The Fab Family

Ahhhhh! VACATION

2011-04-02T18:45:00.000-07:00

Brooke leisurely floating with the waves.

As always, we had a nice relaxing time on Marco Island.

Girl Scout - Father/Daughter Dance - SOCK HOP

2011-04-02T18:37:00.000-07:00

Getting some pics before they were off to the Sock Hop dance - Brooke couldn't wait to get there and didn't really want to stop for any photo op's. Ha!

They all had a great time dancing, playing games and eating their Root Beer Floats. YUM!

2011-04-02T18:31:00.000-07:00

Future Cheerleader? Who knows - but Brooke enjoyed a 1/2 day cheerleading camp and got to go out on the H.S. Basketball court to cheer with the big girls!

HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2011

2011-01-08T19:44:00.001-08:00

Winter scenes are so beautiful...

2011-01-08T19:06:00.001-08:00

We had a few inches of snow before Christmas that stayed around for awhile because it was so cold. The snow then melted when we had unseasonable weather ( high of 58) on New Years that melted it all. Now, a few weeks later, we have very cold weather (high of 18) today and a few more inches of snow again.

Redbirds - my Mom's favorite! I have seen this redbird quite often outside our kitchen window.

This redbird showed up right beside me as I was working out on the treadmill the other morning.
A family of deer came through the back yard eating some of our plants during the warm weather. I counted 8 deer that slowly walked by trying to find something to eat...I watched this lone deer eating my mums. As you can see from these pictures, there is not one trace of the first snow.

2011-01-08T18:29:00.000-08:00

Somehow Keith & Meggie spent a lot of S & S time (sleeping & snoring) on Christmas day.

Hmm...

"The Thinking Man"

Could it be the money spent on Christmas or maybe what he ate?

New day - New year!

2011-01-08T18:17:00.000-08:00

Meggie guarding the presents under the tree.

Meggie checking out her new 'hot dog' toy...likes that mustard!

Relaxing with Brooke's special elf 'Sprinkles'.

Christmas Joys & Toys

2011-01-08T13:46:00.000-08:00

As usual, Christmas came and went by quickly. We had a nice (but busy) two weeks while Brooke was off of school for the Holidays. Here are a few pics of our Christmas at home....

2011-01-03T18:40:00.000-08:00

We have taken Brooke to many concerts in the past but she considered Selena Gomez her first concert as her favorite real 'pop star'.

She was so excited...she is here with a friend, Abigail.

2011-01-03T18:34:00.000-08:00

Brooke took a music workshop this fall and had fun..this is a little Christmas program they did.

Birthday at Grandpa's House

2011-01-03T18:25:00.001-08:00

Brooke is 8 years old! WOW!!!

Brooke's Birthday at School

2011-01-03T18:04:00.000-08:00

My Dad found a Lap Harp in a closet that my Mom had bought many years ago.

Brooke loves to play it and asked her teacher if she could bring it to school on her birthday and play it for her classmates.

She played four songs: Happy Birthday, America the Beautiful, Twinkle little star, and Amazing Grace.

After Brooke was done playing, her teacher asked her to explain to the class how she was playing..with sheet music and reading the notes.

2011-01-03T17:57:00.000-08:00

OH - IO

Thanksgiving weekend was fun...

had a great time at the game while staying

fairly warm.

Three generations of Dessecker's in this picture

Dad, Rick and Evan. Go Bucks!

2010-11-01T13:53:00.000-07:00

Brooke had two costumes this year for Halloween. At school she was an M&M and for trick-or-treat night she was a witch.

Brooke and her friend Audrey.

We took Audrey with us one night to see a Charlie Brown musical at the local high school and later treated them to ice cream. In the car, they wanted to hear 'Party in the USA'. When Keith & I sang along, we overheard Brooke saying to her friend in disgust "welcome to my world" and Audrey's reply was "I like your world". Ha!

We miss Abbey!

2010-11-01T13:43:00.001-07:00

We lost Abbey on September 30, 2010. She was the most loyal dog, listened and trained well! She battled severe heart disease for 2 1/2 years and was a real trooper. She would have been 12 years old in January.

Such a little sweetie!

Meggie misses Abbey too. She sure wishes Abbey were still here to wear this silly Halloween costume! :)

2010-11-01T13:31:00.000-07:00

In August, we traveled to Michigan for Kip and Janie's wedding. It was very nice and Brooke had fun being in the wedding.

I wonder what is going through their minds???

2010-11-01T13:24:00.000-07:00

Playing with cousins at the Walter Family Reunion. Brooke's absolute favorite event!

New this year...Uncle Kenny bought a horse and buggy and took the kids for a ride. Fun!

The Silly Band Era

2010-11-01T13:20:00.000-07:00

Silly bands come and silly bands go. Here Brooke created a crown with all her silly bands. The fad seems to be over now. What should one do with 400 silly bands?

2010-11-01T13:07:00.000-07:00

Here Brooke and Abigail are all 'Sweet and Sassy' as we arrive for the American Idol Tour Concert. They loved it!

In all Brooke's excitement leading up to the concert (for days) - she ended up falling asleep towards the end. :)

Love the Ohio State Fair

2010-11-01T13:01:00.001-07:00

O.k. get me off this thing before I get sick!

This is about the only roller coaster I can handle. Who wants to take Brooke to Cedar Point?

2010-11-01T12:57:00.000-07:00

We finally made it to the Olentangy Caverns this summer...it was interesting but Brooke was a little spooked at times with the
'underneath world'.

2010-11-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

Trying out tennis this summer and even with the heat, Brooke liked this week long camp.

2010-11-01T12:38:00.000-07:00

Brooke tried out girls softball this spring and wasn't so sure about it at the beginning but ended up liking it and improved as time went on. Go Brooke!

She enjoyed the social part probably a little more than the game itself.

School's out...Now summer fun!

2010-11-01T12:17:00.002-07:00

First swim in the pool with friends...
Abigail, Morgan and Julianne.

Brooke at her 7 1/2 Luau Birthday party.

The kids all lining up to start the pool games - Fun!

2010-11-01T12:17:00.001-07:00

Pool Construction '09 -'10

2010-11-01T11:52:00.000-07:00

It was a long process of 8 months from beginning to end...so glad we are now at the end of that project. It was worth the wait!

Ducks were the first to take a swim...

2010-06-06T18:12:00.000-07:00

Brookes' Balloon Idea....
I was reading the paper one Saturday morning and Brooke was in the other room playing with some balloons...she remembered there was a huge heart balloon from Valentines Day that she wanted from the basement. I found it and was surprised it was still floating - she was excited to have it back. I went on reading the newspaper while she played with all the balloons. Later on, I heard her say, "Mom, I know how to communicate with Mimi today" and I said, "how's that?" She explained how we could write her notes and draw some pretty pictures and then tie them to the end of the balloon and send it up to Mimi in heaven. I said that was a great idea and so we got busy making our notes & pictures. She was very satisfied as we watched the balloon travel up into the sky, until we could see it no longer, that it was well on its way to heaven.

We both watched it for awhile out the sunroom window...it was amazing how we had a view of it the entire time until it was just a tiny point and never getting caught in a tree, which Brooke was worried about.

First Father/Daughter Dance....

2010-06-05T18:09:00.000-07:00

Keith & Brooke posing in their western attire before heading off to the Father/Daughter "Hoe Down" dance for Girl Scouts.

They both said it was a fun time. :)

Brooke dancing with a group of her friends...

they loved the music, making crafts etc...and even dancing with their Dads.

2010-04-18T13:19:00.000-07:00

Brooke was in her first musical play this past week at school. It was called, 'Circus, Circus' and her role was a 'pageant girl' with a small speaking part. She really enjoyed getting prepared for the play, singing all the songs at home and acting out all the parts. I really think each student enjoyed this play showing lots of enthusiasm....thank goodness for music class which is such a great outlet for all kids!!!

Easter Church, Easter bunny and way to much candy....

2010-04-18T10:04:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year, spring is here, Easter Sunday, flowers blooming, pretty dresses, the Easter Bunny and the treats the bunny brings...o.k. so maybe he can cut back on the treats a little next year.

This was also my Mom's favorite time of year and I'm really missing her, wishing she could be here to share...wondering what she is enjoying now - I believe many wonderful things.

Mom in Germany - sitting in a field of flowers

Here on Easter weekend when Brooke was 4 months old and already getting an Easter basket with a big chocolate egg, ha!

2010-04-03T12:01:00.000-07:00

Ahhh....Vacations! Fun & relaxing - this is what it's all about.

2010-04-03T11:52:00.000-07:00

...more vacation pictures in Marco Island, Florida

Brooke is standing beside a water tank in the hotel lounge that was built into a seating area & went up to the ceiling...it was full of jellyfish...pretty cool!

Brooke's first step in the ocean this year...lovin' it!

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Brooke posing with Margo the Mermaid this year.

It's fun to see how Brooke has changed as well as 'Margo the Mermaid'. She got a makeover this year and looks brand new, shiny green with gold accents. The plaque below her says that Margo is the Marco Island Mermaid...known to millions of readers of the Brenda Starr reporter cartoon series featured in 72 major newspapers.

Brooke with Margo Mermaid at age 5

Brooke sitting with Margo Mermaid at age 3

Girl Scouts

2010-03-13T11:27:00.000-08:00

We picked up 103 cases of Girl Scout cookies.

Brooke with all the boxes she sold.

Brooke added Girl Scouts (Daisies) to her activities this year. At our first meeting they wanted someone to volunteer to be 'Cookie Mom'... I made the mistake of asking what it 'entailed' but no one really knew...then somehow I was quickly nominated and said, well, o.k. When Brooke found out, she was SO excited jumping up & down that her Mom was THE cookie mom (whatever that meant). Well, boy did I find out what it really means....what a crazy, whirlwind it has been the last few months...we are nearing the end (yeah!) currently trying to collect all the money from 13 girls/moms to deposit in the bank - with the deadline being one day before we leave for spring break vacation.

Since we were a 'new' troop, they decided our selling goal would be 75 boxes per girl. When it came time to sell the cookies, Keith (reluctantly) & Brooke hit the pavement in our neighborhood. They went out a few times on different streets and I remember them coming home on breaks and saying this was going to be easy to make the goal. For not wanting to go out at first, I think Keith (top salesman of old) secretly found it fun and a challenge to see how many they could sell and kept asking me what trinket/gift Brooke would receive if she sold more. Well, Brooke sold 214 boxes...she was the top seller of her troop and received 7 different fun gifts for all her work. :) She knocked on every door herself and spoke her spiel to all (with Dad in the distance) so it was definitely a good experience for her and a confidence builder. Now, as for the 'Cookie Mom', if you think I probably won't be doing it again next year...you are so right!

Keith helped me out a lot so he ended up being a really good 'Cookie Dad'. Just ask him!

(At one point, when I was getting ready to send out an email to all the troop Mom's...he wrote out a message saying, "I have the greatest husband in the world"...pretending like he would send it out. I then typed my intended message but later found out that his message did go out....I didn't find out until the first Mom came to pick up her cookies at our house and when I introduced her to Keith, she said, "yes, this must be the greatest husband" I then looked at Keith and he justed laughed and said he didn't mean to press 'send'.

Valentine's Day

2010-03-13T09:13:00.000-08:00

This is always a fun-filled day at school. Brooke took her decorated box in and they have fun passing out valentines along with yummy food, projects and games.

2010-03-13T08:55:00.001-08:00

Brooke having fun with a few 'indoor' winter activities - here playing 'beach' with Abby K.

Swimming in the jacuzzi...

... at the movies with Abigail H.

Tumbling & doing cartwheels in the living room.

Winter wonderland in our back yard...

2010-03-13T08:41:00.000-08:00

More winter activities...

2010-03-13T08:29:00.000-08:00

Brooke's first snowman of the season - this one didn't last very long.

Snowman#2 was dedicated to Ohio State winning the Rose Bowl. Go Bucks!

Winter 2010...record snowfall in February of 30 inches

2010-03-13T07:51:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has been almost three months since I last blogged...time really does go by so quickly. Christmas has come & gone, winter was over the top this year - the first snow is always so much fun and looks beautiful but after 30 inches in February, enough already! Where is spring? Thankfully we were teased with some nice weather over the last week (65 yesterday) and all the snow is gone!!! Spring break in Florida is calling us soon. Yeah!

Brooke playing outside in the snow.

Her friends are taking a much needed break on the bench.

Brooke with our neighbor Liam in the sled we passed down to him.

Keith & Brooke peeking out of the snow fort they built.

Brooke is standing with an icicle that was hanging from the house...it's a foot taller than her (I believe she is 48").

Christmas Fun...

2010-03-13T07:36:00.000-08:00

Posing as a sparkly red reindeer.

2009-12-20T10:42:00.000-08:00

One weekend, Brooke & Papa went outside for an adventure and came back with a bucket full of ears of corn. They shelled all the corn off the ears and had a huge pile to feed the deer and other animals who might enjoy it. Papa told Brooke many stories and gave her educational information about producing corn for so many things. I know she enjoyed it because she told this story of "the adventure with Papa" on a writing assignment for school. Fun!

2009-12-20T10:26:00.000-08:00

Papa wrote out Brooke's name with the corn and also gave her examples of what the corn is used for, like cornmeal (in the background).

Birthday Pictures

2009-12-11T17:18:00.000-08:00

Brooke's Birthday...Seven Years Old!

2009-12-11T16:37:00.000-08:00

I can't believe Brooke is 7! The time has flown by. Brooke was very happy to turn 7 finally - although the day of her birthday she announced she doesn't feel any older! Ha! When she got home from school we hid in the house and yelled 'surprise' (by Mom, Dad, Papa, Grandma & Grandpa)...so she was surprised! We opened up gifts and then went to eat out at a Mexican place (she wanted them to sing happy birthday to her in spanish). We all went to the Zoo later to see the pretty Christmas light display, see Santa and ride the carousel. It was all fun!

2009-11-10T10:04:00.000-08:00

Brooke & classmates, and a neighbor baby, Liam.

Brooke with neighbors and some goofy monsters as well.

Halloween...Trick or Treats

2009-11-10T09:55:00.000-08:00

We survived Halloween and yes, having many treats around. What are we going to do with 205 pieces of Halloween candy? Well, first Brooke took inventory and she then asked me to help her create a candy store. We sorted & counted each piece and put a price on it. The real idea is for us to know how much of each kind there is so we know if someone(uh-hum...Dad)is getting into the candy. Believe it or not the candy store is still pretty full.

Annual Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-29T18:09:00.000-07:00

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What in the world? (Brooke's idea to see what Dad used to look like with blond hair!)

Halloween

2009-10-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

Well, what should Brooke be for Halloween? She tried on all these costumes the other day...I'm thinking she will go with Hannah Montana.

2009-10-29T11:56:00.000-07:00

Brooke & Nicole at the 'American Idol' Concert.

2009-09-07T08:45:00.000-07:00

Brooke really enjoyed having Papa, Uncle Rick and her cousin Evan around this weekend.

She entertained them at times with her crazy energy, we enjoyed a campfire, played 'mexican train' and they even sat and watched the Hannah Montana movie with Brooke which she thought was really cool. (I didn't think they would watch the entire movie with her but they did - to funny!) Rick now knows about the entire Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus world - 'best of both worlds'! :) We lost Evan 10 minutes into the movie to watching more football games in the basement. Ha!

OSU vs. NAVY season opener 2009

2009-09-07T07:35:00.000-07:00

Rick & Evan (my brother and nephew from Georgia) came to Columbus for the OSU football opener this past weekend. They toured the OSU campus as Evan is a senior this year and he wanted to look at Ohio State University as a possibility along with other colleges in Georgia.

My Dad also went on the tour of the campus - so Rick said that was really cool to have three generations walking around on the beautiful OSU campus.

Sure glad OSU hung in there and won the game against Navy!!!

BACK TO SCHOOL - 1st Grade

2009-09-01T05:25:00.000-07:00

Brooke on the first day of school and in her room displaying the items she bought on her 'before school shopping day'. As far as school, there are a lot of adjustments going on with all new kids in her class, new teacher, new roles...she is not favorable so far - but am sure that will change - hopefully soon.

2009-08-17T09:45:00.001-07:00

Brooke helping Papa pick green beans.
Beets are next.

A few years ago Keith
'planted the seed' to have my Dad possibly start a vegetable garden again so that Brooke could participate in the growing of vegetables....well, my Dad ended up planting all the seeds and has harvested so many vegetables and I think the only participating we are doing is in eating all of them. Brooke did help plant some seeds one year and we have all helped make strawberry jam too! Nothing like fresh veggies and home-made food!

Ohio State Fair

2009-08-17T09:27:00.000-07:00

We first took Brooke to the fair when she was two and she has looked forward going in the summer ever since. She loves the rides, games, animals and, of course, the 'fair' food. Her absolute favorite thing to do is the Giant Yellow Slide...she probably climbed up those many steps 15 times. Wow, Keith & I were tired after just a few trips and we were taking turns going with her and she went up by herself too. Whew...that was a long, hot day!

Summer coming to a close...Brooke had lots of fun!

2009-08-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

Brooke and her friends: Abigail, Daniel & Mark.

Brooke and Nicole posing in the sun.

One morning Brooke announced we were all going to a 'Luau' - in the living room. Mom & Dad's partici-

pation a must!

I love this picture!

'Two peas in a pod'.

2009-08-17T08:24:00.000-07:00

Yeah....Brooke riding her bike!

2009-08-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

In my own time.....

2009-08-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

Brooke got over two fears this summer - 'swimming' and 'riding a bike'. One thing I know for sure is that she is very strong-willed and doesn't like to be pushed into anything until she is ready. It didn't matter how much Mom or Dad pushed, begged, pleaded for her to at least try....she wasn't going to do it until she was good and ready. Now at 6 years old she took off on both this summer and really enjoying both....she really likes her razor scooter as well. I have included some videos of these events.

2009-08-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

Reality #2 - 'Things are not always what they seem'.

2009-07-25T07:47:00.000-07:00

Brooke was invited (by our neighbor) to go to the Zoo to be in a 'show taping' with Jack Hanna. They needed a few kids in the background for this taping and so it sounded like a fun opportunity for the kids to meet and interact with Jack while at their favorite place, the Columbus Zoo. They were all excited the morning of this adventure. The group met at the executive offices and all the kids got to ride on a special golf cart through the zoo grounds over to the 'petting zoo animal barn'. The kids were asked/coached to be good, listen, 'don't look at the camera', and have fun with Jack. They all waited in a holding area for all the camera crew and Jack to get there and get set up for the shooting. A director told the kids where to stand and that they would be playing/petting some small animals. About an hour later, the taping was about to start - of course, by now the kids were restless, hot, tired and thirsty (what do you expect with 5 and 6 year olds?) When they said "o.k. - get ready" - the zoo employees started throwing food out into the courtyard (where the kids were placed) about 20 goats came running towards the kids to eat all the food...some of the boys had food in their hands. Well, Brooke didn't want any part of the rather large goats eating out of her hands or even touching her at all. She quickly stepped backward into the fence as fear set in. Brooke tried to hang in there, but 5 minutes later with the goats in a huge, continuous feeding frenzy, she and her friend, Abigail ended up in tears and wanted out. The boys, on the other hand, were competing who could get and give the most food to the goats. Where was Jack Hanna during all of this? He was on the 'outside' of the fence, taping his show - repeating many 'takes' and never interacting with the kids. We did have an opportunity to get a picture of Jack Hanna with the kids when it was all over.
Epilogue: As the kids made their way back to the golf cart, it was pulling away with Jack and his crew...the kids were devastated, saying "hey, that's our cart" - they were 'bummed' they couldn't ride in it again as we walked back. So, yes, things aren't always as they seem. When we got home, Brooke said that was the worst trip to the Zoo ever!

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Reality #1 - 'Things are not always what they seem'

2009-07-25T06:56:00.000-07:00

Brooke has been talking about 'sleepovers' for a year now and when she got an invite for a sleepover the other day - she was thrilled! With much anticipation, she planned and talked about it for a week. We talked about what it might be like and she had packed what she would take many days ahead. The night had come and I was looking forward to some quiet solitude (Keith was away as well) - I had just started to watch a movie when I got a call around 10:00 p.m. and the other Mom said Brooke was having a hard time...but just 'hearing my voice' wasn't going to work. A half hour later, she was safely back in her own bed, with her Mom nearby. She announced to me sleepily, "I'm just to young for sleepovers - I'll have to wait until I'm 7..... or 8.

Brooke's Dance Recital

2009-07-13T08:17:00.000-07:00

Brooke has taken Ballet/tap for a few years now and at the end of the year they always have a Dance Recital. Well, this year she was able to be in the 'Big Show' which was based on 'The Wizard of Oz' and 'the Wicked'. Her group were the 'bluebirds' in the show as Dorothy sang...'Somewhere over the Rainbow'. It was really cute, HOWEVER, it lasted almost 3 hours long and Brooke's dance number lasted about 3 minutes. There were 100 girls of all age groups 5 to 25 in this production. I heard rumblings about mom's not being happy about the length (me included) and even more complaining from the Dad's who had missed out on a beautiful, sunny afternoon of being at the final round of the Muirfield Golf tournament taking place in Dublin, Ohio. We saw Dad's in agony, grandparents nodding off etc. It was a very long day....but the kids had a great time up on stage and they did a good job. Brooke had fun so yes, it was worth the wait, the money, and the time spent on dance classes all year long....even though she complained about going to class every Monday at 10:00 a.m. It is up to Brooke whether she wants to do it all again next year...time will tell.

Wow! Brooke graduated from Kindergarten in June.

2009-07-12T14:29:00.000-07:00

Getting started on a Blog

2009-07-11T19:22:00.000-07:00

I wish I started this long ago.....looking forward to updating this for family and friends to see what we are up to from time to time.

Creating a family 'Blog' finally.

2009-07-11T18:26:00.000-07:00

I don't know why I didn't start doing doing a Blog a while ago...time, I guess. I'm hoping this will actually save some time as I send so many individual emails and pictures to many...so should be fun and will keep all informed.

We recently got back from a family reunion in Dover the July 4th weekend. We had fun and Brooke had a great weekend and didn't want it to end.

Now the start of a new week. Brooke had a few play dates with friends, swim lessons and has become more confident on her bike (without training wheels...which was a real breakthrough for her...she was/is very cautious and fearful.)