Yoli's Photos from NC '06

Here are the photos that Yoli took while visiting Emme and Nono in NC.

Yoli's Photos'06

East Coast Tour '06 / aka "The Great Grandma Tour"

*Note: I have cropped many of the photos but left the originals out there as well. So, if you think you are seeing the same photo twice, you probably are - but one is cropped.

We spent almost 3 weeks driving east to visit family and friends. We departed Madison Wednesday evening and after surviving Chicago road construction, flying through 2-3 tolls without paying, getting a warning for speeding (53 in a 35) and torrential down pours we arrived safely to Brad's house in OH. Click this link to see photos from our visit with Brad and family.

Brad's House in OH '06


















Friday morning we left Brad's house and had fun on the super whindy and hilly roads out of Hillsborough, OH - well, until Chris started to complain of a stomach ache. We assumed it was from not pooping for a couple days. As it turned out, it was from chugging 8 ounces of milk and then being in the back of a van on super whindy and hilly roads. Chris got sick all over his clothes and the car seat. Pretty nasty. We got him as cleaned up as we could but the smell lingered and made everyone a bit queasy. We again, survived road construction, bridges being out and more rain but made it safely to Tim's house in NC. Click this link to see photos from our visit with Tim and his family.

Tim's House in NC '06
















Saturday morning we spent at the hotel pool with Tim and family. We got on the road for Ocean Isle Beach after lunch and arrived Saturday evening for dinner at the Henderson's. We spent a week with Randy's family at the beach. Click this link to see photos from our week at Ocean Isle beach.

Ocean Isle Beach '06
















While we were at the beach we had a photographer takes portraits. While she was busy taking everyone's pictures, I managed to snap a few with our camera. Click this link to see "portraits".

Portraits
















While at the beach, my parents had us ALL over for dinner one evening. What a grand event this was as not only was it all us Learishes, but the Henderson's and Bradley's made it and my sister Julianne with her three girls, my sister in law - Yoli and the kids Great Nani!! The final golf play offs also occurred deeming Sean the grand winner. We left our beach house on Saturday to spend some time with my parents at their house just up the road in NC. The kids Great Nani is living with my parents so we had a nice visit with her while we were there. My Auntie Linda and a friend of her's came to visit too. Click this link to see photos from the time spend at my parent’s house.

Wheeler's and Great Nani '06















We left my parents on Sunday and caravanned (my Mom and Dad and my sister and her 3 girls) to Kelly's house in Richmond. We hung out at the Faglioni's pool on Monday. Click this link to see photos from our time at the Faglioni's.

Faglioni's '06
















While we were chillin' at the Faglioni's Emme and Nono took Acacia and Hailey to Kings Dominion for a day of way too much fun!! Click on this link to check out the smiles on everyone!! Thanks so much, Emme and Nono! Looks like everyone had a ball - even Scooby!!

Kings Dominion '06









We left Richmond on Tuesday and headed to Kevin's in NJ. We went to a park and took a nice walk by a lake. Click this link to see photos from our visit at Kevin's.

Kevin's '06
















We left Kevin's on Wednesday and arrived at my Auntie Kathy's in MA that evening. We spent Thursday here visiting with the kids Great Grandma Wheeler and my Auntie Kathy and Uncle Harvey. Click this link to see photos from our visit in MA.

Benoit's and Great Grandma Wheeler '06















We left MA on Friday and arrived in PA at Grandma Karen's house. The kids got to visit with their Great Grandma Kenyon and select a bell from her collection and we spent a day at Pappy Bill's camp for a small Brion reunion. The Clearfield County Fair was just about to get going so we were able to walk around there and see a few animals. Click this link to see photos from our visit in PA.

Brion's and Great Grandma Kenyon '06




















We left Clearfield on Sunday evening. We planned on driving as far as we could and then staying in a hotel. But, as luck would have it, it was smooth sailing and we drove straight through to Madison. We got home around 3a Madison time. Many thanks to Dale and Kathy for watching Nita while we were gone and to everyone who fed and housed us along the way!! We had a great time seeing everyone. It is good to be home though. Our home in WI is always open! Someone should come visit us now!!

New Kitchen

Here are some shots of the kitchen project. A few "before" shots, some during and now after. We are not 100% finished as we have to get a new floor. This has been a bit of a bigger project then we anticipated only because of the time and effort that Randy has put into polishing every brass piece in the kitchen and bathroom. Each hinge and each cabinet knob! That is a lot of knobs ... and a lot of brasso, and a new drummel tool and a handful of other tools and "stuff" that I have no idea what they are. But, it is now done and he wants to do the floor himself. Round two in the kitchen to begin .... ????

8/25/06 - The kitchen floor is done!! Randy did a great job putting it in and I really like what we picked out. The before and after photos are pretty amazing.
On to painting the exterior of the house!

Kitchen Remodel

Promega Family Picnic '06

The annual Promega family picnic was a great success as usually. The only down side was that Randy hurt his neck at some point during the day and was not really up for hanging out. So, the kids and I hung out and did the big slide and jumpers. They got some body paints and had a great time.

Promega Family Picnic '06

Acacia's Field Trip '06

Click on the link to see a slide show of Acacia's field trip to the same place we go to get our pumpkins. Mom (me) got to chaperone. I was assigned to the three most perfect kids!! They were such good listeners and everyone had a great time!!


Acacia's Field Trip '06

Pool with Rachel and Brenna '06

Click on the link to see a slide show of the kids at the pool with friends Rachel and Brenna. It was 90+ that day but really windy. So, as soon as you got out of the pool you were COLD! Pretty crazy!!

At the Pool

Chris' Art Auction and Pot Luck

Click on the link to see a slide show of Chris' art auction and potluck from his class. Every year the kids in each room work on a lot of art and then they auction it off. I have a piece from each kid for each year they have been at this school and I get them framed. They look really great. This year, I only bid on one piece and someone outbid me at the very last second so we got nothing. But, that is OK. The kids had a great time eating and playing with their friends. Enjoy!

Chris' art auction

Chris is 3!!

Click on the link to see a slide show of Chris' party. He was really very excited about the entire event. Just seeing the cake bake and cool on the counter got him jumping all over the kitchen. Randy and I stayed up way past 4a Sat to reassemble the kitchen as much as possible to be ready for the party. We each got about 4 hours (total) of sleep Sat night but the party was a huge hit! We have to thank our friends for all their help and for understanding and dealing with our mess!! Chris totally LOVES all his gifts and when we watch the video it is as if he is completely reliving the entire event! To see a little video clip click the play button below. Enjoy!

Chris turns 3 slideshow






Click the play button to view the video.

Acacia's Spring Concert '06

Click the link below to see the ALL the photos from Acacia's Spring Concert! Her class at school and one other class sang and danced for us. It was perfect! Each child got to make their own t-shirt. They practiced for months. The event was very well attended with strawberry short cake after the performance. We then walked over to the farmers market and the fish pond. It was a great day!!

Acacia's Spring Concert' 06

Chris' Rabbit Pot Luck '06

Click the link below to see photos from Chris' pot luck at the park!

Chris' Pot Luck at the Park '06

Play Ball!!

After the Dedication we had a full day of fun. We went to the zoo, out to lunch, to Brenna's (Krenke) 4th birthday party and then off to the park to PLAY BALL, fly kites, toss frisbee and softballs and just play.

Dedicating the kids '06

Saturday April 22, 2006 we Dedicated the kids. We had our friends the Flemmings and the Krenke's come and I managed to keep from weeping. I think the only reason I did not weep is becuase Chris was distracting me. You'll have to see the video to understand.

Easter '06

Click the link below to see some photos of Easter here in WI! Saturday we went to our local Easter Egg hunt. Chris did great! He went right up to the bunny and got some treats. Acacia hid behind dad. She indicated that this bunny had "horns" and she was not going to go anywhere near it. Chris got lots of eggs and was happy. Acacia got a couple eggs (only because dad picked them up) and was not happy until she could eat the candy. The Easter bunny came Sunday and left the jelly bean trail. We have footage of Acacia screaming at Chris that he was moving in on her trail and he better back off. We went to church and then to a GREAT brunch that had another bunny. Apparently, this one did not have horns coming out of his head as Acacia was fine with this bunny. Hope everyone had a great Easter! :)

Easter'06

Water Park '06

We played hookie and took the kids to one of the indoor water parks up in the Dells. They did not stop at all!! Chris finally fell asleep while eating Cheetoes at 7:00pm.

Crazy Hair Day '06

The kids school celebrates week of the young child with all kinds of activities for the kids. This is crazy hair day ....