US Open

Ashley and I made our way to the US Open yesterday in New York.  We decided to spice up the adventure and take public transportation for most of the trip.  The New York transit system is overwhelming, but we made it!! 

 

The weather for the day was beautiful.  We walked the grounds, stalked Andy Roddick, watched a few matches and sipped on a few drinks.

Can't wait for next year!

2012 Work Olympics

Kristina helped me plan/create the first Work Olympics at our house this past Friday.  The weather was perfect for the event.  A bunch of my co-workers came over; teams of two battled a heptathalon of events.  The event was created in spirit of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.  We created a London theme; Will (Kristina) and Kate (Shauna) stopped by to make the evening unforgetable!  The event went so well, that we hope for bigger and better games each year!!!  Good times!

 Team Great Britain.  Opening Ceremony outfits.  Just in case you can't see....there is a bird in a nest on Kristina's royal wedding had.  :)

 One of the events included bouncing on one of these.... :)

 A 'Minute to Win It' Game... the NutStacker... Carolyn's hat (right) was voted best hat.

 Top 3 overall medal winners!!!

 A visit from the Royals???

 Kate is so cool that she asked Shauna if she could wear her bridesmaid's dress from Kelli's wedding for the evening.

 

Somebody's tired!!!!

Hello From Chattanooga!

Hello All!

I realized today how long it's been since I stopped by to say hello :) Life for us is busy, hectic, happy, sad, joyful, challenging, frustrating, loving and BEAUTIFUL alllll rolled into one :)

Olivia is now in her second week of 1st grade and she has proclaimed that it is "awesome".  CSLA has turned out to be an amazing school and we could not be happier with the education she is receiving.  She amazes me everyday with the things she has learned...and some things she hasn't:

Me:  "Punky, do you have a new French Teacher this year?"
Olivia:  "YES!  Oh my gosh...I LOVE HER!"
Me:  "That's great!  What's her name?"
Olivia:  "I don't know."

Our little girl is just so sweet, caring and down right silly, she makes me smile on even the most trying days....

Ian....oh that Ian!  First, let me say, THANK YOU.  I know many of you have been praying for our Little Buddy and I don't think we would be where we are today without those prayers.  So again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you :)

Ian also went back to school last week to Signal Centers, where he is enrolled in a special needs inclusion program.  The children in his classroom represent both typically developing and special needs pre-schoolers.  He receives occupational and speech therapy at school twice a week and outside of school, each once a week.  We have also been doing chiropractic therapy up to three times a week.  As a result of all of this, and because of the EXTREMELY talented Professionals we have surrounded him with, Ian is making an amazing amount of progress. He is saying new words and phrases everyday and is learning to cope with his frustrations.  He is interacting with his little school friends, is making better eye contact and is able to better express his needs and wants.  What is the best part about Ian?  Oh, that sense of humor!  He is always laughing and smiling and DELIBERATELY doing things to make you laugh and smile too.  I've said from the beginning, if nothing else, it is his personality that would get him through all of this and so far, it has :)

So how are Ink and I?  Well, in one word...tired!!  Ha!  Seriously though, between work (we both work 40 hrs, Ink 3rd shift), therapies, Dr's appointments, homework and PTA (oh, did I mention I'm President Elect?) it's been rough.  It really is true when they say, "You don't know how strong you are....until you have to be".  Each day presents itself with new challenges, but we just keep on pushing through (what's the point of doing anything else?).  As long as there are more good days than bad, I'm happy :)

 Love and God Bless to you all - Jes, Ink, Olivia & Ian

The Dude Hates Cancer Fundraiser

Thank you for visiting my donations page for “The Dude Hates Cancer!” charity bowling tournament. My teammates and I will be taking to the lanes and bowling for top honors at the bowling tournament on Saturday September 15, 2012, but we’re also competing with the other registered teams to see who can raise the most money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! Anything you can give to help us win this important competition would be greatly appreciated.

The LLS funds life-saving cancer research that has led to major advances in the treatment of blood cancers (and many other cancers), including treatments such as chemotherapy and stem cell transplants that have prolonged and enhanced the lives of patients. New targeted therapies that kill cancer cells without harming normal tissue have already begun to provide drugs and procedures that are improving quality of life.

But more research is critically needed:

• Every five minutes someone is diagnosed with blood cancer. Every ten minutes, someone dies.
• Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children and young adults under the age of 20
• Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma will cause the deaths of an estimated 52,910 people in the United States this year
• The survival rate for myeloma is just 33 percent

Please make a donation to support my TDHC team and help save lives. Be sure to check back frequently to see our progress and, again, thanks for your support

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Please support me by visiting http://epa.tdhc2012.llsevent.org/mikethomas

Sincerely,

Mike Thomas

On behalf of The Dude Hates Cancer

Fun in Maine!

Mike, the girls, and I trekked up to Maine last week (Kelli, Kristina, I was shocked that the van we rented was not another white one!  There were three Big Whites in the lot!!!!  lol).  We spent 2 days in Kittery hanging with Sara and Aunt Mary.  We spent 2 days at NATH and some time swimming at the beautiful lakehouse.  Mike and I enjoyed being together with the girls.  It was their first time camping, and they did really well.  It was nice seeing Aunt Linda and Uncle Pete; Aunt Linda and I had fun being partners for the badminton tournament...."Just pretend we're strategizing..."  Good times!  Aunt Mary and Uncle Charlie, thank you for letting us stay at your house!!!!  We miss Maine already; the worst is seeing Exit 2 on 95 South....Mike and I always look at each other and say, "Should we get off?"  :)

 Catching the moon rise at Seapoint!

 Nice shot!

 Go Aunt Mary!

 Team Oplinger

 Uncle Charlie's coping mechanism for when things get tough.  He pretends to play the guitar to keep cool.

 The lake was awesome!!!!!

 Amazing shot of Will during Finals Match!

 2012 Badminton Tournament Winners!

Eating blueberries at rest stop on way home.  Cally would not take off her Moose sweatshirt despite how hot it was!!!

A fun Wednesday afternoon at Fort Foster.  Low tide and fun in clear perfect temp waters!



Jake - 4 1/2 months

Jake had his four month appointment this week.  He is 27 in. long and 17.4 lbs.  Per the doctor..."by no means scrawny, very healthy!!"  Hope everyone is staying cool!