Kisses

Mommy (after many, many, many morning kisses) :
 "OH ~ you're so kissable!"

Laney:
 "Yah ~ me know that!"

Love.....Mona

These feet were made for walking.....

Well....maybe not, but I DID IT!  Saturday I....me...Mona...walked 18 miles around Lake Namkagon!  That's right - Natalie & I walked...and walked...and walked...until I really thought I couldn't walk anymore! 

 It.was.so.much.FUN! 

So, I had a pretty busy week last week -- I gave a mini speech to the Lion's Club on Monday (they might be interested in supporting the Girl Scouts and wanted me to tell them what we do).  I was FINALLY trying to sell a bunch of clothes on ebay.  We had our 1st Daisy Girl Scout meeting of the year on Thursday (21 girlies all ages 6&7!)  And then the Namakagon Cancer Walk on Saturday....which of course I had always WANTED to do, but really didn't think I was capable!  Well - I really didn't KNOW that I was doing the walk on Saturday until Thursday, when I was frantically getting ready for Daisies and I thought "I think I am going to do it - I can do it - I should do it -I need to do it - ok - why not, I'll do it".  I HATE CANCER!  Now, I don't really HATE anything... well, except mayonaise & mice... but not really anything else but, I DO HATE cancer!  So, if Dad can fight this horrible, awful, nasty disease....I can walk 18 miles for goodness sake!  Although I still had my doubts....I like the idea of walking, but I don't really do it too much!  Well, I called Natalie and she said she would walk with me, so we did.

Saturday morning Mom came over to watch the kiddos (since Bobby was duck hunting) and I ventured over to Lakewoods for the walk.  I paid my money (since I really didn't have time to collect sponsorships with my 2 day notice and all), and we were off.  Scott Cole ( a really great yoga guy -- one of the top 5 yoga instructors in the nation, I hear) lead the group (51 people) in some stretching.  Now stretching is something I can do.... so - we stretched and we were off.  It's really funny how as you are walking, you get a pain somewhere - then the pain moves to different places - it's like it jumps around - not knowing where to be -- it kind of cracked me up!  Well, just sort of cracked me up since it did hurt - but anyhow....we made it to the half way point, were we had lunch.  I really liked lunch -- ANOTHER thing I can do... hee hee.  After lunch, we were off again -- I felt pretty good starting out - walking were we could see the lake was REALLY nice!  And now we were somewhere that I was more familiar with, so I made mini goals for myself -- now we only have to get to the Loon -- now we only have to get to Plamor -- now we only need to get to the Chief -- well, let me tell you....I almost didn't make it to the Chief!  Who knew it was soooo far from Plamor????  At least it seemed REALLY far away!  Well, we FINALLY made it to the Chief (they had donut holes set out just before the Chief, which I think was my lifesaver!!).  We stopped at the Chief for a little while and then off to Garmisch Road (our road) and then Lakewoods was finally close!!!  We did take a little pit stop along side the road for a potty break -- which is a funny story in itself -- who knew there were so many cars on Garmisch road??? hee hee.  Anyways, we FINALLY made it to Lakewoods and the finish!  Bobby, Bode & Dalaney came looking for us and found us on Garmisch Road....another little pick me up!  Then we got to have a REALLY yummy dinner at Lakewoods and it was off to bed for this chick!

So.... 9 blisters (oh my feet are sore!!) and a pretty good gimp (my right leg still isn't very happy with me) later....I did it...I walked 18 miles...and hopefully helped some people with cancer along the way! 

Watch out next year Namakagon Cancer Walk.....I'll be back! 

Love.....Mona

Happy Fall..or is it Winter?

As I lay in bed Saturday morning, I hear little footsteps downstairs in the living room. Two little people up for the day, watching Saturday morning cartoons.... oh how I loved Saturday morning cartoons.... Bode and Avery are awake - Bobby is duck hunting - little Laney is still asleep next to me.... I'd better get up I say to myself - so I do. I peek outside through the window to see what the weather is like -- it has been sooooo cold lately -- NOT what I like! To my surprise, there is snow -- YIKES -- I am not ready for snow....but I must admit, it does look pretty!

I go downstairs and only Bode is in the living room. "Where is Avery?" I ask. "Oh - she went downstairs to get our snowpants!" Bode says. Just as I go into the front entry to go rescue Avery from the depths of the basement - here she is carrying 2 sets of snowpants. One for herself and one for her brother. THEY ARE EXCITED!! Avery and I go back downstairs to get Dalaney's snowpants and come up to an awakened Dalaney.

Right away, all 3 kiddos climb into their snowgear (their snowboots were still in the depths of the basement -- I rescued them later -- NO TIME for that now! They needed to get outside! Rainboots worked just fine). They were still in their pjs! Lazy Saturday Morning! Then they ventured into the newly snow-covered outdoors!

Oh ~ they had FUN!!!

I wish I would love the snow as much as they did! All I could see is the snow covering the leaves covering everything and thinking - oh no - I am going to have leaves tracked in my house ALL.WINTER.LONG. ugg..... Oh well - the snow is only temporary... for now...we might as well make frozen leaf angels!

and come inside and drink HOT CHOCOLATE!

So.... from our family to yours.... Happy Fall - um, I mean Winter...

Love.....Mona

fun. silly. loved.

introducing..... Avery

she has made the last 6 years heavenly.....

she is ::

fun :: caring :: silly :: adventurous :: giggly :: giving :: funny :: sweet :: easy going

:: a pure joy to be around ::

but mostly,

she.is.loved.

Thanks Avery girl!

Love.....Mona

a boy named Bode

This boy is Amazing!

He has SPUNK with a capital S! He is completely LOVABLE ~ he gives the best hugs and kisses on the planet and loves to cuddle (like mother like son)!

One of my favorite talents he posesses is that he can raise one eyebrow like nobody's business! see....

It makes me giggle..... every.time. This natural born talent is his and his alone. No one else in our family can do it.....he is a PRO!

Need a little pick me up and he is there for you.... That's my guy!

Introducing.....Bode Severn.....He's one of a kind ~ and he's all mine!

Love..... Mona

That's my girl!

This little girl is a laundry princess!

Not only is she REALLY good at getting clothes dirty and creating laundry, she is a super helper when washing laundry! I finally folded the load of laundry that was in my dryer....for about a week, and I had just finished re-washing the load of towels in the washer...for the 3rd time. This time I am going to get through the piles and piles one way or another! Dalaney LOVES to help mommy, so I told her she could put the towels from the washer into the dryer. I went into the other room for something and when I came back to check on her, this is what I saw!

FOLDED WASHCLOTHES!

Seriously priceless! She had folded the wet washclothes and put them into the dryer. ha ha ha...

i.love.this.girl! She is a riot!

Well, I am excited to embark on this little adventure! I can't wait to share my life....Mona style!

love..... Mona