Happy Valentine's Day!  I miss writing in my blog!  Same excuses:  Full-time job in addition to the job that is parenting/homemaking, and Smartphone/Dumbperson Syndrome.  (My blog relied heavily on photos which I uploaded from our camera, but with the acquisition of a phone that takes pictures, now I can't quite get the hang of how to put pictures on the computer without emailing them from my phone to my email account to my computer to this.  I'm sure there's an easy way to do it; I just haven't taken the time to figure it all out yet!)

We're still trying to train up our kids in the way they should go, to keep our eyes fixed on Something Bigger than us and this life.  Life definitely gets in the way with its ups, downs, twists, turns, heartsongs and heartaches.  I try to remember that I can't blame life; life is being life!  We wouldn't appreciate the ups without the downs, and we definitely aren't in charge of it all.  Thank God! 

The littles are getting big.  Ally and Cy are in college (UW and UWW), Paige and Shae are juniors, and Wynne is an 8th grader.  WHAT ??!!  I guess that means Mark and I are getting older, too.  LOL

Today ever since I can remember having small children is the day of our Valentine's Day Fancy Dinner.  We get out the fine china, the fancy silverware, and the classical music; we cook up a feast and bake a red dessert of some sort; the kids make up menus, and we pour the sparkling grape juice, toasting to our love for each other as a family.  With two kids out of the house, we're not exactly sure how or when the Fancy Dinner is going to take place.  We are thinking of taking the show on the road this year to meet at a restaurant.  Now we have more schedules to navigate, as you can imagine, but I am still grateful to have these people in my life and look forward to every time we get to sit down and talk together.  Mark and I are realizing that we don't have to go on big vacations or spend a lot of money to enjoy the simple times of being around the table, praying together, and talking together.  Those truly are the most precious moments in my life...including those times with extended family who can share so many memories and talk about the new events/people in all of our lives.  What a gift!  Happy Valentine's Day to all as you think back on your loves, your gifts!

I came across a sweet little children's book by Liz Baker called I Love You Because You're You.  It's the kind of book that makes you want your children to be little so you can squeeze them and snuggle with them for as long as they'll let you.  I miss those times when things were simpler, exhausting, but simpler.  However, I know that we should cherish every season of our lives, and I do really love my kids for where they're at right now.  With a nod to Ms. Baker, I copied down her words and rewrote them for my older children.  This is my Valentine's Day gift to you, Ally, Cy, Paige, Shae, and Wynne.  Love, Mom

I Love You Because You’re You  (children’s book by Liza Baker)

I love you when you’re happy and grinning ear to ear

I love you when you’re sleepy and want to snuggle near.

I love you when you’re silly and dancing ’round and ’round

I love you when you’re frightened and hear a scary sound.

I love you when you’re bashful and hide behind my knee,

I love you when you’re brave, and from my arms you flee!

I love you when you’re curious and searching here and there.

I love you when you’re proud, your head held in the air.

I love you when you’re sick and need to rest in bed.

I love you when you’re frisky and standing on your head.

I love you when you’re sad and need a kiss and hug.

I love you when you’re playful and rolling on the rug.

I love you when you’re angry and cross your arms and pout,

I love you when you’re wild and yell and scream and shout.

I love you any way you feel no matter what you do.
I love you any way you are.  I love you because you’re you!

-----

I Love You Because You’re You (adapted for my teenage/twentysomething children! by Amy Siegert

I love you when you’re happy and truly having fun

I love you when you’re sleeping and look like you did at age one.

I love you when you’re silly and laughing without a care

I love you when you’re frightened and come to me to share.

I love you when you’re bashful but speak up, anyway

I love you when you’re brave and find the right words to say. 

I love you when you’re curious and research with great passion.

I love you when you’re proud with your values left unclashing

I love you when you’re sick and need to take a nap.

I love you when you’re lively, moving to your favorite rap. 
I love you when you’re sad and ask me what to do.

I love you when you’re happy and nothing’s troubling you.

I love you when you’re angry and yell and walk away

I love you when you’re crazy, and I don’t know what to say.

I love you any way you feel, no matter what you do.

I love you any way you are.  I love you because you’re you!

Fly-by July

July is that month that we want to extend as long as we can.  It's the month before football starts and before back-to-school time.  Even though the calendar says it's 31 days long, it always feels like 15!

July 1:  Mark and I had a fun afternoon and evening in Galena, window-shopping and eating at this great restaurant!  We'll be back :)

 July 2:  Mark finished moving the brick from next to the house (where the back porch will be going) to the fire pit area.  Here's one of his little minions/helpers.  Mark told me that this was his first day going NOWHERE all summer, just staying home and not working at school etc.!

July 2:  Testing out the new fire pit area.  The first family fire of our summer!

 July 4:  Celebrating Independence Day with family!

Wynne and Aunt Linda

Joe, Jan, Linda

 July 10:  Godmother Aunt Tammie & Uncle Dan took Wynne out to dinner and a show in Dubuque. They saw "Beauty and the Beast".   Tammie even curled Wynne's hair for her big day out!

July whenever:  Sunning by the pool.  I hate how big our girls are getting!  Do you know how hard it is to find modest swimsuits for tweens and teens that are stylish and yet--I'll say it again--MODEST?  Thankfully they like wearing swim shorts. 

 July Something-teenth:  Shae is dedicated to improve her pitching.  Thanks to Doc Beighley for being so kind to coach her!  (and thanks to Paige for catching, not always enthusiastically;)

 July 15:  Painting the practice field for the first time in 2016....football camp's around the corner!

 July 15:  Playing in the backyard of our first house where Ally and Cy were tots and the twins were infants:  Highland Park.  There's our old house...and bigger kids on the monkey bars!

 July 16:  Wynne and I went to our first-ever American Girl Doll Benefit Sale.  What an experience!  More to come in a later post.

 July 16:  Back to Platteville to watch game 2 for our majors, end-of-league tournament.  Game 1 was a 24-23 win (I think, lost count after how many innings!) where it was great to see our girls battle back in the heat.  Game 2 was a tough fight against eventual league champs Dickeyville.  Proud of these girls and their excellent coach Reba (and assistant Ally)! It was SO. HOT. that day!

 July 22-24: 48 hours in a house with 3 other families at Sky High Resort for the Engelke Campout.  EVEN HOTTER that weekend.  HOT HOT HOT...thank goodness for AC, and thank goodness for the double kitchens and living rooms for everyone to congregate during Saturday afternoon's rain!

Payton tries out the Tashner's fly zapper

 I think we played 4 hours of volleyball, into the rain.  Twas fun!

 Lots of cards...cribbage and more...

 Teen cousins mini-golf in the rain.  Way to play through!!

July 25-29:  Siegert family vacation...deets to come!

Oh July, I hardly knew ye!

Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
    Remind me that my days are numbered—
    how fleeting my life is.--Psalm 39:4

Heavenbound

This spring heaven gained a new member, and we miss her.  Love you, Grandma!  

 Grandma Joan.  Grandma Dubuque, as our kids knew her.  Mark's grandma, Chieftain Football Bread Baker and #1 Fan, Joanie, Mom, Wad...reunited with Grandpa Jim.

Grandma Joan welcomed me into the family right away.  I'll never forget going my visit to see Grrandpa Jim and Grandma Joan on Wilbrecht Lane; she was up on a ladder painting the carport.  I thought, 'what a spry lady for being somebody's grandma!'  And she defied age like that for decades, with no medication and few ailments.  I remember her rosary, her homemade pies, her sewing creations, her wit, and her pickles.  Ah, the pickles.  

Thanks for everything, Grandma Joan!  Love you!

Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles. --Psalm 119:50

New Beginnings

Crazy endings this spring are leading to new beginnings...like the back patio.  Mark is building a back porch, so out went the bricks (to be used in the fire ring area).

Speaking of new beginnings, Cy has started a little custom light saber business.  He and a friend build their own and sell them!

We interrupt this blog post to bring you more softball.  Here's the Shae-Paige battery at work!  Hopefully a new beginning because Paige actually WANTED to catch for her sister this year!!

And a lovely spring day for a new beginning: marriage!

 The whole clan in a rare get-together at Crystal's wedding!  Father of the bride in purple!  (He made so many great rustic decorations for this, like the barn door!)

 New beginnings: New baby Engelke!  Welcome to Wyatt, born in March!

It's fun to see my sister and sister-in-law talk about grandma things!  (but I'm NOWHERE NEAR ready for those conversations!! eek!)

Mom and our newest family member, Eric

Brian wrote a love-filled speech to his daughter and new son-in-law.  

Congratulations to the newlyweds, Eric and Crystal!

Eric's brother, Eric, Crystal, and Lacey

 The bride looked beautiful as ever...and it was such a pretty venue at the Bridal Barns and Gardens near Verona!

 New beginnings: initiating the newest Engelke outlaw into the family.......Jeff wasn't shy about doing the honors.

 Crazy ending to a softball night--playing against cousins is always fun!  But we are sad to say "see you later" to Brooke and family, as they move to Indiana for a new beginning in Uncle Glenn's career.  Good luck to the Davis family!  Miss you in Wisconsin!

Paige, Brooke, Shae, and assistant coach Ally


Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.--Isaiah 43:19

Crazy Endings

The school year ended in a crazy way.  My 6th graders put on a Renaissance Faire...

 ..while our classroom and library were being packed up for the school renovations!

 Somewhere in the midst of this, we had middle school forensics, spring concert, graduation, etc.

 There are about 35 pallets like this waiting for me to unpack and figure out where to put in the new library and classroom spaces.  It is exciting but daunting!!

 Last spring I played in the community band concert...just couldn't find the time this spring.  Maybe next year!

 Mother's Day brought some lovely flora...

 ...and my favorite thing ever, personal notes written by my kids.  I love how somebody in our family wants to be a teacher like their mom and dad!! Tough times for Wisconsin teachers right now, but we have to make the best of it!!

 Dad's lilacs come up every spring.  Just like memories of him come up every DAY. :)

 What would spring be without....teenagers studying for final exams??

 Wynne was blessed to get this AG doll tent & campfire from a teacher friend!  How kind!!

Please remember, we have FOUR teenagers in the house now.  A teenager in 2016 wants a cell phone.  A determined teenager will put together a professional presentation about why she should get a cell phone. 

 Spring on our farmette means we get some new little feeder pigs!  Welcome, Jamey & Joey!

 And of course, spring means  BALL .  Baseball, t-ball, softball...okay, we've graduated out of t-ball now, but here they are--the neighboring cousins in their annual spring clash.

 And their proud moms :) :)   Congrats to Claire for high school graduation and all of her athletic honors, including all-state 3rd team in softball ...she is a great batter and center fielder!  We won't go into details of this game (for Ally's sake, although I maintain the opinion that she's a tough pitcher)!

 This will be Mark's home away from home this summer.  The old art room/future weight room.  More in a later posting on this crazy ending to the former weight room!

 Little Bear at the bat!! 

 Coach pitch for grades 3-4.  Ally is one of Wynne's coaches, so it's been extra fun!

The boy plays a little ball, too.  First base (well, not in this picture).

 Did you know we have a new little Siegert this spring?  Griffin James was born in March and he's a doll!

 Here's Griffin's family (Jamey, Jackie, Jonah, Alana & Harper) with some mega-cakes at his baptism!!

 And here's the Siegert brothers plus oldest nephew (Cy) beginning their spring/summer competitive season for 2016. 

 A croquet game can get very heated in this family. I'll just leave it at that.  Reporting out for May 2016 as the crazy ending to spring continues...