Michigan Webers Checking In

Hi Everyone!

Sorry it's been a while since we've written. Dave thanks everyone for the birthday well wishes. He had a fairly mellow celebration. I made a nice dinner and then we were off and running for the evenings activities, fortunately everything wrapped up early and we were able to regroup and have cake and ice cream. I finally got a Badger photo poster framed that Dave purchased over a year ago. It was a weird frame size 13 1/2" X 40", but I found an on-line company that carried it, so that worked out well...should have done that a year ago I guess (oh well, better late than never).

Hannah, we were so happy to see the wonderful Ireland pictures (thanks Daniel for downloading them to the blog) and hear how well all is going, what an exciting time for you. Glad you are making the most of it.

Cute video of Lydia, Jessica, too fun! What size is she wearing now? Also Sue...what size is Clare wearing?

For those of you who don't know, I'm now working part-time, subbing 1-2 days a week in the Portage Elem. Schools (mostly P.E. & in the Libraries) and 2-3 nights at Kohls, my favorite store (3rd shift 9:30 p.m.til 6 a.m. - finally my "night owl" habits are good for something..ha). It's been going pretty well and I've been able to catch up on the lost sleep during the daytime hours. The only rough times have been when my subbing schedule falls on the same day as I'm working nights. That's only happened twice so far. But when it does it makes for a LONG day.

So glad to hear that your doctor has figured out things for you Sue regarding the sleep apnea. Hopefully it'll help get everything else back on track now that you know what you are dealing with.

The girls are doing great. Rachel got braces this summer and has been adjusting well to them, except she doesn't want to give up her gum chewing. She's continuing with her competitive dance, she has a great solo routine this year that we are excited about. And she has announced that next year she wants to keep her schedule open for more school activities and won't be competing in dance. Dave & I are glad she has come to that conclusion on her own as we too would like to see her try out for some school teams next year like volleyball and golf. Both she and Nicole are doing well in classes and are busy with dance lessons and church youth groups. Rachel is continuing to play clarinet with the school band and Dave found a good deal on Craig's List for a used instrument (we've been renting for over a year now) so we were able to get a practically new clarinet (used 1 year) for a barain price.

Nicole continues playing piano and is looking forward to precussion next year...so we'll be looking for used drums next...yikes! Nicole is finishing up her soccer season and has made the travel basketball team again and will have her first b-ball game Sat. She just had a 3 day/2 night camping trip with her entire 5th grade class to a great Y camp nearby. Great time had by all. Good team-building experience. She was just elected to her class Student Council, so she's very excited about that. She had also recently tried out for a role in Willy Wonka being performed at the Civic Theatre. It was a big deal, over 150 kids, ages 9-18 tried out for a possible 14 youth parts. She did get a callback which was good for her first time out, but wasn't casted. She was disappointed, but had she made it she would have had to suspend all her other activities until after Christmas, so Dave & I were actually a bit relieved she didn't get a role, it would have been a HUGE time commitment for us all.

We traveled to WI this past weekend for the Badger/Penn State game. It was a crummy game, but a beautiful weekend. We really enjoyed the drive and the Fall color. We also had the chance to tailgate with a group of our Madison/Milwaukee friends some of whom we haven't seen for 1-2 years, so that was great fun. We spent the night at my friends Kate & David's who had just returned that day from a week's vacation in D.C. then on Sunday we drove to Milwaukee to rendevous with my old roommate from my Madison days, Bonnie, who lives in Salt Lake City, UT. She has been battling liver cancer for a year now and is holding her own. Her hair is growing back and she's regaining her energy now that she's on some new Chemo treatment combined with accupuncture and other holistic diet, exercise and supplement treatments. It was so great seeing her and catching up. She said she really appreciates being on everyone's prayer lists and asks that we all continue as she really feels it all helps.

Well, I think that catches us up. Dave continues to have a job for which we are thankful and life here in Michigan continues to be good. You are all invited to visit...just warn me ahead of time or else you'll probably walk into a pretty messy house...one of the things I haven't quite fit into my new "working" schedule...tee..hee.

Love ya all! Donna & Gang