December Snow Storm

Well, we finally got snow. Last weekend we got about 10" of the wonderful white stuff. School was cancelled on Monday, so the kids only had two days of school this week. They are getting excited about Christmas. We had a few gatherings where they were able to open a few presents, so they are somewhat appeased.

Patrick also played the piano at the local mall for Christmas. Of course, it was the day it snowed, so not many people showed up, but he did a very good job.

Here he is with his music teacher.

Well, here is my update, there will be more to post when the kids open their presents.

Merry Christmas to all.

State Finals 2007

Well, Stevenson made the state finals, but they lost. They had a good season though. They were undefeated until the loss in the finals. They were playing the #1 ranked team in the state, so they were not expected to win. Kaitlyn performed in the halftime show, and as you can see from the pictures, it was at Ford Field.

Kaitlyn is on the left side of the picture, second from the back. (actually the furthest left in the picture)

The band was getting ready for the field here.

Here is Kaitlyn closer up.

Here is the team getting ready for the game and one of the plays. Stevenson is in the white.

I stayed to watch the Menominee Maroons play just after the Stevenson game. Menominee won their game. Here is Derek warming up before the game. (He's # 44)

Well, today we got our first snow storm of the year, but we also got about an inch of rain on top of it, so all of the snow is gone. Tonight is supposed to be icy, so we'll see if there is school tomorrow.

November "Happy Thanksgiving"

Well, I know I've been a blogger slacker, I've been told by several people. So, I'm going to update several things at once and get everyone up to date.

First, we went to a wedding this fall. It was a friend of the families daughter, Nichole. She babysits for us in the summers when the kids are home. Here is Patrick with Nichole and Chris, her husband.

Here are me and Norma at the wedding.

And here is Kaitlyn and a few of her friends at the wedding.

Now for Halloween.

Here's the family, not a very good picture, but Patrick is a zombie, Kaitlyn is a 80's girl and Norma and I are Publisher Clearing House presenter and winner.

Here are the kids.

Now for Hunting season. I did get a buck this year, not a big one, but it's been eight years since I shot a buck.

Here is the buck pole when I left on Sunday morning, 11/18.

Not too bad, it's been a few years since this many have been hanging at camp. Mine is the one on the far left.

Here's the rack, a little three pointer.

And here are the guys around the stove at lunch time.

Rick and Blair and Tim.

October Update

Well, it's October 22nd and I'm going to update the blog. Stevenson has gone 9-0, this is the first time that they have gone undefeated since 1976. They start the playoffs this Friday, they play Plymouth. We wish them luck and Kaitlyn will be on the field doing her color guard routine.

Patrick's play practice is progressing and they are getting ready for the play in a few weeks. However, they did get some bad news last Monday, the church they have been at for years has a new pastor and he decided that he did not want them practicing there anymore. As a result, we now have to drive much further for the play practices. Oh well, hopefully the director finds a new home closer to us.

One more bit of bad news, Norma's mom, Yvonne, had an accident three weeks ago and broke her pelvis. She was in the driveway of her house, getting her cane in the car, and the lady that was driving the car got out and forgot to put it in park. The car rolled and knocked Yvonne down, causing three fractures in her pelvis. She is now in a rehab home recuperating from the injury.

I'll keep you updated.

Homecoming 2007 - SHS

It's homecoming tonight at SHS. Kaitlyn and several of her friends are going to go to the homecoming together. She is very excited.

This was her updo.

She had her braces removed just this week, after nearly two years.

The girls met at our house and then went to East Side Mario's for dinner before the homecoming.

Here are a few pictures of the girls.

Last night for the homecoming game, Stevenson beat Walled Lake Central to go 7-0. They are # 14 in the top 25, Menominee is # 10. You better look out Derek!!

This is the Sophomore class float.

Update for the new school year

Well, it's been a while, so I'm going to update the blog. A lot of things have been going on, school started, catechism started, etc...

This is the first day of school. Don't they both look very happy!!

We also went apple picking and the kids picked apples and played with farm animals.

They'll make excellent farmers someday.

Kaitlyn is in Color guard this year, and here is the whole marching band. She is on the right side, usually the second from the back.

Kaitlyn is the third from the left in this picture.

Stevenson High School is currently undefeated, as of this weekend.

Here's a video of Kaitlyn in the opening ceremony for SHS.

I'll update more as things happen. I've neglected to mention Patrick. He is continuing in his play, this time they are doing a musical, Edwina. And, he is taking keyboard lessons.

Here is a little nine second clip from rehearsal from Patrick's last play...

Weekend at Hideaway Cove

Here are some pictures or Hideaway Cove. We went there for a long weekend just before Labor Day.

Update

Another update.

I didn't get to post the pictures yet. I've been busy and haven't had the chance. School starts next Wednesday, September 5th. We've been getting things ready for school with school shopping and everything. Hopefully this weekend I'll get to posting pictures.

I've also been very busy getting my fantasy football team together. We draft 16 players and one of my players has already been cut by his team, so I'm starting with 15. But, that's the breaks. I have a few good running backs and a good wide receiver, but not a solid team. I'm hoping to put up some good numbers this year. Last year I took second in my conference.

Update

Just posting a update. I haven't been able to take a picture of Kaitlyn's room because she doesn't keep it very clean. I should be able to get a clean picture later this week. Once I get a picture I will post it. The room turned out very good. Two walls are brown and two are pink with white ceiling. I just finished up the pictures and shelves.

We've been very busy with shuttling kids to band practice and robotics class at the rec center. Kaitlyn has one more week of band practice and then the first home game at the color guard. Can't wait to see it. Patrick us up north with a friend this week, so we won't see him until Friday.

As soon as I get pictures I will post them.

Update

Well, it's August and I am now going to work on Kaitlyn's room. We are going to paint it pink and tan, the latest colors apparently. The biggest problem I'm having right now is the wallpaper border and getting it off the walls. Not an easy task.

Once I complete the room, I will post pictures of it. Here's a picture of the bedspread that we are trying to match.

Niagara Falls

Well, we're back from Niagara Falls. It was nice, but the food was very expensive there. We even went cheap on lunch and breakfast was free with the hotel, but we still spent about 60-70 for each dinner. Pop in the hotel was $2.00 a bottle. The exchange rate was not very good either, it was $1 US gets you $1.015 CAN.

But, here are some pictures from the falls.

Painting Projects

Patrick's Room and downstairs bathroom: