2009-2010 Swim Season

It's winter in Wisconsin and that means it's swim season for the Lindau boys. Grayson is swimming for Marshall Middle School as a 7th grader and Logan (a sophomore) is swimming for Craig High School.

Grayson finished his season by taking 14 seconds off his personal best in the 200 Individual Medley. He is showing sparks of what is to come in the next few years. Within a week of the conclusion of his swim season, Grayson was back in the pool joining the South Central Swim Team.

Logan's biggest meet of the season was in Middleton in early January. He chipped away at his best times earning 'letter times' in both the 50 Free and the 100 Free. He qualified for the Big Eight Conference Meet and swam personal bests in all three events of his events (200 Medley Relay, 100 Free, and the 400 Free Relay). Logan really pushed himself to a new level this season and we're looking forward to even more success next season.

Vegas Baby!

Al and I took a long weekend trip to Vegas to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. We had been to Vegas once a few years ago, so we had a much better idea of what to see and do and how to get around. The weather was perfect in late October (not like the OVEN we were in in August the last time we went). We saw an AWESOME show, Le Re've, at the Wynn. It was a circular theater and the entire stage was water! We were also in the audience for The Price is Right. Of course, we had great food at all the buffets and enjoyed relaxing as much as all the sight seeing.

Fall means Football

The start of school always asks the question: ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? Grayson plays for the Vikings in the JV Youth FB League, we got season tickets to the Badger games, and we took my dad to see the Packers play the Bears at Lambeau Field. Much to my surprise, he had never been to Lambeau. We arrived early, shopped at the 2-story pro shop, ate at Curly's Pub, visited the Packers Hall of Fame, enjoyed awesome seats, and topped it all off with a division-rival win. The game was one for the ages (with a special thanks to Jay Cutler for his colorblindness, throwing to the wrong colored jerseys all night). My Dad had the time of his life!

Summer @ the Lake

Summer started with a real BANG for Logan. After months of looking, he got a new 'fishing boat.' Well, at least that was the original intention. He ended up with very powerful 140 horsepower Four Winns Freedom. It has the horsepower of a Mack truck! Needless to say, he loves it! He spends hours and hours fishing (and keeps the local bait shops in business). He even supplied us with enough fish for an enormous homemade fish fry. Leftover fish? Eww! Not so. Thanks to a hearty supply of tartar sauce, by the time we were full the pan was almost empty! Logan's other new addition this summer was a JOB! He worked at the Hayward National Golf Course for both the course pro and the groundskeeper. They loved having him and Logan enjoyed the opportunity to make money being outside, driving a golf cart, changing pin locations, and countless other odd jobs. It was perfect for him.

Grayson started the summer by signing up with a Hayward baseball team (already three weeks into their season). Although, watching them play was like watching 'The Bad News Bears,' the team was delighted to have Grayson (a natural athlete) join the team. They only won one game (losing was a new experience for him), but he had a good time, made some new friends, and wants to do it again next summer. He also played golf in a junior program at the golf course.

We had our annual family trip to a dairy breakfast. By the time we arrived and waited in line behind over 100 cheeseheads, it was more like brunch, but we feasted on pancakes, bacon, sausage, and of course, cheese. On our way back to the car, Logan had one ice cream cone in each hand.

Both boys looked forward to the 'calm water days' so they could hit the water skiing, tubing, and wakeboarding. (This is different from the 'weekenders' who will pound the water regardless of the weather.) Logan's getting a bit more adventurous behind the boat. It's fun to watch.

After a month teaching at Gallaudet University in D.C., I made it to the lake just in time to see the start of the Tour de France (live each AM on Versus). Mom and I are admitted addicts. Nothing else would get us up at the crack of dawn for three straight weeks during summer vacation, except Lance Armstrong. It was a thrill to see him back at the Tour (and on the podium). Can't wait to see what happens with his new team in 2010! Basically, I chillaxed in my pjs drinking coffee on the deck til noon (or later), read a stack of books, drove the kids to town (or behind the boat), and of course all of this while taking scads of pictures (which requires hours on the laptop in iPhoto, Blogger, Shutterfly, Picasa, Smilebox etc...).

Al's summer could be summed up in three words, work, work, work. Well, this I guess that's what he gets for developing an incredibly successful charter school. He's 'a man in demand.' He's been doing some traveling (mostly for TAGOS) so he's been living out of a suitcase most of the summer. He did get a chance to add in some relaxation on the water during his journeys. In Rhinelander, he went on a riverboat cruise, then in Lake Geneva they took a boat tour, and he even went sailing a couple times on Lake Pepin. He has made it to the lake a few times (for a few days at a time). But, poor guy, when he gets here 'it's always somethin.' The alternator belt on the boat broke, the fish finder needs to be installed, the boat lift needs to be moved out deeper, the pier needs to be longer, the water heater broke, and on and on. Maybe when school gets started in the fall he'll be able to relax. Yeah...I doubt it.

Well, we're seeing diamonds on the lake. (The sun shines on the lake at a different angle than a couple months ago.) That's our sign that summer is almost at an end. We're counting down the days we have left at the lake and they days until football practice begins and school starts again. (Eegads! Now we have a 7th grader and a SOPHOMORE!) It's sad to think about the end of the summer, but our little wooden sign on the deck puts everything in perspective for us, "If you're lucky enough to live on the lake, you're lucky enough!"

Gallaudet & D.C.

I had the opportunity to teach at Gallaudet University again this summer. I was a national lead mentor with another bright group of participants (teachers) from Deaf schools all over the U.S. I also got to catch up with some friends I only see once a year. Each summer, I look forward to the challenge of this bilingual teaching experience and the 'perk' of spending days off in the best 'city' in all the U.S.

During the first week, Al was in D.C. for a national charter school conference so we found time to get together. After he was introduced to food and drink in China Town, we took a boat trip on the Potomac, from Alexandria, VA to Georgetown, D.C., did some shopping, went to a great steakhouse for dinner and relaxed in a trendy bar called 'Cure' in the Grand Hyatt.

On one of my days off, I started by shopping at the Eastern Market on Capitol Hill. This is one of the oldest markets in the U.S. It has been open continuously since 1873! Next, I headed to Alexandria, VA to shop on King Street. Alexandria is a historic, colonial town right on the Potomac with tons of unique shops and eateries.

When the AEBPD training moved from NMSD (New Mexico School for the Deaf) in Santa Fe, NM to Gallaudet University in D.C., I knew I would miss Santa Fe. But, D.C. is simply the BEST!

Spring Break 2009

For the fifth time, we headed south to Gulf Shores, Alabama for Spring Break. We stayed in our favorite condo, The Legacy. When we arrived, the boys jumped out of the car, changed into their new Billabong swim trunks, grabbed their skim boards and were off to the beach. We had a beautiful view of the gulf and great weather most days. On Monday night, Grayson and I had a great time at Indigo Joe's Sports Pub & Restaurant rooting on UNC as they defeated Michigan State in the NCAA Championship. In addition to a table FULL of fresh seafood, the highlight of the week was Al and Logan's deep sea fishing trip to celebrate Logan's 15th birthday on April 7th. They caught loads of red snapper and some enormous amberjack tuna. They're already planning their next fishing trip. While they were fishing, Grayson and I had a day to ourselves. We started with beach time, went souvenir shopping (at Alvin's Island, Grayson's favorite store), had lunch, and went mini golfing at Pirate's Island (Bumpa saved a coin for a free round that he won two years ago!). Gulf Shores ROCKS! As our time winds down, we hate to leave, a week never seems quite long enough. 

Vail

Logan needed a little 'encouragement' to go out for the Craig Swim Team. So, (without even mentioning it to me!) Al told him if he swam, he would take him skiing in Vail. Needless to say, after a great freshman swim season (that he thoroughly enjoyed), OFF they flew to Vail. They had an awesome time, wished they could have stayed longer, and (not surprisingly) want to make it an annual event. 

Here's a quick clip of the area (doesn't do it justice).

Christmas 2008

             

Don't ya just love the holidays? Our last day of school in 2008 was a snowday. The boys were just crushed...NOT! We headed down I94 through the wind and snow to my folks' in Aurora. That means one thing... "LET THE SHOPPING BEGIN!" We shopped at the mall. We shopped online. We shopped with my brother. We shopped til we DROPPED! Oh, NO! Now the wrapping begins! Urgh.

On Christmas Eve, we continued the tradition of going to see the lights and the REAL story of Christmas on Lenertz Avenue like my mom and her parents used to do. Christmas morning, Bud, Mirty, Emma and Holden arrived and we dug into our stockings and shared our gifts. Much (much) later we had a delicious dinner and went to the movie theater (half went to Marley & Me, half to Bedtime Stories). 

After a quick trip home to unpack and repack (and some last minute shopping), it was 'over the river and through the woods, to Al's mother's house we go.' Logan headed straight out onto the ice. The goal: WALLEYE! For days and days, he sat out on that frozen lake for hours and hours. Sadly, no walleye :( We had another great Christmas dinner and opened gifts. 

After a treacherous drive home, we looked forward to spending New Year's Eve on Cascade Mountain skiing/snowboarding. However, after riding the chiar lift up for the very first run of the day, Logan fell, broke his wrist and the rest of the day was spent in a nearby hospital. 

Happy New Year ;)