Bryan and Jill MacKenzie
3248 Village Dr.
Mishawaka, IN 46545
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas to the Johnson Family
Hope everyone is having a happy and safe holiday. Things are quiet in Plymouth. Watching movies, reading books, doing jig saw puzzle. Normal Christmas I guess. We plan to go up north on Sunday and stay for a few days.
Not much new around here. Everyone is gainfully employed and looking forward to 2010. Where did the decade go.
Love to all
Tim
Not much new around here. Everyone is gainfully employed and looking forward to 2010. Where did the decade go.
Love to all
Tim
Monday, November 9, 2009
Wow - I guess if i would just read it!
Amazing the things your learn! - Julie back in Mich? Molly has kids? and Ella has a mustache?
Love you all
Matt (J)
Love you all
Matt (J)
Minnesota Update
Hello everyone,
Here in Minnesota, we are enjoying a few warm, sunny, beautiful days - which will probably be the last few nice days before winter. I hope the good weather is blowing eastward toward many of you (those of you in California and Florida I'm not too worried about, since your weather is mostly nicer than ours).
The school year is off to a good start. We've been very pleased with the boys' new school so far, and they both seem happy and settled there. Laura Kate is in nursery school three mornings a week. My mom and dad were here for Halloween and Laura Kate's birthday. Dave and Dad went to the MSU game, and Mom took the kids trick-or-treating with our friends, the Kirkwoods. In case you can't tell from the photo (below) Ben was a zombie, Andy was Yoda, and Laura Kate was Big Bird (please don't tell her it was a duck costume - I have her convinced :)).
Laura Kate turned four on 11/2. Can't believe it has been four years since she arrived. We had a pink cake to celebrate.
Dave has been working like a crazy man, like everyone else who still has a job in this economy. He was in San Jose a couple weeks ago, and had the chance to go see Andy & Katie, and to play fireman with Will.
I am feeling good - much better than a year ago and 11 pounds heavier. I credit the new medication I'm on. I keep busy being a mom and muskrat-lady-housekeeper, and I scratch out a few lines of writing whenever I have a chance.
We are not going home for Thanksgiving, but will be at Torch Lake for Christmas. Hope to see some of you who may be up north at that time. Love to all of you,
Molly
Here in Minnesota, we are enjoying a few warm, sunny, beautiful days - which will probably be the last few nice days before winter. I hope the good weather is blowing eastward toward many of you (those of you in California and Florida I'm not too worried about, since your weather is mostly nicer than ours).
The school year is off to a good start. We've been very pleased with the boys' new school so far, and they both seem happy and settled there. Laura Kate is in nursery school three mornings a week. My mom and dad were here for Halloween and Laura Kate's birthday. Dave and Dad went to the MSU game, and Mom took the kids trick-or-treating with our friends, the Kirkwoods. In case you can't tell from the photo (below) Ben was a zombie, Andy was Yoda, and Laura Kate was Big Bird (please don't tell her it was a duck costume - I have her convinced :)).
Laura Kate turned four on 11/2. Can't believe it has been four years since she arrived. We had a pink cake to celebrate.
Dave has been working like a crazy man, like everyone else who still has a job in this economy. He was in San Jose a couple weeks ago, and had the chance to go see Andy & Katie, and to play fireman with Will.
I am feeling good - much better than a year ago and 11 pounds heavier. I credit the new medication I'm on. I keep busy being a mom and muskrat-lady-housekeeper, and I scratch out a few lines of writing whenever I have a chance.
We are not going home for Thanksgiving, but will be at Torch Lake for Christmas. Hope to see some of you who may be up north at that time. Love to all of you,
Molly
Friday, October 23, 2009
A Torch Lake Update
Greetings from the chilly north! It has been a very cold October in northern Michigan-and rainy as well. We have been hoping for the traditional 'Indian Summer' so that we can finish up end of the season jobs like raking leaves. But it seems as if there will be no reprieve and we are waiting for the flakes to fly tomorrow. Guess it is time to fire up the snow blower instead of the leaf blower.
Since my last update, Bob and I traveled to CA. Andy and Katie needed some help with childcare while their regular child care provider was on vacation the last week of August. We drove out so that we could take some time visiting places on the bucket list on our way home. After 10 days in CA, that included a visit with Jon and family, we started home stopping at Crater Lake, OR and Glacier National Park in Montana. We also visited with a cousin of Bob's who lives in Spokane, Washington. It was a great trip! Saw some beautiful parts of our country that I had never been to before.
Our family is well. Andy and Katie are busy with their jobs. They spend evenings and week-ends trying to keep up with Will. Will is a great pretender!! He organizes everyone in the house to be part of his 'band' several times a day. He is usually the drummer with others available assigned to play pretend horns, pianos and guitars. One must be careful to hold the imaginary instrument (oh, except for the drums, there are always drums!) in just the right way in order for the music to go on. Will also loves to play and watch baseball. He can hit a wiffle ball with amazing frequency when it is pitched to him-much better than his grandma. He also likes to walk to their neighborhood park and play on the swings or sit in the bleachers to watch the senior citizen softball games. The California Spencers will probably not be coming to MI for the holidays this year.
Molly and Dave are in the time of life when school and community activities keep them very busy. Ben is in second grade and Andy is going to all day kindergarten. They get on the bus at 6:50 a.m. and get home about 3:00 p.m. pretty well exhausted. Laura goes to pre-school three mornings a week. She proudly reports that she is in the 'big kids' class this year. Ben played flag football this fall; both boys are in cub scouts. Molly is still trying to do some writing. She participates in a writer's group two times a month in which other poets like herself share their work, and provide constructive ideas for improvement to each other. Bob and I are headed to West St. Paul to help celebrate Laura's fourth birthday next week.
The Sparta branch of the family is fine. Sami Kate is sleeping through the night so that means that Matt and Elaine are feeling more rested too. Jake is in first grade. His teacher is a woman that I hired many years ago. He played flag football this fall too. Eli is going to pre-school two mornings a week. When asked to tell us about his new sister, he replied "She's pink." Sadly, Elaine's grandpa died two weeks ago. During the funeral luncheon, her Dad fell and severely injured his knee. He has had surgery and already returned to work. They are hoping that bad things only come in twos this fall.
It was great to so many of you this summer! Hope everyone is well!
Jill
Since my last update, Bob and I traveled to CA. Andy and Katie needed some help with childcare while their regular child care provider was on vacation the last week of August. We drove out so that we could take some time visiting places on the bucket list on our way home. After 10 days in CA, that included a visit with Jon and family, we started home stopping at Crater Lake, OR and Glacier National Park in Montana. We also visited with a cousin of Bob's who lives in Spokane, Washington. It was a great trip! Saw some beautiful parts of our country that I had never been to before.
Our family is well. Andy and Katie are busy with their jobs. They spend evenings and week-ends trying to keep up with Will. Will is a great pretender!! He organizes everyone in the house to be part of his 'band' several times a day. He is usually the drummer with others available assigned to play pretend horns, pianos and guitars. One must be careful to hold the imaginary instrument (oh, except for the drums, there are always drums!) in just the right way in order for the music to go on. Will also loves to play and watch baseball. He can hit a wiffle ball with amazing frequency when it is pitched to him-much better than his grandma. He also likes to walk to their neighborhood park and play on the swings or sit in the bleachers to watch the senior citizen softball games. The California Spencers will probably not be coming to MI for the holidays this year.
Molly and Dave are in the time of life when school and community activities keep them very busy. Ben is in second grade and Andy is going to all day kindergarten. They get on the bus at 6:50 a.m. and get home about 3:00 p.m. pretty well exhausted. Laura goes to pre-school three mornings a week. She proudly reports that she is in the 'big kids' class this year. Ben played flag football this fall; both boys are in cub scouts. Molly is still trying to do some writing. She participates in a writer's group two times a month in which other poets like herself share their work, and provide constructive ideas for improvement to each other. Bob and I are headed to West St. Paul to help celebrate Laura's fourth birthday next week.
The Sparta branch of the family is fine. Sami Kate is sleeping through the night so that means that Matt and Elaine are feeling more rested too. Jake is in first grade. His teacher is a woman that I hired many years ago. He played flag football this fall too. Eli is going to pre-school two mornings a week. When asked to tell us about his new sister, he replied "She's pink." Sadly, Elaine's grandpa died two weeks ago. During the funeral luncheon, her Dad fell and severely injured his knee. He has had surgery and already returned to work. They are hoping that bad things only come in twos this fall.
It was great to so many of you this summer! Hope everyone is well!
Jill
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
It's been a long time
Hi Family,
It's been a long time since I've sent an update. For that I apologize. Now for the rest of you.
What happened to the blog? Nothing since August. Thanks Kate for trying.
The winter weather just hit this week. It's been fairly beautiful most of the summer and fall, but this week turned to severe rain and wind. Let's hope we have a really wet one and start to refill the water supply. Need lots of rain and snow.
Ella started first grade this year. She loves it so far. She gets homework assigned once a week, and instead of spreading it out, she does it all in one day. She does have reading and writing that she needs to do daily as well - so she stays engaged all week long. She does a great job getting herself ready everyday, and rarely bums out because it's a school day.
Ella is playing soccer and loves it. She's been quite dominant the last few games, and a lot less timid then previous seasons.
For her sixth birthday we surprised her by repainting her room. She has asked for months for a yellow room. She was completely appreciative, which made us so proud. Both she and Jude spend a great deal of time playing with the neighbor kids. They have all become quite good friends.
Jude is a crazy man. He loves golf more than cartoons. In the mornings he asks if he can watch golf instead of cartoons. He's learned the Tiger fist pump as well. He and I and sometimes Ella go the driving range about once a week. I really think it's his favorite pasttime. He has a routine where he hits balls, chips and then putts. Of course when we get the putting green, he needs a gatorade, and sometimes a hot dog for lunch. I love this routine as well.
Jude is also very much into balls and trucks. We can't pass a truck, tractor, jeep, or other on the road without him screaming out "escavator, jeep, cherry picker, back hoe"! We now know all types of building equipment.
Trish has been looking on and off for job during the last couple of months. The activity is starting to heat up, and it looks like she has two really hot irons in the fire. We are keeping our fingers crossed. And, I'm sleeping with one eye open (she really needs to get back to work before something bad happens to me).
Seriously though, she's been great. The kids and me have had it great for a lot of months now. We'll definitely feel the pain when she goes back to work. Ok, maybe me more than the others.
We are planning on staying home this year for the holidays. Wish we could join you all for one or the other. Anyone wishing for a Northern California holiday should feel welcome to come.
Miss you all. Jon
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Lisenbee update
Hi Everyone,
Not much happening in the Lisenbee family, but I thought I'd try to get a little something out. Jillie and Bryan are getting ready to move into a two-bedroom townhome in South Bend to give themselves a little more room. (Jillie's one-bedroom apartment just wasn't cutting it). Especially now that they are about to become the proud parents of a new puppy named "Gus". It looks like "Gus" will be at our house here in Rockford for a few weeks til they can move into their new digs.
Baby Gwen is walking all over now and even running a bit. Liz says she walks like the orangutan "Clyde" in the movie "Every Which Way But Loose". I told him not to mention that in front of Kendall.
Not much else is happening here. Having a nice relaxing summer after all the wedding happenings. Liz is down in Kentucky this week visiting family. So I am having some "me" time.
That's about it for us, I would attach some pictures (baby, wedding...)but we all know how good I am at doing that. Maybe if Nate comes over this weekend I will have him put some pictures on the blog.
Love,
Kate
Not much happening in the Lisenbee family, but I thought I'd try to get a little something out. Jillie and Bryan are getting ready to move into a two-bedroom townhome in South Bend to give themselves a little more room. (Jillie's one-bedroom apartment just wasn't cutting it). Especially now that they are about to become the proud parents of a new puppy named "Gus". It looks like "Gus" will be at our house here in Rockford for a few weeks til they can move into their new digs.
Baby Gwen is walking all over now and even running a bit. Liz says she walks like the orangutan "Clyde" in the movie "Every Which Way But Loose". I told him not to mention that in front of Kendall.
Not much else is happening here. Having a nice relaxing summer after all the wedding happenings. Liz is down in Kentucky this week visiting family. So I am having some "me" time.
That's about it for us, I would attach some pictures (baby, wedding...)but we all know how good I am at doing that. Maybe if Nate comes over this weekend I will have him put some pictures on the blog.
Love,
Kate
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Back home!
Hello family!
I have moved back to Michigan!! I was dreading going back to NC after being home for most of the summer, and when I finally made the decision to move back, I cried happy tears!
I am now looking for a teaching job here, but I will be subbing in a few districts here until I do find one. Wish me luck!
Love you all!
Julie
PS Congrats Matt and Elaine!
I have moved back to Michigan!! I was dreading going back to NC after being home for most of the summer, and when I finally made the decision to move back, I cried happy tears!
I am now looking for a teaching job here, but I will be subbing in a few districts here until I do find one. Wish me luck!
Love you all!
Julie
PS Congrats Matt and Elaine!
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