BREWERS 2009!!!

We were able to take in another Brewers weekend in July against the Dodgers (boo!). It was a great weekend with R's family. Here are pics from the weekend...


Here's M123 ready to roll to Milwaukee (word).


As in the past, we tailgated with the rest of R's family before the game. Here's the whole gang after the meal.


Here's Papa & Nana with the 2009 edition of grandchildren (we're expanding in 2010!).


The benefit to doing this every year is that you learn what you want to do to improve your experience, such as take the escalators (especially with all of the short legs). Here's M3 w/R (& Aunt C2 close behind) riding on the escalator. M3 loved the escalator (like his dad)!


Here's the 9.1 Clan before the game.


Here's the 9.2 Clan before the game.


M3 w/R, making friends with the Bachelorette Party group behind us (better than the Bachelor Party group in front and to the left of us). A definite change with the "atmosphere" of the Saturday night game.



Papa sported the Rally Cap early on.


Soon after, M1 followed Papa's lead.


M4 with Nana.


M4 playing "Got Your Nose" with M2.


M2: "My binoculars aren't working." (That's because they're backwards silly!)


Three generations: Nana, R, M1234.










Here's a pic of M1&2 sleeping after the game (in the hotel). Too cute/funny not to photograph!


All of that beauty sleep must have paid off because here's M2 the morning after (using one of the bed's dressings as a shawl). (Seriously, why do we get these kids toys!? They make anything into a toy!)


The HnR clan took in a second game on Sunday (Brewers lost). Here we are just after tailgating before the game. As you can see on the kids' faces, they were overwhelmed with joy and energy (he said sarcastically)! The sun in the eyes didn't help either.


Someone was kind enough to take our picture while we walked to the stadium. Moments after this pic was taken one of the courtesy golf carts stopped and asked if we wanted a ride to the stadium (sh-yeah!!!). This was such a huge blessing! He drove us all the way around the stadium to the gate that was closest to our seats (somehow lessening our steps even more). The best part was that it got the kids jazzed. R sat in the front row with M3 on his lap. M3 LOVED this ride so much...almost too much (as you will see/read later in this post).


H with M4 before the game (cuddling with Mom...it's a win-win situation!).


H packed a separate, small backpack that each kid wore into the stadium (something we thought of last year) filled with snacks that they could eat during the game. Once their backpack was empty, they were done having treats/snacks. One treat that M2 liked was something that made her tongue blue. She was more than willing to share her new shade of tongue with the camera.


The main reason why we take in a second game (a Sunday game) is because kids 18 and under are allowed to run the bases after the game FOR FREE! This is a great chance to spend more time in the stadium AND to get to view Miller Park from the field. Our seats look much worse from the bases than they actually are. We highly recommend taking in a Sunday Brewers game with kids because of this bonus feature alone!


R went along with M3 (it was his first time running the bases at MP). It proved to be a good thing. Remember that golf cart ride before the game? Well, as we were starting to run the bases, the grounds crew started working on the field. Certain pieces of equipment look similar to a golf cart, so soon after touching 1st base M3 started to run towards the "car", thinking that he was going to take in another ride. R had to hold M3's hand the rest of the way around the bases so that he didn't take off again towards the groundskeeper's equipment.


Here we are after running the bases ("DON'T STEP ON THE GRASS!"). M3 was pretty bummed that he was not allowed to ride in a "car" again.


M1&2 goofing around after the game while R changes some diapers before hitting the road.


You can't leave MP without having your pic taken with Bernie! (One of M2's favorite traditions I believe.)

Here's R with the "too tired and whiny to walk back to the van" clan. It's all good...sweaty, but good.

Here's our crew upon returning to the van after 2 Brewers' games in about 24 hours. Very tiring, but ultimately very fun (& the kids talk about it forever afterwards). This is our family timeshare/campsite.

R w/M4.

Summer Catch-up

The fall of 2009 has been a typical fall (crazy busy). So in order to catch our blog up here are random shots from June 2009 through the start of the school year.


M4 has been growing quickly. Here he is loving quality time in the Bumbo chair. The attachable table makes for a great work-space. M4 really does well with having his picture taken. It is so funny how young kids catch on to the process of picture taking. Our camera has an orange warning light that lights up before the actual picture is taken. M4 quickly caught on to this and almost always puts a great smile on once he sees the orange light.


Now that we have a dining room we also have the piano in a spot where it can be accessed by the kids. Initially this was a great source of entertainment for the house. Here M3 is tickling the ivories and working the crowd. Pretty good posture!


The piano has a demo button that plays many songs that showcase all that it can do. The songs are always in the same order and the kids learned the various styles quickly. The first song is upbeat so they always start dancing as soon as it begins. The next song is a slow, ballad. M3 loves to sing like a little crooner (hence the expression on his face). It's really very funny to hear/watch in person.


M3: "No wait, I like that song."


More emotional crooning from our little lounge singer.


"Oh yeah...I'm cute!"


M3 was playing with one of the chairs in the living room. Somehow he became stuck in the space between the arm of the chair and the seat. Being the caring parent that I am I quickly got up &...got the camera. He wiggled his way out and learned through doing not to do it again.










M1 started taking piano lessons this summer from H. The home improvements tended to put practicing and teaching on hold until later.

"Ta-dah!"

M1 still had time to make a silly face for you.

We had a day in July where we played with the small pool outside and ended the afternoon/evening with a campfire dinner.

M2 LOVES cherries!

Short & Sweet

M2: "Daddy, do you know what's on my swimsuit!? Winnie the Pooh!"
Daddy: "There's poo on your swimsuit?"
"Nooooo! Winnie the Pooh THE BEAR!"
And then, as she left the room she grumbled, "Dogs don't poop in pools...or on swimsuits."

Happy Papa's Day

Papa sent this e-mail and I thought you may want to enjoy. It has been modified for our target, G-rated audience (you're welcome!).

Ok, you may have seen USDA’s “Top Five Tips for Father’s Day”:
• Visit a local farmer's market:.
• Explore a local forest or park.
• Plant your own garden.
• Cook a healthy meal with dad.
• Give dad a food thermometer to make sure food is safe..

Now let me give you Papa's “Top Five Tips for Father’s Day”:
· Visit a local bakery
· Explore a local bar
· Plant your *butt* on the couch
· Get dad a brat and a beer
· Give dad the remote and a pillow

Sorry that we won't be able to spend the day together Dad. You'll manage.

All McMeyer's On The Farm...

We typically head to Great-Grandpa H's farm once during the summer. This year we met up with Gpa & Gma H, Aunt H and Uncle C. The kids were able to see a lot of baby geese, ducks, chickens and turkeys. The kids loved it (and the little birds weren't as 'fowl' as you would expect).

Gpa H had a large refrigerator box to keep all of the little birds. He cut out a few small openings that were just the right height for the kids to peek in on the birds. It was very entertaining. Here are some pics from the day...


Gma H helped give M2 the bird.


As you can see, I think it was worth it. A very happy girl!


M1 held a bird most of the time (& did a great job!).


M3 couldn't get enough of the bird box.


"Hey M2! Come here!"


"Look! There are so many birds!"


"They're so close!"


"Come here birds!"
...I think the birds have a different thing in mind.


M3 & M2 loving the bird box.


M1 with Gpa H.


M3 would get so excited when a bird would be close by, he could barely contain himself. (Too cute!)


Here are M2 & M1 showing Great-Gpa H one of the chicks.


This is just a neat generational shot of Great-Gpa H's hands and M2's hands holding the little chick.


M2, M1 & M3 giving us a great shot on the stairs.

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We brought the girls bikes to let them practice in an isolated setting. The only problem was the uneven gravel. Here Gpa H is helping M2 get her motor running.


Gpa H stopped to negotiate with M2 about the process of biking.


After further review, Gpa H decided to cut his losses and "guide" M2 into the ditch.
(Well, not really, but it looks like that...)


Meanwhile, Dad was trying a new, more aggressive approach to teaching M1 to ride the bike (J/K! He was holding the vise-grips because he just put the training wheels on M1's bike.)


You always need to be leery when you see a bunch of bikers along the side of the road.

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Another event of the day was driving the Porsche roadster (late '70's?) that Gpa H had just obtained. The car was in good shape. Just be glad that through these pictures you can't smell the mouse that died somewhere in the car soon after the Porsche arrived on the farm.


Here is Uncle C about to take H in the roadster.


H & C up close.


Is THIS too close!?


And they're off!


"Bye, Mom," they said unenthusiastically.


M3 (the avid car lover) was ready to roll once H returned from her ride.


Later that evening, M3 had his turn in the car. He was overwhelmingly excited when he first got in the car, but I don't think it was quite what he thought it would be because he wasn't as excited as the ride occurred. Oh well...


M3 smiles before the ride.


Gma H says some parting words to her eldest grandson. M3 just wants to go!


M2 went next & loved her turn.


M1 went last. Contrary to the rumors, this is not what her face looked like after the ride.

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Another event of the day (yes! this is all in the same day!) was playing with the hose. Here are some action shots from the "water park".


M2: "Just a little closer (heh, heh)."



M3 was not in the mood to get wet (yeah, I know...'my son'). Here he is telling M2, "That's close enough!"


Eventually H took the hose. M1 & M2 were really cute. They would start close to the barn, hold hands, & run towards the hose. Their faces were priceless!


Gpa H fired up the kiddie portion of the water park, but M3 was still not very interested.


Aunt H arrived just in time to pick up some drying (but still wet) nieces. (A very cute shot.)

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The kids also had tractor rides with Gpa.


M3 LOOOOVED riding on the tractor with Gpa. The funniest thing about his ride was when they came back to the house. The wind was blowing M3's and Gpa's hair up the exact, same way. Ah, genetics!


M2 liked her tractor ride, but for some reason she failed to express her happiness with her face. She seems to be mesmerized by Gpa's chin. What a zoner!


Here M1 and Gpa re-tell the story of how they were robbed by a gang of cows (their name was "Thistle Herd Tomorrow").


Eventually, the day came to an end. We headed home the same day. The kids of course fell asleep on the way home. We brought M2 into the house. She then walked back to her room (shared with M1 & M3 at the time), and crawled into the closest bed (M3's) and promptly fell asleep. The funny part was that I didn't even notice her right away because when she's curled up she's about the same size as some of the gigantic stuffed animals.

As usual, a fun day on the farm was had by all.

Shotpourri

These shots do not go together, but they're worth sharing.


M2 LOOOOOVES her little brother, M4! She loves to give him hugs & kisses, hold his hand (typically too tight), etc. She is all about "tough love" so you have to keep an eye out for M4's well being.


M3 loves to go up and down the stairs that go into the dining room. Here are some cute shots from his stair adventures.


M3 also is pretty strong, but not strong enough to lift and carry Marco down the stairs.

Kitchen Krew and Wardrobe Malfunction

When we stopped renting rooms upstairs we took the cabinets from the lobby/kitchenette and added them to our kitchen. We more than doubled our cabinet/counter space by making the move. We quickly took joy in our new kitchen setup.


Here the kids helped Mom make some food (& Mom didn't lose her patience with kids climbing over her limited space now that she has so much more to work with).


M3 follows suit with his sisters and LOVES to help whenever given the chance. (What a patient Mommy!)

Later that day...M3 was trying to get ready for bed on his own. The shirt got stuck on his mongo melon.

"Hey Dad, I think my shirt is stuck."


"Cuz, see, when, I, try, to, pull, it...it, doesn't, want, to, come."


"Maybe if I pull REALLY hard, like this...?"


"Eh, forget it. I'll just deal with it. Is this too close!?"


Eventually M3's shirt found its way off. Here is M3 bringing the diaper bag over so we can change his pants (sporting the new shirt-less look).


You might be able to see that M3 worked up quite a sweat during his wardrobe malfunction.