Green Bay HOF

Just in time for the start of training camp 2011! Hooray for football season, soon anyways! We had a great start to summer, took some family trips across the good ole state of Wisconsin. First one was Cave of the Mounds and Madison Zoo over Memorial weekend. Pictures to come on that trip. Next trip was up to Green Bay to visit the Hall of Fame, Bay Beach. The kids enjoyed the HOF, had a lot of fun with the statues and hands on part. I still want to go back without the kids and actually read and listen to all the cool things there.
As close as we could get to the Lombardi trophy (not as good as the Ig's)


Winn and Maddy on the line...




Some day, we'll do this in real life!!!

Brewer game

First family brewer game of the season. It was a lot of fun, and the crappy WI weather was nice to us. We somehow avioded the rain pre and post game. Thanks to the roof! The tailgaiting and game are getting more fun as the kids are growing up. We only had to walk around one time (for about 20 minutes) and then the kids sat the entire game. Thanks for licorice, peanuts and ice cream, but that is what brewers games are about as a kid.
They lost, but we had a great time. Friday night game was with Tracy, just like old times when we were kids. We went to tons of games and it was always a great time.

In the pictures below, note Winstons fish hat. He is OBSESSED with underwater creatures, this includes fish of any kind (especailly blue ones), octopus and squid. He and nana found a fishy hat at Michaels and he wears it AT ALL TIMES! It is pretty darn cute though.

SNOW DAY 2011

Who doesn't love a good snow day, especially the blizzard of 2011? We had such a great time that day. The kids had a blast outside in the snow, got stuck a million times, but it was lots of fun. We headed out for some sledding later on in the day, and the kids were GREAT! It was quite enjoyable, the kids actually walked up the hill and pulled their sleds every time. WOW !!!!!!!
Jeff was excited because virtually every business was closed that day, but somehow bowling still happened :)
Grammie and Grandpy watched the kids overnight (they slept great, imagine why...4 hours outside), and I headed over the Village Bowl for some great cribbage action.

GREEN BAY PACKERS WORLD CHAMPIONS

Hell of a Packer season, to finish with the icing on the cake. We had a GREAT Superbowl party at the Ig's home. I can't even describe the excitement I am feeling as I look at the pictures, and remember all the crazy things that went on that day. It truly was the BEST day in a Packer fans lifetime. It may take presidence over 1996. Not the fun all us girls had that day back in 1996 :), but since the downfall of our beloved Favre. It was a special and such well deserved victory last sunday and I will savor every moment. Enough said. Pictures to follow, have to "fix up" a few.

Running all the way to chicago

That's what was on the back of my jersey for the Icebreaker Indoor Marathon at the Pettit Ice Center this past saturday! Once again, PocketSquirrels and the Gang II, came out to chilly 40 degree ice rink/running track for the 3rd annual marathon/marathon relay. The correct answer is, the marathon relay. I did not do the marathon, nor would I choose to run 96 laps in a circle. I choose to run 24 laps in a circle instead. Holly, Tracy, Anne and myself ran our standard 10 min/mile pace, to finish in 4 hours 20 some minutes. I guess that is ok, it always seems as though we should finish faster, but this is a hard race. It is first of all very cold, especially when you run and rest, and multiply this by 20 or 30 times. It is super fun, and I will go on record that this will be an annual event.
After the race, Jeff and I headed south to Chicago for THE PACKER GAME!!!!! We got to experience the best packer game I have ever been to (outside of Lambeau Field of course). My first packer game at Lambeau was the Freeman catch against Minnesota...great game. But this, hands down, was one for the books. We had a great opportunity (thanks to Captain Bear) to attend the game at Soldier Field. Himmed and hawed for about 5 minutes, and then booked the hotel, parents could watch the kids, and we were off. The experience was great, a little nerve wrecking towards the end, but the final outcome was what we had hoped. So....anyone have any Superbowl tickets laying around that they are not using??????

happy b day Maddy

My little peanut is 5! How can this be I wonder. I do realize the statement "it goes by so fast", but seriously? that fast? I will be one of those moms who says they wish for more time when the kids were young.
Happy Birthday D!

sick blues

so tell me, is there a reasonable answer as to why my household gets sick every January? Is there a curse on my family, my kids? Or could it be that horrible disgusting fish that Winn carries around the house, putting oh so close to his mouth, or mine?? Last year at this time, I was planning on running the Icebreaker Indoor Marathon relay, and I got sick. Still ran, with sinus infection and all. Well, well, it is that time again. And here I sit, with an incredibly sore throat, 2 weeks and counting until the race. Please, I ask, let me get better. Holly and I sat at work today popping echinachea and zinc tablets hoping that will do the trick. Poor Maddy to the ENT tomorrow, hopefully find an answer the the 4 month congestion period......
Next note, I have to wish Miss Maddy her Happy 5th B-Day. 5 on Dec 28th, party to follow the standard 2 weeks later. Full itinerary this weekend. Party at 3pm, bowling at 9pm. Mama Mia at 1pm and Packer game to follow. Jeff and I are truly dorks. We have secluded ourselves the past 2 sundays and watched the packer game at 730, when the kids went to bed. This was seriously hard to do, with fantasy football still rolling, and technology as it is. We had to turn off cell phones (no iphone's for us), turn off tv, and avoid answering the phone in case anyone was excited to spread the news. It was weird that the entire world knew the outcome of the Packers game and playoff hopes, but we were truly excited when we watched it. Can we do it 3 times in a row???? No offense to the kids, but they have no interest in intently watching the packer game, what 5 or 3 yr old does?

Snow...where are you??

I am getting the urge to go cross country skiing. Now first off, I don't have ski's. I may have some vintage one's, but have no idea where they are. I drive past parks daily and am getting an itch. I am texting good ole' Ben, the cross country skiing god that I know of. I am thinking this is going to be an expensive investment?????? The last time I skied was probably 5 yrs ago, and I think I got lost on the trails for at least 2 hrs. I thought for sure I was a goner :)
We'll see what the snow brings...looks like 47 on friday, no skiing just yet!!

Hello, is anyone actually still reading this?? I have been MIA since April, not quite a year, but close enough. So much has changed since April. We have moved, to the burbs. Gone is Tosa (which I miss the neighborhood and people, but I LOVE my new house), and hello Menomonee Falls. Out first Christmas in our new home and I am excited! We were up and decorated the day after Thanksgiving. Just got the 13+ foot tree up in the house. It is absoulutely beautiful, thanks to Uncle Scott and the magic tree farm. This is the BEST tree by far. I will post some pics soon. I hope to get back to blogging, I really enjoy it. Time has gotten away from me this summer, with the move and all. I hope everyone will continue to read this and enjoy!! Thanks again Jenny for inspiring me to restart!
Maddy is ready for Christmas, and for Packer playoffs??? Do we HAVE to cheer for a viking win over the bears. Reminiscent of when we wore Mroz' Bears clothes when we were trying to sneak into playoffs...



Maddy and Winn...a rare loving shot :)

Maddy our next soccer phenom....

sure, does this mean I actually have to learn the rules and how to play soccer. Eeeekkkk.... it is not my forte, but I can learn!! During our little spring/summer teaser the past few weeks, we had tons of time to play outside. Soccer, basketball, baseball, choose your sport in this house. Maddy will hopefully be signed up for the Milwaukee kickers 3-6 yr old soccer camp. I am awaiting the confirmation and Maddy asks EVERY DAY. She was outside practicing some "moves" and I asked her what she was doing. She quickly replied "Mom, why do you think I am doing all of these soccer moves, I want you to sign me up for soccer camp." Well then, maybe you should just ask! I did not say that, but I did laugh a bit. I am not sure where she learned this stuff, but she was doing some crazy back and side kicks? Yikes!







Winn was content attempting to dunk the basketball in the mini hoop in the back. All Jeff wants is a real basketball hoop, this will then be his exercise...so he claims...we'll see. Any ball related sport is up Winn's alley. I can't wait to get the pics of Winn switch hitting, yes, righty and lefty. Throws lefty, makes Daddy proud...

Happy Easter

Happy Belated Easter to all! Easter this year was spent at the Ehrhardt's, Jeff's parents house. It was a big and very enjoyable crowd, with my parents, Tim and Emily, Uncle Greg, and Jeff's family. It was truly a great day, great weather and a wonderful day. Maddy was quite happy to wear her Easter dress, Winn could care less. He wanted to wear a Thomas the Train t-shirt and that was a battle...I have to learn to pick mine!! The kids had a great time with their cousins and uncles and anuts and grandparents.

Go away snow...and don't come back until November

I am feeling it, the spring fever...in regards to the weather, the Brewers, just being OUTSIDE!! I know that I am being fooled by dear mother nature, it will probably snow a few feet before winter is seriously over. But I guess I will have to take what I can get for now. We enjoyed a walk around the block today, fashioning our spring jackets! YIPPEE! I won't pack away the winter clothes yet, but I really want to.
On another note, MARCH MADNESS has begun. Marquette winning their game in the Big East Tourney today. 57-55, close game, I expect nothing more than a close game EVERY GAME. We'll see what happens tomorrow! GO MU!!!!!
I have again restarted my knitting! I am attempting to knit a scarf, and it is proving to be quite challenging. There are a lot of holes (oops) and I am ending up with 23 in my row that is supposed to have started with 20 (who knows), but I am enjoying it. Kelcey, my neighbor, has been my savior when I screw up, but she will be having baby #2 any day now, so I guess I will have to figure it out on my own. Not likely. I think the scarf may turn out to be a pot holder?!?!?!?!

Day Trip to CHICAGO

The E's decided at 8:30am last Sunday to take the family on a road trip to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. The kids LOVE museums...that I am glad for. We spend a lot of time between the Discovery World, Milwaukee Public Museum, and the Zoo, why not add another one in there? This place was great! Jeff and I have been there when we were dating, eons ago, but have not been back since then. I think they just remodeled 1 or 2 years ago, so everything was up to date. We ended up doing the Family Membership so we can head back this summer, and maybe make a little trip in the fall. We passed the new Chicago Bears stadium (we affectionately call them the Stinky Bears), and Maddy exclaimed, it looks like a spaceship?!?!?!!? YES, IT DOES dear child!! Those Bears...





There was an area where you could walk over the sting rays. Winn and Maddy thought it would be good to get a closer look so they lay on the glass floor so they were REALLY close to them. Winn wanted to climb over the wall and jump in, but we thought THAT would not be a great idea...







We found NEMO...and CRUSH!!!

ICE, ICE BABY

My dad and I took the kids ice skating for the first time the other day. We went to Red Arrow Park, downtown Milwaukee. As a preface, I have been ice skating since I was about 1 1/5 (say my parents). Not sure if this is truth or not, BUT it has been forever. It started way back when, when there was such thing as an ice rink at Mayfair. Does anyone actually remember this...I can clearly remember EVERYTHING about this. I seem for forget a lot from when I was little, but I distinctly remember A LOT about the Mayfair Ice Rink. So back to the point of the post, we took the kids skating for the first time. Maddy had a pair of black double blades (she calls them boy skates, but is somehow ok with this...) and Winn has (per my dad) my first four blade skates that I used, funny! They were hesitant for about 2 minutes, then Maddy says that she doesn't need to me to hold her hand, that she can do it herself! OK then... She actually did pretty good, pretty much just "walking" around, not quite the gliding princess that she'd have liked, but pretty solid for the first time. Winn enjoyed my dad sliding him across the ice on his butt. He did better than I thought, as much of a pistol that he is, he sometimes is a bit afraid things. He was on his own in about a half hour or so.
Here are some pics of the kids, there are a lot, but its hard to cut them out, they are too darn cute :) By the end, Maddy was trying to do a triple toe axle, and Winn was a shoe in for the goalie. Lots of ice time and fun!!

Get Your Booty in Gear

I am now in training for a few events this summer. I have decided to sign up for another triathalon...guess where...VEGAS BABY!!! Holly, Michelle, and I (the same clan that did the Naperville tri last summer) will be heading out to Sin City for the Iron Girl Triathlon Series. It is a sprint distance, 1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike and 3.1 mile run. Really not too bad, it seems much easier now that I have actually completed one. My goal is to beat my time from last year 1:44 (eeekk, not good, but my goal at that point was to just finish). I have to start my search for renting a bike, and getting a wet suit for the swim. I am very excited to have something penciled in for late spring. Next, will be the half marathon in Madison, 2 weeks later. I plan to just train for the half marathon, and fit in my triathalon training on my rest/cross train days. Also, did I mention it is in VEGAS...hello blackjack & poker, mama needs a new pair of shoes...double down...all in!!!

My son & the underwear models

Is this picture a good or bad thing??? Winn got into the mail and was perusing through the Victoria's Secret catalog. Seriously??? Seriously. This kid is too funny, the look on his face. GOTCHAS (unsure of the Polish spelling for underwear)he was saying over and over again...

New Years pics

Our usual New Year Eve...we've been getting together with the Ig's for a while, pre kids, which is a while. It consists of Rummy Royal, cocktails, and delicious steaks. I used to make lobster tails, but with the addition of 2 kids, that has temporarily been put on hold. Kids enjoy mac and cheese, hot dogs, and apple sauce, adults enjoy steak, baked potatoes, salad and VINO! This year was a lot of fun, the kids had a blast together, playing with the toyland that is the Ig's basement!!! Now, my kids usually go to bed at sometime between 7 and 8, so I wasn't sure what to expect since I knew they would be up LATE. They were great!! No nap from Winn in the afternoon, led to a nice 9 o'clock bedtime. We tricked Maddy into the 11:00 ball drop and she was in bed shortly after. They had fun with the New Years glasses and noise makers. We stayed overnight, which is always the plan, so we could partake in a few Iggy cocktails.