Piano Recital

Katie played this song for her recital which honored her piano teacher for 30 years of teaching piano student and playing piano in church.  The group are current and former students who came to play in the recital.

More fun stuff--Father/Son Canoe Trip

 At ages 80 and 42 this father-son combo couldn't be held back.  They embarked on a two-day canoe trip along the mighty Illinois River on a beautiful fall day.

 

Picking them up was a little more traumatic (at least for me!) as I had some trouble finding the place where they ended up down river.  Also, the truck battery died before I found them and there was no one around to help me jump the truck!  Thank God for a good Samaritan who pulled in when I waved him down!  He not only jumped my truck but when I told him why I was there and what part of the park I was looking for, he said he'd seen my hubby and his dad!  He told me to follow him and took me right to where they were!

Summer pictures--Marineland

 The dolphin show is always awesome!

 Feeding the deer!

 Visiting Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario for what may be the last time!  This has been a summer event almost every year since 2004.  I managed to sprain my foot the day before and got wheeled around for a day as a result!

Summer in Pictures--Boating

 August's kayak got a fair bit of attention this summer.  He named it "Polar Bear."  We took it out on the Illinois River, Clinton Lake and another small lake near Aunt Letha and Uncle Rich's cabin.

 Katie's boat "Manatee" was found in Oma and Opa's garage while we were helping them move.

She was seaworthy after all!

I'm still here!

Despite evidence to the contrary, I am still blogging!  I have been busy and distracted by real life, but often think of you blog readers in my happy moments and say to myself, "I should blog about this."  Then, I inevitably get caught up in something and forget all about it.  So sorry!

Today we have something newsworthy to report.  Katie is going to be on television!  She has been invited by our local children's librarian to take part in Reading Rainbow's Book Reports on Public Television.  She selected one of her favorite books and wrote a short report about it.  She will be taped today and we'll let you know when she'll air in a later blog.  It's a 30 second to 1 minute time slot, so it shouldn't take too long!  :-)

In other news...August has been volunteering three hours a week at the local library this summer.  He loves being there and gets to read shelves (organize the books in order) and do other library stuff.  It has given him some autonomy as well, since he can walk over there after his High School orientation class.

We have been camping and last weekend also got to take a river cruise along the Mississippi River.  Pictures will follow in a later blog.

A Minor Miracle!

It was a minor miracle.  I took my 14 year old son shopping for dress clothes and came back unscathed with clothes in tow.  He even tried them on in the store!  Then he agreed, with some protestation, to wear them for two hours on graduation day!  (He'll probably have to wear them again at Christmas for two more hours...but he doesn't know that yet!)  He wore Dad's dress shoes (which fit!) and looked quite dashing (if I do say so myself)!  Our young man graduated 8th grade with honors.  He was recognized for his contributions to Scholastic Bowl and the Geography Bee.  We are so proud!  High school awaits with exciting classes and opportunities!  Then...only God knows what the future may hold!

Christmas and New Year's At Home

We did indeed have relaxing Christmas at home.  So relaxing in fact that we spent a couple of days in bed--all day--with the flu.  Just Bret and I, the kids did not catch it, praise God!!!  We managed to enjoy ourselves despite the coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever, etc.  Then on New Year's Eve we went to see the Peoria Rivermen vs. the Abbotsford Heat (yes, Abbotsford, B.C. Canada).  Actually a very good hockey game, with the tied score being decided in a post game shoot-off.  I decided I could enjoy the game no matter who won.  :-)

It was great to be home and not have the hassle of traveling!   We blessed our family with some updates to the family room which the kids and we have all enjoyed (new sofa and t.v.).