Tracylee's visit

Estee with Tracylee--they had a great time together :)

Our good friend Tracylee came to visit and we had so much fun with her. We met her while we lived in Utah. She has since moved to California and for the last 3 months has traveled all over Europe. In spite of that seemingly spoiled life she is really nice and fun and it was a blast to have her come and see Ann Arbor.


Eating lunch at Shalimar--Yummy!

While the kids were gone....

While our 3 big kids were off playing in Utah here are some of the things Dan and I did.

first of all this (Estee sleeping) was a rare occurrence so we had to get a picture--so sweet when they are sleeping!

We took the train to Chicago, which would have been really great except for Estee really, really wasn't crazy about the whole train ride thing.

Look at Estee trying to squirm out of Dan's arms this happened for four hours there and four hours home, so FUN!

This picture is cute of Dan trying to make her happy playing patty cake on the train.

We had breakfast at the Grand Lux Cafe on Michigan Ave. in Chicago. It is so yummy and so fun!

Our good friends Brook and Kyle met us in Chicago. Here we are on an architectural boat tour together--it was so fun and interesting.

Here we are all dressed up for the year end party for the Otolarygology Department.

Dan with some of his friends at the party.

Dan golfing

This post is too long so more on the next one......

They're Gone!

Andy, Abby and Jake all went to Utah on Friday. Aunt Lindsay flew out and then flew back with them (thank you Lindsay). They are staying for almost a month without us! Then we will drive out to visit and all come home together. Estee is wondering where her friends went. When she sees their pictures or hears them on the phone she laughs--so cute.

Here they are at the airport at 5:30 AM. My babies are leaving!! Sob, sob.

They had a wonderful flight and arrived safely. Lindsay even paid for them to all watch TV on the little screens in front of their seats.

Jake being goofy at Grandma Ward's house.

Abby and Jake playing in Grandpa's pond, they don't look like they're having any fun at all, do they?!

Guess Who?? Ok, Ok, it's Andy with Grandma's wig on. (she is losing her hair because of Chemo).

We miss them tons,but I must say we are enjoying a clean and quiet house, but that would get old and boring after a while.

Chicago, via Dan's conference

We went with Dan to Chicago for a conference.

Abby and I walked by this beach, it looked really fun. We didn't stop because we were on our way to Navy Pier.

Here is Abby posing at Navy Pier, it was beautiful weather that day.

I took the kids to Shedd Aquarium while Dan had meetings, it was so much fun I bought a year pass. So if anybody wants to go.....
Shedd Aquarium is the big white building right on the lake front.

This was the kids favorite part of the Aquarium, the Caribbean Reef. There was a Diver in there that you could hear over the loud speaker. A fish would swim by him and he would tell you what kind it was, and cool stuff like that.

My favorite part was the Beluga Whales. They were so cute. I wish I could say that was me there feeding them, but I can't.

We met our friends the Pankratz (minus Kyle, we missed you) and went to lunch here at this yummy Thai place, even the kids loved it.

Then we made our way to the Lego Store. Of course the boys were very attracted to this Star Wars part of the store.

Jake taking a break with the Lego man.

For more details of our trip visit Abby's blog: http://abbyzine.blogspot.com/

For all the pics of our trip click here: http://picasaweb.google.com/janieward1313/52707

Who wouldn't want a trampoline?

We have a small issue in our household. Dan really didn't want a trampoline and I really did want one. I think I am feeling a bit guilty for coercing him into getting a trampoline, so I will try to justify myself here on my blog.

The reasons I want one are kind of obvious (I think):

1) We have four kids

2) They really want a trampoline

3) I LOVE jumping on the trampoline

4) good exercise

5) it's like a giant hammock we can all fit on to.

6) I found it on Arborlist for $50 including safety net and delivery!

7) Friends and neighbors will want to come over and jump

The reasons Dan didn't want it:

1) takes a lot of the small back yard (he has a point here)

2) "someone will get hurt"

3) he had to put it together

4) hard to mow under

5)Friends and neighbors will want to come over and jump (yes, same reason on my list) He probably has lots more reasons, but those are the reasonable ones that I can remember.

Look at Dan happily putting the trampoline together!

The following are funny quotes from Dan concerning the trampoline (that all give me a good laugh and teasing rights)

1)While he was disgruntledly (sidenote: this is not a word, but it's what he was) putting the trampoline together he cut his arm and it was all dirty and bloody. I told him to go and take care of it and he said "No, I hope I get tetanus from this stupid trampoline"

2)Monday after a busy day of work and trampoline assembly I wanted to smooth things over with the whole trampoline issue. I can't remember exactly what I said but his response was "I didn't want a trampoline, you wanted one. We have one. You win and I lose, now lets watch this movie and enjoy it!!

3) The kids were all together talking about how great it was to have a trampoline and Dan said "Just don't come crying to me when you break your arm" I was thinking "I am sure they can't cry to their dad who is a doctor if they break their arm!" Is he going to stand there and refuse to take care of them because it happened on the trampoline?? I don't think so. I of course said "no kids, you can come crying to your dad/doctor if you break your arm and he will help you".

4)"We have plenty of room in the back yard for a trampoline, and there's plenty of room in the front yard for a broken down car up on blocks" I guess he thinks a trampoline is redneck or maybe just that it's redneck to have a trampoline taking up a large portion of your back yard.

5) As he was putting up the finishing touches on the trampoline he kept saying "this better be A WHOLE LOT of fun"

Estee loves the trampoline and it keeps her caged in! Bonus Feature of trampoline: Giant Playpen .

Abby in Talent Show!

Here she is showing off her talent! She is very good on the piano. You can hear Estee sounds in the back ground she kept going for the camera. Abby also did another number with two of her best friends. She played the piano, one friend played the guitar, and one played the recorder. They played Beethoven all together it was pretty cool!

Jake at his kindergarten concert

This is Jake at his kindergarten concert. It was so cute! He is of course the blondie on the back row between two girls. Sorry for the grainy picture. The $99 video camera doesn't zoom in very well--go figure :)

Andy's Track Meet

Andy is on the far right in the yellow shirt.

Andy was in his middle school track meet last week and I got to go and watch him in one of his races (the individual 100 meter). Andy also ran the 400 relay. He did good, and had lots of fun. He told me yesterday he now wants to run long distances, and set up a running practice with some friends in the neighborhood. Although, I'm not sure how much they ran and how much they talked it's still great that he is excited about running and getting better.

Just after he crossed the finish line

Jake scored his first goal!

Jake looks pretty tough in soccer uniform!

Jake scored his first goal in his soccer game!! He was pretty excited and thought we should document this momentous occasion. Before the game he asked if he could play his video game Star Wars Battlefront if he scored a goal in his game. I said sure, if you score a goal you can play your video game. Whatever works, right :) His team won the game 3-1. Go Comets!

Here is a link to all the soccer pictures of the day http://picasaweb.google.com/janieward1313/JakesSoccer507

Abby Wins Gold for Zowie Metrics!

Abby with her friend Swetha sporting their Gold Medals!

Abby was in the Science Olympiad yesterday. All local elementary schools competed at this all day big event. Abby was a team with her best friend Swetha in the Zowie Metrics competition. They had to guess how much things weighed and how long they were etc. in metric units. They worked hard the last few weeks and it payed off! Way to go Abby!