Summer Break - Week 8 and our WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!

Skyler and Karlie prior to running the Jr. Bix Friday night.

A buck Paul and I would love to shoot.

Skyler next to Aunt Tonia and Uncle Dan's Camaro before her big "spoiled" day :)

We had a lot of fun this week.  Saturday was our 17th Wedding Anniversary (22 years together -- whew it all goes so fast)!  Unfortunately it was such a busy day we hardly even got to see each other but I am incredibly thankful for a husband who makes every day special so we don't have to set our sights on only one day!!  I am pretty lucky to have picked the most genuine, kind (and hottest) man I know to spend the rest of my life with!  Thanks for putting up with me all these years Paul!  In addition to our Anniversary, this week we:

Skyler and Addi at the park

Skyler pitching.

• Went shopping for school supplies for Skyler's 6th grade class;
• Met our friends Megan and Addi to play at Camden park Monday morning;
• Shopped for some new school clothes since Skyler has been growing like crazy;
• Went to Skyler's softball tournament on Monday night.  They were seeded 2nd in the tournament because of the awesome year they had. Unfortunately Skyler's team did not win their game and their season is now concluded.  Skyler got to pitch part of the game and only allowed 3 runs.  Congratulations girls on a great season and congrats to the coaches as well!  Paul thoroughly enjoyed coaching the girls and they all really love to be around him!;
• Skyler went to Papa and Karen's a couple days while I worked;
• Went for supper at Applebees;
• Renee, Alex, Skyler and I played frisbee golf at Camden Wednesday morning;
• Friday night my friend Julie and I watched Skyler and Karlie run the Jr. Bix in Davenport;
• Saturday morning I ran the Bix for my second year in a row finishing with almost my exact same time as last year...just over 1 hour and 2 minutes.  I would have like to have done better than last year, but I really haven't been training enough to up my time, so I am pleased;
• Saturday I helped my friend Megan Klauer photograph a wedding and reception;
• While I was shooting at the wedding Paul and Skyler got to go out to the timber as well as going swimming at a friend's pool;
• Sunday Skyler got spoiled by her Aunt Tonia who took her to the latest Harry Potter movie at the IMAX theatre, took her out for lunch at Texas Roadhouse, bought her a new pair of shoes at the mall, got a pedicure and took her out for Whitey's ice cream (All this while Skyler got to ride in Tonia and Dan's Camaro convertible which she LOVES)!  Skyler was really excited when she got home cuz unfortunately, living with us, she doesn't get spoiled too often.  Thanks Tonia for giving her a great day!;
• Played Rummy before bed;
• Push mowed yards for about 3 hours Wednesday;
• Shot our bows in the backyard most nights;
• Practiced pitching with Skyler;
• We went to Blackhawk College with friends one last time to go over the class route prior to Skyler's College for Kids next week;
• Went out and worked at our food plots on Sunday (Paul worked in the food plots with Skyler and with Joe some other days this week as well);
• Stained our back deck.

Skyler's team after their last game of the season...Congrats girls!

This week promises to be another busy one -- maybe not a lot of time to fit in too much fun stuff -- but we'll make up for that before school starts.  Hope you enjoy your week!

Summer Break - Week 7

I took absolutely ZERO pictures this past week of our activities.  I will have to do better for next week's post.  This week we spent time winding down, unpacking, etc. from our trip last week.  It was SOOO hot this week with heat indexes hovering around 110-120 more days than not so our outside time was a bit limited.  But we did manage to do the following:

Wednesday we hiked a couple miles along a creek with our friends Renee and Alex;
Skyler hung out with Papa and Karen during the days I worked;
I worked on painting and securing up the chicken coop;
Sweated working so much one day that I killed my cell phone (the wetness indicator even turned--that is a lot of sweating) so had to go get a replacement phone;
Ordered and received another batch of chicken eggs for us to hatch out under our happy chickens;
We mowed our in-town yards in 100+ degree heat...yuck;
Practiced pitching and hitting with Skyler;
Got into several water fights this week to try to stay cool;
Rented and watched Rango;
Took some treks to the timbers to check out our food plots and do some work;
Visited the library to pick up books we ordered and return books already read;
Helped my friend Megan Klauer shoot a wedding and reception on Saturday;
Went to Skyler's softball practice on Saturday morning;
Got some runs in;
Went frog hunting;
Got the buckets and sponges out again and washed and waxed my truck; and
Played board games.

This upcoming week looks to be much better weather so can't wait to fill the days with memories.

2,000+ miles during Summer Break - Week 6

This week was a great week!  We were privileged enough to be invited to spend time with friends at their cabin on the Boundary Waters of Minnesota just as we did last year.  Our trip to Minnesota:
It took us close to 11 hours for us to drive to our destination on Snowbank Lake near Ely, Minnesota (on the US/Canada border).  We only had 4 days total (2 days driving and 2 days on the lake) so we had to cram as much as we could into a short period of time.

We got to see a Flying Squirrel (first time any of us had seen one), Loons, Deer, Badger, Fox, Pine Squirrels, Mergansers, and Eagles.

On our trip we got to do lots of fun stuff like:

• Fishing -- catching lots of smallies and largemouth bass. Between Skyler and Paul they got walleye, northern pike and silver pike;
• Snorkeling;
• Feeding a chipmunk that would sit in our hands and fill his cheeks with peanuts before scampering off to store them for winter;
• Swimming;
• Boating;
• Picking wild blueberries;
• Hiking to a waterfall;
• Visit the Wolf Discovery Center;
• Check out the town of Ely which reminds us of towns in the mountains we have visited;
• Feeding a friendly fox who showed up at the cabin;
• Hiking through the Northwoods.

We had temperatures that ranged from the mid-50's all the way up to 90.  Wow, quite a variance!  Had an absolutely wonderful trip!!

Before we left:

Skyler had two softball games, one in Illinois City and one in Taylor Ridge (her team won both games and played awesome).  Her team now has 13 wins and only 3 losses;

We made a trip to the library to return and pick up another pile of books as well as to cash in on the library's summer reading program since Skyler had fulfilled its requirements in order to receive prizes (including a free book);

Preparing for our trip filled up the rest of the days prior to our leaving for Minnesota.
After we returned Sunday afternoon:

Skyler got to hang out with her friends Bailey and Grace.  They went frog hunting which turned into a mud fight as well.  So they had a bucket of frogs and were covered in mud and lovin' it.

Can't wait for week 7!!

Summer Break - Week 5 and Happy Independence Day

Some pictures I took this week of the wildlife/outdoors around us.

Pictures from Skyler's games and track camp this week.

Skyler working on the fence this week.

My friend Bonnie and I before the Firecracker Race

Can't believe we have already had 5 weeks of summer break!!  It always goes way too fast.  This week was very busy but also a lot of fun:

Started my 4th of July off early at the East East Moline Firecracker Run with my friend Bonnie.  I ran the 10k (6.4 miles) and placed 4th in my division;
Watched the last of fireworks displays on the 4th as a family;
I ran the Bix at 6 (7 miles) practicing for the actual race coming up the end of this month;
Went to the timber as a family with Shadow where Paul cut some trees that we hauled and made rabbit homes with;
Spent about 12 hours this week staining a fence for a side job -- Skyler was a great help on this one and earned a good chunk of change for her efforts;
Practiced pitching and hitting again with Skyler all week;
Skyler went swimming with Karen one of the days when I worked;
We enjoyed Skyler's 2 softball games in Taylor Ridge and 1 in Andalusia this week;
Took Skyler to her 6th grade physical at the doctor's office where she got 3 shots and a clean bill of health;
This week Skyler attended the Rockridge track camp up at the high school;
I got to watch Skyler's track meet on Friday where she placed 1st in both of her races (the 1 mile and the 400) Woohoo!;
Went to my friend Tracy's house for a pool party with a bunch of friends;
Went to Whitey's for ice cream;
Skyler got to hang out with her friend Sammie while Paul and I cut, hauled and stacked several loads of firewood for this winter;
We mowed for a couple of hours at one of our side-jobs;
During the stifling heat of yesterday we actually sat down and watched a DVD with Skyler which she loved!
We have another busy upcoming week planned -- can't wait to live it out.

Summer Break - Week 4

Skyler and the 4-H Country Clovers' Fair Poster they created

Still trying to cross more items off our bucket list of things to do this summer.  I am completely enjoying my time with Skyler on my days off as well as filling our weekends with fun family activities:

Picked raspberries in the garden daily;
Made Fourth of July pinwheels for the porch;
Gutted out the hall closet and reorganized;
Played hide-n-go-seek in the yard (but Shadow sits and stares at the person who is hiding making it pretty easy for the "seeker");
Practiced pitching and hitting daily;

Skyler hanging out with her cousins

Got some good runs in;
Went to Lake Story Beach in Galesburg to swim with our friends Ali, Fran, Lilly and Anna;
Had a picnic on the beach;
Took Shadow to his vet appointment in Aledo;
Skyler went to a friends' house for supper and to watch their fireworks Friday night;
Mowed our most recent addition to in-town yards;

Skyler consoling Shadow at his vet appt.

Went to our friends' Renee and Alex's for Skyler's monthly 4-H meeting and helped create the Country Clovers' 4-H display for the fair;
Baked chocolate-chip cookies to share;
Had Uncle Dasan, Aunt Jeri Lynn and Cousins Molly and Drew over for supper and Uncle Dasan helped coach Sky on her batting;
Had 1 softball game in Sherrard and 2 games in Taylor Ridge this week--Skyler's team lost their first game of the season :(  but Skyler got her first home run of the year this week and earned her homemade cheesecake I promised her;

2 fawns we spotted this week

Cleaned roof and gutters for a side-job;
Made Skyler's "home run cheesecake" with raspberry sauce;
I helped my friend Megan Klauer photograph a wedding on Saturday; and
Went to a friends' pool/fireworks party.

Summer Break - Week 3

Skyler wasn't feeling well on Monday with a headache/migraine so we didn't get much fun done that day.  It was also a crappy weather week with lots of cold, wind and rain, however, we still tried to fit some stuff in.

Skyler had softball games 4 nights this week, 1 in New Windsor, 1 in Orion and 2 in Taylor Ridge, all of which they won.  Skyler's team now has 7 wins and 0 losses and Skyler pitched in every game but 1;

Went to the local farmer's market for fresh produce that we don't grow in our own garden;
Skyler rode her bide while I ran;
Practiced pitching with Skyler daily;
Helped Paul haul and spread mulch at a side-job for an entire day;
Went to visit Grandma and Grandpa;
Finally finished our Holocaust book, "Alicia";
Began reading "the Zookeepers Wife";
Got out the sponges, hoses and buckets and washed both trucks while breaking into a few water fights along the way;
Played basketball;
Skyler and I attended a dear family friend's visitation;
Went to the library to return and check out more books;
Went to supper with Paul's family;
Skyler and I went to the timber early in the week to check on the black-raspberries, but they still needed a bit more time to ripen -- they are ripe now so we will head back this week;
Helped Paul haul, load and stack 6 truckloads of firewood;
Went mulberry pickin' in the timber (wish I woulda had my camera for that as Skyler's face was almost completely bluish-purple);
Saturday night Skyler went to a birthday party sleepover w/a bunch of her friends (so Paul and I got a RARE date night and went to the movies for the first time in YEARS....literally!  We saw Bridesmaids -- super funny. {the last movie we remember seeing together at the theater was "The Patriot" back in 2000, so it had been a while});
Went to a garage sale;
Sprayed 2 more of our deer food plots;
Had a water balloon fight.

This week's weather is supposed to be much better so I'm lookin' forward to it!

Week 2 - Summer Break and Happy Father's Day!

Skyler practicing shooting her bow

Here is a little tree frog we found in the yard this week

Here is "Fat Boy" the plane that accompanies the
Blue Angels -- Skyler took this picture

Some of the Blue Angels doing their thing.

Here is the first lightening bug caught during our "competition"
(Skyler won the competition, of course)

Every summer I start out gung-ho ready to detail our every move.  However, each week my notes seems to dwindle down to less and less...so here are a few of our highlights from this past week, with a lot forgotten, I'm sure...and the dwindling of notes begins  :)  We didn't have as many days to fill this week as I had to work an extra day.  Our highlights of this week were the Quad City Airshow on Saturday and the fact that it was Father's Day on Sunday.  Since I am married to the best husband/dad on earth  :)  it is always a special day at our house.  Having given the weekend over to Paul for his choice of activities we found ourselves working in the timbers for a good portion of Saturday and Sunday.  We are that much closer to having each and every stand in top shape for the upcoming deer hunting seasons.  We also had an awesome time fishing at a friend's lake on Sunday afternoon.  What follows is a list of some of the other highlights from this past week:

Pictures from our day of fishing!

• Dry run at Black Hawk College to find Skyler and her friend, Alex's, classes for College for Kids.
• Meet friends at Subway for lunch
• Take a hike out here in the country
• Go to work with mom for a day
• Play Basketball
• Shoot bows
• Go to Griswolds w/Papa and Karen
• Go for a long bike ride
• Attend the Quad City Airshow
• Help mom and dad with deer stands
• Practice pitching
• Picnic at a lake
• Have a friend over to hang out
• Have a Lightening-Bug catching competition
• Make an obstacle course in the yard
• Fishing at a friend's lake
• Continue reading our Holocaust book, "Alicia"
• Weed in the strawberry garden and then gorge on the strawberries that are ripe
• Hunt fields for arrowheads.

I enjoy putting to "paper" our daily highlights so that we can always have these memories if they ever slip our minds - it just so happens this way I can put some pictures along with the notes which is even better as far as I am concerned!

Summer Break Begins at the Grissoms

Skyler warming up on the mound -- she now has 17 strike outs with only 7 innings on the mound!  On this day she and a couple other pitchers combined for a "No Hitter" and won the game -- they are now 3 and 0!!

Summer break is officially started!  This past week was Skyler's first week off.  I have a huge summer bucket list of all the fun (and some not so fun) things I want to accomplish with Skyler this summer.  My boss is kind enough to let me cut back on my days at work so that I get some valuable Mom and Daughter time with Skyler this summer.  During this past week and weekend we already started on that bucket list and also covered some items that weren't on the list:

Played tennis with friends at the tennis courts;
Got signed up for the summer reading program at the library;
Sky and I began reading another holocaust survivor story ("Alicia");
Had a picnic at the park with friends;
Went for bike rides;
Went to the spray grounds with friends;
Camped out in a tent in the back yard;
Roasted hot dogs over the campfire;
Helped Paul on a roof job;

Wash Shadow with the hose;
Spent the day at a friends house and played on a slip-n-slide;
Sprayed our deer food plots in the timber for better growth;
Got ice cream cones at the ice cream shop;
Cleared brush off a lane in the timber;
Photograph insects and wildlife;
Pitched during two softball games (and won); and
Rearranged and cleaned the basement -- I know, this one was not the most fun.

A picture of Paul and I after we finished spraying this food plot.

Some dragonflies, an Eastern Kingbird and bumblebee on clover I captured photos of in the timber.

A campfire picture from the night we camped out...

I also ran in a 5K -- the Race for the Cure in Moline -- on Saturday along with my friends Megan Klauer and my bloggin' friend and cancer survivor, Sherry, and their family and my friend Bonnie Moore.  What a great time we had for a great cause!  I so love havin' friends who enjoy running as much as I do!
Whew!  Got a lot done this week but still have a long list to complete before summer is over.  Can't wait for this coming week!

This is the view of the moon out of the top of our tent the night Skyler and I camped

Our chicks turned two weeks old!

Can't believe it has already been over two weeks since these cute little guys/gals hatched.  These little critters crack us up!  Since chicks will peck at anything that moves their poor mom has had her eyeball pecked almost constantly.  She must have the patience of Job.  They love hopping on mom's back for a piggy-back ride when she is out walking around.  They have integrated well with the rest of the flock and love doing everything their mom does!  They have probably already doubled in size since they hatched.  We had another great weekend cutting dragging and burning tons of brush from our timbers around our yard, going for a couple of runs, visiting my mom, dad, brother and his family, mowing our in-town yards, planting and raking in one of our deer food plots, playing basketball, getting a new bottom feeder fish for Skyler's fish tank, running through the sprinkler with Skyler and shooting our bows.  So excited because today is the start of Skyler's official summer break!!

Happy Belated Memorial Day Weekend!

Remembering those who have gone before...

Hope you all enjoyed your Memorial Day Weekend -- I know we did!  Although the weather was not very cooperative over here in our neck of the woods -- we tried to get done what we could in between raindrops. Like a lot of people we made our way to a cemetery and paid our respects for those who have gone before us.  We also worked in the timber, worked in the yard, worked in the gardens, got in a few hikes, walks, runs, a bike ride and practiced pitching w/Sky.  Because of the yucky weather we even watched a movie -- which RARELY happens at our house.  Monday was beautiful and was the perfect day for one of our family fishing outings.  We caught a TON of fish (on a pond that Paul designed) which are now in our fridge/freezer for later meals.

Skyler with one of her many Bluegill she caught.

We had planned on camping with our  friends the Klauers this weekend -- and although they are hardcore campers like us, setting up our tents in standing water "just to say we did" didn't appeal to any of us.  Instead, we still had a great time hanging out and eating a great meal that Megan cooked over the open fire for us -- thanks again!