First Day of School

I can't believe that summer is over. As usual it went by so fast! I was beating myself up because we didn't do as much as I wanted to but then I thought about it and the kid's actually did quite a bit. 

Marlie is still too young for most camps but she did get to do a cheer camp and did ballet, tap and jazz with her friend Katie.  She also started gymnastics again so she had plenty to keep her busy.

Matt did some really neat camps this summer.  He started off at the Dynamo soccer camp, then camp at Baseball USA with Uncle Jay, baseball camp at ATM, Jr. paleontologist camp at the museum and then finished up with tennis camp.  Matt also continued with his guitar lessons and did gymnastics with Marlie. 

I was excited for them to start school today but also a bit sad that we can't be lazy just a tad longer.  The kids are finally learning to sleep in a little - a few days it was 8:30am! The kids were pretty excited this morning but very tired too.  We were at school early and I got this really cute pic.  Marlie seemed annoyed that I stopped them for the picture.  I thought she'd be nervous!

We went to Matt's class first.  He was a tad nervous but sat right down and started doing what he was assigned to do.  I snapped a cute pic of him and his teacher, Mrs. Hathorn as well as his sweet friend Micah.  As I went to kiss Matt good-bye I got all teary-eyed.  What a man this little guy has become.  I'm so proud of him!

Then it was off to take Marlie to Mrs. Grady's class.  We are so happy to have her as a teacher again this year.  Wow does it help a Mom on the first day of her baby's trip to Kinder knowing her teacher is fabulous!  I wanted lots of hugs and kisses like Marlie usually gives but she sat down and again seemed annoyed that Dad and I hung around the room for a bit.  I can never predict what she will do!  Doug managed to snap one picture of her and I when she was being silly.  I sure hope she had a good day because she came home very cranky!!

Thank you in advance to our teachers.  We are excited about the year and know how hard you work every day!  I hope everyone else had a great "first day of school"!

Off to Wisconsin!

We just got back from a wonderful trip to Wisconsin!  It was finally here...Mallory and Duy's wedding! 

We flew into Chicago and on our drive up to Milwaukee decided to stop at the Jelly Belly factory.  The kids loved it! We got to sample different flavors of jelly beans.  They had numerous horrible beans like booger, vomit, canned dog food and I was sure these didn't really taste like their name.  The jelly belly guy smiled and offered me one...rotten egg...and much to my surprise it DID taste like a rotten egg!  I spit it out quickly and provided quite a bit of entertainment to Doug, Uncle Jay, Matt and Marlie.  Doug tried the earthworm flavor and Matt tried the grass. 

We decided to stay at a Bed & Breakfast in Cedarburg.  The Inn was great, the breakfast was wonderful and we enjoyed wine and cheese in the evenings!  Nene and Uncle Jay stayed there too. 

We have always visited Cedarburg on our trips to Wisconsin to eat at my favorite place - Creme & Crepe.  The best soups and dessert crepes ever!  But I never truly realized how wonderful this little town was.  We spent a lot of time walking up and down main street, roaming in and out of shops and eating in little cafes and restaurants.  We had the best pizza at Tomasso's and the best hot chocolate at Fiddleheads.  The weather was about 70 degrees.  It couldn't have been nicer. 

The first day was very busy!  We got up early to take family pictures at the Covered Bridge Park.  After the photo shoot I took a few pictures of my own!

Then we went under the bridge and the kids said they were trolls like in the story Three Billy Goats Gruff!

They continued exploring with Doug leading the way. 

We took a few pictures with Nene.  Matt decided he wanted to be the photographer and started snapping photos like crazy.  He was bending down to get into position and directing us what to do.  He had so much fun and we went along with it.  He took this shot which I think turned out great...

Dad found a dandelion which also made for some cute and funny pictures.  It took the whole family to blow all the thingies off it!

Then we headed down to the creek.  I snapped a few cute pictures before the kids decided to get IN the creek.  They loved looking for things and found a snail and a crawdad.  When we asked the kids at the end of the trip what their favorite part was...they said getting in the creek!  Too funny!!

 It was a great day at the park!!

The fun didn't end there.  We met everyone at Creme & Crepe for lunch and the went on a Wilderness Adventure.  It was like a small zoo but all in the woods and you drove a golf cart through it.  The weather couldn't have been more perfect and the kids had fun with their grandpa and great grandpa. 

From here Great Grandpa scheduled a "tour" of his neighbors farm.  We got to go into the barn where they milk the cows and learn about the whole process.  It was really amazing and Matt asked a lot of questions.  Marlie loved the newborn calf.  I love these beautiful red barns that are all over the countryside.  Next time we will have to take family photos in front of one of these red barns!

What a great day!  The next morning the kids went to play putt-putt with Dad while I spent the morning walking along the street and shopping.  We met for lunch at the Chocolate Shop and then got some rest before the big wedding. 

The wedding was beautiful!  It was outside looking over Lake Michigan.  The weather was perfect except for the crazy wind! I got to dance with my Grandpa and got to take a picture with Marion, my Dad's Aunt.  She and her husband were snowbirds and would spend every January in Texas with us.  They were sort of another set of Grandparents to us and I was so happy to hug her.  She is 90 years old and told my brother she would be the flower girl at his wedding!

Marlie had a blast at the wedding.  At one point she was in the middle of a big circle on the dance floor trying to imitate whatever move was being shown to her.  I wish I had it on video!  She danced with the groom and even the groomsmen were asking her to dance.  She loved every minute of it.  Congratulations to Mallory and Duy.  Duy we are so excited that you are joining our crazy family! 

We couldn't leave without a trip to Miller Park to watch the Brewers.  The whole family came which was lots of fun! Dad and Uncle Jay wanted to get there early.  So we did and the kids got to talk to starting catcher Jonathan Lucroy because Uncle Jay coached him in college.  He signed Matt's ball and when he asked Marlie if he wanted him to sign her hat, she gave the cutest look and shook her head yes!  Pitcher Marco Estrada also signed Matt's ball and got a ball and signed it for Marlie.  The kids were so excited!! Lucroy hit 2 home runs so maybe we were his good luck charm!!

It was so nice to see all of our family and do so many fun things.  I really enjoyed spending time with Doug and the kids too. Can't wait to come back to Cedarburg and see everyone again soon!

Cheer Camp

Marlie's friend Katie asked if Marlie would go with her to a 2 day cheer camp led by the Kingwood High School varsity team.  I was excited because Marlie is typically too young for camps so this was perfect!

The girls were a bit nervous the first day but got right up in the mix.  They learned a few cheers and a dance.  I was surprised how well they were able to follow. 

The next day Marlie was excited to wear her KHS shirt so we took a few pics before the girls were off for day 2.

 They met a lot of new friends and enjoyed performing for everyone at the end of the day.  Marlie was excited to be a "flyer"!

I knew at the end that they were going to select a few girl's names from a hat and they would get to cheer at a game during the year.  I didn't mention it to Marlie but she came home the first day excited about it.  Her friend Katie was the first name they pulled out of the bag and I saw Marlie's face as she sat and waited.  She was not one of the names chosen and she cried hysterically.  Big tears, couldn't breathe, crying.  I had no idea she would even care and although I didn't really either, it completely broke my heart.  Marlie told me she was going to talk to the coach and ask him if she could cheer at the game.  I had to explain that she couldn't.  Finally these 2 girls came over to see what was wrong and told her they would take a picture with her.  She managed a sweet smile. 

This small and very insignificant incident scares the crap out of me.  What happens next time when she doesn't make a team or does poorly on a test.  Or a silly boy she's in love with breaks her heart? I guess this is God's way of preparing both of us.  I will have to keep praying lots that he will guide her and protect her.