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Having grown up on a dairy farm, Mike Lauer is about as ‘Wisconsin’ as it comes.  Mike’s musical influences started at an early age as the 7^thof 8 musical siblings whose father has played in bands since the early 60s.  Those early influences included polkas, waltzes, and other ‘oldies’ with Dad on the accordion or his Fender 62’ Strad bass, and big brothers on saxophone, trumpet, and tuba. 

In addition to the obligatory school musical programs including concert and jazz bands, musicals, and swing choir, Mike began playing sax and singing semi-professionally as a teenager in the early 90s.  In 1995, when Mike had other plans for life, a friend asked him to sit in on a few rehearsals with the group that would eventually become Boogie and the YoYoz. 

In Boogie and the YoYoz, Mike sang and played the saxophone along with other instruments like harmonica, Latin percussion, and yes, the tambourine.  His choreographed dance moves and other on-stage antics quickly earned him the nickname, Side Show Mike.  Needless to say, Mike loves the stage.  While touring with Boogie and the YoYoz, Mike had the opportunity to open top names like ZZ Top, REO Speed Wagon, Blues Traveler and play in front of crowds ranging from 10 to 5,000 and as much as 20,000 people.  Mike finished out the 90s with Boogie and the YoYoz, but left in late 1999 to “settle down and start a family.”  He never strayed far from the stage, though, and has had many a cameo with Boogie and the YoYoz over the years.

In 2008, Mike had the opportunity to taste his true dream of becoming an actor when he was cast in Public Enemiesstarring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale.  When reflecting on his experience of filming on an airport runway for 12 hours in sleet and 40 degree temperatures, Mike quips “I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”  You might say he was ‘bitten by the bug.’  Since 2008, Mike has acted in several short films, and has even been cast in another feature length film called Too Many Sundays that is scheduled to start filming in November of 2010. 

In addition to his budding acting career, Mike also continues to nurture his love for music.  He currently plays in a big band jazz band called the HASband that’s stacked full of local talent.  While the band does not have the crowds and accolades of his former rock n’ roll glory, they also don’t have the rigor of playing close to 100 shows a year.  When asked, Mike will tell you that “4 to 5 shows a year is about as much as I want these days.”

“I am honored to have been asked to judge DARE to Battle.  Winnebago County DARE is doing more than a fundraiser, they’re reaching out to the community to share their message.  Children get mixed messages from pop-culture influences where family values tend to be downplayed and drugs and alcohol are, at best made light of, and at worst glorified.  DARE to Battle is also influenced by pop-culture, but it is a great example of how pop-culture can be celebrated in a drug and alcohol free, family friendly environment… and still be COOL!  I’m looking forward to hearing and judging some awesome bands on September 18 at the Leach Amphitheater in Oshkosh.”

-          Mike Lauer

1. 1. Isaiah killed the cat!!  I did not!  He did Mommy – I heard air come out! 
2. 2. I want to go live with the Mathews.  (that’s the neighbor’s house)
3. 3. A few weeks ago, we had some friends over for dinner.  We asked them what they’d like to drink, and Harrison proudly announced “we have a beer fridge in the basement!”
4. 4. Mommy!  Jillian almost just said humpback whale!  She said “humm…..”

And here are a few photo highlights:

Isaiah was really excited last week when he realized his tooth was really loose.  He asked me all afternoon what he could do to get it out, and was feeling a little discouraged after eating an apple with no success on the tooth.  He pressed on though, and soon enough it popped right out!  He was so excited, but then I think he was a little freaked out by the taste of blood in his mouth.  I think this picture might show that surprise in his eyes! 

 

 

 

 

It’s really kind of difficult to get them to all look in the same direction at the same time with normal looking smiles and open eyes…..this is as close as we got, but I think you’ll get the idea.  Harrison’s “chicky” is still hanging around, although he has lost his chirper, and Isaiah and Blue Bear are still buds, even after Blue Bear’s almost two year disappearance.  Jillian hasn’t latched on to anything yet except her brothers – this summer is going to be quite a treat!!

 

 

 

 

 

Jillian was happy as a clam in her walker, newly moved up from the basement, and Harrison was busy doing some coloring.  I thought I had a few quick moments, so I ran to the bathroom assuming everything would be fine.  I came out to find a totally empty kitchen and an awfully quiet house.  After calling Harrison’s name a few times, he yelled back that he was in the living room giving Jillian a ride!  It appears that both of them enjoyed the ride….I did not enjoy the heart attack. 

I turned on the oven to preheat it for our fabulous Sunday night pizza.  Unfortunately, I completely forgot that I made caramel rolls in the oven on Christmas Day, and the caramel oozed all over in the bottom of the oven.  Needless to say, it probably got somewhere close to the 400 mark, and there were flames in the bottom of the oven.   As I stood in awe with Jillian in my arms, Mike reminded me that we should probably do something about it rather than just stare at it.  Blow it Out.  Success!  Blow it Out.  Success Again!  Douse it with water….make the cat run screaming across the kitchen….make the boys probably pee a little…..Mom and Jillian standing by…..All Success!  So we thought it was a good time to talk about fire safety.  Boys, if you ever hear the smoke detector (which is now blaring) and mom and dad aren’t home, what do you do?  Isaiah:  Call the Fire Department!  Call 911.  Do we have to get out of the house now?

Us:  No , we don’t have to get out now….but if there was a real fire, it would be a great idea to get out and call the fire department. 

Harrison:  Call 1-1-9!  Roll Stop and Drop!!

All of us….even Isaiah:  Laughing.

Harry gets an A+ for effort!!

The year started great with a trip to Peru
Translating and sweating, but with quite a crew
We helped so many in just a few days
God wouldn’t have had it a different way.

What else we did, I don’t exactly recall
But I know it was fun and exciting for all!
The boys waited anxiously for 9 months to pass
For the baby to be born – a girl, at last!

Isaiah started baseball, and a found a new love
But it’s football he dreams of, and not the glove.
He also started kindergarten at Lakeview School
He loves every minute, and thinks it is cool.

Harrison is still silly, funny and great
Although when you’re with him, you don’t know your fate
A tiger, a leopard, a dinosaur, a friend
These are all things he likes to pretend.

Jillian Meredith – It’s A Girl!  They exclaimed
we laughed and we cried at the news proclaimed. 
Daddy was quick to paint her room brown and pink.
In love with his daughter, if I ever did think. 

Mike is working hard to keep everything going
Through work, home, and fun his spirit is showing
He wrestles with his boys and gives kisses to his girls
He even surprised Mommy with a new set of pearls. 

And then there is me – what more can I say? 
My family is who I am and I like it that way
After deciding to chase the next chapter in my life
I am leaving my job to be a wife.
A mom and a friend I will continue to be
To many I love, but won’t as much see.
So how do I share such news with you all?
With Social Media of Course, perhaps a Tweet Up at the mall.
On Facebook, on MySpace, on Mashable and Flickr
On Delicious on Digg, maybe Technorati Or Twitter.
I am laughing hysterically at my own jokes
But listen up folks, if you like what you read
Leave us a note with some kind of lead. 
We would love to see you and hear all your stories
Merry Christmas to all – To God be the Glory!

Day 5 started at 5:22 – another two minutes!  This morning I accomplished a feat not soon to be repeated.  I got all the kids up, dressed, fed, and made it to Heart of a Child at exactly 8:00, though I still had on the same pair of underwear I was wearing the day before.  8:00 was a very important time, because that’s when the bus left to go on the field trip to The Little Farmer.  Sure enough, when we got to Heart of  Child, there was the bus, and everyone was getting on board.  When informed of this Isaiah asked in consternation, “Dad, why are you so slow?”  To which I responded with fits of laughter.

Of course Jillian didn’t go on the field trip, but she wasn’t sad.  She got to spend the day taking endless rides in her favorite swing and getting a spa treatment.  Lately Jillian has had some major cradle cap.  Her head was so scaly, she was starting to look like a lizard.  So, I have to give kudos to Ms. Wendy at Heart of a Child for clearing it up with a two day spa treatment that must have included steel wool. 

After dinner, I was flipping through the channels on TV, when Isaiah blurted out “hey a corvette!”  Sure enough, their was a show on the National Geographic channel about how corvette’s are manufactured.  The boys thought that was pretty cool, so we watched it.  Afterword, Isaiah noted “when I grow up, I want to make corvettes.” 

Tonight after putting Jillian down for one of her cat naps, I went to tuck in Harrison (Isaiah was fast asleep).  When I laid down next to him, he casually noted that “Wally has a laser.”  Wally…?  Who’s this Wally, and what does he dowith his laser?  So, I asked “who’s Wally?”  Harrison looked at me incredulously, and replied “Wally!” with a tone that insinuated I was an idiot for not knowing who Wally was.  Then he went on to say that “Eve has a gun.  Eve is a girl.  She has blue eyes.”  I was confused and concerned.  It sounded like Bonnie and Clyde reincarnate.  But then it occurred to me.  He was talking about WALL-E. 

Jillian burps like a man!  Meredith should be proud.

We all miss Mommy, especially me.  We can’t wait to see her when she comes home tomorrow.