2011 Year in Review

Since we aren't very proficient at ever getting out Christmas letters or cards.  I think the last one was the 1998 travel brochure.  We (I) have gone to creating some picture slideshow.  Last year, I created the video and here is one for 2011.  Enjoy and a Merry Christmas!

More Christmas Fun

Here are a couple pictures from Christmas day's activities.  We opened presents and sat around and ate.  We capped the night off with a rousing Packer victory over the Bears.  All in all, a good day.

Merry Christmas...

...from Florida!  I know what you're saying, "HOLY COW, there is a blog post at the Chateau!"  I may have had my longest hiatus from blogging in the past five years.  I was on pace to have a good number of posts and then I faded.  Well, things have been happening that I can hopefully update my faithful readers (if there are any left) on in the next year.  Mainly, the Chateau has moved officially to Menomonee Falls.  I hope to get pictures uploaded when we return from our vacation in Florida.

We arrived yesterday at about noon.  We had to get up at 3:30 AM to catch the bus to O'hare and then our flight to Orlando.  The rest of the day just consisted of doing, well, nothing.  Today we went to Christmas church and now will just probably sit around.  Here are a couple pictures of Liam and Owen today.  Merry Christmas to all!

Too Long

I know it is a theme that I don't get a lot posted lately.  I haven't forgotten about my lonely little blog.  If nothing else, here is Liam's 3rd grade school picture.  I'll have to scan Owen's in and post it later.

NLDS

It has been a while since I posted (that seems to be a common opening sentence lately.)  I'll bust out some other photos one of these days, but here is one from Sunday at Miller Park for game 2 of the National League Divisional Series between the Brewers and Diamondbacks.

Misc. Stuff

Posting regularly has been difficult.  I am taking two classes this fall, Cathy is working full-time, and life is just a little busy.  Here are some random pics from the past 4 to 6 weeks.

Liam working on his soccer skills.

Legos are a big activity... here is a lego roller coaster.

Not sure how good Owen will be, but he sure will be tough.



This is Liam's speed boat.

Liam and I went golfing a few weeks ago.  He out drove me on the first hole.

Liam driving.

Liam's First day of 3rd Grade

Again, hard to believe that they are growing up so fast.  Liam started school yesterday but I didn't have the card in my camera so this is really a "second" day of 3rd grade picture.  Although, I suppose I could say it was his first FULL day of 3rd grade today.  Anyway...

Owen's First Day of K4

Summer has grinded to a screeching halt all of the sudden.  Liam, Owen, and Cathy did get to the Dells waterparks with Grandma yesterday, but today was my first day of school as well as Cathy and Owen's.  Liam starts tomorrow and he's not real excited.  Below are a few pics of Owen in his spiffy new uniform.

Betik & Stuff

I took a few pictures of the guys in their new betik shirts from our trip to Indonesia... Liam also got his first hit in baseball the other day... Here are a few photos.



Owen in his new Indo jersey

Day 11 - Jakarta

We spent today driving into Jakarta and seeing some sights and shopping. We first visited the old Dutch part of town in what was originally Batavia. We had some coffee at the beautiful Cafe Batavia and visited the national museum, etc... The cafe is said to have one of the top ten bars in the world. Strangely enough it is covered in cow hide.

Old Dutch Government building

Old City Square

Cafe Batavia... duh.

Supposedly a top 10 bar in the world (according to Newsweek)

Just to try and show the sheer amount of traffic

We had lunch at a German restaurant which may sound weird but was delicious... Filling enough that dinner tonight was optional. We then did some shopping at one of the large malls in Jakarta and headed home in the crazy traffic. Arif drove today which is quite an adventure with all the cars and millions of little motorcycles.

Tomorrow morning we begin our trip for home. It will be nice to see Liam and Owen and sleep in our own bed.

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Day 9-10 - Travlin' & Chillin'

Not much to report for these days as we traveled from Bali to Jakarta. We didn't have the fun of missing our flight like we did from Jakarta to Bali... But that was easy to live without. We did get to spend a short time in the ocean in the morning playing in the water and boogie boarding. The waves were huge!

Surfing in the ocean

It was nice to get to see where Amy (and Arif now) lives as well as their school. We had gotten the Skype tour previously but this was much better. The girls went and got some massages and shopped on Saturday and the guys just hung out. We had some great fresh seafood again on Saturday night. Enjoy the few pictures I have.

Amy's School

Amy's House (and Arif's now too)

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Day 8 - Rafting

Yesterday we went into the center of Bali again to go white water rafting. The girls were all excited because this was supposed to be some Eat, Pray, Love location tour where they filmed the movie... Whatever.

Rafting was very, very fun (except having to walk all the way back up to the top.

Gettin' Ready

Trudging through the jungle

A Motley Crew (No the band)

Amy is buyount

Arif is hanging out on the outside?

I'm told this is Eat, Pray, Loveish...

After rafting and lunch we came back to the hotel and then went out to watch the sunset on the beach.






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Day 7 - Snorkeling

Today we took a van for about an hour drive to the other side of Bali to go snorkeling. We ended up at Bloo Lagoon beach which may sound corny but was wonderful. We hired two small boats to take us for about a five minute dried and then snorkeled for about three hours... I wish I could have taken pictures of the beautiful sea life and corals... It makes me want to fire up my aquarium again. We then had lunch of some calamari, barracuda, marlin, and prawns as well as the surprisingly nice Bintang beer.

On our way out...

Prawns afterwards...

Bintang!

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