New Hair Cut for a Little Lady

The Inauguration of Barack Obama

Michael, being creative and resourceful managed to get tickets to the inauguration of Barack Obama from our congressman. With his flight benefits, w,e along with our friend Mikey, flew out to Pennsylvania where his brother Chris picked us up and brought us to Fredrick, MD to stay with him. We left Wisconsin on Thursday morning and got back the following Wednesday evening. Shaylee stayed home with both of her grandmothers taking turns taking care of her. (Thank You Mom and Mom!) She would not have taken the trip very well, plus she had a cold and that would have made it that much worse. Following are some of the pictures we took. We were not close enough to get really good pictures, but we gave the camera to our tall friend Mikey and he did what he could...

Here is a picture of service men and women that were lining Pennsylvania Avenue for the parade. We needed to cross it to get to our spot in the crowd. It was very quiet and solemn. It was neat to see.

Here is a shot of the crowd that was in front of us once we arrived to our spot.

Here is a shot (no pun intended) of the snipers on the rotunda. It was both freaky and comforting at the same time.

This was what I assume was some sort of surveillance plane that kept circling DC. I assume it was making sure we were all safe.


If you look in the center of the picture, slightly to the left of the tree branches, you can see Barack waving right after he finished his inauguration speech.


Here is a pic of all of us. When we are asked "Where were you....?" We can say: "We were there!"



After the ceremony, we walked around to try and see the parade. This is as close as we got...this was the start where police on motorcycles and horses led off the parade. The parade was delayed over an hour because Sen. Ted Kennedy collapsed. We only knew that because we have internet on our phones, plus someone that was standing with us received a call from a friend that was watching tv.


Nothing says "Welcome to DC" like a semi-automatic! This guy was standing where we were watching the parade. I couldn't resist asking him for a pic...Dad and Bill - this one is for you!

Winter Fun!

We recently took the girls downhill skiing in Minnesota over the new years. It was Mercedes' first time (and Shaylee too) and her skis were so cute! Here is a few pictures:

I couldn't belive how little the skis were!

Here she is going down with Daddy!

Here our friend Kajsa is teaching Mercedes too!

Shaylees' turn with Daddy!

She had a blast too!


Here are some pictures of the girls playing in the backyard after a fresh snowfall

Michael vs Chimney

We all knew Michael was crazy...now here is proof. He is inside one of our two chimneys taking all the mortar and bricks out so he can make a laundry shoot from our bathroom upstairs.

Shaylee's 18 month pictures

Okay, here goes. These are Shaylee's 18m pictures. My camera lens was in the shop, so I had my friend Korby shoot the session for me. I think he did a good job considering that Shaylee was not very cooperative - so much different than her sister! She was very difficult to get to sit still for these, so this is all I have. I will try for a picture with her sister for Christmas when we get a tree. Just tell me the number and the size and I will order for you.

NUMBER 1

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A long awaited update...

I know it has been awhile since I updated the blog, and I apologize. Here are some pictures from pumpkin hunting and halloween.

Shaylee loved to walk among the pumpkins. She was very upset when we had to leave.

Mercedes taking a rest on a pumpkin.





Mercedes and Shaylee helping carve pumpkins. Shaylee insisted on a taste test...Yuck!

This was just after trick or treating at the Outlet Mall in Oshkosh.
Here the girls pose with their friend Peter.

Shaylee was a dinosaur this year. (It was Mercedes' costume when she was 14 months)
This is a view from the front....

...and this is a view from the back, isn't she cute?

Here Mercedes is helping Shaylee play a game on Mom's computer.

Here Shaylee is loving the kitty, right before she wrapped her arm
around his neck and he cried: "Help me!"

I hope everyone had a good Halloween and is enjoying the unusual November weather. We have had a few 70 degree days, and this weekend is supposed to be really cold. I am not sure I am ready for winter yet. But it will come anyway! Have a good November and I will be back soon to post again. -Cori

Pulaski High Mini-Reunion '93

Okay, here are the pictures that I captured from Saturday. You should just be able to right-click and download them. I couldn't email them because they were too big. Enjoy!