Hippie Girl

C'mon people, now smile on your brother, ev'ry-body get together, try to love one another right now.
Chet Powers/Youngbloods

Rylee went to a YW/YM end of year decades party this past week. She is into the peace symbol and usually good example of "peace and love" so it makes sense that she picked the sixties as her decade.

Peace out!

Mothers

My mom

Kim's mom

The holiest words my tongue can frame,

The noblest thoughts my soul can claim,

Unworthy are to praise the name

More precious than all other.

An infant, when her love first came,

A man, I find it still the same,

Reverently I breathe her name,

The blessed name of mother

I am grateful for a gentle, soft-spoken mother. She has given me and my brothers not a fortune of finance but, rather, a heritage of wealth in example, in sacrifice, in obedience. I always know that my mother loves me and that her greatest treasure is her eternal family.

I love you mom!

Marley and Me

I am so excited for this new movie Marley and Me. It is based on the book of the same name. If you have not read the book or seen the trailers you have been living under a rock. First, Jen Aniston is in it (my girl crush). Then Owen Wilson (funny) and of course there is a yellow lab (the worlds best or in this case worst dog).

Our family loves our yellow lab so much so you can imagine how excited we all are to see this movie. I hope Big Grandma and Big Grandpa are ok with seeing this movie first. LOL.

Blizzard possible over much of Minnesota... oh goodie

So, one of the great joys of living here is of course the balmy winters. I mean who could give this up? Winds are expected to pick up tonight and then we can expect between 6" to a foot of snow. My hope is that it will miss us. But there is no escaping the high temps we are expecting all week. Can you say 1 degree with a windchill of -30. REALLY?! This is supposed to be the coldest winter since 2000. For those that remember, that was the year we moved here. Tis the season to be jolly.

Christmas Past

Poor Gunnar

Poor Gunnar had to go to the vet today. He has an ear infection and other maladies that are too delicate to mention. So, as part of his treatment, he is on a strict food alergy diet for the next 8 to 10 weeks. That is correct. 8 TO 10 WEEKS. Special food, special treats! We have to be very care to not even let any crumbs get on the floor that he might pick up. OK, now to be honest this part does not upset me. Because my family loves this dog so much that they might actually pick up after themselves if they know it will help Gunnar. Yea!!! A tidy kitchen! Anyway, we love our buddy so we will do whatever we have to to keep him healthy and happy.

I LOVE FAMILY

Thanks to my sisters in law(Chris & Christine) for helping me with my cute background.

Thanks girls!!!

We are Thankful

We had the most wonderful Thanksgiving. We were supposed to have Thanksgiving with friends this years but plans changed. So, that meant Thanksgiving would just be the four of us. I will tell you that even though there was only four of us that does not mean that we scaled down this feast either. Oh no, because that would be silly.

It was the most wonderful day. I got up early to fix the guys butterbraid bread before the Turkey bowl (tradition). Then I started the preparations.

Once Rylee got up she helped and we watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade while we worked in the kitchen. Once the guys got home they finished putting the lights on the house. Thanksgiving is our official "Lights On".

Dinner came together beautifully. While I was at the gym on Tuesday or Wednesay I was Watching Oprah and she had Christine Ferrari (spelling?). Anyway, she was making a Thanksgiving turkey marinade that sounded really good. So, since we were alone I thought "why not". Oh my goodness! It was Delicious! I highly reccomend it. Oprah.com, check it out.

Our dinner was so good and our conversation was wonderful! We each said what we were thankful for and I of course broke down into tears. I am such a baby. I just love my family. Not just my immediate family but my extended family.

TJ pored the "wine".

We even let buddy join the feast. We added turkey and carrots to his kibble. He is such a good boy. Asking him to sit for this picture while the scent of that delicious food was in front of him was pure torture.
You know what happens to humans after they eat turkey... well I am not lying, not two minutes after he licked his bowl clean he feel fast asleep. LOL!

This is Miss Rylee and Gunnar in front of the fire while the rest of us were watching the Bond Marathon.

2008 Turkey Bowl

Blaine Ward Girls Win Multi Stake Volleyball Championship

Blaine in the Prep Bowl

In four years of Blaine football the prep bowl was never in the cards for TJ. So, this is bittersweet for him to see his school finally go to the prep bowl. Blaine knocked off two nationally ranked teams to get to this point. The championship game is the day after Thanksgiving and will be played at the Metrodome. Go Bengals!

California Dreamin'

Magazine Covers

HI,
SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF OUR BLOG TO VIEW SOME AWESOME MAGAZINE COVERS.

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble

Thanksgiving dinner will be good this year. Seriously, these turkeys walk through are yard everyday at this time of year. Rylee used to call them "naked turkeys" because their feathers were not out.

Gorgeous Ghoulies

Rylee and her best bud Megan went to a party dressed as these gorgeous ghouls. After their party, they went to the Blaine Football section finals.

Blaine beat Coon Rapids 24 -21. On to state.

Who says big boys can't dress up?

Will the real Dark Knight please stand up?

TJ went to the Young Adult dance with Luke Lehman. While there TJ made a new friend, none other than the Timberwolves Mark Madson. We are hoping for a friendship to bloom and maybe score some centercourt seats againsts the Jazz.

Other highlights to his evening include coming in second in the pie eating contest.

8 Days Till the Happiest Place on Earth

WE ARE SO EXCITED!!!! THIS WEEK BETTER GO BY FAST!!!

Look who is finally excited for Disneyland

Apple Orchard

Last Saturday we went to an apple orchard in White Bear Lake with the Bennetts (I know shocking, we almost never hang out with them). Anyway, the kids picked out pumpkins in this HUGE pumpkin patch, then we went into their store and bought a ton of apple delights.

Princess Surprise Party

Some may think I am a little long in the tooth to have a princess party... but then you must not know me very well. LOL!!!

My sweet husband and Dorothea plotted, yes I said plotted because I don't like secrets( I must have control at all times), to give me a surprise party. But not just any surprise party, a Princess surprise party and not just any princess my favorite princess Cinderella.

It was great. Kim told me he was taking me to a park to boil shrimp (not fun). Then we drove to the Bennetts and he said oh they are coming too. But really as you can all guess that was his diabolical plot. Oh he is so tricky. We had Steak, shrimp, crab legs, twice baked potatoes, salad, homemade bread and cake and ice cream. Dorothea decorated the house so cute and it was so much fun. But the best part of the whole evening was when Crane got down on his knees and bowed to me. If only we had a picture. I do have witnesses.