The Woolfpack Six

This Girl....

2011-05-12T09:13:00.000-04:00

This girl is my firstborn... and was my little buddy when I needed one. I am a Florida girl, born and raised... and when this girl was two, her daddy got a job that moved us north, to Cincinnati, Ohio and I had no idea what living in an area that would actually have seasons and have snow and at times very cold temperatures would be like. I had no idea what it would be like to live away from family because I had never lived more than five minutes away from my mom and dad. But, this girls dad got a job with Procter & Gamble, so off we moved to the great unknown. And let me say, it was the best thing we did. The three of us learned change and unknown together and when this girls daddy went off to his job, I can remember watching him drive off and during the day, me and this girl were on our own.

This girl became a big sister the first time when she was five years old, then again at 9, and then surprisingly again at 14. There has been some typical sibling rivalries and fights along the way... but at the end of the day, this girl has been a great big sister.

Because of this girls daddy's job, she has moved four times and move number five brought her full circle when she moved back to Florida, where she was born, to attend college. Moving has its ups and downs. One of the ups is the friends and memories you make along the way, and this girl has made many lifelong friends. No doubt, Louisiana friends will always hold a special place in her heart. And her Ohio/Kentucky friends are some of her best! Not to mention, this really great guy who came into her life over two years ago.

This girl has done well in her 21 years. Since she is my firstborn, I have learned along the way with her. I suppose as I look back, there are things I might do differently. But, this girl has been away from home for three years now and as I watch her, I know that her daddy and I did a pretty good job. She has worked since she was 15 (almost 16) and this last year of college has been able to hold down a waitressing job, while finishing up her Bachelors degree in Business, graduating with honors and working hard for every A she got. This girl is going to have an internship with the Girl Scouts this summer and then... well, we will put our trust and faith in God, and pray this girl will be able to get a job in the "real world".
And even though she will always be "this girl" to me, she has grown into a beautiful lady on the inside as well as on the outside and I couldn't be more proud. Best wishes to this girl, Krysta Lauren, as she begins this next phase of her life. I am thankful that God gave me this girl... I have truly been blessed.

Baseball Care Package

2011-03-30T16:23:00.000-04:00

Our family loves Baseball. We love football and basketball too, but there's just something about the crack of a bat, being at a stadium and enjoying a baseball game. Here's the thing... our family is a house divided... with all sports teams. We have lived in five states and all of us are fans of different teams. Because we have lived in Cincinnati for the majority of our time since having children, we became Cincinnati Reds fans... until almost three years ago when we moved to St. Louis, and the head of the house and my little man, became Cards fans! The girls and I have remained loyal to the Reds. Krysta, our oldest who lives in Tampa now, is a fan of a few teams. Reds first and foremost, then the Tampa Bay Rays and her all time favorite player is Josh Hamiton of the Texas Rangers. I LOVE... love, love, love to put care packages together for Krysta. I wish I could do one every week for her, but the cost of shipping is ridiculous, so every few months (usually a holiday) I send her and some of her friends essentials that she needs, snacks of different kinds, gift cards, holiday decorations, etc. So...I decided to surprise her with an Opening Day care package filled with baseball goodies. I got a text this morning from her that said, "COOLEST PACKAGE EVER!!!!" Made me smile. So... here's to a great baseball season for the Reds! oh and maybe the Cards... or Rays... or Rangers... or whatever team you are pulling for.

Care package in the making... Snickerdoodle White Chocolate Popcorn & White Chocolate Popcorn... Yumminess!!

The finished product: Peanuts, Cracker Jacks, Yummy Popcorn, Baseball Fun Facts, Reds schedule and plates, Baseball tin pails filled with baseball cards and snacks. :)

Spring Snow Shower

2011-03-28T00:33:00.000-04:00

A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water. ~Carl Reiner (Especially at the end of March... michelle woolf)

Welcome Spring...

2011-03-23T16:21:00.000-04:00

... hoping you will stay around for a bit. :)

Spring Break 2011

2011-03-21T16:12:00.000-04:00

We usually go to Florida...last year it was Orlando and the past few years before that we went to Destin and enjoyed the beautiful beach. This year, because of some other trips coming up that we are taking... we opted for a long weekend in Cincinnati. We spent the first part of the week here in STL and on the first morning, this is what we woke up to...

Thankfully, it warmed up within the next day and melted... because we ARE OVER IT!!!
We did have a quick trip to Cincinnati... spent time with friends and went to the zoo. A visit to Cincy always go by too fast for me... hope to be back for good one of these days.

My Favorite little man

2011-03-10T15:20:00.000-05:00

Hello? Anyone there?

2011-02-25T15:48:00.002-05:00

I haven't blogged in so very long... I wonder if anyone even looks on here anymore. Ever since I started doing facebook, just seems like there isn't a point to blogging. But, I do enjoy getting on here from time to time and looking through the last few years... where we were then and where we are now... and wondering what lies in store for us in the future.
At this time... Krysta is in her third year of college... finishing up her business degree in three years instead of four! If all falls into place... she will be graduating in May. She has gone above and beyond as always in her academics, working part time and becoming the sweet, young lady I knew she we turn out to be.
Natalie, is a junior in high school... having a great semester academically... and as strong willed as ever. :) In the process of looking for a part time job and needing her own spending money.
Maggie is a busy girl... still playing piano, playing basketball, and loving anything and everything about Justin Bieber. She definitely has Bieber Fever!
Jake is in first grade and if you asked him he would tell you he is not a fan of going to school. But, he is doing great and has changed so much this winter. Longer hair, lost several teeth... just growing up and being the boy that he is. He gave basketball a shot and did well, but his love is baseball and he is very excited that baseball is just around the corner and practice will be starting soon.
This has been a long winter... kids missed 10 days because of snow or ice and will be making that up. I was lucky enough to go surprise my bestest friend Sandy for her 40th birthday at the end of January and then got to see her and lots of friends just a few weeks later for a 20 year reunion in Tampa. Was a nice get away with some warmer temperatures and being with such a fun group of girls!!
Jeff is looking forward to warmer temps here so he can get back into his bike riding.
Wow... I haven't done this in so long... I'll have to refresh my memory on posting a few pics. Until next time... hopefully it won't be too long.

Play Ball!

2010-05-11T13:55:00.003-04:00

Jake's baseball season has started. This year it is pitching machine... they get 5 swings and if they don't hit it, then they get to hit if off a tee. Jake is getting use to the pitching machine... but really is more about the uniform and just being at the ball field. He is having fun and that's okay with me. He tried to convince me the night of his first game that he needed to stay home from school that day so he would be well rested and ready for his game. Nice try, but I didn't go for it. :)

The end of the blog??

2010-03-26T14:04:00.003-04:00

Now that I post most of my pictures on facebook, I'm not really keeping up with my blog anymore. I enjoy looking through it though to remember past events and what was going on in our lives over the past couple of years. We recently made a trip to Florida for our spring break. We spent time with Krysta & Grant and had a fun filled day at Disney World. My best friend and her family were there and it was fun to spend the time with them also. Vacations are so nice... a change from the everyday routine... but as the week was ending, I sure was ready to get back home and into a routine. Not sure when I'll post again... but will keep this blog up and running so we can go down memory lane every now and then. :)

Christmas '09... Cancun and Texas

2010-01-23T08:57:00.004-05:00

This year we spent the holidays in Austin, TX with my family. Jeff and I were able take a mini vacation to Cancun for a few days before Christmas. A big thank you to my sister who helped with Jake while we were gone. This year we have a new member in the family to hold and give lots of kisses to... baby Corey... my brother and his wife's new little baby. Everyone was happy with their gifts this year. We hope everyone is having a Happy and Healthy 2010 so far.

Thanksgiving... just us!

2009-12-01T10:03:00.004-05:00

This year we spent Thanksgiving in STL and it was just us plus Grant. We usually spend Thanksgiving with Jeff's family but this year plans were different for everyone so we spent turkey day at home with no extras. It was different... just weird to not have extra family members around, but it was enjoyable and relaxing as well. The big kids, Jeff and Jake went to see the movie Blind Side that night while Mags and I just chilled at home watching Elf & The Grinch. It was a good weekend. Now... to get ready for the upcoming Christmas Holiday!!

Jake turns 6!

2009-12-01T09:56:00.002-05:00

My little guy is growing up! Jake turned six on the day before Thanksgiving and was very happy that Krysta and Grant got in town on his big day! We had a family celebration at home with an ice cream cake. Then he had a party with a few of his friends on Saturday at Planet Fun! Jake was very excited to get a skateboard, something he has been wanting for awhile now. Happy Birthday Jake!

Maggie turns 11 & Halloween Fun!

2009-11-03T11:34:00.010-05:00

Trick or Treat fun with our Friends

Natalie bringing back the 80's, Jake as Optimus Prime, & Maggie the Creepy Clown

Hayride Fun with Friends

Maggie's Peacin' Birthday Cookie

Fall '09

2009-10-26T15:24:00.004-04:00

We have had some gloomy days here in STL this fall... but when the sun comes out, what a treat!! The colors this year are just beautiful and this past Saturday we took the kids to go pick some pumpkins. We also took a little hike to enjoy the gorgeous weather we were having that day.

Krysta moves back to Florida

2009-08-26T15:21:00.003-04:00

Krysta is back in the Sunshine State... ready to start her second year of college. I drove down with her to help her get moved back into the dorms and see some friends and family while I was there. Krysta stayed busy this summer working and taking a couple of online courses and was very ready to get back to get into her school routine. She will be taking 19 hours this semester. GOOD LUCK Krysta!

Happy 15th to Natalie!!

2009-08-13T08:47:00.002-04:00

What a difference a year makes!! Last year, we had just moved to STL, and Natalie's birthday fell on her first day of high school, in a new town. Needless to say, many tears were shed that day and it truly was the worst birthday my Natalie has had. But, things were much better this year. Although, once again, her first day of school fell on her actual birthday (Aug. 12), no tears were shed and I would have to say overall, this birthday was much better. We are so proud of Natalie and the sweet, funny, crazy, young lady she is turning into. We love you... Happy Birthday!

Friends come to town

2009-08-11T10:25:00.003-04:00

This past weekend Maggie's best friend LeeAnn from Cincinnati, and her sister Hannah came for a quick visit to STL. Their mom Kim and Nana Sheila got to tag along also. :) We went to The Muny on Friday night to see the play Hairspray and then went to see the Arch on Saturday. The girls had a fun time being together and it was nice for them to make the drive this way to see us.

Jake starts Kindergarten

2009-07-16T18:15:00.003-04:00

Today Jake started Kindergarten and Maggie began her 5th grade year. Yes, it is a bit early to begin school but the elementary school in our district goes year round so in nine weeks, Jake and Maggie will have a 3 week break. This continues until the summer when they have a six week summer break. And yes, it is short and goes by way too fast. Jake had a good first day of Kindergarten. He was excited to ride the bus to school and the only "bad" thing was a wasp bite he got at recess but was able to get ice put on it in the nurses office. I'm looking forward to having some "me" time but also looking forward to getting more involved with the school this year.

4th of July Weekend Family Visit

2009-07-07T23:27:00.003-04:00

This fourth of July weekend we had company from Texas! GranC, Aunt Heather and Ryan came in for a too quick visit but we are so glad they did. Ryan and Jake had a blast together. They get along so well and just makes me wish we lived closer so they could spend more time together. The weather was rainy and overcast most of the weekend but much cooler temperatures than what they are use to in Texas. GranC watched the little guys while all us big kids went downtown to the Arch for our 4th of July celebration. It was good to be with family this weekend and we are so blessed and thankful for the freedoms we have in this country and for the men and women who make sacrifices so that we can have that! Hope everyone had a Happy 4th!!

Summertime Fun

2009-06-24T16:31:00.004-04:00

Our summer started off with Natalie & Maggie going to FC camp in Ohio. This is the highlight of their summer every year. While they were at camp, Jake and I, were able to spend the time with my best friend Sandy and her boys in Birmingham. It was a much needed visit and Jake had a blast being with Sullivan and Camden. We stayed a little longer in Cincinnati/NKY so the girls could be with some of their friends after camp was over. We got home only to head back out the next day to go to Kansas City to be with Jeff's family for Father's Day weekend. Now we are home and just trying to stay cool in this crazy heat wave we are having. ** More pictures in the Summertime Fun '09 link **

Memorial Day with the Elephants

2009-05-26T10:21:00.003-04:00

Most of the Woolfpack made a drive to check out Elephant Rocks State Park for Memorial Day. Jake loved climbing the rocks and walking the trail. We had almost made it to the end of the trail before the sky opened and the rains came down! Other than the long, curvy ride home it was a good time for all.

Jake graduates from Preschool

2009-05-22T10:06:00.003-04:00

My little man graduated from preschool last night. It had been a busy day for him. We started off spending the day with friends where he rode bikes, scooters, and just did the boy thing outside most of the day. As soon as we got home, he went straight to the neighbors house where he played in the hot tub. Then came home to get ready to head to his TBall game. After sliding more times than he needed to and being completely covered in dirt, we headed straight to his graduation ceremony. Overall, he did really well. I anticipated a meltdown at some point which happened when we had to leave his TBall game a few minutes early to be on time for graduation and he totally lost it because we didn't get his snack after the game. When the kids received their certificate they were asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Lots of cute answers... firefighter, doctor, a jet fighter pilot, Cinderella, a mom , a dad, the usual answers. Then Jake has his turn and his answer? "A King!" What in the world??? I was totally expecting a baseball player or sports of some sort... but no... a ruler! O'well... it got a good laugh.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T21:10:00.003-04:00

We hope everyone had a Happy Easter with family and friends or whatever your tradition may be. Ours was simple... just us... and too much chocolate for the kids. A little on the chilly side... hopefully warmer temperatures will be here to stay soon!

Brrrr!! A Cold Opening Day!

2009-04-07T09:58:00.002-04:00

Yesterday we woke up to cold temperatures and as Maggie was heading out for the bus, the snow started coming down. It was coming down pretty good for awhile, but nothing that was sticking to the ground. Just enough to put a chill in the air. The girls represented the Reds by wearing their new Cincinnati Reds t-shirts which of course, they got several snide remarks about at school. Jake was very excited to watch the game on tv (no he didn't watch the whole thing) but he lasted longer than I expected. Of course, while watching it he saw a vendor in the background with cotton candy and said, "Next time we go to a Reds game, I want cotton candy!" The Reds lost... but we are excited that baseball season has officially started. :)

Florida Fun

2009-03-23T08:45:00.003-04:00

The girls, including Krysta, were on Spring Break this past week so we spent the time in our all time favorite vacation spot, Destin, FL. Krysta and her boyfriend Grant joined us as did JJ, Angie and their boys. Jeff's parents also joined us for a couple of nights and we celebrated Jeff's birthday and Granddaddy Jack's 65th birthday while they were there. The kids had an absolute blast and if not in the pool were at the beach or playing putt putt, or jammin to guitar hero, or fishing at the pier, or looking for crabs at night, or eating out and having some great seafood, or shopping, or just hanging out and enjoying being with family. The weather was absolutely perfect after a couple of days of rain and the week went by too quickly. Only 5 more weeks before Krysta finishes her first year of college and is home for the summer. :)

Melissa comes to STL!

2009-03-12T08:52:00.003-04:00

We were so happy that our good friend Melissa Mayo made the drive from Cincinnati to come spend part of her spring break with us. After Jake's soccer game on Saturday, we spent the day taking her out for good food and to the Arch. It was a first for us to go to the top of the Arch... 630 feet up! We had lunch at Pappy's Smokehouse and then had dessert at Crown Candy! We hope more of our Cincinnati friends will come see us soon!!

Running Krysta

2009-02-28T19:33:00.003-05:00

Krysta kept busy this month running in her first 1/2 marathon and the Gasparilla 15K. Here are a few pictures of her accomplishments and her big supporter, Grant! Way to Go Krysta!!

Quick Trip to Cincinnati

2009-02-23T16:56:00.003-05:00

Michelle, Natalie and Maggie made a quick road trip to Cincinnati over the weekend to attend Rachel Litmer and Adam Knollman's wedding. We all had fun being with our friends. Maggie was able to surprise her best friend LeeAnn Saylor... who had no clue she was coming to town. Natalie was able to be with her bff's Kaily, Melissa and Erica and Michelle had fun with her best girlfriends too. Rachel was a beautiful bride and fun was had by all.

Winter in St. Louis

2009-01-28T12:37:00.002-05:00

The kids have had no school for two days now due to some ice and mostly snow. Thankfully it isn't as bad here as it is for our friends to the east of us in NKY/Cincy. It's pretty to look at, but gets old quickly for me at least.

Boys night out... at the Rodeo!

2009-01-10T23:59:00.002-05:00

Jeff and Jake had boys night out... while Michelle, Natalie and Maggie had a girls night out. Jeff took Jake to the rodeo of all places!! And, in true Jake fashion... he went with his cowboy hat and ended up coming home with a rope and is now interested in lassoing anything in sight. The girls and I went to see a movie... Marley & me and if you have not seen this movie and plan on going... take the tissues!! Needless to say, our dog Molly has gotten some major attention since we got home. A few pictures of Jake and getting caught up in his rope.

A Texas Christmas

2008-12-31T10:26:00.003-05:00

This year we made the drive to Austin to spend Christmas with my family. We went through Kansas City for a Christmas dinner with Jeff's family and to drop off the dog. Oh... the joys (not really) of having a dog. We enjoyed our time with both families and the kids really enjoyed being with their cousins. Jeff and I even got away for a couple of days down to San Antonio and a HUGE thank you to my family for keeping the kids while we were down there. The kids all were happy with what was left under the tree but most especially, just being together. We hope everyone enjoyed the holidays with family and friends and have a blessed upcoming 2009. **Lots more pictures in the Texas Xmas '08 link**

Krysta's Day!!

2008-12-17T08:51:00.004-05:00

Hmmm... where have the last 19 years gone? Happy Birthday Krysta!! Hope it's a great year for you. :)

Thanksgiving Weekend

2008-12-01T07:47:00.006-05:00

We had a nice Thanksgiving weekend with Krysta being in town. Some of Jeff's family was also able to be with us on Turkey Day and we enjoyed lots of food, playing games and just being together. We woke up to our first St. Louis snow on Sunday morning and Jake was thrilled to be able to go out and play in it. We hope all of our friends and family had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

Happy Birthday Jake!!

2008-11-25T13:03:00.003-05:00

I don't remember any of my girls being as excited as Jake is to turn 5. In his mind, for some reason that I don't know, this is a big one!! For the last couple of days he keeps saying, "I can't believe I will be 5!" So... first thing this morning the words out of his mouth were, "Mommy... I'm 5 today!" And he has proceeded to tell that to anyone who he is in contact with. Yes, my baby is 5 years old today. It makes me a little sad to see him growing up. We had his birthday party over the weekend with a pirate theme. We had a treasure hunt that included walking the plank, pin the patch on the pirate, crawling through a tunnel, treasure toss game, jumping in a bouncy house and then finally finding the treasure which was a pinata. Overall it went well but I'm glad it is over. Happy 5th Birthday Jake! We love you.

Let this be a lesson...

2008-11-19T11:04:00.003-05:00

Well, I have finally gotten a treadmill... and of course, right away... there is an injury. When mom's away... the children will play. Jake, under Natalie's supervision, decided he wanted to go faster and Natalie thought, or actually really didn't, okay!! So... she proceeds to push the speed up and even though I did not witness it, Jake fell flat and went flying! It really could have have been much worse, but I did not think the crying would ever stop.

The Day After the Election

2008-11-05T14:37:00.000-05:00

The Day After the Election

The day after the election, regardless of who wins:
Jesus will still be King.

Our responsibilities as Christians will not have changed one iota.

The greatest agent for social change in America will still be winning the hearts and minds of men and women through the gospel, not legislation.

My primary citizenship will still be in this order – (1) the Kingdom of God, (2) America, not vice-versa.

The tomb will still be empty.

The cross, not the government, will still be our salvation.
Our children will still be more concerned with whether or not we spend time with them than with who is President.

My neighbor will still be my neighbor, and loving him/her will still be the second greatest commandment.

The only way to see abortion ultimately overturned will still be winning men and women to a high view of life through the gospel of Christ.

The only way to see gay marriage ultimately defeated will still be winning men and women to a biblical view of marriage through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

My retirement will still not match my treasure in Heaven.
“Jesus Is Lord” will still be the greatest truth in the Universe.

We will still know that God is in control.
From Wyman Richardson

Quick Trip to KC

2008-11-03T13:44:00.010-05:00

Maggie holding her new cousin Brady.

Jake's mohawk! He's been wanting one and Uncle JJ obliged! Don't worry... it was buzzed off the next morning.

Grandma Great with 6 of her great grandkids.

Jake & Mason on their way to their first NFL football game.

Jake, Jeff, Natalie, Mason & JJ ready for the game!

Trick or Treat?

2008-11-01T08:24:00.003-04:00

Halloween with Friends
Happy Halloween
The Red Power Ranger
Sweet Wicked Witch
The Joker!

Maggie turns 10!!

2008-10-30T10:05:00.003-04:00

Today is Maggie's birthday, but we celebrated last weekend when I took her and a few of her school friends to see High School Musical 3. She had a fun time with her friends and we will do our family celebration tonight. Happy Birthday Miss Mags!!

Fall Break in the 'Nati

2008-10-10T14:29:00.003-04:00

The girls were off for Fall Break this past week... Maggie has been off for 3 weeks for her cycle break... so we loaded up the van and headed to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky to spend time with our friends. We stayed on the go most of the time. Michelle was able to attend the Ladies Retreat one night, we went to Fear Fest at Kings Island, all the kids got to spend the night out with friends from either church or school, Maggie and her best friend LeeAnn got their ears pierced and she even got to go to her old school and spend half a day with what would have been her 4th grade class, Jeff stayed busy working during the week, Jake loved the hot tub at the hotel and it wouldn't be a trip unless someone gets sick which is what happened with Jake who got strep throat right away. Thankfully, I was able to get him in to our former pediatrician and get meds going for him. It was great getting to be with friends and get away for a few days. We just wish Krysta could have been with us. We miss everyone terribly but hope to be back in that area for good in a couple of years. **More pictures in a Fall Break Shutterfly album to the right.**

Missing Krysta

2008-09-20T19:18:00.003-04:00

Krysta is doing well and staying busy in Florida. If she's not studying, she's running cross country. I think the first month was more of an adjustment than she realized it would be, but hopefully she is in a routine now and enjoying college life. Here are a few pictures from cross country fun... two taken at Daytona Beach after their meet, nice and early this morning. We can't wait til we get to see her on Christmas Break. We miss you Krysta!! Love you!

The Coach Stands Corrected

2008-09-13T20:22:00.002-04:00

Actually... it would be the Assistant Coach of Jake's Soccer team. Just had to share this funny (at least his mom thinks so) moment. After making his third goal today and running over to the sidelines, Jake's asst. coach all nice and pumping the kids up says, "Way to go Jake! You made two goals!" To which Jake high fives him and says, "Actually, I made free" and holds up three fingers. His team won 10-1 today... but we don't keep score. ;)

Soccer Saturday's Begin

2008-09-06T18:05:00.004-04:00

This is where we will be spending our Saturday's for the next couple of months... the soccer field. Jake's team is the Sharks and it's very basic... no refs, no keeping score... just aiming the kids towards the right goal and pretty much just hoping your kid gets the hang of it and has fun. Jake's game was at 1:00 today and he was in his uniform as soon as he got out of bed today. It was all he could talk about until time to leave... he was so excited. For awhile Jake only seemed interested in us and if we were watching him so he focused more on us on the sidelines than he did on the game itself. But, as the game progressed he started getting the hang of it and did get two goals. Thankfully... the games only last an hour. Maggie spent her morning at a cheerleading clinic with one of the local high school squads. She will get to perform at halftime with all the girls at the next home football game.

Jake's last year of Pre School

2008-09-04T15:28:00.005-04:00

One excited little boy... ready to go to school!

Jake's new back pack. He chose Star Wars over Spiderman or Batman because this is the game he plays on his friends Wii.

Jake making friends and sitting on his letter mat.

Labor Day Weekend with Family & Friends

2008-09-01T18:39:00.005-04:00

We hope everyone had a nice, enjoyable long weekend. Jeff's sister Angie and her husband Dallas were in town so we were happy to get to visit with them. The kids had fun spending the night with friends, swimming, riding 4 wheelers, watching movies, and playing video games as the summer starts coming to an end.

Angie, Dallas & the Pack
Jake with his buddies Turner & Trey
Maggie & her friend Taylor

Who needs a pool??

2008-08-24T20:23:00.004-04:00

One of the biggest adjustments for the kids since the move has been not having access to a pool like we did in Kentucky. Especially for Jake since he's the one who is home all day while the girls are in school. He does enjoy taking baths and when I walked in to check on him the other day, this is what I found. Jake in his goggles and swim trunks swimming and splashing and making the best of the situation. He's also been totally into the Olympics, especially the swimming and all the attention on the amazing Michael Phelps.

Krysta's Move to Tampa

2008-08-21T10:41:00.005-04:00

We had a good, and busy trip to Tampa while moving Krysta into her dorm. She and Jeff drove and before they were even out of St. Louis, she had car trouble. Thankfully, they were able to get to a dealer and get what was wrong fixed and thankfully, at the expense of the dealership who had just put in new brakes and had done it wrong. Nice!!

I think the most noticeable change for Krysta was the HUMIDITY as she got out of her car. Welcome to Florida is all I can say about that. It was good getting to see a few families from back in Cincinnati and since Tampa is home for me, it's always a good time to see old FL friends from church and on the campus.

Jeff & I finally got out to a movie (kid free) and saw The Dark Knight. We also squeezed in a pre-season Tampa Bay Bucs game that was great to watch. I went out and visited my grandmother and aunt and had fun doing some last minute shopping for Krysta and picking up souvenirs for the three back at home.

Of course, it wouldn't be natural to move into the dorms without the threat of a hurricane and that's just what we got... Fay!! But, we got out Monday night and turns out, the hurricane never even got near Tampa... of course!!

Another big thanks to my parents for coming and helping out with the kids while we were gone. They had fun taking them to the Arch and going out to eat. Also, they got more boxes emptied for us and got some little jobs done for us and that was nice to come home to.

There She Goes...

2008-08-14T23:52:00.004-04:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Krysta packed and loaded up her car today to head to Tampa, Florida for first year in college. Do we really have a daughter going to college? We have enjoyed having Krysta with us this last month in St. Louis... we actually got to see her and spend time with her since she wasn't working. And, we think she enjoyed the time off for a few weeks to sleep in... watch movies... and just chill before she has to get serious again with her studies, etc. A HUGE thank you to GranC and Granddaddy Mike for coming in from Texas to help with the other kiddos while we are gone helping Krysta get moved in.

Happy Birthday Nat!

2008-08-12T10:13:00.003-04:00

Today Natalie turns 14 years old and it is also her first day of High School. I think I've posted before how much Natalie DOES NOT like school. So, to have her first day in High School, in a new area, on her birthday... well... let's just say she was less than thrilled to be waking up at 6 a.m. to catch the bus at 6:40. We had a little celebration for her over the weekend with some of her friends that she knows from the Ohio camp who live nearby. Tonight, we will take her out for dinner for a family celebration. Happy Birthday Nat! We love you!

Grandparents come for a Visit

2008-08-04T09:14:00.002-04:00

Jeff's parents came for a visit this weekend from Kansas City. The trip to come see us has gone from a 10 hour drive to about a 3 1/2 hour drive so that is nice. We spent most of the day on Saturday doing jobs around the house and got quite a bit done with their help. Saturday night we went downtown for dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory and it was delicious. Then, we headed over to the City Museum for an hour of fun for Maggie & Jake. Although from what I heard (we split up into 2 groups), Granddaddy Jack seemed to have as much fun if not more than the kids did. This is definitely a place we want to go back to when we have more time. Very cool!

First Arch Visit

2008-07-28T13:43:00.009-04:00

Fitz's on the Loop

Jake and a funny clown at the street market.

Museum that is underground at the Arch

At the base of the Arch

Well... technically it's not our first visit to the arch, but it is our first one as residents of the St. Louis area. Tim, Krysta's boyfriend came to town for the weekend so on Saturday we headed over to Fitz's on the Loop for an early dinner and some root beer. Then we met up with Krysta & Tim at the arch... we took the metro link and they drove. It was an hour wait to go up into the arch so we decided just to walk around the little free museum and go back at a later date with Elijah & Mason the next time they come for a visit. Natalie spent the weekend in New Albany, IN for a youth lectureship and got to be with her best friend Kaily Steele. Unfortunately, the camera she took was dead so there are no pictures to post from that.

Planet Fun

2008-07-25T09:58:00.005-04:00

Every day I have been unpacking boxes, helping the girls figure out what they should keep, what they shouldn't keep, entertaining Jake, etc. etc. Needless to say, it has gotten old. I feel like I'm kind of at a stand still until we get empty boxes broken down and out into the garage which I did some of that last night just to feel like I accomplished something. But before that, I decided there would be no unpacking yesterday and we would find a place for Jake so he could run around and get some energy off. With it raining, we opted for an indoor playground and went to Planet Fun...which has all kinds of climbing and crawling tubes and some arcade games. Jake had a blast just running and playing while the girls and I played games...mostly skee ball. Also, taking silly pictures which Jake wanted nothing to do with.

This excites me!!

2008-07-20T16:33:00.003-04:00

We discovered that about 10-15 minutes away from our house, we have a Target Greatland. We have a couple of Target's closer than that, but if you know me and how much I enjoy Target... you know that this makes me happy. ;) And even better... not too far from it is a Mimi's Cafe. Mmmmmm!!!!

An evening at a Cardinals Game

2008-07-19T14:21:00.007-04:00

Last night we headed to downtown St. Louis to take in a Cardinals game. We parked and then rode the train which took us right to the ballpark. Busch Stadium is nice...but some of us are partial to the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. Krysta even sported her Josh Hamilton Reds t-shirt (who now plays for the Texas Rangers) to the game. We overheard several remarks about the Cincinnati Reds in passing but nothing too bad. It was actually a good game and in the end the Cards pulled it out with a victory over the Padres. The kids seemed to enjoy it...except for Natalie who is not a big fan of baseball and still having a hard time adjusting to her new surroundings. Hopefully, in time, things for her will get better. Here are a few pics. from the game and one of the kids waiting for the train.

Enjoying the game

Krysta not impressed with Jake's t-shirt

Maggie back to school

2008-07-18T12:47:00.003-04:00

Maggie's first day of 4th grade started yesterday. Bless her little heart. Actually, she was very excited after buying her school supplies and going to her open house. She had a good first day and said that the playground is "amazing". When she got home from school, it wasn't too long before Uncle JJ & Aunt Angie, Elijah and Mason came pulling in for a quick visit on their way to Nashville. The kids are looking forward to living closer to their Missouri cousins.

For those feeling left out (Kimmylouwho)

2008-07-17T13:16:00.002-04:00

Natalie made a 3 day trip down south to Lexington to stay with her friend Kaylan Butler and Ellie Swisher before our move to St. Louis. I guess I didn't mention that in my last post...slight oversight on my part. Natalie had a great time with her friends and a HUGE thank you to Kim & Teddy for letting them stay with them and run them where they wanted to go. And just a reminder to Kim... St. Louis is WEST, not South. Just in case you ever come for a visit. ;)

We're Here...

2008-07-16T22:39:00.003-04:00

Just a quick update on our move...
The morning of our move, we woke up to a poster in our front yard wishing us luck from our neighbors. The guys got there on time to start loading the truck which ended up taking longer than we expected. But, in all fairness, for two guys doing all the work, it was quite amazing to see what all they do and carry out. And let me just add... we have SO MUCH JUNK!!! Hopefully we will be able to clean out as we unpack and get rid of a lot of it. We ended up not getting away from our house until 9 p.m. which put us at our hotel at 2 a.m. Then, we had to be up early to get the dog to a kennel for a few days, walk through our house here and close on it at 10 a.m. Whew!! We were so tired. But, we are now in our house and all I see are boxes everywhere. We have lost space in some areas (mainly the master bedroom and closet) but have extra space in other areas so we'll have to try and figure out where we will be putting things in this house. On a sidenote: On our way here, we made a very quick pit stop in Louisville and got to see my best friend Sandy and her boys who happen to be there visiting her family. We are thankful we got here safely and now will be busy getting settled.

One last post before packing up...

2008-07-09T15:09:00.003-04:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The packers (no, not from Green Bay) will be here tomorrow so I thought I would share what we have been doing our last few days here. Trips to Kings Island and Boomerang Bay, sleepovers, sleepovers, sleepovers, Jake's tball games, getting our Skyline chili fix, a few girls nights out for Michelle, and just trying to soak up whatever time we can get in with our friends before we leave. If all goes as planned, we will be heading to St. Louis on Monday, the 14th. I will post something as soon as we are up and running there and I get a second or two. Until then...

Bittersweet 4th of July!

2008-07-04T20:41:00.002-04:00

This is happening all too quickly!! We are under 10 days on the countdown!! Today was a 4th of July/Going Away potluck given to us by our dear friends from church. I suppose it was fitting that we had to change the location from outdoor to indoor at the last minute to our clubhouse, due to rain we had all morning. Someone said, "This party isn't just because we are going to miss you, but because we will miss the clubhouse too." We have definitely gotten lots of use out of our clubhouse. There was lots of good food, yummy desserts, but most of all more time to be with one another. A HUGE thanks to all who were involved in getting it put together, contributing to our gift, and for being there for us. We are so thankful for the friendships we have made in our 6 1/2 years here and for the examples you have been to our children. Happy 4th!!

Pool time!!

2008-06-27T19:18:00.005-04:00

Several people have asked me what Maggie's reaction was to finding out she starts school so soon when we move to St. Louis. Maggie had more of a reaction when she found out we won't be living in a "pool community" and lots of tears were shed over that. Which was a perfect segway for me to tell her that it really wouldn't matter because... she will start school 2 days after we get there. I really emphasized how much she loves school, she would be able to make new friends right away, and when she is off for 3 weeks, Natalie would be in school. She thought that was pretty cool. As for me... I realized, I will always have a kid with me since she and Natalie won't be on the same schedule. O well!!! For the time being... we are taking full advantage of the pool and spending what time we can there while we are still here.

Woolfpack to the Rescue!

2008-06-23T11:42:00.006-04:00

Today started off with early morning (too early for Krysta & Natalie) dentist appointments for the kids. I have been a bad mommy and not been good at keeping up with re-scheduling for cleanings and today was Jake's very first dentist appointment. He did fabulous sitting still while his teeth were being cleaned and checked and guess what? Not one cavity for the little guy!! Maggie on the other hand does have one that needs to filled but out of 4 kids, only one cavity, so I'm happy about that. On our way home after making a donut stop which I'm sure the dentist would frown upon, we saw a turtle crossing the road on 42. So... as I pass it and realize it's a turtle, Krysta begs me to turn around and check it out. She LOVES turtles and has been wanting one for some time now. I make a u-turn and Nat jumps out and rescues the turtle from oncoming traffic. I thought for sure we would witness it being flattened right in front of us, but thankfully the traffic went around the moving target. We brought it home and watched it for little while... and then took it to the pond for a proper release.

As the sign says...

2008-06-13T08:14:00.003-04:00

I wish this was the sign in our front yard... but not the case. However, there should be a sign in St. Charles, MO that will look like this in a few days because after much looking...and quickly I might add... we did find a house and as of late last night, finally will have a house to move into. It's not our first choice, that got sold while we were there, not our second choice, we were outbid on the same day, but it is in the neighborhood we like and close to shopping, etc. So... our closing date is July 15th and Maggie will start school on July 17th. The elementary schools go year round so Maggie will have a very short summer. Thankfully, she loves school and this will hopefully help her make friends quickly. I haven't broken the news to her yet.... she's at FC camp this week and I wanted her to enjoy that before filling her in on when she goes back to school. Wish me luck!

She did it... Krysta graduated!!

2008-06-07T16:08:00.004-04:00

Krysta graduated from Larry A. Ryle High School Thursday night. Jeff's family was able to be in town to help celebrate this occasion with us. There are lots more pictures to share, but I will have to post them later when I have more time. Way to go K-Dub!!

Natalie's 8th grade graduation

2008-06-04T07:37:00.005-04:00

Natalie has finished 8th grade and has a certificate to prove it. She's not a big fan of school... but she had a good year and we are proud of all she has accomplished so far. One more graduation to go....

Hip Hoppin'

2008-05-31T22:22:00.000-04:00

Tonight was Maggie's Hip Hop Recital. She's been going practically all school year on Thursday nights and finally got to perform her hip hop routine to the song, "Take it to the floor." Her best friend Bella Spiritoso was also in her class and they had a fun time performing this routine for their talent show at school last week. The girls did a great job and for a treat, we all went to Graeter's afterwards for some ice cream. Way to go girls!!

Look Who's One!!

2008-05-28T08:18:00.005-04:00

Happy Birthday Connor!! You've come a long way baby and we are so happy!!

Weekend in St. Louis

2008-05-26T18:43:00.004-04:00

This is Natalie... hiding as we are crossing the bridge over to St. Louis.

Jake up close with a hippo at the zoo.

Maggie up close with a bird at the zoo.

Since we had a long holiday weekend, we decided it would be a good time to visit St. Louis with the kids, excluding Krysta who had to work. If it had been up to Natalie, she wouldn't have gone either... but... it wasn't up to her. We got in late Saturday afternoon and went straight to the zoo which is free. We saw what we could in about an hour and a half then headed out for some b-b-que. On Sunday we were able to visit a couple of congregations and spent the afternoon looking at 6 different houses with a realtor. We spent a lot of time just driving around and looking at neighborhoods and different places that were in the area. Jake & Maggie were both stunned to find out there are no Skyline chili places to eat in St. Louis. Guess we will have to stock up before we move.

Maggie movin' on up

2008-05-21T08:46:00.004-04:00

Lots of fun in the creek!

Maggie receiving her junior girl scout wings

Maggie has just completed her second year as a brownie girl scout and yesterday, "bridged over" to being a junior girl scout. She had a fun year with her troop and got to go on several field trips, have parties, but mostly just enjoyed the friendships she has made through the last few years. Her troop had an all day fun day at a local park (no school yesterday) which ended with a little ceremony for the girls.

Mother's Day weekend in Texas

2008-05-14T06:02:00.003-04:00

With life fixing to be crazy as I know it... I decided a visit to Texas was in order. So, Jake and I flew to Austin to see my family for a few days. Jake was very excited to be flying on an airplane. As we took off and were in the air he kept saying, "I am so excited!" Then as he watched out the window, as we were going through the clouds, he decided we must be in heaven. After awhile he told me he didn't want to be in heaven anymore, he was ready to be in Texas!! Jake had a blast playing with his cousins Ryan & Katie. Three 4 year olds who had their own strong wills but were hilarious (and rotten at times). I finally got to meet my nephew Connor who is an absolute sweetheart! He's almost a year old now and weighing in at 18 lbs. Don't forget... he weighed less than 2 lbs. when he was born. It wasn't necessarily a relaxing trip...kids were involved...but it was nice to get away and be with my mom and sisters over the Mother's Day weekend. More pictures in Texas Trip link.

Snakes, Geese, A boy & A dog

2008-04-28T13:19:00.009-04:00

Jake's new favorite thing to do now that the weather is so gorgeous, is to take a walk around the pond. There is a little trail that everytime we get to it he says, "Let's go lookin' for snakes!" Where he came up with this, I have no idea. But, I indulge him and we go lookin'. Thankfully, we haven't seen any snakes yet. Today, I let him take Molly with him while his went on his snake hunt.

We bring bread along so Jake can feed the geese (which annoy me because of the mess they leave on the sidewalk) but this time he got to feed the "kids" as Jake calls them. There were eight goslings and Jake loved watching them and calling, "Here Goosey, Goosey, Goosey." I'm just glad he didn't fall in the water as he kept getting closer to them.

Making a wish, taking a break & climbing up the rocks to get home!

Senior Fun Day

2008-04-22T18:42:00.002-04:00

Krysta's Senior Class doesn't take a Senior trip like most schools do...and our wallet is thankful for that. But, they do get a day of fun and go to Sports of All Sorts for fun, food and games. This is going to be a long, last month of school for her. Because of taking so many snow days this year, school won't be getting out until June 3rd and basically she is done with all her big projects, etc. by the beginning of May. She keeps telling me how pointless this last month is going to be for her. And believe me, if I could have her home helping out with Jake this next month as we put our house on the market, I would let her stay home...but... rules are rules so she has to go.

Out of the mouths of babes...

2008-04-19T20:15:00.004-04:00

Why am I posting a picture of me when I was preggers with Jake?? No... I'm not making some crazy announcement. I've been going through pictures working on a book for Krysta and ran across Jake's baby pictures. He happened to be standing by and this is how the conversation took place:

Michelle: "Hey Jake, look at mommy's big belly. Do you know who is in there?"

Jake: "No."

Michelle: "You are in there. That's when you were a little baby and you were in my tummy."

Jake: Very matter of fact... "That's gross!! Did you eat me?"

Michelle: Hysterically laughing... "No... I did not eat you."

Then... showing Jake his newborn pictures...

Michelle: "This is after you were born. Look how little you are."

Jake: "Well, how did I get out?"

Michelle: Not laughing anymore... "Ummm...the doctors helped mommy and got you out of my tummy."

Evidently, that was explanation enough and he left the room to go play.

Earthquake anyone??

2008-04-18T12:29:00.004-04:00

Just wondering if anyone in this area felt or heard the earthquake that happened early this morning in Illinois? I heard something... way too early in the morning to be concerned about it and of course, had no clue there was an earthquake. L'ville got some minor damage it looks like. Big deal here though...that's all I keep hearing about on the news. Am guessing this is no big deal to our "Cali girl" Sarah. :)

Meet Molly

2008-03-31T12:11:00.002-04:00

Well...I can't believe I'm posting this one. We have added a new member to our Pack. Molly is a 3 1/2 year old Jack Russell Terrier who happens to be camera shy. Long story short: Molly was staying at our neighbors until they could find a home for her because she was going to be put to sleep. The kids are always asking when we are going to get another dog and part of Jeff's bribery to help the kids adjust to the move to St. Louis was he would get a dog. Whatever!!! So, we have had Molly staying with us on a trial basis and so far, so good. She is housetrained, rarely barks and quite frankly is a lazy dog. Just wants to sit next to whomever is willing to sit and rub her belly. She has not lacked any attention since she has been here so I guess she is a keeper.

The Cuckoo's Nest

2008-03-31T12:05:00.003-04:00

The kids were on spring break last week but because we went to Florida in February, we ended up staying home for the week. So, Maggie wanted to bird watch one of her class pets named Spike. Spike was a good bird... not too noisy and in her cage most of the time. She liked to be on our shoulder when we would get her out. Maggie and Jake enjoyed Spike but Natalie was not a fan. Here are some pictures of our friend for the week.

Be Careful What You Wish For...

2008-03-08T20:02:00.006-05:00

We knew we were in for some snow... but... didn't realize we were going to end up with "Blizzard Conditions". I told someone I wish we would just get a good dumping of snow because so far, what we have had this winter hasn't really been much. Well, it started about 8 a.m. yesterday morning and went on through this afternoon. I think we've got a good foot of snow and with winds gusting up to 30 mph...some nice sized drifts as well. The kids had some fun playing out in it before it got dark and will have more fun tomorrow. Oh yeah... and the Florence Mall doesn't close for "Blizzard" type weather. GRRRR!!!!

Here we go.... Again!

2008-03-04T07:04:00.005-05:00

In case you haven't heard... we will be moving yet again. The project Jeff is currently working on is with Folgers which recently got sold and is no longer a Procter and Gamble brand. Jeff not wanting to stay with Folgers and wanting to stay with P&G, has taken an offer in St. Louis, Missouri. The plant he will be at makes Cascade, Febreze, and Mr. Clean. Thankfully we don't have to be there until July so the kids will finish school here and have part of their summer spent here before we make the move. Needless to say, lots of mixed feelings right now especially for the older girls. And lots to get done around this house to get it ready to put on the market.

Snow Day...No School...Games...& Hot Chocolate

2008-02-20T13:48:00.002-05:00

Since our week vacation in FL, the kids have had four days off of school. Two last week due to icy conditions (one day which was totally unnecessary to have cancelled for), and two days this week. Monday was a holiday and this morning we woke up to a couple of inches of snow...our first decent snowfall of the year. We've played a few games of "Go Fish", and Maggie and Jake bundled up and headed out for some fun in the snow. After coming in and taking off all their cold, wet boots & gloves, they enjoyed some warm cocoa. We are in for some possible icy weather tomorrow night, so who knows if the kids will be home again on Friday.

Fun times in Florida

2008-02-11T08:48:00.000-05:00

We have just returned from a week's stay down in sunny, warm Florida. I must stress the "warm" part as we are having extremely bitter cold temperatures here in Kentucky. I think the high today is going to be 10 degrees with a wind chill of zero? Our trip went well and it was good to see family and friends while we were there. The first part of our trip was spent in Tampa. We spent some time with Nana Benson and family and got to eat our favorite Cuban food with her. The Florida College lectureship was going on the week we were there and Jeff's 20 year reunion was Monday night. Krysta and Natalie stayed on campus a couple of nights and enjoyed that. We headed over to Orlando on Wednesday for the remainder of the trip. We spent an evening at Downtown Disney, did some shopping, saw the Atlantis Shuttle take off, went to Cocoa Beach, and finally made it to the Magic Kingdom on Friday. We all enjoyed Disney but Jake especially liked all the characters and even rode his first roller coaster right off the bat. Mommy was more scared for him than he was. More pictures in the Disney '08 link.

Nothing New

2008-01-23T13:35:00.000-05:00

I can't believe I haven't posted anything since the beginning of the month! But... I've got nothing! No new pictures to post and really nothing exciting to speak of that comes to mind. Krysta has made her decision to attend Florida College in the Fall so we are working on scholarships, paper work for that. Natalie has started up another session of volleyball at a local sports facility and really enjoys it. She is interested in doing a volleyball clinic this summer and getting better so she can try out for the team at school. Maggie and Jake both had a nasty stomach flu over the weekend, but are doing better and everyone went back to school today. There was no school on Monday due to the holiday and then no school yesterday (which was crazy in my opinion) due to the little bit of snow we had in the morning. The temperatures are bitter cold which makes our upcoming trip to FL in a few weeks, even more exciting. Jeff will be attending his 20 year reunion at FC and then we are heading to Orlando to see Mickey, Minnie and the gang. There will definitely be pictures to post after that trip. :)

2008-01-01T01:15:00.000-05:00

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2008!
~The Woolfpack

Quick Trip to Kansas City

2007-12-31T13:14:00.000-05:00

After Christmas, we made a quick trip to Kansas City to see Jeff's family. We woke up to about 3 inches of snow on the first morning we were there which was fun for the kids. The big girls got to do some shopping, the little kids got to play in the snow, and the highlight of the trip for Jeff was getting to eat his favorite b-b-q at Jack Stack down on the Plaza. We also spent an afternoon with Grandma Great and she taught us how to play dominoes, which Maggie won by a long shot. It was a shorter trip than we usually make but fun was had by all. More pictures from Christmas and our trip under our "links to pictures".

Say it ain't so... Krysta is 18!!!

2007-12-17T22:00:00.000-05:00

It doesn't seem possible but Krysta turned 18 years old today. And as always, I ask myself, where does the time go? Not that turning 18 helped with her making decisions. The toughest one tonight turned out to be where she wanted to go for dinner. With eight people... it didn't take long to end up at Buffalo Wild Wings...no 2 hour wait like other restaurants and the food came fast so it turned out fine. Her best friend, Kristi Genton joined us as did Greg. Happy Birthday Krysta!! We love you. (The Charlie Brown cookie cake was last minute...Jake picked it out.)

Snow/Sleet/Rain

2007-12-15T15:36:00.000-05:00

This morning we woke up to snow coming down very quickly. Jake was certain this meant that Santa was on his way. We got a few inches out of it before it turned into sleet and then just rain. It's now a nice slushy mess.

THE Concert!!

2007-12-14T07:00:00.001-05:00

Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus with the Jonas Brothers came to town and along with thousands of other screaming girls, Michelle took Maggie and her friends Hannah and LeeAnn Saylor. Maggie ended up being less than thrilled to go a few weeks ago when she realized it was going to conflict with her 30 minute Christmas play at school. But...once she was in the arena, and the lights went out, and the SCREAMING began...she was up on her feet and into it just like the rest of the girls. This was Maggie's and the Saylor girls first concert and I must say... Hannah's parents being the concert goers that they are would have been very proud of Hannah's enthusiasm during the concert. Overall it was a fun concert and more exciting for the parent to see the girls enjoying it so much and getting into it.

Hannah Saylor, Maggie & LeeAnn Saylor at the concert Enjoying some cotton candy before the concert.

Screaming Girls during the Jonas Brothers performance.

A snipet of "Best of Both Worlds"

Tis the Season....

2007-12-12T16:54:00.000-05:00

Lots of yummy cookies!!

Maggie's face painted
Jake & Santa #3
Julia, Frosty & Jake

Our December started right off with a cookie/ornament exchange party and has gone non-stop since. And, there's more to come but thought I would post a few pictures before things get too busy too keep up with. Jake has sat on 3 different Santa laps and I'm pretty sure his list changes with each one. This is the first year he is totally into the idea of "Santa" and is very curious about the man in the red suit. For the moment, that is who he wants to be for Halloween next year. We enjoyed Breakfast with Santa this morning with some friends and on the way there Jake asked if we were going to Santa's house for breakfast. Just a little confusing for a 4 year old. There are several more class parties coming up, a girl scout party, a Hannah Montana concert, a birthday for our almost "18" year old, and whatever else we can fit in our calendar between now and Christmas day. Whew!! Hope everyone is enjoying the hustle and bustle of the holidays!! :)

Jake's 4th Birthday

2007-11-25T06:43:00.000-05:00

The only group shot I could get at the party.
Jake ready to bowl
Jake and his cake

Jake is now a big 4 year old. We had a bumper bowling party for him and a few of his friends. Jeff's parents drove in for a very quick weekend visit so we got to have a family celebration with them and then his party with his friends. He got several new car ramps with hot wheels, spiderman themed toys, lightsabers but surprisingly his favorite seemed to be the Cincinnati Reds ball cap his mommy got him. His eyes got real big and he ran to see it on him in the mirror. He ran back in and said, "It's perfect!!" Happy Birthday Jake! ~More pictures on new link~

Thanksgiving with Friends

2007-11-22T06:33:00.000-05:00

One Big Turkey!!
Thankful for our friends!
This year was a little different Thanksgiving for the Woolfpack. Usually we make the drive to Kansas City for Turkey Day to be with Jeff's family. But, because I work retail now, I had to be at work way too early on Friday morning. So... the Rice family graciously included us in their Thanksgiving with their family and friends. We enjoyed visiting old friends from FL who made the trip up and of course enjoyed all the yummy food! Thanks Rice Family!

Early Thanksgiving Dinner with Maggie

2007-11-20T16:10:00.000-05:00

Today, Maggie's 3rd grade class prepared a Thanksgiving lunch for family and friends. Jeff, Jake and I were able to attend and her class did all the preparation work and served all the parents. We had a great meal that consisted of salad, homemade ranch dressing, cranberry salad, real mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, rolls and turkey. Plus, pumpkin pie and individual cheesecakes for dessert. Each child made placemats for their parents and wrote on them what they are thankful for. Jeff's said, "Thank you for making money" and mine said, "Thank you for making food all throughout the year." She wants me to be sure to say that the reason she is thankful that Jeff makes money is because it pays for our food and the important stuff. ;) Each child also had to say one thing they were thankful for in front of all the parents and Maggie said she is thankful for everyone who takes care of her. And of course, we are very thankful for Maggie!!

Trick or Treat Fun

2007-11-01T09:28:00.000-04:00

Spiderman & "Bat" Girl waiting for Daddy to get home to go Trick-or-Treating. The carved pumpkin was done by Krysta. She gave a speech in one of her classes on "How to Carve a Pumpkin".

Silly Jake & Maggie ready to get some candy!

Jake as his FAVORITE character: Spiderman! In action...shooting his web.

Maggie decided to ditch the Hannah Montana wig...was getting on her nerves...so at the last minute put on this bat headband, put on her fangs, and went as a very "bat" girl.

Here is Maggie as Hannah Montana with her brownie troop at a local Halloween Festival. She's the one with the long blonde wig. ;)

Maggie's 9th Birthday

2007-10-30T09:11:00.000-04:00

Today Maggie turned 9 years old. She had her birthday party on Sunday at Glo Golf at the mall. It's indoor putt putt with blacklights and everything glows. She had a fun time with her friends and got some new cool gifts. This morning she opened up her family presents. Her best gift was the Hannah Montana tickets she got for the upcoming concert in December. I think she may have had an idea, but she seemed surprised and is excited to be going to her first concert. And no, her mommy and daddy did not pay an insane amount of money for the tickets. Jeff just got lucky and got right in when they went on sale with Ticketmaster.

GranC comes for a visit

2007-10-22T10:19:00.000-04:00

GranC came to town for a few days while Granddaddy Mike was doing some work in Phoenix. It's been almost a year since they were here for a visit. The rain seemed to follow her from Texas as it rained non-stop for the majority of her trip. She helped Michelle get caught up on a few small jobs around the house. Maggie & Jake both enjoyed her reading lots of books with them.

LSU Defeated!!

2007-10-14T20:39:00.001-04:00

Jeff, Krysta & Jake made a little road trip to Lexington to the Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday to see Jeff & Krysta's favorite college football team the LSU Tigers play the UK Wildcats. LSU came into the game as the #1 seed and undefeated. We happen to be at the last LSU/UK game a few years back when LSU beat UK in the final seconds also known as "The Bluegrass Miracle." It was an exciting finish to say the least. But...the Wildcats had different plans on this gameday and after 3 overtimes, gave LSU their first loss of the season with a winning score of 43-37. Although it was a tough loss, they had a good time and Jake loved his first college football game.

A Toasty trip to the Pumpkin Farm

2007-10-06T16:10:00.000-04:00

The Gang's All Here!
One of several Jake picked up
Maggie got this one

We continue to have warm temperatures for the month but made our second annual trip to Daniel's Petting Zoo this morning to get our pumpkins. We met up with friends from church so the kids could play on the playground equipment, feed the animals, and take a hayride out to the pumpkin patch to pick a pumpkin. Last year, the temperatures were pleasant and so were the moods of the kids and parents. There was a little more whining this time because the sun was beating down on us, but overall, the kids enjoyed it and everyone got a treat to take home. More pictures in the "Daniel's Petting Zoo" link.

Zoo Time

2007-10-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

Jake, Lily, Samuel & Vince
Jake & the elephants

Jake and his mommy met up with some friends at the Cincinnati Zoo. It is not feeling like Fall yet, but hopefully within the next week or so we will start having some "Fall like" temperatures. Jake always enjoys seeing the animals, especially his favorite..the elephant.

Fun with Melissa!

2007-09-24T19:44:00.000-04:00

On Sunday afternoon, Jake and Maggie, went home with Melissa Mayo because daddy was out of town and mommy had to work. It's been awhile since they have had a chance to go over to their house and Jake was beyond excited to be going to "Melissa's house". The first thing Jake said to me when I saw him was, "Can I go back to Melissa's house?" These are a few silly pictures that they took while there. Thanks Melissa!!! :)

What Jake has to say....

2007-09-14T13:35:00.000-04:00

Today when I picked up Jake from pre-school, one of the things to bring home was his hand traced on paper. On each finger is something that evidently Jake told his teacher's about himself. So, here are the 5 things Jake shared about himself (in his words):
*Spiderman movies*
*My friend is Maggie*
*I like Spiderman*
*I like chicken nuggets*
*I like blue*

Spiderman, chicken nuggets and a friend named Maggie. What more could a 3 1/2 year old want?

Weekend Visitor

2007-09-03T18:57:00.000-04:00

Maggie & Peter

Due to the holiday weekend, Maggie got to bring home one of the pets from her classroom at school. Maggie was beyond thrilled to be the one who got to bring home Peter the rabbit for the weekend. Jake was pretty excited as well. Overall, it has gone well and he has been a good guest. Except for the fact that I had to be the one to clean out the cage and the only word to describe that is NASTY!! I'm just happy to be taking the rabbit back to school in the morning...alive. I never told her teacher of our experience the last time we "rabbit sat" for some friends when we lived in Louisiana several years ago. Not a happy ending....

Natalie's Photos

2007-08-28T10:57:00.000-04:00

Natalie got a new camera for her birthday and most of what she takes is of herself. But, she did take some around the pond the other day so I posted a couple on her page. She's also using up the batteries to make little videos so maybe we'll post some of those soon.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...(for mom that is!)

2007-08-20T08:37:00.000-04:00

Today is a first of a last for Krysta. It is the first day of her last years in High School. And in true Krysta fashion, she didn't get to bed until 1 a.m. this morning finishing up her summer reading assignment. She had to read 5 books this summer with several writing assignments but thankfully got them done. Here she is fixing to take off this morning in her new car. Good luck Krysta!!

Natalie is the least excited to be going back to school. As you can see in the picture I was able to get this morning...her feet are all I could capture since she wasn't too happy about me wanting to take her picture. The other picture is one she took yesterday after some shopping. This is a first/last for Natalie as well. This is her first day of her last year in Middle School. She is never ready to get back to school but hopefully once she gets back in the routine, she will have a good 8th grade year.

Maggie had to be the most excited to get back to school. She starts the third grade today and her teacher is Mrs. Jones. Maggie is thrilled to be in her class because they will have several class pets in the room. A rabbit, 2 guinea pigs, 2 birds and an aquarium of various reptiles and amphibians. Mrs. Jones also loves art and Maggie is excited about that as well.

And now it's just me and little man. He loves to sit and watch for the bus to come and pick up Maggie. His big day will be tomorrow when he goes back to pre-school three mornings a week. :)