December 30

Today was our day to declare our tithing payer status. Daddy had clerk duties so we brought lunch to eat at the church while we waited for him.

December 29

It was snowing (again) So the kids spent some quality time with the new Wii.

December 28

All the kids got haircuts

December 27

Happy Birthday to Joe!
Richard finished the counter top and re-installed the dishwasher.
He also started installing shelves in the laundry room.

December 26

The Day after Christmas we woke up to several inches of fluffy, white snow.
Emily, Alisha and Sarah all have Strep throat.
Richard spent the day putting in mom's new piece of counter.

December 25

Merry Christmas!

December 24

We made our first ever gingerbread house.
At night we acted out the Nativity Story.

December 23

Emily and Sarah woke up not feeling well. It had been snowy and slushy yesterday and it all froze over night along with snowing some more, so by the time the rest of us were dressed and ready to go, we got the phone call that said church was cancelled because the roads were too dangerous.

December 22

The kids went shopping for presents for each other.

December 21

Richard and I went to Hudson to get a load of pellets for our pellet stove. The younger kids had their Christmas parties at school.

December 20

Today was the Elementary School Christmas Concert.
Sarah was with the 1st & 2nd Graders.
Michael performed with the 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th graders.

December 19

The older kids went caroling at the nursing home in Barron.

December 18

First of all, Happy Birthday, Holly!

Michael spent tonight making Italian anise cookies for his class presentation of Christmas in Italy.

December 17

Tonight was the High School Christmas Concert.
I joined in with the high school choir at the end for the Hallelujah Chorus

December 16

After Church, we practiced for next week's Christmas program.

December 15

I took Emily's Girl Scout troop to see 'High School Musical-the Ice tour'.

Merry Christmas song

Thanks to Laurie to sending me this.

December 14

Daniel's Christmas Program

December 13

Alisha and mom went with the Jazz Ensemble to Oakwood Mall in Eau Claire.

December 12

The fire was hot, there was stew to be simmered for hours, so mom made it on the stove!

December 11

December 10

my favorite song

december 9

december 8

December 7

december 6

December 5

December 4

December 3

December 2

December--one day at a time

Here is our December so far...

Thanks to Jessica Sprague for the December template.

School Pictures

Well, not school pictures, because they are very expensive and you hardly get anything, and you get weird poses---but here are the kids's pictures for this school year:

Its actually snowing today... Dec. 1 is a great day for the first good snowfall. Even the people driving out in it are in a good mood because it makes you feel festive.

Patti

What I did on my Summer Vacation-By Patti Harvey

Better late than never, but I thought I'd share some pictures from our trip to California this summer. We started out on August 2. We got up at 2am (!) to get to the airport on time. We flew Sun Country airlines which was a nice way to go. I just wish they flew to the places I really wanted to get to more often (like Memphis or Salt Lake). The flight went fine. We were all seated together, and most of us were able to sleep part of the time.

The rental car was a pain though. We had a reservation for a Suburban, but it was taking FOREVER for them to get it cleaned. Finally, they come and say that the A/C just isn't working right but they do have an 8 passenger Durango. Fine. Ooops-its a 7-passenger vehicle. I had overheard another agent telling someone else that one of the only vehicles left was a 12-passenger van. So, I asked about it. We got it, and at half the rate we were going to pay just because they had made us wait so long. Not bad.

So, we drive to Torrance. I found our old house and the schools first and then we headed to our hotel. Ooops, too early before check in time, so we go to Bob's Big Boy for lunch and then go shopping at Del Amo mall.

We got back to the hotel and get our rooms and discover they are both smoking rooms. We can't do THAT, so we let them know, and we wait and wait and wait. Finally, the guy figures something out and we get two rooms---just not next door to each other. We had John, Alisha, Emily and Michael in the downstairs room by the pool, and then Sarah, Daniel, Richard & I were upstairs in the 'suite' with 'kitchenette'. This 'kitchenette' was a converted bathroom. The stove was just 2 electric burners, and there were no dishes, so if we wanted to cook anything, we would have had to buy pots. But there was plenty of counter space and a mini fridge.

We played in the pool for a while, but it was quite breezy, and the kids got cold, so we came in. We ordered pizza for diner.

August 3, we woke up and went on a driving tour. We went to Olvera Street. The kids had fun wandering in the shops. Of course, we got taquitos for lunch. Either my tastebuds have changed or they just aren't as hot as they used to be....they didn't even make my nose run!




After lunch we took a drive up Santa Monica Boulevard-driving through Beverly Hills until we finally reached the L.A. Temple where we were married over 18 years ago. We took pictures of the whole family there, but the digital camera was out of battery, so we were using a film camera, and that is the one camera of all the ones we took on the trip where none of the pictures turned out. AUGH!


When we got back, the kids went swimming and I got dressed to go to my reunion. I already told about that in my last post.


It was a very fun evening, though I learned not to get the cutest shoes for the event because I ended up barefoot the whole evening because my feet blistered up! I did win the prize for most kids again.





Saturday-the 4th


For lunch we went to my cousin Karen's house. She recently moved to Torrance. It was good to see her. The kids all had fun as she had a well stocked toy/game closet and the largest Manga library that my kids have ever seen. It was nice to get to know her some more, as there is about 8 years difference between us, and we didn't really play together when we were kids.


For dinner we went to my friend Maria's mom's house-where we hung out as teenagers, and we had a get together there with the gutter gang. Maria had her son there, so Sarah and Daniel had someone to run around with. The rest of them played in the game room--pool, pinball, etc. Mark, Ray, Allen, Maria, Shawna, Charlie, and Jen were there. Some alone, and some with spouses... It was good to see you all again.


We left early because the kids were dying to get to the beach.



Getting there at 7:30 or so, it was fairly empty and the kids just played in the sand and went wading until it got dark. They discovered that the sand at the beach is the best in the world to build sandcastles with. Unfortunately, all our sandcastle pictures were also on the camera that didnt' make it.



Aug 5 was Sunday. We went to Torrance II ward for church. Saw lots of people there, though the ward is really shrinking fast. Not very many youth at all. I made a lot of 'older' people feel really old when I said I was in town for my 20th reunion! Sister Walker, Sister Fritcher, Sister Grover, the Govers, the Ruths & Slaters & Justices all say hi and send their love.





Monday morning we checked out of our hotel and drove to Anaheim and checked into our new hotel. To early to check in, but we had our tickets, so we hopped on the shuttle to Disneyland.


We had bought cell phones for John and Alisha, so we had 4 phones among the 8 of us. That was really nice. We could split up, and be able to find each other later. We got '1st time Visit' buttons for the kids to wear on their lanyards and the employees gave them extra special attention. Sarah even got picked to pull the sword from the stone by Merlin! We did Fantasyland, got lunch, watched the parade and went back to our hotel to officially check in. It was about a 1000% improvement on the last place we had been in. THIS was a kitchenette, with dishes and dishwasher and table, even... :-) Richard & I had one room with King sized bed--very comfortable- The four older ones had the room with the two double beds, and Sarah and Daniel shared the hide-a-bed in the 'living room'. We had 2 bathrooms as well.


We got unpacked, and went back to the park where we stayed until closing.





Tuesday morning we got to the park about 10:00. We got Emily a button saying it was her birthday since her birthday was that week, and the employees(oops, cast members) wished her happy birthday all day long.


We went and did the Pirates ride--my kids are big fans of the movies and it always was one of my favorite rides as a kid, so we were very excited to see Jack Sparrow in the ride...

For lunch that day, we went to Ariel's Grotto where we had a Princess Character lunch. Sarah was in heaven! And for Emily's birthday, they sang to her and brought her a special dish of ice cream with a candle.

Richard, Michael, Emily & Sarah went back to the hotel, and the rest of us spent some time exploring CA Adventure. We picked up fastpasses for California Screaming and Daniel got to meet Lightning McQueen and Mater from Cars. Then we went back too. We tried out the swimming pool at the hotel. Honestly, we couldn't have had nicer weather the whole time we were there. Apparently, the week after we were there, it got up into the 100s and was miserable, but we had low 80s and low humidity, and sun. It was just lovely.

After resting Richard, Alisha, Michael and I went back to the park while the rest stayed in the hotel. We did the California Screamin' ride, Malibu Boomer and the Hollywood Tower of Terror. We finished with that just in time for the Electrical Parade and we watched the fireworks while waiting for the shuttle to take us to the hotel.

First thing we did on the 8th was Toontown. During this trip, I managed to do Small World 3 times, with different groups each time. We did Splash Mountain, Pooh Bear, the Matterhorn twice, Space Mountain, Autopia, and Innoventions that day.
Our hotel had dinner for us that night--bbq hotdogs and hamburgers & we went swimming before we all went back to do our last rides--the Haunted Mansion--we got out just in time to see Fantasmic and then the fireworks. We had a pretty good view.--then Richard, Michael and John did Indiana Jones (the one ride in the park Daniel was too short for) and the rest of us did Pirates again. Bye Bye Disneyland. We had a great time.
We got back to the hotel about 12:30, and then got up at 4:30 to get to the airport to catch our plane home.

The 9th was offically Emily's birthday. We got home around 4:30. I ran to pick up some peaches that I had ordered that had arrived. We watched High School Musical that night for her birthday. We had her cake on the 10th.
I got to spend the next few days taking care of the peaches, beans and blackberries, cucumbers and squash that had all ripened while we were gone.

And that's what I did on my summer vacation
ttyl!
Patti

It was SO good to see you!

I just went to my 20th class reunion (Yay Class of '87!). Now, I graduated with 532 other people, so the chance of knowing my whole class was slim, let alone 20 years later with added adipose tissue, wrinkles, and missing hair. So why did I go? Three Words: The Gutter Gang.
We weren't jocks or 'pretty people.' We were what was left. Most of us had several classes together--but we clicked. I'm not sure why I clicked with this group, but they accepted me for who I was, 'The Mormon Girl,' and just let me be a friend. The name 'Gutter Gang' came about our Senior Year. These people liked me. They are the ones, who after a 10 year separation greeted me with a hug and a "It is SO good to see you!"

Our 10 year reunion was highly surreal for me. I had left California to go to college and never went back. I hadn't really stayed in touch with anyone as I got married and started a family. I had found a few people online before the reunion, but that was mainly to see if there was going to BE a reunion. When we got together that year in '97, we knew we had to stay in touch. We all had e-mail by then and we have stayed more or less in touch with e-mail, Christmas Cards, etc. since.
This time around, for our 20th, it was much easier to connect because we didn't have to start over, even though we are now all over the country. It just made the reunion all the more sweet. To reconnect, in person, with people who were genuinely glad to see me. I know there were others there who could have not cared less that I was there or even remembered who I was, but the Gutter Gang knew me, loved me, and were glad to see me. I was very glad to have seen them too.
-GG '87!

This last picture I know I'd posted before--just a test on doing a direct link with webshots. Gives a bigger picture than the old links did...
I'll be giving our California travelogue soon.

Register Here

July

Just a quick post today.


July 4, we spent doing chores around the house and garden and then we went to Amery to watch the fireworks.








Cynthia (Richard's sister) and Jimmy came to visit for a couple of days (midnight on Sat. the 7th thru Monday morning). It was really nice to see them. Sarah really attached herself to Jimmy and was sad that she wasn't awake when they left.

The girls left for Girls' Camp on the 10th. They came home the 13th. It was cold and rainy most of the time. The boys (Richard, John and Michael) went to Scout Camp on the 14th. They've had a mix of cool & rain, and hot and humid, but the last 2 days have just been perfect. (about 80 with 50% humidity) They will come home tonight.

With the kids that were left at home, I took to the science museum and the zoo.

Today, Alisha, Emily, Sarah & Daniel built a fort in the woods, dressed up and they were the 'Keepers of the Key.' Tamara--recognize Alisha's dress?

That's all for today.

Patti

June 2007

June was a busy month. School ended on the 6th and Alisha, John and Emily got to go to Valley Fair on the last day of school with FFA and FCCLA. Just because school ended, didn't mean that we were done with school. Summer school started on the 12th. Daniel was in Pre-Kindergarten, where they learned how to be kindergarteners. Sarah took Outdoor Education, Kids in the Kitchen (cooking), and computers. Emily and Michael both had Outdoor Education and Swimming, and then Michael also had Golf, and Emily took computers. Michael rather liked the Golf class, and Emily and Michael became quite strong swimmers. Summer School went for 3 weeks and just ended on Friday.

Alisha started Drivers' Ed, taking the class in New Richmond every morning from 8:00-10:30. There was a group of kids from Clear Lake going, so they carpooled to get there. It also went for 3 weeks. During the first week, she got dropped off at the school for Marching Band practice. Which then went till noon every day. Emily then had to be there for Jr. High band practice from 1-3. The parade season started June 16 in Clayton. Emily also got to march with the High School band carrying the flag.

Clear Lake Days were June 22 & 23. My friend in town had a garage sale on the 22nd and invited me to join her. We did O.K. (much better than I'd EVER done having a sale by myself), and I almost broke even with what I spent at the other garage sales! :-)

The Parade was on the 23rd. Sarah and I marched with the Girl Scouts, Emily marched with the Jr. High, and Emily and Alisha marched with the High School. Later that day, Emily and John both worked at the cheese curd stand for FFA.

During the last week of Summer School, I helped put on a Girl Scout/Cub Scout day camp. Most of us who were the leaders had older Girl and Boy Scouts that needed service hours, so they helped us run the camp. It was actually quite a successful camp. The Brownies I worked with completed 4 Try-It badges during the week. Most days we met at the school after summer school, we all ate lunch, and then we walked to the park down by the lake where we took over a pavillion and grassy area. One day we stayed in town, and went to the town museum and town cemetary. The kids had a good time (and we came up with an idea for John's Eagle project!)

On the 25th, Alisha had her Track Awards night. They don't have JV track, so she is running Varsity level, and earned her Varsity Letter as a freshman. She also won the award for most improved.

John's birthday was on the 29th. He's 17! I had daycamp, so we didn't do much, but that night, we all went to see 'Ratatouille'. It is a very good movie, and I highly recommend it. Then we came home and had DQ ice cream cake.

I had a suprise today. I was called to be 11 yr old scout leader. Why not? One more scouting notch on the belt, eh?

I guess that's all for today. Perhaps I'll get on before August.
Patti

School is almost done~

One week from today it will be the first day of Summer Vacation.
Sarah seems determined to get a jump on her summer. She's been home since Memorial Day sick. Just a low grade fever, sore throat, cough and very very tired. The Dr. says its just a virus, so there isn't much we can do.

I completed a little album of Daniel's trip to see Thomas the Tank Engine last summer

by PattiH05k You can see it there.


May was a busy month. This is Emily at the school pops concert aka the Pie Concert because they serve pie. Alisha played at it too. It incorporates the Elementary, Jr. High and High School bands. They are all pretty good.

Alisha ran and ran and ran. She did track. She wanted to do sprints, but she got put as a 2 miler, and now she's upset, because she got good at it (13:42 at her last meet!) which means they'll now make her do it every year! She also ran the 800 (2:46) and the 4x800 relay. She made it all the way to sectional competition in the relay and the 2 mile.

Well, that was just a note, so you know I'm still alive!
Patti

Spring has sprung~

Spring has sprung, the Grass has riz, I wonder where the flowers iz? Oh, look! they're in my garden!

I've always said that flowers were my reward for enduring the long winter. When you don't see flowers until mid-late April, it makes winter seem very long, indeed.

Yesterday was VERY warm and daffodils popped open everywhere!

I had my play the last 2 weekends. This is a link to my photos of the play. I am one of the 'Bearers' (Pandora). We were the mortician & family. We were rather ghoulish, and I was trying to channel Morticia Addams in my role. I am excited for the next year--Amery has 'My Fair Lady' on their list, and Clear Lake is talking about 'Oklahoma.' Great! I can re-live being 15-16 when I'm 38~ :-)

Alisha is busy running track--Last week she came in first in the 2 mile. Emily does Jr. High track and does the 100m and the shotput.

John went through his Order of the Arrow Ordeal this last weekend for Scouts. It was a tough weekend, but I think it was good for him.

Michael is on a Math team that will compete this coming weekend.

Sarah (and I) went to Shell Lake a couple of weeks ago with her Brownie troop for a Theatre Workshop. The girls did a vocal workshop, and a body movement workshop, and then they put on a production of 'Sheherazade,' with makeup & costumes. Some of the girls were on stage, and others were the stage crew. It was really a lot of fun, and they earned their 'Let's Pretend' Try-It badge.

Daniel likes to pretend he can read and carries a copy of one of our Narnia books around the house--he even will mark his place to return to it later after he's looked at it for a while. I asked him once what was happening in the story, and he said, "I don't know!"

It was great having Mom along with Kaisey and McKay come to visit us this last weekend. The kids had a lot of fun. We are so sad that they are leaving Wisconsin! :-(

I guess that is about that~
Patti