A Tale of Two Weekends....

On the first weekend... Sept. 26th we travelled to Lafayette, Indiana with our friends the Dales... and went to the Notre Dame/Purdue game... which ND won in the final seconds of the game.....

We spent a lot of time in the car, but it gave us lots of time to talk and visit...

Because when we got to Purdue it was time to Party! We tailgaited for both lunch and dinner

Purdue Flag is attached to Folgate's car with bandaides!

The Purdue Fans, before the game

Betsy offered Susan and Bob Folgate advice on how to transport Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Mark relaxing and enjoying the tail gaiting experience

Dick and Bob made some new friends

(better picture on Dick's website)

Notre Dame's Band is better, but the Golden Girl, The Girl in Black and the Silver Twins add a lot to their half time show!

And they have a really BIG drum!

Here we are at breakfast... some of us were happier with the game results than others... but there is always next week!

Later on Sunday we officially put Shotzie back into Annie's custody.

Stella was so sad to see her go! (NOT!)

Chris invited us to stay for "Sunday Night" dinner and made a fancy spinach and artichoke appetizer with an orange pepper flower on top

Well at least it's not another silly face!

Steph made sophapillas and they were delicious!

Annie commiserated with Stella

While Shotzie wondered what her new life in St. Louis would be like.... will the smells be the same? Will Annie give me doggie treats in the morning?

SECOND WEEKEND!

October 2-4 in Washington to celebrate Mike's birthday








Grandpa Mark and Becca and Patrick got right down to playing!

Becca found Grandma's brush, which you can use many different ways!

Nice box!

Pat sat on his dad's present, a generator!

Meg received a new suitcase, just in time for Mike and Meg's trip to Dave and Colleen's wedding!

And this way they can carry on their luggage!

We brought Patrick and Becca books... and they were very pleased!

And then Annie arrived!

Becca and Pat helped Meg make "The Birthday Cake"

They are great bakers... and really cute!

Annie brought Shotzie along, and Becca loved her, as long as she was with her dad!

Michael is helping Annie train Shotzie to like football

Patrick playing with his dinasaurs Charlie (I think) and Bruce

Becca gets in some lap time with dad

Pat and Becca shared Grandma Jan's lap

Scroll through these pictures quickly and watch us sing Happy Birthday to You to Michael

It's almost like you were there!

Aunt Annie reading a story.....

Shotzie got a little tired of football.....

Meg was glad Notre Dame won! (They beat Washington in overtime... it was quite a good game!)

On Sunday our attention turned to soccer.

We went into Peoria and watched the first half of Mike's DNR Soccer match.

Mike is explaining soccer to Shotzie