Thursday, January 8, 2015

Fall 2014

Fall of 2014 started off with Amber going back to work at Todd Elementary School and John slowly finishing up the golf season at Glen Erin.  We all traveled to Germantown to spend some time with our friends Amie and Brian and their son Aidan.  We got to have some adult hang out time as well as go to the Milwaukee County Zoo with the kiddos.  It is so great having back to Wisconsin so that we can get together more often!

The Okray family pretending to be cows

London and Aidan riding a cow

Okray family selfie

The next weekend we all traveled to Madison to meet up with John's sister Michelle and John's good friend Brandon for dinner at A.J. Bombers.  The next day John and Brandon met some other friends to compete in a golf tournament where they took 2nd Place.  While they were golfing Michelle, London and Amber went to a pumpkin patch near Madison.  We ate caramel apples, meet some animals and took a hayride.  It was a beautiful fall day and we all had a wonderful time.

How tall is London?  About 2 1/2 feet as of early September.

Feeding the goats.


Petting the kittens

Silly smile for Auntie Michelle

Auntie Michelle and London

Mommy and London eating caramel apples

Amber and her friend Melissa went to see Garth Brooks in concert in Rosemont, IL on September 14th.  It was something that they both always wanted to do and Garth met all of their expectations as a performer.

Melissa and Amber waiting for the show to start

Garth Brooks on stage

Two weeks later Amber and John went to Josh and Mary's Wedding in Madison.  Josh is on the same trivia team as John.  It was a very warm day for September which was nice because the ceremony was outside over looking a golf course.  The reception was at the golf course too.  They had donuts for their "cake" and Bucky Badger came to dance and take pictures with the guests.  It was a very fun time!  London stayed with Auntie Michelle and had a fun "girls day" taking a walk and playing.

At the wedding reception

All the Festivus people at the wedding

Bucky Badger hanging out with us

Auntie Michelle and London on their "girls day"

A few weeks later Amber's mom, Diane, came down for a visit.  She was able to hang out with London while Amber had a few late work days and celebrated Amber's birthday with us.  Amber's brother, Adam, was also able to come for a short visit.  It was rainy and cold for most of the time while they were here, but it was a nice visit nonetheless.

Uncle Adam and London hanging out at home

Shopping with Grandma Diane, Uncle Adam and Daddy

That same week Amber and John received tickets for their birthdays to go see Jerry Seinfeld do stand-up at the Pabst Theatre in Milwaukee.  He was hilarious!  We were able to have a nice dinner and some drinks after the show and we stayed overnight in downtown Milwaukee.  We even got to meet up with Amie and Brian for a kidless brunch!  Michelle was excited to stay home and take care of London.

Walking to brunch from our hotel the night after seeing Jerry Seinfeld.

The week after that Mike, Mary and Michelle all came down to Janesville to celebrate our birthdays.  We went out for fish on Friday night and then for breakfast on Saturday morning before they headed back home.

Friday Fish Fry to celebrate John's birthday

Saturday breakfast on John's birthday

All of us after breakfast

Auntie Michelle and London after breakfast

The next week Amber and London headed up to Appleton to visit with Amber's family.  John had to work all weekend so he stayed home.  Amber, London, Mema Betty and Riley went to Diane's grocery store for trick-or-treating.  Our friend Cristina gave us a chicken costume for London and she was adorable in it!  On Sunday they went out for brunch in Appleton before heading home to Janesville.

Riley and London Trick-or-Treating at Grandma Diane's Grocery Store

Munching on some of the treats

London and Grandma Diane

The next week we had trunk-or-treating at Amber's school and then trick-or-treating in our neighborhood.  Michelle came to Janesville to have dinner at Glen Erin and to go trick-or-treat with us on Halloween.

Trunk-or-Treat at Amber's School

John and London Trunk-or-Treating

Auntie Michelle and London getting ready to go to dinner at Glen Erin

Running around Glen Erin after dinner

London's all ready to go Trick-or-Treating in our neighborhood

The next weekend the Becker Family and the Beeman Family came to Janesville to have a playdate.  We had pizza and drinks and let the kids play in the Packer Room downstairs.  It was nice to chat and let the kids hang out.

The weekend after that John and London went up to Stevens Point to visit family and for John to play in a trivia contest with some friends.  Amber stayed home and got some projects done around the house.  London had fun hanging out with Auntie Michelle, Uncle Mikey, Grandma Mary and Papa Mike.

Grandma Mary, Auntie Michelle and London in Stevens Point

Playing with Grandma Mary's tupperware

"What are you looking at?"

Taking a walk and having a photo shoot with Uncle Mikey and Auntie Michelle

London playing with her dollhouse that Mommy put together while London was gone

The next weekend we headed up to Appleton to visit family and for John and Amber to go to the Packers vs. Eagles Game.  The game was awesome!  The Packers dominated the entire time and ended up winning 53 to 20.  Every time we looked up they were scoring another touchdown!  We had a great time with our friends Tom, Lauren, Drew and Amy and London got to hang out with Grandma Diane and Mema Betty.

Pre-game drinks

Tom, Drew and John

Amy, Amber and Lauren

Grandma Diane and London taking selfies during the game

The very next weekend we headed to Milwaukee to see Amie, Brian and Aidan as well as our friends Megan and Avery and their daughter Lily.  We went down to the Pabst Brewery where they had a traditional German Winter Market.  We had some gluwein and beer and heard some traditional German music.

The Okray's, the Beeman's and the Oberstadt's at the German Winter Market in Milwaukee

Three days later we headed up to Stevens Point to celebrate Thanksgiving with John's family.  The weather was a little chilly, but John, Amber, Michelle and Mike ventured out to participated in the Stevens Point Turkey Trot 5K Walk/Run.  We had a great turkey dinner with all the trimmings and enjoyed swimming at the water park where Mike and Mary stayed for part of the weekend.

Amber, John, Michelle and Mike at the Stevens Point Turkey Trot

Michelle and Amber getting ready to trot

Michelle and John (with an Amber photobomb) ready to trot

The extended Okray family on Thanksgiving in Stevens Point

Grandma Mary and Papa Mike with all the grandkids (Jared, Justin, London and Aaron)

Aaron and London coloring

Aaron pushing London during our walk down Okray Drive

Justin showing of his muscles on our walk

Fall 2014 was a fun and eventful season.  Hopefully winter 2014-2015 will be just as exciting!

Until next time...Go Pack Go!