Mar 2, 2011

This is one of the last photos I have of Dad. We took it when Steve and Nancy came out in early December. He looks so ... small. But he was still feisty. At the time, I wished for him to be less feisty. I miss my feisty dad.

:30 from State

Here's Tom trying to win his way to the state track meet in the 1600 meter run - he was about 30 seconds over the qualifying time for 7th graders and finished 6th. (The top 3 go to state.) His 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams both finished 3rd - and the top 2 go to state. Not bad, though, for a 6th grader. He's got 2 years to make it. Now he's concentrating on what basketball camps to attend this summer. (Oh, and he did run the entire mile with his shoe untied.)

Champions, again

The Carl Sandburg 6th grade team went unbeaten and won the championship of the Sterling tournament Nov. 8. Today was their first actual game - they started practice last week.

Yeah, that didn't end well

Bummer.

This doesn't look good

The U-12 team, shall we say, is not a defensive juggernaut.

Goalkeeper

Late summer, 2008, Verona, Wis.

Moo

The Times competed in a cow-milking competition for Monroe's Cheese Days. Here's the team - Mary Jane, Jeff and Jim cheering on Carl, the Times publisher. They got a total of just over 1.1 pounds of milk - not a win, but they did beat the Monroe Clinic and Swiss Colony teams.

Now, that's tired

Tiger makes an excellent pillow for his brother, Mango.

This Barbie Pole Isn't So Bad

As of Wednesday morning, I am the only person to have caught any fish at Jenny Lake. I've caught 2 bluegills off the dock - using Jen's Barbie fishing pole.

Visitor

A chipmunk got into the porch on Monday morning.

Boating on Jenny Lake

Drew, Cody and Tom took the rowboat out for some fishing.

Jeff and Jen Canoeing

Jeff took Jen out in the canoe.

Tiny Frogs

There are hundreds of tiny frogs near the water. (And if you look in the water, you can see tadpoles in various stages of development.) Do you know how hard it is to catch a frog that's about as big as your thumbnail?

At Jenny Lake

Tom and Jen on the dock at Jenny Lake - 20 July 2008.

Tom Makes a Save

Tom stops a goal at the Rockford tournament June 1.

Jen's 9th Birthday

... and bringing us back to (nearly) present-day, Jen's birthday party at Skate Station. Her friends are, left to right, Cecelie, Jen, Alyssa, Rebekah and Maya - another friend named Jen had already left.

View From the Front

On the way to Lanark, Summer 2007.

At the Fair

On the bumper cars at the 2007 Stephenson County Fair.

Pink and Purple Soccer Girl

I think the purple soccer ball goes well with the pink socks, don't you?

Tom Greene in the Goal

Tom started playing goalkeeper in Fall 2007. It's funny to hear him yelling at the other kids on the field.

Tiger with a Poodle 'Do

After an emergency procedure to unblock his urethra, Tiger had some lovely poodle-paw action happening. (They had to shave both his front paws for the IVs.) Now both cats get the expensive "urinary tract health" prescription pet food.

Cornell Visit

I took Tom and Jen to Mt. Vernon for Cornell's 2007 Homecoming. We watched the soccer team lose spectacularly and got some cool stuff at the bookstore.

Tom Greene, Football Star

Tom played Junior Tackle for the Fall 2007 season. To my relief, he decided one season was enough.

Jen Greene, Soccer Star

Jen decided to play soccer last fall, and did a pretty good job. I think she really wanted the pink shinguards and soccer socks, though -- she decided not to play a second season.

Tom Greene, Basketball Champion

The Carl Sandburg team won the 2007-08 NWIC 5th grade boys basketball championship.

Do You Think the Cat is Comfortable?

Mango is pleased when Tom sits still.