Halloween 09

Even though we talk about costumes months ahead of time, it never fails that we are frantically searching for something creative the day of trick-or-treating! Thanks to Lily next door, Emmi had a choice of costumes and insisted she be a cat. She had been a ladybug for school that week. She did not like the whiskers at all, but decided they were okay after so many "CUTE!" comments!

I had tried to talk the boys into dressing up as the Wizard of Oz clan, but some were not willing. They didn't know what to be for Halloween, so Jon made a deal: stay home and hand out candy and play video games with Daddy for two hours or trick-or-treat. They chose to play video games, while I drug Emmi around town. After about 10 houses, she kept saying, "I'm tired! Can we go home now?"

Soccer Season and Sixth Grade

Why, do you ask, did it take three months for me to blog again? Soccer and Sixth Grade!

Dawson, Calvin & Braden were all playing soccer on three different teams and I was there at the soccer fields many nights a week. Jon was busy with his golf team many of those nights! I have also switched from teaching Kindergarten to teaching sixth grade! I know that is a BIG jump, but I love it! The only problem is that every spare moment, it seems, is spent on dealing with planning or grading for sixth grade. Forget blogging....I'm just trying to keep everything afloat here! :)

These two pictures are of Dawson. He is the green #8. He liked to guard the goal for his team, even though they didn't have a goalie in his league. He scored two goals this season, but he didn't really LOVE soccer. At least he gave it good effort.

These two pictures are of Calvin. He is in turquoise. His team had a rough time and lost a couple of good players. He and another boy had to carry the team and he gave 110%! He loves playing and scored a goal this year, too!

These two pictures are of Braden. He is in the neon green. Braden has a lot of stamina when it comes to soccer. He never tires. He enjoys the game and can keep track of all the other teams, too. Braden's team won their division championship this year! This is his third championship trophy...one for each division he has played in. He was very excited!

First School Days 09

Have you ever felt like this?

Well, that is how I feel after getting behind on this blog by 3 months! However, the picture above is Emmi on her first day of preschool! As you can see, she was not so happy about it! (Yes, her thumb is inserted.) After a couple of weeks, though, Emmi couldn't wait to get to school and absolutely loves it! She doesn't like Saturday because their is no Nancy (her sitter), no school and no church! She is such a social butterfly!

The picture below is of Emmi, Calvin, Dawson & Braden. Calvin is in 4th grade and enjoying it! Dawson is in first grade and is reading like crazy now. Braden moved on to the junior high and is loving it, even though he was VERY NERVOUS the day of this picture. He is riding the bus to and from school, which is an entirely new experience for him and to do it alone (without his brothers) is a big step!

Falder Photo Shoot

My friend and neighbor, Traci, took the kids pictures last week! We met her for the shoot in downtown Hartford City and the kids were confused. They thought we were meeting her at JC Penney's or something! Photography just started out as a hobby of hers and it is quite evident that it is a God-given gift! I chose to go this route in lieu of school pics this year.

I thought I would tell you to take a look at her blog entry: "Black & White Dilemma" for a peek at the pictures. Click on her link at the right, under "My Blog List" at Traci Falder Photography and scroll down to the entry with the title mentioned above. You will see a gorgeous picture of Dawson and a rare, joyful moment from the four kids. (Rare, as in, they are ALL happy at the same time!) Thanks, Traci! :)

Fahlen Family Fun

We spent a great, two days with the Fahlen family near Grand Rapids, Michigan. Jon will have two of their sons on his golf team this fall. Their eldest has been on the team for the past three years. They live on a lake and invited us to come up.

We went on the boat and the kids all went tubing, including Emmi! Jon enjoyed the Sea-Doo and gave all the kids turns on it with him. Later the boys went fishing off the pontoon boat and we went out for ice cream. The kids loved the beach and spent most of the morning jumping off of the deck or digging in the sand or trying out the paddleboat together. Of course, Dawson had to take a collection of snail shells home.

Thanks, Fahlen's for a great time! Emmi now loves all boys between the ages of 15 and 22, especially ones in swimming trunks! :) (She went right up to a lifeguard at Taylor Lake and teased him like she would have one of the Fahlen boys that weekend!)

Braden, Calvin & Dawson ready to tube...

Emmi and Jon on the left. Yes, Emmi is smiling!
You can't hear it, but Braden is screaming the entire time! Shrieks of joy...

Jon was WAY too comfortable on this Sea-Doo!

Even Emmi ventured on it with Daddy. He went so fast, I couldn't ever get a moving picture!

Dawson running and jumping off the end of the dock...

Calvin without a hint of caution...

Braden is all about the perfect look...

Saying Good-bye to Mikel

I know I am WAY behind on my blog entries, but it is time to catch up! Here are some pictures from Saturday, July 25, when we took Mikel to the airport. He had been with us for a month! He became a part of our family! They all look up to him! We hope to see him again someday soon! I hope to try some authentic tapas (pintxos) someday! It was a great experience and I wouldn't have changed it for anything!

Emmi still asks where he is and will do things that he did, like fold her gum wrapper like him. I will ask if she misses him and she will say, "YES!"

Braden and Dawson have grown to love Nutella and Braden even told me I need to buy another jar.

Calvin ate his pancakes like a sandwich one day with bacon and a little syrup.

Notice the Taylor University shirt...We're working on that! :) Only one more year, Mikel!

Suburban Thrill Rides

We have logged many hours in our Suburban this summer! We have tried to tell Mikel that we do not travel like this all the time! We have had some great bonding moments singing together with Jon's amazing stereo system! Some of our favorite songs have been:

• Every Day by Rascal Flatts
• The Notre Dame Fight Song by the Glee Club & Band
• Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd (Spelling??)

Boys will be boys...
Emmi and her precious "B" (blanket)!

Jon and his white chocolate mocha! This is Mikel in his hard rock mode!

Dawson & Calvin were trying to hide Braden from the camera. This is the first of several attempts to get Braden's picture. For once, Braden's brothers helped him out!

Mikel helped with this shot after my feable attempts!

Indy Day 2009: Go Colts!

We took a tour of Lucas Oil Stadium, since Europeans seemed to be intrigued by our American football.

3 Colts & 1 Filly: A Rowdy Crew!

Jon as a wannabe Colts player!

This is our family on the corner of the Colts turf. (No, we did not plan all the orange to coordinate with the blue so nicely!)

View from the Press Box! Sweet!

Mikel, Lane and Emmi at the Spaghetti Factory afterwards.

Fourth of July 2009

We were planning a trip to visit family on the 4th! However, we woke up that morning with a refrigerator that had died and a limping dishwasher. (Jon had already replaced the heating element in the DW a month ago. It was on its same load for the second time that week and they were still not clean!) Anyway, we spent our day instead at HH Gregg and Lowe's buying appliances!

That evening we had video game tournaments and Jon and Mikel set off fireworks in the backyard while the rest of us sat on the deck under umbrellas! Mikel thought these were pretty cool and that maybe he could take some back to San Sebastian. I told him that probably was not the best idea. Customs may not go along with it!

You can vaguely see Mikel and Jon off to the right behind our cherry tree.

Chicago Last Day

We spent the last day at the Museum of Science & Industry! I was the only one of us who had ever been there before and I'm glad we took the enitre day there! It was huge and we got lost several times! We were exhausted for several days after this trip! Calvin is at the top, Dawson is just starting to climb and Emmi is hopping around!
Braden & Dawson are climbing now...

Braden & Mikel skiing!

Dawson & Emmi on a train car!

Emmi posing as usual during one of her happy moments! We forgot our umbrella stroller and spent half of our time wrestling with her!

I didn't know what to expect around the corner! This is one enormous German U-boat!

Calvin sailing away...

Braden & Mikel checking out Wheasley's car from Harry Potter.

Chicago Day 2

On day two we went to the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium and Navy Pier. My nephew, Kevin, is a student at DePaul University and met us for the evening. He took us on the subway to Navy Pier. That was a trip for the kids! Typical picture with the kids...no one is cooperating!!

I kept hearing this annoying drum sound while looking at the exhibits. I turned the corner and it was my own boys banging on these hollowed out tree stumps!

Emmi and Sue's 600 lb. T-rex skull!

Mikel was trying out the jumping on the moon trip!

Navy Pier looks quite cool lit up at night!

This is just one of the fireworks shot from the pier!