Happy Thanksgiving!!

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Thanksgiving!! We definetly did, this is one for the records! I cooked and mom, Jaime and Patti all brought dishes as well. As you can see above, Traci with Eric at the dinner table and Traci, Jaime and I (hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil--that's us!) had an extremely good time with Eric taking our pictures--see more below! We all ate a bit too much--and perhaps a bit to much of that delicious German wine mom brought back for us from Germany. (hmmm ya think?)
Just getting ready for Christmas now, I am far from done with Shopping but this year I actually know what everyone is getting ahead of time! That is officially a first for me! I am usually the one spending countless hours LOOKING for those perfect gifts.
Stay warm and safe! xoxoxo

JAKOB BREAKS AN ARM...no not a leg!

Every parent’s nightmare...that dreaded phone call from school....Yes that recently happened to me!! The child that will be the source of each and every one of my gray hairs-- fell off a zip-line at recess and broke his left arm. YES that is the hand he writes with too!!!!! Just wondering if anyone other than myself asked "why do they have ZIP LINES at recess????" Okay, great than it's not just me. My BESTEST friend Amy works at a school in our home town of Joliet where they also have Zip lines, and it seems to be the source of injury when not used properly....the kids seem to have more fun when pushed by another student--which as it happens is exactly how Jake was hurt! He did comfort me the next day by admitting he realized that the day prior was "almost as hard on me as it was for him..almost"!

I guess it has been awhile since I updated, sorry!!

My mom and Traci returned safely from their Germany trip, and they had a great time, but both seemed REALLY happy to be home. They toured A LOT while there--Switzerland, Paris etc. ...and yes they brought back some awesome gifts (and YUMMY chocolate!!)

Eric made the first quarter honor roll, and looks as if he will make second quarter. He really likes High School and all that entails. His Cross Country season has ended, he is well into the Scholastic Bowl season and he will be performing with his Show Choir at a Madrigal Dinner in December! He has been quite busy---and thank god no broken bones (I would like to age gracefully thank you!!)

I am starting to plan for Thanksgiving I get to cook for the family this year, very excited to have everyone here for the Holiday!!

Well, thank you once again by entertaining me and actually reading this!
Please have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!!!

The New Ride

It's been a busy week or so. Last week Jaime and Jack were in Jessica's Wedding (Jessica is a long time friend of Jaime and is Jackson's godmother..see below for pictures).

We purchased a new vehicle a 2007 Dodge Nitro!! We needed some more space...and we have kept my 2005 Stratus for Eric to drive when he is 16...so for the meantime we are parking Corey's truck (with gas prices what they are) and he will drive the Stratus until Eric is in drivers training!

along?? (Amber is 3 weeks from giving birth!!)

Eric's Cross Country season is moving along nicely as well as Jakob's Steelers!! Corey has been extremely busy with work, so he is looking forward to the end of the football season -- we have about 3 more weeks!! We will be hosting an end of the season "tailgate" at our house for the team on Oct 21.

This weekend is Lanphier's Homecoming. Eric is still undecided whether or not he is going to go, however he is enjoying Spirit Week!! As a member of LEAP (basically the PTA of Lanphier) I am working a shift Homecoming -- which I am really looking forward to...I think my shift is in the parking lot though!! (LOL)

Three Sisters

Jaime sent this picture to me to use on the Family Blog. This was probably taken sometime in the very early 80's.

Game Day

Yesterday was a busy day, Eric had his first Cross Country Meet, Jakob had a football game and Jackson had his very first soccer game!!!

Eric's first meet didn't go to well for him, he cramped up and completed his two mile run at 16:40...his average is 14 minutes, so he really had a few problems!!!

The Steelers game started almost one hour later than scheduled due to no Referees...the finally showed and the Steelers beat Jacksonville 13-6!! Oma, Grandma and Traci were able to attend (see pic's)...

Jackson's ACES were more comic relief than anything to watch..it was like bees swarming the honey-comb. Jackson wasn't feeling well but when his coach called him in, he ran in with a vengenance!! He is quite aggressive when it comes to trying to get that ball, I look forward to seeing him play when he is 100%!! Grandma and Traci were able to attend that with us as well (more pictures below).

Eric has decided against joing the CHESS club...something about smelly nerds...however he has joined the Spanish Club!!

Sorry about the change of the BLOG address there were some security issues with the old one.

Ta Ta for now!!!

Which is better COKE or PEPSI??????

Just found these pictures-- I thought they were so cute I decided to add them to my blog!!

Both Eric and Jakob has started school. Jake started on Monday and Eric on Thursday.

Jakob is happy to be in the 5th grade, his classes are "upstairs" as well as his locker. He was happy to report he has memorized his locker combo!! He has a few pals from last year in his class this year!! SO far so good! The Steelers had another practice game against the Wildcats...they're looking pretty good! The first real game of the season is this Wednesday!!! GO STEELERS!!

Eric missed his bus on his first day--well that would be because he was at the wrong bus stop, so I ended up driving him. I had to pull over about a block away to "compose" myself. I can't believe he is a Freshman! He first two days seemed to go over without a hitch. He got his class schedule and as we expected he is in all honors classes with the exception of PE and Spanish. He seems to be happy with his classes and teachers so far!!

I had a good week of compliance training in Chicago, and I will be in Peoria for three days this upcoming week for some additional meetings....

Corey will be traveling to Chicago tomorrow, he is going to Solider Field for a high school football event for work. He is pretty excited about that. He will be spending Sunday night at my mom and Traci's house.

We all are going to St. Louis on Thursday for a Chiefs/Rams pre-season game, and are very much looking forward to that!!

The Steelers Practice Game 8/11/2007

Well the Steelers won their very first practice game against the Lincoln Railers! The team as a whole did a GREAT job, most of them have played before but not together. From a parents perspective I was most impressed at how organized and how well they paid attention to the coaches, especially on a day like today it was in the mid to high 90's and the game prior to ours ran almost 30 over. SO these kids were in full pads for over an hour before their game began. Most of the team went to the McDonald's after the game for lunch and additional team bonding! It was a great time!!

The final score was 12-8!! GO STEELERS!! For more pictures see below!!!

Eric gets a Haircut...

See Right...

Yes, Eric got a haircut. Some of you are scratching your head wondering why this is news, but if you knew Eric and how he felt about his hair you would understand. After several days of surfing the web for a hair "idea" we found one. We did make the mistake of going to the Max and Mia in our mall for the cut vs. his regular hairdresser, ( I need to seize the moment...) we gave her the picture and explained we wanted it yet a bit LONGER than the picture, well needless to say she must be hard of hearing because she went shorter. He was SOOO mad, he didn't even want to shop for school clothes after that. Once he got home he played around with it and the picture attached is what he decided he liked. I think it looks great, I love seeing his eyes!! I also think he looks more his age, even with his height he is often taken for younger than what he is!! He is quite handsome--I know I am very BIASED--plus he can't help it, he looks JUST like his mom!!! He is still anxious for it to grow atleast another inch and it hoping it will do so prior to the first day of school. He is taking his vitamins!!!! (heheh)

Sorry!!

Hi!! Needless to say I have been BUSY!! But busy is good right???

I spent a weekend in Joliet visiting with Amy and her family! I got to go with her to pick up a new little black and white Spaniel for Lilly. I think her name is "lilliana"--so cute. Lilly's face LIT UP when she saw the pup and learned it was for her--so that was fun! Amy's son Elliot is driving now and he drove us around a bit--he's very good!

I will be traveling to Chicago for a week of Compliance training (for work) August 12-17. That should be interesting.

Eric and Jakob are in Princeton, IL for the week visiting with their Aunt Teri and her family. They have reported and are having a blast! They went hiking yesterday and saw a waterfall!! Jakob seemed to think it was funny to call me and tell me that he got hurt!! I knew better...that phone call would have come from Teri, not Jakob if true!!! It's so great that they can spend some time with her, she is the only member of the "opposite side" that actively has anything to do with them, and they need that!!

We have school registration for both boys next week and Eric has Freshman Orientation!! How exciting for him, ahh to be that age again!! I can't believe how fast the Summer is flying by, it has been so much fun though. I feel like I haven't squeezed enough into the Summer though. Oh well!!

Sundays

Well, it's looking like Sunday will be the official update day. LOL
We had a great 4th, as I hope the rest of you did--happy and safe!! Mom and Traci were here and we all went to the house of a very good friend of the family. I have added pictures from the 4th!
Nothing much new to report. Mom bought the boys (another) motorized scooter--and they love it, of course! I will make a point to get some pictures of them on it and attach to my blog.

I can not believe the Summer is half over--neither can the boys! Eric has only a few more "working weeks" left, before he starts HIGH SCHOOL!! I don't know who is more nervous --me or him???

Thanks for all of the kind comments, keep them coming and I will keep posting!! (heheh)

Busier than ever

My mom has been in town these past few days (at Jaime's house), I have yet to visit with her but the boys have loved grandma being around they have had a few dinners with her as well as a big movie night!

Corey is just weeks away from his business picking up and long hours--FOOTBALL SEASON-- not to mention he starts practices at the end of July for Jakob's football team--THE STEELERS!

Eric's still working hard. HE's getting taller, he's now passed me WITH HEELS ON. He laughs at me in the morning's before I put my shoes on he walks up to me and looks down on mom! HE won't be gaining an ounce this Summer between riding his bike to work and running around like crazy at the restaurant. He has an entirely new appreciation for the Serving Staff at Sammy's!! He is SOOO overly kind now to servers when we dine out. I think this Summer job has really been an extremely positive experience for him.

Jakob's still trucking along in camp. He's not quite as exhausted these days, he must be getting used to it. With football starting just around the corner I am sure the additional conditioning will help!

Well I am going to enjoy the rest of my day off!!

Changed the Font color

Well, if anyone else had a difficlut time reading my posting I apologize. You can thank my friend Tammy for my changing it to white!! (heheheh)

A minute to catch up...

Okay, now that I have successfully loaded the pictures, I have a minute to catch up.

Eric graduated from the 8th grade (with straight A's) this May and he had a great year. He was a participant as well as Captain for the Scholastic Bowl Team, he sang with the Show Choir and played a lot of guitar! He is filling his summer with a part time job--that he rides his bike to every day-- as well as a babysitting gig on the side, oh yes--and playing that guitar!! He all ready has visions of cars in his head....so he is working hard and saving just as hard!! He will be starting Lanphier High School in the Fall. He is a bit nervous but overall more excited than anything else. As for now he has his eye set on Annapolis for College. If he stays on the scholastic route he has been on, I am certain he will achieve that goal!!

Jakob finished up 4th grade with straight A's as well and is spending his Summer at the YMCA Day-Camp. They are busy swimming, learning archery, shooting BB guns and much much more!! First day of his second week he came home with a bump on his noggin from a stray ice cube!! Camp is wearing him out--he will be READY for 5th grade to begin. In August Football will resume again for Jakob--Corey is the Head Coach for his team this year. I believe they will be the Steelers. For his birthday we purchased him a starter golf set, he had expressed an intrest so we will see how it goes.

Corey is doing extremely well at his position at LRS he will hit his one-year anniversary in August. He is VERY happy with this company. As I mentioned above he is coaching Jake's football team again this year and is very exvited about having a little guest with him on the golf course this summer. They have all ready been out to the driving range a number of times.

Our first posting

Hello!!
I have decided to create a family blog. We have so many friends and family spread all over, I thought this would be a great way to keep in touch as well as share everything going on in our lives, and to share pictures!
I hope you enjoy this as much as I do creating it!

We had a lovely Fathers' Day weekend. Saturday was spent at the Skating Rink for Jakob's 10th birthday...yes I said 10th! It was great many of his friends from school were there--they had a great time. On Sunday, we caught up the yard work and then got to have dinner with Jaime, Josh and Jackson! I will be posting pictures of these events very soon!!!