Whooped!

Amanda's team got whooped tonight in their first season game. The final score was like 59-22.

They actually looked really good out there, but nothing was going in the hoop, while the other team didn't seem to miss a shot.
Hopefully, they'll be more evenly matched next week!

Good effort Peanut!

End of November

Wow! Is November really over??

Just a couple of photos to close...

The junior high basketball season is winding down. The last regular season games were held this past week....that means the big tournaments are next week. Life will be crazy.

The "nut" sitting with Amanda and Kendall is Roberta. She is the P.E. teacher at the middle school and a friend of many years.

Sadie and Rocky got to have a sleepover this week . . . only because Rocky has been a good boy and has stopped pooping in my house. Here is Amanda snuggling with "Potato Head".
Here is Jake - on the phone again. Must be Hannah on the other end.....

His big news of the week is that he was asked to be the Senior CSR of the computer department at Best Buy. Normally this is only given to a full time employee - so they must think a lot of him :) Way to go Bub!

Welcome Cousins!

Only in my kitchen....... can you be served Pizza Bites when you put your glass up to the automatic ice machine on the refrigerator.

Apparently, all of the ice in Wisconsin is on my front porch and driveway...

Welcome to my world .... Cousins Damon & June and family from Kansas (and Nick too)!

Damon and June :) They survived lunch at my house .... surprise Pizza Bites and all. Oh, and a big thanks to my kids and their friends for drinking up every drop of soda pop in the house on Wednesday night. We almost had to melt down some ice for something to drink around here.

Nick, Damon, June and the kids.
Nick enjoying what is left of our snow - and Amanda's friend John about to meet up with the snowball! Kids...
Thanks for stopping in ..... it was so much fun to see everyone again and to meet Molly for the first time. What a doll. I love reading your blog and keeping up with your family.

Pumpkins

Cousins Dawn and Travis posted a few weeks back about taking their girls to the pumpkin farm for the first time. Boy, did that bring back memories! Lotsa memories!

Our pumpkin farm is now a subdivision.......

Way back when, we took our kids to the Elegant Farmer - a farm in Mukwonago that had hay rides, an apple orchard, carmel apples, shops, and of course, a huge pumpkin patch.

It was an annual tradition that started when Jake was about 6 months old. I don't have a photo of his first trip or the traditional breakfast "out" beforehand, but I have many from the years that followed....

I also have the end. When nobody wanted to go anymore. When we went down the road to a simple local farm to buy our pumpkins .... and when the Elegant Farmer was long gone.

The later years...at the farm down the road from our house.
The following year...
The last trip to the local farm.
Amanda in the pumpkin patch at the Elegant Farmer...so many to pick from!
The "pick your own" apple orchard.

In the patch - who gets this one?

Hope you can carry that one Bub!
Big pumpkin, little princess.
We can't reach the apples!
Seasoned veterans at posing for Mom's camera.

This was Jacob's second annual visit.
Amanda's first visit.
One of my favorite photos of Amanda.
From the "Thomas the Train" years. Jake at 4.

.....seems like yesterday.

Way to Go Amanda !

The REALLY big news around here is that Amanda made the basketball team this week!

Yippee! Woo Hooooo! and WOW!

Amanda has always loved sports - especially basketball and soccer....

I was actually feeling kind of bad for sending her to such a large high school. The competition is so fierce - that to get on a team is virtually impossible. She has well over 600 kids in her class and 1/2 are girls, and there are only 13 spots on each of the two freshman teams. One girl from her class made the JV team and everyone else that wanted to play basketball was her competition. She wanted to play sooooo much. I knew that she could easily make any team from one of the surrounding area schools, but our school is ranked in the top three for the state in every sport. Athletics are serious business here.

It was a pretty intense week and cuts were made on two different nights. I have to be honest, I didn't think that she would make it - not based on her skills, but on her lack of height. She is still only 5'3". The taller girls definitely have an advantage.

I guess they need a few feisty little ones to get the ball to the tall people. :)

This is one huge accomplishment for our "little" Peanut!

We Are The CHAMPIONS !

Yep, this little piece of hardware is on it's way home ....

WE WON !

I had to sub today, but both kids went to Madison for the big game.

Jake loaded his truck up with friends (surprise, surprise) and Amanda went with a carload of her friends driven by a parent. I came home from work and tuned in to the game on TV.

The Suburban seats 8 - so of course, there were 8 that rode together. This is the happy group after the game.

Trevor at the game.

Jake and Hannah at the game. The funny thing about this photo is that Hannah is really a Lazer from K.M.H.S.
Ben - going down the highway.
Jake, Hannah, Ben and Trevor at the game.
They're Back!

I stepped out the front door in time to see the headlights rounding the corner into our court. The car came down the road as if on fire. The horn was blasting non stop; shattering the silence of the evening. And, as the car came zoooooming up the driveway, a door pops open and Ben is out on the running board hands up high in victory. They come to a stop and the other doors open like those on a circus car. People begin climbing out hooting and hollering in celebration of our victory.

They're back safe and sound - Whew!
Time for a photo.

Amanda's story to follow..... she too is back safely, but on her way to a party....

Party!

Teddy's 49th Birthday Bash!

My kids were the life of the party - this was after they were fed.

(Yes, that is 6'2 Jake curled into a ball on the sofa )
Mommy was in the kitchen - being a MOM.
It took Teddy 3 tries to get the candles out....boy, is he getting old!
Candy sent packages in the mail for the birthday guy. Here are the personalized M&M's that she had made. They actually say "Happy Birthday Teddy". Real M&M's!
Ooooh! A birthday kiss from Kathy.
The bowling cake that I made for him.....and yes, I cheated, my friend Judy decorated it for me.
A handmade card from Candy. She makes some really neat cards.
There was a lot of Lambeau leaping going on as our Packers beat the Vikings 34 -0.
Teddy got his birthday wish....a Pack victory!
Do I need to repeat the score for my cousin Nick ?????

Teddy and Kathy.
Mom and Dad and Teddy.
Jake, Amanda and "Uncle"
Happy Birthday Teddy Bear!
Next year is the Big 5-0

Teddy Bear Memories

In honor of the Teddy Bear's birthday....

Here's my big brother in the 1960's.

With his sisters in the 1970's.
The 80's
Baby Teddy

Happy Birthday Steph

Just a shout out for a Happy Birthday to Steph. He celebrated number 47 on November 2nd.

With Jake and Amanda in Golden Gate Park - along the road on one of our famous family road trips.
Way back when......sure is easy to see who Jake looks like!