Zoos, trains, no planes, and a merry go round

Yesterday Lynne, Melissa, Meghan, the twins, and I headed up to Oshkosh to spend time at Menomonee Park and Zoo. The weather could not have been better, sunny with a nice cool breeze off Lake Winnebago. The zoo only has about a dozen animals but we spent over an hour just looking, running, walking, running, etc around in the zoo. Meghan had just been to the Milwaukee Zoo on Tuesday but she seemed to think this small zoo was every bit a nice as that one! The twins favorite part of the zoo was running and finding poles to twirl around. Oh, the simple pleasures of life. Every once in awhile they did stop to pick up some stones or wood chips and throw them. After our zoo tour we rode the little train and merry go round in the park. Cheap prices and long rides made it a good value. I decided I could drive the train when John and I go up there and retire. Seems like a nice easy job. Courtney met us after work and we headed to her house for a picnic lunch on their patio. You can see some of Tizzy's things in the picture. Meghan and the twins ate on her little table and sat in her little chairs. It was another test and all items passed with flying colors. After lunch Paul brought out a basketball for the boys but they seemed more interested in a small pile of dirt they found. Courtney joined us for a trip back to the wooden park to play. What a fun place for kids to explore and have fun! I am hoping that Lynne got back in time to get to work at the Library. We thought we gave her enough time, but traffic was a bit backed up... All in all it was a fun trip for everyone.

Note to Tizzy: It will not be long now and you will be home. Just wait until you ride the little train and merry go round. What a lucky little girl to have all these fun things plus a zoo right across the street! I am learning more and more that a child your age doesn't need any fancy toys, just a pole to twirl around, a small pile of dirt, an old cell phone, and a few testaments are all it takes! See you soon!

Broken flip flops and a proposal-a year ago

About one year ago, Nathan proposed to a complete unknowing Alissa in front of many of her family and friends. It was the kind of proposal that dreams are made of. The only people who knew what was coming was her dad, her brother in law, Paul because he had to make the announcement during the band break, and maybe one or two other men. Nathan knew better than to tell any women about the surprise!

We had just spent a fun afternoon at Sandy Beach celebrating Paul's PhD surrounded by many family members and friends. After a Polish horseshoe tourney, beers, and food everyone headed over to a local bar where Paul's band Spin, Spin Coupling was playing for the night. Band members had come from all over, one as far away as California, to be able to play for Paul's party. I did notice that Nathan seemed to be pacing rather nervously manning a video camera which wasn't too alarming. I did notice also that he hadn't had much too drink which for Nathan is abit alarming, but none of that set off any suspicions in my mind except in hindsight. Alissa, at one point was in a panic because her flip flop had broken and she wasn't able to dance as she wanted so her plan was to go back to Courtney's condo at the break and get a new pair of shoes. Unbeknownst to her, this would not be a doable plan since that is when Nathan was going to pop the question. By this time, Alissa's friend, Laura had been clued in, someone had to keep her in that bar rather than searching for a new shoe. I (remember still suspecting nothing) found it so cute as Laura tried to fix that shoe with tape, safety pins, anything she could russel (not sure that is a word) up from willing donators. Thanks to Laura's help, the flip flop was back in working order, not perfect, but usable for the rest of the evening. At the break, Paul called Nathan up to the mike. All I could think was, "Oh, no he is going to give one of his speeches to celebrate Paul!" There is nothing wrong with Nathan's speeches, but after a few beers they can get a bit sappy so I wasn't sure what was to come here to honor Paul, but suddenly Nathan was talking about how he was at a low point in his life when he met Alissa. He called her up to the stage and got on his knee, produced a ring, popped the question, and the rest is history. Even now as I recall that special night, it brings a smile to my face. We often revisit the moment and laugh about that broken flip flop and all that followed. Years ago when Alissa was having a rather uneventful high school life my prayer for her was to find happiness in life with or without a man. I wasn't sure I would ever get to see her in a wedding dress walking down that aisle, but meeting Nathan that fateful night in a Bloomington Bar changed all that and now on August 30 one of my dreams is being fulfilled as I walk her down the aisle! Life is certainly full of surprises and God is in control of it all. Everything in his perfect time! Who would have thought that Alissa would have such a storybook proposal!

Note to Tizzy: I know this blog entry is all about your Aunt Alissa and Uncle Nathan. I cannot wait until you get to meet both of them. They are such fun loving, silly people who will make you laugh and feel so good. It is also about dreams coming true and never really knowing what lies ahead for any of us! Good life lessons we all need to learn.

Thank yous from our little Tizita

On these ever so cute thank you notes, Tizita is saying Thanks in Amheric! She is already bilingual.

What an exciting day yesteday when I went to get the mail and found these cute thank you notes from our sweet, little Tizita and her mom and dad for the Adoption Celebration! Just to see her cute little face (I cannot say smiling face because she is dead on serious, but those eyes sparkle) was enough to turn a very stormy, muggy Wisconsin August day into a bright perfect one. So far, the month of August is going quickly. While I don't like to wish away time(it usually moves fast enough on its own) I am very anxious for the end of this month. You already know the reasons, Alissa's wedding and Tizita's homecoming! It just is not going to get any better than that!

Note to little Tizita: It won't be long now, little one. Stay healthy and remember how much we all love you and are waiting to hold you in our arms, you are already in our hearts.

I am also waiting to take actual pictures of you! While I am so thankful to have the two that we have, I am ready for a few hundred more and a smile!

A Grandpa's work is never done

This afternoon after Grandpa John washed his own vehicle, he lovingly washed some of Tizzy's riding toys getting them all ready for her!

Tizzy, we cannot wait for you to get here and try these riding toys out. Somehow when we wash them up it makes the wait easier, not sure why!

Blessings abound for this blogger

On this beautiful, sunny Sunday morning I just had to take a few moments to thank God for the wonderful blessings that He has showered on our family.

• In a little more than a month, John and I will be laying eyes on our precious Tizita Desta for the very first time. I can only imagine the way Courtney and Paul will look as they come off the plane with Tizzy in tow. I am guessing very tired, maybe teary eyed, most definitely overjoyed!
• In less than a month our family will be sharing the glorious wedding day of Alissa and Nathan. They have been planning the wedding for a long time and it will be so great to see it all come together and watch them stand before all their friends and family to exchange their vows. Paul's band will be playing which is always a fun time. I am looking forward to dancing the night away as the mother of the bride. This is definitely a dream come true for this mother! An added blessing here: I have a fabulous dress and shoes to wear to the wedding!
• Courtney and Paul have an accepted offer on their condo in Lake Mills. As soon as that sells Courtney never has to work again unless she wants to! They moved into their big, beautiful, old house in Oshkosh last September and it has been a long year to make two house payments, but it is almost over! Thank you , God for the patience for this wait!
• Courtney and Paul will not have to take any money with them to the closing! Although they were more than willing to do that to get rid of that condo.
• Even with John's one fifth of a week lay off and my summer of no pay check we have been very successful in stretching our money and actually purchasing many extras along the way.
• My girls, Nathan, and Paul just spent a lovely Riverfest here and I love hanging out with my kids! I am just so thankful that they tolerate John and I so well, too. We truly have great times together. What a blessing!

I know the list could and should go on and on and on, but it is time to go to church. While I am there I will say a prayer of thanks and praise to God for his goodness! God is so good to us! I hope you are all feeling his Glory right now, too.

It's Riverfest in Watertown

Here we are before our bike ride

Here is John in the pool. He so seldom gets on my blog. He is pretty handsome for an old fellow, heh?

Here I am enjoying the pool


This is the four days of Riverfest in Watertown. It is four days (Thursday to Sunday) of beer drinking, people watching, music, food, and fun at Riverside Park which is the park located right in our backyard. Riverfest has been going on since the girls were about eight and ten. Everyone has their own area in which to congregate and you can usually find people near the beer tent of their choice-Miller vs. Bud. I always enjoy visiting with all the people that I haven't seen for a year and catching up with their latest news. This year we started out on Thursday night with our usual Zwieg's hamburger. Courtney and Paul joined us on Thursday. On Friday morning Courtney, Paul, John, and I took a 14 mile bike ride. Well, actually Paul blew out a tire and had to walk the last three miles! Alissa and Nathan joined us for an afternoon pool party in Mallory's pool and then we all headed down to watch Dennis D. Young put on an awesome concert. Courtney, Paul, Alissa, and Nathan headed out on Saturday since they can only take so much of the festivities. John and I found some more long lost friends tonight and now we are waiting for the fireworks to begin! It has been so much fun to spend time with the girls, Paul, and Nathan. I am so glad they came home for one more Riverfest. I think I hear the first booms so I better head out to catch the fireworks.
Note to Tizzy: We told so many people about you this weekend. By next Riverfest you will be here and Grandpa and I will take you on the rides! I know the dynamics of Riverfest will change when you get here, but I am more than ready to turn in my beers for cotton candy. I wonder how you will like the fireworks?

Meet my new giraffes

Meet my Giraffes, the tall one is Tessa and the smaller one is Casey.

Here's Casey on the left

And here's Tessa!

Two of my favorite Preschool students, Tessa and Casey bought me these two really cool giraffes as an end of the school year present. (A bit late but they had to take some time to find just the right gift they said) I had mentioned to their mom that I am beginning to like giraffes and had purchased a few stuffed ones for Tizzy so she thought I should have these. She figured they would help remind me of Tizzy until she got home. They are a perfect remembrance of those two special students. Luckily there are still two more children up and coming from this family so I won't lose contact for awhile anyway.

Note to Tizzy: I cannot wait to show you my special giraffes. Hurry home, little one!