!

Andrew, Isabela, Nick and Rhianna (age 2).

Rhianna (age 8)

New and Improved Website

I just wanted to le everyone know that I have completely redone our family website.

http://www.princesrealm.com/

Feel free to stop by and let me know what you think!

Now I'm onto finishing up my business site, http://www.fencepostphotography.com/ and my Mother's business site too.

HUGE NEIGHBORHOOD GARAGE SALE

Just wanted to pass along information about our huge neighborhood garage sale this coming week. There will be several homes in our association participating including us! We'll have girls clothes, video tapes, toys, furniture and more!

So stop by and check it out!

1105 Monroe Avenue

Wauconda IL 60084

May 14th, 15th and 16th

9am until 5pm

Grandma's Visit

Our guest blogger today is Grandma Carol...

Me being silly while Jenn's taking pictures

Jenn and I have built a tradition of spending the weekend of Mother's Day and her birthday together doing special things. This trip has been a wonderful time spent with the whole Prince/Thornton family. We visited the Field Museum, watched movies, cooked and ate wonderful meals and worked on projects. I've been staying up late watching movies with Nick, and sleeping late with the twins, Sammy and Dean (kittens!). Nick and Wayne are now watching videos of a man who plays music doing hand farts....yes I was impressed too. The man is even accompanied by professional musicians. Chopin and Schubert will never be the same for me.

After we finish off our chocolate sorbet shakes, we are sitting down to shrimp and chicken alfredo tonight. Uh huh I'm not eating for the rest of the week. Tomorrow is back to work for a site visit in Cedar Rapids, IA then back home to Olathe, KS. Too bad for me.......
Grandma Carol

The Field Museums' main lobby and one of the corner statues had a Blackhawks Jersey one. These people sure do like hockey up here!

Me and Isabela - and - Me and Rhianna

Nick knowing what's coming... and me being spooked.

Yes just an Earwig. But the backend of the thing pops up and it hisses at you. Wasn't prepared for interactive bug displays. Made me jump!

The girls were helping the dino make noise so I thought I would give it a try.

Jenn taking pictures... of Nick taking pictures.

To see more of our trip to the Field Museum check out the pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/PrincesRealm

Happy Mother's Day

Just wanted to wish all of our favorite Mothers and those in the rest of the world a very happy Mother's Day!!

We hope you have a great day and are able to enjoy it with all of your families!