Friends in Ohio in July

Bekah, Seth, JJ, Elise, Zeke
In July Megan, JJ, Elise and Seth traveled to Ohio. We stayed for two weeks, so we had lots of time to spend with family and friends. Here we were in the Bowling Green area visiting Jen and Israel and their kids. We had a great time just playing together, and visiting the BGSU campus with the big kids. It all ended too soon with crabby, tired kids and Megan had to head home early to spare us all!

Here you see Bekah, Elise and JJ on the sculpture outside Olscamp Hall at BGSU. It is the "Thinker" turned on its back, otherwise known on campus as "Thinker in the Bathtub."

Seth trying to get one last drop out of the Sundrop bottle. The unofficial drink of the state of Wisconsin. We start 'em young!

Nora Mercer, Elise, Seth, JJ, Trayce Mercer
Some fun times with Mercer cousins!

JJ, Elena and Kiersten Quinlan, Elise
Special "girlfriends" from Xenia. Spent the day with them, and they remember playing with the puppy and using lots of Kiersten's perfume! JJ just joins right in and makes the girl fun just a little rowdier than normal.

JJ's 7th Birthday

Seth tooling around while the boys hit the pinata. This is the first time JJ has had a sleepover birthday party. We limited it to his 3 boy cousins, Tucker, Isaac, and Griffin. They had such a great time being boys together.

Here they are scrambling for pinata candy and army men. Jonathan isn't trying to get some for himself, he's helping Tucker (several years younger than the other boys) get his fair share! The army men were a hit.

Tucker, JJ, Isaac and Griffin

JJ lovin' his birthday cake. I'm proud to say I did make that Lightning McQueen myself! It was worth the work to see how much JJ loved it.

Touch-A-Truck

In May Shawano County Highway Dept. hosted Touch-A-Truck. They have over 50 vehicles the kids can climb in. And the Sun-Drop truck gives each kid a pop! More caffeine than my kids get all year. Whew. JJ loved it all, and Seth loved anything with an oversize steering wheel.

As long as he could have both hands and both feet on the steering wheel, he was happy.

Elise really got into "driving" Seth around on the lawn mower. Maybe this is why now, at 15 mo., his favorite things are lawn mowers of any kind - Mo Mowa!

May Violin Recital

Mrs. Kristin Gontea, violin teacher, Elise and JJ

JJ and Elise played with Jonathan in their last recital of the year. They played Canon in a round. Jonathan played one part, and JJ and Elise played the other part together. They did a great job! JJ did a good job of leading Elise and keeping his place. Elise progressed so much through the year from not being able to play at all, to playing a more difficult piece with 2 other people by the end of the year! Great job musicians! And of course they looked so cute.

JJ Meets a Green Bay Packer Part 1!

JJ waits for a Packer to pick him. The Packers have this thing where every practice they come out of Lambeau Field where they suit up and ride kids bikes over to the practice field. It is a really cool thing I think only works because it is such a small city and people are so courteous to the players. The kids have to mind their manners and the parents are all very cool about it. What a neat opportunity. The Packers organization is so family friendly. This is the first time we've ever done this and JJ was stoked! A real Packer might ride his bike!

Finally a Packer chose JJ! It is #46 Devin Frischknecht. He is a rookie from Washington State. 358 pounds, 6'3" and 22 years old. He handed JJ his helmet and hopped on his bike.

Good thing I got this picture when I did because..

JJ Meets a Green Bay Packer!

Devin broke JJ's pedal off after just a few yards. JJ just pushed his bike and Devin walked, until Mom suggested he ditch the bike.

JJ then carried Devin's helmet for him the rest of the way through Lambeau Field parking lot, across Oneida Street, to behind the Don Hutson Center where Training Camp is held.

(out of order picture - this is once we got there, watching practice)
Mom and the boys enjoying some football. Mom wishes she could have watched more.
Go Pack Go!

Once JJ and Devin arrived at the field, Devin signed JJ's new Packer t-shirt, then took off to play some ball.

Seth enjoyed the whole morning. Such a boy! He was great at spotting the ball during practice and scrimmage!