Connor's Birthday Party

Connor and Nick Swor


Connor and Willie


Connor, Nathan and Nick L.


The boys picking out their prizes at the arcade.


Connor opening his gifts, 2 books.

Connor, Nick Swor and Willie

Nathan, Nolan and Connor

Connor blowing out his "fake" candle

(no fire was allowed in the water park).

Nolan (cousin), Connor and Nick Swor

8 boys (including Brendan), yikes!

Making funny faces

Nathan, Nolan, Connor, Nick and Willie on the right
Brendan, Nick Lanigan and Colin

Brendan at the Edge

Connor and Nick Lanigan celebrating

a victory in water volleyball

(versus Nolan and Colin)

Nolan with his own victory

So, we obviously didn't get enough of the waterpark, so we had Connor's 9th birthday party there. He invited 9 of his closest friends, which was a little bit of a handful. Water volleyball, giant slides, pizza, cake, presents, gift buckets and the arcade--what more could you ask for. I just can't believe that Connor's 9 years old. Holy buckets!

Trip to Madison

Louise (in orange), Bret and Connor
Brendan (in blue) and Maren (in pink)
standing in front of the Statue of Liberty
on Lake Mendota



Dave and Jenny



The beautiful State Capitol

Bret and the kids giggling (in the Capitol)

Dave, Jenny and Bret

Connor, Brendan and Maren

in front of the Wisconsin State Capitol

The kids had winter break the week of President's Day, so we took a road trip. We left on Valentine's Day and drove to Madison. It was shorter than I thought and I didn't get a speeding ticket. Yippee! For those of you who don't know, Wisconsin, especially on Highway 53 in Northern WI, is a haven for bored cops looking to pull someone over. I was following someone on the way home, who was going less than 5 over the speed limit and they got pulled over. Talk about annoying (and power hungry!).

Anyhoo, we had dinner at Dave's restaurant (Talulas). Then went home to sleep. We got up Sunday for a fun-filled day. First, we went to the winter festival on the square. We went into the capitol, the kids went tubing down a small man-made hill on the square, then we headed over to Lake Mendota to see the Statue of Liberty. I guess they used to have this back when my mom was at UW-Madison. After that, lunch at the Old Fashioned (where Dave also used to work), then bowling. We headed back home for a rest, then out for sushi dinner and ice cream. Go figure that both Connor and Dave love sushi. We were celebrating the boys birthdays, which are 2 days apart (2/20 & 2/22).

Monday, Jenny had to go to work and Dave to school. So, we headed out to WI Dells to Great Wolf Lodge. We had never been, but had a great time. This kids liked the arcade and indoor play ground better than the water park. It was a little cool in the water park, and lugging the tubes up multiple flights of stairs got old fast (boy, am I out of shape!).

I got in some shopping at some local outlets, too. We headed home after 2 nights, but could have stayed one more night. It was a money pit, for sure, but I guess that's what vacations are all about. It was nice to get away for a couple of days!

Maren being silly

Hockey Pictures

Some of you may be asking if I need to be commited to a mental institution having 3 kids in hockey, but actually, it's been a lot of fun. They all are doing great and loving it (for the most part). I'm hoping that the last of the arctic chill is gone. We've been experiencing a warm up, which I'm told won't last. I actually would prefer colder temps, so the slush would go away. Apparently, I have at least 2 more months of this junk.

We're preparing for a "winter break". We're headed to Madison, WI to visit Dave and Jenny. Then to Wisconsin Dells, for a visit to Great Wolf Lodge. Then we'll come home to celebrate Connor's 9th birthday, where else, but a water park (The Edge).

I'm being paged by Mr. Brendan. So that's all for now.