Reality Blog

My blog was looking kinda "Brady Bunch" - so I decided to throw in a few hints of the reality of raising teenagers. Randomly included in Blog entries of this past week... Viewer discretion is advised......

J.K. L.O.L. :)

I also have had to learn the above lingo .... and more.

I can't include the sassy mouths, squealing tires, co-ed parties, awful music, curfew violations, and late night "discussions" that accompany the teen years - but there is one comment that really gets my blood boiling...

I'll title this like June and Dawn do: "Heard in Wisconsin..."

"SHUT UP MOM !!!"

Yeah, that one makes 'ole Mom crazy! Fastest way to get grounded in this house.

Actually, I'll take all this over my child leaving home. Still trying to deal with this concept of reality coming soon...

4 a.m.

Rather than doing something intelligent - like SLEEPING ! My daughter and her friend Kylie decided to drag out the digital camera and take some crazy photos..... so, here's t0 life at 4 a.m.!!

Jake and friends occasionally like to take photos also - this is how I found out about a little unauthorized party held in the basement. I picked up his camera and was flipping thru the photos, only to find a couple of "shots" with some "funny" looking bottles on hand.

Yeah, those of you with those adorable little ones just wait! Your time is coming!

Kayaking

Amanda, Jocelyn and Amy kayaking on the Lake yesterday.

Summer Fun!!!

Awards Night

Amanda had her awards night for soccer last week .......

... here she is getting her certificate from Coach.

A few words to the team and celebration of a winning season.

Volmar Family Picnic

Last Sunday was the Volmar family picnic. This event is supposed to replace the annual Christmas party, because there is not enough space in our homes for the extended family - unless we rent a meeting room somewhere.

Amanda and Jocleyn being silly in the food line - and Aunt Marge with her grandson Greg.

Joanne's son Justin is in the background.

My Dad and his brothers and sisters. I don't even know how many relatives there are on this side of the family, but I do know that there are 20 children belonging to these 6 and their spouses. I am grandchild (of Russell & Margret Volmar) number 4.

Jake and Hannah. Aunt Evelyn looks like she is having a great time in the background ...

Craig came without Tara today. She had a family event also.

Nice hat Craiggers!

Luke, Jake and Craig - the three grandsons of Ted and Sandy.

Sandy and Ted (aka..Mom and Dad)
Luke and Amanda made the journey down from up north...

Ron and Candy
Teddy and Kathy

My parents put a lot of work into hosting this bash. They had a great turnout and a pretty decent day. There were two quick storms that blew through, but it didn't seem to dampen any spirits. I think that there were about 65-70 people there.

I would post more photos, but I seriously don't know the names/faces of a bunch of my cousins kids. Hey, at least I know my 17 cousins and their spouses, and most of the kids.

Mom and Dad are not in charge again until 2014 !!!

Two Things......

Amanda got her temps yesterday - :)

... and she also found out that her teeth are going to be released from prison
on August 4th - double :) :)

Yippee Skippy

More Lake Water

The photos I posted of the lake running down Wisconsin Avenue were the calm before the storm. It really got bad after that. Here is a shot from the bakery that made Jake's graduation cake - looking out to the lake. There is supposed to be a road and a beach here. Instead you can see a bit of how they lined the snow plows up going all the way across the lakefront to try to stop the water. The sandbags needed help. There must have been 20 plows lined up end to end.

This business was lucky - most lakefront stores had water all the way up inside of them. Being on the far east side spared this bakery.

(The plows are in the street and you can see the life guard chair where the beach is.)

The local paper had a photo of people spear fishing for carp - as they were everywhere - swimming down Wisconsin Ave.