Sum-Sum-Summertime!

One thing on Ted's never-ending-honey-do-list is putting up the playset. Once again, he proves that he is the strongest and smartest ever. He dis-assembled this LAST winter, by himself, when it was frozen in the ground. It was stored on the side of our rental, and in this basement, until now. He assembled it himself, again. YIPEE!

This weekend Will's soccer team played in the Badger State games. He had his best games ever, and he won the prize for having the most fans (me, Diane, Heather, Anna, Kaleb, Will, Mom, Ted, Judy, Dad, Joel, Tyler and Peter! There were also gale-force winds. Can you tell?

After soccer, we had a birthday celebration for our favorite "Reg-li-ar" Yaya. We love you!!

Horrible Hilly Hundred

Ted has gotten big into biking. This weekend, he attempted the "Horribly Hilly Hundreds"...a 100K bike ride around our area that is ALL HILLS. HE ROCKED THE COURSE!!!

He recruited our friend Kev to do it with him. Here they are, the night before, getting some of their gear ready.

Here is the team fan club. We waited for them at about the 1/2 way point.

The bikers, pulling in for a quick stop.

Ted, seconds after crossing the finish line. This picture doesn't show it, but he dominated the last hill. Seriously. Passing people left and right. I almost missed the finish because I was so nervous for him, I had to make a quick dash to the port-a-potty. My stomach of steel.

His most loyal fans. I am astonished by his skill. I hate riding bikes. And who likes riding bikes UP hills for Pete's sake? As I realized long ago, Ted is the strongest and smartest man I know.

Mish-mash fun stuff!

Here was Will's last soccer game. And this was BEFORE all of the rain you've seen on the news!

Here's Kaleb's rockin' b-day party. Lucky for us, he choose an INDOOR water park.

We've got a fun neighborhood. The parents started a new tradition. Here we are, waiting for the bus on the last day of school. But we didn't know that the kids were held at school because of a tornado warning. So we are outside, waiting, waiting, waiting. When they finally got off the bus, we pelted them with water balloons! We're pretty sure there will be retaliation sometime this summer.

YIPEE FOR SUMMER VACATION!!!

Haircuts

For the first time in a couple of years, the boys have opted for summer buzz cuts. Therefore, they can go to Ted's buzz-cut salon for free!

Before shot...

During....

After!!

Happy GOLDEN Birthday, Kaleb!!

Kaleb is the child who was born READY TO LIVE HIS LIFE! This baby let you know if things weren't to his liking. That spice has followed him and made him BUBBA, the guy who's favorite smells are cow manure (that's why he wants to be a farmer when he grows up), and beer. He's the one who always says "LOVE YOU!" and still wants to sit on our laps. He thinks of others before himself and makes it easy to like him, as he's proven in his new surroundings this year. He can push my buttons and warm my heart all at the same speed. HAPPY GOLDEN BIRTHDAY, KALEB!!! We love you!

Fun meal-time festivities

We have had a goooood time lately eating....
Here are Anna and her best friend, Zoe, and her mom, Melissa (who isn't such a bad friend herself). Anna and Zoe are our youngest, and start kindy next year, so we decided we better have a very fancy ladies luncheon before the big kids are home for the summer.

This is Ya Jen's 86th b-day dinner! Ya is such a classy lady, and has blessed our family beyond words.

I was able to go to Elkhorn this week, and have a fun lunch with friends. Love and miss you chicks!

And now I have to tell kind of a gross story. As many of you know, we rented a nice, newer house in Elkhorn after ours sold last year. The owner has flown the coop with our substantial security deposit. No one has been in the house since we vacated last August. We stopped by to peek in the windows yesterday. The pipes froze over the winter, and have now burst. There is mold all over the walls, and many of the ceilings are collapsing. This house was less than 5 years old and provided such a great place for us during our transition. Sad, sad, sad.....