tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82368641940534716692024-03-14T03:34:48.291-05:00ContactJake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-344782202273289922013-10-17T10:43:00.002-05:002013-10-17T10:43:43.442-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong>August and Everything After</strong></div>
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Okay, that's a Counting Crows album and I'm not proud that I know that, although it was their only good one. And it was one of the 2 cds that I know of that my sisters and I all purchased independently and then realized it later. The other was Indigo Girls' Rites of Passage. I'm not bragging about that, either. But my sisters and I were finally all in the same place at the same time after 7 years apart, and I am thrilled about that! There's a picture of us at the end of this blog post. </div>
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These two are from our visits to Anna's new place. She's getting bored with Mankato and has a long winter ahead of her. She's thinking of moving to Chaska & commuting next school year. She figures the tips are better around here and she can't stand to be so far away. She is an excellent writer and correspondent, her handwriting is becoming font like, and if you write to her, she will write back.<br />
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Jake's awesome new scooter, which I'm scared to ride on. I'll have to overcome that, too. I flew and went up in the Space Needle, but then I chickened out & sat out for the cable ride that goes over the State Fair. I got problems.</div>
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This is a nice picture, except that Luna's tongue is on my pillow!! Gross. Sara, check out the blanket. It still gets used daily. Maya plays with the tassels every morning and sleeps with it every night. She even took it to two slumber parties.</div>
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Kendama Mama, Grandama, Kendama Pamma, or Grandma Can Dama. Anyway, she landed it, sitting down, almost on the first try. Pretty impressive.</div>
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Later in August, we had lots of fun at the cabin with Dave & Marissa. And at the State Fair.<br />
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Dylan's Mecca, the Sweets Kendama stand (that's the man Sweets himself in the background, looking stately:)). Lucky for Maya, it was right next to the Webkinz, wax hands and some yarn marionettes, so she didn't get bored.</div>
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We only went in the baby animal barn & saw lots of brand new pigs, like this one. The we were in the right place at the right time and 19 teams of horses like this paraded by us into the Coliseum.</div>
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Finally, we checked out Pert Near Sandstone on the free stage. What an awesome local band!</div>
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The official end of summer. So far, school's been easy breezy for Maya. Dylan's been feeling the weight of 7 classes, 7 teachers, 7 subjects of homework. He's starting to plow through it now. The first few weeks of middle school were tough! He's also been busy with kendama and rock band. He performs Nov.8 at 6pm @Dunn Bros. in Excelsior. </div>
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Maya's been writing and drawing in her usual prolific fashion. She highly esteems Hayley and pays close attention to all of the art she posts on Instagram. Maya's been dabbling in poetry the past few days. </div>
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Here's Maya's Ode to Luna:</div>
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<em>Luna is bigger than a twig,</em></div>
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<em>She is a dog, not a hog.</em></div>
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<em>She is naughty, but not trotty.</em></div>
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<em>When she has her collar off,</em></div>
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<em>She's naked, but not sacred.</em></div>
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<em>She's rather adorable.</em></div>
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<em>She's not deplorable.</em></div>
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<em>She has brown eyes.</em></div>
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<em>She doesn't make lies, either.</em></div>
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<em>She's wrestly and bold.</em></div>
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<em>She's not nestly and wasn't told.</em></div>
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She's as poetic as the song she was middle named for- To Ramona by Bob Dylan:</div>
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<em>Ramona, come closer, shut softly your watery eyes,</em></div>
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<em>The pangs of your sadness will pass as your senses will rise...</em></div>
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Our visit to my sister Kim's house inspired us to get a ping pong table. Fun for the whole family. Well, no one thinks it's fun to play with me. I see them roll their eyes and raise their eyebrows. But I've been practicing and I'll soon be a contender.</div>
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There's a lot going on in this one. Both dogs and all 4 kids if you look closely. This was the day Kayla & Anna attended their paternal grandpa's funeral. Grandpa Ray was 80 and went peacefully. Anna read a passage at his funeral. </div>
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Dylan and his friend made these carriers. They clip them to belt loops with caribeaners. He's sold and given them to kendama enthusiasts everywhere he goes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3q8unUpajuJlVS7BGCTiBYUmdrp3vUwZvcaXS0Gymqv_Pq8Km1zbDXS2vBS2w9ZjWMzZeEpe_v3ysRJLodF_a2rSHoQMupp5I6L1CpImWMTpMJU2TRP-5MJsCgnoH26GMMNqOYku8cVVB/s1600/2013-09-03+08.26.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3q8unUpajuJlVS7BGCTiBYUmdrp3vUwZvcaXS0Gymqv_Pq8Km1zbDXS2vBS2w9ZjWMzZeEpe_v3ysRJLodF_a2rSHoQMupp5I6L1CpImWMTpMJU2TRP-5MJsCgnoH26GMMNqOYku8cVVB/s640/2013-09-03+08.26.13.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Photo by Jake. He took lots of the sunflowers Maya planted as seeds in little pots on our front step. They got to be 10 feet tall.</div>
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Maya's brushes with cardboard cutout fame. As her aunt Jessie said, "Maya doesn't always pose with cardboard cutouts, but when she does..."<br />
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Maya reminisces about preschool and swimming lessons. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUNzF7fDGTZbF2bGFnYan0qxosmuxhyphenhyphenK1pq5M-cvTp_meQlDP4AB9hvjAL21mRF5gV4LfphQl9267K00Td6pfWxFLnnK15VlddVos7oKd7EZXUAIjh0rrKmO9vtWCfAFMnM58-MON8mnQ/s1600/2013-09-23+17.51.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUNzF7fDGTZbF2bGFnYan0qxosmuxhyphenhyphenK1pq5M-cvTp_meQlDP4AB9hvjAL21mRF5gV4LfphQl9267K00Td6pfWxFLnnK15VlddVos7oKd7EZXUAIjh0rrKmO9vtWCfAFMnM58-MON8mnQ/s640/2013-09-23+17.51.11.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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And we say goodbye to summer days by the lake, which everyone enjoyed in different ways.<br />
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Dinner with Kayla, complete with candlelight, waltzing (well, other people were), a live band, and yes, a kendama on the table. Oh, the incessant clacking.<br />
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Grandma Olsen took the kids to the Arboretum last week. Maya says she likes the way Grandma talks, because she says things like, "We're going back to where I live" instead of just saying "my house":)</div>
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For Dylan's 12th and golden birthday, he elected to attend the MN Kendama Open at Union Depot in St. Paul. Isaac, whose 12th birthday was 2 days later, came along too. Below, Dylan competes in a spike competition with pros and amateurs alike. I think he was 6th. He competed in a couple of these and also at the Intermediate level, at which he needed to master about 20 tricks. He made it to the 2nd round. Above, he and Isaac are pictured with pros, including the MKO champion-the one with the towel. It was a fun, unique birthday.<br />
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Michelle just sent me these pics of my grandparents' anniversary & birthday party. They've been married 66 years and just turned 89 & 90! Here they are with the whole clan minus Anna and below, with their 3 kids, Marc, Chris and Carol.<br />
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Kinda like Charlie's Angels. Kind of.<br />
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And finally, after years of the 4 sisters not being in the same place at the same time, here we are! This time, we're just missing Kayla, but a pretty good turn out. Lots of fun was had by all. Congrats to Kim & Jason on their recent engagement! (these 2 photos by Michelle, too)<br />
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Back: Iona, Isaac, Anna, Maya, Olivia, Nora, and Dylan (Nora sticks close to Dylan)<br />
Middle: Jason, Scott, Becky, Leif, India and Steph<br />
Front: Michelle, Kim and JakeJake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-43666736975351276622013-08-03T01:37:00.000-05:002013-08-03T01:37:11.919-05:00July!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy July! Beware, this is a long post with lots of pictures. We celebrated the 4th by attending the Richfield parade and swimming at my parents' house. Pictured: Leif, India, Becky, Tyler, Maya, Dylan, Olivia, Nora, Scott, Lauren, Courtney, Owen, Austin and Marissa. The parade was a bit lackluster-no Shriners, no bagpipes and kilts, no Richfield Tapaires danceline (Jake calls them the Tapirs), but the pool was great!</div>
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On July 10th, we saw Wilco & Bob Dylan with Michelle & Scott. Lots of fun, but we missed the highlight-a surprise appearance by Trampled by Turtles! </div>
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Jake and Dylan had the good fortune to behold the Stanley Cup at the club!! Jake's boss has a nephew on the Blackhawks. I was surprised to learn that there is a designated "Keeper of the Cup" assigned to protect and travel with it.</div>
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Maya's dance group performed in the Hopkins parade. I'm sorry to say it, but Richfield's paled in comparison. I got to walk along, passing out fliers, stickers and water. Maya noticed that the crowd was impressed by high kicks, so she's been working on those. She's also been busy teaching herself to cartwheel into the splits, memorize hundreds of pet names on her favorite iPad game and snap her fingers. She practiced snapping so much that it has become as integral a part of her as blinking and breathing.</div>
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Last week, we ventured to Washington. It was the kids' first flight. They were both excited and impressed. I mostly overcame my fear of flight, due to being brave for the kids, a more spacious plane than before, and a good book from Anna. </div>
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In Seattle, we stopped at the zoo first. Maya's holding her trip journal, which kept her very busy.</div>
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Pike's Market in Seattle.</div>
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The vile, infectious ABC Gum Wall near the market. Dylan contributed.</div>
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Maya was particularly excited about swimming in the hotel pool. The complementary cupcakes in the lobby were a big hit, too.</div>
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The EMP museum of rock music, pop culture and sci fi. </div>
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Lots of info about Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana, Seattle natives.</div>
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More pics from EMP. Dylan found a sentinel from the Matrix. </div>
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After a couple of days in Seattle, we drove out to the Columbia River Gorge for the Kengarden Roots Tour, a kendama event Dylan wanted to see and 2 Phish concerts. The scenery on the way out was breathtaking. It was 70 degrees in Seattle and 105 out in Wenatchee and George, WA. There were a couple of forest fires blazing. </div>
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Kendamas are similar to wooden yo-yos. Dylan's been practicing and collecting. At the event, he won one, we bought one, and he had one handpainted and signed. They had contests & a raffle. They were a good group, young and older, cool and respectful at the same time.</div>
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While Dylan was doing that, Maya and I found a playground & a some crystal clear cold water to swim in, took selfies, and made friends with this 8 week old Husky puppy.</div>
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Arriving at the Gorge Amphitheater. </div>
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Note the poster tucked under Jake's arm. They make 700 artist's prints for each show. There's 20,000 in attendance and the posters are a hot item. Anna really wanted the pair for her new apartment. She was dog and housesitting and I really wanted to get them for her. The first night, I got the 3rd to the last one. The 2nd night, I went to 2 sold out merchandise stands. At the 3rd and final stand, I waited in line and my chances seemed slim. A guy butted in front of me and got the last one in the box. I got the one off the wall for Anna, the last one in the venue. So, if you visit her, be sure to check them out:)</div>
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Beautiful view, including the smoke from the forest fire.</div>
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Twins vs. Mariners at Safeco field. Maya kept asking for cotton candy. Jake got a laugh out of the Twins fans in front of us when he told her she could just have some sugar packets back at the hotel. We lost, but the kids got to run the bases after the game.<br />
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Back at the hotel. They had a restaurant called The Rock with albums on the walls and ceiling, music and song titles written on the booths. We ate there twice.</div>
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The Space Needle, another fear I overcame. 2 down, many to go.</div>
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Chihuly Glass museum.</div>
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More pics from the zoo. That orangutan looked and acted awfully human.</div>
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We learned a lot on the harbor tour, about the city, Mt. Rainier, shipping, and landmarks. The mountain was visible and it was sunny, both rare conditions in Seattle.</div>
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Cheese making factory</div>
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Getting back home. Anna got her degree. Today we started the moving process. We'll finish up tomorrow. It was good to be back together for a few days before everything changes. Kayla's been working a lot and sucking us all into watching Pretty Little Liars which airs on ABC Family, but I don't know how, although I guess almost our whole family has been watching it. </div>
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Maya got to see Annie at Grandma's house. Dylan got a lesson in billiards, the electronic version, from Gpa Marc. Thanks to my parents for rides to and from the airport and a spaghetti dinner and swimming the night we got back. </div>
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First one out of the nest. She looks ready. Kayla moves in a few weeks. </div>
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Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-78979272855045919472013-06-17T21:43:00.003-05:002013-06-17T22:07:17.013-05:00Summer is finally here! Hi Everybody,<br />
It's been two months since I posted. It was an extremely busy end to the school year. And I got into Instagram, so I started posting pictures there instead of here. If you want to follow me on Instagram, it's SAH_Contact. Maya asked if she could caption all of these pictures. She has so much fun reading everyone's blog posts and looking at all of the pictures and videos.<br />
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Luna wants in.</div>
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A walk with Luna.</a><br />
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(Walking Luna is always a challenge, but this time was particularly unsuccessful. Luckily Kayla was along to photograph Anna's troubles:))</div>
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Angie, Puddles, and Raindrops: our ducklings for a weekend from Maya's first grade class.</div>
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(They poop like crazy. I changed the newspaper underneath them about every 2 hours and it wasn't enough. In the morning, all 3 were huddled in their food dish to escape their own filth.)</div>
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Dylan gets a (much needed) haircut and takes up Lacrosse.</div>
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Dylan receiving the Continental Math Award and holding a snake. (Good job on both accounts! Both things I have never done and am not likely to do.)<br />
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Me and Grandma Olsen.</div>
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The verbinas and dianthus are huge! The marigolds, not so much. (Jake and Maya made this mailbox garden for me.)<br />
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First day of Just For Kix dance class. </div>
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(Maya started tonight and it was lots of good, organized fun. She's taking the class with a friend from school and they were extremely happy to see one another. Her teacher coaches the high school danceline and taught them a lot in one night. Parents got to watch the last five minutes. They'll be dancing in the Hopkins parade in late July.</div>
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Anna's graduation. (After she received her diploma and shook her Principal's hand, he patted her on the back and smiled. I texted her to ask what that was about. She said she told him he "made a helluva speech". He did. It was about knowing who your friends are and who your heroes are and becoming like your heroes.)<br />
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(Anna crossing the stage and the throwing of the caps.)</div>
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Kayla Marie Denslow.</div>
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(After Anna moves to Mankato State in August, Kayla's moving to Dinkytown with friends in September. It's gonna be weird around here. Dylan's taking Anna's room, Maya's taking Dylan's, Maya's will be an office, and Kayla's will stay set up in case the girls come home to visit. Kayla's taking summer school and continuing to pursue her nursing degree. She loves working at the hospital and has lots of interesting tales. Anna's grad party will be July 14th. I'm getting invites out later this week. I had to redo them 3 times. I hope all of you can make it!)</div>
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Anna just sent these photos to me. We celebrated Father's Day on Saturday night, for Jake. Dylan suggested fireworks and Jake wanted ice cream, so Anna & ran to the store for dulce de leche and these. Jake got a giant gas grill and "wisps". That is how Maya referred to the solar powered garden lights after she saw the movie "Brave". In the movie, there were spirits in the forest called wisps and they do closely resemble the color changing round garden lights.<br />
<br />Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-8683698463961008922013-04-14T20:42:00.000-05:002013-04-14T20:42:04.768-05:00More winter, a traitor, elf shoes, and scrubs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The two faces of Maya (art by Aunt Becky). We had lots of fun at Olivia's dinosaur themed party!</div>
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Dylan teaching Maya to play hockey. There's a few dings on the garage door, but Jake said he doesn't mind since these two playing are outside together. Dylan recently got to go to a Wild game, as well as the Twins opener (below). Luckily, their seats were near a heater.</div>
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April in Minnesota. <br />
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Cutest traitor ever. Dylan's bilingual report on Benedict Arnold. He wore my clothes:)</div>
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Anna's work shoes curl up, revealing her Elvish side. She got some new ones, but couldn't part with these.</div>
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Kayla started working at the hospital. She's on the general medicine floor, so she's gotten to see a little bit of everything. Good experience, but she says it's a little lonely because she doesn't work with the same people often or work as closely with them as she did at the nursing home. She just got back from a weekend visiting friends at college in Madison, though.</div>
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Easter at Grandma's. Anna carried Maya over the snowbanks and helped her hunt. I think she misses those days.</div>
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Maya's special tea party lunch. Jake even included a platter of marshmallows, chocolate chips, and sprinkles. We were trying to cheer her up when her long awaited play date had to cancel.</div>
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My awesome family<br />
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And me, as I frequently appear, pen in hand, ready to make lists and then only do half the stuff I wrote down, under the blanket my mom made when I was in kindergarten.</div>
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Anna in her Mankato State sweatshirt. I still can't believe she's graduating and moving out this summer! I am really going to miss her. I got her an alarm for her apartment and she's made the drive on her own already, so that's some comfort to me. She looks ready.<br />
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I hope all of you are doing well. And I hope it warms up soon! Only 8 more weeks of school.</div>
<br />Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-4844506573843587112013-03-10T12:35:00.001-05:002013-03-10T12:35:15.518-05:00Toothless 100-Year-Olds, Flats, Hair, Trophy, Wedding DressFor Maya's 100th day of school, all of the first graders and their teachers dressed up as 100-year-olds. Maya wore a dress of Anna's, jewelry from her Great-Great Grandma Sophie, and a scarf I found at a thrift store. Maya said, "It even smells like an old lady." (I guess I should have washed it first.) Kayla taught Jake how to put Maya's hair into this bun and Dylan provided the Yoda walking stick. When Jake walked Maya into school wearing this, the principal ran to get her camera.<br />
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This was Great Grandma Sophie's actual 100th birthday party in May of 2000. She looks good, too! </div>
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Another old lady. If a dog really lives 7 dog years for every one human year, she's about 90. I don't know who gave her a sofa pillow, but I have some guesses.</div>
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Maybe inspired by his success with the bun hairdo, Jake watched a video and taught himself how to French braid Maya's hair. And in keeping with the hair theme, Maya told me she's reading "Daisy Head Mazie" to Luna in this picture.<br />
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Mimi's class read "Flat Stanley" and made flat versions of themselves. She sent hers to us so we could take photos of Flat Mimi's adventures, for her school project. We had a lot of fun with Flat Mimi. I took her to school for a photo shoot. My students were intrigued, so we read "Flat Stanley", too and one of them wanted to make a flat of himself. Thanks, Mimi!<br />
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Anna recently got her hair done by a friend who works at a nearby salon. Anna's hair looks great, but reuniting with her stylist friend was not all good. They ended up going to the pet store together. Anna's friend bought a bunny. Two days later, she said she was allergic to it and asked Anna to take it off her hands. Anna did, thinking it would make a nice college apartment companion. Now, I think we're becoming "allergic" to it, too. <br />
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We've been trying to clean out our house. No one was playing Grandma Olsen's old piano, so Mike offered to take it. I think moving it should have been a 6 person job, but Jake and his 2 brothers managed to move it to Mike's trailer.</div>
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Meanwhile, the kids did some backyard sledding in the swimming pool.</div>
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And we got to see the real Mimi (and Annie & Violet), instead of just the flat one. <br />
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Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, Kayla's getting married.</div>
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Just kidding. She's single. But my sister is dabbling in wedding photography and using Kayla as a model. It's definitely disconcerting to see her in this dress.</div>
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Dylan just finished up basketball and his baseball season will be starting soon. Dylan's rec basketball team won it all! They only had one loss all season. They played the team they lost to for the championship and beat them. </div>
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Maya's been getting her exercise outside. These are the snowbanks at the bus stop. She's out in the snow right now with Dylan.<br />
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More toothless than before! Happy March! 11 days until spring. I hope everyone is doing well. </div>
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<br />Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-84203044289777341322013-02-08T21:09:00.000-06:002013-02-08T21:09:44.387-06:00For the birds Winter is for the birds. All of us feel bogged down with work and cooped up in the house, except for Maya. She runs home from the bus stop every day and heads straight out to the back yard to sled down the hill. Jake built a jump for the kids and sometimes her brother or the dogs will join her. I have a couple of times, like when we built this tiny snow creature. Luna attacked it the first chance she got and the flowers from the lei were everywhere.<br />
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Anna and my foot posing together. Anna's got 6 college classes this semester, and then she'll be a junior at Mankato. This will probably be the most classes she ever has to take at once in her life.</div>
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Esther, the cat who can do math. (Not pictured, S'more, the cat who drinks out of the toilet and was recently given a middle name by Maya. S'more Ian Hawley.)<br />
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We took a day trip to the U of M Raptor Center and the Bell Museum, home of the best taxidermy specimens in Minnesota. While we were there, Dylan and Jake fought for an audience of tundra swans, Dylan picked a buck's nose, and it unexpectedly (for me) snowed about 4 inches, making the drive home a bit treacherous.</div>
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Our bird trips were to help Maya prepare for her Imagination Fair project. It included the poster below, a cd of bird sounds, a bird tree, a book she wrote about Baltimore orioles (not the baseball team), and her portfolio of bird art and pictures. She worked very hard!<br />
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In other news, Kayla's been looking for a hospital CNA job and had a couple of good interviews this week. Maya lost her 3rd tooth. Dylan's been doing rec basketball, some baseball clinics, lots of homework, and the occasional guitar lesson to keep busy. Anna's still working at Byerly's. Jake, Kayla, and I have been working out, getting huge, as Jake says:). Anna's boyfriend is taking a trip to California over Valentine's Day, so she says she'll babysit so Jake & I can go out. Pretty sweet! I hope all of you are doing well. Happy Valentine's Day!<br />
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Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-76442887069241073252013-01-01T15:16:00.000-06:002013-01-01T15:16:01.737-06:00Happy 2013!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our winter break has been a blur. It started with 4 consecutive Christmas gatherings, 2 of which were at our house. Then we had Maya's birthday, Katie's wedding reception, strep, and the stomach flu (if anyone got these illnesses from us, I am really sorry!) Today, we had to call a tow truck. Tomorrow it's our 15th wedding anniversary and we go back to work and school. We did have fun, though. We baked cookies and Jake brought gingerbread houses home for the kids to decorate.</div>
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Christmas with our families</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGMBK3gdpcrQ5ZpOvBVDt_RgoKM61EnT441UHo4tJBePozmFOCmczM2F1pVHY2vXJpaku9-v8NRyDq-tTisBMSUCPPPC5NXQUulTluGUbrbmOvOTwYCh_mL-E4suyRDN8qHyCFIGOrBlb/s1600/maya+&+owen+Christmas+eve+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGMBK3gdpcrQ5ZpOvBVDt_RgoKM61EnT441UHo4tJBePozmFOCmczM2F1pVHY2vXJpaku9-v8NRyDq-tTisBMSUCPPPC5NXQUulTluGUbrbmOvOTwYCh_mL-E4suyRDN8qHyCFIGOrBlb/s320/maya+&+owen+Christmas+eve+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAD5bZ3nD0shubOgMNbzH8RslfIuf3bBpwwE3-oS4xiRuoQPltiM0YaVdtRPkEs-a7MDR6TNEhv3Mk_JnNh3OqMQEhM2yHFUZfWK1moJi0QbanoRhyphenhyphen8TuL7U0-8hYyZHwPl2RXw0WRncVF/s1600/owen,+austin+&+maya+christmas+eve+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAD5bZ3nD0shubOgMNbzH8RslfIuf3bBpwwE3-oS4xiRuoQPltiM0YaVdtRPkEs-a7MDR6TNEhv3Mk_JnNh3OqMQEhM2yHFUZfWK1moJi0QbanoRhyphenhyphen8TuL7U0-8hYyZHwPl2RXw0WRncVF/s200/owen,+austin+&+maya+christmas+eve+2012.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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At the beginning of the evening...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRd-BkOU6SXkM_TF_AKQ-SCWPWOR8btDGpu_7WgmE5xLSQNxVKNhxriiSTFDp7WjUw6W-Cu5gunfRGpmWW8WpvH4tL6aSJRj2JDj-jqVZ3xVpGUYhrEyciZ_FvpfTnglh_pHPhsvfMmjW/s1600/IMG_3666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRd-BkOU6SXkM_TF_AKQ-SCWPWOR8btDGpu_7WgmE5xLSQNxVKNhxriiSTFDp7WjUw6W-Cu5gunfRGpmWW8WpvH4tL6aSJRj2JDj-jqVZ3xVpGUYhrEyciZ_FvpfTnglh_pHPhsvfMmjW/s400/IMG_3666.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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and later on. Note that many have lost their footwear and composure.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyaspbIzzskW7kdrrlU5uXhkNr_4q_Oroq_Lgid6V2EHpVv98LWDyp8A3N7PvPKlDHMMfmlxN_RXR1gVV2q9ymvRGO3wv8_JeGb6EGqhgx8qqZKg1-DFgEya5rPP9R-As9L-ADR3jrpjp/s1600/IMG_3676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyaspbIzzskW7kdrrlU5uXhkNr_4q_Oroq_Lgid6V2EHpVv98LWDyp8A3N7PvPKlDHMMfmlxN_RXR1gVV2q9ymvRGO3wv8_JeGb6EGqhgx8qqZKg1-DFgEya5rPP9R-As9L-ADR3jrpjp/s400/IMG_3676.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Christmas at home</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Vi1pxDokLiURyyKozuESnEMu7TcebLftqfmC6n-xw3jXojEY0Ejbefqw-opYrTd65q1hNy8S3bZ4a6jZMQLHwPTLoW09IqulYADnviM3PX3KnrnqniqxPHL-aeqJ8vec18873dXPShPA/s1600/2012-12-08+09.24.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Vi1pxDokLiURyyKozuESnEMu7TcebLftqfmC6n-xw3jXojEY0Ejbefqw-opYrTd65q1hNy8S3bZ4a6jZMQLHwPTLoW09IqulYADnviM3PX3KnrnqniqxPHL-aeqJ8vec18873dXPShPA/s1600/2012-12-08+09.24.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Vi1pxDokLiURyyKozuESnEMu7TcebLftqfmC6n-xw3jXojEY0Ejbefqw-opYrTd65q1hNy8S3bZ4a6jZMQLHwPTLoW09IqulYADnviM3PX3KnrnqniqxPHL-aeqJ8vec18873dXPShPA/s320/2012-12-08+09.24.54.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrDxtbzpjoBNMlL_2CXJgcq18onrM8bDcs6GMlPMBRwLDr308vy-Kk3QsOKwp7sJBNy2Hir1pIPiVY4XZD-hgcGWbC_3Ucrb-_7VS13Sk1Zwm6oUqwjiz6uRKVkceNihRcmomU8PXl5eF/s1600/2012-12-24+15.13.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrDxtbzpjoBNMlL_2CXJgcq18onrM8bDcs6GMlPMBRwLDr308vy-Kk3QsOKwp7sJBNy2Hir1pIPiVY4XZD-hgcGWbC_3Ucrb-_7VS13Sk1Zwm6oUqwjiz6uRKVkceNihRcmomU8PXl5eF/s320/2012-12-24+15.13.43.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazotMRimrIz5NIpUflDwgvlKhfZmRmG_d6qtpMmjcL7vvY6gLwQjxw6pHuWpIRFnZYd2cAO4JGdeYnPQLS-pWEknJ_2RJYZG5B81lo519LV1W7Vq8NF3NQOp8uH-_ZCV20WSeBHkX69qN/s1600/2012-12-24+15.19.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazotMRimrIz5NIpUflDwgvlKhfZmRmG_d6qtpMmjcL7vvY6gLwQjxw6pHuWpIRFnZYd2cAO4JGdeYnPQLS-pWEknJ_2RJYZG5B81lo519LV1W7Vq8NF3NQOp8uH-_ZCV20WSeBHkX69qN/s320/2012-12-24+15.19.45.jpg" width="320" /><br />
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Maya's 7th birthday party</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZN7r0MfGvnX4yZdpOi3vFRSdPMOmCIdlgM4UIe3zrwJMDaWfUEcbiKxjV9tU1JvOXBHb9vC6kyLTIJD2WVndNET5cYLToj7j6IeJi75QEkv_4PTY0G5loAV3YYbwiESB4ZfasNt7sYhD/s1600/2012-12-24+15.22.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZN7r0MfGvnX4yZdpOi3vFRSdPMOmCIdlgM4UIe3zrwJMDaWfUEcbiKxjV9tU1JvOXBHb9vC6kyLTIJD2WVndNET5cYLToj7j6IeJi75QEkv_4PTY0G5loAV3YYbwiESB4ZfasNt7sYhD/s200/2012-12-24+15.22.56.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKLYuovMSxV0IT2Ax7QK_CivhoJKRUBa5I2yZlrM2iP4Cu6ocfNe9EnhnoL-3R2w1SQBKMXIY7RY6L-r29CE3x5wuHkvphe8zYoaIBG1A7EsNlH23LMiGBpiHxkWuqpTWuaYBmMC5E58r/s1600/IMG_3700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKLYuovMSxV0IT2Ax7QK_CivhoJKRUBa5I2yZlrM2iP4Cu6ocfNe9EnhnoL-3R2w1SQBKMXIY7RY6L-r29CE3x5wuHkvphe8zYoaIBG1A7EsNlH23LMiGBpiHxkWuqpTWuaYBmMC5E58r/s320/IMG_3700.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3R8UduabWtK7gzoxPZwAzxnd0G4MD_rrqrGjrCBcbBMo2GfwTOAOIehGXkNWgBufJhSRVHRwpryGvRDX6p8Z5O5ivuPxPWUcRQj4ztKAWq597Bzay-n1xT27Ufk5QJAXCIxzYYgWBQEd/s1600/maya+&+owen+at+pump+it+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3R8UduabWtK7gzoxPZwAzxnd0G4MD_rrqrGjrCBcbBMo2GfwTOAOIehGXkNWgBufJhSRVHRwpryGvRDX6p8Z5O5ivuPxPWUcRQj4ztKAWq597Bzay-n1xT27Ufk5QJAXCIxzYYgWBQEd/s320/maya+&+owen+at+pump+it+up.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgi2k-YdvSIWwEBue57MzNv_mJHVZI66TmUE3ucYCjafpqaB2DvooYnMkvw6SDT4AUkeJcSc_0VrskPNCXCmdfdM0zrtgrYpGDpidLZ5BbjPUjLQSV9RvkmFJw3st54MzANT5Cxb_U0Io/s1600/IMG_3697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgi2k-YdvSIWwEBue57MzNv_mJHVZI66TmUE3ucYCjafpqaB2DvooYnMkvw6SDT4AUkeJcSc_0VrskPNCXCmdfdM0zrtgrYpGDpidLZ5BbjPUjLQSV9RvkmFJw3st54MzANT5Cxb_U0Io/s320/IMG_3697.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEN1H3EFJyIP5Y7IkkCqUVdKXuq3UE4p3vut7XfuQdZMzOCVjx3QegXE2UnPf2VlrBWaz5qBa-GV16vlgUA565q133LtyzHMKT7TxExhviy7e0QkZuMpGH3BNxpvw3WcGeLbYDACgb0Fr/s1600/IMG_3691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEN1H3EFJyIP5Y7IkkCqUVdKXuq3UE4p3vut7XfuQdZMzOCVjx3QegXE2UnPf2VlrBWaz5qBa-GV16vlgUA565q133LtyzHMKT7TxExhviy7e0QkZuMpGH3BNxpvw3WcGeLbYDACgb0Fr/s320/IMG_3691.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGP0ZRSqWnhXvsZMHCRl6cub8EtAQndh07zZhJPKGoXaxHYbl016SJtDmnH8PMrCOdb6ECMGh131eeAOZNd93WKKjaqYfuvVruMwEOUrCWQnYJj7Fy1TAdqp1cUdWrCwuSJRbwJB-8OpK/s1600/IMG_3706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGP0ZRSqWnhXvsZMHCRl6cub8EtAQndh07zZhJPKGoXaxHYbl016SJtDmnH8PMrCOdb6ECMGh131eeAOZNd93WKKjaqYfuvVruMwEOUrCWQnYJj7Fy1TAdqp1cUdWrCwuSJRbwJB-8OpK/s320/IMG_3706.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4vv4ogeelM5GlG66WtLm5YYnEbPnpFl2UlHpS9F3XBCS5nbAlvlsPn0s-Z8p0bJWSLNaZRhmGnEvwEQ3fXkLdObWSOK-aiaSjfkQtuWYn7P88JVSzKwArgdNBES_dsUuNq4wZTK61563/s1600/IMG_3710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4vv4ogeelM5GlG66WtLm5YYnEbPnpFl2UlHpS9F3XBCS5nbAlvlsPn0s-Z8p0bJWSLNaZRhmGnEvwEQ3fXkLdObWSOK-aiaSjfkQtuWYn7P88JVSzKwArgdNBES_dsUuNq4wZTK61563/s640/IMG_3710.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoggu07oHAecbfgfh3l1UlC6jrmKCEYaqB1IAlDmzERGeOI8750ZWBywYc9pxT4ch3UT6NN97HMGOR8yoqcGuYlNpMgtCeXijHdMdI_dj_LoIuducF1PP41dVvmvEuQNUx8nEz2AreMKBr/s1600/IMG_3719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoggu07oHAecbfgfh3l1UlC6jrmKCEYaqB1IAlDmzERGeOI8750ZWBywYc9pxT4ch3UT6NN97HMGOR8yoqcGuYlNpMgtCeXijHdMdI_dj_LoIuducF1PP41dVvmvEuQNUx8nEz2AreMKBr/s1600/IMG_3719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoggu07oHAecbfgfh3l1UlC6jrmKCEYaqB1IAlDmzERGeOI8750ZWBywYc9pxT4ch3UT6NN97HMGOR8yoqcGuYlNpMgtCeXijHdMdI_dj_LoIuducF1PP41dVvmvEuQNUx8nEz2AreMKBr/s320/IMG_3719.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the attendant rubbing her face, Maya picking her nose, <br />
and the wastebasket in between them. A picture of hygiene!<br />
Maybe this contributed to the strep throat and stomach flu.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</a><br />
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Sledding with cousins in the backyard.<br />
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Anna's debacle. I couldn't say much. I did something similar in the same driveway 17 years ago. It was Christmas and I had Kayla (2) and Anna (6 months) in the car and was heading to my parents' house. My departure was a bit delayed. This was the 3rd time a car from our driveway ended up in the same neighbors' yard. Jake reminded me that our former renter did it, too. </div>
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After it was all taken care of, Jake said, "I'm going to go move Anna's car back to her spot." I told him to be careful. He said, "I'm just gonna gun it and not look in my mirrors. Tell Anna I ended up in the other neighbor's yard."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdzYPnZHbYWutLai0Gj9UeoqRHDFteyqHgtAreR1vJQarpIY4cXWnvspeS7dQjPeuE4Sl4SbXGc6aBtk7zd3nfGeGNl1lqhR4IqrP4OW-t8tZ7Bxzoc_QOYJXYnSS6iBHFJy7A21nOia7/s1600/2013-01-01+09.22.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdzYPnZHbYWutLai0Gj9UeoqRHDFteyqHgtAreR1vJQarpIY4cXWnvspeS7dQjPeuE4Sl4SbXGc6aBtk7zd3nfGeGNl1lqhR4IqrP4OW-t8tZ7Bxzoc_QOYJXYnSS6iBHFJy7A21nOia7/s400/2013-01-01+09.22.39.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Jake signing the waiver absolving the towing company of fault in case of a rollover.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiL3ktWnsfvjfJN9voTcmp-NPxnWD9WfKTlwtwv9Tp6ph9vsQ_BCYgVeFBu1TrCr2rK4D9f21sBju3zSkGbIvjRYOUmZzJ75IEeRmtogVERMlpxeyYIPM_lj7MvqS6LRGWz9MPv2GOg0T/s1600/blazer+waiver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiL3ktWnsfvjfJN9voTcmp-NPxnWD9WfKTlwtwv9Tp6ph9vsQ_BCYgVeFBu1TrCr2rK4D9f21sBju3zSkGbIvjRYOUmZzJ75IEeRmtogVERMlpxeyYIPM_lj7MvqS6LRGWz9MPv2GOg0T/s320/blazer+waiver.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYe9n_ceUOux22aVzYYf_AHlxBIwXm-qVw4fqxcytMz54E-LgLjZcpQglfAhd1G6LP1u5eKdYTiuaULGUbxuKLOctvnbF4VfMiSprdqARIjb2Q0r9_TqeFbf0ZK76vylo688Mbjyh_jyzM/s1600/blazer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYe9n_ceUOux22aVzYYf_AHlxBIwXm-qVw4fqxcytMz54E-LgLjZcpQglfAhd1G6LP1u5eKdYTiuaULGUbxuKLOctvnbF4VfMiSprdqARIjb2Q0r9_TqeFbf0ZK76vylo688Mbjyh_jyzM/s200/blazer1.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDKeB3-PyS1HhXlr3qYTcyNL549oFplz6eMGXPtZtcg-r_k8zgqzN6QZYg-ZqZ4XA2ig5CKVqWVPOp5INjIEbDRVBKL9cFhgx58nHOOI57FueWP7yBKxvD7W_ZIcUsR_zhXVvvi5OVsgL/s1600/blazer3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDKeB3-PyS1HhXlr3qYTcyNL549oFplz6eMGXPtZtcg-r_k8zgqzN6QZYg-ZqZ4XA2ig5CKVqWVPOp5INjIEbDRVBKL9cFhgx58nHOOI57FueWP7yBKxvD7W_ZIcUsR_zhXVvvi5OVsgL/s320/blazer3.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Go Skippers!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWeufRGhyphenhyphenFv13WDaZmXGD15uLcmO-zfP2ZvjlVtMYkfj7vf3NzSjGseo6qcN_ZvytNLvAMCL0o-M1jkKIilTgYwk_fbhVxAbEMtcPmMo2iOMZ8ckkNq7QwQxBX-TRaNtSghdEeHCG6CC0/s1600/Dylan+looking+awesome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWeufRGhyphenhyphenFv13WDaZmXGD15uLcmO-zfP2ZvjlVtMYkfj7vf3NzSjGseo6qcN_ZvytNLvAMCL0o-M1jkKIilTgYwk_fbhVxAbEMtcPmMo2iOMZ8ckkNq7QwQxBX-TRaNtSghdEeHCG6CC0/s320/Dylan+looking+awesome.jpg" width="320" /></a>Watching "Gossip Girl"</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPd5iGc7s1MuQYeEAcXw6V0IpaXi1_kMTEJURLYyb1NXY94j-l7XGDmIdAtcPCJqosSHhRwOx2TEA177eiNgrtHvrD7WoswAyY9StHE6QA_ub09LaORNDNvHkGjJh9eOTMl10ftbyK9KO/s1600/gossip+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPd5iGc7s1MuQYeEAcXw6V0IpaXi1_kMTEJURLYyb1NXY94j-l7XGDmIdAtcPCJqosSHhRwOx2TEA177eiNgrtHvrD7WoswAyY9StHE6QA_ub09LaORNDNvHkGjJh9eOTMl10ftbyK9KO/s320/gossip+girl.jpg" width="241" /></a><br />
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At Byerly's, off duty<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOofuwM3aECDtejJwmTAKWmaPG0uUK9OQkhyphenhyphenVe1pRav0vWrmekHzK9fX8t4fFeew_Yvh9MAsjmOzBWjur2SX0tUv0jx-_BXzNeakGphVA31vrUpsJCMqYPlvqFfJDrmXNZo8g5YUAkov3p/s1600/IMG_3660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOofuwM3aECDtejJwmTAKWmaPG0uUK9OQkhyphenhyphenVe1pRav0vWrmekHzK9fX8t4fFeew_Yvh9MAsjmOzBWjur2SX0tUv0jx-_BXzNeakGphVA31vrUpsJCMqYPlvqFfJDrmXNZo8g5YUAkov3p/s320/IMG_3660.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
playing in the snow is fun from maya<br />
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Happy New Year to all of you!<br />
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Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-56376166859335094792012-12-07T21:58:00.000-06:002012-12-07T21:58:47.703-06:00High speed chase ends under our deck<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Two nights ago, I awoke with a start at 1 am. I believed I'd heard a noise. Nothing looked out of place, so I checked on all four kids. They were all sleeping soundly. I felt fearful enough that I woke Jake and talked to him about renewing our home security system. Jake fell back to sleep immediately, as he is always able to do. I watched Wild Russia and fell back to sleep shortly before 2 am. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">About an hour later, I was awakened again, this time to Luna's persistent barking. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I quickly became aware of strange lights and noises. It wasn't the plow; there was no snow. No, it was a helicopter, hovering directly over our house, shining light as bright as day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Out the front window, cop cars lined the street on both sides. The excited whimpering of an unfamiliar dog beckoned me to the back yard. It was a K-9 German Shepherd. Our other dog was cowering against the back of our fence. Men were yelling for us to get her out of there. Jake had to drag her in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">From the sliding glass door, I spied a bald, middle-aged, black man in handcuffs, 2 feet from Kayla's bedroom window. (Later, I discovered that was one of the 2 windows in our entire house that wasn't locked.) I ran downstairs, peeked out the basement window, and counted 11 police officers outside in my back yard, between Kayla's room and the basement living room window. There were more in the front yard and street.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">The officers continued to shout over the sound of the chopper. Anna, 12 feet away, had to be hauled upstairs half asleep and quite confused. Kayla's wide eyes had to be pried away from her window. Not knowing if there were any other criminals loose in our yard, I ushered them both upstairs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">The view from the front window was equally surreal. We counted 14 cop cars, including some State Patrol, on our dead end street, the same street that attracted exactly 2 trick-or-treaters this Halloween. It felt kinda like the end of the Tom Hanks movie, The 'Burbs. All of the action had triggered our motion lights and outdoor Christmas lights, so things were looking bright and festive. I felt momentary relief (followed by fleeting shame for my pettiness:)) that Jake had taken the leg lamp out of our front window. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Jake, Kayla, Anna, and I watched from our darkened living room as the 11 officers ushered the one man in handcuffs from our backyard into the street in front of our house and then into the back seat of a State Patrol car. Once he was in custody, the mood in the street changed noticeably. One officer asked jokingly,"So was this his girlfriend's house, then?" That was where the guy had told them he was going.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">A couple of police officers came up to the house to talk to me and Jake. They told us that this had been a high speed chase that started with a routine traffic stop 10 miles away. The man was drunk, took off when police pulled him over, reached speeds as high as 130, and crashed a couple blocks away from our house. (The next day, I found 2 hubcaps and a downed street sign where he crashed.) </span><span style="font-family: Courier New;">At that point, he took off on foot, zigzagging through our neighborhood. They said he ran through our front garage door, out our back garage door, jumped our fence, and went under our deck, where they caught him. <span style="font-family: Courier New;">The officers said he was a repeat offender, with multiple DWIs, and that he had fled police before. Recidivism. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;"> </span><span style="font-family: Courier New;">We'll be replacing those 60-year-old warped garage doors. They don't even shut tightly. And we're reinstating and upgrading our alarm system. In addition to these steps, it has taken 2 days and 3 phone calls, one to each police department involved in the arrest, to assuage my fears. </span><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Unfortunately, the chase started in the same neighborhood where a child protection case involving one of my students also began. It took some convincing for me accept that the two were unrelated. It really was merely a freakish coincidence that a high speed chase ended under my deck at the same time I was being threatened by an angry parent from the same neighborhood. What are the odds?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Last night, we started to wonder what the neighbors think. I mean, we had a helicopter hovering over our back yard. Jake talked to a few of them. One had been awake and witnessed the zigzagging footrace through the neighborhood. The whole thing is unbelievable. But I hope you believe me. More importantly, we are all okay, very grateful for each other and for the police who apprehended him before he had the chance to get into our house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Kayla boldly snapped these pics:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUFQ7Ffv-4dcBvwM_M7GFAIjfErNjDbHwZqywl0t506YOwmxbvNpaUjRfWd7_trcSVPBiEh3HsOaHfrx7RaWkVh8uHnOQiYDXBUCbjz8Vw1jRpE9mH92x288_SikuavBCxqeNCoQq5quH/s1600/cop2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUFQ7Ffv-4dcBvwM_M7GFAIjfErNjDbHwZqywl0t506YOwmxbvNpaUjRfWd7_trcSVPBiEh3HsOaHfrx7RaWkVh8uHnOQiYDXBUCbjz8Vw1jRpE9mH92x288_SikuavBCxqeNCoQq5quH/s640/cop2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEr4_3euT-5kZipq1zVCcA6G_1tOLMvjLmFKE6pV4VzZlEjuI2tcQVdjrmkSgITYwWp1Rdf6-d9nSMlua3sJunDPWPOabTgRiEAHLnd7tpOjd_5APBpV6juGPCJfB4nuKLeJ47VhtA99D/s1600/cop3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEr4_3euT-5kZipq1zVCcA6G_1tOLMvjLmFKE6pV4VzZlEjuI2tcQVdjrmkSgITYwWp1Rdf6-d9nSMlua3sJunDPWPOabTgRiEAHLnd7tpOjd_5APBpV6juGPCJfB4nuKLeJ47VhtA99D/s640/cop3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tT2zhPy5Q56GSVc3Yv83Y-DD0ZmfMEatMGnwcr3yh-onqK3a4aFnlYoqC5df-NCljA5UR3zISLgXmbZBcRsu8P_UhnPEgIAjwqGxMAlGvFeReHd-zRI2L2prX0mzTeddwLozIO4NgvUW/s1600/cop1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tT2zhPy5Q56GSVc3Yv83Y-DD0ZmfMEatMGnwcr3yh-onqK3a4aFnlYoqC5df-NCljA5UR3zISLgXmbZBcRsu8P_UhnPEgIAjwqGxMAlGvFeReHd-zRI2L2prX0mzTeddwLozIO4NgvUW/s640/cop1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-79370137890311136062012-12-02T17:55:00.003-06:002012-12-02T17:55:54.106-06:00Chuck Norris makes onions cry<br />
Happy December! This year has flown by, especially the months that involve school. The kids are doing well. Dylan's playing basketball and Maya's keeping busy with her art and writing. Speaking of school...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDUeB8ssmsIncLqvL7bnSPldDXegh5Vtxtwovj-Te4-_xyTiGV98UTlURLe8dJ5e-992pHBEMx6v0m-z4M7T0tktXRbdCQ9w64d0Rpv1KDW7qsbPrb-FKTg2IFloWMfkX4it0LKnb8vMw/s1600/2012-10-22+16.07.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDUeB8ssmsIncLqvL7bnSPldDXegh5Vtxtwovj-Te4-_xyTiGV98UTlURLe8dJ5e-992pHBEMx6v0m-z4M7T0tktXRbdCQ9w64d0Rpv1KDW7qsbPrb-FKTg2IFloWMfkX4it0LKnb8vMw/s400/2012-10-22+16.07.55.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLgvTMsTe-MUkPQHQ_WPPkDyJoJG1hLkygUzW9dWsq31HpiSrSUEqUHo7SbE3m0FG3-2ggYy129t3z3xtmZxnRhsCSzPvHsbWclEym4Ls_Xdm9BF8qF_wF7bzPdxqHPBIkoEJjqZnavUr/s1600/2012-10-22+20.40.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLgvTMsTe-MUkPQHQ_WPPkDyJoJG1hLkygUzW9dWsq31HpiSrSUEqUHo7SbE3m0FG3-2ggYy129t3z3xtmZxnRhsCSzPvHsbWclEym4Ls_Xdm9BF8qF_wF7bzPdxqHPBIkoEJjqZnavUr/s400/2012-10-22+20.40.22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This week at school, one of my imaginative, verbal students (who threatens the staff daily) yelled at me, "I'm gonna get Chuck Norris to come here and defeat you." I took it as high praise, that he thought it would take the likes of Chuck Norris, Texas Ranger, to defeat me. I mean, I am not that tough. It also sent me on a search for Chuck Norris jokes. Here are some of my favorite clean ones: </div>
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Chuck Norris refers to himself in the 4th person.</div>
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Superman owns a pair of Chuck Norris pajamas.</div>
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Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.</div>
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When Chuck Norris' wife asks him nicely to do the dishes, he throws them in the garbage and tells her she looks fat.</div>
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Chuck Norris can speak Braille.</div>
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The only time Chuck Norris has ever been wrong was the time he thought he made a mistake.</div>
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Chuck Norris' driver's license photo looks amazing!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaBY_5lSFEYULFLOnjoLathjeeeaxbfEqSnCr_05zM4PSU8JqB8xbCoSmR5uFO4zrbiy_GFG_14-jIAfoqKNZg7aDi16Kc3mzYFLjSgVLJnq9v4eYMjw3PpwdwGWpUZXCHLkR3shelN6D/s1600/2012-10-22+15.37.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaBY_5lSFEYULFLOnjoLathjeeeaxbfEqSnCr_05zM4PSU8JqB8xbCoSmR5uFO4zrbiy_GFG_14-jIAfoqKNZg7aDi16Kc3mzYFLjSgVLJnq9v4eYMjw3PpwdwGWpUZXCHLkR3shelN6D/s400/2012-10-22+15.37.11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And here is a glimpse of what Jake has been doing at work:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZCpPgofGPpjZW7b-5lBISVPtsCcUnbLt1wwXaJrJAWx0RlT67ZZ3APm4A_C9Ub7XV3Cnw_cgWkPSC2ODdmmL5zXQ9cQS2039134n2m-gyREZ14GI0hgxZH9ff2Q9feeR_MYHwznNqVYI/s1600/2012-11-14+18.08.28-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZCpPgofGPpjZW7b-5lBISVPtsCcUnbLt1wwXaJrJAWx0RlT67ZZ3APm4A_C9Ub7XV3Cnw_cgWkPSC2ODdmmL5zXQ9cQS2039134n2m-gyREZ14GI0hgxZH9ff2Q9feeR_MYHwznNqVYI/s640/2012-11-14+18.08.28-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJyE7CFlg3IcPaX16a9M4yvK8k1t3zc5JJibBA-wDCywpESudSfXruPRKjJ_AxUvR0go5o7zcccli854rEZJD4TtFXZI0jEieYD1jpmnDcoldU2ijT2HohyIaDe2yj-puCUGmAcGCtnii/s1600/2012-11-16+15.05.51-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJyE7CFlg3IcPaX16a9M4yvK8k1t3zc5JJibBA-wDCywpESudSfXruPRKjJ_AxUvR0go5o7zcccli854rEZJD4TtFXZI0jEieYD1jpmnDcoldU2ijT2HohyIaDe2yj-puCUGmAcGCtnii/s640/2012-11-16+15.05.51-2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEXyFMRqWzPSgFoeqAF_-_QMXkj6TJiG1nRuBpKvGqeWKoMR9MkA6JjWO6qZjizX14Fc6eLcKY5iwDNu6n__UJ3_dMgEKFS_5QrzMWhDeUsM79f0tdZznZ-7pC51DJYZVXVHZ58ZS7BzQ/s1600/2012-11-16+17.37.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEXyFMRqWzPSgFoeqAF_-_QMXkj6TJiG1nRuBpKvGqeWKoMR9MkA6JjWO6qZjizX14Fc6eLcKY5iwDNu6n__UJ3_dMgEKFS_5QrzMWhDeUsM79f0tdZznZ-7pC51DJYZVXVHZ58ZS7BzQ/s640/2012-11-16+17.37.03.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_9RNnyGFWG6lf7nv6hlmrMGb3Q6SOBTWUvSQPEyClJKFYwn9qYFboeukJYHr2pct0XxNupQ7q9oZBIqwpnu_fyyurUsIOt8i79VSYVU7Pi6gwU1Kywewn-AreDO_nds2gXKlVdGRjsTH/s1600/2012-11-16+17.39.20-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_9RNnyGFWG6lf7nv6hlmrMGb3Q6SOBTWUvSQPEyClJKFYwn9qYFboeukJYHr2pct0XxNupQ7q9oZBIqwpnu_fyyurUsIOt8i79VSYVU7Pi6gwU1Kywewn-AreDO_nds2gXKlVdGRjsTH/s640/2012-11-16+17.39.20-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Those were photos from the group that had a 12 course dinner in the the banquet kitchen. And this is the additional candy the club supplied to the members' children so they could adequately decorate their gingerbread houses.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2shNV0HyvunjCs4DsKmA59WAU7Xn99hHcP-26VPzkq5RqYjQxiQK58AqRmpxtEfYUtrYwB377jzla4JcJG43qVGYjyZ7dOnfKTOOY_F7iWc4YpvHbuJPx_J3UiB00HuwrA7XDmJEUJmNk/s1600/2012-11-25+13.29.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2shNV0HyvunjCs4DsKmA59WAU7Xn99hHcP-26VPzkq5RqYjQxiQK58AqRmpxtEfYUtrYwB377jzla4JcJG43qVGYjyZ7dOnfKTOOY_F7iWc4YpvHbuJPx_J3UiB00HuwrA7XDmJEUJmNk/s640/2012-11-25+13.29.06.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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This one is proof that I was right about our dog. Looks like Cujo.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhVYoIJ-pfuQg0R3q9FDPZAFsnaVE8eToz-EHPvcLxG6AgwVmhjTHbhxyv2DjtMOucDa1kxxv3Q1Kd2kF-WheGLlN4m2MO566beOK3JB7hdVRuprg6RckMeopIE76xP4wT2JHrqJcOv2y/s1600/2012-11-19+21.29.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhVYoIJ-pfuQg0R3q9FDPZAFsnaVE8eToz-EHPvcLxG6AgwVmhjTHbhxyv2DjtMOucDa1kxxv3Q1Kd2kF-WheGLlN4m2MO566beOK3JB7hdVRuprg6RckMeopIE76xP4wT2JHrqJcOv2y/s640/2012-11-19+21.29.24.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JgoYEHw_jDZ0TOExNn5K_CNVdb4WWLNAdNeCMUBckMvi4H9xYmj8igoDSOYFHHudmRqiIrPLxiqHoPM0Dh_zk-rQbiOBplesgDmG8yqoh49wOCrIn97tkhIVkXOl2AKQRcJBfbcrqbcW/s1600/2012-11-25+20.36.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JgoYEHw_jDZ0TOExNn5K_CNVdb4WWLNAdNeCMUBckMvi4H9xYmj8igoDSOYFHHudmRqiIrPLxiqHoPM0Dh_zk-rQbiOBplesgDmG8yqoh49wOCrIn97tkhIVkXOl2AKQRcJBfbcrqbcW/s400/2012-11-25+20.36.56.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Maya with her animal cards (she just told me it's a Desert Spiny Lizard) and Dylan building a fire pit.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlmAWNt0VW-AHQ0t2BHdMFvzfiPudG1edBi4FtBgZ9gKhW1PKdgCbshOqDxLwAl2i4N8Pz2kFwCSa77paoeXUdzyzN0voGKh168EO_369dvfQO-XK4P62zr5gVo4LnT_HevsbTXetZs2L/s1600/2012-11-26+14.17.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlmAWNt0VW-AHQ0t2BHdMFvzfiPudG1edBi4FtBgZ9gKhW1PKdgCbshOqDxLwAl2i4N8Pz2kFwCSa77paoeXUdzyzN0voGKh168EO_369dvfQO-XK4P62zr5gVo4LnT_HevsbTXetZs2L/s400/2012-11-26+14.17.07.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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After a conversation that I thought was just playful banter, Jake seriously purchased a replica of the leg lamp from A Christmas Story. After looking at it for a couple of minutes, I asked him if he could please put it away until closer to Christmas. Which he did, and I don't even know where it is now. So we have that to look forward to and enjoy this holiday season.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWi6mdqQz1zfZH_PwqTUN8Ss9cimJOXffwSaNDA5E2vzDcDRdQqsOXogYq-axJTEeqr9gvbRfZp33pe7WHOIzs1mi4tsMA6g8cKFIFMNSkg9vIxwSysc2O0ZDo9ybAfT94ADJ4cD_N3xHf/s1600/2012-11-28+21.43.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWi6mdqQz1zfZH_PwqTUN8Ss9cimJOXffwSaNDA5E2vzDcDRdQqsOXogYq-axJTEeqr9gvbRfZp33pe7WHOIzs1mi4tsMA6g8cKFIFMNSkg9vIxwSysc2O0ZDo9ybAfT94ADJ4cD_N3xHf/s640/2012-11-28+21.43.20.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Pictures from Kayla's phone. Our good cat, Esther.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkn9lVgD8FXUzMTIDXcwv-VQzrhN6qIjOt9EKguTHmp7y1kBq_KTBXd4M-sOVBQJeUufio9jC9EKj2vnJ7ujRf1kCzNJ_Ye9WwGRGXBJmGzpb9HfJNbIY8MzHvycZGV_LxWlZq5hI8LiJ/s1600/esther.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkn9lVgD8FXUzMTIDXcwv-VQzrhN6qIjOt9EKguTHmp7y1kBq_KTBXd4M-sOVBQJeUufio9jC9EKj2vnJ7ujRf1kCzNJ_Ye9WwGRGXBJmGzpb9HfJNbIY8MzHvycZGV_LxWlZq5hI8LiJ/s1600/esther.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEu4QoTDnoaw8sjIMMZc6o0XdWCbVZrMHoM_js7qqAnks-cuv9bYf4vbBtcjidt8-U4Y8LU-L29t_jdHdED3TVYI_W-GYJ9bls3yWRmhKgfq2QiuORbWuN8ertyaesBRtX40s_-ZQGTMM/s1600/imagejpeg_24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEu4QoTDnoaw8sjIMMZc6o0XdWCbVZrMHoM_js7qqAnks-cuv9bYf4vbBtcjidt8-U4Y8LU-L29t_jdHdED3TVYI_W-GYJ9bls3yWRmhKgfq2QiuORbWuN8ertyaesBRtX40s_-ZQGTMM/s1600/imagejpeg_24.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtulCrHstViVfD_6GHbNUseprt4vvKIY_rP9nTCBiRGLsq_M7-JyU1cn5gxE8y01sLPUNa8Cr_dstOWw4SpSRoVcJdyPSnTxzX6ok43lRh2yBHreq7wpVD4V4z6e3qrc5VYTI3dw1Vl_r/s1600/strength.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtulCrHstViVfD_6GHbNUseprt4vvKIY_rP9nTCBiRGLsq_M7-JyU1cn5gxE8y01sLPUNa8Cr_dstOWw4SpSRoVcJdyPSnTxzX6ok43lRh2yBHreq7wpVD4V4z6e3qrc5VYTI3dw1Vl_r/s1600/strength.jpg" /></a></div>
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Kayla got her "first" tattoo. The photo she sent was the first I knew of it. She said strength was the word of the year for her, since she lost 2 friends and worked full time at the nursing home.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciTdL2sDyw7uzsSi7au9aMUpZzgjl6ar0xxm5RtEaiW5KB96iKjbG1JP4AGq9sYA676-Dt_23IXsEUaldQ4QgnvhPTF6SErJm2dBBYX0ZaJB-_uaPMMSYCN33zFfQgOHXM9xxb6N1Y4Xx/s1600/IMG_3618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciTdL2sDyw7uzsSi7au9aMUpZzgjl6ar0xxm5RtEaiW5KB96iKjbG1JP4AGq9sYA676-Dt_23IXsEUaldQ4QgnvhPTF6SErJm2dBBYX0ZaJB-_uaPMMSYCN33zFfQgOHXM9xxb6N1Y4Xx/s400/IMG_3618.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFN0aOLuZ9idtC2QEYz1QTkPisEAmLRmIh4XTIc10pTvMhErogMbgxPE5Y0TnSUh_Hrf5h0B4ERYCQQ0JnidASItPyFMmaOf__1c1DsNJ5HtGyN6Sju0DlmInYCpXpPiM0IO97NgI2IiP/s1600/IMG_3621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFN0aOLuZ9idtC2QEYz1QTkPisEAmLRmIh4XTIc10pTvMhErogMbgxPE5Y0TnSUh_Hrf5h0B4ERYCQQ0JnidASItPyFMmaOf__1c1DsNJ5HtGyN6Sju0DlmInYCpXpPiM0IO97NgI2IiP/s400/IMG_3621.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Anna and I had a great road trip to Minnesota State University in Mankato. We visited the English department, toured the campus, were impressed by the student union, and found an apartment she likes. She recently submitted her application to the college and plans to move in August. She's thinking about an interdepartmental major that combines English and Mass Communications.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbtGnCP-d7poinCRALU3d5OUm2CYzlTrUhHHaM0s2LvZsjPkGC6sKj13HaAn0CKMAXJK4MZD2hbEGe5trWk-3lbHgeMf29-jj641m-jf9EiUNERRuPcluEilnIf0-2z_mXfaqvWTKn4x8/s1600/IMG_3630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbtGnCP-d7poinCRALU3d5OUm2CYzlTrUhHHaM0s2LvZsjPkGC6sKj13HaAn0CKMAXJK4MZD2hbEGe5trWk-3lbHgeMf29-jj641m-jf9EiUNERRuPcluEilnIf0-2z_mXfaqvWTKn4x8/s320/IMG_3630.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was great to see everybody at Grandma Olsen's house on Thanksgiving! </div>
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Owen, Matt, Dylan, Violet, Mimi, Maya, Annie...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlatBZer6hOBmoiPJZgCSbkWu1MrIwER1OO2F7QmlUofHhKajkk4WG-sKBnDsyXENlM1tcE5NGB8s0ARnhQnq-k6Zgl5xIU2ast1nbGfvulHJZ9tO_WTK8Jj9NiRGK39128HqrLBqYEZsb/s1600/IMG_3634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlatBZer6hOBmoiPJZgCSbkWu1MrIwER1OO2F7QmlUofHhKajkk4WG-sKBnDsyXENlM1tcE5NGB8s0ARnhQnq-k6Zgl5xIU2ast1nbGfvulHJZ9tO_WTK8Jj9NiRGK39128HqrLBqYEZsb/s640/IMG_3634.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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and Austin.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xf3MsSUJ8lhLFYXy2xcDO7WMjdnbBLkhXSX6RL3ntsSZHo4TtdB2gwruY_Hr6QVZ6fqg6F17WfOpi6KHFSZ6blrpoCm8g9u7BGYuLPWqH3ucl1P_M1S4aiPfIzhClyqSLDVuYP5iC1Pt/s1600/IMG_3637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xf3MsSUJ8lhLFYXy2xcDO7WMjdnbBLkhXSX6RL3ntsSZHo4TtdB2gwruY_Hr6QVZ6fqg6F17WfOpi6KHFSZ6blrpoCm8g9u7BGYuLPWqH3ucl1P_M1S4aiPfIzhClyqSLDVuYP5iC1Pt/s320/IMG_3637.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Owen and Maya playing "Flush the Toilet" on their own. I'd better get off the computer and help Maya bake cookies now. I'm looking forward to seeing all of you in December.</div>
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<br />Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-60933825573372315282012-11-19T18:37:00.001-06:002012-11-19T18:38:06.833-06:00Happy Thanksgiving!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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First of all, congratulations to the newlyweds, Katie and Christian! Kayla and I enjoyed Katie's Skype shower very much. It was fun get to spend so much time virtually seeing Katie again. </div>
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All of these teenage cousins are fast becoming adults. Kayla and Anna are both talking of moving out this summer, when they will be 18 & 20. Yesterday, I teared up just thinking about how my baby will be turning 7 soon. </div>
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As it turned out, though, 3 of my 4 kids still dressed up for Halloween. I thought only Maya would. But Kayla went to a college party as Catwoman, which didn't really warm my heart. I felt better when Catwoman got home safely. I was even happier when she got a CNA job offer in the new geriatric psych ward at Ridgeview Medical center. She's still working out the details on that one, looking for a schedule that works for her.</div>
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Dylan regretted his no trick-or-treating decision at the last minute, which did warm my heart. Harry's family was still home and they were excited he could make it, so he dressed up as a Boise State fan, and went with them. Dylan recently started rec basketball too, which should keep him busy through the winter months.</div>
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Jake got out the drill and made this disco ball pumpkin for us. Maya <em>loves</em> decorating for holidays. Jake was off today and at Maya's urging, put Christmas lights on the house and decorations in the front yard. She danced barefoot in the yard (it was 55 degrees outside) and made up a song.</div>
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Last weekend, Jake and a few others at Lafayette executed a 14-course dinner for an elite party of 10. Dinner was served in the banquet kitchen to rave reviews. I'll see if I can get a few pictures of that for the next post. Or maybe Jake can show you the DVD of the event.</div>
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Anna and I went to Bob Dylan. I warned her that nothing shatters your illusions like a Dylan concert. She grudgingly agreed when he opened his mouth to sing. The quality of his voice is equal to that of this photo. Unrecognizable. But still quite an experience. Mark Knopfler (of Dire Straits fame) played before him and with him for 2 songs. He sounded great and he was funny, too. Mostly, it was just fun to do something with Anna. We'll have more of that this week as we visit a college or two and check out housing options.</div>
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Since I've been posting so many pictures of this grizzly bear, I thought you'd like to see that he or she is settling in for the winter. As these three seem to be:</div>
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Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-8436004380161122412012-10-17T19:36:00.000-05:002012-10-17T19:36:29.234-05:00Fall<br />
Life gets crazy in September and October, but now it's MEA break. I wonder who goes to the MEA conference. I would, if it was mandatory or if I would be paid no less than $5,000 to attend. Most things have their price. I asked Kayla how much money it would take for her to sell our cat, S'more. She stood firm in the hundreds, but started wavering around $1,000. We almost tried to <em>give</em> Luna away a few weeks ago, but Anna saved her with her tears and empty promises of taking her to the dog park. Mostly it was the tears, since Anna doesn't break those out too often. Anna's doing well at school. Byerly's offered her a supervisor position, but she declined since in the restaurant biz, waiting tables pays better. Kayla's job searching for a nursing assistant position at a hospital and has an interview next week.<br />
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Maya's loving first grade. She's still into birds, like this Victoria Crowned Pigeon which she immediately identified at the zoo. Thanks to Kelly for the great zoo pics! And here's Maya's awesome peacock Halloween costume. I think she might be the only one of my kids to dress up this year.</div>
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Jake took these picks at the end of our street. There's a couple of days each fall when the trees make a red golden tunnel over the road and this year, we didn't miss it.<br />
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Dylan turned 11! He had a busy 3 day weekend: went to a friend's house, spent the night at Isaac's and went to his party at Grand Slam the next day, then his last baseball game, 2 more friends' houses and a family party. The family party was also for Michelle & Isaac, who share a birthday with each other and Matt. Some of Dylan's highlights were playing with fire and having pumpkin pie instead of cake. Highlights for me were hearing the voices and laughter pouring into the house while I worked in the kitchen and having my grandparents there.<br />
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I was just at Cub with Dylan and he insisted we use the self-check out. In his excitement, he butted in line. I nudged him and he quickly apologized to the guy in front of us. The man responded instantly, "Are you sorry you cut in front of me or are you sorry you're wearing that Packers jersey?" Dylan laughed pretty hard and said, "I wear this jersey with pride!" <br />
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<br />Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-3247662891911453292012-09-25T19:00:00.000-05:002012-09-25T19:01:11.709-05:00Jake's Fourth Family Food Feature<br />
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Jake just returned from East Lansing, Michigan, where he attended a week long Club Manager training. He brought us all Michigan State gear, perfect for me, since I was a Richfield Spartan (although not a very enthusiastic one) and my favorite color is green. Upon his return, Jake accompanied us on another trip to the MN Zoo. Maya would go every day if she could. Then, last night, he and Dave went to the Rush concert. He reported that, as usual, it was a predominantly male, white and nerdy, 40-year old-crowd, Geddy attempted to dance, and the music was good. I think Rush concerts are about the only place where men have to wait in line for the bathroom and women don't.</div>
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The kids are doing well. Maya started gymnastics. First grade is good. Every day, she makes lists of birds and animals, reads about them, looks them up on the computer and draws them. Dylan's playing fall ball. He has games Sept. 29, Oct. 6th, 13th and 14th, if you want to attend. Anna helped a lot while Jake was gone, getting kids off to school and taking our psychotic dogs to the dog park. Her classes are interesting. And she asked me to go to Bob Dylan with her in November. How could I refuse? Kayla's added working out to her 6 day work week plus school regime. She was just sleeping on the couch behind me, but she must have slumped downstairs. </div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">September article by Jake:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Welcome to
fall y’all!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to thank my staff as
well as staff in other departments for a great summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all know that Lafayette Club is a
destination spot for all things, especially during the summer months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The summer of 2012 was one of the busiest in
my memory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you so much for the
hard work, diligence, patience, inspiration, creativity and “digging in” to get
it all accomplished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, many thanks
to the membership for the opportunity to be part of a special place to so many.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have an
admission to make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have left something
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my past articles I recounted my
memories of food, eating and gathering with my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a big chunk missing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I only have one page to try and get down 18 years of praise, gratitude
and humility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From about the age of four
to the age of 13, my mom raised five kids on her own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She worked three part-time jobs, year round,
to make ends meet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was a substitute
teacher, she did administrative work for a business person, and she taught piano
lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time, we kids always
felt like we were getting the raw end of the deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No sugary breakfast cereal, we never went out
to eat (except for birthdays) and we had to eat homemade bread.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homemade
bread in our house was not from a bread maker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The process usually began on Saturday mornings around 5:00 a.m. (at
least that’s what it felt like).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom
ground her own wheat to make the flour to make the bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The grinder was in the basement in the
laundry room, next to the room that I shared with my two brothers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you ever ground wheat?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you haven’t, understand that a helicopter
could land in your yard and you wouldn’t hear it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I think she ground the wheat out of
parental spite toward a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If so,
touché, Mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dough was usually
proofing on the counter by early afternoon, punched down, re-proofed, formed,
baked and cooling by late afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That was bread for the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Looking back, the bread was fantastic.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The wheat
that we had in the house (two 30 gallon drums) was also used for breakfast
cereal a couple of times a week during the winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The night before, the whole wheat would go in
the crock pot with water to be slow-cooked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No kid wakes up and says, “Ooh, yay, whole wheat cereal!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But once you got some half and half and some
brown sugar in the mix, it was pretty dang good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still do this from time to time with my
kids and get the same reaction out of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hot, whole wheat cereal must be timeless.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My cousin
Maureen and her family live a couple miles away and had a huge garden from
which we would get bushels and bushels of sweet corn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d spend an afternoon, shucking, boiling,
cutting, bagging and freezing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best
part of freezing corn is eating the “planks” of corn cut from the cob when it’s
still hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bags and bags and bags were
laid up for the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We always had good
corn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would also pick apples and can
applesauce, cooked apples and make apple pies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One afternoon, Aunt Dorothy came over and we made 30 apple pies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dough was made from scratch (using lard
instead of butter or Crisco).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We kids
had the task of peeling, coring and cutting the apples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our hands we purple with “apple rust” when we
finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the pies were done, 15 of
them were distributed about the neighborhood to families, friends and even
people we didn’t know too well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">About once a
month, Mom would garner the energy on a Sunday night to fix up a treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the summer, it tended to be what we called
“scones”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it was a recipe from
my grandma who’s Scottish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basically
it’s dough that you cut into smallish pieces and fry in oil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once out of the oil, dab dry with paper
towels and roll in sugar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only issue
with this process was that when we’d find out that Ma was making scones, we’d
go tell the neighbor kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretty soon,
there were 10-15 bikes laying down in the yard and a bunch of kids waiting for
scones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d sit on the steps with our
napkin and blazing hot scones and chow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It wasn’t a bad way to spend an evening in the summer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks, Mom.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-65017382471222669722012-09-17T20:43:00.003-05:002012-09-17T20:43:49.777-05:00Anyone want a free couch with a litter box full of rain water on top?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This couch has been sitting in our neighbor's yard for a few months. It started out facing forward, complete with cushions, looking pretty good, with a FREE sign. That night it rained. I figured they'd move the couch, but no. By and by it rained again, the cushions disappeared, and they turned the couch around. Eventually, the couch became faded and torn and more rain fell. I have sort of been counting and I believe rain has fallen on it seven times. </div>
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Yesterday, the neighbors placed this new FREE sign upon the couch, tucked into what appears to be a litter box. Last night, we got more rain. The Dead End sign is just bonus. This has brought me as much enjoyment as the Sign Spotting books. Maybe I should make them an offer.</div>
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<br />Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-35219795041965611472012-09-06T18:57:00.001-05:002012-09-06T18:57:21.969-05:00Back to school<br />
School's off to a good start for all of us. Since Maya started 1st grade and is in school full days now, Jake has been able to get much of his work done during the school day and has been home an unprecedented 4 nights this week. It's awesome! He's been taking the dogs and kids to the dog park each night. Luna (not yet 6 months old) is the large one in the foreground.<br />
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We switched Maya from Spanish to English, since the former seemed to be causing unnecessary stress for her. She has adjusted very well to full days. Dylan looped up from 4th grade to 5th with the same teacher and he's doing great. Here they are waiting for the bus on the 1st day of school.<br />
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Anna's got 5 classes at Normandale, 2 of which are online. The other 3 just meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so she has time to work at Byerly's and study. <br />
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Kayla's taking 2 classes at Hennepin Tech. and working full time. She's relishing her employee of the month parking spot. <br />
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Kayla and Sam at a Japanese friend's party.</div>
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My favorite pic from Kayla's hour long stream of Pinterest pictures:</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Here is Jake's next installment, his 3rd club newsletter article:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Excerpts
from the mind and memory of a chef (3rd installation):<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the past
two issues of the Inkling, I have recounted various memories I have had as a
child with respect to family, food & eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have briefly expressed what stuck in my
mind from my childhood as I was exposed to the importance of being with family
and how our meals have a great impact on how as adults, we have the great
opportunity and responsibility to do the same for the next generation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For those
that don’t know, I have two step-daughters ages 19 and 17 and I have been a
part of their lives since the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I also have a 10-year old son and a six-year old daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wife and I met while working at the old
Copperstein restaurant on County Road 19 in Tonka Bay (many of you may recall
that spot).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I have progressed through
the culinary world and my wife has moved on to her career, meal times at home
can be quite hectic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With four kids,
likes and dislikes vary greatly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I am
home making dinner, it is very possible that I am making three or four
different meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each kid has their
favorites.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Exposing the
kids to new and different things has always been a challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They love my pot roast, pork ribs and
risotto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One kid doesn’t like to eat
fresh fruit, but I’m a stickler for a balanced diet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gets fresh squeezed juice in the
mornings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll throw carrots, apples,
grapes, a wad of pineapple, a few strawberries and Cara Cara oranges into the
juice extractor and he’ll chug ten ounces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The little girl will eat broccoli like no one’s business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year, she’s helping tend to broccoli
plants and she can’t wait to eat the broccoli she’s helped cultivate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also helps pick our strawberries (which
she will eat) and tomatoes (which she will not eat but is more than happy to
harvest). The older girls love when I make bacon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know just how they like it and I always
hold some back because they’ll eat all of it if no one’s watching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have all enjoyed picking wild raspberries
and strawberries along the North Shore and having little else for a snack.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our favorite
family meal takes place in the spring, summer and fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pull the grill out into the driveway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We set up a couple of tables and pull out our
collapsible lawn chairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boy and I
usually go to the store for our very important ingredients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depending on the time of year, some of the
ingredients come from the garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
prep work begins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dice onions, puree
garlic, cut olives (nice ones), shave some celery, peel some orange zest, pick
rosemary, oregano & chives (chop ‘em up) and get some banana peppers out of
the garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We buy a nice, crusty
sourdough loaf and slice it thick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
drizzle it with a little olive oil and dust it with sea salt and fresh cracked
pepper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll grill the bread just before
the meal is ready to serve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a pot on
the grill, I start with the olive oil, garlic & onions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heat that up and start adding the other
ingredients in order of cook time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
son wants to do all the work (I just instruct him with the how’s and
when’s).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the very end, we dump in the
cleaned mussels, a splash of white wine and put the cover on the pot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We fire the bread, get everyone outside and
once the mussels pop, we’re set to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
pour the mussels and vegetable mix into a large bowl in the center of the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We put a big ladle in it and the self-service
commences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We put plastic buckets on the
ground for mussel shell disposal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
bread we dip in olive oil or soak up the amazing mussel broth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a lot of finger licking (wouldn’t
want to waste the flavor on a napkin) and laughing and the click of mussel
shells hitting the buckets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We finish
the event by walking the dogs while the meal settles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is my
favorite meal and I hope that my kids pass this one on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">See you at
the Club,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jake</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Jake's cheese plate for his mom's book group. In his next article, he reminisces about his mom's cooking...</span></div>
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Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-3070872914455450672012-08-27T22:00:00.000-05:002012-08-27T22:00:19.694-05:00The Talbergs (and Giant Creatures)
This is Jake's 2nd of 4 articles (so far) on the topic of family memories created around food. Again, he may have exaggerated a detail or two.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Excerpts from the mind and memory of a chef (installation #2):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My maternal grandparents lived in Foley, MN.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had an old farmhouse replete with a
dilapidated red barn in which we had our unsupervised childhood fun (mostly
hassling the “polydactylated” barn cats).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When my family would gather, feeding everyone was quite a task.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To understand the volume of food that would
be required to feed a gathering of my family, consider that on my mom’s side of
the family, there are 43 grandchildren.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of those grandkids had kids, include aunts, uncles, friends and
you’ve got a healthy sized group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now,
rest assured that every get-together did not include everyone for any number of
reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what my grandma produced
out of her farmhouse kitchen was nothing short of extraordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My grandma worked in Wayzata when my mother was young,
tending to the children of the Whitney family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As I progressed in the culinary world, she was always inquisitive of how
the operations worked, what we did, how did it compare to when she was in the
“industry”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her interest in my work, as
well as that of my youngest brother always brought her a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Conversely, the first time I beat her in
cribbage was the last time she ever played with me (that, I suppose was the
German in her).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My grandpa did tree work
and worked construction, worked on the Alaskan pipeline where he witnessed men
drink antifreeze to keep warm (they were drunk, then dead) and in Guam where he
lost the lower half of his leg in a pile-driver accident. But what they
cultivated on their property is still talked about in my family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My grandpa planted a fruit tree for every grandkid, mine was
apricot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had two gardens where <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>ALL</u></b> of their fruits and
vegetables were produced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They canned
and froze everything. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sauerkraut was
made in clay pots and buried in the ground to be exhumed the following
spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rows and rows of the best corn I
have eaten in my life, potatoes both Russet and sweet, peas, beans, beets, red
currants for jelly, strawberries, raspberries and cucumbers for pickles to name
just a few things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cellar shelves
were loaded with year’s worth of supplies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a true cellar, one light bulb, a wringer dryer and a toilet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But try getting a kid to use it with all the
spiders and other creepy crawlies down there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No thanks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meal times were chaos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Adults ate first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If kids entered
prior, they would be chased out of the kitchen with the fly-swatter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It hung on the wall and I have no idea how my
grandma commandeered it so quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
kids ate in the stairway, no room in the kitchen, dining area or living
room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oldest cousins sat at the top and
the youngest at the bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was
great pride in rising to the top of the stairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Reason was, if you were on the top and someone spilled milk (which
happened every time), you were safe and thus could eat uninterrupted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once my grandparents passed, my mom and her remaining
siblings were tasked with cleaning out the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She asked if there was anything I wanted from
the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without hesitation I replied,
“the jelly jar that’s shaped like an apple and the little plaque with the
dinner bell that read ‘Good bread, good meat, good gosh, let’s eat.’”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told me later that 25 of my cousins had
requested the plaque.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were fond of
the food, the visits and the company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When gathering with family now, we still talk about the food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It came from nowhere and it came from
everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks Ruth & George!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">See you at the Club, Jake</span></div>
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Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-83756842076669348372012-08-25T12:20:00.001-05:002012-08-25T12:20:56.088-05:00Work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Kayla is up north with her dad's family this week. She texted me that she was "crowned employee of the month!!!" at the nursing home. Anna started waiting tables at Byerly's, which is proving to be an excellent job for her. She's also been refinishing a lovely bedroom set generously donated by her great grandparents, so she's keeping busy. Next week, Kayla heads back to Henn. Tech and Anna to Normandale. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>"I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now." -Bob Dylan, My Back Pages</em></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Two nights ago, the club hosted this fundraiser. Jake said he wouldn't be on the news, so we didn't tape it and I had to resort to rewinding and photographing the tv. But there he is, with his sous chef, moving their cars to accommodate the event. At this moment, they were saying to each other that this had better not be on the news. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It's been a crazy busy summer for Jake at the club. Writing a monthly article for the club newspaper is just one of the multitude of things that he does. I think his summer articles are particularly rich and well-written, so I asked if I could post them here. He agreed, but wanted to include the disclaimer that he embellished a detail here and there to make for a better read. So, this is Jake's June article (I'll post the others later):</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Excerpts from the mind and memory of a chef (installation
#1):<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">As a 9 to 13 year old, my brothers and I would spend a few
weeks in the summer with my paternal grandparents in northern California.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My grandpa was a part-time custodian at his
church, a part-time swimming pool salesman and a full-time walnut orchard
owner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grandma worked part-time for my
uncle in his dental practice doing the filing and appointments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their ten acres of trees were surrounded by
an irrigation ditch covered in wild blackberry brambles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Morning sojourns to collect the berries
resulted in poor yields.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would eat more
than we would save.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d return with black
syrupy juice dried all over our faces and shirts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mollie, their golden retriever, would go to
the end of the long drive to get the Sacramento Bee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’d slobber all over the paper, but she
always got a treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our next chore was
to go to the chicken coop to pluck any eggs the hens may have laid over
night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would usually be rewarded with
four or five (except for a five day dry spell when the hens wouldn’t lay
because a black widow spider decided the coop was a great place to hang her
web.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grandpa found her and took care of
her with two 2x4’s).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d have a quick
breakfast and then get on with our day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’d hop on the tractor with Grandpa while he disked the soil into dykes
to ready the orchard for irrigation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Irrigation would be a day long process starting with opening the
irrigation valves and flooding the north sector.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two hours later with shovels in hand, we’d
break the dykes and allow the water to flow into the next section and so on
until the last section was flooded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each
time an area was emptied, we’d go and collect the crawfish that lay exposed and
run them up to the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Freshwater
crawfish aren’t too bad when you catch them yourself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Some days we’d go across the street and get kiwis from the
orchard there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other days we’d skip over
a couple of lots and get peaches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
never, ever went to the store to buy produce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Grandma and Grandpa always knew and traded with someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walnuts for honeydew, blackberries for corn,
eggs for peaches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d visit our cousins
in Yuba City and stop at road side stands for other fruits and vegetables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rode in the bed of Grandpa’s Chevy pick-up
past a tomato distribution center where semi trucks full of tomatoes would
endlessly enter, dropping tomatoes on the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The pavement was always stained red and the bees were thick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Past that were the almond and pecan orchards,
followed by the peaches and nectarines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was always impressed at the linear nature of the orchards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we’d whip by them quickly (Grandpa
always drove fast) the passing rows created a hypnotic pattern if you
positioned yourself just right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
always amazed with the growing of food there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Food is important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Food
creates memories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kids remember food,
they remember where they were, what they ate, how it tasted, who was there when
they ate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As adults, we share meals with
friends and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We invite them to
our homes; we meet them at restaurants and converse over food and wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These gatherings are important, especially
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyday can be a memory and so
often it revolves around food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lafayette
Club is a great place for these memories to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We as staff are fortunate to be a part of
this process.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">See you at the Club,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Jake</span></div>
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Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-72100299615599987012012-08-14T08:37:00.000-05:002012-08-14T08:37:09.117-05:00On vacation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgpOjOCDBrvf8te7j2y1ih-WgHImcWLVsviKU8Ep4GT5fOOFDpclaHG73Cib5P4GfgpOUed_N72qNiKaPmqf2d5APGvsMkErjJJYYujhWhVZlSFFUqdkRUZWiOrdTHfiEmGvl-efVCLn_/s1600/IMG_3380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgpOjOCDBrvf8te7j2y1ih-WgHImcWLVsviKU8Ep4GT5fOOFDpclaHG73Cib5P4GfgpOUed_N72qNiKaPmqf2d5APGvsMkErjJJYYujhWhVZlSFFUqdkRUZWiOrdTHfiEmGvl-efVCLn_/s320/IMG_3380.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6XivgHP0xreEFZ0LSXar4LhQ96J7jLUv0IN-KABKADb0TUHLYRQpTXjj0mT_eNMiSILWQJaYarssJfi2c4Z4tOJntVCUIn3AODwTm2k41rFdCNsNVIq_aB6-MJU3osjda1wRbvW_JffE/s1600/IMG_3383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6XivgHP0xreEFZ0LSXar4LhQ96J7jLUv0IN-KABKADb0TUHLYRQpTXjj0mT_eNMiSILWQJaYarssJfi2c4Z4tOJntVCUIn3AODwTm2k41rFdCNsNVIq_aB6-MJU3osjda1wRbvW_JffE/s320/IMG_3383.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Jake had the week off. It was great to have him home. Actually, we weren't home that much. We started off the week by visiting Mike & Jen in South Dakota. Everyone had a great time swimming, & spending time with cousins and seeing the animals. <br />
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The baby goats were at the Bramble Park Zoo, where they also had a fat coyote, albino peacocks, and Maya's favorite, the Lady Ross Turaco. She's really into birds right now.</div>
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After a day or two at home, we headed to Marissa's family cabin in Wisconsin. We had a great time fishing, swimming and relaxing. </div>
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I found the following pics on Dylan's camera. (Sara, maybe you can pass the lizard one on to Jimmy). This is Dylan's leopard gecko, Sesto. Named for a Lamborghini, I think.</div>
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The week before our family vacation, Dylan went up north into the BWCACWA (or whatever) with his friend's family. Looks like he had a good time, there, too.<br />
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Dylan's bunk must be the one with the blanket Grandma Olsen made for Jake which Dylan claimed as his own.<br />
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I've never thought of taking a picture in the Mpls tunnel, but it is a good feeling to know you're getting close to home. <br />
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While Dylan was away, Maya successfully completed swimming lessons. This was a daunting challenge for her, but she overcame her fears of the deep water and putting her face in. As a reward, she got to go to the U of M Raptor center. She's especially interested in birds of prey as of late. Her favorite was the turkey vulture. Here she is with other faves, the one eyed bald eagle and the peregrine falcon. She impressed the tour guide by already knowing all of the birds given names and details about each one. She'd been studying their website for weeks. </div>
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Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-43164815519872363592012-08-01T14:01:00.003-05:002012-08-01T14:01:38.495-05:00Dylan's band<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For the 3rd year in a row, Dylan's guitar teacher formed a summer student band. This is one of the songs they performed at Mtka. Music in Excelsior. This one showcases Dylan's emerging rap skills. He's up north with his friend this week and I'm missing him a lot!Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-26311121032042396302012-07-21T22:12:00.000-05:002012-07-21T22:12:25.646-05:00Outtakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We had some extra tix, so we gave some to the 4 guys sitting next to Isaac, Dylan, & Harry. The blonde guy with glasses seemed to particularly enjoy being in our pictures. Isaac and Dylan, not so much. Jake says he will remember this as the birthday when Dylan didn't smile. He did, plenty, but like his cousin Violet does, he turned it off as soon as he saw the camera.<br />
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Dylan commented that this was the first birthday party he'd ever been to where no one cried. But he'll have to keep waiting for that because Maya wounded her knees and cried pretty hard. And I think Owen might have cried, too.<br />
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Blonde guy strikes again.</div>
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Check out the guys on either side of Becky and India in this one.</div>
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Now blonde guy's friend is smiling at my camera and my own son is still trying hard not to smile.</div>
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Jake says this is the closest Dylan came to smiling for a picture and Jack needs a speech bubble that says, "Dylan, quit spitting on my back!" </div>Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-29779103997184604312012-07-18T14:59:00.003-05:002012-07-18T14:59:35.917-05:00July!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For my birthday, Maya asked for money and shopped at the Dollar Tree. She was assisted by a friendly cashier, who shooed me out of the way. Maya selected a coconut cup, giant flowers for my hair, parrot paper cups, Hulu dancer and flamingo sugar cookies tied with a ribbon, a coloring book and a spray bottle for me. I heard her asking the cashier, "Do you have any gift bags?"</div>
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On my birthday, I slept in. At 8 a.m., I ambled into the living room.</div>
Jake was at work, Dylan was at a friend's, Kayla and Anna were downstairs, but Maya was waiting for me. "Happy Birthday, Mom!" she exclaimed. "You're 42! And it's Bacon Fest today!"<br />
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The First Annual Bacon Fest event was held at Michelle & Scott's house. It was a benefit for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The event included the Bacon Trolley, Cold Stone Creamery Bacon flavored ice cream, Maple Bacon Long Johns from Yo Yo Donuts, bacon flavored powders by Jake, many other bacon dishes...<br />
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...and a reporter from Kare 11. Bacon Fest made the 45 second feel good piece at the end of the 5:00 news. Watch for Bacon Fest 2 next summer!<br />
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Minecrafting & pyromania</div>
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Photobombing</div>
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Stylin'</div>
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This week, Anna purchased her first vehicle and exhaled with relief and breathed in freedom, or something like that. Kayla traded in her Malibu and bought a GMC Jimmy, too, but I don't have a picture of that yet.</div>
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Hanging with cousins at the playground. Dylan and Annie learning to swing:)</div>
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<strong>And, finally, Jake turns 40! </strong></div>
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<br /></div>Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-47186008615946176422012-06-26T18:51:00.004-05:002012-06-26T18:51:53.741-05:00Sad time for Kayla<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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(Sara, Kayla, and Danielle)</div>
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It's been a year of painful losses and growth for Kayla. On President's Day, her close friend, Danielle, was killed in a car accident near Alexandria, MN. She and 3 friends were heading back to college in North Dakota. On Sunday, Kayla lost her friend Sara, too. Both girls graduated with Kayla and both were on the danceline at Minnetonka High School. <br />
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Working at Sunrise has helped Kayla learn how to handle loss and grief, but she commented that is so much easier there because the people at the nursing home have lived full lives. Sara's funeral will be held at Westwood Church on Saturday. Please keep Kayla and her friends in your thoughts and prayers. They've been through a lot lately.Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-34606030948320258992012-06-24T11:16:00.000-05:002012-06-24T11:16:52.020-05:00Baseball ends.Dylan's final baseball game of the season brought the team and some of the moms to tears. They were the Red Sox. After their first game, we raised our eyebrows and winced slightly with concern. But they proved us wrong. They became a group of friends who supported each other and played well together. One made an unlikely catch to win a game and grinned awkwardly as his team mobbed him. Another dusted off his goggles and crawled over the plate when his slide at home fell short. He was safe. The crowd went wild. <br />
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The Red Sox coaches gave them nicknames like Voodoo for Vukovich and Hawk for Hawley. Jake referred to Trapnell as Shrapnel. Bong didn't need a nickname. There were 5 younger siblings who attended all the games and ran like a pack, without any quarrels.The parents and grandparents enjoyed a camaraderie I have rarely felt. So we all had high hopes as the Red Sox entered their single elimination tournament last week. The 3rd game of the tournament, it was cold and they played in a steady rain. They were up 9-8 in the 4th inning (of 6) when the game was called due to lightning. <br />
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Three days later, the Red Sox were allowed to pick up where they left off. Again, the rain fell steadily. Two players were uncharacteristically absent. The teams were small and it was understood that they needed all of the players or subs. When the two families were contacted, both had received emails that the field were closed due to rain. Both had soccer players, too. The soccer fields were closed, not the baseball fields, but they have the same name and the email didn't specify. The 2 families hustled to get their sons to the game.<br />
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At 7:10 pm, the opposing team's coach forced the Red Sox to forfeit. At 7:11, Bong arrived. The opposing coach refused to relent and brought out his Little League Rule Book. That's when the Red Sox' eyes filled with tears. But they still wanted to play.<br />
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So, Dylan's team entered into a game they knew they couldn't win in a tournament that was over for them. They played hard, got behind, rallied and took the lead in the 6th, but ended up losing by one point in the pouring rain. By this time, the game had spanned two evenings and 4 hours of play. That's when I got choked up. It was an unfortunate way for such a good team of 10-year-olds to end their season. <br />
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During all of this drama, Maya waded into 6 inches of standing water, filled her rain boots and soaked her clothing. So she had to sit in the van. Three of her baseball sibling compadres joined her for a van party, oblivious to their brothers' demise. And the next night, everyone attended the team party at the coach's home. Again, all the kids were drenched. This time, when Voodoo got ahold of the hose. We had fun, Jake made great food, and the coaches talked about how winning was easy and the important thing was to be able to lose gracefully, which the Red Sox had done.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wua_CleSniB0_fprhXbbiOyIrbmVVhzxrBtSd8ZSzWxbg3FQp40PnuYJPTkid50vKpdDad6BC3jOJzKu_Kz2tJFhZ59UwDxVIIvcA9BhQf9LN2LXRjo-L-ECb81JvASyoBmIHf5cKmI9/s1600/IMG_3012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wua_CleSniB0_fprhXbbiOyIrbmVVhzxrBtSd8ZSzWxbg3FQp40PnuYJPTkid50vKpdDad6BC3jOJzKu_Kz2tJFhZ59UwDxVIIvcA9BhQf9LN2LXRjo-L-ECb81JvASyoBmIHf5cKmI9/s320/IMG_3012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-68876023571433739262012-06-21T16:48:00.003-05:002012-06-21T16:48:53.416-05:00I was trying to show comments and accidentally deleted all of them. So, please, send some more. But I still don't know how to show them.Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-9323811900735346302012-06-20T14:18:00.000-05:002012-06-20T14:19:22.416-05:00School's out for summer!<br />
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Summer has been busy already. Kayla is working 6 days a week at Sunrise Assisted Living and has been promoted to Shift Leader.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maya graduated kindergarten. On "I Can Do Anything Day", one student brought her sugar glider. It's a marsupial that makes machine like clicking noises and soars. Another student brought a bow and arrows, one brought fishing tackle and cast off in the classroom, one told a dirty joke. Maya danced in a homemade toucan costume to "I Wanna Party" from the Rio soundtrack. She refused all suggestions of choreography.</td></tr>
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The weekend after school let out, Jake & I got to get away to Bayfield, WI to see Trampled By Turtles at the Big Top Chatauqua tent. Thanks to Becky & Leif for babysitting! We had so much fun.</div>
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Luna proves that she really is a Mountain Dog (right). Dylan quickly realized that she is a chick magnet, on our recent walk into Excelsior.<br />
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Anna has her driver's license! She's been driving herself to work at the dry cleaners and around town. We're sharing the '98 Camry with 272,540 miles on it. She's broken a door handle and scratched the rear bumper, but that kind of damage on a car like that is barely noticeable. Except when I have to roll down my window to reach the outside door handle to get out of the car.</div>
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Maya's loving summer! Pictured here at the Excelsior beach, Grandma and Grandpa's pool and in her own pool. You can see someone's arm on the left in Maya's pool, but no one can prove that it's Dylan:)<br />
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New garden and solar powered globes. Not done justice here.</div>
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<br /></div>Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8236864194053471669.post-52157235210102574072012-05-28T15:06:00.000-05:002012-05-28T15:06:12.890-05:00Catching up<br />
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Our spring break zoocation: We went to Como, MN Zoo and Sea Life at MOA.</div>
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Sorry I don't remember what this plant was called. Let me know if you know.<br />
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Leafy, cool sea dragons at the MN Zoo </div>
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This is the sequence of events whenever Maya invites Dylan to join our Go Fish game:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMAlKzUxvwFUqUi7ugKLfHu7eMkcApg1yOpzE7c5ZqyNcE_1P0f7Fjeqkx0OYPQFyFgkBxJ-fXX_aw_befI-dD-vLt5_97zBGiL-DTHV-urYqDvSiZTyrcyq8dlDNWePIpPxtUIjPTzCj/s1600/IMG_2898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMAlKzUxvwFUqUi7ugKLfHu7eMkcApg1yOpzE7c5ZqyNcE_1P0f7Fjeqkx0OYPQFyFgkBxJ-fXX_aw_befI-dD-vLt5_97zBGiL-DTHV-urYqDvSiZTyrcyq8dlDNWePIpPxtUIjPTzCj/s320/IMG_2898.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Final score: Dylan 19, Maya 6, Steph 1 (and I helped her get all of her 6)</div>
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Moral: The odds are always in the favor of the one with the better vantage point.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uKvHNI8MHdzrjyunmvZzXhw2gpXS7kzvEAsvClbwf7Kydjddx8xDI5DSO8dGsH3AyZlDZmbWfUX3B4LB41UgWcwERFzLxOFERSxpSID2-P16sXIuuGCxyismDhHsIX6AUoiVa0EV4o1w/s1600/IMG_2832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uKvHNI8MHdzrjyunmvZzXhw2gpXS7kzvEAsvClbwf7Kydjddx8xDI5DSO8dGsH3AyZlDZmbWfUX3B4LB41UgWcwERFzLxOFERSxpSID2-P16sXIuuGCxyismDhHsIX6AUoiVa0EV4o1w/s320/IMG_2832.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Guess what? We were going to get chickens. We've enjoyed the eggs from Mike & Jen's and we got the necessary permission from the city and most of our neighbors. (Not the neighbor who has only waved back to me once in 17 years, mows his lawn in the dark and was on his roof during the lightning storm and tornado warning last night, but all of the others were enthused or at least accommodating.) Now we have a puppy, which I knew would be less rewarding than having a human baby, but I guess I had forgotten just how much less! She is learning to go for walks without lying down and to bite the blanket instead of me. When she can figure out where she's supposed to eliminate, then our chicken conversation will resume. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMDS9vck-07yZx-HjHXSLKmCp5NsV_3NI1O1pIpdOayE7iOacV_bZ5YyQx7oYK4OymxfGvMfNKCG9-AL6OIz5F1nh6plRa3pcwagyHjR4YCsi2XkWMl1fEU3ORF1uFgDoswKh1LodHK3M/s1600/IMAG0250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMDS9vck-07yZx-HjHXSLKmCp5NsV_3NI1O1pIpdOayE7iOacV_bZ5YyQx7oYK4OymxfGvMfNKCG9-AL6OIz5F1nh6plRa3pcwagyHjR4YCsi2XkWMl1fEU3ORF1uFgDoswKh1LodHK3M/s320/IMAG0250.jpg" width="241" /></a>Maya recently received several new outfits from a friend, had several to choose from, and went straight for Bieber!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyw5ktRabJ3e3YXVGb0rOy7yU9BFdn31a1Wpeh8lTINUHV_5YlIVdR9O9-sSuIsLHxoHeFC0AScEMCqXmnh_803IAmzqKamv6Qhkb4_XGCE_IVzR91YIZHd1tWUoBPASmsGJXvEqvJ1hQc/s1600/IMAG0307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyw5ktRabJ3e3YXVGb0rOy7yU9BFdn31a1Wpeh8lTINUHV_5YlIVdR9O9-sSuIsLHxoHeFC0AScEMCqXmnh_803IAmzqKamv6Qhkb4_XGCE_IVzR91YIZHd1tWUoBPASmsGJXvEqvJ1hQc/s320/IMAG0307.jpg" width="241" /></a>Not a Bieber fan. In fact, she has been busted listening to Bob Dylan recently. The times they are a changin'. </div>
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A winning photo of Kayla and Sam at yet another losing Twins game.</div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Mom/Downloads/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="file:///C:/Users/Mom/Downloads/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKs18eDhZ5mCJoZ_e9RV-f9jf3E2R5Px0PjdNUeuZvbjb-ziztc5nDLL1oWezAu7xUTbGdqdl3mBN7MC9b_EjR36dPLD_a7s11gIMn_PGFvozabVurR0_TR4yKqv2pULbXeFNzzfRKHDM/s1600/IMG_2886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKs18eDhZ5mCJoZ_e9RV-f9jf3E2R5Px0PjdNUeuZvbjb-ziztc5nDLL1oWezAu7xUTbGdqdl3mBN7MC9b_EjR36dPLD_a7s11gIMn_PGFvozabVurR0_TR4yKqv2pULbXeFNzzfRKHDM/s320/IMG_2886.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I looked at this picture a few times before I noticed Lily lurking enviously in the background.</div>
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She has growled more in the last 12 days than in all of her 12 years. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYU03TgyrZzt4XRljSOkdLKFopGVRYAxNSTOc4iQ1udFihbBI98Re_XtQPdm1wB_aIF2N9WGHEKCpQvskCZ3q2HGNdoFLp1NDyUSFc17o_VDewKg5njAW6rjzv7DZPcpMhays1EcZe12S/s1600/IMAG0315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYU03TgyrZzt4XRljSOkdLKFopGVRYAxNSTOc4iQ1udFihbBI98Re_XtQPdm1wB_aIF2N9WGHEKCpQvskCZ3q2HGNdoFLp1NDyUSFc17o_VDewKg5njAW6rjzv7DZPcpMhays1EcZe12S/s320/IMAG0315.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicV35J0hVBhoyhcaf6RZCZoJJo5dMgtO1y1bBFuN1eZvXFBXOIRpG3sU7oLhnsOtwchosvIEC15z1zscqXj3La3bsqXl0-49M_pzQew33dBvZ3ag4YOsNqMYDKPJiC0I2eBR6PuWn46VtJ/s1600/IMAG0285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicV35J0hVBhoyhcaf6RZCZoJJo5dMgtO1y1bBFuN1eZvXFBXOIRpG3sU7oLhnsOtwchosvIEC15z1zscqXj3La3bsqXl0-49M_pzQew33dBvZ3ag4YOsNqMYDKPJiC0I2eBR6PuWn46VtJ/s320/IMAG0285.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
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<br />Jake and Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04133572624672810155noreply@blogger.com0