not even 15 seconds

I wonder if this counts toward my collective fifteen minutes of fame? Obviously I had more to say about the changes to downtown Oshkosh... apparently I waxed too eloquent.

Fox11News.


I think this means I am both balanced as well as fair.

March . . .

A few pictures from March, so far . . .


We've been working on restoring some furniture for Sophi so that we can move her out of the nursery and make room for Fiedler child #2 - slated to arrive in 8 weeks!

My sister-in-law, Wendy (furniture restoration expert), my middle brother, Mike, and Jason.

Does anyone else see orbs????? Okay, maybe it was just dust from the sanding.

We dyed eggs with Sophi this year and she loved it - although not quite as much as Jason, judging from this photo.

Soph got a tea set for Easter. Jason and I get invited to "tea potty's" several times a day lately.


Sophi and her cousin, Liam on Easter.

Sophi with her cousins, Jack and Liam (my brother Steve's kids) and three of her uncles - Mike, Aaron, and Bubba.

not to worry...

In the summer of '99, Barry Sanders unexpectedly announced his retirement from the Detroit Lions. It was a dark time for Michigan and all football fans. Yesterday, news broke of Brett Favre's retirement. After 17 years in the NFL - Favre is done.

Let me just say Wisconsinites... although things seems dark today, the Packers will be just fine. Just look at how Detroit has risen to the challenge since Barry's departure. So, chin up. If Rogers doesn't work out, I think Andre Ware is available.

February . . .

Making valentines . . .
"Explaining" the valentine to Daddy . . .

Our icicles of death . . .nearly 6 ft. long. Oscar could have been killed.

Our team working on the door hangers we're planning to distribute in a couple weeks to invite people to Water City Church.
Step 1 - coffee labels stuck on 1000 little bags

Jason corrupting Sophi . . .

Sophi Turns 2

Sophi turned two back on January 15. Although that was nearly two months ago, here are a few pictures . . .


This was taken on her actual birthday, January 15, hours after we landed from our trip to Ireland. Hence . . .the Twinkie with candles. Sorry, Soph.
This was taken at her birthday celebration a couple weeks later with my family. Obviously this was a big let down, compared to the previous "Twinkie celebration", judging by the look on her face.


We took her sledding that afternoon. She hated it.

Two of her 2 year pictures that I took a few weeks back. We love you, Sophi!

Sesame Street Epiphany

While sitting with Sophi on my lap watching classic Sesame Street on Youtube it hit me... this is a strange show. And that they just don't make television like this anymore. Can you dig it?

(un)official National David Gray Day

In case you haven't heard (and if so where have you been?) I have declared this day, February 17th, 2008 National David Gray Day.

Enjoy.

WARNING: sophi video approaching

i'm sorry, but it doesn't get much cuter than this.

video from water city

This is just a short video that we are using as a first impression for Water City. Who doesn't have a bit of anxiety walking into an unfamiliar setting? Hopefully this will help with that.

our irish holiday

It seems the itty bitty picture of the Irish coast just wasn't enough to display the magnitude of our recent trip to visit our good friends in Ireland. So here are a few snapshots from our travels.

Sophi has always been fascinated with airplanes, so O'Hare was quite fun.


The ladies out on the town (Amy, Georgie and Sophi) The buggy was never the same.

Just a view up the coast... no big deal.
Sophi and Molly got on splendidly.
The Fiedler ladies at Lemon Crepe & Coffee Co. in Dublin. Brad kept a watchful eye on our buggy (stroller) that we were forced to park next to the phone booth over Amy's shoulder. Fortunately the buggy bandits decided to leave the Quatro alone, most likely because of it's patented American widetrack hugeness. ("The States are so large we need things to be big... there is more ground to cover.") Oh yeah... crepes were very delicious.

A stroll through St. Stephens Green.

Grafton Street... just like Main Street Oshkosh
Sophi singing of the wonders of our adventures... actually she may have just been fed up with the walk.

Best fish & chips this side of heaven. (Three times in one week) "You have to beat your body into submission."
Poor Georgie was under the weather for most of our trip (Molly as well). Yet she "built a bridge" and even got us to the airport.It was great to spend time with such great people.

ireland... day two

We woke up to this this morning... that would be the Irish Sea.

Lately . . .

Every year, since I was a kid, my mom would have a little gift for my five brothers and I for St. Nick Night. My grandma always added to it a little something, along with an ornament for each of us. Every year, my brothers and I hang our ornaments from Grandma on the tree and they are a reminder of the special years we shared with her while she was alive. When Sophi was born, my mom decided to start her own "ornament every year from Grandma" tradition. So this year, Sophi got a little St. Nick treat, along with "ornament #2" from Grandma and Grandpa Ullmer. Thanks, Mom, for continuing this special tradition with your grandkids.

My friend Lori and I are enjoying being pregnant together. She's due just 6 weeks before me.

Last week, Jason and I had our leadership team from Water City over for a Christmas Dinner (not everyone made this particular photo - busy playing the Wii, I think).



After dinner, I forced/ strongly encouraged everyone to join me in a very fun and creative project - making our own ornaments. Here you can see the how much everyone enjoyed the 2 hour process of shoving tiny pins into styrofoam balls after threading them with beads and sequins.

We love you, Sophster!

from Madeleine L'Engle

I picked up a book of L'Engle's poetry (The Ordering of Love) for a couple bucks a few weeks back. Best find of the season... (sorry Bebo).

“The Risk of Birth, Christmas, 1973”
Madeleine L’Engle

This is no time for a child to be born,

With the earth betrayed by war & hate

And a comet slashing the sky to warn

That time runs out & the sun burns late

That was no time for a child to be born,

In a land in the crushing grip of Rome;

Honor & truth were trampled by scorn –

Yet here did the Saviour make his home.

When is the time for love to be born?

The inn is full on planet earth,

And by a comet the sky is torn –

Yet Love still takes the risk of birth.

Christmas tree . . .

Two weekends ago, we took advantage of a semi-warm day and went to cut down a tree. We found a great little farm that had a horse-drawn wagon, cookies, cider . . . all the essentials. We all had a great time. And yes, the tree may be slightly crooked. :)

More from November . . .

Daddy and Sophi playing - what they do best together.



Thanksgiving at my parents' - buffet style to accommodate the Packers/ Lions game.

The annual Ullmer family photo.

Christmas baking the day after Thanksgiving with my mom and sister in law.