THE PENZIOL FAMILY

Happy Halloween!!

2010-11-01T23:35:00.000-05:00

The Cat and the Hat, Thing 1, and Think 2 had a great time trick-or-treating.

Get our Fishing On!

2010-08-15T22:27:00.001-05:00

All the kids got new fishing poles for their birthday so I took them all down to the lake to catch a big one. Unfortunately all the fish were “sleeping” and the only thing we managed to catch was tangled lines. But hey… at least none of the kids fell in! We had fun! It was a day I will never forget.

Happy Birthday Aiden and Addison!

2010-08-15T22:25:00.000-05:00

Aiden and Addison turned 3 in August. Addison loves her twin dolls and Aiden loves his set of screw drivers like Daddy’s.

Happy Birthday Ava!

2010-08-15T22:15:00.002-05:00

Ava turned 5 in August. Ava loves her new art table and Barbie dream house! We had a huge birthday party for everyone at Platinum Gymnastics where the kids attend gymnastics classes. Everyone had a great time! And… oh yeah… Daddy and the uncles did some flips off into the foam pit too!

Sky Diving!

2010-07-19T21:57:00.003-05:00

As chalked up as something I wanted to do while on this earth, Brandon sealed the deal when he booked his jump. If he was crazy enough, so was I and his father Mike. Thank you Mike for getting me the video of my jump. I have watched it 10 times already. It was AWESOME! Want to do it again. Sky Dive Chicago!

A camping we will go...

2010-06-08T23:05:00.002-05:00

One of my goals is to do a date night with each kid individually every so often. For Ava's date, we went camping at the Dunes on Lake Michigan. We joined my sister in her camper that had air conditioning which I loved!

Happy Birthday Mary!!

2010-06-08T22:36:00.009-05:00

We celebrated Mary’s birthday with a pool party at her house! The kids had a great time.

That is until when we pulled the old bucket of cold water from the roof gag on the kids. They didn’t think it was very funny... but Uncle Brandon and I did!!!

Our Spring Time Photo Shoot

2010-05-20T15:41:00.004-05:00

Skate Park Rules!

2010-04-17T22:20:00.008-05:00

Ok… let me first start off by saying, “Yes… I know I am 35”. There said it. Now… what is a guy supposed to do when he finds a vintage BMX bike straight from his freestyle'in glory days? Kids… we’re going to the skate park! I found a 1987 GT Dyno Detour with white mag wheels. It’s been 20 years since daddy has been on a BMX bike… let’s see if he still has it. We packed up all three big wheels and headed out. It was a great day with no head injuries. And YES… daddy does still have it!

Let's Ride...

2010-04-15T12:52:00.003-05:00

Ohhh the games we play...

2010-03-18T22:27:00.001-05:00

X-mass photo shoot

2009-12-27T22:16:00.005-06:00

The Great LaPorte County Fair

2009-12-21T08:50:00.000-06:00

As I am moving some photos around, I thought I would post these photos from the fair.

Singing in the rain

2009-12-21T08:48:00.000-06:00

My attempts to keep this kids out of a puddle failed.

At the Park

2009-12-21T08:43:00.001-06:00

One of the many parks we go to often...

Wiggles!!!

2009-10-19T20:43:00.002-05:00

Grandma Rondi surprised us with a Wiggles concert. They put on a great show. We met up with the newest Wiggles "Sam" after the show for a photo. It was an experience Ava will never forget.

Aiden Rides

2009-09-02T17:11:00.004-05:00

Aiden and I did a photo shoot over the weekend on my old Honda 750 Bobber I am making. He loved it and was a great model to shoot.

To see more go here:
http://penziolphoto.shutterfly.com/

Happy 4th of July!!

2009-07-14T21:44:00.003-05:00

Boating!!

2009-07-07T23:09:00.002-05:00

We spent a day on Pine Lake in LaPorte, IN which was the kids first time on a boat. They were great! Pine Lake has a loose alligator in the lake that has not yet been caught. Needless to say, the kids stayed in their seats pretty well.

Faces...

2009-06-19T21:08:00.001-05:00

Party in the Park!

2009-06-19T20:54:00.000-05:00

LaPorte host local music talent in the summer months who volunteer their time for a free concert in the park on Thursdays. The kids love it an usually dance the entire time. What a great time!

Indy Baby!!!

2009-05-28T20:43:00.002-05:00

My sister Laurie invited my Dad and good friend Eric to attend the Indy 500 Pole Day. Her offer included passes to her company’s suite and pit passes to Gasoline alley. It was AWESOME! The highlight of the day was getting a photo of my Dad meeting Mario Andretti! We had a great time. Congrats on the win Helio! And thanks Lauire!

Awwwww.....

2009-04-28T08:23:00.006-05:00

Addison was very upset that she could not have something her brother had... and then of course Granny comes to the rescue...

Winter Blues...

2009-03-15T21:25:00.003-05:00

With such a long winter we've had, the kids have been waiting and waiting for the weather to break. Some days we just watch movies inside to pass the time.

Partners in Crime!

2009-03-15T21:22:00.003-05:00

There is always trouble when Ava and Reghan get together.

Home Depot

2009-03-15T21:20:00.002-05:00

Ava and I still frequent the Home Depot works shops every month when we can. Last month she built a jewlery box for Amanda for Mother's Day.

2009 Sock Hop!

2009-03-12T15:26:00.006-05:00

The kids attended the 2009 Sock Hop this year and had a blast. We very surprised at how much the kids danced. All cousins were there and this was Brooklin's first Soc Hop. Aiden and Ava even won a costume contest. We were pooped out long before they were. Everyone had a great time.

Holiday Photos

2008-12-30T07:41:00.003-06:00

Here are some Holiday photos I took in our living room. Ava is three and Aiden and Addison are one and a half years old now. Aiden was a bit fussy and would only take a photo if I sat with him. The kids had a great Christmas.

We moved in!!!

2008-12-26T10:32:00.003-06:00

After as few months of home remodeling, we finally moved in just in time for Santa to come down the chimney. We gutted the kitchen, added new cabinets, granite counters, and all new plumbing. We also refinished the floors, added new lighting through out. The house looks great. Amanda and I owe great thanks to my dad and brothers for all of their help. My sister also did an outstanding job with our interiors. We are also very thankful to all the grandmothers for watching the kids over the last few months. Here is one shot of the main living room. We really love the character this 1950’s house has.

We bought a house!!!

2008-11-06T07:55:00.001-06:00

After a long sit on the market, our home in Missouri finally sold. We are relieved. We quickly found an older home in town that was built in 1957. We are currently making some updates to it and will hopefully get moved in before Santa comes. The house has a lot of character including hardwood floors in every room, a nice fireplace with built in book shelves, and a laundry shoot to the basement. The home was owned by Helen who is 87 who lived there with her husband Roy for nearly 50 years. She was very excited to see the house sell to a family with young kids! Photos to come…

Garwoods Orchard

2008-10-01T23:14:00.005-05:00

Granny invited us out to Garwoods Orchard on Sunday. It was a great day, and the kids had so much fun running around! Uncle Brandon, Jackie, Mason, Kai, and Brooklin came along. We picked out pumpkins, picked apples and raspberries, and listened to the Middle Of the Road band play.

Checkout John's Photography Site!

2008-09-30T22:48:00.003-05:00

Ever since college I have always wanted to get into photography but never had the time or money. As our kids entered our life, the importance of photography grew into necessity to catch all those cute moments in life. I have been shooting for a year now and learning everything I can.

I have a passion for photography because it forces you to stop to focus on a beautiful moment in time that otherwise goes unnoticed.

http://jpenziolphoto.blogspot.com/

Feel free to leave a comment!

1st Day of School

2008-09-09T23:08:00.002-05:00

Ava attended her first day of school at Step Ahead Preschool. Amanda and I are both proud Alumni of Step Ahead and they even still have our class photos hanging on the wall. Ava did great and loves going to school!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

2008-08-03T20:42:00.002-05:00

Smiling faces, presents, cake, sack races, water balloons, and laughter… the high light of our summer! Aiden, Addison and Ava all had one huge birthday party. The babies turned one and their big sister turned three. God blessed us with a beautiful day and we received very nice gifts from everyone which we appreciate. Special thanks to my wife Amanda for the huge effort she put into the party to make it as great as it was. Also thanks to Mike and Rondi for letting us party at their house. Thanks everyone for coming. You made both their day and ours!

Got the Blues…

2008-05-01T20:48:00.000-05:00

After having a fever and stiff neck for a day, we took Ava into the Doctor’s office for a check-up. Her blood test revealed that she had Strep throat and the Strep bacteria had made its way into her blood stream along with another bacteria called Viridins. She spent 12 days in the hospital with an IV drip in her arm to receive antibiotics. She was a trooper. Our days consisted on plenty of Barney DVDs and rides around the 4th floor in a wagon while pulling her IV machine behind. She also had manyvisitors which helped pass the time. Thanks everyone! She is feeling well now back at home being her old self.

Baptism...

2008-04-04T13:25:00.000-05:00

The babies were recently baptized in St. Josephs Church where daddy went to school.

Scary neices...

2008-02-27T22:45:00.000-06:00

Poodle Skirts and Hulahoops...

2008-02-03T11:59:00.001-06:00

Grandma Rondi took Ava and all of her cousins to the LaPorte Sock Hop. The kids danced the night away and had a great time. THANKS Grandma Rondi!

Faces...

2008-01-24T15:42:00.000-06:00

The kids are growing like weeds...

Bad Hair Day...

2007-11-28T22:22:00.001-06:00

As a wig fell off of one of Ava's dolls, we couldn't resist doing a hair photo shoot with the babies!

Down on the farm…

2007-11-14T22:22:00.001-06:00

Living back in our home town gave me a chance to show Ava some of my favorite memories on the Perschke Farm. Ava got to sit on a retired race horse, drive a tractor, and ride in an antique Ford Model “A” car. She loved every minute of it.

Happy Halloween!

2007-11-13T18:05:00.001-06:00

Ava enjoyed being Barney and the babies were pumpkins. We went to a pumpkin patch and also trick-or-treated with cousins.

Hanging out...

2007-11-12T23:13:00.000-06:00

Aiden and Addison are 3 months old now!

We've Moved!!

2007-10-24T12:21:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite motorcycle sayings is, "If life throws you a curve, lean into it". To that extent, this week I accepted a great career offer that presented itself. I will work for tech company based in downtown Chicago on web ecommerce team. This is not just a great career opportunity for me, but it's also a great fit for our family as it puts us within a 30 minute drive of all our relatives. And let me tell you, with the recent birth of Aiden and Addison, this makes the Grandmothers very happy.

We will miss St. Louis greatly and it is very bitter sweet for us leaving this great town. We will miss the Arch, the Cardinals, Grant's Farm, the Zoo, referring to pop as soda, and people asking us where we went to high school, but most of all we will miss the friends we have made here that have become family. We will never forget the memories we have of St. Louis as it is where we got our start in life. We will visit once in while to keep up with everyone and to let our kids see where it all started.

Once we settle on a new place we will let everyone know our new address and phone number etc. Until then I will try to keep our site updated with photos showing our progress. Wish us luck on our next adventure.

Best Friends...

2007-10-01T23:54:00.001-05:00

The Gang...

2007-10-01T23:38:00.000-05:00

Here are all of Ava, Addison, and Aiden's cousins. What a cheeeezzzy looking bunch!

60 Wonderful Years!

2007-10-01T23:04:00.001-05:00

This month we had the honor of attending the 60th wedding anniversary of Amanda’s Grand Parents, Bob and Janice Jones! We were honored to have Addison and Aiden, front and center held by their Great Grand Parents in the Jones family photo. What a great celebration it was. Bob and Janice have inspired us and we hope our marriage is as long and happy.

Take a Hike!

2007-09-09T14:25:00.000-05:00

Early Sunday morning I managed to get in a 5.5 mile hike on the Weldon Springs Trail. About 2.5 miles in, the trail leads to several scenic peaks where you can view the Missouri river.

Babies First Months!

2007-09-09T13:16:00.000-05:00

Addison and Aiden’s first month was a busy one. They got to meet their Aunt Laurie and Uncle Jeff, and Uncle Paul and Aunt Lori. They also had their first bath, first neighborhood party, and first ride in the double stroller (which I am still learning to drive). Ava took Uncle Paul to the HomeDepot workshop and also attended Connor’s birthday party at Pump-n-Jump. The babies are doing great averaging about 20 or so diapers a day!

The Babies are Here!!

2007-08-13T16:47:00.001-05:00

Addison Paige Penziol – 6 lbs. 15oz. @ 8:34 am
Aiden John Penziol – 8 lbs. 4oz. @ 8:35a

God has blessed us… twice! We quickly became a family of five and we are loving every minute of it. On August 9th we gave birth to two healthy babies, one boy and one girl. Amanda did a great job delivering via c-section. She is healing quickly and doing great! Everything went smoothly and as planned. Addison came first followed by Aiden a minute later. Big sister Ava is in love with her new brother and sister. She asks to hold them, feed them, and kisses them often. I am very proud of my wife for going through this entire pregnancy with such a great attitude and only a few late night emergency trips to Dairy Queen. Dr. Pignotti also commented how great a job she did carrying the 15 pounds of baby in her the last couple weeks. All the Grand parents came out to stay with us which was great. We are all home now. Let the diaper changing begin...

Ava is 2!!

2007-08-05T11:27:00.001-05:00

Ava awoke on her 2nd birthday to a room full of pink balloons. She quickly got ready for the day by putting on her beautiful birthday dress from Granny. Her best friend Jesse came over to help her celebrate. Ava got a new Jeep for her birthday which she is still learning to drive. She hits the gas pedal fine… it’s just the steering wheel thing that she needs more practice on (just like mommy). Later in the evening it was time to blow out the candles and eat cake. She had a wonderful day!

Get your motor runnin!

2007-07-24T00:20:00.000-05:00

Well today was a milestone for Daddy in that I took my daughter for her first ride on a motorcycle (it was better me than the some snot-nose kid down the street). It was a moment that I will always cherish. We went around the house about five times as she yelled "Weeeeeee!" I think she is hooked! BTW - she is not allowed on anyone elese's bike except daddy's.

Big Girl Bed

2007-07-23T22:21:00.001-05:00

Ava is now sleeping in her "Big Girl Bed' as we call it. The bed is actually my old bunk bed that I my parents were going to pitch. I took a shot at making her a Big Girl Bed which turned out pretty neat. She loves it! If you visit, she WILL show you.

Happy 4th!

2007-07-22T22:22:00.001-05:00

With the twins arriving soon, doctor's orders were to stay put in St. Louis for the 4th. We celebrated with some friends of ours who live in our neighborhood. Sarah's Dad, Larry, really had the whole fireworks show mastered. He had 3 makes shift barges made of plywood that floated when launched in the pond behind their house. Each barge was jammed pack with fireworks all wired with a single wick. So the premise was to light it, push it out into the pond, and stand back! Everything went off perfectly and we had a great time!

Thanks Larry and Mary!

A day at the playground...

2007-07-22T22:08:00.000-05:00

This weekend we went to our favorite park. Ava loves the slides, swings and tire. She is not scared and even went on the Big Girl slides.

Just being goofy...

2007-07-20T00:13:00.000-05:00

Someone else's kid... (encouraged by Daddy of course)

Sell a bike, buy a bike...

2007-07-20T00:03:00.000-05:00

With the babies on the way, my motorcycle touring days will be limited to quick trips to the store for diapers. So I decided to sell my beloved Beemer. A back-up guitarist in Deana Carter's band drove up from Nashville to purchase the bike. A moto-head can not go without NO bike at all so I picked up this vintage 1981 Honda CB 750 nighthawk. After a quick paint job, some parts removal, and couple mods, I made it into an old skool cafe racer, "Uncle Jon" style.

More Pool!

2007-07-19T23:57:00.001-05:00

Granny bought Ava a new pool with a slide. She loves it!

Home Depot...

2007-07-19T23:51:00.000-05:00

The first Saturday of every month, HomeDepot has a free workshop for kids to build simple wood projects. Ava and I have gone 5 months in a row now and she has become quite the carpenter. As Dad says, "teach them early". Her friend Wes also joined us this month and we built treasure boxes.

Baby Shower in-a-box...

2007-07-19T23:35:00.001-05:00

Mary and Ron came out to visit and surprised us with a "Baby Shower in a box" sent from everyone in Indiana. We were so surprised. Everyone decorated a burp cloth and we also got very cool Purdue outfits from Aunt Laurie.

4th of July Fest!

2007-07-19T23:25:00.001-05:00

We attended the local 4th of July fest. Ava was lucky enough to meet her friend Campbell there to go on the rides with. Merry-Go-Round, no problem. Roller coaster, no problem... well until it started moving. Well at least she tried! We had funnel cakes, listened to the music, and even rode a pony.

Hangin in the Hood...

2007-07-19T23:12:00.001-05:00

Grandma and Grandpa visited us and we hung out all weekend around the house. We had a neighborhood party and shot off fireworks early to prepare for the 4th. Ava had her first motorcycle date on a chopper with Connor.

Pool Time!

2007-07-19T22:08:00.001-05:00

Ava is a fish. She is very adventurous in the water. She jumps right in, floats on her back, and likes to spalsh and go under water!

Yard Sale!

2007-07-19T22:05:00.001-05:00

As we tried to clear out our previously used items (junk) at a neighborhood yard sale, Ava tried to cash in on selling water. She did have a couple takers but mostly like trying on the shoes that were for sale.

Tubie time...

2007-07-19T18:27:00.002-05:00

Ava LOVES taking tubbies and we have trouble getting her out of the tub.