Proud to be an American

Thanks to Eldon for forwarding this - Goosebumps

Awareness Test

The Iron Horse gets some Publicity

http://www.usairwaysmag.com/2008_03/adventurer.php

US Airways magazine ran a feature in March about the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic that we ride in Durango, Colorado. It gives a pretty good overview of the race.

Last year (2007) our trip to Durango for this race was unfortunately redirected to Lafayette, Indiana for the funeral of our dear friend Phil Braund. This year (2008) it is unlikely that we will attend because we are in the "family way", and it would be a pretty crazy trip for a pregnant lady. Looks like 2009 will be our next trip to Durango for this race - unless of course I get a wild hare to make the trip sans the fam.

Paige's 3rd Birthday

What a great way to have your birthday start - with a delivery! G & G Stickel sent flowers to Marina on her birthday in August and Paige was really bummed that there weren't any for her. So Grandma Stickel came through again and the delivery guy was really fun. He asked for the special birthday girl and made her very excited for her own flowers, balloon and bear!

I think that is a VERY happy face.
Craft time - we made treasure boxes. Nothing better than wielding a paint brush covered in glue.
Kids table - Malia is sitting next to Marina, Lindsey is across from Paige and Kenrick & Anthony Vail are on the left.
Brunch was yummy - Don made waffles, we had breakfast casserole, pastries and fruit kabobs. Morning turned out to be a fun time to have a birthday party. We usually have them late afternoon/evening.
The cupcakes were monster - even the adult had a hard time polishing one off.


Paige thoroughly enjoyed her birthday. She loved it when we sang to her and she let out an appreciative squeal for every present. But she did not get distracted - she made quick work of our mountain of gifts. Her focus never wavered.
Ahhh -- another family picture with smiling adults and distracted children.

Lindsey's 2nd Birthday

We drove to Iowa on Friday on dry roads with the sun shining - by Sunday it looked like this. That just happens to be Don treking out to the truck to "fetch" something for his wife. I went 1/2 way out and turned around for fear of blowing over! The wind out there is quite impressive.

We're a bit worried that it's going to become a tradition. Last year at her 1st birthday we were snowed in until Monday. This year we were able to leave later Sunday afternoon. Nate's flight was cancelled though - so he missed an extra day of class.
Lindsey enjoyed her birthday decked out in ELMO.
We come for the favors - especially when they are puzzles. The Stickel girls came away happy!
Lindsey had a nice size cake all to herself and she took a couple of dainty bites....with a fork. :)
Brian, Michelle, Lindsey & Baby #2
(due Sept 17th - they shared that exciting news with us Fri night!!!)

Happy Valentine's Day

Thank you Grandma Stickel for the Tower of Hearts (full of yummy treats)! The girls loved finding a package outside the front door. Thank you Grandma Washburn for the bag of goodies - socks, books, treats, stickers and on and on and on....
I think the kids are quite lucky to have such festive grandmas!

Is that Michelle Kwan or Bambi????

The Peoria Area Park District offers a mini 4 week ice skating class for beginners - ages 3-5. Marina has been asking to ice skate so we signed her up. She has had so little exposure to ice skating that we were very surprised that she was so interested. The first night was a bit bumpy and I'm not so sure that there was any forward progress made on the ice by our little 4 year old. But nevertheless we celebrated, had treats, talked all week about how exciting it was to start learning to ice skate.......AND BAM! - she went out onto the ice for her 2nd lesson and actually skated! I almost fell over - she seemed much more confident, turned around a waved at us, got back up when she crashed and kept on skating. So we thought after the 1st week that it was $ down the tubes and now we are ready to purchase our own skates and buy a tutu! :)

A good way to utilize your bike helmet in the winter! :)