1800CentreSquare

weekEnd Review

2010-08-22T21:34:00.000-05:00

Oh! I have been SO bad about blogging this summer. Our schedule changed and my business got busy and I got out of a habit barely formed anyway! One of the things we enjoyed most this summer was the membership my parents bought us for our public pool. They had a lap swim in the early evening followed by a family swim session. Jeff especially enjoyed the lap swim time. The boys often joined

Delicious Fruit & Vegetable Dip

2010-07-24T08:17:00.001-05:00

a delicious treat from my friend, Janelle (Louisville, KY): 1/2 cup peanut butter 1 cup vanilla yogurt 1/2 T honey That's it. Put all ingredients into a food processor and blend until smooth. (Tip: If you lightly spray measuring cups/spoons with nonstick cooking spray before you put peanut butter or honey in them, they come out a lot easier.) You could double this recipe for a crowd

wordless wednesday: july backyard

2010-07-14T10:17:00.000-05:00

I was sitting in the swing outside the back door, bare feet in the sun, relaxing and enjoying a good book when I noticed the enormous weed in the fire ring. First, I considered how long it's been since we've had a fire and how many we planned to have this summer and that it is July already. Secondly, I mused about how darn Big that thistle is and how hard it will be to pull and how easy it

wordless wednesday: tall nate

2010-07-07T15:03:00.000-05:00

Fabulous Fourth

2010-07-06T11:54:00.002-05:00

For the 1st time in a long time, I didn't take a single picture on the 4th. Not a one. And didn't make many plans. Didn't carry many out either. Didn't even insist on reading the Declaration of Independence or making my kids do it. ~Ha! That's funny. Get it?~ I just realized I didn't even break out our copy of the Declaration (wonder where it is... one advantage of an annual national

weekEnd

2010-07-02T10:13:00.002-05:00

We've been out to the camp every weekend since Jamie left to go to work at Pine Haven right after graduation the first weekend of June! Kathryn took her out. Then we took Nate out for camp. Then we all went out for an overnight to pick up Nate and drop off Alex. Then Jeff went out to get Alex. We'll go out Sunday to bring Jamie home for a week (YAY!) and back out next weekend to take her back

wordless wednesday: queen of the canteen

2010-06-29T23:01:00.000-05:00

Jamie on the other side of the canteen window at Pine Haven. She just looks like she belongs there! PHCA, June 2010

The Poached Egg - Daily Quote

2010-06-27T08:54:00.000-05:00

(I'm just wondering how this reblogging tool works.)This John Newton quote is one of my most favorites ever:The Poached Egg - Daily Quote

Three Beautiful Things

2010-06-25T06:32:00.000-05:00

1. Choice: I had one of those tough working-for-yourself-at-home days yesterday. Wondering what I'm doing and if I'm half out of my mind. Mostly I just needed to get down to taking care of some of the not-as-fun, self-discipline, work-your-plan stuff. In the midst, I looked around and realized that I was sitting in my big bedroom/temporary office with not one, for FOUR windows letting

on the menu

2010-06-24T15:44:00.000-05:00

Isn't it amazing how the seasons - of weather & of life - break our routines, no matter how small and cause us to regroup, re-evaluate and reorder our little worlds? I used to (and still too often) rant and rail about little chaos-es these seasons bring with them. How I feel so out of sorts, so at odds and ends, just trying to find my way through the week in the midst of all the wreckage of my

wordless wednesday: little cabin

2010-06-23T10:37:00.010-05:00

I miss this cute little cabin at Riverside Point Resort in Park Rapids. We got away Saturday to spend the night between picking Nate up from camp Saturday morning and dropping Alex off Sunday afternoon. We enjoyed paddleboat rides around Fishhook Lake and sitting in the swing just doing nothing but being together. The resort allows pets so Mia was able to join us. Jamie even got an overnight

Summer Sizzle or Drizzle? The Trilogy Begins: June Movie Lineup

2010-06-13T08:45:00.001-05:00

JUNE The heat is on as the first REAL Summer Blockbuster Month begins ACTION/ THRILLERS Knight and Day - Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz are teamed together in this Action flick with some romance and supposed humor thrown. Tom rocks the action movies and Cameron can actually bring it too so this has the potential to be good, but do they have any on screen chemistry? It's questionable since they

wordless wednesday: nate vs the funnel cake

2010-06-09T15:17:00.001-05:00

Nate VS The Funnel Cake at RibFest 2010 (not quite sure who won!)

Favorite New Recipe

2010-06-09T09:23:00.004-05:00

We made some yummy stuff last week while my parents were here - and of course, for Jamie's Open House and Special Dinner. One of our new favorites (unanimously approved!) is Greek Burgers. Can't wait to make them again! 1 pkg hamburger buns1 - 2 pounds ground turkey For each pound of ground turkey add:1/2 c mayo2 ts curry powder2 oz crumbled feta1/4 ts salt Toppings:1 - 1 1/2 cups spinach

All is Not LOST

2010-06-06T07:55:00.004-05:00

Having been a "Lostie" for years, I was both a bit sad to see the end of one of television's most innovative shows in a long time and a bit relieved to finally get some answers to all the bizarreness of the island and the Lostaways over the past six years. The two and a half hour LOST retrospective and series finale did answer some questions about the whole LOST legacy but as usual left many

weekEnd: end of May

2010-05-30T20:31:00.004-05:00

It's been a couple weeks since my last blog... and I was doing so well, too! Our weather has had it's ups and downs the last week. Hot & humid days in the extreme with temps over 90. Then a cool down last night - today's high more than 20 degrees cooler than yesterdays! MUCH more comfortable with drier air and temps in the 70s. Sunshine and lovely. Planted some annuals last week which

wordless wednesday: siblings

2010-05-26T22:22:00.000-05:00

Nate, Jamie & AlexSenior Honor's Orchestra ConcertMay 25, 2010

Iron Man 2 Review

2010-05-22T21:50:00.003-05:00

So I went to see Iron Man 2 on my birthday and here are my thoughts . . . First of all, one MUST remember this is a sequel so it always looses something from the first movie in the series. Despite this, I thought Iron Man 2 was a pretty decent thrill ride. Robert Downey Jr and Gwyneth Paltrow reprized their roles as Tony Stark and Pepper Potts and do a bang up job. Don Cheadle did a good job

wordless wednesday: jamie balloon head

2010-05-19T09:14:00.001-05:00

Jamie Balloon HeadGrandma Knick's HouseJanuary 2003

weekEnd and menu monday

2010-05-17T10:13:00.003-05:00

I think I've been behind on blog posts this (last) week since I posted my Wordless Wednesday picture on Thursday and didn't realize it till Friday!! Jobs, Jobs, Jobs! Last week was good for employment in our family. Kathryn now has TWO (2) jobs - one at Strategic Fundraising. She's raising money for the Republican Party which is both funny and hopeful for some members of our family given her

Dancing With The Stars S10 Week 8 Quickcap

2010-05-14T19:29:00.006-05:00

DWTS Season 10 is closing in on the finale as Week 8 finished this past week. TWO dances were required from the remaining celebrity contenders and while some were able to step up to the challenge, others not so much.Nicole and Evan still remain the top of the leader board, performing well and dominating the scores, with Erin closing in on them. Chad Ocho received the red light joining Niecy

wordless wednesday

2010-05-13T11:54:00.001-05:00

menu monday

2010-05-10T09:36:00.000-05:00

Planning for another delicious week - and trying to catch up with our E-Mealz plans a little! The "Shrimp Creole" recipe was not our favorite thing. Don't know if it was the dish or just the version, but the entire household was less than thrilled. (crossing that one off the list) Jeff's crepes yesterday - especially the chicken ones with cheese sauce? Highest raves across the board! My

Senior Moments

2010-05-09T13:47:00.002-05:00

Today is the day! Completing the mailing list and addressing the envelops and finalizing the senior picture for printing. Of course now she's addressing and I'm blogging and she's wondering what the heck just happened. We shopped for flowers earlier - the open house is my excuse for all the annuals and hanging basket. Can't wait for some mother daughter action in the flower garden! Nate

Summer Sizzle or Drizzle? The Prequel: May Movie Lineup

2010-05-09T08:30:00.008-05:00

I picked up the Summer Movie Preview Issue of Entertainment Weekly the other day to peruse and see what Blockbusters, Sleepers, and Duds would be gracing the silver screens this summer. The following is a quick rundown with comments on some of the upcoming summer film fair for feasting that you may or may not want to check out:MAYSummer kicks off early with these releases:ACTION/ THRILLERSIron

weekEnd review

2010-05-07T09:19:00.001-05:00

"How does your garden grow?" Like crazy is how. Like crazy! And sometimes in spite of the weather. Cool and rainy most of this week. Even a little snow in the forecast for today, but I think someone was just dreaming - I haven't seen any. Yet. The rhubarb is up and going crazy in the backyard. The flowering trees are TRYING to do their thing. Just one sunny day - that's all they want.

view from my window

2010-05-06T20:49:00.000-05:00

my backyard: may 1, 2010

wordless wednesday: cleanup week find!

2010-05-05T11:15:00.001-05:00

Only Alex could come home from school with an electric mower complete with "works perfectly" sign & mint condition owner's manual! A neighbor down the street had just put it out on the birm for "clean up week." He even came out to give Alex an impromptu lesson on electric mower charging and operation. He said there is nothing wrong with it - they just bought a new one and didn't need this

monday memory: reading

2010-05-03T11:29:00.003-05:00

What a sweet privilege to have taught my children to read and love reading. I have photos and pictures in my mind of them reading at all ages - to themselves and to each other. I have pictures of people I love who love them reading to them - one at a time and all piled up together on the couch. I'm so proud of how smart they are! Each of their literary abilities and accomplishments far

Jeff's Skillet Lasagna

2010-05-02T22:04:00.003-05:00

Ok so this one-skillet meal is actually over 30 years old. In the fall of 1979, I was a freshman in college and I went to a bookstore in a mall in Irvine, California that was close to the university where I was attending and I came across this little paperback cookbook that was called something like "The Campus Survival Cookbook" and it had all these really simple, easy recipes that a beginning

weekEnd review

2010-05-02T21:43:00.003-05:00

Suddenly cooler weekend weather was just Cruel for the 1st weekend in May. It's been in the 40's, windy and rainy since Friday - still everything keeps getting greener and greener and the crabapple trees are just dying to bloom. All they need are one sunny, warmish day and they'll burst into beautiful springtime bliss! The other, less pleasant, way we know spring is here is that the dog

menu monday update

2010-04-29T17:48:00.004-05:00

Our first week working the menu planning plan from E-Mealz has been pretty darn successful! I love looking at the plan to see what's for supper tonight or tomorrow and knowing it's all (or most of it!) is in the frig or freezer and ready to go! I already knew that part would be lovely. I was just a little concerned about having so many new recipes all at once - and the percentage of which we

wordless wednesday on thursday: chalk art

2010-04-29T08:39:00.002-05:00

sometimes when jamie comes home she just sits down in the middle of the driveway with chalk and this is what happens. It's been happening to her since she was very small. It's only now I have to take the picture from the 2nd story window! [and no, it doesn't matter where the driveway crack happens to be. I really should get that fixed anyway!]

menu monday

2010-04-26T10:18:00.001-05:00

So I started doing my own menu plans and shopping lists a couple weeks ago and while I was procrastinating around the interweb: BAM! I ran into E-MEALZ Easy Meals for Busy and Frugal Families. Menu plans and shopping lists all ready for me each week for just $1.25 each. Hmmmmm... I believe it was a Sunday night and I was tired and probably cranky so "Sign me up, ma'am!!" I chose the "

"sharing" (without being nosy)

2010-04-24T11:22:00.005-05:00

I have a few thoughts about "sharing" and other things said in the "best interest" of others and under the guise of prayer requests and just plain ol' gossip. Obviously, just my opinion. If you must speak, and by "speak" I mean talk, text, email, publish, post, blog and generally speak by your actions towards another person in private or public... If you must speak: #1 Make sure you are

family update

2010-04-21T17:19:00.001-05:00

(I've missed at least one update - sorry!) We had a few gray days, cool, windy days early last week. Then one morning rain and POW! everything was GREEN! We've had beautiful spring for many days in a row now. Sunshine and blue skies and temps in the upper 60s and 70s. The trees finally have small leaves. Speaking of trees, a guy came by the other day out of nowhere and offered to estimate

wordless wednesday: whiteboard cow

2010-04-21T16:41:00.001-05:00

whiteboard cow april 21, 2010 The whiteboard cow made our daily announcements (and pronouncements) for about a week. She was succeeded by the whiteboard dragon. Joseph (and his technicolor dream coat) is calling the schedule now. Our whiteboard art is generally initiated by Jamie and assisted by all the boys in the house, but mainly Jeff.

weekEnd

2010-04-11T22:00:00.001-05:00

Jamie, Jeff & I watched "To Kill A Mockingbird" this afternoon (and evening) - what a great movie! It's one of my favorites - and the book is at the top of my list of must-read American novels. New movie trivia: a young Robert Duvall plays Arthur "Boo" Radley! I don't know how many times I've seen the movie and never noticed it. Today Jeff said, "Doesn't he look like a very young...?" And

wordless wednesday: 1800 Spring!

2010-04-07T08:25:00.001-05:00

1800 CentreSquare early spring 2010

Monday Menu Planning and The Week Ahead

2010-04-05T23:23:00.003-05:00

So I got inspired by the vast and rich blogging world to make yet another attempt to tame the meal planning, shopping, cooking plan. We're starting with our favorites and adding in from there. Get your own Monday Menu Planning ideas and nifty form(s) at I'm An Organizing Junkie. MONDAY: Frozen bag of Dinner from WalMart. Chicken, sauce and pasta all in one bag. I thought it would be a

wordless wednesday: galilee

2010-03-31T10:15:00.005-05:00

Israel 2007Sea of Galilee from Mount of Beatitudes Phil & I didn't get to travel a lot together, but we were so blessed to visit Israel as hosts for a KFNW radio tour. The week ended in Jerusalem, saving the sites of Jesus' passion for Friday & Saturday. This is probably why I especially think of this tour during Holy Week. On Wednesday we visited the traditional site of the Sermon on the

monday memory: tradition

2010-03-29T15:09:00.002-05:00

We were wondering on the way home from church yesterday if we would still have snow for Easter Sunday this year. We had a pretty snowy winter this year and there are some pretty big piles still hanging around in shadowy places and parking lots and our side yard. And it's certainly not unusual to still have snow this time of year in the northland. Kathryn, Marissa, Jamie, AshleeThe girls

new season for dancing with the stars!

2010-03-26T19:44:00.000-05:00

The new season of Dancing with the Stars started Monday! squeee! Jeff & I can't watch the show live this season because of his work and my Mary Kay schedules for Monday & Tuesday evenings. So we'll be watching later online. But Jeff has started blogging at Two Left Feet again. There's a permanent link to his blog over there ------> So put on your dancing shoes and waltz on over to join the

WeekEnd Review

2010-03-26T15:48:00.002-05:00

Spring came to the Valley the ornery way it usually does. A few days in the 40s, maybe 50 followed by a few days below freezing again. The kids have shed their coats for good - regardless of the temperature. The sun is glorious when it's out, the wind is brutal from the north. I saw lots of snow geese headed back north this week though, so I'm sure warmer weather isn't far away. The river (

wordless wednesday: jamie

2010-03-24T22:47:00.000-05:00

Jamie added some pretty red color to her hair this week. She is such a joy.

wordless wednesday

2010-03-17T17:04:00.001-05:00

madeline & julie on m's 7th birthdaymy sister is the queen of the self-portrait!

Symphony Trip

2010-03-14T14:06:00.002-05:00

Yes, my mother did, in fact, get me to write my own post. The symphony trip to the cities was a complete success, even though we didn't play. For the first time in 30+ years, Mr. Larson told his orchestra that their instruments were not necessary for their trip, and was met with thunderous applause. We left during school on Thursday and saw Footloose at the Chanhassen that same evening. The food

weekEnd

2010-03-12T22:31:00.003-06:00

weather report: gray, rainy, drizzly, wet. And the river is on the rise. The weather service is predicting a 10' rise on the Red in the next week - a pretty fast rise that will take us to "moderate" flooding. Both cities have been preparing for pretty serious flood fights for the second year in a row. Jeff is planning to take the boys to help fill sandbags tomorrow. jamie left on her

view outside my front door

2010-03-11T19:56:00.008-06:00

these are gray, gray, melty days. the roads and sidewalks were completely covered with ice and snow and more ice and snow most of the winter around here. even on the darker, drizzlier days - we are encouraged by the melting snow sculptures to begin to look for signs of spring. the still bare trees reflected in icy puddle at the end of our driveway still an awful lot of snow hanging

wordless wednesday: arrival

2010-03-10T07:20:00.001-06:00

mom and dad arrive @Hector International in Fargo, 2006I love my dad's full smile in this pic and that they look so happy to be here.(I have no idea who that lady is in the background, but she looks pleased too)

Monday Miscellany

2010-03-08T20:01:00.000-06:00

...and I was doing so well keeping up with my blogging in February! Here's a round up of what's been happening and what's coming up all in one. I met with the Tax Man last week. Phil was always so proud of doing his own taxes all those years. And he did an awesome job. Not me, friends. Last year I immediately went out and found me a tax man. I do not have to be good at everything. I

wordless wednesday

2010-03-03T12:07:00.002-06:00

sunny winter nap

what a pain

2010-03-02T20:41:00.005-06:00

For many years (at least 16) I've been dealing with a strange constellation of symptoms that have waxed and waned over the years but have generally become progressively more difficult over time. My primary symptoms include moderate to severe fatigue and generalized muscle & joint pain, including "trigger point" pain. I also have trouble with sleep, IBS, headaches, Raynaud's Syndrome in hands &

a turn of the calendar page

2010-03-01T19:29:00.004-06:00

yay! March 1. The Moorhead Dairy Queen is open! Spring is on the way. If you have ever visited the Moorhead DQ with us (and you have if you've visited us March - October) you know what a place of magical deliciousness it is. Phil and I took the kids there from the time they could hold a "kiddie cone." The older guy who used to own it just topped the edge of a cone with a curly Q and charged

Happy 18th Birthday Jamie!

2010-02-28T22:15:00.001-06:00

We had such a great day celebrating Jamie - we did about half the stuff she came up with in the last week - it was a full day. We went to church all together at Salem this morning - joined by Kathryn and Christian. Our new pastor (Glen Stevens) is preaching through the book of Mark. We like him very much. Birthday lunch was at HuHot Mongolian Grill. We haven't been there in awhile and really

Kid Coasters!

2010-02-26T20:08:00.000-06:00

I edited these pictures in Picasa (google photo editor) for a set of coasters I have that are also nice wooden photo frames. I also figured out how to send them to the special photo paper tray on my printer (I hope! I haven't gone downstairs to check yet). And now I'm pretty sure I'm going to send the pics to my blog right from Picasa. I think Google might rule the world.

WeekEnd Miscellany

2010-02-26T18:05:00.001-06:00

OK. First of all. WHY has no one asked me to buy GirlScout cookies this year?? Isn't it time? Did I miss it? If you know a Girl Scout, would you please send her to my door? thank you. Nate has completed his first lactose-free milk week. Wow. What a difference a week makes. He drank regular milk for lunch at school one day as an experiment and felt lousy all through algebra! (we got the

wordless wednesday

2010-02-24T09:16:00.004-06:00

first bath for baby jamieb. february 29, 1992 see how nicely big sister, kathryn, is helping? Jamie has always had her own special way of making her feelings known!

And the Nominees Are . . .

2010-02-24T09:13:00.007-06:00

Being that Lori and I are HUGE movie fans, I thought I would comment on the list of movies for Best Picture for the upcoming 82nd Annual Academy Awards on March 7th. (Typically I blow off the actual show cause I find the entire awards ceremony mostly a boring mess, but with the right host(s) and IF I'm interested in some of the nominees then I may tune in. You never know)So anyway the LIST for

cellos and hockey sticks

2010-02-23T23:05:00.006-06:00

The Fargo Moorhead Area Youth Symphony (Jr Hi) played the National Anthem for the Fargo Force Hockey game at the Urban Plains Center Sunday night. This just another example of one of the things I really enjoy about living in this community. The town has a hockey team (& a baseball team) with facilities that are just the right size - big enough to be impressive & fun; small enough to take your

WeekEnd

2010-02-19T15:06:00.000-06:00

Wow! I'm pretty sure I've updated more this week than any since I started blogging last year. (yay, me!) I already wrote about Nate's great weight rate this week: see "Fat Nate Update below." (yay, Nate!) Alex is in the middle of the Middle School Regional Orchestra Tour today. They left after school yesterday & will return about 6 tonight. The Big Deal is they stayed overnight at a hotel

view from my window: foggy morning makes a frosty afternoon

2010-02-18T16:43:00.000-06:00

Fat Nate Update

2010-02-18T09:17:00.000-06:00

Nate saw his doctor (endocrinologist) yesterday afternoon and came out with a new theory and plenty of good news. He's pretty darn proud of himself. Since he last saw Dr Kenien six months ago he's gained 9 pounds (almost ten) and grown just a little less than an inch! When he stands up straight he's taller than all the girls in his family. Nate has also had an upset stomach fairly

wordless wednesday: jamie's first photos

2010-02-17T13:56:00.000-06:00

whatcha doin' jamie?

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T22:18:00.000-06:00

We had a very quiet Valentine's Day house today... Jamie, Alex & Nate took off for Minneapolis early this morning. (Nate decided to go for a visit, too, since he missed the last trip) They left pretty close to their schedule - Jeff made them heart-shaped pancakes, bacon and fruit for a delicious breakfast! Jamie is attending "Icebreaker" at Northwestern College in St Paul. It's especially

Outside My Window: Winter Yardwork

2010-02-14T21:24:00.004-06:00

A new tool for Jeff! He borrowed the neighbor's snow rake to see how it worked. Ours gave up the ghost last year and we're in the market for a new one - this is a very important decision for Minnesotans, doncha know? If you're not from here, you may not know that we "rake" our roofs. When the snow gets very deep on the rooftop you have to get up there and either pull some down with a rake or

WeekEnd Miscellany

2010-02-13T10:56:00.001-06:00

Shew! It's been a musically busy week ~ Jamie & Alex both had school Valentine's concerts Monday. Same time, two different schools. Jeff had to work so I was especially glad Kathryn & Christian could take Alex and stay for his concert while I went to Jamie's. The kids had Tuesday off, but I went over to the FM Youth Symphony Office to help fold brochures for today's Super String Day. We

wordless wednesday

2010-02-10T14:52:00.003-06:00

these are the kinds of pictures you get when you Wii Ski with boys!! Jeff smiling while he races downhill. . . Alexander tearing up the course (and shot from behind because he's camera shy). . . And MY Mii (isn't she CUTE???) oh: and see my real life arm there to the side?

View From My Window

2010-02-09T11:23:00.000-06:00

Doesn't this look like something from the Fortress of Silence (or whatever that Superman Ice Cave is called)?Alex collected these from the back of the house.February 9, 2010

Up in The Air Review

2010-02-07T15:22:00.001-06:00

BY JEFF Lori and I went to see Up in The Air last Friday night on a snowy wintery eve in downtown Fargo. We like going to that theater because its an old main street style theater that has been restored and so its just fun to go from time to time. They used to only show the real artsy fartsy err . . . uh . . . I mean, independent films and admittedly we've seen some good movies there in the

WeekEnd!

2010-02-05T16:33:00.000-06:00

The BIG news this week was Nate passing the written test for his driver's permit. (and Jeff FAILING the first time!! hee!) We did just a little driving in the neighborhood around the DMV office before school - but the roads are pretty icy for a first time driver and I'm told the accelerator in the van is a little touchy. (No. It's not a Toyota, but does seem prone to sudden acceleration for

Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-03T09:51:00.000-06:00

PASS!! Nate's Driver's Permit TestFebruary 3, 2010

BirthDay

2010-01-29T21:15:00.000-06:00

You just know it's going to be an awesome kind of day when you wake up to your smiling husband handing you a CROWN! And a battery powered sparkly crown to boot. Yeah. Queen of the Day. (posted early morning thank you for my crown pic on FB and found Happy Birthday messages from early rising friend!!) I took a little mid-morning nap then had to get up and hurry to shower, etc. I had a very

Family Calendar

2010-01-28T12:34:00.000-06:00

New Updates to the CentreSquare Family Calendar over there -----> for any of you family & friends really interested in what's going on in our schedule! <3

wordless wednesday

2010-01-28T12:32:00.002-06:00

tennessee railroad track

Monday Miscellany

2010-01-25T13:13:00.000-06:00

We had a crazy combination of winter weathers this LONG weekend: fog, rain, freezing rain, sleet, mist, gigantic snowflakes, wet heavy snow and slush, temps in the 30s for days now dropping into the teens today and below 0 overnight tonight, and blizzard conditions with winds gusting to nearly 50 mph today. I don't recall ever seeing snowflakes so BIG as the ones that held hands and floated

wordless wednesday (on friday): siblings

2010-01-22T15:45:00.000-06:00

oh my goodness I love this picture of jamie and alex it really sums up their relationship

wordless wednesday: mia

2010-01-13T18:31:00.000-06:00

Mia. Post-Holiday Crash.

Monday Miscellany

2010-01-11T14:36:00.000-06:00

I don't know how they did it, but somehow Julie's children gave me the stomach bug from clear across the country! Or else it was Christian via Kathryn. I was laying pretty low over the weekend - but I got plenty of TLC and I feel better today (even considering it's Monday). We finally got a break from the COLD - we were in the mid-20s yesterday - supposed to get all the way up to 29 by

Wordless Wednesday: My Sweet Baby Boy!

2010-01-07T13:48:00.000-06:00

1996 January 1, 2010

Monday Memory for December Friday

2009-12-11T10:51:00.000-06:00

I haven't been playing so much the last couple of years. I haven't been playing at all really. For all kinds of reasons. The usual busyness works. But I have so many memories of all kinds associated with those keys. I guess they almost seemed to me to be haunted. And I didn't want to release the ghosts. However. Once the snow flew last weekend, the Christmas voices called me and I found

Wordless Wednesday on Friday

2009-12-11T10:26:00.001-06:00

The story in our house since the discovery of Axe in all it's permutations. shew.

Wordless Wednesday for Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T17:25:00.000-06:00

Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamations are my favorite. This was published in our paper today - full page - by Scheels - a local sporting goods company. I was so impressed that they took the ad with NO info about their store - no locations, hours, holiday special deals. Nice.

the WeekendEnd

2009-11-20T18:32:00.000-06:00

can you BELIEVE it's already the weekend before Thanksgiving?? Ive been thinking alot about Thanksgiving this year. What it means. What it is. How we celebrate. We were reflecting together in family counseling last night about how life can continue to be good is so many very imporant ways even as we experience great difficulty and adversity. And by those things we grow and change and

Wordless Wednesday: Nate's Angels

2009-11-18T14:30:00.000-06:00

The school sent me a copy of this photo of Nate - which they used in the Moorhead School District Calendar this year. I believe he's demonstrating a catapult for science class. It's the 2nd time they've used a picture of Nate - popular boy!

A Senior Moment for Jamie

2009-11-13T12:24:00.000-06:00

Jamie took her ACT exam for the 2nd time this fall. Her scores in the Spring were very good but she wanted to try again to see if she could improve - and boy did she!! Jamie scored a PERFECT 36 on the English section!! Yay!! Congrats, Jamie! English went from a 30, to the Perfect 36. Reading improved from 30 to 34. Science went up one from 24 to 25. Math even came up from 17 to 21!!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-11T21:52:00.000-06:00

A familiar sight: the mailbox for the cabin at Pine Haven.

A Basketful of Memories

2009-11-10T16:36:00.000-06:00

Seriously awesome kids. I am so honored to have them in my life. The basket has all kinds of wonderful in it: an "I Spy" book, drawing paper and markers, puzzle books, candy (of course), chewing gum, snack crackers, juice drinks, dried fruit, trail mix, mixed nuts, playing cards, colored ink pens...I think that about covers it. Nate found a really nice "Thinking of You" card that they all

MondayMemories

2009-11-09T21:04:00.000-06:00

At this time a year ago we were on about the fourth day of gray rain, wind, cold and even a little snow. The fourth day of watching and waiting and wondering. It seemed heaven cried with us. This year it's suddenly unusually warm, pleasant even. Frost patterned car roofs and painted leaves by morning. Blue skies and sunshine by day. Moonlight by night. Peace. Nature's relentless,

WeekEnd

2009-11-06T18:11:00.000-06:00

Fall has finally arrived - the kind I like anyway. We've had several days in a row of sunshine and temps above 50! w00t. The sunshine has been a welcome relief from the endless days of gray and drizzle we had in October. Kathryn came home from Denver last week - leaving more than a foot of snow behind there! We celebrated her birthday on Sunday. Don't know how she can be 20 so soon - she

Masquerade! Jamie's Last First Concert

2009-11-05T21:49:00.000-06:00

The Annual Cookie Concert at the high school is so fun! The 9th grade orchestra, the Concert orchestra, the Symphony orchestra (jamie's!), the Chamber orchestra and the Apollo Strings all play - which is apparently why they have cookies to sustain us through the hour and 15 minutes! This year's theme was "Masquerade." Jamie made her own mask - isn't it cool?? Each orchestra played 3 pieces

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-04T14:46:00.000-06:00

"Keys" by Alex, Jan 2009 I like Alex's unique perspective through the lens.

kathryn's birthday

2009-11-02T07:34:00.000-06:00

She was so tiny. And so sweet. And such a joy I never new I was missing! Kathryn Lynn came to us in the very early morning November 2, 1989. She was so little - just 5 1/2 pounds but so healthy and alert! I didn't believe in love at first sight until I saw Kathryn... We missed all of Halloween waiting for Kathryn to come. We learned all about hospitals and doctors and early labor

Catching Up!

2009-10-29T16:50:00.000-05:00

This looks like Alex unloading his backpack! Seriously. Makeup homework has been the story of our life these last few weeks. Jamie was sick (flu? maybe.) for a week and then went to New Orleans with the Habitat for Humanity trip for another week. She decided to give up on Trig altogether as she already felt like she was hanging on by her fingernails in that class! (her mom would have given

TGIF -- Look out, New Orleans! Here Comes Jamie!

2009-10-09T08:40:00.000-05:00

My girls are just running in front the wind these days! Kathryn is loving her time in Colorado. Jamie is heading to New Orleans early tomorrow (Saturday) morning. She's traveling with a group of people from churches in Minnesota to work with Habitat for Humanity. This is the trip Phil took two years ago and just loved. She's headed for warmer weather and hard work! She'll be gone for the

This, That and The Other

2009-10-01T10:08:00.000-05:00

The TRAVELER: So Kathryn hit the road yesterday and as I'm writing I'm realizing I didn't take a picture of her yesterday!! :-( It was a really beautiful fall day. She came over early to finish her laundry (some of which is still in the basement!! But that's not really news is it? :-) She ran out to pay her rent and came back with Starbucks! ooo...my mocha tasted good! They were planning

And A New Adventure for Lori

2009-09-26T23:59:00.000-05:00

Wow! My Mary Kay director, Karen, hosted the first Larson Area "Advance" (rather than a "retreat" :-) this weekend and it was so much fun. I made some new really positive, really pink friends and I learned so much about my new business and myself. They really planned a worthwhile couple of days for us! I've used the Mary Kay skincare products for about 30 years (how is that even possible???)

a new opportunity for alex!!

2009-09-21T19:50:00.000-05:00

Alex received two compliments from his orchestra teacher last week. First he stopped him after class to tell him that he heard a particular part of a song that Alex played and that it was "just about perfect." If you know Mr. Cole at all you know he doesn't just hand out these compliments for free! Then at the end of the week, Mr. Cole stopped Alex again after class and invited him to join the

1st Garage Sale Fun - and Surprises

2009-09-18T18:03:00.000-05:00

"Mama! WHY are you trying to sell my most favorite books with the very best pictures in them?? WHY would you try to sell the books that you are going to read to my children???" This is what happens when your children come home in the middle of your 1st garage sale. Oh dear. I'm pretty sure everybody - myself included brought something(s) back in house! My personal favorite is the cribbage

End of the Week - Busy Weekend Ahead!

2009-09-17T08:35:00.000-05:00

THIS IS IT. Garage Sale Weekend. I put the ad in the paper so I'm committed to this thing. And I'm pretty sure Jeff would kill me if I put it off one. more. time. So we're trying to sell the junk out of my garage and off my driveway Friday 10 - 5 and Saturday 9 - 5. Anything that doesn't go? Goes. The kids are in the swing of things. Jamie & Nate have fallen into a very nice routine