Surfer Dude!

Jacob is now fully equipped to catch a few good waves! Thanks to the Mogck family Jacob now has his own wet suit! Hand - Me - Downs are great!

Frisbee On The Beach

Today was pretty much an overcast day at the shore. It was definately not a beach day however, after dinner, we went to the beach to get out and let the kids just run around. On our way off the beach, we had our neice, Tessa, take some pictures of Eric, me and the kids. Thanks Tessa!

Vacation

We have spent this week with both my family and Eric's family vacationing in Ocean City. Eric's sister and her kids (Tessa, 11 and Frank, 4) were here as well as my sister and her daughter (Abby, 7 mos.), so all the cousins have spent the week together!

In addition to all the cousins, our neighbors down here, the Cara's were down for the week. Jacob and Allison had a blast playing with Matt and Chris. Allison was thrilled to be included with "the boys". We spent one night at the playground and then another night we had "Movie Night" here at the house. Happy Feet was the choice movie of the evening and we served popcorn and juice.

On Monday Allison's playgroup joined us for the day. Although the weather started out raining, it cleared up and we had a great day. First to the boardwalk then later in the afternoon we headed to the beach.

On Thursday, Melynie, Melissa and Shelly all came for a day trip! Once again perfect weather. We were quite the clan on the beach. It was a really hot day and the water was really nice and refreshing.
Thursday night we took Jacob, Allison, Tessa and Frank (our neice and nephew) to the beach for some family shots. Quite the challenge getting all 4 kids to smile, look at the camera and stay reasonably still. After some bribery we did manage to get some shots were all were looking at least close to the direction of the camera!

The Girls Will Win!

Yesterday we packed up the cars and headed down to OC for vacation. We took 2 cars since Eric would be heading back to work before the kids and I return home. We voted on who would drive with who and it was determined that the boys would ride in 1 car and the girls in the other. Apparently my daughter picks up on more that I say than I realize because she promptly said, "The girls are going to win because Mommy was born in NJ and Daddy was born in KY and he drives really slow!". Of course immediately Eric wanted to know what I had been teaching his kids!

The Test

At the pool today, Jacob decided he was ready to take the "diving test". This is a test that certifies swimmers for use of the diving board as well as swimming in the deep water. It's somewhat of a difficult task. Swimmers must swim the length of the pool and back with proper freestyle strokes, and breathing - without stopping for a break. Then immediately tred water for 2 minutes. Jacob passed the test last year, however, I think that the guard that passed him was a bit on the easy side and pushed the 2 minutes along pretty fast! So when this guard came out with an actual stop watch - I was a bit nervous. I was confident that he could do the swimming of the laps, but the 2 minute thing had me quite on edge. I walked the side w/ the guard as Jacob swam his laps (his friend Alaina, swam on the other lane with him as support). Then the longest 2 minutes of my life - coaching him and cheering him on! I tried to keep him from getting too close to the side of the pool for fear that he would reach out and grab the edge! The last 30 seconds were the worst. You must keep your head up and out of the water and he was slowly slipping! Finally the 10 second countdown! He did it! As we were walking to receive his ankle band, he said, "Mommy, my chest really hurts!". Poor guy! So now we are free to jump off the diving board and I now officially have a child at both ends of the pool!

Last Day of School

Today marked the last day of school! Although it's nice for summer break to be here, we are really going to miss Jacob's teachers! They are a wonderful team and have really enjoyed them this year! Eric and I wish Mrs. Kennedy and Ms. A would move to second grade with him - and then 3rd, and 4th - you get the picture! We are already praying that Allison has the same opportunity when she is in 1st grade! Jacob and his classmates helped to make the aprons that Mrs. Kennedy and Ms. A are wearing - that was part of their gift from the class.

We marked the end of the school year with a pool party at a friends home. It was a super hot day and the cool water was very refreshing! What a great way to kick off summer vacation!

Grandma Goes Home

This morning we received the call we knew was coming but yet you are still never quite ready to receive. Eric's grandmother passed away and is now with Jesus! After just celebrating her 90th birthday, she was ready to go to heaven and never missed an opportunity to share with you that she was ready! I'm so grateful that our kids had the opportunity to make memories with their great-grandmother - an opportunity that not everyone has! She will be greatly missed but is rejoicing in heaven now and feeling wonderful - something we are all grateful for! Here is the obituarary that was run in the local newspaper in KY.

Laura May Fueger Welz

Laura May Fueger Welz, Henderson, formerly of South Euclid, Ohio, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Sunday, June 17, 2007.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold.

She was the dearest mother of Carolyn F. Bloom and her husband, Richard, of Raleigh, N.C. and Richard Fueger and his wife, Linda, of Henderson; devoted grandmother of six and great-grandmother of 11.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Western Reserve Memorial Gardens, 11521 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland, Ohio, where the family will receive friends to honor and to pay one's respects to Laura one hour prior the service.

DiCicco and Sons Funeral Home in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, is in charge of arrangements.

A 7 Year Old Boy's Dream Birthday!

Tonight we had Jacob's friend birthday party with 8 of his friends. This was truly his "dream" bithday party! He went to a party at the Funplex a few years ago and ever since has been asking for his party to be there. This year things worked out that his "dream" came true! The party started out with the kids playing in this fenced in area that contained foam balls and "guns" that shoot the foam balls all over the place. There was also a large steel basket at the ceiling where the kids fill the basket and once to a certain level, the bottom of the basket opens and all the balls come pouring out. The boys were in heaven! Allison decided to take refuge from the chaos in a little tunnel and just watched the crazy boys!

After they ate dinner, Jacob went into this glass box where he was to collect as many pieces of paper as he could. Each piece of paper had a prize/reward written on it. Before he went into the box, they put protective eye googles on him and then closed the door. Then the air went on an paper was flying everywhere! It was like Jacob was in the middle of tornado. We all cheered him on, and he got some awesome prizes! The evening was rounded out with time in the arcade playing games! Jacob really enjoyed his party! I should be hearing any day how he wants to spend his next birthday - I wonder where he gets his gift of planning!

Lost At The Beach!

Today we witnessed a very frightening experience while we were at the beach. One that could happen to all of us. We watched a mother and father frantically searching the beach for their 6 year old little girl. She had been last seen walking along the waters edge with her "boogie board". We watched them walk back and forth between several blocks each time passing by without their daughter. The lifeguards were assisting, police were called in and all the while the clock ticked by without this little girl being found. Before long, people up and down the beach were all looking for this little girl. The police were patroling in their vehicles with their loud speakers telling beachgoers a description of little Caroline. Her frantic mother just paced the beach not knowing where to look next as she pans the crowded beach for the 100th time! One and one half hours - no Caroline! Finally the call comes to the lifeguard station that she has been found! As the police returned with their loud speakers announcing that Caroline had been found and was reunited with her parents, those on the beach began to clap!

A couple of thoughts came to mind as this horrible event unfolded in front of us! First, it was truly amazing how perfect stranger all united together to look for a little girl that we didn't even know. People just got up and started to walk around looking for her. As people passed by, not knowing what was happening, others told them and they too began searching. Sometimes we think that this is such a cruel world we live in and while that is true, it was comforting to see the unity. The second thing that I thought was that I can't take for granted that my kids would know what to do if they were unable to locate us on the beach or anywhere. I guess I just assumed that they would know to go to one of the lifeguards stationed nearby but we are not assuming that anymore! I talked to both kids and reminded them that the first place to go is to the lifeguard if they get lost! Needless to say, that will be a common conversation we have each time we walk onto the beach until I'm certain they get it!

Starfish, Starfish, & More Starfish

We experienced an unusual site on the beach this weekend. O.k., I've been going to the beach my entire life - I won't mention exactly how long that is - and I have never before seen this.

There were tons of little starfish washing up on the beach this weekend. They would come in with a wave and go out as it washed back out. The unusual site may coincide with the tons of little tiny baby muscles that were washing up as well. There were so many muscles, that party of the waters edge looked black. At first we only saw one or two starfish, but then as we looked closer, they were everywhere. The kids spent quite a bit of time at the waters edge collecting them and making them new homes in their buckets, complete with sand, water, shells, and some driftwood! At the end of the afternoon, we set them free, but not before, Allison had named each and every one of them!

Father's Day!

Since Father's Day fell on the same weekend as Jacob's birthday, Eric got a relaxing day on the beach! The kids and I bought Eric a "boogie board" for Father's Day this year - at his request I might add! Eric was like a little kid riding the waves. After his first wave, he said he was so glad to have a board his size instead of trying to fit on one of the kids! Finally, both Jacob and Eric have playmates w/ each other!

Jacob Turns 7!

Jacob turned 7 today! Can hardly believe that he is 7! Gone are the days of my little baby! We spent his birthday weekend at the shore. Yesterday we started our weekend with a bike ride up to the boardwalk. Both kids are not proficient enough to ride up there unassisted and they are both too big for "baby seats" so for the first time, both are riding on what is called an "alley cat". Essentially it is a one wheeled bike that attaches to Eric and my bikes and becomes like a bicycle built for 2. They can peddle when the desire strikes. Jacob is better at helping peddle than Allison right now. Allison enjoys her ride singing, and taking in all the sights along the way! When we got back from biking, we spent the day at the beach with the Davis Family and Grandmom and Grandpop and cousin Abby. We all had pizza for dinner, some cupcakes and icecream for dessert and finished the day off with an evening on the boardwalk amusements! What better day could the birthday day wish for.

The BIG Birthday Present!

We decided with all the traveling coming up, that we would give Jacob his "big" gift a few day early. So on Tuesday, Jacob got his portable basketball system from us, Grandmom, Grandpop, Aunt Suzanne, Abby, Nana, Grandpa, & G.G. Of course the assembly was much longer than anticipated! Jacob and Eric spent Tuesday night putting it together. Then on Wednesday we were able to shoot! The best part of the gift is seeing how much I impress Jacob with my basketball skills! For those who know me well enough to know better - stop laughing! :o)

Strawberry Picking

Allison's playgroup went strawberry picking. The interest was there for about 5 minutes then all the kids went running through the fields while all the moms were left to pick the berries! What a yummy treat when we got home!

Night Owl

After a full day of activities, one would think that a certain little girl would be exhausted and fall asleep as soon as she hit the pillow. Not so the case in this house tonight! We put Allison to be at 9 pm, later than normal since it was Saturday and here it is 10:45pm and guess who is singing, talking, and even clapping in their room. Just when I think she's out, I hear her again! I don't think that I feel right going to bed knowing she is still awake in there! Pretty soon it will be time for me to go in for out nightly bathroom trip and she won't even be asleep!

Inaugural Dip

Today we took our 2007 Inaugural Dip in our swim club pool. I had wanted to mark the occasion with a photo or two but with the chaos of the day, time slipped away. The water was a bit chilly but it was so hot outside that it felt good to get wet. We will capture our next visit to the pool on camera!

Popsicles!

Tonight we had popsicles after dinner. I suppose I had some foresight into the future as I suggested that we eat them outside. Within a few minutes, Allison was not only being dripped on by her popsicle, but in fact she was dripping!

Spring Soccer

Today marked the completion of another spring soccer season. Both kids played this year, unlike last year when Allison took the year off and decided she would rather sit in a chair, watch her brother, and have a snack! So trophies were awarded to each of them for successfully completing the spring soccer program.

They both had a great time. Allison's team pretty much just worked on skills and played a little 10 minute scrimage at the end. At the U5 level, most of the kids needed to be reminded which way to kick the ball.

Jacob's team really did little in the way of skills and really spent the whole time playing a game. Each week they played a different team w/in the rec. program. It was fun watching them all get into the game!

Grandma's 90th Birthday

Over Memorial Day we traveled to Kentucky to celebrate Eric's Grandmother's 90th Birthday. Family from all over the country traveled to celebrate with her and it turned out to be somewhat of a family reunion. We had family from KY, NJ, TX, NC, SC, AZ, CA, & MI make the journey. This was an extra special time since Grandma's health is failing. Things were touch and go during the week that everyone was to arrive, but during the festivities, she rallied and really enjoyed the activities! Eric's mom and dad hosted lunch and dinner at their home for everyone visiting which amounted to about 40 people. On Saturday night, all the great-grandchildren cooled off down town in the "fountains". It's a water park that is along the river and has water spouts from the ground. Some just shoot up in the air, others jump from place to place. The kids needless to say had a blast! I am working on posting all the pictures but for now, here are a few.