Happy Birthday TJ

17 and lookin good

Above is a super cool shot of TJ, my boy is growing up. He turned 17 a week ago.

My boy is back and ready to tackle his final year of high school. It's hard to believe that a year from now he'll be away at college

Happy Birthday!

4th grade!

Karrick's 1st day of 4th grade

Karrick looks like he's standing in a dang hole! Maybe the leaning over chopped a few inches off?

Either way he's a super cutie and a keeper. He is friends with a great group of boys

and the girls, always the girls

The High Schoolers

I have 2 guys in high school. TJ is a senior and Callahan is a freshman. 

Never a dull moment with these two. They had me laughing all morning as they feed off each other. Im pretty sure Callahan will slide right by as he doesn't look like a freshman at 5'11 and he has 4 out of 7 sophmore and Junior classes

lots of good stuff

It has been a crazy 2 weeks in the McGinty house. TJ is working non-stop. Below is the promotional picture for "Family Values" Imdb page. It's a web-series TJ is getting ready to film

 Below are some shots from a independant short film TJ shot last week. A troubled boy tries to commit suicide. TJ did a spectacular job. Can't wait to see fianl cut

He was able to fit in 2 commercial auditions and 1 call back this week...one audition was yesterday so it's too early for a callback

Today TJ filmed a paid Video at Columbia's new Media Arts Building (pictures from web). A casting director booked him straight from headshot/resume. Tim dropped him off this morning and TJ is currently in a cab on his way to the train station to come home.

I had to take Karrick to film a national TV show today. All I can say is watch the 3rd episode. Karrick also had a commercial audition yesterday

It's has been crazy, but the boys are having fun and we will enjoy this ride as long as it lasts

a sneak peaek is out for another movie close to our hearts

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=199990883512835

Congratulations Karrick on booking Chicago Fire!

This little cutie is filming an episode of Chicago Fire next week and I have to accompany him on the set.

Being a stage mom doesn't suck

Prom Shoppe.........Yes, more pictures

I love when TJ's dimple shows

A whole slew of pictures featuring my TJ. Way to fill up a portfolio

The Prom Shoppe

Oswego, IL

Tell them TJ sent you

I just loved this girls hair, it was stunning in person. All the models were sent to a professional salon across the street. They didn't send TJ for fear he would come out with blue hair as they are eccentric, Blue hair would be fine if he didn't have 2 other projects in the next couple of weeks

Can I just say that my TJ has a 40 outseam- the boy got leg

Research Inquiry & Experimentation- RISE

A few weeks ago I received an email from the Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora asking if Callahan would be interested in a new pilot program called RISE.

It is a high level year long college readiness program for exceptional student entering grade 9-12.

Duh! YES, I replied

2 days ago I received an application invitation. I had Tim register Callahan immediately. My experience with the summer programs are, they fill up ASAP. Nowhere else that I am aware of caters to these students that rank nationally in the top 1 - 2 %.

Callahan said he is up for the challenge.

I don't have all the information on this program, but what I do know is
it starts in 2 weeks

Program description: This year long course is intended for students who are interested in pursing a higher level year long, in depth study in a scienctific topic of their choosing. Succesful students in this course with be self-motivated and independent learners. The course will give student an opportunity to participate in a community of scientific research and scholarship

Course benefits

1.  Learn skills necessary to to conduct independent research and report your findings

2.  Choose a topic of your own interest

3.  Collaborate with other high school students involved in independent research and connect with a          research expert in your field of inguiry as an e-mentor

5.  Conduct authentic research

6.  Present your findings at various reginal/ state venus

7.  Select colleges and universities are seeking independent research experience 

     from top candidates

This should be an interesting and defining year for my Callahan

Bootcamp 6 mo later

6 months ago I joined Iron Will Bootcamp. 6 months ago I couldn't do a pushup, a squat or run 20 feet.  None of us could barely get through the warmup. We kept coming back, we swore, we grunted, sweated, spit (on accident while working out) and kept coming back.

About 2 months ago we all broke through and now we can push ourselves to finish, we can go until we feel that burn in out lungs. I can run an entire mile without stopping. Due to my injuries and arthritis in my hips, lower back, neck, shoulder and elbow I physically couldn't run.

Just to get through the first 3 months of camp I had to take a mild muscle relaxer and pain pill...I don't advise it, but I had to make a change in my physical self.

I  have lost 12 lbs. Ive lost 3 inches on waist, 3 in off my hips and even an inch off my thighs.

There are 5 of us that come regularly. One girl lost 22 lbs!

We sweat like animals, but laugh non stop

 I can do a real pushup!

 I dislocated my shoulder a few months back...it's almost back to normal but I wear a non-narcotic pain patch that also holds it in place...pops sometimes 

 Ok our instructors 9 year old daughter works out with us...she kicks our ass in everything

 At this point my butt and thighs are screaming for me to stop...burning!!! I am holding a 15 lb kettle bell.

 We I first started on the boku ball, I couldn't balance at all I would end up pushing it aside and doing it on the floor

 these are stars, they suck and I hate them...inches inches inches

 every mon wed and fri 5-6 pm $10 a class

TJ and Cal do the tough men training inside,,,TJ threw up on the way home friday. Hard freakin core for them.  With the boys it's around  $100 a week (for all 3 of us) total, but its so worth it. 

I can move, like really move...I had trouble walking down the block before

Now I have muscle

Anyone interested in joining let me know