Scrap Cabin

So I left school with the kids - and was at Jaymie's house by 3:30 Friday afternoon. Nancy was already there - and we started to load up my car. (Yes, we were taking my car - hello - I need to drive - and PLUS - my car gets way better gas mileage than Jaym's!) :)



It took some creative packing - but as you can see -we made it! :)

We drove for about 2 hours - and ended up in Wisconsin somewhere . . I think the actual address is Danbury? This place was great - the view was awesome - and the time was ours! We scrapped, ate, slept, watched TV, read trashy tabloid magazines. I was sick (sinus sick) so enjoyed sleeping in - without puppies waking me up at 6 am to pee! :)



There was another group of 4 there - so we shared the space -they were very nice. They were in charge of Friday night's meal (lasagna) - we made Saturday's dinner (tacos).



It was a blast - I got a lot done - and it was nice to "get away!'

Uncle Glen's Birthday

So my Uncle Glen is turning 80. To celebrate - his family threw this party up in East Grand Forks. Lonny/Jaime/Alice and I were planning on just going up and doing a day thing - but then my parents decided that they were coming in from Vegas on Thursday and staying up in Lancaster. SO - we made a whole weekend of it too - and boy am I glad! Besides getting to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa, we got to see so many people INCLUDING Cousin Katey, Me Old English Auntie Marie, and Cousin Dale (who I hadn't seen since 1992!)!!

Highlights from the weekend:

1. Alice was a Rock Star for both long car rides. She ate, she slept, she played, and she watched dvds on the portable dvd player we stopped in Alex to buy.
2. Grandma had potato hotdish (AND Cheez Whiz sandwiches!) waiting for us when we got to Lancaster.
3. Did I mention Cousin Katey showed up (and surprised us ALL)???
4. We stayed in Grand Forks (in a hotel) Sat. night - drove home this morning - but stopped in Fargo for lunch with Phil/Rebecca/Eli and Justin/Kate.
5. I had a lot of fun. :)

Now for the photos!:

The reason we were all there -
Uncle Glen, Auntie Phyllis, Jomie, Seeto, Faith.


The grandkids goof after putting together a great party -
Dave, Chris, Brian, Nick, Justin, Amy, Kyle.


A GREAT GREAT Auntie!
Auntie Ruthie meets her great great niece for the first time!


Did I mention Cousin Katey came in from IDAHO???


A bunch of Jerome cousins in one room calls for a picture! This one is OLDEST to YOUNGEST! :)

Jomie (Phyllis), Seeto (Phyllis), Dale (Larry), Faith (Phyllis), Julie (Mary Joy), Heidi (Mary Joy), Katey (Larry), Jamie (Jim), Carrie (Lon), Lon II (Lon), Jill (Jim).

Pretty cool, actually, that Jomie is really the oldest cousin and Jill is really the youngest. . .we were just missing a bunch of us "in-betweeners" :)


Grandma and Grandpa's newest little sweetheart
(at least until Caleb's sister arrives!) :)


Mom and Dad with their Princess Alice

Have a Great Week!

Shopping

I bought this today:



I paid the extra $79 to have it delivered and assembled - so I won't get it until the 13th . . . but that's perfect because the truck to pick up my old set comes on the 10th. My old set was purchased with my "apartment set" when I got my first place in Fridley back in '95. For $800 I got a sofa, loveseat, 2 end tables, a coffee table, dining table and four chairs. The living room stuff is long gone . . . and now the table and chairs are going to a teen-mom who is setting up HER first apartment.

This morning the puppies enjoyed DoggiePalooza in St. Louis Park - I have a few photos - which may come at a later date.

I also have an update on the Scion - I took it back to the 1st body shop - to show them the dent that didn't get taken all the way out. The paintless-dent repair guy was LITERALLY driving off to start his weekend - when the guy who was helping me stopped him and asked him to give me an estimate of how much time it would take to fix. The dent repair guy got down to get a good look - gave a few pushes of his thumb and VOILA! Good as new! :)

Ahh. . . life is good again!

Updates: A Haircut, A Rental, A Play Date, A Picnic

It's been a busy few weeks - so instead of a bunch of in depth stories - you pretty much get a photo dump with some captions. Enjoy :)

Cut my hair a week or so before school started. It didn't get as short as I originally wanted - but it's growing out nicely - which is also a good thing . . . I hate that "in between haircuts" look. :)



Also in August - my baby Scion got a little bumped. . and while she was in the shop for 4 days - I had a rental. (actually two rentals) This was the first car I got - but after leaving the body shop to make the 2 mile drive to school - I had to call to change cars. I couldn't even see over the dash!! This was some big Dodge contraption - I ended up in a Mazda. . but Ohhhh wasn't it nice to have my little Scion back!! (which lasted less than a week - as I just got smucked in the school parking lot last Thursday - ((see last blog)). . . . update: Scion back in shop - hoping to be back out by Monday . . eeek)



So Sundays have been fun for family events. (Caleb's birthday was 3 Sundays ago - which was tons of fun - but Lon & Jaime have better pics of it on Alice's blog - so check it out.) Two Sundays ago brought the puppies and I to St. Paul for a play date with Ole (Jeff and Bridget's). Jeff was off huntin' - so Bridget and I just enjoyed sitting out in the beautiful weather whilst Baxter and Ole played around. Bella enjoyed herself too - but there were balls in the yard . . and once she has a ball - she could care less that other puppies are there! Here's an action shot (check out those facial expressions) and a group lovin' shot!




Finally - this past Sunday brings us pretty up-to-date. Jaime's dad is some big wig for the Three Rivers Park District. They had some big celebration out in Plymouth this weekend. I tagged along with the Jerome/Olesens as they met up with Joanna, Josh, Jerome, & Zach. We loved the free snickerdoodles, snowcones, and entertainment - and enjoyed a yummy bbq picnic lunch. After lunch Alice played in the sand at the playground - and then we were off for home!





And. . I think you're caught up! :)

Crappy Day

Well - it's been awhile and I have tons to blog - but for tonight - I'm just venting.

How can people can be so rude and inconsiderate - and just plain wrong?? I was at school until about 4:30pm tonight. I was to be across the street to work CPHS's soccer games - and was running a few minutes late. I arrived at my car only to find that someone - with a red vehicle - had either backed into or ran into my front driver's side. (Ahh yes - I had arrived at school so early - as to be able to occupy the "first spot" in my row - leaving my whole driver's side open to the elements. . .and idiots.)

Yes - for those who know - I JUST got my car back LAST FRIDAY from being in the shop!!! Dear Melanie had accidentally backed into my front passenger's side - and after 4 days at the body shop - I was able to pick up my baby last Friday after school.

Looks like I'll be calling Luther Auto Body again. . only this time - it's on me - as the butthead who did this didn't have the decency to own up to it. I get it - accidents happen - but come on people - who raised you?? How - with a clear conscience - could you just drive away after smucking up someone else's property?? Well - that little smuck is about the size of a softball - and there's beautiful red paint left where moron met Scion - and I'm not even looking forward to calling Insurance Man Sean about this one. *Sigh* As mom said, it could have been worse. I could have been in an accident. I wasn't. I'm ok. Truly - my car's ok - just a little banged up. It will be ok. I'll get her fixed up - and hopefully my little cutie will be just as good as new (again). (for the third time).

A Fair, A Birthday, A Park, & A Wedding

First and foremost let me say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Joolie!
And - Congratulations to Fabio and Melanie!

Ok, let's blog!

We celebrated mom and dad's 35th wedding anniversary by going to the state fair last Sunday. It was a short, but sweet, trip - with just the right amount of over indulging! I do have proof that Lonny took Alice down the big slide - AND that she could see what was going on for at least part of the ride down! :)

Wheeee!

After a long 4 days at school - trying to get ready for the kids - who come next Tuesday - I took the day off today to hang out with Alice. We pretty much played, snacked, SLEPT for TWO HOURS!!, ate lunch, and then made a quick trip to the park before Jaime got home from work. I could watch Alice wonder, discover, touch, learn, etc. ALL DAY LONG!

Alice could rock this thing back and forth - all on her own!

Look Ma! No hands!

What?

Picking up each grain of sand is fun!

So Jaime gets home - and that's my cue to get my butt down to Lakeville. It was there that I was VERY lucky to witness the wedding of my Schmoopie (Melanie) to her Fabs :) (Fabio). It was a quick and sweet ceremony in front of a judge, after which Melanie and Fabio got into a limo to ride around the lakes and met up with us an hour and a half later at Bonnie's (Mel's mom's) house for Italian dinner, wedding cake, and wine! Great night!

awwww

The happy family

Leaving the courthouse to find a limo waiting outside!

My Schmoopie

I wish nothing but the best to my dear friend - and my new friend, her HUSBAND, Fabio!

Alice Mae's Day of Meetings

Even though I had Alice all day today, it didn't stop my AP from scheduling a 9am meeting. It turned out ok - as I then scheduled another meeting right after. So Alice was a little Rock Star, as always, while Auntie Carrie conducted grown-up business. (Oh yeah, and while every co-worker who met her oohed and ahhhed.) Alice was SO good - that after the 2nd meeting - I stayed for a little bit to help Hayden (who was in to help ME!)


Finally - at about 1pm - we finally broke for lunch - and met Jaymie and crew. Lunch was yummy - and giggly - and then home to nap for 2 hours!! :)

Tonight was casual as Melanie, Fabio, and Luca came over to visit, enjoy some Taco Bell (yes, Fabio wanted to try it), and watch movies. And darn it! I forgot to take a picture again!!! (I even said, "when Luca finishes that bottle, I'm going to take a picture . . ." . . and then, yeah, forgot.) :)

Oh well - I'll just have to REMEMBER the fun night.

Huge Photo Dump

(funny title for those of you who know what I'm going through today and tomorrow!) :)

Ok - It's been awhile since I've dumped photos from my camera - so here is about 3 weeks of activity. . . . I'll keep the commentary to a minimum. . .ENJOY!

Alice Mae's Birthday Party - Sat. July 28th

Alice enjoys a swim with cousin Zack while 2nd Cousin Paige helps out

Grandpa enjoys time with his former schoolmates

Lonny and Jaime set up quite a great party!

Alice loves the scrapbook I made for her :)

Alice and BFF Mae use teamwork to get at the goods

Already so good at playing together!

Miss Ada "helps" with the big cake

Alice gets ready to blow out the candle. . .ok, Auntie Carrie and Miss Ada helped!

Look what Daddy made!

Alice likes to pick things and touch them with the tips of her fingers. . .

. . . but yeah, this is how you do it on your birthday!

35W Bridge Collapse - Wed. Aug. 1st

Had just driven over it Sunday night to bring mom and dad to airport (then home again). . . was really weird - didn't know it was going to be such a huge story - watched live coverage in horror - outside - eerie - the air was like dust - no one was outside - no animals - just quiet except for the helicopters and sirens.

LASIK Enhancement - Fri. Aug. 3rd

Hayden and boys brought me to my 2nd round of LASIK (had left eye enhanced). Here I am getting "prepped." Amy, Alex, and Billy got to watch the brief surgery on a monitor. The boys thought it was pretty cool!

Using a Straw @ Perkins - Sun. Aug. 5th

After a long wet weekend of hosting a garage sale we headed to Perkins for comfort food. Alice was, of course, a rock star out in public . . . and even figured out how to use her straw that came with her kiddie cup.

See! She's soo freakin' brilliant!

"Watching" the baby - Wed. Aug. 8th

Yeah. . . I'm still babysitting - though not as much as I am spending more and more time back at school already. . . . this is getting easy. . this kid almost watches herself! (kidding - I totally watched her manuver her way into the dangerous craft room. . . let her hang out long enough to get photo - then scooped her up and brought her to safety!) :)

Treat for myself - Aug. Back To School Sales

Well - I spent this past weekend with Melanie and Luca in Carver. . .but dope that I am - didn't get ONE photo of that!! It was fun anyway - and nice to be in a big safe house during the weekend storms! Came home and made a Target run - only to find awesome sales on back-to-school dorm stuff. It's cool - this bedding can work for a 34 year old, no? :)

DAG - Wed. Aug. 15th

Very CASUAL gathering of DAG. Great to see everyone - sad - I think I see Christy, Tom and Shelly about as much as I see Julayne - who lives in KOREA!! Oh well, we'll have to remedy that!! Yes - you can see my new haircut in this photo - but don't judge yet . . . I wasn't 100% . . . the cleansing had begun . . .

National Night Out

Ok - I finally went. I watched my neighbors gather for the past two summers for National Night Out - and this year I finally got the courage to go.

Heidi was supposed to go with me - for courage - but ended up cancelling due to "female issues." She still encouraged me to go tho - like annoyingly so. . . :)

So - I finished my taco salad (yes, mom's recipe) - took a deep breath - and walked two houses down - and joined the party.

It was really fun - most of them all knew each other - and after the initial introductions I pretty much sat back and listened to all the stories. (It was very much like sitting at the Legion in Lancaster . . everyone knew what was going on at this house and that, and that person did this and that. . very interesting - but as Heidi pointed out - needed - in the city.)

I had a great time, everyone loved the taco salad (one guy even said "you're the taco salad, right?" when introducing himself) . . and I think I'm on the email list now - to get neighborhood updates and goings on! :)

PS - yes, I have photos of the Princess' birthday - and thoughts on the bridge collapse . .but those will come on a later post. . .

I've Been Simpsonized