This year we celebrated my dad's birthday by going to a Badger's Game in Madison, WI. Paul and Angie's family came from VA and Greg and Dawn's family came up from IL and Pete and I joined in the fun. The weather was great...

Aaron, Katie, Hannah, and Cole

5th Quarter and a very upbeat marching band

The gang that sat together in one group of seats, Grandpa, Grandma, Aaron, Katie, Hannah, Cole, Pete and I On the way out of the stadium...after a big win!


Pete, Katie, and I

Hannah and Cole
Grandpa and Grandma
I am trying to make him a football fan...at least he is smiling
Back at the hotel...some hung out by the pool

Some went sliding and swimming

Hannah took Aaron out at the bottom of the slide!!

The weekend before Alyssa's birthday we had a surprise party for her at Hacienda...I truely think she was surprise. Lots of fun was had by all, many friends and family joined us to make it a night of many laughs and good times...

Alyssa surprised that it isn't just dinner with Pete and I

Some of the many friends and familyTate stealing a chip from someoneAlyssa with AaronThe big hat while the wait staff sang to AlyssaLevi having fun with his cars and anyone who would play with him

Well lots to catch up from the past couple of weeks...

and why do I have time to do this on a Monday morning at 8:15 ...well we don't have school due to all the flooding from the 1o inches of rain that the area received in the past couple of days.

Our last drs. appointment we had an in-depth ultrasound. Everything looked good and measured right about where the baby is suppose to be except length...length measured about 3-4 weeks ahead of where the baby is. The doctor said you might just have a long baby, only time will tell. Heartbeat was at 156. Normal but on the fast end. Here are a few pictures from the ultrasound...

Baby facing down, body on left with backbone at the top of the picture, head on the right.

Baby profile, top of the head on the left, nose and mouth sticking up with a hand just under the chin

You can see the whole body, head with a face (that looks a little ghost like) but eyes, nose, mouth, arms and legs

Since I didn't have my cord to download pictures yesterday...I wanted to send one more birthday greeting!!!

Happy th Birthday

plus

day Alyssa!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALYSSA !!!

WE LOVE YA

Happy Birthday Dad/Grandpa to Be (again)!!!

Not sure where the last post went...one day it was there and the next it was gone. The first week of school went as well as a first week of school can go!!! I have a great class which will make this year enjoyable, (at least the time I am there) However, one could say that I need to get back into the swing of teaching, Friday night I fell asleep on the couch around 7:30 went to bed at some point and got up Saturday morning, (with a few bathroom breaks throughout the night) around 7:45 Saturday morning! Apparently the first week made me tired.
Doctors appointment this coming Thursday, we have our ultrasound, should be fun!!!

Yesterday was Mary's first day of the new school year. One day down...too many left to go! Her motto for this year..."I only have to do this until mid January!" Actually, she really likes the group of kids she has and has high hopes to enjoy these last few months of teaching.

Happy Birthday Luke!!!

Baby Update

This past Tuesday I went for another doctors appointment. I got to hear the baby's heartbeat...it ranged anywhere from 142-160. While we were listening she pointed out the sounds that were actually the baby kicking. Still amazing to me that a small little person is growing inside of me and at such a rapid rate. As Alyssa said "can't think of any better reason to be sick" I have to agree!! We go back the end of August for the detailed ultrasound and another appointment! Hopefully by then I will begin to feel the baby move!!!

July happpenings...
We spent 4th of July in southern Indiana with several friends. We enjoyed some time on a lake and Bailey enjoyed swimming.



Cade watched most of the fireworks before he snuggled in and fell asleep, apparently he had seen enough for this year.



We celebrated Evia's 3rd Birthday at a park with cake and ice cream



This past week was VBS at church...Alyssa was in charge of games and I was in charge of 2 cute boys. I watched Tate and Cade while she was at church...
Cade doing a little jumping and looking a little mischevious




Everyone needed a little nap

Cade finding everything and anything outside that he shouldn't eatTate having one of his many conversations on his "hello" generally the conversation went something like this "Hello Mom"

Cade getting a kiss from Bailey... so glad Cade and Tate both get along so well with our furry critter

Many already know, but as I found out last night there are still several who don't know that come 2009 Pete and I will no longer be a family of just two we will be a happy family of 3. We are expecting our little arrival Mid-January. We are excited to welcome a new little person into our home. We have had one doctors appointment so far, and they said everything looked good. They did an ultrasound so that we could see the baby's heartbeat. It was crazy to actually see the little person growing inside of me. The last few weeks have been OK, I haven't felt well and have been sick, but as the doctor says "that's a great sign" and am just hoping it passes soon!!! But we know that God will watch after us both.

The baby standing on his or her head with its legs/feet in the air

From left to right you can see a leg sticking out, an arm and the head is all the way on the right

An impromptu picture taken by Alyssa of Mary showing Pete the pregnancy test...yeps it is positive!!!

Happy Birthday Evia!!!

(don't know why this won't turn the right way)

This past weekend Pete and I traveled to the Smoky Mountains in Tenn. for Pete's family reunion. It was nice to see everyone, although it was a long trip, it took us about 9.5 hours to get there and a little less on the way home.

Pete and I went to the Dollyworld waterpark on Saturday with Pete's Aunt and Uncle and one of his cousins. It was nice to be near water since it was in the 90's. We spent time at the cabin with everyone and enjoyed many laughs with all the relatives. There were a total of 29 people in the cabin, but have no fear it slept 38. Overall, it was a good trip and plans are already underway for the next reunion I am hoping it is closer to home or that Pete will have more vacation by then so we can enjoy it a little more.

On Sunday after I returned from Michigan, my friend Elizabeth came over and went and visited a couple of friends in Fort Wayne and another friend, Heidi who was visiting from Arkanasas. It was good to see everyone and catch up and see Matthew and Kelli's little boy Ian who was born in Feb.
Kelli, Heidi, Kristen, Mary, and Elizabeth after lunch out



Enjoying some time catching up...

Well June has already come and gone...lots to update on. A few weeks ago Pete and I drove up to a cabin in Michigan with the whole Hildebrandt family...unfortunately Pete doesn't have any vacation time yet so he was only able to stay for the weekend, and I stayed for the rest of the week and drove home with Erik and Alyssa. The weather was a little cool throughout the week be we found things to keep ourselves busy.

We spent some time at the park...

Went to Sleepy Bear National Lakeshore and did some sand dune climbing...

Took a few naps...

And enjoyed summer...

Happy Anniversary Erik and Alyssa!!!

3 Days and Counting...

Happy 1st Anniversary to Mary and Pete!

The happy couple then...



















And now...

































WOW!!! Must have been a rough year! Ha, ha! Love you guys!

So hard to believe it is the middle of May already...where the first part went I have no idea. Quick updates about the Nemeths. I am looking forward to the end of the school year, only a few more weeks. Looking back the year did go pretty quickly...Pete and I have been spending our time at home outside trying to get plants in and landscaping done, never seems to end! However, I love flowers and spring so all in all not a bad thing.
This past weekend we went up to Sheboygan to see my parents and to attend my high school reunion. It was fun to catch up with high school friends, hear what everyone is doing and think that we may keep in touch, which is really I will see you again in several years when we have another one of these.

Go figure, I am posting on my own blog, what a concept. Glad to have friends that will keep things updated even if I don't!!!

Last week of April...hard to believe.

Last week I left on Wednesday for Minnesota for the National Teachers Conference with 3600 other Lutheran School Teachers. I got to see lots of friends, former teachers, and college classmates. Elizabeth and I did venture to the Mall of America one afternoon for a little shopping since I had never been there! All in all it was fun to spend time with friends and catch up. Now I am trying to get back in the swing of school as we near the end of the year. One more week of Track Practice and then our one meet of the season next week. Then the planning of Fun and Field Day, which is usually a great day, just lots of planning ahead of time. Then it will be the end of another school year, it is really amazing how fast the time goes.

Over the weekend while I was gone Pete worked on putting in a new electical box, he 0nly has 2 more rooms to hook up and and he will be able to cross another project off of his list. It is exciting that while there are always things to do around a house, the list appears to be getting shorter!!

Here are a few pictures from the last couple of days...

The View from the Hotel Room of the City

College Roommates Miriam and Elizabeth

Our little outing

Jonah has left the building! (Trinity, that is!) The performances of "Go, Go, Jonah" went very, very well! (The boys, my mom, and I went to the afternoon showing and we all greatly enjoyed it! Way to go, Mary!) So, as of Friday night, Mary was finished with the musical. So you would think that Monday would bring a sense of relief and a bit of relaxation. But, NO! Track started on Monday! Woo-hoo! And guess who is the coach???? That's right, the one, the only, the multi-talented....Mary! Oh, and she leaves Wednesday for the National Conference.

In Pete news, he's been working some overtime, is just getting over a cold, and spent the weekend in southern Indiana camping with "the guys". Fun times.

Mary has been busy preparing for the big 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade production of: Go, Go, Jonah! And at this point, two days before the big show, Mary will just be happy when Jonah has gone!

Hello, all. Alyssa here, posting on Mary's behalf. Mary's little Spring Break has come and gone...much too quickly in Mary's opinion. She didn't go anywhere warm over her break, and the temperatures were not too high here...actually, it snowed. Mary and Pete enjoyed Easter at home. Ma and Pa Haecker, along with Greg, Dawn, Hannah, and Cole, made the trip to LaPorte for Easter dinner. Ma and Pa Haecker stayed in town until Wednesday, helping Mary with various projects around the house. The rest of the week, Mary tried to do some housework, schoolwork, and find some time to relax. Pete and Mary have also been spending time driving the greater Valparaiso area trying to locate some land on which to build (with a second lot nearby for their dear friends, Alyssa and Erik). Mary is back in the full swing of things at school. Report cards go out Friday. She's getting things going for Fun and Field Day which isn't for several weeks, but requires a lot of planning. So....Mary will be posting again in about 9 weeks, when the school year has ended. :) She sends her love to all!