Flooding

Little shout out to my parents who are pretty amazing people.  Their basement flooded with 5 feet of water on Friday morning.  I tried to lend a hand and drag things out, but my mom is one amazing lady.  She was in there coordinating and going through all the water damaged stuff to see what could be saved, what could be washed and what had to go.  I provided a little muscle but my mom is truly so strong.  Such a tough time but she just dug in and got it done.

I was also so impressed by their friends who all came out to help them.  My parents and their friends are no spring chickens (sorry Nana and Papa) and they were all in there carrying bags full of garbage up and down stairs, carry up soaking wet carpet and tossing it all into a truck.  Their friends had a dump truck come and collect a truckload since LaGrange is not supplying any kind of pick up.  It was not only their friends, but neighbors from across the street who did not get hit as hard.  They came over to help and provide some additional muscle.  I think it says a lot about them that so many people show up to help them in their time of need.  I hope we are fostering those type of relationships.

Marathon Playdate

We dropped Hailey off for a playdate with her best bud Keri on Saturday at 12:30 - she came home at 7pm on Sunday.  What was just supposed to be a couple hours, turned into a sleepover and then a day trip to a waterpark.  Last hurrah before school starts on Tuesday.

Keri's sister Kyla, her friend Karina, Hailey and Keri

(the bikini is so NOT mom approved - she borrowed the suit from Keri and knew I couldn't say anything about it - the stinker!)

Unexpected Day off

Friday I was driving the girls to Nana and Papa's when we couldn't get to their street.  There was a lake where the street should be.  We saw someone on their corner and the water was up to his knees.  I then called Nana and Papa and unfortunately, they had 5 feet of water in the basement.  I ended up going to work with the girls to tell them I was taking the day off.

 The girls loved being in my office.  Maddie kept yelling "Get out of my office!" at me and then giggling.  

 Later in the day we went out to lunch

 Hailey must be growing - the girl is eating a lot. She ate that entire burger - which is a lot for her!

 Then we went to DQ

Then we put up Hailey's new desk area in her room.  I have been promising to do something with that dead space and put up shelves and such.  I finally got around to it and Hailey is loving it.  The chair is ordered

Back to school haircuts

Nana helped me out and took the girls to get haircuts this week.  Hailey decided to do more than a trim - which I was surprised by.  

 Maddie went back short because she wants hair like mine.  She wants it curly now - not sure how to manage that one

 I took Kaitlyn for her second haircut.  She was a little skeptical

 Totally content after she got a sucker!

New sidewalk on the side of the house

So, our driveway and our neighbors but up against each other.  He has an electric truck with a lift that he parks in his driveway.  They used to have an asphalt driveway.  They were redoing their driveway and asked us if we minded if they replaced this back part since they felt his truck was the reason it sunk. Talk about kind neighbors.  It was done this past week.

Week with Nana and Papa

The girls had a gap of a week between camp and school starting so they spent the week with Nana and Papa.  They went to the park, swimming and so many things.  So thankful to Nana and Papa!

Birthday Parties

Hailey had a couple of birthday parties this weekend

She got to go to Medieval times - lucky girl!

 Next up was a climbing place - vertical endeavors - they are getting their instructions now

 Took Hailey quite a few times - but she finally got over the fear and made it up to the top a bunch of times

 Hailey and her friend Meg up at the top ringing the bells

 Ella, Hailey and Meg

Up to the top of another

Cheerleading begins

Cheerleading begins - the girls cheered at the Lilac Bowl this weekend - it was a giant round robin scrimmage so it was more like practice.  Maddie's team didn't even have their uniform yet for everyone so they just wore their shirts.  I will have to post again when she wears her uniform!

 Falcon Cheerleader shirts

 My little cheerleader -she certainly has the stances ready!

 Maddie is doing a move from one of their dances

 Go Falcons!

 Kaitlyn sprawled out eating a pretzel

 Watching Hailey and waiting for her turn

 Hailey's team -she is in the second row in the middle

 Cheering

 Pose again!

 Selfie with Daddy - Kris was volunteering and grilling

This cheerleader was starving!  Chowing on a cheeseburger when she was done and waiting for Maddie to be done.

Out to dinner

We headed to DMK for dinner on Saturday

 They are such good kids

 Those milkshakes are always good

 Kaitlyn was going to town

Church Directory Pictures

On vacation Kris grows his beard out.  When we got home, we had pictures for the Church Directory on Saturday.  Kris shaved and said he was going to rock this stache.  Thank god, he shaved it off.  

Getting ready to go

Minocqua 2014

Another year in the books - the girls love this trip - its like a giant playdate

 My girls at the Thirsty Whale

 Campfires and smores

 Ladies went out on Saturday - playing some flippy cup at the bar

 Maddie and Esme loving the water walkway mat

 Olivia and Hailey on the raft

 The ladies carrying the boat down to the lake

 The ladies watching a movie in our cabin

 Swing set - lots of time spent.  One of the boys, Gus, fell from the monkey bars and broke his wrist

 Hailey and Ceci - best buds

 Hanging with the carvings in town

 Lots of kids on that float

 The big girls

 Boat time

 Me and my little one

 Driving the boat

 Hanging out

 Kaitlyn and Evie are becoming buds - they are 6 months apart

 More campfire time

 The crew - 61 people - can't see many of them but everyone was frustrated trying to get everyone to the lakefront and I didn't really coordinate the heights - it was too much

 Walking the bearskin trail to town

 Tubing time

 Swimming off the boat

 More tubing

 For a ride with Papa

 Kaitlyn pretty much played in the sand all week - never really hit the water

Me and my girl Hailey

 Nana and Papa and the girls

One quick story - the girls, Nana, Aunt Kate and Ceci and I went into town one morning.  We went to lunch at the Thirsty Whale and ate out on the deck.  At the end of the meal, Nana asked for the check and our waitress informed us that another couple wanted her to wait until they left to let us know they covered our check.  They said our kids were so well behaved and it was nice to have a nice lunch and enjoy it with kids around so they bought our lunch.  We were shocked and still kind of are.  The girls thought it was pretty cool that they got us a free lunch.  I have to remember to pay it forward.

See ya next year Minocqua!