If anyone was wondering, here are the lyrics to the aforementioned song the cousins wrote to the tune of "California Girls":
Verse 1: I know a place where the water's hypothermic. (Oh oh)
Swimming in the lake, where the splashes make you shiver. (Oh oh)
You can travel the world, but nothing comes close to Duchess Island.
Once you cocktail with us, you'll be falling in love. (Oh)
Refrain: Hot dogs on the grill, they're unforgettable
Hamburgers with ketchup on top.
Sunkist pop so gross, will give you cavities. (Oh)
Tasty sizzlers, they're undeniable
Pops in the cooler, we've got it unlocked.
Island represent, now do a loon call (Ooh)
Verse 2: Fishing off a dock, using slimy, squirmy leeches. (Oh)
Watching chimney logs, now we're tanning on the beaches. (Oh)
You can travel the world, but nothing compares to Duchess Island.
Once you cocktail with us, you'll be falling in love. (Oh oh)
Refrain
Rap: Intense games of capture the flag, I gotta free the guy that just got tagged. Ow, ow, stubbed my toe, on a root, but all I know is there's the flag, it's over there, I get behind a tree so they can't see me. Oh, no, they've got our flag, they've crossed the line. Dang! The game is over, but I'm like "Sweet!" 'cause now it's time for -
Refrain
The song is surprisingly good, if I don't say so myself. I don't mean to brag, but I wrote the rap. Hope you enjoy!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Island 2010
As always, this year's Island trip was too great for words. Once again, I'll simply make a list of significant occurrences.
1. Our friends from Minnesota visited on Saturday and Sunday, after all our family had left. We had a great time fishing, and we caught quite a few decent small mouth. It was a 6-hour drive for them, but they stayed for less than 24 hours! Even so, we had a really fun time with them.
2. My dad's cousin Tommy was on the Island for a few days, and he brought his dogs Buster and Buddy. For the first time, there were 4 dogs on the Island at once! (Buster, Buddy, Ginger, and Sasha)
3. David and Rachel both passed their swim tests! I believe David is the youngest person to ever pass a swim test.
4. I beat my cousin Mike in ping-pong!
5. My Uncle Jody dumped me - fully clothed - unceremoniously into the lake! I do not recommend swimming in clothes. Not if you can avoid it, that is.
6. Uncle Dan, Danny, and Mike re-shingled the rec. house roof. The cousins were appointed the unenjoyable task of cleaning up the old shingles and nails.
7. We wrote a song about the Island to the tune of "California Girls" by Katy Perry. It's actually really good.
Here are some pictures. Enjoy!
1. Our friends from Minnesota visited on Saturday and Sunday, after all our family had left. We had a great time fishing, and we caught quite a few decent small mouth. It was a 6-hour drive for them, but they stayed for less than 24 hours! Even so, we had a really fun time with them.
2. My dad's cousin Tommy was on the Island for a few days, and he brought his dogs Buster and Buddy. For the first time, there were 4 dogs on the Island at once! (Buster, Buddy, Ginger, and Sasha)
3. David and Rachel both passed their swim tests! I believe David is the youngest person to ever pass a swim test.
4. I beat my cousin Mike in ping-pong!
5. My Uncle Jody dumped me - fully clothed - unceremoniously into the lake! I do not recommend swimming in clothes. Not if you can avoid it, that is.
6. Uncle Dan, Danny, and Mike re-shingled the rec. house roof. The cousins were appointed the unenjoyable task of cleaning up the old shingles and nails.
7. We wrote a song about the Island to the tune of "California Girls" by Katy Perry. It's actually really good.
Here are some pictures. Enjoy!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Welcome, Sarah Grace!
Yesterday, my mom, Luke, David, Jacob, and I had the privilege of visiting the newest Kemme Nash, Sarah Grace.
She is a tiny baby, much smaller than any of my siblings were. She mostly slept while we were there, but she was adorable nonetheless.
Congratulations, Kemme Nashes!
She is a tiny baby, much smaller than any of my siblings were. She mostly slept while we were there, but she was adorable nonetheless.
Congratulations, Kemme Nashes!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Crown Point Week
Graciously, my Aunt Sue offered to take all five of us kids for a week, to give my parents a week off. All of us loved this idea, so we arrived at Crown Point on Sunday.
The first few days were mostly spent swimming and playing Star Wars Battlefront 2. On Tuesday, we went to see the movie Despicable Me, which was a pretty funny movie. After the movie, we went to Dairy Queen, where I got a delicious Midnight Truffle (basically, the only two ingredients are chocolate and chocolate).
On Wednesday, Aunt Sue, Gianna, and I went to the mall in Crown Point. Gianna bought a few sweaters and jeans, and she kindly bought me a fluffy, round pillow shaped like a dog. After browsing through the mall, we had a delicious lunch at Panera Bread.
Later that night, my Uncle Brian assembled a popcorn machine that they had ordered! We popped our own popcorn and watched Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
The week was over much too soon, but we all had a fantastic time. Thanks Aunt Sue and Uncle Brian!
The first few days were mostly spent swimming and playing Star Wars Battlefront 2. On Tuesday, we went to see the movie Despicable Me, which was a pretty funny movie. After the movie, we went to Dairy Queen, where I got a delicious Midnight Truffle (basically, the only two ingredients are chocolate and chocolate).
On Wednesday, Aunt Sue, Gianna, and I went to the mall in Crown Point. Gianna bought a few sweaters and jeans, and she kindly bought me a fluffy, round pillow shaped like a dog. After browsing through the mall, we had a delicious lunch at Panera Bread.
Later that night, my Uncle Brian assembled a popcorn machine that they had ordered! We popped our own popcorn and watched Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
The week was over much too soon, but we all had a fantastic time. Thanks Aunt Sue and Uncle Brian!
Jill's Dance
Thanks to the marvels of modern technology, my cousin Mark was able to plan a dance from a grimy tent halfway across the world. He hadn't been able to take his girlfriend, Jill, to the prom, so he arranged this dance as a surprise for her.
The whole family was invited, along with Mark's friends. We arrived in Valpo at around 6:00, and were greeted by our cousins from Racine. We played basketball in the church parking lot until 7:00, when we headed to the Immanuel gym, where the surprise dance took place.
The gym looked amazing, with streamers hanging from the basketball hoops, a disco ball, balloons, and American flags bedecking all the tables. Soon, the Green Bay cousins arrived, including our new cousin Stephen, who I had never even seen before!
We were all told that Mark was supposedly taking Jill to dinner, but would take her to the dance instead. At 7:30 Mark and Jill walked in (Jill was blindfolded), Mark untied her blindfold, Jill proclaimed in an astonished voice, "What?" and Mark yelled "Surprise!"
Everyone (except the adults) had a great time dancing, eating, and socializing. After three hours of fun, we finally had to clean up and head out.
The cousins suggested that we make this a yearly tradition, and I heartily agree. I had a blast.
The whole family was invited, along with Mark's friends. We arrived in Valpo at around 6:00, and were greeted by our cousins from Racine. We played basketball in the church parking lot until 7:00, when we headed to the Immanuel gym, where the surprise dance took place.
The gym looked amazing, with streamers hanging from the basketball hoops, a disco ball, balloons, and American flags bedecking all the tables. Soon, the Green Bay cousins arrived, including our new cousin Stephen, who I had never even seen before!
We were all told that Mark was supposedly taking Jill to dinner, but would take her to the dance instead. At 7:30 Mark and Jill walked in (Jill was blindfolded), Mark untied her blindfold, Jill proclaimed in an astonished voice, "What?" and Mark yelled "Surprise!"
Everyone (except the adults) had a great time dancing, eating, and socializing. After three hours of fun, we finally had to clean up and head out.
The cousins suggested that we make this a yearly tradition, and I heartily agree. I had a blast.
Cousin Mark Is Home!
My cousin Mark, who is serving in the US Marine Corps, is finally home, safe and sound, after a grueling year of service in Afghanistan.
He was never involved in serious gunfire, but mostly patrolled the streets of Afghanistan, building bridges, digging wells, and altogether keeping the peace in the war-torn country.
Sitting around my grandparents' living room, the family listened attentively as he told stories of his deployment. Most of them convinced me to never join the Marines (such as going without a shower for six months), but a few suggested that being a Marine is the best job in the world. Apparently, Mark and his platoon frequently watched movies, listened to iPods, and surfed the Internet, not to mention they bought a dog to keep them company!
However, Mark's deployment wasn't all fun and games (but pretty close, I'm sure). He related to us how, as he was driving a Humvee across a narrow, rickety bridge, his front right tire slid off the metal bridge, causing the large vehicle to flip upside down. Nobody was injured, but they had to wait six hours until someone could come help them out, and then they had to take a long, winding path to base, merely to keep the Taliban guessing.
Another negative aspect of Marine life is foot patrols in the middle of Afghanistan desert. Mark tells us that the terrain is perfect for a twisted ankle, plus the weather is either boiling hot or freezing cold. The patrols lasted for hours, and were largely uneventful and dull (sometimes, Mark said, their dog would come with them on patrols).
Living in the dirty, unsafe conditions of Afghanistan, halfway across the world, to spend countless hours risking your life, for a whole year, takes true bravery, courage, selflessness, and patriotism. I'm relieved that he's home.
He was never involved in serious gunfire, but mostly patrolled the streets of Afghanistan, building bridges, digging wells, and altogether keeping the peace in the war-torn country.
Sitting around my grandparents' living room, the family listened attentively as he told stories of his deployment. Most of them convinced me to never join the Marines (such as going without a shower for six months), but a few suggested that being a Marine is the best job in the world. Apparently, Mark and his platoon frequently watched movies, listened to iPods, and surfed the Internet, not to mention they bought a dog to keep them company!
However, Mark's deployment wasn't all fun and games (but pretty close, I'm sure). He related to us how, as he was driving a Humvee across a narrow, rickety bridge, his front right tire slid off the metal bridge, causing the large vehicle to flip upside down. Nobody was injured, but they had to wait six hours until someone could come help them out, and then they had to take a long, winding path to base, merely to keep the Taliban guessing.
Another negative aspect of Marine life is foot patrols in the middle of Afghanistan desert. Mark tells us that the terrain is perfect for a twisted ankle, plus the weather is either boiling hot or freezing cold. The patrols lasted for hours, and were largely uneventful and dull (sometimes, Mark said, their dog would come with them on patrols).
Living in the dirty, unsafe conditions of Afghanistan, halfway across the world, to spend countless hours risking your life, for a whole year, takes true bravery, courage, selflessness, and patriotism. I'm relieved that he's home.
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