1st Ball Game!

July 31, 2011 - Miracle League had an outing for all the players, buddies and families. We all went to a Timber Rattlers game. Daddy loved this Leinenhugel's chair.
Daddy is explaining the game to Noah.

MaKayla was more interested in the food.

MaKayla was asked to be the water girl for the umpire during the 6th inning. She did a great job!

She was a little nervous walking out there.

She received a shirt and a ball from the players while she waited with Daddy in the dug out.

Daddy was chosen to drive in a go kart race during the 4th inning. Noah thought that was super cool but was mad that he didn't get to go.

The kids had a great time at their first ball game!

Bay Beach!

July 28, 2011 - My sister Roxanne and her kids came for a visit. We went to Bay Beach. It is an amusement park in Green Bay, WI where the tickets are only .25 cents each. Most of the little kids rides are only one ticket. The most expensive is the roller coaster for 4 tickets. I have been told great things about Bay Beach since our move to Wisconsin but had never taken the kids before now. We all had a wonderful time and it was cheap entertainment!

Abigail & Roxanne

MaKayla is making a sour face at me.

Noah, MaKayla & Logan

The only ride that we really had to wait for was the train ride. It was a long hot wait!

Can you make out the four kiddos?

Hanna is wearing an orange shirt and Zach is behind her on the swings.

Noah ran as fast as he could so he could have the car with flames.

Aunt Roxy with her arms in the air with Logan. MaKayla and Hanna are to the left.

White cotton candy. I have never seen white before but it was only $2 so I am not complaining.

July 30, 2011 - Andy is now staining the workshop.

The kids cooled off on the water slide. I should say froze because it was ice cold water from the well. The adults wouldn't step near it!
July 31, 2011 - Abigail is stealing a little cuddle time with Uncle Andy before they leave to go back to Illinois. They have been making their rounds before they have to head back to Texas.

A Star is Born: Oliva Helen Louise Baker

Olivia Helen Louise Baker

July 23, 2011 at 3:09pm

8 pounds, 8 ounces and 21 inches long

Proud Auntie!
My brother and new Daddy Markus

Mommy + Daddy + Baby = One Happy Family!
Nisa with her new baby girl!

July 24, 2011 - There was a huge storm in the night and a lot of the streets of Dixon, IL were shut down. There was no power and there were trees down everywhere. This is a picture of a truck about a block away from my brother's house. We were trying to get everything they needed and take it up to the hospital. It took us much longer than we excepted.

Grandma PJ with baby Olivia

Isn't she adorable?

She is all ready for her first official picture. I had to sneak one before they wheeled her away.

What a cutie pie!

Daddy and his sweet baby girl!

Just one of the many trees that were uprooted during the storm.

Cooling Down in the Hot Summer Sun!

July 21, 2011 - I bought this Banzai Water Slide for the kids from Craigslist. They had a blast! The slide is super fast. What a great way to cool off on a hot summer day!

It didn't take long for some of the neighbor kids to join in the fun.

Noah's 3 Year Checkup

July 21, 2011 - Noah had his three year checkup today. I am kicking myself because I forgot the camera! He is growing like a weed! He is in the 55th percentile for both height and weight. He weighed in at 33 lbs and his height is 37 3/4 inches. My little man is getting bigger everyday!

Car Show

July 17, 2011 - It was in the high 90's with high humity. Daddy and Noah still wanted to go to the Appleton Car Show. I think Noah's red face tells you why MaKayla and I stayed home.

Hot Man, Cool Car!

Noah had a blast!

Daddy needs to finish his car so he can enter it in the car show next year!

Bathroom Update #8

July 17, 2011 - The bathroom has been complete for a couple of weeks except for the glass for the shower. It was delivered but there was a couple of problems so we are still waiting. Andy decided he couldn't wait to use his new bathroom any longer. He decided to move in. We still has to go down stairs to shower but at least we can get ready upstairs now. More importantly, I don't have to run downstairs in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, YEAH!!!!

Andy is brushing his teeth for the first time in the new bathroom. You have to wait to see the new bathroom until the glass is installed.

Paper Fest!

July 16, 2011 - Since paper mills are a huge industry here we have Paper Fest. This was our first year and the kids had a good time.
Noah of course had to wait for the car with flames!
Daddy and Noah are trout fishing. Unfortunately, they did not catch any fish!

The kids got the opportunity to make paper. First, they tore colored paper into small pieces. Second, the paper was blended with water.

Third, the mixtures was poured in their hands. MaKayla opted out of this part. Fourth, the mixture is poured on screens. Fifth, we used a mini shop vac to suck out the water from under the screen.

Sixth, they used paper to blot more water.

Seventh, they rolled the mushy paper between two dry sheets with a rolling pin.

Eighth, Iron the paper.

Ninth, you have wet paper that needs to dry. It was very educational and the kids had fun learning how to make paper.

Andy and Noah's favorite part was the car show.

Daddy won both kids a prize by ringing the bell all three times! Way to go Daddy!