Christmas 2008

Christmas is a very busy time at the Solidays! The kids and I opened presents on Christmas morning and then went to Wayne and Renee's with Debbie. The next day Charlie, Michelle, and Sierra came over for a fun visit. We received tons of wonderful cards from all the relatives as well as some awesome presents too! We hope all our family and friends had a great Christmas too!

First day of winter – 2008

Looks kinda peaceful in the picture, huh? Well, it's 2 degrees below zero, the wind chill is 30 below, and we just had another 4 inches of snow yesterday on top of the 12 inches we got on Friday. Today is the first day of winter? Yuck!!!

Christmas cookies!

Kayla, Kyle, Debbie and I visited Wayne, Renee and grandma last Sunday to decorate Christmas cookies. We must have decorated a hundred or more and we had a blast! Yeah, none of us are true cookie artists, but all of us did miraculously make a few that really did look cool. Really! Of course there were a few that were, uh, not so pretty, but we quickly got rid of them before the others could make fun of us. Yup, by eating the evidence! Yummy!

Deer Hunt 2008

Wayne and I hit the woods of central Wisconsin again this year in hopes of filling our feezers with fresh vension. Okay, and maybe in hopes of getting a shot at a monster buck too. Well, we didn't take any monsters this year but we did see deer and Wayne and I both shot small bucks (this is my small 8-pointer). Again this year it was a pleasure hunting with my uncle. There's nothing quite like being in the woods for a few days.

Whaddup, Kay-dawg?

This is a good example of the kind of pictures you find on your 13-year-old daughter's digital camera when you ask to borrow it. I'm thinking I need to get my own camera.

Halloween costume party 2008

I had a couple of requests to see my costume from this year's Halloween party at my neighbors, Cindy and Kevin. The party was on the night of November 1 (Trick-or-Treat was the night before). I dressed up as a '70s disco stud in a blue leisure suit we found at Goodwill and Deb was a semi-naughty school girl. (By the way, that a wig she's wearing – her hair is really blond!). Man, we had fun! Cindy and Kevin invited four other couples besides us and everyone looked great in their costumes! I have lots more pictures from the party but you'll have to check them out on my computer. Some are pretty crazy! Great blackmail material...

Meet Maybelline

I bought a new bass last week for the low, low price of $20. Huh?!? Well, I brought a pile of old books into Half Price Books and was paid $70 for them. Then I walked into Music-Go-Round next door and found this used bass for $90. What a deal! It's a SX Precision bass with a sunburst finish. I gave it a whirl at my band's practice this week and it sounded great. Daddy's happy!

Oh! Check out my NEW glasses!

Halloween night 2008

Spoooooky! Halloween night was a blast! Kayla had a little "party" with her friends Julie and Katie at our house. They dressed up as cats, made pizza, handed out candy to the trick-or-treaters, went to a scary movie, and stayed up waaaaay too late! Kyle dressed up as Freddie from Nightmare on Elm Street and we went trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. My only rule for the night was that all Snickers should be handed over to me. Yum!

It's pumpkin carvin' time!

The kids and I did the annual pumpkin carving ritual this evening. Just like always, we had a blast! We're never quite sure exactly what we'll be carving until we're actually doing it, but they always turn out great. Come on over and check them out – they're spooky!

Run, Kayla, run!

While Kyle and I only run when we're chased, Kayla loves to run for fun. What's up with that?!? Kayla joined the cross country team this year and is having a great time. On Saturday, September 20, she ran in the annual Waukesha cross country meet held at Minooka Park. Like every race, she gave it her all and Kyle and I were on hand to cheer her on. She didn't place this time but she said it was one of her favorite runs so far this year. You go, girl! We're very proud of you!

Happy 96th Birthday!!!

Happy birthday, grandma! Grandma Soliday turned 96 on September 1st and we just had to celebrate! Her party was at Wayne and Renee's house and the guests included Bud and Evelyn, Glen, and the kids and I. Grandma requested hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans and homemade cake (don't ask me what kind, because I can't remember - but it was yummy!). Happy birthday, grandma. WE LOVE YOU! Even if Kayla doesn't look so excited in the picture!

Miss ya Nancy

Hi all. If you remember, Nancy and I worked together at Kalmbach and I had the pleasure to become her friend outside of work too through her husband, Jimi, whom Kyle takes guitar lessons from and I consider to be a good friend. Nancy left us at the hands of a drunk driver this last July. The Nancy Sellars Memorial Fund is a project Jimi and his and Nancy's friends and family have set up "to raise and distribute funds that will work toward the elimination of drunk driving and the promotion of general bicycle safety."

You can find info on the Fund on her memorial page. Please copy and paste this link into your browser:

www.nancysellars.com

I love a parade!

And so do the kids! The annual Muskego Fest parade was this morning in downtown Muskego. The kids and I walked down to our favorite spot to catch the action. Muskego's parade is fun because it still has that small town feel in many ways: the tractors, horses, dirt track race cars, etc. We always enjoy the flat bed semis full of Basset hounds too! It's a nice way to wrap up the summer. Enjoy the pictures!

10/14/89 – 08/18/08

Thanks to all my friends and family for their support.

An afternoon on the lake

The kids and I spent a few hours canoeing on Big Muskego lake this afternoon. The water was warm, the sun was playing peek-a-boo through puffy clouds, and the turtles were plentiful. There was a light breeze that made paddling tougher on the way back, but at least it kept the skeeters away. There's nothing like a day on the lake, is there?

Bat!!!

Aaaaaaahh!!!!!!!!!!! I just got attacked by a killer bat! I was pulling the string on the patio umbrella to make it go up when I noticed what I thought was a little bird coming out. It gave me a fright when it buzzed past my face and disappeared over my right shoulder. Wondering where it went I glanced over my shoulder and – to my horror! – found a bat face staring at me from only a few inches away! He was clinging to my shoulder! I'm pretty sure I might have screamed, but fortunately no one was around to hear it (and laugh hysterically at me). I gave it a whack with my free hand (and maybe let out another scream) and off it went. I did the "Eeeiu, I just touched a creepy crawly" dance for a few minutes before I calmed down. Mr. Tough Guy? Guess not. Anyway, I don't know where it went after I whacked it and I don't care as long as it's not around me. I'm pretty sure it was a two pounder and a vampire bat on top of that so keep your eyes open and make your kids open the patio umbrella.

A day in Port Washington

The kids and I spent today in Port Washington. It's absolutely one of our favorite day trip destinations! We ate at our favorite steak joint (Arby's), swam in the clear water, soaked up the sun on the beach, took a walk out to the end of the pier, and did a little shopping. Fun as always! Enjoy the pics.

A weekend road trip to Lake Geneva

Just a quick "hi" and a picture from our road trip to spend a few summer hours in Lake Geneva. Did some shopping, grabbed some lunch and ice cream cones, and watched the boaters and beach bums. Summer rules.

A visit from Beth and Teagan

Kyle and I had the pleasure of spending some time with my cousin, Beth, and her son Teagan a few weeks ago at Wayne and Renee's house. He's a great little guy and a lot of fun just to watch! Kyle had brought along his guitar and Teagan joined the jam playing drums with wooden spoons on a table. Beth and Jeff are expecting their second son in a few months. Congrats! Glad we got to see you this summer.

My friend Nancy

My friend and co-worker Nancy Sellars lost her life this week to the hands of a drunk driver. Nancy worked with me at kalmbach for the last 7 years as head of the Credit department. Nancy was a wonderful triathlete who competed in many Ironman competitions and marathons all over the country. She was out on an afternoon bike ride this last Wednesday with her friend Tom when they were struck by a drunk driver. She died later that night. I'm also good friends with Jimi, Nancy's husband. He is Kyle's guitar instructor and my mentor for bass playing. I feel for you and your family, Jimi, and will always remember your loving wife Nancy. Rest in eternal peace, my friend.

Happy 4th of July!

The kids and I had a great 4th of July. We started the day with the Greenfield parade, then headed over to Holz Chevrolet for the annual car show, then we went to Wayne and Renee's house for a wonderful dinner and fireworks. The special guest of the day was my cousin Amy and her friend Rose from Corpus Christi, TX. It was great to see Amy again! Bud, Evelyn, and Glenn were also there and catching up with them was a lot of fun. We love the 4th of July. Great weather, great food, and great friends!

Goodbye

That's all I have to say about that.

Baby Bunnies!

Guess what we found in our window well last week? Eight baby bunnies! Cindy, Kayla, and Kyle gentley removed them and set them free in a nice wooded area not too far away. Can you say "cute"???

Camping at Mauthe Lake

The kids and I got to go camping at Mauthe Lake in mid-June. Unfortunately, Wayne and Renee couldn't join us as planned, but we still had a blast. The Taylors and their friends were camping just a few sites away and we got to hang out with them, fish, and swim. We love to camp!

Kyle's presents

So what was Kyle's favorite birthday presents? Dale and a new Fender. Huh? Kyle got a mouse from dad! He named him Dale and just loves him. Dad and Kayla kinda dig him too. Kyle's also saved quite a bit of birthday money and finally decided how to spend it – on a new guitar! Okay, it's used and is 16 years old, but it's got lots of mojo. Yeah, that's a good thing. It's a Fender Stratocaster in dark red with a white pick guard. Very cool!

Kyle turns the big 1-2

Kyle has the great fortune of having several birthday gatherings for his 12th birthday this year. The kids and I went to Wayne and Renee's house on May 31 and, surprise!, we had a little party for him including pizza, cake and presents. While he loved them all, his favorite by far was Wayne's Army foot locker filled with an assortment of vintage (that means you're old, Wayne!) military items. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Kyle's Virginia Trip

The last week of April, Kyle and I embarked on a week long trip to Virginia as part of his class trip. Three coach buses were used to transport the 80+ kids and the 60+ parents. I'll give you the Reader's Digest version of the trip: we saw Monticello (Jefferson's home), Mount Vernon (Washington's home), Kittyhawk, NC where the Wright Bros first flew, Jamestown (first English permanent settlement), the Virginia Aquarium, and took a tour of the ocean front off of Virginia Beach to see famous lighthouses and watch the dolphins. We had a blast! The kids got a lot of work to do on the buses relating to the trip. Here are just a few of our favorite pictures. Enjoy!!

Changes

It's been a while since I last posted. With best intentions that should soon change as I plan on writing frequently now. Things are...more than a little different since my last post. If you know us you know what I talk of. This is still the "Life at the Solidays" blog, it's just a new era of it's "life". Hope you enjoy the ride. And I hope I do too. See you soon! -Mike