Jessica’s 10th Birthday

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Jessica & Ashley

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Mom, dad, Ashley and Jessica playing bocce ball.

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Pier Jumper soda by Big Bay Brewing (Shorewood, WI)

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Steph, Mom, Jess, Richard and Amanda opening gifts from Japan.

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Steph, Mom, Jess

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Stephanie and her boyfriend Joey.

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Richard and Brian putting together a telescope that Jess got as a gift.

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Jessica, Joey, Stephanie, Nick, Karen

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Elderly Shorty

Over the holiday weekend I went to Oak Creek for Jessica’s 10th birthday party. We grilled out and played yard games. The weather wasn’t as great as it could be, but it wasn’t terrible either. Jess requested brats and hamburgers, so my brother grilled those up. Dallas went to our friend’s lake house the day before and made up a bunch of Korean kalbi ribs. He gave us one bag to grill up and everyone seemed to like them. Jess got a ton of presents from Dallas and I, my parents, Brian and Sheila (and Ashley and Jason) and Amanda’s parents. I hadn’t seen my family since we went to Japan and had a bunch of little gifts for them. Some souvenirs, lots of candy and crackers, oragami sets, bonsai tree, some kokeshi dolls. Good to see everyone! Happy birthday, Jessica!

Wisconsin Barbecue


Milo resting in the shade.


Quarter keg of Spotted Cow.


Rock and Jeff


Richard and Brian


Shorty.


Shorty again. We debated how old he is… 13? 15?


Jason and Jessica


Jessica and Jason


Brian, Sheila, Ashley playing beersbee


Richard and Rock playing beersbee


Fire pit, where the play gym used to be.

Over the weekend my brother had a barbecue at his house. I hadn’t been up to his house for a visit since Christmas, so I wanted to make sure to go. The weather was a little hot at first, but then cooled to comfortable temperature. I played a game of bocce with Jess and played bags with my brother and his friends. Steph had band until 3 and then invited a few friends over. Like typical teenagers, they mostly hung around each other, away from the rest of the party, except when Sheila infiltrated every now and then! My brother and his friends also played beersbee, which I thought at first was the frisbie game, but is not. My brother accidentally made the hamburgers, frisbee style, the way my dad makes them, but redid the batch. Those frisbee burgers would have worked out well for the beersbee game! It was fun to hang out and relax and meet some more of my brother’s friends.

Work Holiday Party


John & Joe


Greg & Ken


JoAnn


Marie & Jared


Greg, Jared, Peter


First of Many Shots – Jen, John, Jared


Joe


Ken & Jared


Nate, Susanna, Jared, Peter


Jen


Neal


Joel & Peter


Joel & Peter


April


April, Jamie, Peter


How many people does it take to put on a coconut bra?


Joel, April, Peter, Jamie


Joel, Nick, April, Peter, Jamie


Jamie, Nick, April


More shots


Peter, Joe, John, Ken


John Manhandling Peter


Nate


John & Nate get their photo taken


Peter takes Susanna for a spin


Peter & Susanna dancing


Nick, April, Nate, Norm, Jamie


Jamie, Sheila, April


JoAnn


JoAnn


Sheila


April, Nick, Jamie


Rachelle & April


DJ, Ken, Jared


DJ, Ken, Nate


Ken Finally Gets Lucky

Last night was our division’s holiday party at Trader Vic’s. I’d never been there before but I was kind of glad to go because it’s closing down in January. The Harry Carray restaurant group bought them and they’ll be relocating. In the space that’s Trader Vic’s now, in the Palmer House, there will be high-end shops not to accomodate tourists, but to support all the people that are moving downtown.

As you can see from the photos, everyone was pretty drunk and had a good time. And most everyone wore the coconut bra at some point during the night.

Packers v. Bills Scrimmage @ Lambeau Field


Lambeau Field – Mills Fleet Farm Gate


Inside Lambeau Field


Lambeau Field


Brian, Sheila, Eric, Amanda, Jessica, Richard, Stephanie


Richard & Rachelle


Jessica


Nitschke Jersey


Lambeau Field


Lambeau Field


Cheeseheads rule!!


Stephanie & Rachelle


Stephanie


Beer @ Lambeau Field


Stephanie


Crowd @ Lambeau Field


Lambeau Field


Lambeau Field


Brian, Sheila, Eric, Amanda, Richard, Stephanie, Jessica


Stephanie & Rachelle


Lambeau Field


Cheering


The Don Hutson Center – training facility


Stadium Food

The Packers Family Night scrimmage is a fun way to enjoy Lambeau Field for pretty cheap (tickets sold out in a couple hours but if you got them they were only $8). There was no score in the game, it was more just for practice for the teams. And just to be in Lambeau Field.. there’s nothing else like it.

See also:
» Favre Throws For The Touchdown (.mov, 30 sec., 1.8m)

Tailgating Before Going Into Lambeau Field

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Jessica, Rachelle, Stephanie :: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

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Keg-a-que :: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

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Burgers From Brian’s Family’s Farm :: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

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Richard, Sheila, Brian, Eric, Stephanie :: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

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Scrimmage Ticket :: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

On Friday I took the day off work and took the Amtrak to Milwaukee. From there I went with my brother and his family north to Denmark where we met up with friends and then continued on to Green Bay to see the scrimmage between the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills. We got a parking spot in someone’s yard right by Lambeau Field for only $5. A great price since the house owner who sold us the parking spot also took care of our trash & recyclables after we tailgated.

Stephanie’s 8th Birthday Party

Stephanie
Stephanie

Courtnie
Courtnie

Jessica
Jessica

Rachelle & Stephanie
Rachelle & Stephanie

Stephanie, Sheila, Courtnie
Stephanie & Jessica

Stephanie, Sheila, Courtnie
Stephanie, Sheila, Courtnie

Stephanie
Stephanie

My dad & my brother playing Twister
My dad & my brother playing Twister

I haven’t been able to attend a birthday party for my niece, Stephanie, since she turned 3 years old, so this year I was excited to go up to Wisconsin for the weekend and help her celebrate turning 8. The festivities included hula hooping, grilling out and tons of food, a pinata, playing with fake teeth that came out of the pinata, presents, cake, ice cream and Twister.

» Stephanie breaking open the pinata with a bat (.mov, 748k)

See also:
» Stephanie’s Birthday, by Nancy (Shutterfly)