Cabin Fever

What happens when you live in Wisconsin and temperatures leave you with nothing to do?  Head to a water park.  Yesterday we headed out for some waterslide-fun for the boys, while Sarah and I chose a lot of hot tub-time.

Quadruple Trouble

These four good-looking Motelets have so much fun together.  So glad the holidays are around and we get to spend even more time together.

Happy Birthday 6 year old

Sarah,  you are such a wonderfully sweet girl. You brighten our day and we love you more than you know.  Don't ever lose that smile.  Happy Birthday "Big Girl".

SUCCESS

Happy Halloween Everyone.

My little helpers

Ben and Sarah often come to my school lab and help me set-up.  It helps that I have a large stash of candy and cool computer games to buy me extra time.

He does look pretty cool.

Verona Wildcats

Go Wildcats

TEAM VAN GROLL

Today we did the Fox Cities Relay Marathon.  We ran it in just over 4 hours and impressed ourselves.  Way to go runners and thanks to our "Pit Crew".

Are you ready for some football?

We are.

First Tooth Bye Bye

With only one week until Sarah starts kindergarten, it is official.  We have a Big Girl.  Yesterday she lost her first tooth --- with the help of grandma.

GREAT WEEK

What a wonderful week.   The Van Grolls all met at Kelly Lake, WI  at a great lake house.  We fished, swam, tubed, ate (a lot)  and just enjoyed the week together.  We also celebrated cousin Zack's 1st  birthday.  Thanks to everyone for making the trip.  And thanks to mom and dad for being great parents and grandparents.

Annual Summer Campus-TIme

Today we headed down to campus for some sightseeing and of course ICE CREAM.

Milwaukee Zoo

Last weekend we had a break from the heat and headed to the Milwaukee Zoo.  I think the goats were the family favorite.

Girl-Time and Boys Business

Occasionally, Bill and I do "alone-time" with each of us taking one child to a special place.     A few weeks ago,Sarah and I headed to Olbrich Gardens to see the flowers and Bill took Ben mini-golfing.  The boys always seem to end up getting ice cream too.  It is however supposed to be top-secret "BOY'S BUSINESS".  We had fun too.

Happy Birthday Bill

Happy Birthday to a wonderful man.  Bill, you are a amazing son, husband and father.   You are the best "Best Friend" I could ask for.  Happy Golden Birthday --- yeah right.  Welcome to 37.

Happy Birthday Ben

Reasons we love Ben:
1.  He makes us laugh every minute of the day.
2.  He is one of the sweetest boy we know.
3.  He always makes us proud to be "Ben's Dad and Ben's Mom".

Happy Birthday Monster Ben.

Manny - from Modern Family

I love this kid.  He is a hopeless romantic.   He often gets in trouble for kissing girls at school.  He picked out this old-man fedora when he went shopping with his grandparents.  Never a dull moment.  Did I mention, I love this kid?

Summer Time With the Motelet Cousins

This weekend Nana and Bapa Motelet took all the kids (and Carl) for a sleep over.  Boy do I love them :).  We kidnapped them for the afternoon and took them to the Goodman Pool.

Fun Weekend

What a great weekend. 
 Friday night - a little Verona Hometown Days.
Sat. Afternoon -- Cousin Ajay's Awesome Birthday Party.
Sat.  Night -- A Van Groll TimberRattler Game in Appleton.

We had such a fun weekend.  It was really great seeing all the cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents.  Now to catch up on a little sleep :).

Introducing Carl Miso Motelet

Today we added the newest member to our family.  Carl is tiny.  He is 9 weeks old and cute as can be.  On our way home, Ben read to the little guy while Sarah cuddled him.

Right now Carl is asleep because of his a very exciting day with the Motelets.

End of the School Year Party

Last week, Ben and Sarah had their "End of the Year" Party.  They performed "the Three Little Pigs" perfectly.  They have forever friends like Morty and Lilly.  We are so lucky that the kids love their "school".  We love it too.

Coach Bill and TEAM RED

  Lots of neighbors and friends.  We are currently undefeated - but we have yet to have a game.

Mustached Motelet Men

This is a fast forward 50 years.  He looks exactly like his Bapa.

Those Motelet Men sure can pull of the 'stache.

Random Petting Zoo

Today we were running errands and randomly found a petting zoo at The Bruce Company.

"No More Technology"

We are all addicted to devices.  My kids know how to use them even better than I do. Phones, Laptops, Ipods, Leap Pads... Uggh.   However, I occasionally put my foot down and say "no more technology".  I know it is all wonderful and inevitable but sometimes a throw-back game of JENGA is what I need.

Shamrock Shuffle

This morning we decided to brave the cold and do the Shamrock Shuffle in downtown Madison.  The course was the most hilly course we have ever run.  However, Bill managed to weave these two, an additional 80 pounds, through 4000 runners.  Although the kids don't look thrilled, they enjoyed seeing all the crazy green outfits.

By the way, we told the kids today is a celebration of the color green, Sarah questioned when we celebrate her favorite color yellow.  So next Sunday, it is the first ever, YELLOW Day.  Please join us by wearing yellow next Sunday :)

March Madness

Let the Madness begin.

GO BUCKY.

Star of the Week

This week Sarah gets to be the special student.  She is bringing yummy treats, family/baby pictures and is going to have some special visitors at school.  To our other STAR of the week, we love you.

Batman

Our little guy has been under the weather this week.  Nothing a "no-reason Batman Suit" can't cure.

Snow Day

Ben loves when he wakes up in the morning and I tell him it is a "stay at home day".  He says we are "trapped in the house".  With 6+ inches of snow expected school is off today.  As I take some time to get some school work done,  the kids have to entertain themselves.   Today they decided to build their own CANDYLAND game.

STAR OF THE WEEK

This week our little guy is STAR OF THE WEEK at preschool.  He gets to bring in family photos, tell stories and have parents and grandparents make special visits.  His favorite thing however is that he gets to wear this fantastic hat each day.  To our STAR OF THE WEEK, we love you.