Pumpkin Picking and Beyond '06

Today we went with two other families to one of our regular pumpkin picking farms. This is one of many to come this season. Today we got to see a puppet show while eating cider donuts (mom's favorite). We got to pet kittens (again), see pigs, deer, horses, elk, goats and much much more. We took a tractor ride to the pumpkin patch and selected the "perfect" pumpkins and did a corn maze. And even though mom is not in any of the photos, she was there - see was just off eating all the donuts. We even got ice cream!!!

Pumpkin Picking and Beyond '06

First Soccer Game (that went well)

Acacia's first soccer game did not go well. The other team scored first and therefore Acacia decided that they had been playing together longer and were just better. Given that they are all 5 and just started in the same kindergarten league I don't know when they could have practiced and played together but this did not seem to comfort Acacia. So, after the game we went home and practiced. I know NOTHING about soccer but I do know that if you don't keep moving someone will get the ball from you. After about 45 minutes of me yelling "Don't stop!! Keep moving!! Run me over! POWER! POWER! POWER! She was getting pretty excited for her next game. It went MUCH better. She was all over the field and had a great time! We can't wait for our next practice and games!! The treats at the end of each practice and game do not hurt in motivating her either.

First "Good" Soccer Game '06

Hay Ride '06

Saturday we took the kids and 3 international students to Baraboo for a hay ride! It was sponsored through a program called InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. A church in Baraboo cooked food for 300+ people! There was veggie and meat chili, curry, rice, some kind of African chicken and tons more. We got to make our own caramel apples and do smore's. The hay ride went great. Acacia did it three times!! It poured rain the entire drive up there. It stopped as soon as we parked the car and started up again as we left. Pretty strange! Well, the kids and our international students had a great time! Oh! Lands End donated about 30-40 huge boxes of clothes for them too. Coats, sweaters, hats and gloves!! Really great stuff! Click the below link to see the fun.

Hay Ride '06

Valerie Visits '06

Valerie made a pit stop in WI on her way home to CA from VA. She just missed Acacia's soccer practice but she did join me for a GREAT weight lifting class. Good thing she is driving for a couple days. I am guessing she will be feeling all the squats we did in her legs for a day or so!! We also had a nice healthy lunch, walked up and down State Street and had a beer on the Memoral Union Terrace and enjoyed the boats on the lake!

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