Chris' next hair cut '12

While on vacation this summer, Auntie Valerie sent what I assume she thought was a photo Chris just might like to have shaved into his head, but that his parents (the more responsible and reasonable ones) would just have to say no to....

Well, we did not.  The picture was shared with many, and the overall reaction was such that we decided to let him get this hair cut.  

Then we had to decide what his school picture was going to be like.  They get their pictures taken before school starts so they will have their school ID badges when school starts.  When Chris does get things shaved into his head, they look super awesome and cool for about a week.  His hair grows so fast that after a week or so it just looks like a nice shaved head.  We had to make sure that school pictures were taken as close to the shaved date as possible.  Pictures are this Tuesday.  The hair cut was Saturday.

I was reading and relaxing in the hammock out back, when the sliding glass door goes flying open and Chris comes SCREAMING out!!  BEST HAIR CUT EVER!!!  He kept yelling that and running around the yard.  A neighbor was over and he was like OMG!!!  Within 15 minutes our doorbell rang like 5 times with other kids coming down to see it!  I have to put a little gel in it so the top part stand up right and he keeps touching it!!  It's really funny!  Acacia has a soccer game today close to Milwaukee.  Rather than bring Chris, he is staying with a friend and going to church.  They are Chinese and have not seen the haircut yet.  I wish I could see their faces when they see him AND then realize they have to bring him to church like that!! 

As per the normal reaction from Spenser (the barber), he glanced at the photo, tossed it aside and began shaving Chris' head bald.  Randy was with him and said he almost told him to stop as it did not appear he was going to leave enough hair for this to look "right".  But, he refrained and this is the outcome!

Acacia's HOME! '12

After a little more than two weeks with Emme and Nono and her VA cousins, Emme escorted Acacia home to Madison.  I had to negotiate (beg) to be allowed through security to great them at what I hoped would be the gate but Chris and I got stuck in the security line behind a large group of Asain business men.  One, left his bag unattended just long enough for it be deemed dangerous and it was snatched up by a security guard stopping all proceedings through security.  15 minutes later the line was moving again but now, their flight had landed and they were going to walk right by us.  I was stressing enough that the security guard told me to take a deep breath (as if he has any idea what I am thinking).  Luckily, Emme knew to wait for us and not come through security.

The reunion was GREAT!  As much as Chris enjoyed being an only child, I think he really did miss having his sister around!!

THANKS SOOOOOO much Emme and Nono for having Acacia!  She had a GREAT time and can't wait to do it again!

                                                

East Coast Tour '12

Our annual East Coast tour started on July 6th, Friday at 11a as we departed the parking lot of Randy's office a few hours behind schedule due to a mishap with our brand new van.  Yes!  We finally got a brand new Toyota Sienna.  We had it 30 days when Randy ran it over a garden rock.  This is a story for a different day.  It was not safe to be driven and had to be fixed before I was able to leave.  They made it road worthy enough for me to drive but this took until 11a on Friday.  It was about 102 degrees by 11a and we had to transfer the luggage, bikes and bike rack from the truck to the van but were finally on the road.  Well, me and the kids.  We made it across the boarder into IL before we had to make our first pit stop.  Out of the blue, Chris announces he is really sick.  I had to carry him into the rest stop.  He was just a ball of moaning goo.  But, he did say he was hungry.  After he ate a few slices of pizza he said he was fine.  OK then ... moving on.  We stopped in OH but probably should have carried on another 2+ hours.  I was just afraid we would hit the mountains of WV and then be stuck with no place to stay.  The hotel was fine and the manger let the kids swim (even though the pool was closed).  We left leisurely Saturday AM and arrived at Emme and Nono's around 11p (after a very stressful detour less than 30 miles from their house!!)    The kids were great although they kept telling me to drive faster ... as "no one was looking".

We were greeted by the entire Berg family, Emme and Nono and Yoli and Manny!!  Then it was bed time for everyone!!  We spent the week beaching and pooling and eating!  Great Nani got sick midweek so we had a hospital trip mixed into the works but she was home a few days later.  Over all it was a great visit.  We celebrated Julianne's birthday at the Melting Pot and everyone got their fair share of sloppy kisses and fist bumps from Manny!

Click to see slide show of Emme and Nono's '12

After a week at Emme and Nono's, I packed up the van with the kids and headed north to Nags Head, NC. We arrived at the Learish family beach rental just in time for pizza! This year EVERYONE was there. Every sibling, spouse and off spring, even doggies! We spent another week beaching and pooling and eating. We tossed in a few mini golf adventures, some go cart racing, shopping, movies, real golf, wild ponies, biking, climbing the dunes, ice cream and ZUES (the local ice cream shop dog that Chris fell in love with and we visited nearly every night!)  

Click to see slide show of Kitty Hawk '12



Chris LOVES Zues!

After a week in Kitty Hawk, the four of us drove back to Emme and Nono's as Acacia got to spend another couple weeks with Emme and Nono and her Berg cousins.  We arrived Saturday evening.  Nani was back in the hospital having her gall badder removed and this created a bit of timing issues and a few sleep deprived adults ....  Emme continued to insist that having the girls there actually "helps".  I don't think I learned the definition of "helps" from my mother as I just did not see how having 4 additional girls there ranging from 6-11 was helpful.  But, not my house, not my rules.  Chris, Randy and I left Acacia there and departed for Chattanooga, TN Sunday night.  We drove through the night and arrived at Randy's aunt Melanie and uncle Greg's house.  Having driven through the night, I slept in the car in their driveway for a little while.  We had breakfast and then all went into Chattanooga to the aquarium.  They are members of the aquarium so we were able to get better tickets and also go behind the scenes and see them feed the fish and baby penguins and stuff.  After a full day at the aquarium we checked into our choo choo car train hotel room.  VERY cool!  Well, actually it was freekin' hot!  A big metal box on a train track, sitting the sun all day!  We ended up trading cars after finding one that was cooler.  It really was a very beautiful resort built up around these train car rooms. 

The next morning we headed to Nashville.  We spent the day walking around a truly amazing resort called the Gaylord Opryland.  It was the size of a college campus!  Just huge!  We took Chris to Dave and Buster's where he won 2,000+ game tickets.  Enough to get a cool electric disco ball!  After bribing him with Dave and Buster's we all went to the Grand Ole Opry.  We saw some pretty good bands, even a few that we has heard on the radio.  In fact, Eden's Edge played and they will be performing in Madison later this month.

 

Chris got some floam and spent the time in the car creating crazy stuff.  Here, he had created a gun and was stealing my purse!

Click to see slide show of Chattanooga and Nashville '12

We spent the night in a more affordable hotel after the Opry and headed home to Madison a little earlier than planned but that is the beauty of having your own car.  You can come and go as you wish!  Chris was thrilled to be home and see his friends!  Acacia will return home later next week having completed her 2+ weeks with Emme and Nono doing some pretty amazing things, like rip lining in the NC mountains and learning how to serf!!  Click the play buttons below to see the video footage!

Acacia is in the green and black rash guard shirt.

Oregon Summerfest Parade '12

The Annual Oregon Summerfest Parade offered Chris two opportunities to be in the parade.  He could have been on the wrestling float or the boy scout float.  He chose the boy scouts.  It was a HOT day and they gave out frozen freezy pops!!!

Final Game!!

There final game was a win.  Bringing their overall season to 3 wins, 1 loss and 4 ties.  They had the least number go goals scored on them than all the other teams in the league.  This says a great deal about their defense (which Acacia is part of).  Acacia tried out and made this same team for next year.  They only lost one player from this team and they gained two new ones.  According to their coach they will now really have to prove themselves worthy of their playing time since the roster is bigger.  Acacia has already started practicing and will continue over the summer.  She has to be able to do 20 juggles without the ball touching the ground by the beginning of the fall season.  She is up to 6 now .... A long way to go!

 

Chris is 9!! '12

For Chris' party this year he decided to have a small gathering with a few of his closest friends ...

The head count was 31.  We rented an indoor warehouse gym.  For two hours the kids ran around and club each other with foam bats.  They jumped off towers into foam pits.  Played skee ball, bowled, swung on rope swings and climbed on rope ladders.  They played computer games, checked e-mail, played on the Wii and just watched some TV.  Oddly, only a couple tears and mostly just because they were loosing and did not want to give in.  Better to cry then lose I guess.  Remember, you can always double click on any picture to see it bigger and just browse through the pictures.

Hi!  I'm Kate!  I have not seen any of these people in years
but they seem pretty cool and I am so cute they have to
love me!

 I just did not have the time to make Chris a cake this year.  So, we got on our bikes and rode to the grocery store to see what our options were.  Chris thought this cake would be cool but then we had to decide on a picture.  We took tons but this one was the favorite.  But, the baker questioned us.  I guess most people put a happy, smiling face on their cake.  But, how many mug shots do you see where the perp is smiling??  Chris was going for the authentic bad guy image.

Here are a few links.  The first one is to a Shutterfly slide show with all the pictures from the party.  The rest are all videos taken from the party.  See if you can tell which kids are related based on how they have each others backs during the battles!

Click here to see a slide show of ALL the pictures!!

Click to hear Happy Birthday, CHRIS!!

Click here to see the party action - take one.

Click here to see the party action - take two.

Click here to see the party action - take three.