More Polar Express

Receiving the bell from Santa was certainly a hit as well as picking him up at the North Pole.




Snowy photos at Snowbowl.

Christmas Tradition #2 - The Polar Express

We started the second Christmas tradition last year when we drove to Williams, AZ to ride the Polar Express to the North Pole. This year had the added bonus of SNOW! Patrick loved it, but hated the cold. He tried making snowballs and throwing them at us. Before our train ride Patrick had a chance to get his picture taken with Santa. We boarded the train about 8pm for our departure to the North Pole. On the way The Polar Express was read. When we arrived at the North Pole, Santa boarded the train and visited each car passing out bells to every child. (Angie got one too!) We sang Christmas songs on our way back to the depot and were served hot chocolate and cookies.

Christmas Tradition #1 - Zoolights

As a family - we have our own little Christmastime traditions that we have been keeping up from year to year. One of them is Zoolights. The Phoenix zoo does a really nice light display every year.


























This year they handed out prism glasses that made the lights look something like the picture shown here.


Dobby, Papa, Nana and Auntie Mel all joined us this year. Patrick and Papa even got to ride the merry go round.

Another Sigh of Relief

We had a very detailed ultrasound (lasting almost 1 1/2 hours) showing that we have a healthy baby for what the ultrasound shows.
Thanks to all of you who kept us in your prayers and thoughts. We were very glad that they were able to squeeze the ultrasound in before Christmas as this good news will make it a lot easier to celebrate the holidays.

On the lighter side - we can now say the baby is a boy. Use your own imagination for the picture below that confirms.

We are not sure of names at this point so feel free to post your suggestions here. How about Hobert Obert . . . ??????

A day at Yellowstone.

Remember me talking about those fond memories growing up camping. I thought it would be fun re-create one of those days here. These photos are of a day we had in Yellowstone in the early 70's.

We started the day by putting on our bell bottoms to go fishing for our food for the day:


Unfortunately, a bear chased us away:
So instead, we went for a hike. Where were were stalked by a group of shirtless hippies:

After all that excitement, it was nice to sit back in front of the fire with a smoke and s'mores:

As you can see camping was always an adventure in my family. More to come . . .

Happy Birthday Mike!

Happy Birthday to a wonderful husband, father, and friend. We thought we'd help you celebrate your day by allowing you to climb into the attic to get all the Christmas decorations. Of course we wouldn't want you to do it alone, so will have the help of Nana and Papa! Wishing you a year filled with many good things. We love you lots!

Love, Angie and Patrick

Happy Birthday Angie

You are a great wife, a great mom, and a great person. We love you. For your special day we thought we would take you to Nana & Papa's for a special Turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

Mike & Patrick.

Yuck Already

Is anyone else sick of the phrase "TomKat"? There is nothing cute about this combination of two names using the first name of husband and the first three letters of wife. Here is what it would look like for several members of family and friends:

MikeAng
MikeAnn
ChrisTri
KentKat
TerryMis
MikeMar
JamesMic
GregJac

Ever hope someone get a divorce? I hope these two do so I don't have to hear the phrase TomKat anymore. I swear the next time I hear it I am going to engage in an involuntary personal protein spill.

Ch Ch Ch Changes

Where is the attention to detail? One week ago a slight change was made to this blog . . . didn't anyone catch it? (Those who have been told in person are disqualified).

San Tan Fall Festival

Patrick's school had a Fall Festival today as a fundraiser. It was a good time. There were games, inflatable castles, prizes, food, etc. Seemed like a good time was had by all. Patrick has his "hammer" which he won and then proceeded to fight people with. He is also shown on the tractor ride. He did this a couple times. He also participated in a cake walk and won some cupcakes or pupcakes as he calls them.

Our Halloween Pirate

Patrick was a pirate for Halloween. I have to say that he was the BEST DRESSED Pirate. Thanks Grandma Obert for the great costume. He was able to trick or treat 3 different times. WAY too much candy. He took a Halloween class where they dressed up and then trick or treated from parent to parent at the end. When I took him to class he had the whole outfit on. When I arrived 1 1/2 hours later he had only the shirt, pants, and sash remaining. By the time we left the classroom only the pants and sash were still on. YIKES. The teacher was a little worried as the time went on. On Halloween Patrick trick or treated at Mike's office, then our neighborhood, and ended up hitting a few homes by Nana and Papa's house. He had a great time. He certainly was the best looking pirate around!

Happy Birthday Mom/Grandma

We love you.

Back to Iowa

After our trip to Wisconsin, we returned for a few more days of visiting with Grandma and Grandpa O. Mike and Grandpa took a long bikeride (more of a contest of who can burn more calories) and Patrick played with play dough w/ both grandma and grandpa. Aunt Katy's dog, Olivia was there and really enjoyed the attention . . . and more attention paid to her by PCO. PCO took the dogs for a short walk up the block. Well Olivia took a walk . . . for Gracie, it was more of being taken for a drag. Patrick also helped Grandpa fly his dragon kite. It was fun and we were happy to see their new house. After that - it was back to AZ. Just in time too b/c it started to get cold and rainy on the day we left.

Dictionary Entry

"Choke"















. . . Enough said.

More Camping

Smores.

New Bed . . . New Buzz Sleeping Bag. (Thanks Aunt Linda & Uncle Dan)

Campfire Sittin'

Now we can sleep.

Janesville/Camping

After our Watertown Visit, we trekked on down to Janesville to see the Dan & Linda & clan. Part of this trip was to pick up a camper we purchased from them. I grew up camping . . . Angie didn't. In fact, we have only camped one other time together - we had a tent, a wet dog, and a soaking rain that didn't let up for two days. Combine that with a campground without facilities - Angie swore never to camp again.

That is where Angie's longtime friend Linda comes in. You see - three years ago, I secretly told Linda's husband that he should give us the first call if they ever decided to sell their pop-up camper. That call came early this year. I said yes right away but Angie wasn't quite that easy. Linda made several calls and sent several emails to Angie convincing her that she would enjoy camping if she gave it a second chance and used a camper instead of a tent. Angie finally gave in and we purchased the camper and spent one night with Dan & Linda's family learning how to use it. We set up camp, started a fire, had sandwiches cooked over the fire and s'mores. The kids played together and had a good time. After her most recent camping experience, Angie's comment was -- "That wasn't that bad." I will take what I can get. We look forward to many years of camping in this new camper. Here in AZ, we are in a days drive of several national parks and great camp sites so there will be many weekends. I am also already planning some of the trips I took as a kid to places like Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain National park.

Thanks Dan & Linda.

REO Speedwagon

Angie and I went to see REO Speedwagon last night. Don't get me wrong we had a really great time and it was a good concert but I had to make some observations that just made me laugh. You see, I saw REO 17 years ago at the Dodge County Fair in Wisconsin here are some of the differences and similarities between that concert and this one:

(a) In 1989 there were at least 80% of crowd with a stone wash denim jacket. I can honestly say that I didn't see any last night.

(b) Last nights crowd had 2% in attendance who were sporting a mullet hair cut - in 1989, 90% of us had them. (Yes - I admit I had one just see my cousin's site if you really want to see it, she keeps posting the same picture of by mullet. Everyone had them back them.)

(c) In 1989 - I was upset because no-one would sell me a beer. Last night I was upset because no-one would sell me more than 2 at a time.

(d) REO must have made a comeback sometime after 1989 - the sound system was better now but the voices have faded a little.

(e) Didn't all of REO's members used to have black hair? Now they are all blonde . . . I can't explain.

(f) Even though the 80's throw back crowd may have lost their stone wash jackets, they appearantly kept some of their other 80's clothes. Examples are (1) tight T-shirts with the gold cross worn on the outside; (2) camouflage pants with black belt sporting silver studs (female); (3) tight fitting black levi denim jeans; (4) tight fitting black levi's with holes up and down the sides of the legs; and (5) tight leather pants (worn by lead singer - made me wonder is there any age that putting on those leather pants just becomes too much to bother, 55? . . . 60?, . . . 65?).

(g) another cloting similarity - can someone explain why middle age people wear Hawaiian shirts to concerts, even when its not Jimmy Buffet? (No I wasn't wearing one but I am curious about the connection between REO and Hawaiian shirts)

(h) people are still smoking green cigarettes but the people smoking it are just a little older.

REO did put on a good show though. It was good people watching.

Watertown Visit

After a couple of nights in BD - we went to Angie's hometown of Watertown. We picked up Angie's grandma and had lunch at Ang's high school employer, Mullins Ice Cream Shop. Turns out othat one of Angie's co-workers now owns the place and gave Patrick a free T-Shirt. Then we went out to Uncle Merles spent some time outside before going to dinner with Grandma, Merle and Uncle Dick. It was a very nice visit and we even got to see a couple of big sandhill cranes.

BD Pt 2

On our second day in BD, Mike and Greg played golf while Ang & Jackie took the kids shopping. No photos available. Then after dinner, we went to see our old next door neighbors. It was a nice visit. As you can see the kids are getting big. Patrick loved playing with Brandon and Brock. Brandon dressed Patrick up in some UW Badger gear. Pretty cool, huh? Finally, we got to see Abby off on her first day of school. It was a fun visit but we had to move onto our next leg of the trip.