VU Homecoming

We went back to Valpo to celebrate our 10th Class Reunion!

It felt good to be on campus, show the girls where we went to college, and see all that has changed (Gellersen (engineering) addition, chapel addition, new union, new housing, new track, additional LeBien (nursing) classrooms, new science lab building, welcome center...there's been a total overhaul over the last 10 years, and it's not done yet).

That building in the back where we had science classes has not changed, but the human art installation is new. The girls were fond of it.

 After we walked around a bit we checked into our hotel and let Aunt Sue babysit while Ben and I relived a date from when we were just dating. Don Quijote still has the best sangria!

 Then we heard President Heckler's launch of the Forever Valpo endowment campaign and saw the first part of the Barenaked Ladies concert.

 They studied up and had a fair amount of funny comments about the university between songs.

 The next day there was plenty of fun for the kids and alumni at the Street Fair.

We caught up with and got pictures with as many old friends as we could find. (Snodgrass' not pictured)

Jesse & Jennifer Evans, Niki Stone & Cory Wood.

Erin & Jason Zdanio, Joanne Borchert.

 Wherever we could find them! ;)

Janelle & Miguel Mastache

 We had fun in the hotel pool, ran into Uncle Jim, met up with Britt Stoll, and found ValPlayso. 

It was interesting to go back and visit. And the girls will tell you , they had fun "at college!"

Bay View Bash

Just a few pictures from last Saturday. Bay View had a fun street festival.

This flipping and jumping group was particularly entertaining!

 Rather than eat on the street, we stopped in Classic Slice for the biggest slice of pizza ever seen. This is one slice cut in half, mind you.

They weren't sure how to handle it, but they did it! 

It was fun to explore this hip neighborhood in Milwaukee.

1st Day of School-YAHOO!!

Abigail meets her teacher, Mrs. DiVilio! (she likes her dress)

Lydia meets her teacher, Mrs. Piper!

Lydia organizes her work box

 I love my microwave monkey bread: gets them fed in no time!

The day before she was full of question-then she was just full of excitement!

Abigail was a little nervous, but had a fantastic morning!

I appreciated Ben helping me send them off for the first day!

 Mrs. Piper posted this picture to ClassDojo:

Cheers (with Jitter Juice) to a great year!!

Labor Day Weekend * Kohler-Andrae Picnic

On Saturday of Labor Day Weekend, we rode some rides at Lionsfest in Oak Creek.

 We all liked the big wheel.

But they liked tilting and twirling even better. 

We ran into the running sausages! 

On Monday we went to Kohler-Andrae Park for a picnic. We love it there: the dunes, the waves, the picnic sites, the cordwalk, the secret trails, the family tradition.

Sarah took this picture of us.

Playing Headbanz

Climbing dunes

 They called this narrow slopey path the 'slip'n'slide.' 

 Beach & Waves

Writing in the sand.

Good-Bye Summer! (Unofficially)

Bookworm Gardens

We went to Bookworm Gardens in Sheboygan with Grandma Linda's friends' grandchildren. It's such a beautiful place, I couldn't help but get some cute pictures!

It's like she knows how to pose!

 Abigail was fascinated by the ballerina.

Classic Abigail face.

 I'm ready to learn!