Bob and Melissa

2008-08-24T15:31:00.000-07:00

August 2008- Carolyn's baby shower. it was great to see the girls from college again. We wish Carolyn and Nate happiness as they welcome their new baby boy!

2008-08-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

July 30- August 6- Melissa took a girls trip to Orlando Fl. The girls traveled to Orlando to visit Shelley's friend Meredith. The Miller family welcomed us with open arms and gave us a place to stay for our trip. While in Orlando, we rented a Ford Mustang convertible and traveled to many places in Florida. We visited West Palm Beach, Daytona Beach, Cocoa Beach, Clearwater Beach, Siesta Key Beach (Sarasota), and Miami's South Beach. We also visited Fort Myers, The Everglades (for the airboat ride), and drove through the keys to stay a night in Key West. The girls had a blas! The Miller's are a wonderful family and it was my pleasure to meet them.

2008-08-24T15:08:00.000-07:00

July 2008- During the month of July Melissa also attended Shelley's "Team Bride" Hen Party and we took Dave & Shelley up to Lake Delavan for a day on the boat. We had fun tubing and hanging out in the sun.

2008-08-24T15:03:00.000-07:00

July 3 & 4, 2008- We went to the Rockford Riverhawks Game on July 3 with Dave & Shelley. We also held a party at our house on July 4. We hung out, played bags, and had a bon fire.

2008-08-24T14:53:00.000-07:00

April 12, 2008- Dave & Shelley are engaged! I threw them an engagement party while they were in from Vegas. It was a great party and a wonderful opportunity to meet their friends and family.

2008-08-24T14:29:00.000-07:00

Vegas Baby! May 2008, Memorial Day weekend we visited Dave & Shelley in Vegas for "KRESSTIVUS"- thier annual party. Dave & Shelley thanks for having us it is always a blast!

2008-08-24T14:22:00.000-07:00

May 2008 brought another wedding. Brett & Stacy married at Midway Village on May 10, 2008.

2008-08-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

January 2008 brought the Joyner Wedding. The wedding was held in Highland IL. Bob and his brother Mark were ushers in the wedding. We went down for a long weekend of planned wedding activities and had a blast. It was great seeing everyone together.

2008-01-06T09:56:00.000-08:00

New Year's Eve 2007- Isles of Capri, FL
Bob and i had the opportunity to go to Florida for new year's eve. We stayed in Scott's parent's condo in Isles of Capri, FL (Naples). Other than the weather being the coldest it had been in 17 years, we had a great time. The weather was warmer than the temperatures back in IL (0, -13 windchill). We did a lot of shopping, met Kelly's aunt and uncle for dinner, and visited a few bars on Marco Island. The guys also had the opportunity to golf and fish off of the dock. It is a very beautiful and quiet place and we can not wait to go back! Thanks Scott and Kelly for asking us to go along. Thanks Gary and Patty for lending us the condo!

2008-01-06T09:49:00.000-08:00

December 2007- I just felt like taking a picture of the house decorated for Christmas. It is hard to see some of the blue lights in the picture. Also, I had to capture a picture of Kenna and Bob playing light brite. McKenna also discovered she could fit inside the new ottoman. I could not get her to stop playing with it. i was afraid she would break it!

2008-01-06T09:43:00.000-08:00

Bob's 10 year reunion- November 2007- We attended Bob's 10 year high school reunion. It was a wonderful opportunity to see Dan and Jo Solverson, visiting from Washington, and Dave Kress and Shelley, visiting from Vegas. We also had the opportunity to see and visit with old friends that we have not seen in awhile. Shelley- Girls trip withdrawal!

2008-01-06T09:36:00.000-08:00

Heather's wedding- 10/27/07- Heather is a friend from NIU and we attended her wedding in the end of October. It was a very nice opportunity for all of the NIU girls to get back together for a night of fun.

2008-01-06T09:30:00.000-08:00

Halloween 2007- Miss social bug. Kenna was a "little stinker". That was the caption on the butt of her skunk costume and it fits her perfectly. She was most concerned with socializing and did not care about the treats or the candy. We love our niece!

2007-10-16T17:04:00.000-07:00

NIU Homecoming Game-
October 13, 2007
We took all of our friends (half of us alumni) down to DeKalb for tailgating and the NIU Homecoming game. (Dave Solverson, I bet you can rememeber those days!) We had an awesome time. Unfortunately the Huskies were not successful in beating Western Michigan that day.

2007-10-16T17:00:00.000-07:00

September 29, 2007-
"A Day of Honor" Run/Walk & Kenna's 3rd Birthday Party. We all had a blast at both events.

2007-10-16T16:49:00.000-07:00

September 14-16, 2007-
Bob & I went on a poker run with our friends from Wisconsin. We had a fun time. We docked at the Fox Lake and traveled across 3 lakes to Freemont, WI where we camped one night and made the boat trip back the next day. It was a little cold for sleeping in a tent, but we survived. It was cool to have a boat as your only vehicle. We can't wait to do that again.

2007-08-26T13:40:00.000-07:00

TOYS !!! Another new toy! Bob and I bought a boat in August 2007. As you can see it is a pretty good size boat. We have only had it out once due to the floading, but is was fun and Kenna loved it too. We hope to have it out alot next summer.

2007-08-06T19:08:00.000-07:00

August 5- Coon Creek Days

I joined Shelley and her family at Coon Creek Days in Hampshire. We enjoyed watching the parade and her cousins Wyatt and Cooper catching all the candy! They even shared the candy with the the big kids. Cousin Wyatt, Shelley's parents, and Shelley's brother Brian are in some of the photos posted.

2007-08-06T18:39:00.000-07:00

August 4- Kress Family reunion

Bob and I were invited to the Kress family reunion. We were very excited to be invited. We got to meet Dave's family and spend the day with all of them. We love all the opportunities we get to spend time with Dave and Shelley before they head back to Vegas. Dave, Thanks for inviting us and making us feel like a part of your family. Enjoy the pictures of us, Dave and Shelley, & Scott and Kelly.

2007-08-06T17:59:00.000-07:00

Kenna Post- August 2007

Kenna is almost three and she loves to pose for the camera. So i thought I would share.

2007-08-06T17:34:00.000-07:00

Puerta Vallarta, Mexico- July 23-28, 2007

Mark and Rebecca chose Puerta Vallarta for their honeymoon. Of course, Bob, Josh, Kevin, and I went along as chaperones. We had a great time and we loved Mexico. We spent alot of time swimming, and being lazy and taking naps by the pool and on the beach. We also went on a canopy tour (zip lining through the jungle/forest), parasailing, and to the disco on our resort. Dispite the 4 inch beetles with fangs, it was a blast and I would definitely go back!

2007-08-06T17:08:00.000-07:00

Miziniak Wedding #2- July 21, 2007

Mark and Rebecca got married this year! We all had a wonderful time at the rehearsal dinner, preparing for the wedding, at the wedding, and at the gift opening the following day. It was a wonderful weekend and we had a great opportunity to spend time with family and friends. Bob and I were very excited to be a part of the wedding.
Mark & Rebecca CONGRATULATIONS and Best Wishes!

2007-08-06T16:54:00.000-07:00

KEY WEST, FL - JULY 8-11, 2007

I (Melissa) visited Key West with a friend in July. I had a great time, shopping, going up in the lighthouse, visiting the Hemmingway house, the southernmost point, and exploring Key West on the scooter. I also went on the Margaritaville tour, the ghost tour, and a bar crawl while there. I met a lot of cool people and hung out with a different crowd each night. I had a great time with Shelley and hopes to go back some day. Shelley your a great travel buddy!

2007-06-11T19:49:00.001-07:00

VEGAS 2007- We visited Dave Kress and Shelly in Las Vegas in June 2007 (Scott Rogers, Kelly Long, and Nate W. came along). We stayed with them instead of at a hotel. We had an awesome time and Dave and Shelly were great Hosts. Dave did a great job remodeling his house. We did a variety of things, none of which we have done before on our previous trip to Vegas (Melissa's previous trips). Events included hanging out at Dave and Shelley's house and pool, going to Voo Doo Bar and Lounge on top of the Rio Hotel, shopping at the Las Vegas Premium out let mall, attending "Kresstivus"- a party thrown by Dave at his house, and Going to the strip. While on the Strip we ate dinner at Margarittaville, went to Gilly's- a country Western Bar, gambled, and took in a few sites. We did not come out ahead, but we did not expect to! Vegas is an awesome city. Dave and Shelley, we miss you. It was great spending time with you and see ou in a couple of weeks! Shelley- it's all about Key West!

2007-04-21T10:49:00.000-07:00

So......Melissa had a little accident in March, causing us to have to buy a new car. She hit a patch of ice and rolled the blazer. She walked away fine, but the car was totaled. Our replacement car was a 2007 midnight blue GMC Envoy. We love it! We thought we would share the pictures.

2007-04-21T10:41:00.000-07:00

Superbowl 2007 was fun. We went to a friends house for a party and to watch the game. Too bad the bears lost. Oh yeah, and thanks to all who contributed to the pools Bob and I won. We ended up winning $140 at the party.

2007-04-15T17:51:00.000-07:00

New Years Eve 2006- We played hosts to a party to use our newly finished bar. There were alot of people in our basement and we were up until the early monring on New Year's Day.

2007-04-15T14:36:00.000-07:00

More Kenna pictures!

2007-04-15T14:30:00.000-07:00

Kenna begins gymnastics! I can't believe she is two and a half. She is getting way too big. this was her first outside class and she really enjoyed it.

2007-04-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

Halloween 2006!

Kenna was tuckered out before she even began to trick-or-treat! She dressed as a rooster and she was so excited. It was cute to watch her take part in the Halloween traditions.

2007-04-15T14:11:00.000-07:00

In October we attended my college friend's wedding. It was very nice and we had a great time. It was great to see Heather, Matt, Jen, Carolyn, and Nate again. GOOD LUCK in your Happily ever after guys!

2006-09-29T18:13:00.000-07:00

THE HOUSE
These pictures of the house are for Dan and Jo. They show the recent painting we did in the kitchen and two of the bathrooms. They also show the Hutch were my china is stored and the corner cabinet, where the mini tea sets are.

2006-09-29T17:18:00.000-07:00

Sept. 2006- We visited Dan, Jo, and Isaac in Tacoma, WA. We had a wonderful time. Dan and Jo are awesome friends and they are great hosts. We thank them for a great time and the great company they are. We visited a few places in Seattle, including the space needle, Pike's Market, and the science fiction museum and hall of fame. They also planned a two day trip to Canada for all of us. While in Canada we had a tea at the Empress Hotel, visited the Butchart Gardens, went whale watching, and did a little shopping. Isaac is so cute and he was an absolute angel the entire time. He is a trooper! We loved spending time with Dan, Jo, and Isaac. Thanks guys, we love you! We can't wait to go back.

2006-09-12T18:52:00.000-07:00

Rewind on Summer 2006-
It is hard to beleive the summer is over and it is now September 2006. Looking back on the summer of 2006, I realized I have done many things and had a lot of good times. To mention all the fun trips, including Vegas, Jamaica, Lake Geneva with the girls, and the many trips boating with Keith and Becky to Lake Geneva and Green Lake Wisconsin (Thanks guys for providing us with your boat, camper, and company, & sorry about the prop!). The many boating trips made Bob and I realize how much we want a boat. Next to a car, that will probably our next big purchase, unless something unexpected is thrown at us. With summer gone comes another fall and another Halloween for the little one. All though I will miss the summer, we will look forward to the rest of 2006. As if we have not filled the year with enough trips, we leave for another long weekend on another in just two days. We are so excited to visit our friends Dan and Jo Solverson and their Son Isaac. He is so cute and I can wait to see him and spend time with them. Isaac has got to be one of the cutest baby when he cracks up and giggles. Bob and I are so excited to be visiting them in Tacoma, WA. While up there we will visit Seattle and Victoria, Canada. We are greatful to have friends like them and we can't wait to take part in the activities they have planned for us while visiting. Summer is not officially over until we get back from our trip to Washington. I guess the ending to this summer makes for looking forward to next summer; and of course, the wedding of Mark and Rebecca, in which we are both very excited to stand up in. I can not wait!

2006-09-12T18:40:00.000-07:00

Another girls trip! This time to Lake Geneva in late July 2006. There were six of us (first group picture from left to right- Michon, Kaisa, Kate, Anne, Jennie, and Melissa) who stayed in the hotel room owned by Jennie's mom. We had a great time. We went out to a bar called "Hogs and Kisses", laid out at the beach, and hung out in the room and played cranium. All the pictures are from our visit to "Hogs and Kisses". We had a great time dancing at the bar! Can't wait for the next girls trip.

2006-09-11T20:57:00.000-07:00

Summer 2006- We can't beleive McKenna is growing up so fast. she will be two years old in a couple of weeks. Kenna spent weekends in the summer with us while mommy worked. We shopped, played outside, and swam occasionally. Kenna is a BIG little helper and she loves to help with yardwork and laundry. She had fun helping "unci" finish the edging blocks in the front yard. Kenna is Our little "genius". She knows her numbers, colors, and ABC's, she can even tell us what the letters and numbers are when shown, and she remembers everything you tell her! I feel like she is in Kindergarten at 2!

2006-09-11T20:30:00.000-07:00

Girls trip!- Melissa visited Vegas in April 2006 with three of her girlfriends. They had a great time and plan to go on many more girls trips. They had fun at the pool, experienced the oxygen bar (aromatheraphy air treatments and heat massages), and went to Pure and Tao (2 nightclubs). Don't forget that when girls get together, they do a lot of shopping! Vegas was a blast.

2006-09-11T20:14:00.000-07:00

JAMAICA- May 2006. Jamaica was awesome! We went to an all-inclusive resort that had a circus theme. The circus theme allowed us to try the rock climbing wall and me a trapeze. Both are harder than they look. The beaches are nice and the water does not have any unusual smell. The Jamaicans are extremely nice and they know haw to make drinks! Bob allowed us to bury him in the sand. we also took a boat ride to the luminous lagoon (the glowing lagoon), took a safari, and climbed Dunn's River Falls. I would highly recommend visiting Jamaica. It is very interesting to see home the Jamaicans live their lives. We plan to go back in June 2007.

2006-09-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

Jamaica-Round 2

2006-09-11T19:15:00.000-07:00

MORE JAMAICA!!

2006-09-11T17:29:00.000-07:00

Christmas 2005

2006-09-11T17:20:00.000-07:00

October 2005- Kenna's first real Halloween.

2006-09-11T17:14:00.000-07:00

McKenna's first Christmas. December 2004.

2006-09-11T17:10:00.000-07:00

KENNA'S 1st Easter- April 2005

2006-09-11T16:56:00.000-07:00

VEGAS- Bob and I visited Las Vegas for our first time in May 2005. We may it a long weekend. We had a good time. We gambled a little and drank a lot. I am not much of a gambler, so I just played the slots. Bob played the slots and a litttle bit of blackjack. It was very cool to see the Vegas life!

2006-09-11T16:44:00.000-07:00

KENNA POST- Alittle out of order but that's O.K. September 2004, our first niece was born. McKenna is our favorite niece we were all so excited when she arrived! We have no pictures of her first day in the world, but these pictures range from 3 to 6 months.

2006-06-09T13:59:00.000-07:00

October 2004- Honeymoon in Hawaii!
Hawaii was awesome and we had a great time. We visited Pearl Harbor, The Dole Plantation, The Polynesian Cultural Center, and the North Shore. We also went on a lunch cruise, a luau, and to a couple of dinner shows. We enjoyed laying on the beach and at the pool. We would definitely go back!

2006-06-03T16:15:00.000-07:00

More Pictures from Hawaii!!

2006-05-29T18:01:00.000-07:00

8/21/04- What an awesome day! It is hard to believe it was almost two years ago!

2006-05-29T17:13:00.000-07:00