December Daily

Hi Friends!

Maddie is home sick with a fever today, and we are knee-deep in a "Flipping Out" marathon on Bravo.  It's the perfect non-educational show for a stay-at-home Tuesday.  : )  I decided it was also the perfect day to get my December Daily prepped.  Each year I have big plans to be diligent with my December Daily, and each year I end up falling behind and then turning it into a Christmas mini album.  This year, I'm just going to commit to going with the flow.  I'd love to end up having a little memory from each day in December, but if I don't, I'll at least have captured a good portion of the memories.  Can't wait!

XO,

Vicki

Thankful

(source)

 

 

1.  For a husband who makes me laugh and loves me no matter what.

2.  For three healthy, happy, smart, kind children.

3.  For parents who shaped my values and taught me about unconditional love.

4.  For in laws who love me and are willing to do anything for our family.

5.  For a sister who gets me.  Always.

6.  For brothers who show their love in a million different ways.

7.  For fun sister and brother-in-laws, nieces and nephews.

8.  For friends--both the ones close by and those who live far away.

9.  For my loyal and loving dog.

10.  For two jobs that I completely love.

 

Life is good.

 

XO,

Vicki



Incredible-ness!

Hey Friends!

You need to check out last night's videos that were shown at the awards banquet!  My friend, Tricia, did an incredible job putting together a season's worth of memories!

Click (here) to see the whole season in 17 minutes!  : )

XO,

Vicki

Monday

Hi Friends!

Happy Monday!  Did you have a super weekend?  We sure did!  Friday night I took the kids to see "Elf", the Broadway musical.  It was good--but I've got to be honest, 4/4 Terlaps think the movie is better.  It's hard to beat Will Farrel as Buddy.  It was fun to get all gussied-up and go to the theater, though.  And there was a bell scene that was awesome. 

Saturday the girls and I worked at the craft fair all day.  We actually did very well--our goal was to sell off some of the stock we made last year, and make more than it cost to rent a space.  Check and check.  I think that may be my last craft fair.  I definitely like going to craft fairs more than working at craft fairs.  : )

Saturday night we had a family games night and included Emily's new boyfriend, Greg.  We taught him how to play "Dirty Hearts," and ate lasagna.  I think it was a success.  I am having a hard time believing I am old enough to have a daughter who is old enough to have a boyfriend.  I'm not sure how that happened.

Today I took Buster for his first walk since his knee injury.  It was kind of awesome to see him out there enjoying the neighborhood again.  He used all four paws unless he was in a hurry to get somewhere, then he did a little 3-legged jump/skip thing.  He is currently sacked out by my chair.  The walk totally tuckered the guy out.  He will probably sleep the day away.

John is off this week and is currently painting the last section of my new wall of shelves.  I can't wait to show you the final result--they are completely awesome!!  He did a fantastic job on them!!

Tonight is our formal banquet for swim team.  I am terrible at endings, so I'm just hoping that I get through it without crying.  Wish me luck!

Have a fabulous Monday, friends!

XO,

Vicki

Right On Target

 Hi Friends,

Yesterday was a huge day.  Huge!  Jack, John, and I went to the indoor shooting range so Jack could shoot his new bow for the first time.

 Jack has (literally) been working his butt off doing everyone's chores for the past 4 months so he could earn money for a new compound bow.  It was a lesson in working hard for what you want.  When Jack decided he wanted a compound bow to go with his recurve bow, John and I were skeptical.  After all, how many bows does an 11-year-old need?  After talking it over, John and I decided that Jack could work to earn the bow.  Of course, Jack (like any other kid) was not happy about waiting for the bow.  He wanted it right away.  But John stood firm and told him he had to earn it.  After months of lawn-mowing and dishwasher-emptying and garbage taking out, John told Jack it was time to go get the bow.  Jack was deliriously happy.  Like text-John-every-minute-until-it-was-time-to-go happy.

 Last night we tried it out.  Jack shot arrows while I shot pictures.  It worked out perfectly.  I have shot Jack's recurve bow, but his new compound bow looks a little scary to me.  I'm much more comfortable just shooting pictures.  : )

Jack shot at a target while he got used to his new bow.  Afterwards, he took me into the 3D range where you can shoot at animals.  I tried not to be too wigged out by the fact that among the alligator, deer, antelopes, and rabbits there were human heads.  That's weird, right?!?  Here's Jack's first set of arrows shot with the new bow:

Right on target.  Way to go on earning your new bow, Jack!  I hope it brings you nothing but joy.

XO,

Vicki

Random Updates

 

*Buster seems to be on the mend.  He's still a little gimpy, but he's using all for legs again, and he doesn't seem like he's in any pain.  Hooray!

*We have all settled in nicely as a family of 6.  We had  a good time introducing Raffi to Halloween.  She carved her first pumpkin and dressed up as a robber at the swim team Halloween party.

*I have only one more official night of swim team left for the season--the end-of-the-year banquet.  Last night was our informal potluck dinner. 

*Emily was elected swim team captain for next year.  I am thrilled for her.

*Jack starts his archery club tonight.  He said there were about 80 kids at the first informational meeting.  That's a whole lot of archers!  I'm wondering if it has anything to do with the Hunger Games books?

*I started back to my Strength & Resistance class yesterday.  Woo-boy!  I could tell I took 6 months off.  I am sore today. 

*I absolutely can not believe that Thanksgiving is next week!  What?!?

*The girls and I are doing a craft fair together on Saturday.  I am excited and a little bit nervous.  More details soon.

*I am anxiously awaiting to see what classes I am going to teach next semester.  I missed teaching this fall.

*I am slowly trying to remove gluten from my life.  It's harder than it seems--gluten is in everything! 

 

Well, I'm off to go pick up Maddie.

Hope you are having a fabulous day!

XO,

Vicki 



State Champion!

Hey Friends!

Guess what!  Not one, but TWO of our fabulous divers made the podium at this past weekend's State meet, and one of them stood at the very tippy-top!  I can't tell you how absolutely thrilled I was for Greysen Herting--Wisconsin State Diving Champion!  And see that girl atop the #3 spot?  That's Greysen's sister, Hazel.  Yup!  Both Herting girls made the podium.  It was a HUGE day for Neenah Diving.  Our other state qualifier, Molly Patzke, also earned team points with her 14th place finish!  I couldn't be more proud of what they each accomplished.

I am the first to admit that I know very little about diving (although I'm learning!).  We are one team and share the same pool, but our training programs couldn't be more different.  In the last two-and-a-half years I have watched our divers work, and work, and work some more.  They train incredibly hard, both on the boards and on the trampoline.  Our divers are quiet and modest;  you would never know they are some of the best athletes in the state.  It's that kind of quiet leadership that I most admire about them.  Sometimes the best way to lead is by example--and each of them has done a fantastic job leading by example.  I have never heard them complain, or boast, or be anything but great role models for other divers and swimmers.  All of that hard work and perseverance paid off big-time on Saturday, and I couldn't be happier for them.  I absolutely love when good things happen to good people.

Congratulations, NHS Divers!  You are all champions!

XO,

Vicki

Quote Love

 

Amen.

 

XO,

Vicki

Sectional Champions!

Hello Friends!
As promised, here are some fun pictures from this weekend's Sectional Meet.  It was a close one, but our swimmers and divers pulled off the win, once again!  The high school season is all about TEAM-- everyone works toward a team victory, not individual victories.  That was definitely the case this past weekend;  we needed each and every swimmer and diver to contribute to the win.  And they did!!  Our divers started out the meet with a bang:  they took first, second, and third!  Our divers are truly amazing.  Our swimmers continued the magic on Saturday, swimming best times, and taking down team records.  The meet came down to the very last relay, and our team knew they had to beat Bay Port in order to win the meet.  They not only beat Bay Port, they shattered their own record from last year!  I couldn't be more proud of our incredible Sectional team.  They are truly the best-of-the-best!

It is a team tradition to jump in the pool all together after a Conference or Sectional win. I love this tradition, especially at Sectionals, where our JV team members join in the fun.  Every member of our team contributed to the Sectional win, whether they swam or dived this weekend, or not.

There's nothing like it!

Congratulations, Neenah Swimmers and Divers;  you are all Champions, and I am so proud to be your coach!

XO,

Vicki

Buster Update

Hi Friends,

This is going to be short, because I think I scratched my cornea, and looking at the computer hurts my eye.  : (  Anyway, thank you, thank you, thank you for all the concern and well-wishes for my beloved Buster-boy.  We have been icing his knee and taking him out the front to do his business (a lot less stairs that way), and I do believe there has been a little bit of progress.  He will at least put his toe down every now and then.  I may be in denial, but I'm hoping that means he just tweaked something, and he's going to mend.  He's not too crazy about the icing sessions, but he'll let me do it if I spend the entire time petting and rubbing him.  If I stop for even a quick second, he let's me know he doesn't like the cold. 

XO,

Vicki

PS  Stay tuned tomorrow for a Sectional post.  Spoiler alert:  WE WON!!!!

Sad

Hi Friends,

I am so, so sad today.  I'm pretty sure Buster somehow managed to blow out his other knee.  I have no idea how it happened, but I'm not surprised;  the vet told us that once you repair one knee, the other one is likely to go soon after.  In Buster's case, we got an extra year-and-a-half.   I absolutely can not imagine Buster going through that surgery again.  It was so hard on him.  I can't even make myself call John, because I know what he is going to say.  The surgery was expensive (over $4,000), and at 9 1/2, Buster is not getting any younger.  Buster has been my #1 buddy for so long.  I can not imagine life without him.  But watching him struggle getting up and down and then hobbling along on 3 legs is breaking my heart.

I am so sad.

Little Things That Make Me Ridiculously Happy//A List

1.  Having 6 library books all stacked up on my bedside table just waiting for me.
2.  Driving around with a full tank of gas.
3.  Being able to get into my jammies right after dinner.
4.  Getting to wake up without an alarm.
5.  A really hard hill set in spin class.
6.  A day spent baking.
7.  Chilly weather.
8.  Club soda with lime.
9.  Extra fine Sharpies.
10.  Making Christy laugh.

What little things make you ridiculously happy?

XO,

Vicki