Derick's Senior Pictures

The New Camper

We have been looking for awhile for a cabin or a camper. We have never really found what we were looking for. Derick's girlfriend, Christina, invited us to her Dad's camper Father's Day weekend to do some boating. We really enjoyed the lake and liked the area. The campgrounds are on Lake Du Bay which is in between Stevens Point and Wausau so it is only about an hour and fifteen minutes from our house. There are about 150 sites, some are seasonal and some are for weekenders. We found a camper that had everything we were looking for so we bought it July 2nd and they delivered it to the site that we picked out on July 3rd. We spent the 4th of July getting everything set up and really had a great weekend. This has been a very stressfull year with all that has happened so we are looking forward to our home away from home and some nice relaxing weekends.

Derick's 17th Birthday

Derick turned 17 on June 14th so for his birthday, we rented a jet ski and took our boat out on the lake. Derick and his cousin Trace had a blast driving the jet ski. It was big enough for them to also pull Bre in the tube. Trent and I rode it together but we learned fast not to lean in the same direction. We both ended up in the lake. Bre loves to wakeboard so she was able to do a little of that before it got too windy.

The view from the observation deck at the Custom House (where we stayed in Boston)

On the tour bus in New York

In the audience at the Today show with Cathy Lee Gifford and Hoda Kopb

Outside a shop in Glastonbury

In Central Park (a pidgeon had just flown over Leslie's head)

On April 17, Mom, Laurie, Leslie, Lia and I flew to Hartford, Conneticut and met up with Lisa for a 10 day all girls vacation. We spent some time with Lisa's family and we were able to watch David and Sam play baseball. We took the train up to New York and spent a few days there. Other than my wallet getting stollen out of my backpack while I was wearing it in Times Square, we had a great time. We sat in the second and third row in the audience at the Today show with Kathy Lee Gifford and Hoda Kopb. We toured some mansions in Newport, Rhode Island. We drove up to Plymouth and toured the Mayflower II. We were not able to see Plymouth Rock because they were doing construction around it. We drove up to Boston and spent a few days there. We had sprinkles one day and other than that, we had great weather. We all had a great time and saw lots of sights and took lots of pictures.

Elyssa's Spring Concert

Elyssa had her spring concert last week. For the first time, one of our kids was actually in the back row. It is hard to see but she is wearing a skirt. We have pictures to prove it.

The Winner on Wii

The winner in boxing.

Meg and Derick Boxing on the WII

Meghan and Derick were learning how to box on the Wii.

Elyssa's DI Competiton

Elyssa joined Destintion Imagination this year. The kids pick a catagory, write a skit, make all costumes and props and have to present the skit in front of judges. At first she was not going to speak in front of people but she over came that. The kids picked the catagory I've Got A Secret. They performed it at the Regional Competition in Fond Du Lac in front of about 100 people. They based their skit on the joke "Why is 6 afraid of 7. Because 7 ate (8) 9. The kids did very well. They took 3rd place and won a trophy. The other kids in the elemetary age were all older with more experience so we were very happy with how they did. They also do an instant challenge where they go into the room with just their coach and the judges and are given a challenge and certain items. They are given a time limit to make up a skit, use the items that they are given and present their skit in front of the judges. Their coach is not allowed to help them; it is all about how the kids work together. Parents are not allowed to watch this portion. She enjoyed it so much this year that she is going to do it again next year.

Not much has been going on around here.  Trent spent most of that really cold snap a couple of weeks ago down in Milwaukee.  He had early morning meetings every day so he stayed down there.  Milwaukee has had over 3 feet of snow in the last couple of weeks.  Meghan is in her second semester of college and things are going well for her.  Math is a little harder this semester because her professor doesn't speak English very well so the class has a hard time understanding her.  Derick just finished up High School bowling tonight with a tournament.  We watched a boy from another school almost bowl a perfect game.  He got a 299.  Derick has been off and on this year.  He got a new ball and he is still adjusting to it. Bre has decided that she wants to take hunter safety so that is where she is with Trent.  I think she wants to start hunting but I don't think she could be quiet and not talk. Elyssa is still very much into camouflage.  She wants to wear it every day. She is very much our tomboy. She would rather be outside climbing trees and playing with the boys. My new position is going well.  I get up every morning around 2:45am. I am actually becoming a morning person (I know, it's scary). I am up and down ladders and on machines that take me up to the top shelves all day and me being afraid heights makes every day interesting. I enjoy what I am doing, tho.  I am home by 1:00and I take a nap for an hour before I pick up the kids. I am in bed at night by 9:00 after the little girls go to bed. So far I am adjusting to the new hours. The weather has been very cold and snowy.  We already have 3 times the amount of snow that we had last year.  I have had enough of winter and I am looking forward to spring!

Meghan is doing much better and is now able to eat again. I, unfortunately, have the same thing. We think we may have gotten some sort of food poisoning. Right before Meghan got sick, she made herself a can of generic tomato soup. Within 1/2 hour she had severe stomach cramps and was throwing up. I came home from work on Thursday and I was feeling fine except for the arthritise in my hands was bothering me because of the cold. I made myself a can of the same kind of soup and within 1/2 hour, I was curled up on the floor in pain. I have been sick ever since and haven't been able to eat anything. All I can do is sip on 7up. We don't have any more of the soup in the house and I don't think I will be buying it again. Hopefully, mine will pass pretty quick.

Emergency room

I just got home from the emergency room with Meghan. She has been sick since Thursday. She was suppose to work Thursday night from 8:00pm to 4:00 am. She got up to get ready for work and started throwing up. She hasn't been able to keep anything down so we switched to Pedialite. I was suppose to close tonight so I was at work. Meghan called me and she still couldn't keep anything down so I left work and took her to the emergency room. They had to give her an IV because she was so dehydrated. I thought they would have to hold her down because she is so terrified of needles but it wasn't too bad. She held Bre's hand and I think there may have been a couple of tears. They also gave her some medicine to stop the throwing up. She is looking a lot better. She is only allowed clear liquids for the next 24 hours and then we will see if she can handle solid foods. She has lost quite a bit of weight too so she isn't too happy about that either. I am hoping nobody else gets sick!

Elyssa PLaying Soccer and Softball

Elyssa playing softball and soccer. She enjoys them both.

Breanna Playing Soccer

Some pictures of Breanna playing soccer this summer.