We have to finish out the summer pictures with some shenanigans.
Matthew and Allie came to the pool with us, and they all had a blast! This was the first year we had a season pass, and I think we will do it again. It was nice to be able to go whenever we felt like it.
We went mini golfing at Vitense. We did the indoor course, which has a lot of cool things to stop and try.
First day of School!
Joey - 5th, Sam - 2nd
It was rainy so we didn't walk for the first time. I got a picture in the drop off lane.
Maebel is four!!
Sam got into making funny faces during pictures. He has such great expressions.
We went to Westside to play kickball and basketball, and Sam had to bring blue bear.
Can you find him?
We got free passes to the Milwaukee Public Museum through library summer reading so we met Jay and Amanda and kids there. They all seemed to have a good time and at times were very silly.
Joey's 11th birthday!
We had a family basketball game, per Joey's request. That is always fun!
Scouts had a fall day camp. Joey and his group learned how to start a fire using things other than matches. They were pretty excited when they got the battery approach to work.
We took a hike, and this tree was so pretty.
My work (Madison College) had a Halloween party for employees' and students' kids. The boys both got pumpkins, some books, some candy and got to play some games.
We made it to Edward's Orchard this year, meeting up with the Hyland family. It was fun!
Can you find Sam?
I don't remember what Sam had here, but it was very blue. He also drew his own design on his pumpkin :)
We did the Sun Prairie business trick or treat. The boys got a lot candy as usual. It was a snowy Halloween!
Joey wanted to meet friends to trick or treat this year. We met up with them, but the group got too big and we ended up breaking off to just Joey, Sam and Xavier. That made it so much more manageable!
Sam is 8!!
The boys both skipped the traditional cakes for their birthdays. They chose pie/dessert pizzas instead.
New fishing pole from G&G Rikli.
The actual day of his birthday...
We rang the bells for Salvation Army as a family. The boys did well for our 2 hour shift. They were getting a little tired by the end, but they only took one 10 minute break so I would call it a success. It seemed like we collected a lot of money for the cause in our two hours!
The boys and I got a chance to go to Medieval Times with G&G Hyland through the Optimist Club. We had such a fun time!
Sam had to pose his little deer in many different places throughout the day.
The boys both got called up to be knighted. They were both impressed with that.
The food was really good too! Tomato soup, garlic bread, chicken, corn, a broasted potato and dessert
We went on a hike one weekend.
I got to go hunting with Joey since Grandpa Rikli couldn't come. We sat in the blind with the heater on and I read a book. Not bad! I could get used to that.
Sam has been all about squirrel hunting this year. He got a squirrel and was so happy.
We had Thanksgiving at our house since Grandma Rikli had fallen and wasn't up to hosting.John and Sam went hunting that morning and Grandpa woke up early to do the turkey so they were all asleep.
Here is the awake group...
Joey loves it when Grandma "ties" him up and then he has to escape from it. Weird kid!
Sam shot a doe! His first deer on his own.
We had a hot chocolate bar at church one Sunday. The boys were first in line!
Uncle Jay invited us to a magic show in honor of Houdini at his museum. Here is Sam checking out some of the Houdini exhibit before the show. It was super interesting.
Joey had his first orchestra concert. The kids were so excited. Joey was in the front row in the center so it was nice he was easy to see.
We went to brunch with Santa and had a great time. Sam was sick unfortunately so he didn't make it.
Linus was having fun building a tower of Magnatiles.
We got to celebrate Grandpa's birthday.
That night we got to go to the Buck's game. We were worried because Sam was super ornery before we left and still not feeling the greatest. We gave him some tylenol, and luckily he snapped out of it about halfway to Milwaukee.
We got to meet Marques Johnson, former Bucks player and now an announcer. He went through security and came over to us to say hi. very nice man!
Waiting to go in to practice the Color Guard ceremony.
While the kids practiced, the parents went to Christkindlmarket to have some mulled wine. It was really good!
It was Star Wars night at the Buck's game too so we had some cool photo ops.
The view from our seats.
Waiting for the players to come out from halftime to give high fives!
The Bucks won their 18th game in a row the night we were there, and then lost the next game. It was so fun to watch!
Next up, more of the holidays!
