Sneak Peak

If there is anyone out there who is still interested in reading my blog, I am sorry it's been so long.

Below are a list of things that have happened since the last time I blogged and I may (or may not) blog about them in the near future.

Cameron started early childhood
We sold our house, moved and bought a new house
My mother-in-law was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
I became a stay-at-home mom
We took two family trips to the Dells
Mitchell is talking up a storm
My father passed away very suddenly
Cameron is working hard on potty training

That's all that I can think of right now (as if that's not enough).

I really plan on blogging more often and am hoping to get caught up with everyone else too.

Happy Birthday Tim!

Today is my big brother's birthday. I have always looked up to and admired Tim. He left to go into the army when I was only 8 years old. Tim has always been the only rational, mature one in the family

He has taken the role of single dad and is raising his three daughters (two of which are hormonal, boy crazy teenagers) and he is doing a wonderful job keeping them in line raising them correctly.



Happy Birthday Big Brother - I love you.

Oh, and in celebration of St. Patrick's Day your birthday, I will be spending the entire day drinking green beer. No need to thank me, it's the least I can do.

Happy Birthday Merissa!

My niece, Merissa Christine is 10 years old today. Merissa is the youngest of three, she has two teenage sisters who are occassionally annoyed by her look out for her.

Merissa is caring, sensitive and a little shy. As most girls, she is a little dramatic at times, and is definitely daddy's little girl. She is Cameron & Mitchell's favorite cousin, and is always more than willing to play with them. I am sure she will make a wonderful mother someday.



[This picture is from 7 years ago, but it's still my favorite]



Happy 10th Birthday Merissa. I love you.

Happy Birthday Tristen!

My niece, Tristen Renee is 14 today!

Tristen is the middle child and loves golf and drawing. She is competitive, outgoing, has a great sense of humor, her own sense of style, and is very much a typical teenager (way too into boys, make-up, clothes & gossip!).

She asked for clothes & make-up as birthday gifts.

Me: "Didn't I just buy you make-up for Christmas?"
Her: "Yes, but a girl can never have enough make-up!"
Me: "I think the saying is a girl can never have enough shoes."
Her: "I know, but I have a lot of shoes already."

(I bought her shoes/boots for Christmas too!) What can I say, I have two boys, I love spoiling my nieces.)



[Here's a picture of Tristen from about 7 years ago, but it's still my favorite.]



Happy 14th Birthday Tristen. I love you.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my niece Hailey! We celebrated at the roller rink. I forgot how much fun roller skating was. I did biff (only once though)!

Merry Christmas

From Our Family To Yours. God Bless!

Black Friday

I love shopping and I love a great deal. I also happen to be sort of a morning person. Therefore,



After eating too much food, I veg out on the couch and dive into the sale ads. I get a paper and pen and I make out a "game plan" of which stores we need to be at and when for the best deals. This year I discovered that you can look at the sale ads online ahead of time (yeah, I know, I'm a little behind in the times). I am extremely excited about this deal specifically.



We have been discussing getting these for awhile now. I will be getting to Target bright and early!

I'm so excited.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hust Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities - Collage - Morph

Hust Look-A-Like Meter

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Pedigree - Family tree search

We're going to "The Ball"

What is Kelly's Upside Down Ball? It is a fun night out and 100% of the proceeds go to families who have a child with leukemia and Down syndrome. You know you want to come. Here are all the details.



Can't make it? I hope you find it in your heart to donate to this wonderful cause. Click here to help out so many families who need it.

I will be volunteering at the ball tomorrow night. This year's theme is Country! I am SO not a country girl, but I think I have found cowboy hats for me and Dave to borrow. The boys will be going to the kid's party. It starts at 7pm (Mitchell's bedtime) so we'll see how they do. I've heard it is a great time, I can't wait. (I couldn't make it last year cuz Mitchell was just born).

Sweet 16

My oldest niece, Brittany Marie, is 16 today.


I was so excited about becoming an aunt for the first time. I waited at the hospital for hours the night before you were born, not realizing that labor and delivery can take awhile.

The next day when I saw you in the nursery, I remember thinking, that can't be MY niece, she's all wrinkly and icky looking. You were beautiful, but I was an egostical 18 year old with very limited exposure to babies.

You are a genuinely wonderful person and I am SO proud to call you my niece and Cameron's Godmother.

Happy 16th Birthday Brittany! I love you.

We will miss you

Good-bye Grandma. You will be greatly missed. Thank you for raising such a wonderful woman who I am proud to call mom and has in turn raised an amazing son who I am so grateful to have as my best friend and husband.

Road Trip

December, 2006 I was searching online for more information about Nutrivene and stumbled upon an online forum of amazing people who all have something in common - they all love someone with an extra chromosome, and for that reason they have become an extra family.

Since becoming part of this extra family, I have smiled, cried, laughed, shared and learned with so many others who have had the same thoughts, feelings, challenges and eventually acceptance as I have - all online.

A group of us from this extra family met in Peoria, Illinois for an amazing weekend. Thank you Amy for planning it!

There were 15 families, 2 countries, and 5 states (Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Illinois and Missouri).

Day at the Beach

It's Memorial Day. We packed up the house, loaded the boys full of sunscreen and went to the beach.




Cameron enjoyed the sand.



Mitchell enjoyed the water




Until we were kicked out that is! Yeah, the park ranger came and said the water is off limits on Memorial Day! We can stay on the beach but can't go in the water. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.