Sunday, August 31, 2008

Happy Birthday to me!

So, I'm 38 today. Just another year closer to the big 4-0. It's funny, but I remember my parents being this age, and they just seemed so much more, more...mature and knowledgeable than I feel.

But getting older is a good thing. After all, look what the alternative is!

I saw this fun link on Christie's blog. Did you know that the #1 song on the day I was born was "War" by Edwin Starr?

See! I knew I was destined from birth to be a peace-loving Democrat:)

Friday, August 29, 2008

Last days of summer...

This past week, we've been trying to squish a few last moments of summer fun from the days remaining until school starts. Usually around the end of August, I get a bad case of we-didn't-do-enough-fun-stuff guilt. But today, as I take inventory on the past 3 months, we actually did a LOT of fun things and made great memories along the way, too. I'm sure it's just the fact that the summer blew by in the blink of an eye. Or at least that way I'm trying to tell myself!

Some neighbor kids decided to have a camp-out this week in a couple tents in our back yard. The picture here shows only a part of the whole crew. I think there were nine total. Other than a few warnings for noise violation from their parents, the night went pretty good until 4:30 am when a thunderstorm rolled in. Thanks to Candace and Varen for running out at the first boom of thunder, some of the kids made it home. The others luckily made in into our living room. It's funny how it took the sound of giggling 10 yr olds to wake me at 5:30 am, never mind the roaring thunder and down pouring rain.






We've also had several swim club gatherings, parties, and an end-of-the-year banquet. One of the days we went to Bunker Beach with a few of the families. They have a really great wave pool where the kids spent most of their time. We all had a blast and absolutely enjoyed the perfect August afternoon weather.


This weekend, Bill and I are going away. But I can't tell you much more than that, because I don't know! It's a surprise!!

We've decided to resume our annual alternating Surprise Anniversary Weekend Vacation, where one of us plans a weekend away without telling the other one anything about it. In the past, these trips have always been either local or no more than a few hours away. We've done places like Grand Marias, Bayfield, Stillwater, and Door County, WI. I think we stopped doing the surprise-thing when I planned a trip to Chicago a few years ago and decided that it was too far and required too much planning to pull off a surprise.

So anyway, it's Bill's turn this year. Do you know how hard it is to pack for a weekend trip when you don't know where you're going????

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Is this a Minnesota thing?

This was the front door view at a relatively big gathering that we attended a few weeks ago. This instantly made me think of my friend Kelly. One distinct thing I learned about Kelly shortly after I met her, was that she thought the ritual of "The Gathering of the Shoes" was really funny. Not so much funny-ha-ha, but funny-peculiar.

Keep in mind, this picture was taken on a perfectly dry, sunny day in the middle of summer. No rain. No mud. No slush or snow. No dog poop spattering the front step.

Kelly has lived in many places throughout her life, and I think she always just chalked this strange occurrence up as "a Minnesota thing".

I think she might be right. I've lived in Minnesota for so long, it's kinda hard to remember what life was like before we moved to Mosquitoland; but I'm pretty sure we never did this growing up in SD. And I know it didn't ever happen in Kansas or Florida or Connecticut. Hmmm, maybe in Wisconsin though.

So, I'm guessing that if you have no idea why I'm dedicating an entire post to foyer shoe depositories, your probably a native Minnesotan. Otherwise, you might just think it's as strange as Kelly did.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Hold on...puberty ahead

In an attempt at being a Good Samaritan to all of you with daughters nearing puberty, I thought I’d send this list of warning signs from my recent first-hand experience.

You know, so you can hold on and brace yourselves.


  1. Her bedroom door is usually closed with Pop-Rock music blaring from within
  2. Your straightening iron and other hair tools keep disappearing
  3. You find make-up powder all over your sink and covering your white towels
  4. She brushes her teeth three times a day without being told and you find used Crest Whitestrips lying near the bathroom garbage
  5. Hairbrushes are strewn strategically throughout the house
  6. Your ‘fighting” over who gets to read the third book in the Twilight series first when the paperback version comes out
  7. The cordless phones are “hiding” and the batteries are always low
  8. Hollister and Abercrombie have taken over her closet
  9. You inadvertently find yourself humming songs by Rihanna, Jesse McCartney and the Jonas Brothers and you have no idea who these people are
  10. She is almost as hormonal as you are...and it's driving the men in your house right to the brink.


All I can say is, “God help us.”




Monday, August 11, 2008

Swim Slideshow

As you may know, I love Photoshop almost as much as I love taking pictures. So these little slideshow projects for the kids' swim team are perfect for me. I put together this video from a bunch of photos I took at finals in Winona a few weeks ago as well as a few donated by other swim-families.

I just love how this all came together, and this song ROCKS!

...and so do all these kids!





OK, OK. I know you might be getting tired of all these swim-related posts of late; but I promise - after this one, you won't have to read about anything aquatic on this blog for at least 5 weeks.

Now I'll just have to subject you to random thoughts, boring drivel, and possibly more worthless information about birds.

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

State Meet and a Reunion

What a great weekend in Rochester! Of course, anytime you mix my kids, a hotel, a pool, and a bunch of friends together, it's going to be fun. We left Friday morning to be at the pool by that afternoon so the 10 & under girls relay team could practice/warm-up and cheer on their teammate Carly who swam in 3 individual events that day.

Here is Maddie's handiwork on our van:





Here is Paige, Carly, Anya and Maddie with Coach Terri and Coach Michelle before the start. They swam in the 10 & under girls 200 Medley and 200 Freestyle Relays.

They actually finished first in their heat in both relays and in the top 16 overall (12th and 14th, I think) in both which allowed them to earn points for the Sea Devils Team! Very cool!!!

Here's Maddie getting ready for her relay start as she's anchoring the 200 Medley Relay on Saturday.
After swimming this one, Maddie's split was unofficially only 0.8 seconds from a Champ time, so she got to lead off in the Freestyle Relay the next day for another shot an on official time. Although it was a good, fast swim - it was just not the day for that elusive time.

Overall, it was an amazing experience for both Will and Maddie. Yesterday morning we woke up for the first time in a long, long time and didn't have to rush up to the pool. But guess what they ended up doing?

First, they made some dry-land stations in the basement, worked out and ran/walked on the treadmill. Then in the afternoon they went with some friends to open swim at the middle school pool (the same one they've "lived" at day and day out for the past year), and then they drug their dad up to the same pool for lap swim last night for a little work-out and practice on starts and turns.

Motivated? Crazy? Determined? Obsessed?

I'm not sure.



Other than the Summer State Swim Meet, Bill also had his 20 year Mayo High School reunion this past weekend. He had a lot of fun catching up with some people has hasn't seen in a very long time. I joined him on Saturday night and actually met some secret blog-lurkers! (Hi, all!!!)

And I know it sounds pathetic, but we have no pictures. Not one single one. Nada. Zip.

So, I've decided that in the spirit of remembrance and honor to the year 1988, I wanted to share his high school graduation picture with you. But since I couldn't find it - here are some others instead...

Bill and Neil

Bill and Val

Scott and Bill



OK, Neil, Scott and Val - now that I've posted pictures of you - you're required to actually comment... :)

Monday, August 04, 2008

Meet my newest nephew...

He's here!!

Beckett August was born yesterday afternoon in Seattle. Jill and Leif are doing fine; Campbelle and Christian are excited to have a new brother. Beckett had to spend the night in the NICU since his blood sugar was a little low - but it sounds like it's now stable and they're waiting for the doctor to round to see how long he'll need to stay.

Love you guys!!!



Man, I just want to kiss those cheeks.