Here's Emma . . .

Ready for school!

Guess who skipped ahead to fourth grade?

THIS GIRL . . . that's who!

Way to go, Emma!

New desk in FOURTH GRADE!

Show'n her recess moves.

Catching up to her Old Man.

Favorite place: ZAO Noodles

Talking to Grandma Hawk . . .

Emma Update

Hello,

Quick update, had a great weekend w/ Emma, these pics are from last weekend, will get more recent ones out soon.

This was after the 1st snowfall, (child's play.. (sniff) !

The school's mascot is the The Hawk's!! (Why wouldn't it be?) Emma an her friend are standing in front of the Bulletin board for all the happ'n stuff at the school. (Notice the cloud)

Most of the last week of school and the Holiday Program we cancelled, but I was able to get in there before the second round of snow hit, had to stay an extra day because we could not get up the hill to Emma's house! Got up tonight, took her sledding and picked out their Christmas tree. Good Times!! Emma LOVES the snow!! Will spend all day in it if you let her.

Merry Christmas to all and stay safe, I know most are traveling this year!

Love, Chris

A Thanksgiving poem . . .

Once upon a time, Mom gave me a box of all (and I do mean all - every spelling test, Bible test, etc.) my childhood school papers, grade-school yearbooks, and other frighteningly memorable paraphernalia.

Lucky me, she goofed and put in something that actually belonged to Chris. It was a collection of Thanksgiving poems his class wrote when he was at Pellston. The date was November 1979. It was compiled by the fourth, fifth and sixth grade classes. I don't know which class he was in at the time - he was about 11 at the time - so sixth grade?

I figure he doesn't contribute enough to this family blog, so I better help him out. Thanks, Chris for making this so easy . . . and so funny.

So, without further ado . . .

A Thanksgiving poem
by Christopher R. Hawk
age 11

Thanksgiving morning
When everyone's snoring
It's very boring.

But Mom's fixing the turkey
And minds still murkey.

The smell of the bird
Makes me feel absurd.

So I'm in the mood
For lots of food.

The company's here
With a great big deer.

We say our good-bye
And we gave them some pies.

Here's to you, Chris, to "feeling absurd" this Thanksgiving. Love you!

Oh, and who's bringing the deer this year?

Chris and Emma in Seattle

Chris is preparing to return home after a great visit with Emma in Washington. He sent along some pictures of her:

Here are a few pictures of Emma and Dad's great Northwest adventure:


(Emma at Des Moines Pier,

with Captain Jerry, (Des Moines)

and showing how much she has grown, with the Space Needle.

More to follow.

Great trip! Miss that kid!

(My personal favorite is the Space Needle.... now, I knew Emma was tall, but my-- how she's grown! What a creative picture!)

Look who's 40!!!!

Happy 40th birthday, Chris!

I'm getting this up a little late... good thing your time zone's earlier than ours. You get to enjoy the day a little longer than the rest of us (from my point of view any way!)

Have a great day!!! 40... wow!

Chris and Emma

It was such a treat having Chris and Emma around last week. Here are only a few pictures from the week. I'm sure some of you have even more.

Meeting Grandma at the airport...with flowers from Hawaii!

Yep, they look like cousins. I can see the family resemblance!

Emma LOVES the snow!

Chris

Get this! Two posts in a row about Chris (or his family)!

He e-mailed all of us this morning and included a picture of himself out on convoy. It was a neat surprise! There is also a picture of a "duster". (It looks like one of those hit my house recently!)

Thanks Chris, for giving us a peek into your world!

Emma

We got some updated pictures of Emma! The captions below the pictures are what her Grand Mary said about the pictures.

Emma driving the golf cart (she's a wild, but good driver)!

Emma and her new stuffed penguin

Emma and her cousin Katrina

Chris and Emma

Chris sent some updated pictures of him and Emma!

All of the pictures are recent (within the last 3 months). Some are before he went to California and some are before he left for overseas.

At the zoo - a bit petrified - but a giraffe nonetheless!

Great picture!
Off the subject and a bit of a distraction - count all the white cars in this picture and the one below with Grandma Mary. Apparently white cars in Hawaii are the things to drive!

Note: this is recently
Question: Why do we live in Wisconsin??? I don't think we will be getting into the water for at least 3 more months!

Emma and Daddy!
Love the toothless smile!

This is Emma's grandma Mary

Chris and Emma

Thank You to Mary (Valorie's mom) for sending the pictures! We appreciate you keeping us connected to Chris and Emma! It is hard to be so far away!

Okay, here is another trip down memory lane - with a chance that it could get sappy. (You've been warned) I remember the first time I saw Chris with my kids - and then I 've seen him with every one else's. I remember watching rather amazed at his connection and love for kids. Has anyone else sensed this???

This is why I stand amazed. . . I have very distinct memories of pain when Chris was around. Like the time he was ORDERED not to shoot his bb guns when the kids were around, but I tagged along - and he shot anyway. I think the bb ricocheted off a rock and hit me in the back of the hand. My hand turned red and I got a big lump on the back of my hand. Well, Chris knew he was toast, so in an attempt to cover up his sin - he made me wear a pair of Dad's work gloves (because that was very inconspicuous - a 7 - 8 year old walking around with a grown man's work gloves in the middle of summer - nobody would ever notice! :0) ) Yeah, Mom noticed. I don't remember the punishment, but the memory still makes me giggle!

Or the time he pushed me off the mountain of snow in Mr. Arat's (sp??) yard playing king of the mountain and broke my glasses. To this day, that mountain of snow appears huge in my head. I wonder what my perspective would be today. Did Mr. Arat plow his yard or something to make huge hills of snow??

Anyway, I am glad we all grow up.

We love you, Chris.

Tina

Emma again

Mom found some recent pictures of Emma from this fall. I was quite amazed at how much she has changed. I know her birthday is coming up here in the next week or so. I think she will be 7! I still love that red hair!
























We love you, Emma!

Emma

This isn't a very recent picture of Emma but I wanted her to be part of the family blog too!

I just love all that red hair!

Hopefully I'll get some updated photos soon!

I would love to see how she has changed!

Tina