Visit from Jay's crew

Jay, Michelle, and crew came to Mapleleaf for dinner last week. We had a lot of fun and a great visit. As usual, Sara didn't want to have her picture taken (at least by me). I think she's just messing with me. Our family is so big...I think I like these smaller family dinner parties...it gives me a chance to catch up and visit more on a one on one. The girls had their jammies on when they left. It was late for them, dad said they were asleep before they got home (2-3 miles?).

New Look

Hi everybody! I haven't posted anything in a while, gotta make up for lost time!

I am doing well in college this semester. One of my New Years resolutions was to complete my homework BEFORE the day it is due, and I have been keeping up with that pretty well, despite my deeply entrenched procrastination habit. I have officially declared (ooh, scary!) and I am now a Psychology Sociology double major with an English minor. I think I may be overachieving just a little bit, but I feel confident that I can keep it together.

I am still going strong with swimming. The NCAA Conference meet is only a week away, and we are all getting prepared for that. It is the final meet of our season, sorta like a swim team Super Bowl. I am really excited to compete, and I am expecting to get at least one life time best from this meet.

And now for some really BIG news. This is something I haven't even disclosed to my parents yet, so surprise mom and dad! I cut my hair!

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Nyes, shocking isn't it? Incidentally, I have been wanting to cut my hair super short for over a year now. My inspiration comes from the movie V for Vendetta, when Natalie Portman gets a buzz cut. Also Stacy (I mean Kat...) when she came home a couple Christmases ago with a shaved head. Both times I thought they looked great, and really wanted to do it myself. However, I was talked out of it by everyone I mentioned it to. People really hated the idea, especially mom. So, I compromised by waiting a really long time, and by not completely shaving my head. A mohawk is a nice alternative. So far, despite everyone's pessimism on the idea beforehand, I have gotten nothing but good comments on it. I am really quite surprised how well all my friends have accepted it.

Well, that's me. At least for a few months until it grows back in a little bit.

Back seat driver.

Since we haven't posted in a while I just though I'd share a few comments I heard from a true stoker, you know the person who rides back seat on a tandem bicycle. After trading seats I heard, "Oh, I need to steer" as we were careening off the path. Recently she got a new bicycle to ride all by herself. This weeknd she commented "Oh, I have to put my feet down when I stop." She keeps me smiling and she's still my favorite stoker.

Father and Daughter

They call it a father and daughter dance...


a chance for fathers and daughters to have a date night of dancing and music and cookies and punch.....

to dress up nicely.....





















and then dance with their friends.

Long time no Blog.....

We really haven't fallen off the face of the web, we just haven't posted in a while. Here are a bunch of pix...........


a day at the library




proud as a......
He was funny. He was shaking his tail feathers to get the attention of the ladies.



Jay zilla!!!!!










I built a drawer under my steps. Think of it as a new home for gloves and hats.
eventually it will get some paint, probably when we don't need hat and gloves for a while.

OK that's a start. Happy posting!

better late than aldrig

Better late than never. This was early September. Jake had been riding his bike about a week. I think I tried to post it once but kept getting shut down.

Fun Friday evening and bearded Thursday

One of my goals for this year is to visit with my family members on a one to one basis over appetizers and meal. Tonight I was happy to have Robin, Molly and Sydney over for dinner. Johnika was there too in a flat stanley sort of way. They didn't eat much...they didn't even come to the table now that I think about it.

Robin doesn't have good internet access so she spent some time after dinner catching up on the Sweden blog. She went from current back to the move from ohio...mostly viewing the pictures. She confirmed what I've been thinking...those boys are growing up.



Christopher dropped by last night...I haven't seen him for a couple weeks. I was surprised. He hasn't shaved for a while. Reminds me of the bearded brothers snap from the late 70's. At least Chris isn't shaggy. He keeps it trimmed for the office...he's a professional after all.

Winks

What a nice photo for the holidays from Aunt RuthAnn and cousins Paul, John, and Charlie.

fyi

The video option for the blog works a lot better now. When we first tried it it would shut down many times before finishing your upload, if you stuck it out that far. I tried it again recently and had no problems. For what it's worth. Sure would love to see more old timers on here. Heck, even the young bucks know how to blog, right? Show us how it's done. : )

Cousins Banquet

We had a nice gathering at the Olive Garden. There were nine of us in total. Unfortunately, I was so engrossed in visiting that I forgot to take my camera out of my bag. Mary and Mike got to attend this dinner but had to go back north before the big family gathering on the 23rd. We missed Jamie very much...she was on her way and her car broke down. Chris arrived in time for dessert. This was our third year to get together like this. I know it will always be tough to get everyone together but I like this relatively new family tradition.

Thanks everyone for coming!
Margaret

Mapleleaf Christmas

Chris and I (with Milla) had a nice Christmas visit. We shared a nice meal and spent some time visiting. Wednesday, we went east to the Nature Center and tromped around the hills and valleys out there. Milla liked being in the woods (but she still might like the dog park better?)


The pup likes to help Chris unwrap sweaters. If I had known, I would have wrapped her presents too. After all the presents were opened, we just hung out for a bit. At 18 months or so old, Milla is still a big gentle pup. Chris can do anything with her.

Christmas and the Giving of Hats

The clan gathered on the 23rd. We missed Dean, Vicki and the girls but between the post office and everyone's schedule it was not to be. Of course, we missed them as well as John and Monika. We got to visit John on Webcam...what a hoot. Just about everyone sat down to chat with him. We could see him...he could see us. We kept him up past midnight (his time) but it was so great. It was good to see his smiles, laughs and immediate response to images that came across the ocean to his living room from Ohio.

In our family, Hats signify the season. This year they arrived from Sweden for each of the menfolk. Who'd of thought that moose fashion (i.e. underwear) would bring out the smiles. John delivered personally in his flat stanley sort of way. The hat tradition arose from the fact that Mom always gave the menfolk underwear at Christmas and someone finally decided it could be a fun holiday gift afterall and demonstrated by doning them on his head. The custom has continued for years now. Of course, women are much less likely to wear underwear on their heads....

Dwight and Julie were our gracious hosts once again. Thanks so much!!!

Jamie recently announced her engagement to Alex. They seem to be well suited for each other. No date yet. The plan is for them to both finish school first... Congratulations!!!









Margaret



As usual, there was a large group. Lot's of talking, visiting, and eating.

Julie and Jane

Dave

Annie - has completed her student teaching and expects to graduate this summer. Annie was inspired to lead a happy birthday song to all in the family who have a December birthday. There are many: Sam, Vicki, Kyle, Robin, Jay, Annie, Dean. We included Brooke who is a new years day babe.










Dan is looking really good. It was wonderful to see him.

Christine...the other good Aunt.

Ben turns 21 in February...Look OUT.

Sydney is such a beautiful young woman.

Molly

A nice group that exemplifies the afternoon. Robin, Laurie, and Julie.

Like or not, these are the patriarchs...Dwight and Dave.

Christopher and Scott

Stacy...I mean Kathleen was with us. It is fun to see her in the role of a good mommy even though I still think of her as a teenager.

Long distance cousins: Kai and Grace make great playmates. They were joined at the hip most of the day. Last year, Jake, and Kenady made it a foursome.

Sara gave me one nice photo. Actually, she did it for her mom.

This is what I usually get from Sara.

Jay and Michelle

I've always been proud of Chris. Here he is after a good day (profitable) playing the big boys at a Texas Holdem playing for peanuts with the family. Corrupting them all (yes I'm Beth's daughter). Kyle, Scott, Chris, and Ben.

A great day was had by all. I am happy to have such a great family!

flat stanley

Speaking of flat family members, ironically, we have a little flat visitor ourselves. Aunt Michelle, also a good aunt, forwarded Flat Stanley to us, a Milford, Ohio elementary school project. Click on 'flat stanley' title to this post for more info. The goal is to get Stanley around the world and the kids back home learn about where he has gone, perhaps who he has seen.

All was fine and good til we found Stanley raiding the pepparkaka house. He wouldn't make eye contact with us. Since Stanley has been here he's seen the Nobel Awards, Lucia and since his plane has been delayed he just may be with us through the holidays. His time here was suppose to be for only two weeks. Hopefully Stanley can find some fun stuff to do over Christmas break without getting into anymore trouble.

Family Thanksgiving gathering

The family gathered at Jay & David's church for Thanksgiving. Since it was the day after, and everyone was done with turkey, we had pizza after the traditional holding of hands and saying grace. A great time was had by all.


The church turned out to be a nice place for our group because there was plenty of room to spread out and there was lots to do. Pool, foosball, wii...

Of course John and Monika took advantage of the coffee that is always on hand. And of course they took a stroll through the church and enjoyed the early tree set up.

The boys insisted on going down the slide.

Chris got a chance to visit with Mary and to get to know Mike a little better.
They make such a nice couple.

John and Monika got into as many family groupings as they could while they were in town.

The Pizza was good. LaRosas! Even Jake had a taste.

College kids were home. It was great. Who else would be barefoot in November?






Julie and barefoot Em.























The three amigos: Kyle, Christopher, and Jay.










Scott and Christine.