We are 28! Or at least I was in 2002.

In honor of reaching 28, on the unofficial waiting list for a little brother or sister, I am posting a history challenge. Either email me with your answers or post as a comment. Winners will be announced!

Fill-In-The-Blank for Events in 2002

1. President George Bush faints after choking on a _____________.

2. __________ wins soccer World Cup.

3. Accountacy and auditing scandals engulf _________, _________ & other US businesses.

4. Swiss voters vote in favor of joining the __________.

5. Funeral of HM Queen ___________.

6. Winona Ryder convicted of ____________.

7. Michael Wolaver turns ____________.

Good Luck!!!

"Fall Fun" with Family and Friends

Thanks to family and friends I had the opportunity to participate in an awesome fundraiser last weekend. It was an event organized by our group of friends at church, with the mission of raising money for our city's food pantry as well as contributing towards our church's various outreach meal programs. We invited hundreds of families to join us at a local park for food and fun. Lot of food and lots of fun it was!

Prior to the event we had around 250 RSVP's of attending. This required much brainstorming as how and what to feed, given there was no electricity at the park. Fortunately we have some very organized and motivated friends, resulting in multiple spread sheets and much enthusiasm.

Given that Michael was out of town for the weekend, my parents were great to watch Mehandis prior, during and following the event. Couldn't have done it without them!

Prepping with Cory, Mike and Jane about 2 hours before our start time.

About an hour and a half of the time was spent slicing 100's of donated rolls. It was amazing to see all that companies, stores and individuals donated.

Paul with lots-o-crocks.

We were all so thankful for the beautiful day... couldn't even begin to think what Plan B would have been if it rained.

Between the raffle tickets, bake sale, purchase of dinner/drinks and donations we were able to raise our goal of... $5000!!! Amazing. Curt, Kristen and Carri are seen below announcing the many winners of the raffle. Everyone did such a fantastic job. I truly can't wait to do it again.

I unfortunately could not stay and help with clean up, following our fundraiser, as I was heading to Miami that evening. A little Miami in Wisconsin that is! Friends, Dara and George threw their annual themed summer party. This year it was "Miami Vice", that should at least partially explain some of the outfits that follow.

Our hostess serving her signature drink, "Moon Over Miami".

Didn't have to worry about it being too dark for this photo as many of our outfits are bright enough! A very unique night with very many Crocketts :) Wonder what next year will bring?

Goodbye Summer... Hello Autumn!!!

Gotta get in our summer camping trip while summer is still pretty fresh in our minds. I do believe that today is the first day of autumn... but I am celebrating that we can still be wearing sleeveless shirts and sandals. Not bad!

The last week of my summer break we took a week long camping trip with many of Michael's extended family. We had parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings join us in Leelanau, Michigan.
Our tent, housed with a pack and play for Mehandis's "room", worked out pretty well for us once again (minus the sandy sleeping quarters and broken zipper). Mehandis loved his hunter orange camping vest... and hammed it up for the camera!

Here Michael is in the dining quarters with Aunt Rita. We did pretty well with our campfire menu. I think that the Chicken Parmesan was my favorite meal. Actually the burrito (almost) the size of my head beat everything else out... but that was store-bought pre-made on a rainy day in Leland!

We are a family of campers and of Subaru Forresters. Can you make out the three in a row?

I think Mehandis is doing a yoga move here.

On a nature walk with Cousin Julia and Aunt Rita.

They enjoyed walking in the stream as well. No need for Mehandis to take his shoes off as he went shoeless 95% of the trip.

Ahh, the fatigue sets in. Time to cuddle up!

One of the two beach days in Empire. Here is Michael's cousin Kelly with Jack and Katherine. We enjoyed conversations, laying in the sun, listening to Uncle J.R. and Dad play the guitar... and eating PBJ.

Of course we can't leave out the endless fun that Mehandis had swimming the day away!!!

I do believe that the saying "Lazy Days of Summer" does not apply to our family!!!

Chicago Summer '09

Mehandis and I so look forward to our train trips to Chicago. Not only does Mehandis now feel that the Amtrak conductors are personally connected to him (as they pass through the car, the entire car hears, "Where did my conductor go?") but he gets to personally live out "Goodnight Chicago"... one of his favorite books since homecoming.

We were fortunate to get the chance to travel to Chicago together mid-summer, upon my parents' return home from Indiana. Adventures included the planetarium, a trip on the subway, preview of Lollapolooza, Italian al fresco and Mexican paired with margaritas. One of the stand out first time experiences included a sunrise breakfast along Lake Michigan... followed with a morning swim.

The pigeons, unfortunately, really enjoyed the breakfast (following our departure for the Lake swim) as well. Therefore Mehandis kept asking, "Where my muffin go?".

So much fun with Grandpa pushing his stroller Indy-style and Grandma sharing her laughter and treats. We thank you for our get away! The following pic shows the serenity of the mornings (beyond this picturesque sunrise... as I was able to get the chance to go and work out at the upstairs club most of the days as Grandma and Grandpa cuddled with Mehandis in the early hours!).



Check out the creation of our engineer. "Choo-choo" bring on the train!

We love you Grandma & Grandpa. Thanks for hosting us for our "busy" visit!!!

Back to School

August has moved so quickly! I can't believe that I haven't posted since the end of July. But I guess I have been out of town for much of the month, including visits with my parents in Chicago, an extended stay at the Lake and also a week long camping trip to Michigan. I have fun stories and photos to share about those vacations... but for today I will stay in the present.

Mehandis and I went back to school this morning. Last night was especially hard for me. I was sad to send Mehandis into other caregivers' arms and I was nervous about the change back into our hectic Fall schedule. But Michael and our little guy helped make it easier for me this morning.

Following words of encouragement, Michael fell back into his role of readying Mehandis for the day. The new morning schedule starts 20 minutes earlier for all of us now... as my start time has been moved. Mehandis got up with Michael around 6:30 and they were ready (with smiles) by 7:00.

Before I left for our "schools", Mehandis posed for his First Day of School Picture. Looking pretty confident and excited I would say!


Mehandis's enthusiasm stayed with him the whole ride to school and through my departure. I then caught his confidence and proceeded to have a great first day back to work myself. Hooray!

Oh... and something else to cheer about is noted below.

This was a first for him! Something to be said for peer pressure? Or perhaps we just set the scene perfectly for this accomplishment. No matter what I celebrate all of the different caring hands that helps Mehandis and us!

Let the good times roll (and rock of course!)

So much fun was had with the VA family this past Tuesday! The adults enjoyed fabulous weather and conversation during a picnic... and the kids had fun playing and simply being together.

Mehandis and Tizu tried their hand at "Fat Bat" baseball. Looking pretty good I have to say!

After some lack of "connecting" with the ball, Courtney showed Tizita a fancy softball swing. I will have to remember it for the next time I am up at bat!

While Mehandis is a king of facial expressions... I do believe Tizu outdoes our little performer. Check these out!

A little out of order, but Courtney showed us her and Tizu's "winning" Mother-Daughter Look-a-Like Pose (yet to be entered in an official contest... but I do think they will take home the prize). So Mehandis and I had to show off our "piggy nose" pose.

This was Tizu and Courtney's bring home the gold look!

And on with more looks...

We continue to enjoy occasional outdoor concerts at Washington Park and other local venues. Maira enjoyed some Ring-Around-the-Rosie with Stefan and Mehandis, along with some big hugs!

And they all fall down...

We took an adventure to the Racine Zoo last week... awesome! It is along Lake Michigan, inexpensive and full of great animals. My favorite was a pretty small animal, the meerkat. I had the three kids mimic it's pose. Nice job kids :) We will definitely go back... they even have an opportunity to walk in with the giraffes during feeding time.

Oh and yes, let's get some more rock pictures in. Here is our the kids from our group of friends at church, all "attempting" to play Rock Band. Thank goodness for the Practice Level where you don't get kicked off... and that no one realized that only one person was actually playing. I think Emily and Mehandis were the dancers here.

Sarah really enjoyed the vocals... and dad Cory was patient as could be with telling the kids what colors to push. The real talent came when 7 of the 9 kids performed a Sunday School song together for 9 month old Eliana. Mehandis acted as band manager, saying "Are you ready?" and "One more time!".

Cardinals

Mehandis and I saw a cardinal outside of our house today... didn't know it was symbolic until I did a search on our latest "list" number. We are now number 35 which is the same number West Virginia was for becoming a state in North America. And their state symbol includes a cardinal.

Now for some more interesting facts... from Michael's parents' AARP bulletin I learned of the most popular tourist spots in our 50 states. They follow below, along with three asterisks *** by the sites I have personally been to (or at least remember visiting, please feel free to add to any locales that you think I have been to that I may not remember!).

Alabama- US Space and Rocket Center
Alaska- Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
***Arizona- Grand Canyon National Park
Arkansas- Hot Springs National
***California- Disneyland Park
***Colorado- Rock Mountain National Park
Connecticut- Hammonasset Beach
Delaware- Delaware Sea Shore
***Florida- Disney World's Magic Kingdom
***Georgia- Stone Mountain Park
Hawaii- Waikiki Beach
Idaho- Silverwood Theme Park
***Illinois- Navy Pier
***Indiana- Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Iowa- Amana Colonies

Kansas- Flint Hills Tall Grass Prairie
Kentucky- Lands Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
***Louisiana- French Quarter
Maine- LL Bean Flagship Store
Maryland- Assateague Island
***Massachusetts- Faneuil Hall Marketplace
***Michigan- The Henry Ford Museum Complex
***Minnesota- Mall of America
Mississippi- Natchez Trace Parkway
Missouri- Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
Montana- Yellowstone National Park
Nebraska- Henry Doorly Zoo
***Nevada- Las Vegas Strip
New Hampshire- White Mountain National Forest

New Jersey- Atlantic City Boardwalk
New Mexico- Albuquerque Biological Park
***New York- Tiimes Square
North Carolina- Blue Ridge Parkway
North Dakota- Theodore Roosevelt National Park
***Ohio- Cedar Point Amusement Park
Oklahoma- Oklahoma City National Memorial
Oregon- Crater Lake National Park
Pennsylvania- Independence National Historic Park
Rhode Island- Roger Williams Park Zoo
South Carolina- Broadway at the Beach
Tennessee- Great Smoky Mountains
Texas- River Walk
Utah- Temple Square
Vermont- Ben & Jerry's Factory
Virginia- Blue Ridge Parkway
***Washington- Pike's Place Market
West Virginia- New River George National River
***Wisconsin- Devil's Lake State Park
Wyoming- Yellowstone National Park