HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I just left our neighbors, the Laxtons, where we have our annual pizza party / kid send off trick-or-treating Halloween Party.

Pete went off with the kids around the neighborhood with the other Dads and I came home to pass out candy. As I left, I told Julie and Brian and Brian's parents that I didn't think we'd be back for a sleep over tonight!

It was four years ago tonight that our house caught on fire and we spent the night---all 15 of us---with the 7 Laxtons! What great neighbors and what a wonderful family they are! It was fun to see Brain's parents again tonight and laugh about how many hundreds of pancakes Gary made that next morning to feed the 12 kids we had with us and the 3 they had...he and Marie really did make it fun!

On another note, I don't mean to sound like a show off or anything. But, as I'm waiting for trick or treaters, I'm opening the mail AND MY MAMOGRAM CAME BACK NORMAL AND I DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK FOR ANOTHER YEAR!!! Not that I was expecting anything else, but just so you all know.

That means, for any of you that have lost count, that this is the first year in four that I get to wait a year, instead of six months; and more importantly, when I get next years normal results, I will have been 5 years cancer free!!! Now that will be some Halloween celebration!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KATE AND RICK

Okay, so I have totally made a mess of this picture---and duplicated the mess, trying to wish my dear sister and brother in law a wonderful and happy 37th wedding anniversary!!! This is a great picture of Rick, but if I could fix it, it's a wonderful picture of the two to them! Yes, they were married before birth...because they both look to be in their mid to late 30's (to these eyes, anyway).
So, Happy, Happy Anniversary you TWO---and may you have many, many more wonderful and fun years together!
We love you both!
Mary and Pete

THANK YOU, RACHEL!!!

Our dear Rachel sent a wonderful box of South Korean treats and goodies a few weeks ago. We are slow to say Thank-you, but we so enjoyed every, thoughtful thing she sent!
Thank you, Thank you, Rachel! We were all so thrilled and had a great time opening that big box and looking at every interesting and unfamiliar and semi-familiar thing you sent!

Our Soccer Girls

Lilly and Jane's soccer games are coming to an end next Saturday morning. As cold and wet as it is getting...that's pretty okay with me. They have had fun, but it's a good time to end and start up again in Spring.
In the meantime, Ben and Alex are practicing twice a week and don't play games until Spring. However, they do have a scrimmage this Wednesday, under the lights at the BIG Soccer Complex. They are really excited!! Hopefully, I'll remember my camera.

The "Other" Homecoming in East Lansing

This was John and friends going off to the homecoming dance the at East Lansing High School the week before. Pasha and friends decided not to go and stayed home --- something to do with the game and the outcome the night before, I think.

A Very Happy Homecoming

Last week-end we had a great week end with JO-Ellen and friends for MSU Homecoming. As many of you know Jo-Ellen was the co-Grand Marshall in the MSU Homecoming Parade and Pete's football team was honored for it's MSU defensive record of the last 65 years...it was quite a week-end!
The attached pictures are some of the high lights. Needless to say, it was a week-end to remember!

Happy Birthday Aidan!

Happy Birthday to my sweet black haired baby boy, Aidan!!! I can't believe you are 11 today! What a wonderful fun birthday celebration you made for all of us!

Aidan decided to invite his friends to the "Zap Zone" for lazer tag and bumper car rides, pizza and cake. Tonight we had our traditional Wheeler/Addison-Kakela football watching, chili eating, birthday party celebration. At half time we sing Happy Birthday, eat cake and ice cream...then go back to the game!

Our sweet Aidan decided several weeks ago that he would like to celebrate his birthday with his friends, but he would like them to donate food to the local Red Cross food pantry instead of giving him gifts. He is worried about all of the people in our community who in need of food and clothing and homes and jobs.

We are so proud of him and his concern for others that we can't help sharing all of these fun pictures!

You're the best Aidan!!! We love you more than you will ever know!!!

Congratulations, Madame Secretary!

Pete, John and I just returned from a wonderful week-end in Washington where we were honored to witness the swearing in ceremony of our beloved friend Jo-Ellen as she became the second female Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.
We were treated to a tour of the Pentagon before the ceremony which thrilled John....and gave me blisters on my toes. Jo-Ellen was surrounded by all of her family and many, many friends from near and far. We were so touched to be a part of it!
Saturday we watched the MSU/UofM game at Ellen Globokar and Bob Chlopak's with their son Jack. It was a great afternoon and we all had fun and certainly enjoyed the end of the game!
Jo-Ellen and her sister Margy, Pete, John and I stayed at the Dubliner until way too late last night, but it was great fun and well worth the tiredness this morning!
Congratulations and way to go, Jo-Jo! We love you!

First Day of School

I know I'm late on this one but here are the pictures of the first day of school. Pete and I returned from Ireland the night before so the morning was a funny one getting everyone off to school. John and Pasha didn't (wouldn't) have pictures taken for the blog,but everyone else was very cooperative. Nolan and Aidan go to a different building this year. Whitehills is a 5th & 6th grade building and Buffy, Alex, Ben, Jane and Lilly are all at Pinecrest. I'm finally getting used to EVERYONE being gone all day and Nolan and Aidan being at the BIG school---they all adjusted way before I did :)! The year is going great for everyone! Buffy is just beginning and John is ending---as in, he's a senior!