Fall is near...

How can I tell?

-The kids went back to school last week Monday. Christian started 1st grade with Mrs. Pufahl, having to sit in a desk much of the day will be a challenge for my little ball of fire! Mallory starts 4th grade with Mrs. Williams-who strongly believes that 4th grade is a time to prep for heightened independence level on the children's part. Neither was extatic to go back, but they are both adjusting well!

-Our childcare blessings continue. We were sad that the time with Hannah passed so fast this summer. The kids had an awesome time with her and truly claimed it "The Best Summer Ever!" Only one situation could have made lemonade out of lemons: Heather Laws called and offered her talents for us once again this school year. Praise God! If I do have to work outside of the home as much as I do, the best that could ever be is that the kids have some type of stability after school/at dinner time! Not to mention her patience and organizational skills!

-Soccer has begun for both Mal & C, too. For anyone interested in attending games, they start this Saturday, September 6 and go until October 18th. Every Saturday EXCEPT October 4th: Christian "plays" at 9:05 am and Mallory plays at 10:15 am. On the 4th, Christian plays at 10:40 with Mallory playing at 9:15. I am assisting coach Mallory's team this year and co-coaching Christian's. Chrisitian's strong will and inability to lose has left me uncertain whether or not he will play at all this year. That seems to change each time I ask him. Mallory has shocked me with her ability to be aggressive, especially on defense. I'm excited for both of them, no matter what happens!

-Volleyball is in session for Dan and I. Dan will be playing on Monday nights and I am playing on Wednesday nights. A good get-away/exercise for both of us!

-Add volunteering to the weekly schedule. On Wednesdays, I get to go to school and be in Christian's classroom first at 10:30, then on to Mallory's classroom at 11:15 until noon! Many of you know, this is the highlight of my week and gives me a more meaningful "paycheck" than the one I get at work everyday!

-With the planner quickly filling up, add in a Doctor's appt. for Mallory-not sure, but her heartburn she was having could be another indication of her body not liking dairy products! We'll see!

-The high tomorrow is 60 degrees. A little prelude to what is to come. Batten down the hatches!

"For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad. " ~Edwin Way Teale

Found!

A little digging never hurt anybody! Here's a list of what we found over the Labor Day weekend:

1) Boxes of memories from high school to racing
2) Mice make homes whereever they can and they poop there, too.
3) You cannot possibly clean 5 years of stuff out of a garage in 2 days. Period.
4) You can try!
5) It feels better to toss than to save.
6) My camera! It was in a bag of goodies from my birthday!
7) I found that I can post to my blog without my camera!

"I have memories - but only a fool stores his past in the future." ~David Gerrold

20 years to go...

Mallory asked me when her golden birthday would be. The answer: 20 years. That sure is a long time (or it better be!). Mallory turns 9 today. At 9:15 she entered this crazy world! She has had 7 other birthdays and I'm not quite sure what makes this one different, but last night I was walking down memory lane of where I was and when. I woke up and realized that's when I started pushing. A few minutes after 9:15, I announced to Dan that he was the proud father of a nine year-old via the "intercom" at the shop (there isn't one-you have to yell!). He turned around and looked at me like I was crazy. Wait. That's how he always looks at me. (he really did give me a kiss, though-so that was sweet!)

So Happy Birthday, Mallory. God has certainly made you unique and wonderful in your very own way! I hope I can be as wonderful of a mom to you as of a daughter you are to me. And when you figure out what that means, I'll know just how smart you really are!

"You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair. ~Douglas MacArthur"

Lost without my camera...

I don't know why it is that I always think I need to have a photo in order to post. Well...I lost my camera. Now, many of you know me too well and know I "lose" things all the time. (Including my mind) Only to have them turn up when cleaning, etc. It's been awhile now and no camera.

So where are the photos from you ask? My wonderful sister-in-law Pam brought her camera (she obviously knows how to be responsible for one) with her from New Jersey.

In and amongst all of the other things we've done since Christian's birthday (today will be one month exactly since my last posting), you get to see photos (ta-da!) from their visit. Though we did not get any on her camera from the Brewers game on Dan's birthday. The one of Christian and the cat: Patches. Patches is a stray that strolled on into Grandpa and Grandma's yard while we were cooking out one night. She hasn't left since and good thing for Christian (and secretly the rest of us, too!).



Mark, Pam, Alex, Mallory, Christian, Cliff, Vi, and their friends the Janzen's went out on Rock Lake for a day on the Janzen's boat. All of the kids (both young and young at heart) had fun. Sorry we missed it.

On the 23rd, we celebrated the kids birthdays at the house. Just after the photo was taken, Christian's cake hit the floor. He hadled it well and knew that "Grandma can fix it." Since she has had that happen before!

One last "worth-mentioning" is that we are planning festivities for celebrating the 60th year in business on October 11 this year. While the Shefferman's were here, we did a quick photo opp and got some real fun shots. Thank you to Shelli for being willing to snap them! Great job! If you haven't already marked your calendar, please be sure to. It is sure to go down in Lake Mills history books!

So much more to write as always, but between ringing phones, technicians needing parts, and a tummy starting to growl, this will have to get left as it is.

Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today. ~James Dean

My baby...

Hard to believe, right? Six years ago he came screaming into this world and boy has he already left his mark. Remember the song from Sound of Music, "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?" Well my song for Christian is, "How Do You Leash a Child Like Christian?"

So energetic, I hate to use the word "Leash," but I tell ya, there's just no telling with this not so little one. His spirit is an overabundance of positive energy that sometimes gets mistaken for the term "naughty." And don't get me wrong...he can certainly show us his "rowdy" side by getting carried away and out of control, but really for the most part, this child of ours is a keeper!

Our laugh for the day on his birthday (July 26th) : he woke up to a loving sister, showering him with birthday wishes. I made them pancakes with mini-chocolate chips and he sat down to eat his food, sprung off of his stool and said, "Hey mom, I gotta use your bathroom." I knew he already did his morning duty, so I asked him why. "I have to see if I weigh anymore since I am a year older!" Off he ran down the hall. (needless to say, he was a little let down.)

Once you go to Minocqua...you'll always go back

We had an ablsolutely wonderful time in Minocqua camping with Brian & Lynnell Lichtenberg July 10-12. Dan didn't get to fish as much as he would have like to, and when he did, didn't catch much. Other than that...no complaints, only compliments.

We relaxed, swam, played cards, went to the lumberjack show, and went to the petting zoo. As usual, not much time for details, and there are photos aplenty (as always with me!!)/too many to post.

I remember a hundred lovely lakes, and recall the fragrant breath of pine
and fir and cedar and poplar trees. The trail has strung upon it, as upon
a thread of silk, opalescent dawns and saffron sunsets. It has given me
blessed release from care and worry and the troubled thinking of our modern
day. It has been a return to the primitive and the peaceful.
Whenever the pressure of our complex city life thins my blood and benumbs my
brain, I seek relief in the trail; and when I hear the coyote wailing to the
yellow dawn, my cares fall from me - I am happy. ~Hamlin Garland,
McClure's, February 1899

Dance like nobody's watching...

Mallory's Recital...so I'm a bit late in getting this out there, but I keep thinking I need to get it done, so here it is! (Above: Haley Kooiman, Mallory, and Shayane Anderson, below: Mal and Ms. Cindy) Dance is a passion of Mallory's. If she is having a bad day, it is nothing a loud song and free expression of dance can't solve. Watching her , you can just feel the energy radiate off of her.
I cannot believe she is already 8 and in just over a month, my first baby girl is going to be 9. Mallory continues to amaze me with her patience, her understanding, and her maturity. If there in one thing in life here on Earth that Mallory loves (besides dogs), it is DANCING. I am so proud of her and not a day goes by that I don't look at her in awe for all that she has already become!

"Dance like nobody's watching; love like you've never been hurt. Sing like nobody's listening; live like it's heaven on earth." ~Mark Twain

PS: Thanks to Hannah Hinrichs, Shelli Roedl (& Parker), Lisa Roedl, Grandpa & Grandma Topel, Great-Grandma Vitense, Grandma La La, Haley, & Shayane for making the recital day an unforgettable one!