Bad Bloggers!

All together now, BAD BLOGGERS!!!! For this we are sorry, please forgive us and we will try to do better. Life has been as busy as one would expect with two working parents and four kids, one finishing high school, one finishing middle school, and two in diapers both attending some form of pre-school. To top it off, as an educator, Anne is facing uncertainty regarding her work, compliments of the bad economy and a superintendent facing criminal indictment for Lord knows what. Suffice to say, it has been a roller coaster ride to the end of this school year.
But we made it and here are some quick updates on each youngin’.
Casey is now a High School graduate, and officially enrolled in Illinois Wesleyan University. She graduated with a GPA that put both her parents to shame, and so many honor cords, she looked like an East Coast Rapper.

Okay, she didn't earn the Hello Kitty tiara from school, but she did from us!

Finally done!

We were honored to have Casey's friend Shaina the valedictorian with us as well as Casey's best friends, Lydia, Andrea, Sarah, and Maddie at dinner. All are graduates and great kids!

Happy Graduation Big Sister!

When Mike's mom ordered this cake from the bakery, she asked if they could put the Comedy and Tragedy masks on the cake because Casey is a drama student. Obviously the baker didn't know what those were, so he thoughtfully put a Batman mask on instead! We called the graduation "Batman 2010!" all night.

Ross finished Middle School and will begin his Freshman Year as a Lakeside High School “Viking.” He is now enjoying a summer of; wake, eat, swim, eat, nap, eat, eat then have dessert. He is growing so fast! Oh yes, and he got a major hair cut and had his first “date.”

Ross and the lovely and talented Taylor before the graduation dance.

Happy Graduation Ross, now you are a high schooler!

Luke now attends school five days a week to attack his speech related Apraxia. He appeared in his first school play, never mind that he cried most of the time, and is making great gains in his speech. Also, his pediatrician stated that he appears to have no further symptoms related to malnutrition and is now in the (drum roll please) 23rd percentile for weight!!! He made the charts!!! Luke likes to barricade our carport, from what? We don't know, but he is very precise as he lays out every toy he owns in a labyrinth of defense.

Lilah started school one day a week because we were afraid she would be bored out of her mind and needed more challenges. Her orthopedist has asked to use her on their website, and has asked to have her serve as sort of a mascot (someone to meet patients with new amputations to see how it doesn’t have to slow you down). A counselor, just like Dad!

The first harvest of lettuce from our garden.

Happy Mother's Day to the ladies who make this crazy family circus possible, Tante Ann, Grandma Jan, and Grandma Cathy.

This post is a taste of things to come. Summer is here and life is slightly less crazy and hectic, so we’ll be able to write more than every 6 weeks. Hopefully.

In July, we are taking the trip of a lifetime to Switzerland to visit Anne’s best friend Antonella, who happens to be Swiss, and lives in a village (Breno) on an Alp, with her wonderful family. Poor Antonella, she has no idea what she is getting into, with our motley crew invading her peaceful village…. We will be lucky if the townspeople don’t come at her house with torches and pitchforks to drive the crazy, messy loud American/Chinese invaders out of their village. Stay tuned, should be exciting!

Here is our Anna, Antonella's daughter waiting for us in Switzerland. See the peacefulness? See the beauty and spotless yard? I hope they are ready for it all to go straight to h - e - double - toothpicks when we get there!