New Years Eve 2007

This is supposed to be our big tree on the boulevard but it is snowing so hard you can't really see the tree.

A little break, you can see the tree. I love this tree when it is covered in snow.

The three of us just got in from enjoying the latest dump of snow. Again it is so pretty out!

Drew got home at about 6:45 and is already in bed so he can go out sometime later to plow snow. I get the whole work hard to make life better but this is crazy. We're postponing getting together with the Hathorns until tomorrow after Drew gets home. Last plowing he was out for about 8 hours.

Speaking of crazy... check out our snowman.



We're just not really great snowman makers. At the beach we can make sandcastles like no one else but the snow we're not so good at. This explains the metal bowl we tried to use to make big snowballs like you use buckets at the beach. Fortunately we were laughing at our creation while Alex sang the song with the new terms - oranges for eyes, corn cob nose that looks more like a cigar, evergreen smile and three pinecones for buttons. I haven't watched the news in a long time, I had no idea it was going to snow at all and I had cleaned out the refrigerator of strange looking things early this morning. Some of that stuff would have been great!

The kids are happily making midnight munchies and we're going to start a new game Ashley got for Christmas, In a Pickle.


Happy New Year!

PS - to start 2008 off really strange, Drew & Ashley left about 15 minutes ago to go plow. Alex fell asleep right after we came in from playing in the snow so that leaves me to sip champagne and not sleep while they are both gone. It's a good thing Illinois doesn't play until late tomorrow afternoon - we can all get caught up on sleep.

GO ILLINI!

7.5 Hour Snow Event Ends

It sounded like a bigger deal then it was for us. The light snow began around 8 a.m. this morning, giant snowflakes around 2:30 and by about 3:30 p.m. it was all over. It was just enough to cover up the grass (especially where the dogs were just making a muddy mess), make the little dirty snow there was - clean again, give the kids and the dogs something fun to do outside and provide Drew with yet another job for the day - plowing snow. The temperature is about 34 degrees so the snow was easy to shovel and the snow in the trees has melted. It's just a slushy mess. The dogs will be sure to have mud to play in again soon.

After playing in the snow it's hot chocolate, grilled cheese and x-box time. If Drew ever gets home to enjoy it, it will be a great night for a fire. We'll keep it going.

If I had sent out a Christmas letter, part of it would go like this...

There is rarely a dull moment in our house and this year was no exception.

If we had a symbol for our family this year it would probably be a bright yellow softball. Even though Ashley did the work, it consumed us all good and bad. The motto would similarly be something like Ashley, Ashley, Ashley, for good and bad as well. We are not at all complaining but I am predicting that 2008 will have all the elements of 2007 plus more for the rest of us to just make it an awesome year all around. I hope in 2008 Ashley & Alex keep on the track they are on because we are so proud of them and so glad they are ours.

So what's all about Ashley? Ashley is still very actively playing but in 2008 I think it will just be different. She is refining her talents with her pitching and hitting Northwestern University. Her pitching coach, Tori, has put on a plateau with her dance teacher for many years, Shelley. Ashley really loves both and continues to do well. This is the first year Ashley has not had Shelley teaching any of her dance classes. She has waited many years to take Mark's class.

In school Ash continues to play the cello in the all-star orchestra, loves chorus and is a "safety patrol" all while doing very well on the academic side. When she goes back to school in January she will be trying out for the 6th year. This year she is not dancing but she is looking forward to knocking their socks off singing. In November, Ashley joined Rainbow. She really loves it and enjoys doing something girly with her friends.

Alex is often Ashley's shadow and it's a tough one to get out of but Alex is beginning to break out. Alex is also in the school chorus. He went initially because his friends who are girls joined but he likes it. The chorus sang at the downtown winter festival a couple weeks ago. When they were singing, in the background, it was snowing and looked really pretty. This year he started playing Drew's baratone in the school band and really loves it. It is a win win situation for everyone, grandma & grandpa got it out of their basement, Drew loves it that Alex is playing it and Alex loves playing it because dad did and just because it's a cool instrument and he is just the right kid to play it. The baratone itself is not bright, shiny or new but the character of it speaks volumes of where it has been and where it will go - right down to where Drew wrote his name in the bell. Alex is quite the lady's man, it is said that on the playground, it is him, a couple other boys and two or three girls that hangout. They have all become really good friends. We have always said he needs to keep standing up straight and flying right so Mr Hathorn will let him date his daughter someday. That has worked so far since kindergarten so I'm sticking with that motto for him. Alex's friendship with Paige many years ago has brought along a great friendship between our families. We spent Thanksgiving with the Hathorns way up north in Wisconsin and it was probably one of the best turning points the four of us have had in years.

Alex really enjoys Cub Scouts. He is a webelo 1 now. He likes all of the outdoor things and has earned enough patches that he is trading in his red fleece vest for an outdoor green fleece blanket where his patches will be attached and he can continue to fill it up. All of the patches on it are going to look really cool. Academicly Alex is doing well but we're hoping he ditches his doctor like handwriting for something ledgible.

Drew started 2007 with real pain. For a couple of the first weeks of the year, he was struck with shingles. More and more we are hearing about younger people getting them. He has a couple light scars left on his face. It was very scary but somehow it is said they could have been worse. It was horrible to see him in that much pain and not be able to do much for him. The kids had been vacinated for chicken pox but this was the year for Ashley to be revaccinated. Lucky for them, they got a very slight case of chicken pox from dad's shingles so they do not need to be revaccinated.

Drew completed his fourth year as District Deputy for lodge. It was bitter sweet, he enjoyed it but it was also time to be done, spend more time on other things and let someone else have a turn. That void was filled before the lodge year ended when his dad stepped down from being secretary of the lodge, leaving the family tradition to Drew. Historically, it is really cool that Drew's grandpa was secretary for so many years then his dad and now he is secretary. Who will be next? Kyle, Alex or will it be a nephew? (no pressure Julie or Sarah)

Drew continues to be Ashley's favorite coach for softball and Alex's favorite scout leader. The boat became an awesome stress reliever as well as memory makers for all of us. We spent a lot of time out on Lake Michigan. There were a couple best days. The first was the day we caught like 30 perch - we couldn't net them fast enough and one other was the day we went out when there were like five foot waves. It was a little scary but oh so exciting. Alex was glad to see land when it was over. We did feel a little like Pinochio when the giant waves were roaring right behind the boat, looking like they were going to plunge into the boat but ended up sailing us on top of another giant wave. That day, even the shore - Sears Tower and the Power Plant were in and out images. We went out a couple times when it was rough and the waves were pretty great. It made Six Flags seem like a cake walk. We had some thrills of going out a ways, coming back in, loading the boat on the trailer and coming home, just like that. I am convinced Drew's shingles were a product of stress so I am always eager to welcome stress relievers. Since Thanksgiving I have come to realize that Drew really has had enough of life in neutral and we need more excitiment and forward motion. In a matter of weeks, things are expected to drastically change for the better. For now, patience and extremely hard work are virtuous.

This is my fourth year working in the middle school. I really enjoy it. This year I am working with a teacher who is Kyle's age, she is Greek and she is such a good teacher. I have learned so much about how being Greek and I
have been given a renewed sense that there are truly amazing teachers out there. The coolest thing I have learned this year about Greeks is that it is traditional to wear wedding rings on the other hand. She and her boyfriend are getting closer to becoming engaged so I have learned now to check out both of her hands each Monday morning so see if he proposed yet. She thinks she will have rings on both hands - the beautiful traditional on one hand and a simple band on the other.

I enjoy being everyone's greatest cheerleader and being really proud of them all. This summer I watched some of Ashley & Alex's friends while their parents were working. I think next summer it will be all about my own kids. There were a lot of things we always do over the summer that we just weren't able to with that many kids. Just like at school, I enjoy working with other people's kids but I would really be happy just being my own kids mom while it is still welcome and spending more time with them than with other people's kids. I on an exciting building leadership team that is working to make our school even better. As a staff member and a parent, I really enjoy it.

In 2008 I hope to make a better effort to be as active as I can in Ashley & Alex, more like before I started at the middle school. They might have bigger feet than I do and they might be eye level with me but I still really love being their mom. I also hope to do more to help Drew with his work and anything to make his life better, richer, less stressful and just spend more time with my favorite guy. How is it that in February we will have had our first date 23 years ago and in June we will have been married for 15 years? Thank God we dated when I was cute and little! He's still got all those great qualities and more that made me love him in the first place. Like with the kids, I still feel like I can do more and be more for him so that is a goal for me.

Somewhere in this, I hope to find what it is I really love, read more, smell the roses more and work on getting myself together, I've got 2 years to really get it together before the "f" or "4"word enters our vocabulary. YIKES! It's scary and really exciting all at the same time.

We must have been good this year because Christmas was great. Christmas Eve was at our house. It was relaxing and low key. Christmas morning was just us and my mom. It was very traditional with eggnog french toast, Santa tracking those nasty ashes from the fireplace in the living room and the dogs getting bones they love to chew on. Alex & Drew rocked, getting XBox 360. Ashley got a digital camera and an American Girl doll. I got an Ipod. So there is lots to play with.











Our good dogs love sitting pretty for Christmas cookies!

Christmas afternoon as grandma & grandpa's was great. After quality time with my month and a half old niece, Cora, I am already looking forward to next year when there will be two little girls walking and talking. Kyle & Sarah are really cute and look forward to welcoming Logan. Sarah's birthday is mid-March and mine is end of February so we're both going to have an awesome present this year. I have made it look like I was holding back being crazy about Cora but yesterday, I was like what ever, it's Christmas. She's my niece, look out. I hope Julie adds watching Sesame Street to the daily plan. Cora needs more Elmo in her life.

Some of Aunt Tricia's quality time with Cora. I've really got to work on
my Elmo show if I am going to make her new Elmo puppet that Alex gave her effective. Remember Cora, you are the princess. Don't let anyone tell you different.





















Cora warm, cozy & wrapped up in the fuzzy fleece blanket Ashley made just for Cora.

For Christmas I got Drew Donald Trump's book, Think Big and Kick Ass in Business and Life. Enough with thinking about how great things can be and what we will/can do, let's get this show on the road and the vehicle is running! We've got exciting things to do and exciting places to go!













Thank you everyone for a wonderful Christmas of family time and presents. We love you.

Stay tuned, there will be much more after we ring in the new year. Better working conditions, more softball, 2nd quarter report cards, talent show, band and orchestra concerts, Pinewood Derby, a baby shower for Kyle, Sarah & Logan, Leap Day, Logan's arrival... That's just a little bit of the excitement. You won't want to miss any of it! Better yet, be a part of it.

Merry Christmas

from our house to yours

ALEX!!!

(As in the context when Dave yells at Alvin the chipmunk)

Yesterday was a crazy day. Drew & I both worked all day & all night. Thank goodness for good friends to get the kids where they need to be. Ashley had a Rainbow Christmas party but went home with a friend (Sarah) after so they could go together with another friend (Makenzie). So that accounts for three of us. The fourth one... He was home alone (have you seen the movie?) for about five hours. (are you scared yet?)

The Santa's big brown sleigh comes (UPS) to deliver a bunch of packages.

It wasn't our normal driver who knows he is really an elf, doesn't ring the doorbell even if we're home, just quietly puts them on the back porch. He knows I track my ups packages like kids track where Santa is. I just think it is fun to know the travel information of boxes that I know exactly what is inside. These days, I am extremely greatful for the big boxes - soon to be "packing boxes".

So anyway - Alex brought the packages into the living room and probably sat there for a minute contemplating how much trouble he would get into vs how happy his curiousity would be to know what's in those boxes.

Well, I have a policy that if you are told what you are getting or if you find or peek at anything for you or anyone else without permission, it goes back and who ever is just s.o.l.

I walked in the door at 11:30 last night, went in to say hi to the only one awake to discover ups boxes... open! I was tired and immediately flipped out.

It's three days until Christmas - no chance at returning etc. So Alex chooses to open all of the packages! There are not many things in the house for Ashley or Alex so whatever he saw, he will just have to wonder who it is for an is sworn to act surprised on Christmas if anything is for him.

So after some sleep and making Alex into my little x-box free elf for today and tomorrow he did something nice for our neighbor that warmed my heart but he's still not off the hook.

Alex was making hot chocolate, asked if I wanted some, I said no thank you and he continued to make two cups. I just let him go, didn't think much of it. He came back in with his boots and coat on and took a cup out to our neighbor who has been out there for a couple hours now adding more lights because some other crazy neighbor told him they were disappointed in our houses, the least amount of decorations ever at our houses.

I guess if I am baking, he can put up more lights.

Alex is redeemed for opening 1 out of 4 packages.

WE HAVE LIGHTS

this is blury but cool to give the whole effect. would have been much better without the kids tv on but it's too cold to go back out now.

fortunately i have had the tree on the front porch out there for weeks so it has icicles all over it an looks like we've been decorated all along. the same goes for the wreath. it is a fresh wreath we got when we cut the tree.

alex only broke a few icicles getting the wreath up. i'm sure we didn't do something right so drew will have to go fix it. it looked like he wound the wire around the screws pretty good.

thanks little buddy, now go clean your room! :)

The Big Chill

Ashley & Alex both sang in the chorus for their holiday program at school Thursday night. The title of the "show" was The Big Chill.

As always, their school had an awesome event!

Before dinner, the All-Star Strings entertained guests in the front foyer, Ashley played her cello.

Pictured below is one of my favorite events, the greenhouse filled with the Festival of Trees. Each class makes ornaments to decorate their own class tree. This year's theme for Winter Wonderland was "A Night on the Town in Chicago". My favorite tree was the kindergarten, they had laminated Cows on Parade, the kids colored their cows then they got laminated. So cute!

It's just right

This is the 4th year we have cut a tree from Richardson's Farm in Spring Grove and the second consecutive year we have harvested a Canaan Fir. Canaan Firs are very simlar to Fraser Fir. They have soft 1" needles, medium-strong branches, very good needle retention, great green color. Up to 7 feet. Our tree looked like it would be too tall but we liked it so we went for it. I took the time to measure the distance between the bottom of the tree stand to the ceiling then subtracted the tree topper then subtracted a little more for fear factor that Drew would be upset. As a result, I didn't cut too much off but I could have left a little more. Regardless, it is a nice, full, happy tree with lots of great memories hanging from its branches. I have tried something new this year, I read that adding the flower preservative packet that is normally added to fresh cut flowers would help keep the tree happy. So far, so good.

We'll trade you one who does not sleep for two who do...

We're finally just about out of the woods of being sick. It has put a real damper on getting into Christmas. We got the tree in the living room up greens up outside but that's it. In addition to being sick, Drew has been working more and I've been working with my mom as much as possible. Thankfuly we have really great elves. "If the things on my list do not get done, there is no Christmas!" And we thought having kids would simply mean having the garbage taken out and the dishwasher loaded & unloaded. While they are getting the tasks done, they are making us crazy! So, every once in a while, we love the thought of trading Cora who, from the sounds of it, does not sleep at night - for two darling, helpful kids who do sleep not just all night. Out of guilt, I take it back, they did get quite a bit done today. If they could just work and not talk to each other unless they have something nice to say, it would be great.

Dad is going to say it's too big!

This was the least traditional tree-cutting-day we've had in 15 years. Sunday it rained and Drew worked. It was supposed to be our big tree-cutting day. While Drew did some work, the kids & I went to cut down the tree. It did not happen just at this event but I was reminded of my constant thoughts... just how lucky I am to have an amazing husband and amazing kids. I don't envy single parents. Cutting down the tree without Drew was the pits. It was pouring rain, the three of us were yelling at each other (the cinnamon donuts later made things better), we were all soaked and it took way longer to actually cut the tree without Drew. Plus, the tree is still outside on the back deck but I'm thinking it's way bigger than what we usually get when Drew is with to say "no, it's too big." There will be a good chunk cut off and I can use those extra branches for the fireplace mantel.

Just like some years when making Christmas cookies is the top priority because it's on my list of things to do and I don't care what gets pushed aside to have that experience, getting a real Christmas 2007 picture for our book will be a top priority. Luckily there are still many days until Christmas.

Here are some of the past few year's tree cutting day pictures. If nothing else, this year's picture is good to see just how much taller Ashley & Alex are.

2007

2006

2005

Downtown Holiday Festival

The kids chorus and orchestra groups from school performed in our downtown Saturday. They were great and the snow coming down behind them could not have been planned better.