My Olympic Gold moment!!

How cool! Mark Johnson from the 1980 US gold metal winning hockey team ("Do you believe in miracles??") is the UW Madison's women's hockey coach now. We (Rec Sports) asked if he would speak at our Big Ten Rec Sport conference and he said ... yes. He brought the gold metal and just passed it around! He spoke for over an hour on the entire experience. He also attends our church and did a service several years ago where his metal was passes around. So, I have actually seen this gold metal twice. Still very cool!! I went up to speak with him after his speech and I got my picture taken with him (and the hockey puck he signed for me)!! I don't know what the deal was with the camera as the color is all weird, but still - it's him!!

Another Sleeper shot!!

I just don't know how they can sleep like this. But, the actually sleep better with each other ....

Riding Outside!!

The weather warmed up enough to allow for outside riding!! What an adventure! Acacia just LOVED this!! She did amazing especially given the terrain was not even at all! Way cool!! She is hoping she can ride outside the week too!!

Fitchburg Days '08

Another successful Fitchburg Days Carnival! Food, fun, rides and fire works!! For a mear $80+ you can ride all the cheesy carnival rides and eat some quality deep fried Twinkies!! Oh, and you can't forget the strategic games that win you amazing prizes that make only the most pleasing noises that last forever!

Click the link to see a slide show of Fitchburg Days '08.

Slide show of Fitchburg Days '08

Spring Soccer '08

So, spring soccer '08 is officially over. Acacia's team had a great season! The team is really coming together and they are learning skills and strategies now. They have one more year of co-ed soccer and then it switches to all girl teams.

Click the link to see a slide show of spring soccer '08.

Slide show of Spring Soccer '08

Easter '08

This years Easter trails were very personal! The Easter Bunny made two trails. One for Chris (made with race car track) and one for Acacia (made with ponies) - see photos for more details. The hunt lasted a little while this year with stops on each floor of the house, and even in the bathroom. We went to church and then came home and had a great ham lunch. Randy and the kids then went to the foot of snow we received on Friday and made what will hopefully be the last snow man of the season. But, this was a very impressive snowman. Complete with hair and a bird flying over his head!! Jesus is risen. He is risen in deed!!

The slide show starts with the real bunny tracks we found in the show outside the house and then a couple photos of the hunt. We tried to take some family photos of us dressed nice. Some of us cooperated more then others.... Chris then took the camera and ran round the house taking pictures of everything (mostly Acacia) until she finally had had enough and asked him nicely to stop (photo near the end of the slide show). Last couple shots are of the snow man. Please note the yellow bird flying around above his head and all his very nice Charlie Brown hair!! Enjoy!!

Click the link to see a slide show of our Easter '08.

Slide show of Easter '08

Click play to see a movie of the hunt ...

My trip to warmer weather

Mom had her sergury about 2 months ago now. I decided it was time for a visit. After agonizing over flights, rates, destinations and dates I booked a flight from Milwaukee to Ft Lauderdale (via Charlotte, NC - go figure). Chris and I (and Newman) drove up to NC for a little surprise for mom and dad. Yoli came a day later via plane. We pretty much did whatever mom and dad wanted us to do. Weed the gardens, fix dad's computer, play golf, drink wine, walk, walk, walk and move a TV. It was a great visit and mom is doing really well (from what we can tell). Newman is super cool but dad is allergic to him so Newmy was not allowed in the house. Chris slept with Newman on the pourch and when Yoli arrived, she slept out there too. I am sure Zander is happy to have full run of his house and yard again as Newman pretty much dominated the doggie situation.

Click the link to see a slide show of my warm weather adventure.

Slide show of warm weather



We all drove back to FL together. Yoli had gotten Chris sailing lessons for his birthday (last year) and they were just now getting around to taking the lesson. The best part was that I got to go too!! A day sailing in Miami!! Chris and Yoli both did a great job and are ready to sail to the Bahamas for some scuba diving.



I flew home after a little over a week to find Randy and the kids still in one piece. The warm weather was GREAT!! But, back to the reality of WI. We are under a winter storm advisory from now through the week end with expected snow accumulation of 4-10 inches. Please - STOP THE MADNESS!!

Last ski trip of '08

Most likely our last ski trip of the season was great. Well, Randy had hurt his knee and not able to ski but he came anyway! Some friends of ours also came. The kids are getting amazing at this stuff. Chris even launched himself off a real ski jump (on accident) and went soaring through the air a good 20 feet before snow balling to a stop - skies flying all over the place. Once I got him put back together he just skied off as if nothing had happened.<

The end of Chris' first hockey session '08

Chris' hockey team. If you look closely - you'll see Randy joined the team half way through. This was necessary to keep Chris from playing dead on the ice.

Here is Chris really skating now. He is probably the best skater in our family!! White jersey, number 5, black helmet. Sorry about the auto play with all the videos. :(

Father/Daughter dance '08

Our church does a Father / Daughter dance once a year. This year's theme was the renosance so Acacia got to go as Lady Acacia. A grand time was had by all.

Click the link to see a slide show of the event.

Slide show of Father/daughter dance

Acacia speaks at church

This is Acacia speaking out at church. She did GREAT!!!! If you can't quite make out what she is saying it is this ... "For people who are angry or who's hearts are saddened, may they feel God's spirit and love. We pray to the Lord." I think you can make out the church reply ... She is not the first one speaking - she's second. Also - you may have to scroll down and click the stop button on all the other videos. For some reason they all auto start and the roller skating one seems to be the loudest.

Mary Kay make over

I won a free makeover for myself and 5 friends. Given all the make up I wear I decided to share it w/those that would really enjoy it. I am not sure if the Mary Kay lady really wanted to spend the evening doing makeovers on 7 year olds, but it was my free make over!!

So Peaceful

Just a funny photo. You can't tell who's arm is who's ...

Snowy Winter '08

Our snowy winter. This year we broke record snow fall. The old record was 78 inches. At this point we have received over 100. I don't really know the final number as the snow continues to come. We are still getting 1-4 inches weekly now. I believe we also broke a record low temp but I don't remember. I think my brain is frozen. It's really been amazing seeing what this much snow does to a city and how the city deals with the piles of it as it mounts.

Click the link to see a slide show of just our street over the winter.

Slide show of snowy winter

No Front Teeth!

All I want for Christmas ....