Back to Normal

Megan and Kyanna - First Day Back at School

After the crazy month+ that we've had, things are starting to return to normal. Megan was back at school this week - once just for lunch and then for two full days. On top of that, she went to two tennis matches after school and last night she went to the first PHS football game of the season (they won in an exciting last minute play!). She's worked hard to get caught up with her schoolwork and is just about there. After so many nights in hotels and in the hospital and eating restaurant and carry-out foot, the routine of being at home - things like laundry, cooking, and cleaning are a welcome change.

Hello from the Adirondacks....

Here we are at the top of Bald Mountain in the western Adirondacks.

It's a wonderful hike and we are, of course, enjoying the trip!

This is a better pix from the top of the mountain to the river below. Spectacular place!

Finally a little break

We just rolled into Manchester Center,VT last night. The rain has held of for 2 days now and it is making it a little more enjoyable,it makes it feel less like a job.

Stacy and I are both doing well but ive come under the weather the past day and I need a little break. We plan on taking a day off today so my throat can get a little better and we should be walking our way into Mass in the next 3 days.

Happy Birthday Kelli Jo

Birthday boy

Happy birthday JB!!!!

Hope you have a happy 5-0 birthday. I'm too unorganized to search out a picture (of the last 10 days, I've been home 3). We'll have a big celebration when the party house is up and running again.

wes-stacy update

The thru hikers are in Vermont heading south at around 18-20 miles a day. Wes said it rained for several days non stop thru southern NH and Vermont, he sent me a paper from Hanover were he and stacy made the local paper on Aug 7th. he says they have finished the difficult section of the mountains and expect easy hiking till the smokies. i have addresses that i send "drop packages" should anyone want to send a care package along their route. wes says that internet service is hard to find and hasn't been able to post lately.

Family HGTV, continued

The b'town backyard oasis... almost finished! Here is the new look for the back of the house-

and the amazing thing is that we came home from work and

POOF - there it was!

Unlike the Rileys, we have no skills to build but luckily, know some folks who do.

Greg is in Elkhart with his honey, Hannah is helping me plan a party for Tuesday and

Bret is playing at church tonight (I left early).

(Karen- your flowers got watered last evening and all looked

well in Paoli, according to the traveling fiddle player)

Happenings in and around Avon

Karen asked for it; here it it....
Katie sang "Reflection" from MULAN at the Indiana State Fair yesterday. She truly did a wonderful job. She even impressed me, and I'm her biggest critic! A couple of people came up to us after she sang and asked if she was our daughter (I guess we clapped rather loudly when she finished); then, they proceeded to tell us how great she sounded! I told them she inherited her singing talent from Tutu! Ha!
Em and Katie are getting ready for school to start on Wednesday. Katie cannot wait to find out who is in her class and get the school year started. Emily is bummed because she got stuck with the "meanest girl in school" in her class. Kyle doesn't start school until Sept. 3rd. I am panicking as I think about having to teach AP because I know that those kids are going to be smarter than me. Joe is being Joe - working too much at work and working too much at home. "The Pavillion" is taking shape and should be completed within the next couple of weeks. We are going to have a big family get-together to celebrate it's completion.

The Pavillion at night...

Cleveland Clips

Getting ready to leave ICU
Our bed for the first few nights-remember how we used

to call Megan "Turtle Girl"? How appropriate!

The control panel
Tutu and Megan (she walked all the way to the aquarium,

but needed a little rest on the way back)

We know most of you are probably checking out the http://www.caringbridge.org/ site, but here are a few pics...you know the "inside" stuff...not ready for the general public yet. Poor Tutu and Lisa got caught in a major rain storm walking back to their hotel last night, but we all awoke to a sunny Sunday here in Cleveland. Those of us here at the hospital had a very restful night, but Megan awoke with major pain this a.m...still learning how to manage the oral pain meds. Now that she has had something, hopefully she will feel much better when she wakes up.



We'd love to know/see what's going on with the rest of the family. How about some more posts/pictures here on Mashed Potatoes?

A toast ...

Here's to the birthday boy, turning 49 !!

Find a piece of birthday cake in Cleveland

and celebrate all of your blessings today!

Megan in ICU

For those reading the Caringbridge post here's a pic to go w/ the words....taken a couple of hours ago you can see her color is coming back & she's looking forward to having some of the 'tubes' removed in the next couple of days.

bet your bottom dollar youll lose the blues in chicago

trying on some new things




on the river




working for rockstar dogs*




the reward




mmmm!






*video provided upon request

A few more memories of Chicago...

Dinner before the show...
Defy gravity....
The Chicago Subway is overtaken
A practice pole dance on the streets of Chicago
and a few laughs at the Embassy

Flickr: Wes and Stacy AT08's Photostream

Flickr: Wes and Stacy AT08's Photostream

So, where are some updated pix? Where are the travelers now????

Fun in the City

Some of Our Favorite Chicago Weekend Memories:

• Megan's morning surprise in her bed
• Going to see Wicked (Megan admitted she was a little bit afraid during the opening scene)
• Rockstar Dogs (and what a girl has to do to get one)
• What happens to a pole dancer when she laughs too much during her performance
• The chocolate almond candy and gelato at Vio Stata
• The meal at The Grand Lux Cafe
• The unexpected turn-down service at the Embassy
  
• Talking and laughing together after dinner on Saturday night
• Riding the buses and subway
• Being with family that KNOWS how to have a good time