Fireworks

NOTE!! I couldn't get the captions to match the pictures!!!

Crazy girls on July 4th overload!



















































The Master of Fireworks Display and all around Pyro. ( meaning Richard)



























Although they kept saying " More Fireworks! More Fireworks" I had a sneaking feeling that they were both unsure of their personal safety. Rachel plugged her ears and Hannah hid in the playhouse, ready to take cover at a moments notice.

Happy Birthday U.S.A

Rachel's 4th

Thoughts on July 4th by Rachel Kotula : Happy Birthday USA. The things I liked most at the parade were, candy , balloons, clowns and the pic nic afterward with Hannah and Mom. Tonight we are going to have fire works. My favorite kind of firework is the sparkly kind.

A 2 year old goes to the July 4th Parade

If you become jealous of me and my out of this world adorable 2 year old after seeing these pictures, thats your problem.

Sister Hair

Its hot here in Wisconsin, I mean HOT! As I write its 8:30am and already 80 degrees! Its not so much the heat, but the humidity that'll kill ya.

I put Hannah's hair up to match Rachel's today for the first time. She sat pretty well, and hasn't ripped out the rubber bands yet. So I feel i've accomplished something...

Potty Training

Rachel: " Mom, the baby won't go pee pee"
Hannah : " POOP POOP"
Me: " Well Rachel, you have to be patient about potty training"
Rachel: "Moooom! She still won't go pee pee, i've given her like 3 bottles now!"
Hannah: " POOP POOP"
Me: " Why don't you wrap her up and let her relax, then she'll pee pee"
Rachel: (frustrated) " Oh! OK..."
a few minutes goes by..........
Rachel: " MOM!!! She pee pee'd !"
Hannah: " POOP POOP"
Rachel: " Mom! I can spell POOP, it has a P at the beginning and at the end and two O's for the OO sound in the middle!"
Me: " Excellent!"

Summer Soccer

I must begin by saying, my husband is HOT! Now, with that out of the way....Summer signals the beginning of United Northwoods Soccer. High School girls from the surronding area practice and play together to stay "in the game" over the summer. I was checking the schedule for this week and was stuck again by how much soccer is a part of Richards, and thus my, life. Soccer season stretches us, grows us, and tightens our marriage. Long periods away from each other make us relish the times we are together, as a couple and as a family. The quotes below are as much for us as for a player. Kick It! UNS!!!

If you're attacking, you don't get as tired as when you're chasing. ~Kyle Rote, Jr.

The rules of soccer are very simple, basically it is this: if it moves, kick it. If it doesn't move, kick it until it does. ~Phil Woosnam, 1974

A lot of football success is in the mind. You must believe you are the best and then make sure that you are.

Mia Hamm quotes
I am building a fire, and everyday I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment, I light the match.

The vision of a champion is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion, when nobody else is looking