First Soccer Practice

Here are some shots of Acacia's first soccer practice. She is on the Teal Spartans. The rules are ... in this order ... 1) HAVE FUN! 2) DO NOT TOUCH THE BALL with your hands! Her coach is one of her friends Dad (Coach Russ). And she knows 4 of the other 5 kids on the team. So far, she seemed to really enjoy it. Chris was sad, sitting on the side lines as he really wants to play. We will have to bring him a ball so he can play on the side lines. There are treats after practice for everyone (including little brothers). That seemed to help Chris feel better. The first game is next week!! Anyone want to come???

Our old and new truck!

Dale models her new truck and her title. While Acacia and Chris model our new truck! Dale paid a significantly lower price for her new wheels then we did, but we still think we got the better deal!! Acacia likes the truck ... So does Chris ...

First Day of Kindergarten '06

Acacia's first day of kindergarten went very well. She was thrilled and had a great day. Her first week went well too. She does have a substitute teacher as her regular teacher ended up going on medical leave. But, so far, things are just fine. She tells us she's made two new friends and she thinks they will be her good friends - but she also tells me she ditches the new friends for her old ones once they all are on the play ground together.

Chris is not bothered at all at with the lack of a sister in the AM. He and Randy have been riding their bikes to school/work. Chris LOVES this as he shows his bike helmet to everyone at school and points to his bike strapped to the fence outside his classroom.


















Both kids are a bit more wiped out at the end of the day. Swimming and soccer certainly help get to that point. Chris was so tired he fell asleep in his glider. At least he got some blankets.

Two Days in the Dells

We spent Friday and Saturday in the Dells at the Wilderness Water Park! We got to spend Friday with Acacia's friend Rachel and her family! We got to go on family rides and lazy river rides. We think the kids had fun. Chris fell asleep at the dinner table (this is the second time he's done this)! Come and visit and we will show you all about the Hurricane and the Cannon Ball!

The Wilderness Water Park '06

Chris' "VACATION"

Chris was home for a couple weeks!! Yoli took a few photos!! The swimming and kissing the sharks looks like something that would be restricted while in the Army .... But, whatever. It was great knowing he was home and safe. I know we all can't wait for October!!

Chris' VACATION

McLaughlin Visit '06

We had a nice visit with Randy's fraternity son (Brad McLaughin) and his wife Lori. One of their daughters was competing the Drum and bugle Core competition that took place here in Madison. While they were here we did the farmers market, toured the capital building and did a bit of walking and checked out some of them many cows that are decorating the Madison area. Check out the link for photos from there visit!

McLaughlin Visit '06

Faglioni's Ocean Isle Photos '06

Here are the Faglioni's photos from Ocean Isle!

Faglioni's Photos'06

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.