DAUFUSKIE ISLAND 2009

IT WAS SO NICE TO GO BACK TO THE ISLAND THAT WE LOVE!! IT WAS A JOURNEY BACK FOR THE HOGAN FAMILY THAT WAS HARD TO MAKE BECAUSE TJ WOULD NOT BE WITH US. ANOTHER BITTERSWEET EVENT WE HAD TO FACE WITHOU HIM. WE ALL MISS HIM SO, ESPECIALLY AT TIMES LIKE THIS WHEN BEING TOGETHER FOR ONE SPECIAL WEEK MEANS SO MUCH. IT MAKES US REALLY APPRECIATE THE GREAT MEMORIES WE HAVE MADE ON THESE TRIPS TO DAUFUSKIE ISLAND.
THE THEME FOR THE TRIP WAS "MISSION FLY 711 DAUFUSKIE 2009"
UNCLE DAN HAD WINDOW DECALS FOR OUR VEHICLES AND OUR GOLF CARTS ONCE WE GET THERE.

WE HAD WONDERFUL DINNERS EVERY NITE, WE ALL TOOK A NITE TO HOST AND WE HAD SOME GAMES AND ALOT OF JUST HANGING OUT AND HAVING FUN. BLAINE AND JONOTHAN CYGAN

ROD WITH HIS BOYS

LET'S GO TO THE BEACH...

GREEK NITE

UNCLE TIM AND AUNT TINA SHARED THEIR LOVE STORY WITH US, THEY CELEBRATED THEIR 25TH ANNIVERSARY IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR

HERE IS BLAINE DOING THE PUTTER GAME @ UNCLE DAN'S PARTY, THE NEW TWIST WAS TO DO IT WITH A MOP??

THE BUNDT CAKE FOR DESSERT AND WINDEX IF YOU NEED IT FOR THE GREEK DINNER WE HOSTED. WE WATCHED THE BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING MOVIE AND PLAYED GUESS THE "ROOT" WORD GAME.

THE KIDS FOUND ALOT OF STAR FISH AND SAND DOLLARS THIS YEAR. THEY GOT CREATIVE AND MADE THE AMERICAN FLAG OUT OF THEM AND THEN PUT THEM BACK IN THE OCEAN.

EXCEPT FOR THIS BUCKET OF SAND DOLLARS WE FORGOT TO BRING HOME

THE KIDS COULD PLAY FOR HOURS ON THE BEACH AND THEY DID.

THE WAVE TRAIN

TO THE BEACH AGAIN!!

ROD CHILLIN' OUT ON THE TOP DECK ON THE BOAT RIDE OVER

GIRLS DAY OVER IN HARBOR TOWN!! LOOK WHAT WE FOUND, THE CUTEST SUN HATS!

GRANDMA JOYCIE AND CELINA HAVING FUN

WAITING FOR THE BOAT TO TAKE US OVER TO THE ISLAND

ME, JONI AND GRANDPA .

THE KIDS PLAYED MONOPOLY ALOT ON THE WAY DOWN

6AM BREAKFAST @ THE CRACKER BARREL IN MARION IL. OUT FIRST STOP

FISHING

JUDE HAS BEEN HAVING SO MUCH FUN FISHING WITH GARRETT FIDLER AT HIS NEW HOUSE. JUDE CAUGHT A FEW LARGE CAT FISH AND BROKE HIS ROD BECAUSE THEY WERE SO HEAVY . JUDE IS AN AVID OUTDOORS YOUNG MAN.

A VISIT WTH AIDAN AND AVA

WE ALWAYS HAVE FUN WITH AIDAN AND AVA. THEY WENT SWIMMING ALOT, WENT TO HOGAN HILLS AND SPENT TIME AT GRANDMA HOGANS AND PLAYING IN THE WOODS. THEY STAYED UP WAY TOO LATE A FEW NITES.

SHOT SOME TARGETS IN THE BACK YARD..
AND WENT TO SEE ABE LINCOLNS TOMB.

AND WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM BLAINE RUB HIS NOSE! ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR AIDAN WAS GOING TO PRAIRIE ARCHIVES USED BOOK STORE. THIS IS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PLACES. IT'S RIGHT ON THE PLAZA ACROSS FROMTHE OLD CAPITOL. HE AND JUDE FOUND SOME OLD COMIC BOOKS.

JUDE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING TO AIDAN'S BEFORE THE SUMMER IS OVER.

SUMMER FUN 2009

CELINA FINISHING A RACE

ROD HELPING OUT WITH TIMING THE RACES. THIS RACE DAY WAS VERY CHILLY IN LITCHFIELD @ 8:30AM

JUDE IS TRYING TO KEEP WARM BETWEEN RACES

HERE IS THE LEAN AND SOMEWHAT MEAN BLAINE KNELLER STEPPING UP TO PLATFORM HE HAS AN AMAZING BUTTERFLY STROKE

SUMMER FUN 2009

Summer swim team just came to a close. We had a fun season. Blaine and Celina made it to conference and they both got medals plus ribbons. They all acccumulated lots of ribbons over the season. The Colony West Gators came in 2nd place in the conference for the year. Blaine had some personal best race times and he also got the coveted Gator award for his group. Which means he got best team player!! Great job Blaine!! Celina pushed herself hard too and even raced in conference with a swimmers ear ache. We all love summer swim team and our daily trips to the neighborhood pool.

My dear friend Jessica got married to Jeff Rogers on June 26 in the Rose Garden in washington Park. It was a beautiful wedding and we are so happy for Jessica and Jeff!! Rod and the kids did music for the wedding and I had the priveledge of setting up the cake reception and taking some photos.

Hello again!!! I have been a very busy wife, mom, homeschool mom, salon manager and hair tech etc.. etc.. But, I do want catch you up on some of our many activities and adventures we have had in our family. Lets start w/ this summer so far. It is the end of July and I want to really enjoy these last weeks of summer. Remember summer doesn't until September 20.