Camp Slaw Montage (fast version)

Matt

p.s. Don't blink or you might miss one!

Jamie's exciting news!

Hey Everyone! There hasn't been a new post in quite some time, so i decided to fill you all in on my exciting past 2 days. Well, as most of you know, I had a nose job done on wednesday morning. I am healing really well, with little pain, so that is good!

I have even more exciting news though! I GOT INTO UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN TODAY! 

WOOOO! So, now we might have 2 lincenberg girls up north! 

And maybe I will get to be at school with daniel next year?!?

Well, just thought I would share that exciting news with all of you!

We will all miss you over the holiday break, don't have too much fun without us!

Love, Jamie

Happy Thanksgiving!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

or TURKEY DAY- if you prefer

FROM MATT and JAKE

P.S. can't wait for Chanukah!!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Matt

Happy Birthday Leah!

Hopefully I'll be the first to tell you: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I hope all your wishes come true and you have great day! See you soon! Happy Birthday! I love you!

drum roll please....

I GOT INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL!

I received a phone call yesterday from Saint Louis University telling me that they were very impressed by me last year (I interviewed in March), they were sorry they couldn't take me from the alternate list, they were excited that I reapplied, and they wanted to offer me a position in the class to begin in August 2009!!!!

Just to clarify, I will not be in St. Louis definitely, but at least now I will definitely be going to med school next year!

love,

kim

Wedding Update

Just wanted to let everyone know that Rob and I have a wedding Web site. Feel free to check out http://jeniferandrob.weddings.com Save the dates will be out in the next couple of weeks so keep an eye out. Hope everyone is doing well.

Miss you!

Love,
Jeni

Paige's most recent achievement

Hey! So I know someone already posted about me receiving my black belt but I thought everyone might be interested in how I achieved it. I began taking tae kwon do classes six years ago in second grade so there was a long process building up for this. My tae kwon do dojo (school) hosts promotions every three months but every student is not invited every time. The instructors watch us during class to decide if they believe we are ready to promote. At the promotion, you perform everything you have learned in front of everyone. To train for one's black belt, one trains for at least nine months in between getting the advanced red belt (the level below black) and the black belt. Usually, most students do not pass their black belt test the first time they take it because one must perform difficult tasks. First of all, one must display all 24 different kicks numerous times. Also, one must break 8 boards with a different movement every time, 3 of those boards are double boards. To break the boards one must use at least one type of kick, knee strike, elbow strike, and palm strike. In addition, we learn forms/routines that we must perform with perfect technique and power.
Unfortunately, I was out of town when the formal black belt test took place so I attended a private one with only my instructor, my parents, and me. Surprisingly, I passed my black belt test the first time I took it. I broke every board on my first try and I really tried my best. I wanted to attach some pictures but they will not upload to this post but maybe I'll try again later! Love, Paige

CONGRATS Paige!

Yesterday, 

Paige earned her BLACK BELT in Tae Kwon Do!!!!!

YAY, PAIGE! We are soooooo proud of you!

Now, go kick some butt!

love,

your fam

Devin's Here!

Devin made it! After a long trip from Michigan yesterday, she finally made it to Lincolnshire! I was so lucky to already see her, but for those who haven't she will definitely be at Sunday night dinner! I'm so excited!

Love, Lizzy

Happy Birthday Lizzy!

Well, Happy Birthday to my Lizzy girl! I cannot believe that she is 14 years old. Wow! Seems like I just birthed her not that long ago! Each year goes by faster and faster! She makes me smile. Thank goodness for Lizzy! I wish her a very happy and healthy (dislocated finger notwithstanding) birthday!

happy new year!

L'SHANAH TOVA!!!

it seemed that this past year was pretty sweet for all of us and we know a few people who will have an extra special upcoming year, but I just wanted to wish the ENTIRE family (all 26 of us!) a sweet, happy, and healthy new year!

with so much love,

Kim

Happy Birthday Jake (and Liz)

Happy Birthday, Jake!

Hopefully you had a great day yesterday, and I can't wait for the birthday celebration for you and Liz at our house next weekend.

For those interested, the slideshow on the right side of your screen has been updated to feature photos of Jake and Liz.

Matt

Matt and Mike at the Ryder Cup

Louisville, KY: Dad and I visited Valhalla golf club last weekend in what turned out to be exciting, while, at times, tense, U.S. victory over those crumpet-eating, brightly-clothed Europeans. Boo Weekley, Hunter Mahan, Anthony Kim, and of course, captain Paul Azinger, led an inspired U.S. team to at 16 and 1/2 to 11 and 1/2 victory over Faldo's European team (and if you don't know any of those names, well, you probably don't really care about this that much anyways :) ).

Besides closely advising Paul Azinger on how to best pair his players (oh wait, the was Ray Floyd and Dave Stockton, never mind), Dad and I played a couple rounds of golf at some great local courses and attended an outdoor pep rally in downtown Louisville to liven up the American crowds during the cup.

And the crowds were loud: there were many cheers and chants of: "U.S.A, U.S.A, U.S.A," while joyful chanting of: "Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole" were sung whenever a European made a birdie putt. Overall, the venue was great, the competition was great, and we, as the trend suggests, had a great time (Dad even got to meet Michael Jordan, who was in the NBC tent with us.)

Matt

You can go home again

As I am making this announcement from work, I am not going to wax poetic. However, I wanted all of you to know that it is official--BJ is moving back to the Chicago area. I'm not joking Grandpa, but I can sign a contract with the family if you'd like.

Around 3:30 yesterday afternoon, I got an e-mail from Northwestern University confirming my conditional admission into their Master's Program in Higher Education Administration & Policy. After a night of volleyball and sleep to think things over (and dodging the persistence of Detective Leah Marie), I decided to accept Northwestern's offer. I met with my boss this morning and submitted a letter of resignation.

The timeline at this point is as follows--My first night of class is September 23. I will work through September 19, come home that weekend, attend my first week of classes, drive back to Des Moines to work at Drake September 25 and 26 (my last day) and then complete my transition back to Chicago. Everybody got that? Following Rand has never been more riveting, I know.

More details to come. Stay tuned SLEW. For now, save a spot for me at Sunday dinner on Sept 21.

Feeling and spreading the love,
BJ

Happy Birthday, Jessie!

Happy birthday, Jessie! Hope you had a great day. See you soon, and we all hope Darren is feeling well and has a quick and speedy recovery.

Matt

Jessie and Darren, Camp Slaw 2007

Happy Occasions

It is certainly a time for many happy occasions, engagements, birthdays lots going on. I just want to congratulate Sara and Eric on their engagement, we are very happy for you. And I want to wish my daughters, Kim and Devin a very Happy 22nd and 2oth Birthdays, and Happy Birthday to Jessie tomorrow! Julie

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEVIN!!

I hope you have had and continue to have a great day! 

Love, Paige

The announcement.

And now, the long anticipated, “Eric’s First Blog”….

Some people say that when you get married you not only marry that person but their entire family.  It's amazing to think that it was a year and one week ago, that Sara and I went on our first date, and it was only one week later that I was so warmly welcomed by nearly the entire family and met everyone else shortly thereafter.  Most people would probably say that meeting the family, not to mention grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, after the first week is crazy.  Well, they would probably be right, and for the younger audience, I'm not endorsing this move by any means.  However, after meeting Sara, the idea didn't seem that crazy.  It's funny, and usually sounds cliché whenever you hear a couple say, "we just knew it right away," but I guess that's what true love is.  It's this funny, cliché thing, that given serious rational thought would seem impractical and not make sense, but somehow it does.  And we knew it right away.

I also knew right away that I was loved and accepted by Sara.  It's like that feeling that can only be matched by being home, surrounded by family and those you love.  As quickly as Sara and I fell for each other, I cannot describe the warmth and love that I felt from every member of the White, Slaw, Ettleson, and Lincenberg families right away.   From that first game of Scrabble last Labor Day, to experiencing my first humanistic high holiday service with the Whites, to pumpkin carving on Halloween with the two of the coolest grandwitches I've ever met, to Thanksgiving (dessert) at the Slaws, the many birthdays, Sunday dinners, and every other family gathering both big and small, I left every event with the same feeling of warmth, love and acceptance. 

Sara and I were so happy to announce our engagement to everyone this weekend.   From the very bottom of my heart, I am beyond grateful for the love and support you have all shown Sara and me this past year.  Thank you, and I love you all.

-Eric

Happy Birthday Kim!

Well, it's September and that means Happy Birthday to Kim!!! We hope that you have a great birthday! Hopefully you are doing something fun and exciting on your special day. We love and miss you so much! Love, Aunt Jeri