June 2025

Happy Birthday Rose! (10)
Lucia’s dance intensive
Lucia and GG go to Riverside Bible Camp
Lucia’s cabin group
Lucia loves carpet ball.
Now Rose goes to camp!
Rose’s cabin group
The boys and I went to SJU for Elliot’s summer orientation
Whether they like it or not, the boys can’t help but laugh at each other.
Happy Birthday, Mari! (20)
Rose at camp.
. . . and we’re at the lake.
spikeball
pad life
Gary and Kathie
Me and Susan
Liess Clan
Family Pic
Susan went to her college reunion.
I took the girls camping in Decorah
Ruben came, too.

May 2025

Elliot decided to attend St. John’s for college.
Rose had an orchestra concert.
Lucia got braces.
I picked up Mari from school. Here we are having dinner at Holly’s with a couple of her friends.
Playing in the pool. It’s probably not too warm yet. I can see the ladder isn’t even in.
Family pic on Mother’s Day. Everyone is home from college.
Susan on Mother’s Day.
Lucia did a great job in her dance recital.
Lucia singing in 6th grade honor chorus.
Susan went to Chicago with Jen for a training
Elliot’s last day of high school!
Elliot’s graduation.
Elliot graduated!
Elliot with Mar-Mar and Be-Bob.
Susan
Elliot’s graduation board.
Rose’s friends at track day.
Last day of school for the girls.
6th grade class.
Lucia and Stella in the obstacle course.
Lucia and friends.

April 2025

I need to get caught up, so here is the month of April:

Lucia did a great job in Alice in Wonderland.
Susan enjoyed a ride in Shelley’s convertible.
Rose’s grade participated in FiGBRAC.
We dyed Easter eggs.
The kids hunted for Easter baskets.
The kids hunted for Easter eggs inside, due to the rain.
Easter Dinner
Andrew didn’t make it home for Easter, but we got to watch him participate in a weightlifting showcase.

Nutcracker 2024

Lucia was in the Nutcracker again with her dance school. She loves it. This year she had the roles of soldier and side marzipan. She does a great job.

We can’t record the actual production. Here are a couple of videos from dress rehearsal.

Lucia and Friends
Mar-Mar and BeBob usually time their fall visit to see the show.

Happy Birthday, Lucia!

Hope, Cameron, Lucia, Rose, and Elliot

Lucia is 12!

Lucia is a real joy to have around the house. She still loves to dance and other performing arts. She is in the choir this year at school, but she is taking a break from band and orchestra.

Her behavior tends to be on track with what would be expected of someone her age. She is staying up a little later, sleeps in more, and is spending more time with her friends.

This year we were lucky to be able to have her birthday party because she has been sick for a few days.

Favorite color: Violet
Favorite food: Skyline pizza
Favorite band: Gracie Abrams
Favorite book: Projekt 1065
Favorite sport: Dance
Favorite movie: Moana

RACE Day

It was the annual RACE Day fundraiser at Lucia and Rose’s school today. They girls had fun with their friends.

Lucia and friends.
Lucia, Stella, and their kindergarten buddy
Rose and friends.

Friday Fun

Girls Pool Party
Trying on some of Papa’s old clothes.
Rose got her ears pierced and Lucia got her right ear pierced, again.

Father’s Day

For Father’s Day today Lucia, Rose and I enjoyed a very hot bike ride to Dairy Queen then did some light grilling on our “new” grill scavenged from our neighbor’s garbage. At least once or twice a summer we do te bike ride to Dairy Queen – about 4 miles each way.