Summer

Friday, February 17, 2012

Sometimes all you need is a little 'Faith'

It is safe to say that we completely fell in love with our niece, Faith during our weekend up north.  She is about 10 days shy of being 6 months and is quite possibly the cutest little peanut!  She has the most cheery disposition, is always smiling, has irresistible dimples, and her smile just makes you melt.  Oh, and did I mention the craziest and cutest hair ever?! 

 Her hat slid a bit on her trip to the memorial.  This is how I found her in her seat :)
 She looks SO much like her grandpa (my dad).  Those cheeks are so squeezable!
 She pretty much smiles CONSTANTLY!
 She is already trying/starting to hold her own bottle.
 She loves her grandma...
 ....and her Uncle Cory
 Little peanut <3
Holding Uncle Cory's finger with her soft, little hand!

The beautiful Northwoods of WI

 We originally saw these eagles snacking on a dead raccoon on the side of the road.

I could stare at the eagles all day!  They are so beautiful!

Frampa's Memorial - Rest in Peace

 This is the 'Frampa' board that I made.  Lots of pictures of his 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. 
 The picture board for 'love'.  63 years of marriage and happiness!
'Dad' photo board - photos of the greatest dad with his 5 great kids!
 
 My Frampa's younger years.  Man, he was a looker!
 He was a basketball star in high school.  His nickname was 'Speed'.  Ed 'Speed' Reid!
 A drawing of him from 1946
 The family is planning to spread Frampa's ashes at Magician Lake in Michigan (per his wishes) on his birthday June 11.  I wish I could go, but I will be 2 days overdue by that point... perhaps even in labor. 

 Loving Father and Grandfather
 Loving husband

This is a painting created from a photo from their 50th wedding anniversary.

A pencil sketch of my young, handsome Frampa

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

MJ's Staff Christmas Party - Minute to Win it

I helped plan our annual staff Christmas party this year with our friend (and fellow teacher) Andrea Luburich.  We decided on a 'Minute to Win it' theme this year.  We had various games for the guests to participate in.  It was SO much fun!

Part of the gang with our White Elephant 'treasures'. 
 This is Lindsey.  She is our K-4 gym teacher.  As you can see, she gets very serious about any games/competition!
 Look at the concentration!  They are flipping pencils from the back of their hands and catching them in their hands.  They started with 1 pencil and eventually worked up to 5 at a time.
 Lindsey and her husband Michael wore matching team shirts with the Minute to Win it logo on the sleeve!   AWESOME!
 Nikki and Sara are very determined to balance 6 dice on top of a Popsicle stick they are holding in between their teeth/lips.
 The team approach by the Bodven's was successful!
 We are trying to move a cookie from our forehead to our mouths.  The trick is you have to leave your head back and can only use the muscles in your face to accomplish the task.
 Getting ready for the next game!
 Scott's face means... 'It's GO time'
 Trying to knock over a bottle of water with a ball inside of the pantyhose.
 Luby and Chris sporting some sweet looks!
 Nikki was successful in the pencil-bounce-into-a-cup challenge.
 Transferring cotton balls to a bowl using a little petroleum jelly on the nose ;)
 Way to go Tiff!  She stopped a spinning quarter!
 Andrea and I are trying to catch tortillas on our 'plate hats'.  These tortillas were being kicked in our direction off of our partner's feet.
 The final challenge!  They had to tie a yo-yo to their belts, then swing them against the soccer ball to move it into the goal.
Great technique!


Annual Lake Geneva Winter Fest

On February 4th, Cory and I went to the annual winter fest they hold in Lake Geneva.  During this event, ice/snow sculptors from all over the US come to create snow and ice sculptures.  We love going every year to see their creations. 

 A pirate at the helm of his ship with his parrot on his shoulder.
 A fish and some coral/weeds.
 This pigs body was actually shaped like a turkey body.
 A crying Benjamin Franklin on a $100 bill.  This was my favorite.
 A werewolf with some really cool ice fangs.  This was Cory's favorite.

 A worm wrapped around an apple core.
 There was a puzzle piece inside of this one made out of ice.
 Can you see the bee inside the daisy?
A dinosaur towards the entrance of the exhibit.  There was an amazing ice fossil of a dinosaur that went along with this one, but I couldn't get a good photo of it.