Sunday, June 28, 2009

In defense of the gold dress...


My dearest Katie,

Even after all these years I can only assume that you have commented (or intended to) on the gold dress that you wore for our wedding. Well, I may be on a camping trip but that won't stop me from telling you that you were beautiful. Thanks to the "scheduled posts" technology, here is my proof...fuzzy picture or not (my god, give me a break, I was married prior to digital photography!) you were hot (and not just because it was nearly 100 degrees outside...)


Love,
Michelle

Saturday, June 27, 2009

And many more....

Here is to 12 years of marriage and many more to come...


"Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous, or conceited, or proud, or provoked; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is pleased with the truth. Love never gives up; its faith, hope and patience never fail."




This was the text of our "thank you" cards and a verse used in our wedding ceremony held at the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas (photo, left)
at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN at 6pm in the evening on Friday, June 27, 1997.Add Image


After 5 years of dating, at ages 22 and 24 we felt more than ready to be a blushing bride and a handsome groom, supported by the friends and family of our wedding party.


We are fortunate that after more than a decade of marriage, we still feel like that bride and groom. I love you!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Father's Day fun

Our Father's day festivities were spread out throughout the week.

We started out with a Father's Day T-Ball game coordinated by Collin's daycare providers that Wednesday. A song started things out on the right note, then the kids and their parents were set loose on the field. Overall the kids did well. It was Collin's first time on a baseball field, although we do have a bat and ball at home. After a little coaching (right) about actually having to let go of the bat to run and stand on each of the "big, white, puffy" bases, he did well. The T-ball game was followed by a local block party (left) hosted at the church/daycare parking lot with a lot of food, kids games and music and was free for families enrolled in the daycare
























Saturday afternoon we attended a graduation party, and after the official party ended the "real" party began, including time in the backyard swimming pool for Collin and the other kids. The party was hosted by the Neumann family and was heavily attended by a lot of Doug's golf buddies, so I think we can safely say that it can be counted as a "happy daddy" activity too.

On Sunday our plans for a day at Bunker Hills water park were postponed due to the weather. Instead, a trip to Cabella's in Rogers gave us all the fishing and camping prep time we need before we head for a family camping trip up north this weekend. It is about a four hour drive to a very secluded individual camp site (as in no cell coverage, no running water, etc.) and we are using a tent as a family with a child for the first time; 3 days, 2 nights if all goes well. It was a great outing to get us in the mood for this upcoming adventure!

We hope you all enjoyed your Father's Day too!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day...
Here's to the Fathers...
(Mitch Albom, 1996, The Detroit News)
Here's to the fathers, who always begin
on the outside of children, but looking in.
Such curious men snapping cameras like mad,
recording the moment, they turn into "Dad."

Here's to the fathers, who put in their time,
who don't say to mothers "that's your job, not mine".
Who wipe chins and noses and never say "won't"
who do with the diapers, what some fathers don't.

Here's to the fathers who manage to stay
when so many fathers are turning away.
When so many run, leaving families to rot,
here, then, a cheer, for those who do not.

Here's to the fathers whose big money dreams
die in the corner while their baby screams.
And yet without anger, dread or regrets,
they comfort the child, hold it close to their chests.

And as the child grows, they grow with it too,
learning a depth that they never knew.
And soon they are older, their hair slightly gone,
chasing two children around the front lawn.

Or car-pooling teams to Little League games,
buying them hamburgers after it rains.
They mend broken dolls and fix broken wheels,
they cringe when their daughters try their first pair of heels.

They reach in their pockets, but never keep count,
they pay dearly for parenthood-awful amounts
They postpone their plans to sail across seas,
instead they sing "Barney" and bandage skinned knees.

Here's to the fathers who get off the phone
to hear their sons practice their new saxophone.
Who leave work to see their daughter's recital
Here's to the heroes, who work without title.

For this is a world now full of neglect,
with everyday stories of lives that are wrecked.
Of fatherless children who take up with guns
to kill other children of fatherless sons.

Divorce shattered families, childhood's derailed,
mothers still waiting for checks still un-mailed
You wonder what wrongs these souls ever did
to make a grown man turn away from his kids.

So here's to the fathers who won't compromise
who see a light shining in their children's eyes
And feel a rare glow as if from a gem
and know that once someone saw this glow in them.

For all the good boys they have raised in the world,
for all the examples they set for their girls
For all the loved children whose stories they'll tell
Here's to the fathers that taught them so well.
Happy Father's Day!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

A Hockey Habit

Anyone know of any good Hockey Anonymous programs out there? Seriously, Collin has a daily habit. An intervention is in order.

Since watching his cousin Dylan's hockey game this winter, he has been hooked. I guess the experts are right, it only takes one time to become an addict.

Similar to golf, he loves anything hockey. He was really excited when a Sports Illustrated magazine came in the mail (right) and had this hockey article in it.

Of course, you can't count on something as random as a magazine subscription to get your fix. So, a book from the library (left) is always sure to please. I now know that Wayne Gretzky is "The Great One" and know more about the history of the Stanley Cup then I ever hoped to know.

We also have a hockey game taped on the TIVO for his immediate viewing pleasure. (video: Can beer and pretzels be far behind?)It's a game from the High School finals that was televised and had kept him mesmerized at the time. He is no longer so "passive" while watching and has become quite the super fan as you can see in the video. Apparently even though he has watched this game about a million times, it just keeps getting more exciting.




I do suppose we enable him. It is just so surprising since that was not a sport we thought would ever be in our lives. And, at least for now, he is genuinely so excited about it! Hmmmm...perhaps we need the program?....

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Greetings from Florida

No, we did not go to Florida. Florida came to us!

My dad and his wife Linda came to visit us at the end of May. It was a full trip as they made the rounds to various relatives and friends in Minnesota during this rare trip back to the Midwest.




Collin loved spending time with them. A new remote control car (left) and a trip to Como zoo were all great fun, although I don't know if anything compared to just hanging out at home, playing catch, kicking the soccer ball and jumping together on the air mattress!

Thanks for the great visit. I suppose this means that it is our turn to visit Florida next!

Monday, June 8, 2009

On the way to an MBA...

Time for me to "log some blog time" about the other man in my life. Some congratulations are in order!

This spring Doug started his MBA program at Concordia in St. Paul. Although it has taken our family some time to learn how to balance this new aspect of our life, overall it is going well. Can't complain too much...he got an "A" on his first class and is currently holding onto an "A" in his second class of the program. It is supposedly one of the most rigorous courses of the program, so we are excited it is going so well.

I spend a lot of time on-line blogging and bragging about Collin as all doting mothers do about their children; it is about time that Doug got his share of blog time too!
Congratulations, Doug! I am so proud of you.