Minocqua Bats

At the end of our week at camp every year we go in to Minocqua to watch the Minocqua Bats, a water ski show. You never know what you will see. Some days they are good and other days they fall all the time. This year when we all went it was a cold and rainy night and the water was choppy. As you can imagine they fell often. I did take the younger girls and a few of the older Holmquist kids back to see it the second week there and they did much better! Regardless, it is a fun time.

Here is a very cool boat with twin motor's. It was very cool. The kids were amazed to see it standing straight up. Apparently they show the day before ours when the boat did this it hit a wave and the driver was thrown from the boat and the boat fell over on it's side. Everyone was fine, but I am guessing the driver was a little nervous doing it our night.

Madison thought the boat was very cool! I just love that toothless grin!
The ladies on the discs.

One of the guys doing the ski shoes!

If you click on this picture it will enlarge and will be easier to see. If you look at the center of the picture there is one guy skiing and one that has just gone off the jump and is doing a flip in the air.

As I said, it was raining that night so Mackenzie and Madison put their blankets under their sweatshirts so they wouldn't get wet. The look was pretty funny!

Warman's Cabin 2009

After a great week at camp we all headed over to Glenn and Linda Warman's cabin to play on the lake a little. Everyone had a great time and many of us got a bit sunburned. Greg had fun skiing with the guys and trying to show off a bit. I don't have pictures, but he did a bit of barefoot skiing, too. He didn't get far but he did get up from what I heard.

Kennedy has been able to get up and go forever on the trainer ski's for the past couple of years, so this year after a practice ski around the lake she switched to the regular ski's. She too didn't make it far, but she did get up. Again, the second day I was told she did better. Guess I should have been there.





Madison was even brave enough to try skiing this summer. Here she is with Dave Appleby getting the ski's on.


And she is up...well, almost!

And down! She didn't want to try again. I was surprised that she wasn't crying being stuck in the middle of the lake, but she did great. Maybe she will try again next summer.

Mackenzie had fun playing in the sand with her buddies, Noah, Josh and Abby. No, they are not her imaginary friends. I just couldn't get

a good one of them all.

Madison enjoyed sun bathing.

And of course, everyone had fun on the tube. This thing was crazy looking and the kids had a blast. Not that you can see it but Madison is on this ride.

Greg, Grace and Kennedy getting ready for their turn.

Fort Wilderness 2009

Every year our family takes a week to go to Fort Wilderness. It is a highlight of everyone's year! Here are a bunch of pictures from our trip. Sorry, but I just couldn't narrow it down to just a few.

I like to read this as "Welcome Home". It was home for so long it still seems like

coming home to me.

Blair Lake:

The beautiful loon just hanging out.

The pier at Blair Lake. This is where we take the hay wagon to for Wranglers Breakfast. Great breakfast and beautiful scenery.


Craft Shop:
Madison had a lot of fun at the craft shop. Here she is making a modge podge book with her friend Grace.

Greg and Madison making a pinch pot for me. It was a big surprise!

The Fort Wilderness Barn:
The girls had a lot of fun at the barn this year. Madison and some of her friends were in the Western show. Here they are getting ready for the stick horse part of the show. Waiting is hard!

Finally, it's time to start!

Kennedy took a class or an hour each morning and then practiced to be in the Western show each afternoon. She had a blast! You would think that after 2 1/2 hours each day for five days she would be tired of riding, but she wasn't. Just look at that smile!

Spider Lake:
The beach was also a place where we spent a lot of time. Here is Madison with her friend Grace playing on the boards.

Kennedy and her new friend Keara doing the same.

Madison getting ready to go kayaking! I think she is stuck on the sand!

Mackenzie is still afraid of the water so she didn't often get in past her knee's. She didn't need the life jacket but her friend was wearing one so she insisted. Insisted??? Mackenzie???

Playing in the sand!

Friends:
One night we had a Jamboree. Madison and her new friend Abby told a few knock knock jokes. She was very nervous so she had to take be boo (her blanket) with her.

Madison and Abby being goofy!

Kennedy and Keara. Kennedy was sad that none of her friends her age that usually go up with us were going this summer. I kept telling her that she would meet new people that way, but she wasn't real happy about it. However, the second day she came running up to tell me she met a girl that was her age and was really nice. They were together whenever Kennedy wasn't at the barn. They now email a few times a week and are both talking about next summer already.

Mackenzie met a couple of new kids her age, but she also had a few from home that joined us. Here she is with her best buddy, Bekah! These two blondies were so stinkin cute all week!

Madison's new look

Madison has been after me to take her to get her hair cut for some time now. I have been putting it off because I haven't wanted to pay for it. Today I decided I would just do it myself. If it was bad I would just take her in and have someone fix it for me. I am happy to say that I didn't need to take her to get it fixed. It is not the best, but good enough for me, and her!

Madison before (also before it was brushed!)

After

View from the back.

I didn't realize just how much hair we cut off until I went to clean it up.

The reason there is so much hair on the ground is because after I cut it I had to even it up. Well, it kept getting shorter and shorter as I tried. It was originally supposed to be an inch or more longer, but it is cute anyway and she loves it. Guess that's what you get when Mom cuts your hair!

Our Little Stinker

Everyone says the 2's are terrible, but I have always said 1 and 3 are worse. Mackenzie is doing a good job of keeping that a true statement. I may begin a countdown to her 4th birthday before long! Here are some pictures to show you just what I mean.

Attempting to climb in the washer.

Almost there!

I am not sure how this one happened. I was doing some Awana work on the computer and she was napping. Well, she was supposed to be at least. She apparently went into stealth mode and snuck downstairs. She got into the freezer and got a Popsicle out then went to sit on Daddy's new chair massager to eat it. Unfortunately she forgot to throw out the wrapper and stick before falling asleep in the chair.

Another one of those times when I thought she was sleeping. You can't see it very well, but she went into my room and got into my foundation and eye shadow. It was all over her face and neck. Just another one of those times when I needed to scold her but had to take the picture first.

Oh, did I forget to mention she got it all over her carpet, too? Unfortunately, it's still there a month later. I need to call the carpet cleaners. They LOVE me, or should I say, Mackenzie!

These are just a few of the examples of how she is our little stinker. I forgot to get pictures of the pen all over the ottoman, black marker on the dining room walls, crayon all over her and Madison's white foot boards, lipstick and nailpolish ground into the carpets...and let's not forget the beautiful picture she made for me with "stickers" otherwise known as postage stamps! Believe it or not, I do watch her pretty closely, but obviously she needs constant supervision!

Fun with Addy

We were all so excited to get a call from cousin Andrea asking if we could watch Addy last Monday. She is such a sweetheart and was so good all day. It was a wonderful baby fix for me too! We are hoping they call again soon! Hey, guys, that was our not so subtle hint! Kennedy was sad that she only got to see her for a few minutes before and after school. Addy seemed to take to Madison and would whimper if she left the room and even cried for a minute when Madison left for school. I am not sure she knew what to think of Mackenzie the tornado, but she did like watching her run around. Addy, please come visit again soon! Aunt Judy, thanks for not being able to watch her so we could have a chance!

A tired little Addy!

Kennedy wanted to get a picture with her before she left for school. That girl is going to be a great babysitter in a few years!

Addy putting up with Mackenzie!

Chillin in the chair!

I was not allowed to give Addy her bottle. Madison insisted on doing it.

So sweet! Addy fell asleep drinking her bottle and Madison didn't want me to lay her down. She held her the whole nap! It was fun to see this side of Madison.

Mackenzie popped in the picture just in time.

Going for a walk. Addy was so excited she kicked her legs almost the entire time.

Climbing over Madison to get to the toy!

Addy, please come stay with us again soon!

Your cousins,

Kennedy, Madison and Mackenzie!