Saying Goodbye

The hardest blog entries to write are the ones filled with tears. Written words on this screen cannot capture the sorrow we feel this week as we have to say goodbye to David. Our brother-in-law David Hettig passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in their home on October 4th. David and Vicki have been married 9 years and although we have only known him for that time, we feel like he has been a part of our lives forever and know we are truely blessed to have him as a brother-in-law and friend.
Always with a smile on his face, David lit up the room with his warmth, caring and quick wit. He loved life and loved his family and as we look back on all the happy memories it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye knowing that we will see him again someday in heaven.
Until then David, we hope there are many big fish (and lots of structure) in heaven - save some for us!

Summer? Where did it go?

Wow - once again the summer flew by and it seems like it was just yesterday the snow was melting. Bill & I were busy - but with all the hecticness of our lives, the blog was left untouched. Here's a small snapshot of the summer for you to see!

Nick and Molly Tied the Knot
So did Carelton Irving

We celebrated with Jenn at her baby shower!

The garden was plentiful and we made salsa until we dropped

The Ry-Guy turned 4 Plant, weed, water, landscape - then party on the patio

One of the many waterfalls near Grand Marais

My first time trout fishing (I did catch bigger ones)

Bill on his favorite lake catching his favorite fish

Can't wait for next summer!

4th of July

I have to admit 4th of July doesn't seem quite right without Trevor around lighting off fireworks every time you turn around... Trevor and Cindi are in Jamaica celebrating their 1 year anniversary. Bill & I went to Gull Lake to watch the fireworks @ Jim's house... the video shows the grand finale... very cool over the lake from the boat.

Happy Birthday Lilly

Happy 3rd birthday to Lilly! We had a party at Lyz and Jarrod's new house complete with slip and slide (even Angela had to try that out). The scary pink cake is supposed to be a Care Bear Cake that Angela made... there was a little problem with the frosting, but the cake was delicious.

First 1/2 of 2010

As most of you have noticed, the blog has remained silent for most of this year... to tell you the truth it just didn't seem like there was much to say... but now we have so much to be thankful for I thought it was time to catch you up on the first half of 2010. As most of you know my mom was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer at the end of last year. It was a very scary and trying time for our family and friends as my mom spent the first three months of the year in Bronson hospital and Three Rivers Rehab. The next three months were filled with trips to the dr. for Chemo treatments and checkups. During this time although most days it didn't seem like it... life went on. Here is the proof in photos...
This is Oscar the Llama who lives down the road from us... I had to put him on the blog because some days he was the only thing that made me laugh... driving back and forth to the hospital multiple times a day at sometimes very odd hours... Oscar was always there by the road giving you this look and no matter how bad the day was... he was always good for a laugh.

There are lots of funny hospital stories like the morphine button, the green chair, the random homeless guy who came into the room, but I think this picture pretty much sums everything up... Call, Don't Fall pictures were in EVERY room that my mom was in (and there were quite a few), and by the end she was beyond sick of looking at Call Don't Fall.... so we took a picture for her to remember.
One of our many sad moments... Trevor cutting mom's hair off because it was falling out.While my mom was hanging out at Camp Bronson and Camp Rehab, our little buddy Jadyn (City Folk) was in Boston having special treatments for his tumor. After 2 straight months of treatments, Jadyn came back home to the Prairie. He just recently had a MRI and the results showed that there is residual tumor left but that it has remained intact and stable, which essentially means it hasn't moved, shrunk, or grown. This is excellent news and the surgery's and treatments were successful.

Our little Lexi turned 4 years old and we celebrated with her and some of her friends at the bowling alley (mom busted out of camp rehab to attend).

Cole took ice skating lessons at Wings Stadium and one day Lexi was able to join in the fun...

Of course we fished... Cole flew solo this year and was able to catch fish all on his own!A massive hail storm ripped through the prairie causing major damage to may of the houses including ours...

Spring and early summer finally showed up and of course we did a little landscaping...
And finally after what seemed like an eternity, we celebrated with a "Done" party. Mom is totally DONE with chemo, her CA125 level went from 800 before the surgery to 12 after all the Chemo was done. She is feeling great and we are so thankful that she had such great doctors, nurses, PT, OT, RT, and friends and family. Thank you so much to everyone who helped out throughout everything this year. It is wonderful to have family and friends like you!





NEWS FLASH - Kimmy and Phil are pregnant & so are Joel and Jenn!! Both are due in November...

Welcome to the World Serie Adelle Briggs

Serie is here... and mom and baby are doing great! Here's the details....

Serie Adelle Briggs
Birthday Jan 20th, 2010 3:38p.m.
8.4oz 22"

Rilley and Lilly are very excited to have a baby sister and everyone is home and doing great!

A couple more fishies

The only good thing about winter in Michigan...