And off to College she goes......

Brooke had her big young 5/Kindergarten visitation today and someone was a little excited about it! She got to meet her teacher, visit her new classroom, go for a bus ride, meet the kids in her class (which was great, she new some already from her daycare, preschool, & the neighborhood!) So here are some shots of her visitation (yup - I am that mom......) Her mind was running rapid I could tell - some questions/comments that popped up were as follows ......

• Mom, we need to go to the store "tonight" and buy young five paper - because they probably won't let me do homework on "pre-school" paper.
• Mom, why are there no seatbelts on this bus?
• Mom, what if the policeman sees that there are no seatbelts on this bus?
• Mom, do we still nap in kindergarten?
• Mom can we "visit" the playground?
• Mom how will I get to the bus stop? Will it be like paige did?
• What if it is raining at the bus stop?
• Will the older kids from our neighborhood be on my bus?
• Do I start tomorrow?

So as you can see most conversations revolved around the BUS - it was very exciting and new....not sure I could answer her questions of why we practically put straight jackets on our kids in our autos but hey its a bus - throw em' in and hopefully they won't bounce around?? Who knows?? Anyway I am sure it will be a LONG summer of answering "do I go to "real school today?" In a blink of an eye my lil' babe is heading off to school - it is baffling but exciting all in the same breath!

You're Mean.....Mother Nature!

I mean I guess I shouldn't be surprised.....it is still APRIL and we do live in the Midwest, but mother nature gave us a taste of summer and left us wanting more......For the last two weeks we have been busting out of hibernation enjoying every waking moment outside. We have reorganized summer closets, gotten every plausible transportation toy out, visited multiple parks, replenished our sunscreen supply, immediate running to friends houses the moment we get out of the car and for what? A few mere moments of bliss all just to empty out the winter clothes tubs, throw on the long pants and jackets, roll up our windows and turn the heat back on. Mother Nature we are SAD, SAD I tell you..... you gave us a taste and then took it away. So we are patiently waiting to throw those coats back into the closets where they belong and enjoy the great outdoors! Here are some pictures of happier, warmer times.........

Brady trying sooooo hard to do whatever sister is doing! We are really excited for this summer - Brady is in such a better place being able to walk and be more self sufficient than last year!

Brady Bugs is becoming quite the monkey boy - in trying to keep up with all the other kids in the neighborhood.

Nothing beats a good game of hide n seek - I mean pine needles are really hard to decipher if someone is REALLY in there....wah wah wah.....

And Brady isn't really sure he can hide his melon behind this rock.....just kidding!!

Again not sure why it is sideways - but don't have it in me to go fix it......enjoy Brady being a big dude on the slide this year!

So fingers crossed we can get outside more soon!!

What a decade it was........

The 80's - there really was no better time, at least in my eyes. There was so much going on it was hard to keep up with it all. So to relive some of those precious memories we decided to dedicate our annual theme party to the decadent decade that is so near and dear to many of our hearts.....
I mean really what is not to like

• Hairdo's beyond comprehension
• Color pallets that were practically blinding
• Music that was immeasurable compared to the "****" they try to push onto us today (but really I don't feel strongly about this at all!)
• Language and phrases that had no relative connection to the English language. (ie "like fer sure that is totally tubular!") how embarrassing....I swear I never said any of those things!
• Numerous movies that are now considered classics.
• The innocence of growing up with MTV - I mean really when Frankie said Relax, its not like ANY of us knew what he was talking about

Everything seemed so cutting edge back then! Maybe it is because it is the period of time that I did so much "living" and "growing up" that it seems to resonate so deeply inside me, but seriously if we were to throw a 90's party what the heck would we do - throw on flannels and construction boots and mosh pit???? My point exactly no other decade really has as much pizazz as the 80's - Long live Bon Jovi and Spiral perms.... Okay I digress.....so anyway we had a great time (thanks grandparents for your most appreciated childcare!!) Here are a few photos of the event Kudos to all participants who really "turned that mutha out" with the costumes! I think I have all couples represented......

Chris and I gave props to the Jazzercise and Breakin' fads.

Kelly and Jake posed as a mighty fine Axl Rose and Slash.....Who knew you could buy a "sleeve" of tattoos!

Matt and Tammy paid homage to the NEON colors of the 80's!
Todd and Kelly gave a shout out to the "valley girl" and a uncanny Michael Jackson!
Kirsten and Omar did a nice spin on the high school cheerleader and Miami Vice!
Kahle is still hard to look at with that Mullet and creepy stache, and I might have to "out" Stacy for purchasing an entire outfit at Deb....bless your heart!
Matt and Sarah channeling the homecoming queen and Maverick from Top Gun















































































Rob and Nikki = ghost buster and Madonna (Desperately Seeking Susan version)
Jodi as the quintessential preppy sporting the collared shirts and Maury as Nelson , I think, or a blonde Axl.

Mom I just wanted to show you your moon boots are still going to good use!
Rachel posing as Debbie Gibson and Paul as Lamar from Revenge of the Nerds....
Jeanna as your typical Mall rat and Daryl as "I want to pump you up"
Thanks everyone for putting up with the "required" costumes it truly is an anticipation every year!

The Stanley Cup - GR style.......

Chris has picked up a new sport in 2008 and is IN LOVE with it! He has always expressed interest in playing hockey, but never was able to hook up with a team. This past year he was fortunate enough to join an adult men's hockey league and add "another" sport to be obsessed with :) He ended the season last week and it went something like this.......

it's game 7 of the final series and they are down by 3 or 4 - they finally tie it up and capitalize in the last 30 seconds of the game to win it and become "Wednesday night champions" (bless their hearts that this was the best title they could come up with) for real its even engraved that way.......

Or at least that is what I hear....you see this hockey league is something that I really wasn't able to be part of or witness - the games start at some absurd hour after I have already captured a few hours of zzzzz's so I have to take their word for it as they compare it to the "most incredible game ever" I mean you should have heard the recaps - its as if the 12 spectators were throwing buckets of octopuses on the ice in celebration! Now I am sure if you were to ask anyone of the team members to recap the story it would have been a bit more in depth than mine but the gist of it was they won the league and have quite a season to live up to!

Congrats "Wednesday night guys"

I am just excited Chris is able to get out of the compound and really enjoy something he has always wanted to try! (as long as he promises all original teeth will stay in tact) I mean it isn't the NHL but the WNL (Wednesday night league) I am sure is the next best thing! :)

So hopefully he can recuperate from his high of being a "champion" in order to focus up for Softball!

We are all showing our age.....

For some of us its a good thing for others not so much....... Obviously we age everyday, but somehow it has been more apparent lately.....


Hubbie - last two injuries were nothing to be "proud" of one consisted of a sore arm for several days resulting from a extraordinarily hard high five while playing hockey (sorry this one still makes me giggle.....) The other a toe that could barely be walked on from a break dancing mishap. The body is reminding us that we are a year older and it's not as forgiving as it once used to be!



Brooke - She is 4 going on 15 lately....She has become extremely argumentative lately and always looking to get the last word in....It doesn't matter what the subject may be! She is starting to watch "non cartoon" movies, proclaim she is Hanna Montana (after viewing one episode), going to kindergarten visitation.....Sometimes I look at her and think...How did she get that old - and did she really just say that? i.e. "Mom remember the golden rule" when we were battling out some issue (most likely getting her bangs out of her eyes!) We love you Brooke, but stop growing up so fast!


Me -I have never enjoyed a nap more in my life. I was never a big fan of them in my younger years, but given the opportunity I usually won't pass it up, I have had a stiff neck for about 2 weeks now, my bones creak at a volume that is sometimes absurd. I just visited a "retirement community" and really didn't feel all that much out of place :) I have also caught myself saying things in defense to Brooklyn's arguments like..... "Because we are the parents", "Because I am your Mom and I know what is good for you" - I swear another year and who knows perhaps "because you live under my roof, you will live by my rules" will slip out...... I know it's happening.......


Brady - All of a sudden this little boy fills our house with running, jumping, endless hugs and kisses, starting to get territorial with his sister and his things, a definite need to roughhouse, but hasn't let go of his cuddles with mom yet. He has started this hilarious laugh that I can't get enough of, still has an infatuation with any sort of balls (case in point) he will sit in this bucket of balls for hours.....sort of sad - but he is all smiles when he is in it....

Oh an the BEST part is that he is consistently saying Ma and Da to us - we have waited an extraordinarily long time for this but it is music to our ears as he finally is able to say our names! He is still working on Brooke but it will come all in due time!

So we are all aging in our own ways, some better than others in my mind, but still fun to watch all the twists and turns life gives you!

Thanks for everything Grandpa & Grandma!

We had a great time with you guys and we are back to reality - Surprisingly it is very "spring like" here so it wasn't that tragic. Thanks for all you showed us it was a nice break from the Michigan Blahs! Dad, Chris was wondering if one of the requirements of the "festivals" is that one spouse must be blind and use a walking stick :)

Also Mom we were wondering if there was a new pool rule for all people over the age of 55 to be assisted by a noodle in the shallow end. I mean it does look pretty deep from where dad is "sitting" :)

Thanks for watching the B girl while I enjoyed a magazine Pool side.....

Grandma thanks for warming me up by the hot tub 3 hours of non stop swimming every day!

Grandpa thanks for teaching Brooke how to calm down and swim like a big girl! And thanks to the family from Milwaukee for providing playmates for Brooke. Tyler the little 5 year old admitted to his mom that he was dreaming about Brooke - so funny!

Thanks for taking us on a hike and being able to witness mom see a REAL rattlesnake cross out path! Tom and Dave I know I don't have to write out the dialogue you can both hear it word for word in your head!

Thanks for taking Brooke back to her mountain roots - she felt one with the rock.....

Thanks for supplying the sunshine, sunscreen & definitely the Aloe!

Thanks for moving to such a cool place with so much to do! Even if you don't leave the compound.

Thanks for providing door to door service to/from the airport - I will have you know Brooke broke down twice - once as she saw you guys drive away and once as we were on the plane prior to dozeville. When asked what was wrong she responded "I miss Grandma and Grandpa!" I am so glad you have such an impact on her life and can't wait for your visit to beautiful, humid, hot Michigan in a few months!