Happy Birthday Luke!! 12!!!!

Halloween at School

The kids had a Halloween party at school on Wednesday. I was so impressed how the staff dressed up for the festivities....check them out!!

The gym teacher

Anna's teacher, as The Joker...

A fifth grade teacher....as an Octopus..

Math teacher, Gym teacher, Social Studies Teacher, English Teacher (Middle School)

and let's not forget.....Miss Anna Grace as SUPER GIRL!!!!

Our First House

I drove by our old neighborhood last weekend and wanted to see our first house....I haven't driven by for quite a few years. It looked pretty good to me. I can't believe how big the trees have gotten and it was really good to see the huge garden and swingset in the back yard. When we moved in, the house didn't have a patio in back....we later made a patio. Great to see that these people are still using it!!

So many memories in this house....some good, some not so good.....

This is where we brought home our first baby....you can see the window to his bedroom upstairs

Yes, My hubby had to shovel this driveway while I was in labor and was begging to leave for the hospital.

When we moved in, there were big mounds of dirt in the backyard....we were a little nervous as to what was there.....these were the days of Jeffrey Dahmer!!

Check out the front door of the house....we had a heck of a time moving a couch out of that front door-- guess we now understand why the former owners sold us that couch....it took 4 grown men to maneuver the couch out the door!!

This was also the house that had no bathroom upstairs, until my hubby hired someone to put a small bathroom in the old "sewing room." Very much appreciated from his bride who didn't like to hike up and down the steps in the middle of the night to go potty.

We had an 80 yr. old neighbor(Evelyn Wolff) that lived right next door....we always enjoyed watching her be "self sufficient" and rake the leaves and mow the yard....what an inspiration!!

I remember the orange counter tops and black, orange and yellow linoleum tiles that were in the kitchen.

We were very thankful for hardwood floors the winter that we moved in.....Andrew had the stomach flu at least 3 times and John had it at least once!!

While doing dishes (no dishwasher) one evening , I looked out and saw one of the neighbor kids hanging by his feet out of a second story window...his brother was trying to scare him by hoisting him out of the window.

This was also the driveway where 2 girls were handcuffed after stealing clothing from Kohl's and stashing their lute in our garage.

So many memories....mostly good times!!!

Wordless Wednesday....Puppy dog eyes....

Boys Crafting....

Have you ever seen boys do any "crafting?" Well, it's not a pretty sight.....Luke and his friends are working on an Egyptian project....I believe they are recreating the great pyramids. They are using Popsicle sticks and clay and sugar cubes to construct the pyramids. The project will turn out great....if the dog doesn't eat the sugar cube pyramid first!!

BIG haircut

The most exciting thing that happened this weekend was that Anna got a hair cut.....a BIG haircut. She's been talking about it for a long time...growing out her hair and donating it to Pantene- who makes wigs for people that lose their hair from cancer treatments.

So, Friday night we went to our local salon and had it cut......(thanks to the stylist who donated the haircut!!)
and she LOVED the new hair style and she loved helping others......

Lunch Ladies.....

Retro......Halloween 2001

Andrew- Ninja Benjamin- Crocodile Hunter Luke- Woody

Wordless Wednesday.....Working hard!!

Football

Yesterday Luke had a football game in Neosho, Wisconsin. He played center again, and enjoyed it immensely!! The team did just fine.....except for the GIANT that was playing on the other team.....he's the guy with the mohawk hairdo.
Basically, all the team did was launch the ball really high in the air in the end zone and the GIANT would reach up and catch the ball for a touchdown!! Whew, it's hard to compete with that....needless to say, our team lost the game. After the game, Grandpa Phil thought we should ask the GIANT where he parked his car..... (he looked old enough to drive!!!!)

Leaves

The gang spent some time outside on Sunday afternoon playing in the leaves.....

The wind was blowing pretty hard.....



and Daddy was throwing girls into the leaf pile pretty hard...
and someone was giggling pretty hard.....
and then giggled even more......

Beautiful Wisconsin

I had a chance to get out last weekend and take a few photos while the early morning sun was lighting up the leaves.....here are a few of the shots I took....

My neighbor's front yard....
The horse farm across the street from us.....this shot taken from my patio....
and other various shots around our village....
I hope no one was up early enough to see me out and about in my sweats and bedhead!!!!

Nertz

Andrew was home from college on his Fall Break this week and we had a few games of Nertz going....it's kind of like quadruple solitaire....it's very exciting, but we want John to tie one arm behind his back when we play...he's way too fast!!!

Wordless Wednesday...Wash and Wax

More weekend happenings....

Anna had a sleepover with a friend on Saturday night. On Sunday morning, they went for a 4 mile hike at Pike Lake State Park....
and then climbed up to the top of a tower in the park, where Allie's Mom took a picture of the girls.....whew, they made it!!
While Anna was having all of the fun, the boys were at home, working very hard...
They washed all of the windows in the house......streak free!! Yes, they had fun doing it.....squirting each other just a little....
Ben even cut the grass.....Looking good, Benjamin!!!