Dylan and Kelli's Adventures

For Gracie

2010-03-10T23:25:00.000-06:00

Here is a picture of your favorite northern uncle. Your dad told me you sometimes read this blog – you must be the smartest 2 year old ever!

And here is a picture of a puppy. Well she is not a puppy and lately she has been acting like a very old dog. And she kinda stinks – that is why she has a plastic orange hunting color. :-)

Winter Bins

2010-03-09T14:12:00.001-06:00

It rained yesterday and today. This is a good thing! Winter is on its way out hopefully. I’m clearing memory cards and charging camera batteries to get ready for Mexico. I’m kinda sad about deciding to leave my new camera at home, but my Olympus is full of sand from trips to Mexico and FL and my new camera is too new/nice to get if full of sand!

Here is a picture from a little over a week ago. An hoarfrost Sunday morning. I liked the numbered bins – very Pottery Barn like. HaHa!

18/365 ...

2010-01-23T22:33:00.003-06:00

I came, I tried, I sucked, I quit!

I have decided to stop my 365 project. I made it a few whole weeks. Great job Kelli. Ha!

I have numerous reasons… First, it is way too much of a commitment that I am not ready or willing to make. Second, I am not taking quality pictures – it’s more just quantity, which was not my original goal. And my reasons and/or excuses continue on from there. :-)

I do see the value in a 365 project because it pushes you to find beauty in everyday situations or to find cool things to photograph each and every day. Therefore, I did learn something in my 20 days!

The hoarfrost early this week was just awesome. I remember in my Climatology class taking notes specifically about what type of weather lead to hoarfrost because I wanted to know how to predict when I could get some cool pics. I really want to get hoarfrost pics at sunrise someday!

These pictures do not do justice to how pretty all the trees look coated in the little white icicles. I was in a GIS training course all day so I was unable to get out to any of the wide open spaces. These pictures were all taken in my alley right at sunset.

Here is a photo of the night before (Monday) as the hoarfrost was forming on the trees. This photo may or may not have been taken on a late evening stroll to get junk food… I have the worst time returning home from vacation. It doesn’t matter whether it is a big vacay (like FL or Mexico) or if its just a few days in the big city eating sushi and such!

At least I made it to the gym before I had to have a late night junk food fix. :-)

11/365 – 17/365

2010-01-19T23:08:00.001-06:00

Wow. This little take a picture a day project is really making me aware of how fast each day goes by and how fast each day becomes a week or two!

School is back on and I am not at all in my groove yet. I’m taking a break right now from writing my first review paper of the semester– which is due by midnight… :-) I really have no clue what I am writing about in my review. I’m hoping it will come to me asap!

11/365

Last Monday I flew to Minneapolis for a few days of training. Flying out of our little airport is usually pretty interesting. This day it was uneventful but the runway view from the boarding area made me laugh. I think the flat land of the north commonly looks like the end of the earth. :-)

12/365

Tuesday I was in training all day and then it was off to Mall of America in the evening. (actually I was at the mall within hours of landing in Minneapolis the day before!) The training coordinators chose a great hotel very close to the MOA with a direct shuttle bus. I was very appreciative of this hotel and shuttle! The shuttle bus driver said that MOA attracts more people than Orlando every year! This picture is of the carousel at the amusement park in the middle of the mall.

13/365

Wednesday was the final day of training and Dylan arrived Wednesday afternoon. After the training I had to take a short nap because my brain was fried from the training. I also had to take a nap because I was cranky – I know I’m such a wonderful wife. HA!! My loving husband just drove 5+ hours to be welcomed by a cranky wife. :-) In my defense, I was stressed because I hadn’t had the time to search the internet for the #1 sushi place in Minneapolis. Searching the internet for cool restaurants and off-the-beaten path type places in kinda my travel OCD. :-)

In the end, I didn’t need to be so stressed about finding us the best sushi. We found a pretty good place and had a great time in a neat little neighborhood.

14/365

Thursday was a full on shopping day. We hit up IKEA right away. I was so excited to show Dylan all the fun things I had found a few days earlier. We spent 4+ hours in IKEA! We also hit up the mall and REI. The mall was okay, but REI was awesome.

Thursday night we enjoyed a few (free) cocktails at the hotel bar/reception and then hopped on the lightrail toward downtown Minneapolis. This time we found a neat (and very tasty) Irish pub. Downtown Minneapolis was a lot of fun late into Thursday night/Friday morning.

At the end of the night I could not stop laughing at the timestamp on our lightrail tickets. I felt so young and hip seeing 3:42 AM! :-) Such a fun, fun night!

15/365

Friday was a more educational day. We toured the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. It was a great museum with a rather impressive collection. We wondered around for quite awhile. I love doing stuff like this with Dylan!

I was not sure if I was allowed to take pictures inside the museum, but I really wish I would have tried to sneak a few.

Friday night was a bit more mellow than Thursday night, but it was also an awesome time. We returned to the neat little neighborhood we found on sushi night. This time we returned for Indian food. It was tasty.

Funny note about Friday night: we missed the lightrail by seconds just like you would see in the movies (bells ringing alerting riders of the approaching train and us sprinting toward the train station). The next train wasn’t for 25 minutes (I think). It was one of the moments in life when you realize you are with the person that God made for you… Dylan and I just laughed and laughed and laughed while we stood outside in the cold with no gloves (we both managed to lose our gloves the night before) and waited for the next train.

16/365

Saturday we packed up for home. We stopped along the way at an outlet mall people rave about. I was skeptical because we did just visit the largest freaking mall in America!!! Basically, we never need to return to the MOA because we now know of one of the best outlet malls in America. Go figure!

17/365

Sunday we stayed around the house. Both of us were spent from all the walking and running from the past few days. The pups were happy to be home and back on their blankets.

Alright I have to get back to my paper so I am done for tonight. I also want some extra time to edit the hoarfrost pictures I took late this afternoon. Hoarfrost is our little gift for living with the cold temps and I just love it on the trees!!

8/365 – 10/365

2010-01-10T19:50:00.001-06:00

8/365 was a hockey night. We walk to the games because the arena is not too far from our house. Friday night we pretty much ran to the game because it was somewhere around 40 below. It’s a tricky run because some sidewalks aren’t shoveled very well and it’s icy. It’s also kind of a workout!

9/365 was a very special day in our house. Dylan (and I) bought our new boat!! This boat has been talked about for years and the time finally came Saturday morning. Dylan loves to fish and I love to be on the water so we agreed on a fish and ski combo.

The boat is in Iowa until March so it hasn’t yet sunk in for me. However, Dylan is pretty happy right now and I’m sure he will be absolutely giddy come March! Overall, I feel very blessed to have our little lake place and our new boat.

10/365 was a common Sunday. The day was uneventful until this afternoon… Meeka and I went outside to take pictures as Dylan was finishing snowblowing/shoveling. Dylan and Meeka began playing around in the snow when all of the sudden Meeka started acting very strange. She got progressively worse very quickly. It was very scary to watch what we think was a seizure. We brought her inside and we laid her on the kitchen floor. She did not look like her normal self at all. After awhile we thought she was doing better but then she seemed to have another seizure… We had no idea what to do. It was so scary.

Tonight Meeka appears to be fine and she is acting like her normal self – the lovable and loyal lab. She has had a small seizure like episode before when she hit her head on the concrete slab and today she hit her head on Dylan’s goggles while they were playing. We are hoping she just knocked herself silly like she has done in the past.

Either way, I am very thankful Meeka seems to be doing better. I don’t know what we would do without our lovable lab and cranky daschund!! :-)

I’m off to Minneapolis for work and Dylan is meeting me there later in the week. I’m excited to spend some time together in the big city! :-
)

6/365 & 7/365

2010-01-07T22:45:00.001-06:00

Funny note about my 2010 word of ‘grow’. The root of it is that I want to grow as a person on the inside… As soon as Dylan heard my word he quickly rebutted with ‘well I hope not out of your pants!’ Yes dear, I hope not out of my pants as well!! After all, not growing out of my pants is a default New Years resolution that does not need to be noted or stated. Its just a given! :-)

Snow and seashells are not typically found together. However, this winter has brought snow to Texas and Florida residents are currently freeeeezing. I know about those cold Floridians because Kyle keeps telling me how much everyone is complaining about the 50 degree temps. However, I’m pretty sure he is complaining a little too even though he won’t admit it to me!

Anyway, these shells and snow signify one thing… We booked our annual winter trip to visit the sand and sun!!! We are off to Mexico! Well not now, but soon enough!

We are going with three other couples to Cozumel. I don’t think Dylan nor I would have originally chosen Cozumel, but in the end I think it’s going to be great! I just care about the sun and sand… all the rest is just icing on the cake. :-)

Now back to our currently reality, it was finally our day to have our street cleared from the latest snow. This may sound like nothing special, but trust me the walls of snow are dangerous to drive among! You can’t see anything!

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I have no idea where the city puts all of this snow they haul away. Some people think they drop it in (actually on the river because the river is frozen solid) the river – wonder if Canada knows this? Remember the Red River majorly floods EVERY YEAR and it flows north!

I’m going to end my night by listening to Dylan yell at the tv. He is not usually one of those type of guys but tonight is the big Texas versus Alabama championship football game. Its been a big week for sports in our house! Hook ‘em Horns!!

4/365 & 5/365

2010-01-05T22:03:00.001-06:00

This is the exact reason I did not set any rules for my little 365 project… :-) I did not feel well yesterday and I came home early from work today. However, I did take a picture(s) yesterday and I took a few today as well.

Yesterday, my goal was to think of a word that I wanted to represent 2010 for myself – seems to kinda be the trend this New Year as apposed to all the resolutions! From that word I then wanted to take a picture relating to my word.

I came up with GROW. I then took this picture of my dusty office plant (our house plants actually grow quite well!). I hope to elaborate more on my word, but not tonight...

Today, my picture was all about my favorite northern necessities. Uggs.

I don’t care if they are ugly. I don’t care if they are last season, five seasons ago or never in season. They are warm!!

I think northerners should be given a free pass in regards to style during winter. At least a free pass for the days when the high temperature is barely above zero (not above freezing, above zero!) i think we should only have to worry about being warm – not warm and stylish! :-) Hopefully, my cute scarves and hats make up for my somewhat stylish/somewhat ugly boots!

In other northern news, the USA Junior Hockey team (under 20) just won the World Juniors!!! Against Canada! In overtime. I think I should take a picture of the tv right now to document this day for Dylan. :-) One of the best players on the USA team is a UND freshman and the USA coach was a longtime UND coach. Pretty cool! In the hockey world, this win is big news.

3/365

2010-01-03T20:31:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite things about the weekend is our morning trip to Starbucks. We usually get there about the same time every Saturday and Sunday, meaning we often see the same people every weekend. One group of people is rather different (or at least rather different from us)… lets just say they bring dolls with them to morning coffee and they do NOT bring children to play with the dolls. I really have no idea what it is all about, but we see this group almost every weekend!

Neither Dylan or I order anything fancy so I’m not sure why we both like our Starbucks weekend run, but we both miss it during the lake season. However, I’m guessing I miss it a little more than Dylan does. :-)

Dylan doesn’t like this picture because the Sioux hockey headline is blurry while the NDSU headline is not. :-) I originally tried to take a picture of the Starbucks street sign as it sits just above the 12’ snow drift in the parking lot, but it just looked like a heap of dirty snow.

I’m off to edit and upload NYE pictures. This should be fun!

And I need to organize my new iPod for the gym tomorrow night. That won’t be as much fun.

2/365

2010-01-02T19:21:00.001-06:00

It’s another cold day today so my pictures were limited to the indoors due to the record low temps. The albedo effect was very intense today making for very intense lighting and shadows. Funny thing about the bright sun and clear skies is that it tricks my brain into thinking it is nice outside… not so much though!

Today I wanted to take pictures of just Lizzie because there are far fewer pictures of Lizzie since Meeka joined the family. Everyone always gushes about how pretty Meeka is and I always feel bad for our crabby, bossy, stubborn and stinky mini daschund. :-)

But these two dogs both love the sun at the back door and they are both curious about the other’s doing at all times. So naturally Meeka ended up in pictures too.

1/365

2010-01-01T22:56:00.000-06:00

This is quintessential North Dakota. Freezing cold temps and the oddest stores like Home of Economy or Fleet Farm! At Fleet Farm you can buy groceries, horse supplies, tile for the bathroom, fishing tackle and somewhat normal clothing. It’s odd. Very odd.

Today was my first visit to Fleet Farm and it was all about finding Dylan some crank baits (fishing tackle) for spring fishing.

These temp readings were in the car driving back from our New Years Eve activities in Lisbon, ND and then about 1/2 hour later at a local bank to verify the temp. Currently it is –26! Without wind chill.

Did I mention we were welcomed home to a furnace that was not working? The poor furnace repair man (afterhours of course!) said he was very busy tonight. Ours was an easy fix, thankfully.

here we go

2009-12-30T09:05:00.008-06:00

Well, I think I'm going to try this blog thing again. This blog fell to the way side when I decided I wanted to graduate sooner than later - meaning 12 hours of summer semester courses and 21 hours of fall semester courses. The good news is I did graduate and I'm so excited to have some spare time!

Also, I have a brand new fancy camera (a graduation gift from my super loving husband) that needs some attention and I'm hoping to do some sort of 365 project. However, I want to enjoy that spare time I spoke of and not be overly committed to a photog project... We will see!

Anyway, I want to post a few pictures from my fall semester photography class as a starting/reference point to look back on as I hopefully progress with my new camera and this blog.

12 days is too long

2009-06-11T10:19:00.014-05:00

Its my Friday, its summer and I'm off to the lake for a long weekend! All is well.

Dylan has been at the lake for over a week. By Sunday evening it will be 12 days. I'm glad he had this time (shutdown week) at the lake, but I am ready for him to come home too!

I'm ready for my best friend back and the dogs are seriously depressed. Right now Meeka has a permanent sad puppy dog face and it is killing me to look at her.

I am also so grateful to soon have my husband back. Everyone knows Dylan has a somewhat flexible work schedule - what everyone doesn't know is how much he does for us, for me, for our home because of his flexible schedule. I try to tell him how much I appreciate all that he does but after this past week I have another level of appreciation!

And we (yeah, me and the dogs) miss his humor.

For example, last night while mowing the last section of the yard (the 'berm' or streetside grass) I seriously almost quit. How wonderful would that have looked? An almost mowed yard! I was so frustrated with the heavy-full-bag-mower, the uneven-snowplow-wrecked-berm, my lack of food, the list of things I still had to do, the joggers staring at my struggles, etc...

But most of all I was frustrated that Dylan wasn't there to laugh at/with me. I didn't need him to mow the yard, I just needed him there to laugh. He knows that stupid strip of grass gets me every time. :-)

It feels good to miss Dylan though. Some people don't miss their spouse when they are gone! :-) It also feels good to realize how much he cares for me by doing all that he does. Even the little stuff like the way he constantly makes me laugh even when I don't want to.

I can't wait to wrap my arms around his neck and spend a few days with him at the lake.

And next week, he is mowing the grass!

By the way, I did finish. I didn't want to be those neighbors!

Happy Thursday - almost Friday!

an old dork

2009-06-10T11:30:00.006-05:00

“You know you are getting old when______” is a pretty common phase. Sometimes the blank is filled in by aches and pains, the joy of going to bed early, the decline of athletic ability and so on. This phase is also quite commonly heard around birthdays. Recently, I had a birthday so I heard this type of comment over and over.

Age (the actual number) or getting older does not bother me. Yeah I know, I say that now! But truthfully, age has never been that big of a deal to me.

I guess my phase would be, “You know you are becoming a dork when_____.” Turning into a full on dork bothers me! Forget my age.

Currently my phrase is, “You know you are becoming a dork when you get a sewing machine for your birthday and it feels like the best present ever.” For 2+ weeks I have been absolutely giddy about my new sewing machine.

Last night I hung out with a 65 year-old, Ellen, and it was a blast! Ellen gave me a sewing refresher course and a ton of hints from her many years of sewing that are invaluable.

I am also a full-fledged-dork because for 2+ weeks I have been scouring thrift stores, garage sales and the fabric store for great deals to stock up and decorate my sewing room. Though, my love of thrift stores and garage sales has been earning me dork points for awhile now! I don’t care. I love finding a treasure and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE it when a guest compliments something in our house and Dylan has to cringe because he knows I scored it at a garage sale! Example: our wooden living room chair. :-)

So hopefully I will be updating the blog with my sewing creations someday soon! However, it is summer and as much as I love my new sewing machine I also want to enjoy the summer weather. I need to do as many outdoorsy, non-dorky things as possible so that when the cold weather returns I can sew and sew until my heart is content! :-)

PS – While writing this I tried to get to the root of my dork anxiety. Where does this stem from? It actually didn’t take me too long to figure it out… It is all Kyle’s fault. Once again! Repeating in my head is Kyle’s childhood voice telling me “You are such a dork.” Thankfully God gave me a forgiving nature or maybe just the skill to block bad memories! :-) Big brothers are the best!

green dog

2009-06-03T09:45:00.014-05:00

= happy dog

I recently printed out some (85!) lake pictures from the last two years to update our lake album. It is fun to see how things have changed over the last few years - neighbors, trailers, the shack, the pups, the water, visitors ... a lot has changed.

It is also fun to see the good times captured in time.

This day with our green dog was one of those. Taking a clue from Meeka's bandanna it was around the Fourth of July. Dylan threw the football into the water for hours and each and every time Meeka launched herself off the end of the dock into the water to retrieve the football. Sometimes she was graceful, other times not so much!

Meanwhile, Lizzie played with rocks and sticks. Lizzie hates sticks. They make her mad. Meeka was probably very relived Lizzie was playing with sticks - Lizzie is known to be the best mini-dachshund-retriever anyone has ever seen. Liz was letting Meeka shine on this day!! :-)

Looking forward to capturing more good times at the lake this year! So far we are on track for a bunch - especially if Kevin is around the campfire! :-)

open season

2009-06-02T15:10:00.008-05:00

It is officially lake season.

The lake is completely different this year. The water from this past fall, winter and spring has created an all new lake.

It feels so good to be back. I just love the feel of being at the lake.

These pictures are all from last year and really have nothing to do with it being the beginning of a new lake season! I'm not sure why I chose to show these dark, colorless pictures when I am so happy to see all the bright colors of early summer! Maybe next time. :-)

my lake

2009-04-23T14:35:00.005-05:00

I want to be here.

But I have to wait. Hopefully just one more weekend.

so dramatic

2009-04-09T10:10:00.007-05:00

Just thought I should clarify that I know the Captiva street sign picture is horrible. Possibly hard to look at. That is the point! So was the island itself!

I think I was shaking from disbelief and sadness of how much everything had changed. The whole experience didn't make for the best pictures.

changed

2009-04-08T09:57:00.036-05:00

Florida was great. I took almost 1000 pictures and that truly wasn't enough. (I blame it on my rookie mistake of leaving my lens hoods at home - what was I thinking!) There are at least 20 different scenarios of photographs in my head that didn't get taken. Bikes on the beach (hello kelli, our first date was biking!) More of Grace's little rolls and toes. Reflections on the water. Grace in her bike seat. All of us dressed up for dinners. Textures. Strangers. More beach life ...

I really am regretting not capturing everything better. Why? Because I really understand that we will never have that time back. Everything changes ...

So much has changed since the last time we were in Florida. Kyle and Miranda have been married for 3 years. Grace is 1. Dylan and I have been married for 1.5 years. New houses, new jobs, new kid, new relationships, new dog, new cars. New lives!

Florida has changed too. Hurricanes and foreclosures really change the landscape of a place. The beach mansions have always amazed me, but to see them boarded up (and not because of an approaching hurricane) was total amazement. See there is another picture I wish I had taken! A 10 million dollar beach side home with rotting boards covering the windows...

- - However, the foreclosures have kept some people from snatching up all the old time Florida beach classics - and then tearing them down just for the land. I LOVE, LOVE the little yellow and pink beach bungalows!! - -

And specifically, my little self-proclaimed favorite place on earth has completely changed. Captiva Island is no longer what it used to be. Gone are the dirt/sand roads. Gone is the quaint feeling. Gone are the silly and unique markers at the end of driveways. Gone is the hidden jewel.

Hurricane Charley changed it all. Roads are paved. Developers have taken over the quaintness and filled it with condos. And a cute sign doesn't really fit outside the gates of a newly constructed Roman castle - I'm not joking, a whitle marble castle is currently being built!

The entire time we were on the island Dylan kept asking, 'why are we here?' I think he was so confused because he was seeing nothing I had ever described about Captiva. For about an hour I tried to find a piece of the old Captiva.

I gave up and it was hard. I was disappointed and sad. I wanted to share my favorite place with Dylan.

But Dylan and I don't roll like that! I take pride that we can turn some really crapping lemons into the tastiest lemonade! And so we did.

With all of about 10 minutes to spare we picked up a bottle of wine (twist off cap), paper cups and some 7-hour-old slices of pizza (buy 1 give you 2 more because no one else is going to buy pizza that looks like that) from Santiva's little convenience shop. We then sprinted across the road with our wine and dinner and watched the sunset over the ocean.

IT WAS PERFECT. IT WAS THE BEST. IT WAS AWESOME.

We toasted each other as we sat on a large sand drudging pipe. Along with a few others.

So yeah, Florida has changed. However, had it not changed I possibly would not have experienced the BEST sunset EVER!

But not the best photos of the sunset ever, so I decided to play around with funky processing.

End Note: Grace must stay exactly the same. I don't ever want her little-scrunched-up-nose-squinty-smile to change.

Happy Birthday Miranda!

2009-04-07T13:21:00.003-05:00

Hope you have a great birthday!! Hope you receive a perfect birthday gift!

Love and Miss You.

Gracie Poo

2009-04-07T09:50:00.001-05:00

We miss our Gracie Poo. her pointing. her smile with the squinty eyes and scrunched nose. her cute little outfits. her little screams. her little noises (ssshhhiii). the constant dada words. her little attitude. her dancing. all 20 pounds of her. her little claps. her few curls. her little baby belly.

We miss watching her work that left hand. We miss playing on the floor with all those musical toys. We miss playing quietly in her room. We miss watching her little bit wobbly walk that she surely has mastered by now. We miss hearing that wobbly walk on the wood floors.

What shoes is she wearing today? Where is her tongue? What letters has she thrown away today from off the fridge? How big is she? Who is she talking to on her cell phone?

We would gladly give her more of whatever she wants. Dylan would love to throw her on the bed and watch her roll.

We most definitely miss our little Gracie Poo.

you sandbagger

2009-04-01T11:35:00.014-05:00

Please proceed, but please keep your mind out of the gutter and think happy thoughts. Remember this.

So what did you do last Friday night? I had a nice date with my husband. And the date continued on Saturday. How romantic, huh? We like to keep that loving feeling alive? Even if our ‘good old days’ are only like 3 years ago! :-)

The majority of the date I watched my husband laugh and have fun with other women. I also watched him get dirty, hot and sweaty with those other women. And, there were several other women. I watched all of this from afar and he knew I saw him.

No April Fool's joke here.

Oh, but don’t worry. I did the exact same thing with other men. I laughed, had fun, got dirty, hot and sweaty with several other men. And Dylan saw it all.

Okay enough! Just writing this is making me ill! Wow! Anyway, all of this is the honest to goodness truth BUT it was all innocent and for a good cause…

We spent our Friday night and Saturday afternoon sandbagging! If you ever need to meet a large group of the nicest people just go help sandbag. Everyone was there to help others. It was pretty awesome! Additionally, sandbagging is not an easy job nor is it necessarily the most fun thing to do, however you would have never know by looking around…

The river is set to crest on Thursday at 50’. Our town should be perfectly fine. And our outlying neighborhoods that put up sandbag levees should also be fine. Yippee!

Here is the happy couple together (at last) leaving Sandbag Central on Saturday afternoon.

PS – sandbagging is also one of the best workouts EVER!!! :-) I can still feel it days later.

I ♥ Faces - week 12 - pets (anything goes)

2009-03-30T21:30:00.008-05:00

I have seen so many cute kids and awesome pictures on I ♥ Faces and until last week I didn't have any pictures that I could post as part of the weekly contests. Now I have a ton of cute pics of Grace just waiting for the upcoming contests. :-) However, I don't have a picture for this week's 'Pouting' because Grace is such a happy little girl. Lucky parents.

And lucky for me, this week's other I ♥ Faces contest is a pet theme! I have thousands of pictures of Lizzie and Meeka! The good and the bad is that the theme is 'Anything Goes'. How can I choose just one?

I chose this picture of Liz because it one of my all time favorites. We were on the boat and it was just a couple months before we got Meeka - meaning Lizzie was loving life, loving fishing and loving having the boat all to her own!

This photo was also taken with my old point-and-shoot. The only editing was a crop and a little boost of light.

the Red we know

2009-03-27T08:21:00.014-05:00

Here is Kyle and Miranda (again) at the memorial marker. As of today we are just under the 1882 Flood of 48'. There is a possibility that the river could reach 53'. Fargo is setting all new (and very scary) records as of 1 a.m. Friday morning. AND the Red River flows north.

I tried to get a zoomed in picture of the marker as of Thursday, but my hands were too frozen to get a steady picture. :-)

The first four images have been borrowed from a flickr photoset.

back to reality

2009-03-26T22:17:00.030-05:00

Florida was great. Leaving Grace and the 80 degree weather was not so great. (more on the trip later!) I think we were ready to return to winter but I'm not sure we were ready to return to 'Flood 2009'.

We are safe and dry (right now). Unfortunately, many around us are not. It's insane and also very heartbreaking to see the rivers in full force. Our projected crest is not until Monday however the information is constantly changing...

So here is a glimpse into our current world. Remember - we do not have it bad AT ALL compared to other towns around us. Our town built very expensive earthen dykes, pretty flood walls and invisible flood walls to protect us from floods - we are just stuck with very high property taxes for eternity to pay for that safety!

Please note, there were a couple things going on during these photos... 1. We were in a hurry because it is illegal (during floods) to be where we were to take some of these pictures. :-) 2. it was freezing cold outside. 3. some pictures were taken on the fly while Dylan was driving.

Tonight's River Level: 47'
Projected Crest: 52'
1997 Flood Crest: 54'

downtown. north of Sorlie Bridge.

downtown. at Sorlie Bridge.

Notice the sign? It says, "Watch for ICE on bridge". I think they mean the usual ice and snow... not a ginormous ice jam raging down stream!

downtown. south of Sorlie Bridge.

For comparison, summer 2008.

down stream. Kennedy Bridge looking south.

downstream. Kennedy Bridge looking north.

For perspective of how vast the river currently is... the same tree spanning west to east. And I brought the wrong lens so this isn't even the entire picture.

downstream. at the walking bridge and boat launch.

not good

2009-03-10T09:28:00.009-05:00

I think these two images speak for themselves...

No one wants to see this forecast with less than 48 hours until their departure to sunny fun! I'm trying to think of all the positives.

1.) At least this storm hasn't hit us out of the blue. I have time to prepare myself for any bad news about flight schedules.
2.) We live in ND where storms are normal. We have plows! And people know how to function through weather like this.
3.) I have had horrible flights lately - it is my turn for things to go my way. :-)
4.) We purchased trip insurance for this very reason. I have the entire contract (20 pages) printed out and phone numbers ready.
5.) My GIS field lab on Friday has been rescheduled due to the weather. This is really good because I am not sure I could have made up this lab's field work.
6.) We are now even more grateful for our Florida vacay.
7.) Jim Cantore is in Duluth. However, during his report from Duluth he specifically talks about our little neck of the woods...

Ok, I think I have tricked myself into thinking this will all work out and everything will be just fine! :-) Positive vibes!!

Side note: Kyle taught me about the Jim Cantore factor. If Jim Cantore, from the weather channel, is in your town it is not good news! Jim's not usually in a location with desirable weather conditions. Think of those images during hurricane season where Jim is standing in the rain and roofs are flying straight toward him...!!!

perfectly stated

2009-03-06T11:34:00.009-06:00

A few people have already seen this picture but I had to put it on here...

Dylan took this picture last week with his cell phone while driving for work. He titled it, I found the middle of nowhere. I think it is absolutely perfect!

He has driven past this sign and all around this area for 6 years and never realized how removed from everything it truly is. And I completely understand. I try to visualize the remoteness of this picture from an outsiders perspective and it just makes me shake my head with disbelief and confusion...

If there were any questions as to why we are so excited for Florida this picture should answer all of those questions! :-)

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

an easy way to do something good everyday

2009-03-05T10:04:00.004-06:00

Everyone likes to do their part (hopefully!). There are so many ways to give these days. And so many people and programs need support.

I think I have found the easiest way ever to give. Just use GoodSearch.com whenever you need to search the internet. It is just like google but with every search a penny is donated to an organization/program/project. You can select a specific organization or GoodSearch will give the money to the 'charity of the day'. It is super easy and the pennies really do add up! I know by seeing the amount raised for my chosen non-profit - our local animal shelter.

The next two websites are just about as easy too. They are Free Kibble and Free KibbleKat. Each day you answer a fun trivia question about dogs and cats and respectively 10 pieces of dog or cat food are donated. Again it doesn't sound like much but the 10 pieces add up fast. The best part - a 12 year old girl started both websites to feed animals at her local shelter and it has become a nationwide program!

Do you see my trend - I have such a weakness for animals in need. So these websites are something simple I can do everyday to help out.

Just a thought to pass on...

Happy Birthday Kyle!

2009-03-04T08:58:00.006-06:00

Happy Birthday Kyle!

I am so thankful that you are my brother. You have influenced my life from the very beginning and I couldn't have asked for a better big brother. I love everything about you – even the stuff that drives me crazy! You are the best husband and father to your little family and nothing makes me happier than to see your joy of Miranda and Grace. Thanks for being such a great person. I love and miss you.

But enough of the sappy stuff. I want to take you down memory lane of our years growing up together. So on your birthday I want to thank you for always being that outstanding big brother.

The younger years:
Thank you for body slamming me for no apparent reason.

Thank you for whipping me with that stupid spikey plant in the front yard.

Thank you for rocking the mini van (while mom ran into the store) so violently I really believed it would flip. Or telling me you were going to drive off at the age of 12.

Thank you for always following through on your promise that you would hit me if I didn’t get away from you. Every time you committed.

Thank you for all those wonderful games of Monopoly. I refuse to play that game to this day.

Thank you for telling me I was switched at birth in the hospital and that Mom and Dad weren’t my Mom and Dad.

Thank you for taking me on a bike ride down Snyder Avenue’s hill at the tender age of 5. Narrow sidewalk, busy street, big hill, brick wall along the sidewalk and a 5 year old who just learned to ride a bike do not make for the best scenario. That was fun!

Thank you for throwing a baseball as hard as you possibly could and then yelling at me if I didn’t catch it with my mitt directly in front of my face.

Those are all such great memories for me. When we were younger you definitely inflicted a lot of pain; however, as we grew older you definitely saved me from a lot of pain (and trouble). You were always teaching me life lessons – who knew?!?

The middle years:
Thank you for throwing a party and then vacuuming the stairs the wrong way. You were so busted. Thanks though - I never vacuumed after a party.

Thank you for fainting in church because you were sick from the night before. I really thought you were dying.

Thank you for dry-ice-bombing the rich neighborhood and getting caught because of Rusty. You taught me to have fun but to keep your distance from the loose cannon friends during those fun times.

Thank you for falling down the stairs at Kevin’s house and breaking your collarbone. You taught me to think of better stories.

Thank you for drinking out of Dad’s liquor cabinet. I thought that those few bottles were for show but oh no we learned differently when you decided to sneak a little!

Thank you for stealing all of my babysitting money. At least sometimes you left an I-O-U note. Those have never been paid by the way. If you lived nearby I would hide my change jar.

Thank you for being a B or C squad athlete. Mom and Dad never paid for me to be on a traveling team because you never were on a traveling team. But you sucked and I was good. I plan to handle this differently with my children. :-)

And for some reason I truly do love you and miss you! I hope you have a wonderful birthday. Thanks for being my brother. I love you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KYLE!

kelli cooks

2009-03-03T09:30:00.007-06:00

Make this Parmesan Crusted Chicken recipe. Don't ask questions. Just follow the simple directions and make it. It is very tasty.

photo from The Pioneer Woman Cooks

I was even the one who cooked the meal - the entire meal! Now if I can make something it must be fool proof.

I was so Betty Homemaker on Sunday. I also made turkey sausage and mushroom quiche for brunch! I can't find the quiche recipe online now, but I will have to post it because it too was fool proof and tasty.

Kelli's Recipe Notes: Nothing in our house is the full fat version. I used reduced fat mayo and it was delicious. Do not add ANY salt - maybe change out the garlic salt for garlic powder. I also didn't have fresh herbs and I didn't know about the frozen herbs.

in two fridays

2009-02-27T11:07:00.017-06:00

6 a.m. will be the best - unlike this Friday at 6 a.m.

I will get to try more of these types of photos.

I only had my camera for a week before this picture. Hopefully I have learned something in a year. However, there haven't been too many beach silhouette opportunities since then!!

I will look at these in person. Not just as our desktop background picture.

Dylan will say this to me! He knows I love this more than anything. :)

And then we will spend the rest of the day with this little 1 year old!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

the 'A' word - adoption

2009-02-26T07:48:00.000-06:00

I don't know who reads this blog - if anyone - but it is obvious what types of blogs I read. I read a lot of adoption blogs. For the most part the families I follow along with are nothing like Dylan and me. At this point in our life.

So why do I read these blogs...

I have a few things in my life that I truly feel passionate about. Adoption is on the top of that list. I feel adoption in my heart so strongly. However, I am not the type of person to shout my beliefs from the mountain tops so at this point in my life my thoughts/desires about adoption are mostly internalized.

When I first started reading adoption and family blogs I knew very little about adoption. I thought I knew, but in reality I had no idea. I have learned so much about the process of adoption. Not the paper process, but the real life process. The joys and the PAIN.

I do not feel comfortable enough or know enough about adoption to openly talk about it. I do not have the personal experience of adoption so how can I really act like I have any idea of what it is all about. My only connections are blogs and a few distant family friends. Dylan and I are far removed from even the beginning stages.

I do know that I can not stand people's ignorance about adoption. It is the one adoption topic where I have no problem speaking my mind! The ignorance I see and hear greatly upsets me. I even have family members who honestly do not get it. At all. Almost racist like. It is painful.

Some of the question and comments I hear are ridiculous to me. "Don't you want to know what your child would look like?" I honestly do not have that desire one bit. An adoptive child is my child - that is what my child looks like! I do not care who's eyes or who's smile.

"Why do you want someone else's kid?" To me, if that kid is my kid he/she was always meant to be my kid. "Why don't you adopt within the US?" Sure, I will, that is an option. I do not care about where the child was born. Like I said, that particular child that becomes our child was always meant to be our child. Our family will be made of God one way or the other!

I do not know how Dylan's and my life will play out. We don't have that magical crystal ball (oh goodness do I wish we did sometimes!). I do not know how or when our children will come into our lives or if we will be fortunate enough to experience adoption.

But, I am so thankful for the community of blogging adoptive families. They are my connection and my resource to a world I want in my life. I am so grateful to have found each blog I have listed as a favorite. Each family is different and real. I have learned so much about the world, about others and about myself by following along with their daily adventures. And each day I realize more and more my heart's pull toward adoption. Thank you families.

This post was very personal for me. However, I had to write it because I wonder what the few people who do read this blog think when they see a list of favorites full of adoptive family blogs! :-) It also felt great to shout my thoughts from this mountain top!

i got burned

2009-02-25T08:25:00.007-06:00

and zapped. Zapped really good.

Yesterday morning while getting ready for work something happened to my blowdryer. Nothing was out of the ordinary of my morning routine so I have no idea what happened. All of the sudden I felt pain in my arm, heard a loud crackling noise and then I smelled electrical burning stuff.

Honestly the first few moments I thought it was Dylan playing a joke on me. I started screaming because I thought the joke was going to far - it was painful! When I realized what was happening it was kinda scary. :-)

After I accessed that I was okay my vanity instantly took over. The thoughts in my head: Is that smell burned hair? Is my hair okay? I can't see the back of my head, I need a mirror, is my hair okay?

I was so relieved that the smell was electrical stuff inside the blowdryer and that my hair was spared. I only could have burned down the house or possibly been really hurt - but my hair was okay! :-) I am not so proud of the thoughts I had immediately following my little blowdryer incident.

Silliest of all, we just had electrical training last week at work! I learned all about major electrical safety and also about the minor at home stuff like Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters! Who knew all this would come into play just a few days later.

I'm only documenting this little incident because I want to know the date my new blowdryer was purchased. I'm guessing my blowdryer lasted about 10 years. Probably not the smartest idea to test how long a small electrical device will last just mere inches from your head...

free entertainment

2009-02-21T18:06:00.009-06:00

It has been a couple days so I guess its time for another post about the dogs! (sarcasm) Without any kids they are our entertainment!

I am so glad I was able to get this game of theirs on video (blackberry video). Lizzie and Meeka play this little game pretty often. Like in this video, it is fun at first but after the fifth time in gets annoying and loud.

Supposedly withing a couple years all of Lizzie's teeth are going to fall out (according to our vet - just another wonderful trait of her breed!) so they won't be able to play like this forever. Lizzie growls the entire time and acts so tough. In reality, Meeka is in complete control and can take the ball at any moment if she really wanted.

This video goes on for 2 minutes but they could have played much longer. They took a short break and started all over. 10 minutes after this video they were still playing with Meeka pulling Lizzie around following me. Like I said, annoying and loud!

The clicking noise in the video is Lizzie trying to get some traction on the hard wood floors. The loud noise is Lizzie growling - the entire time. Usually I laugh when Lizzie jumps on the dog pillows and is pulled along, but in this video I realized how much Lizzie whips her little body around. Too funny.

thankful for junk tv

2009-02-20T09:49:00.022-06:00

I watch junk tv. Not a lot, but a little junk tv is too much. It is a weakness. 95% of the junk tv I watch is DVR'ed so I that I can watch it while Dylan is out of town or out of the house. Dylan HATES my junk tv and he tells me this every time he catches a glimpse of it. Junk tv makes Dylan sick - sick to think people actually act like that.

I usually use two different excuses as to why I watch junk tv. 1.) It makes me feel connected to the world outside of our little world. Yes, this is a stupid excuse but it is true. I watch what people are wearing, how their hair is styled, what foods they are eating, their activities, types of exercise, etc. We live soooo far removed from any sense of style or new happening things. Sushi is still a new concept here for Pete's sake!!

And 2.) It makes me grateful and appreciative that we do live in our simple little world up north. I watch the people be so mean to one another. I watch as their world revolves around material possessions. I watch the bratty kids who have no idea what is going on throughout the world. It also makes me sick - but then so ever grateful for my simple life!

The other night I watched an episode of Real Housewives of Orange County. One of the housewife's story was about finding a new husband. This time around she was going to find someone who truly loved her, loved spending time with her and just someone who cared about her. Sure she had a huge house, nice cars, beautiful kids but she had never been loved by her husband. It was so sad to me yet at the same time it made me reflect and realize how blessed I am to be married to Dylan.

So there I am sitting on my couch watching junk tv and thanking God for my husband! Not just thanking God but in a deep thoughtful prayer to God for my husband. All because of junk tv!!!

- Did I mention this was also the day Dylan surprised me with grocery store flowers (my favorite) at work or that when I was changing for the gym after work I found a nice card and new perfume (that I have wanted but hadn't said anything) hidden in my drawer? Talk about the best husband. I felt so loved - not because of the gifts but the thoughtfulness of it all. -

Well Dylan is off fishing for a couple days while I get ready for a week of midterms and presentations. This also means I will being watching a few more episodes of The Hills, Real Housewives and whatever else is on Bravo. By the time Dylan arrives home on Sunday I will probably have cried 5 times about how much I love him and/or how grateful I am for him. I may also be sporting a new outfit I put together thanks in part to Whitney Port.

Happy Friday!

edited: I deleted the picture of Dylan. It was over saturated and he was wearing his old sunglasses. I don't like his old sunglasses - he is much more steezy now. This picture was taken by mistake with my old camera. I like the eerie effect.

dreaming of these types of fishing days soon!!!

# 1

2009-02-19T12:21:00.019-06:00

Happy 1st Birthday Sweet Happy Girl Grace!!!

We love and miss you so much. We can't wait to see you in just a few short weeks. We are excited to see just how much you have changed! We hear you are a pretty funny little girl.

Hopefully we can teach you something really annoying that your parents will enjoy long after we are gone. :-) Your father tormented me for years so now it is my turn to get back at him! I know you are cool with that cause remember we are down! :-)

Love and miss you Gracie Poo! Happy Birthday!!!

quiet morning

2009-02-18T08:57:00.002-06:00

P2084374, originally uploaded by keljochr.

Sometimes these two are just the best. This quiet morning they were!

Meeka is such a lovable happy dog. I wonder if its just Meeka's personality or if its the lab in her. Meeka is so patient with and always conscious of Lizzie.

Lizzie is ... Lizzie. She has her own ideas, more like a stubborn cat. But every once in a while Liz can be a sweetheart too and she definitely knows how to put on a show for visitors.

This particular morning Meeka was stealing the sun, stealing the rug, stealing the heater vent and had the best view of the back yard. I'm surprised Lizzie didn't try to trick Meeka out of the most perfect spot! Instead Lizzie decided to share it all with her!

Of course Meeka was willing, remember she is the nice one. :-) These two hung out at the back door like this for 30+ minutes. That is eternity for these two - especially with a toy laying just inches away!

its hockey night!

2009-02-13T08:40:00.017-06:00

This little place we call home has a completely different vibe when hockey is in town. We don't live far from the hockey arena and I'm sure when I drive home for lunch there will already be cars parked for the 7:37 pm game!

Locals leave work early on Friday if its a hockey night. Restaurants are full with fans by 4:30. Hotels are booked solid months in advance for hockey weekends. Everyone dresses up for a night on the town. No joke - part of my wardrobe is "hockey clothes" and those same clothes are worn to nice dinners and special events!!

The arena is gorgeous. I mean no expense was spared with marble floors throughout and leather seats even in the student section (and seamless glass - yes I know this but that is another story!). Pro athletes describe the venue as the best in all hockey, pro or college. Its fun to watch people who have never been to a game just sit in awe taking it all in. :-)

Hockey is huge here. Its basically life. Its tradition.

Thankfully I learned to love hockey. At first I did not get it at all. It was a social event at a sporting event. I had just never experienced anything like it before! Now its fun to get dressed up and go to hockey! Its fun to watch the town and people come alive!

All in all, it makes for a great Friday!!!

This is from a couple years ago - before I was more serious about my hockey attire. :-)

There are hockey cheerleaders! Before the game and during intermissions they cheer from the ice on skates! Sometimes I watch the cheerleaders more than the game.

# 7 fuchsia with a dot

2009-02-09T16:06:00.005-06:00

5lb Walter!! They caught 50+ fish!! And Dylan caught the biggest and the most fish! Good Job Dylan!!!

arsty fartsy crafty macaroni gluer

2009-02-09T09:26:00.014-06:00

A little of this...raw and on sale

A few of these...simple and half priced

Some measurements and the help of my handy husband took this...

To this!

I love it! It's totally my/our style -- of course my style but he tells me he likes it! I'm trying to make our home our home. Of course there are some definite rules to follow, but I want to live in a space that is us. Sometimes its colorful and vibrant and sometimes its calm and simple.

Yesterday I decided it was time to put up some curtains in our kitchen/dining area. We love the openness of the new patio door, but sometimes the sun is a little bright and the night is a little dark. Until yesterday I was undecided what to do with the space. But then my inner arsty-fartsy-crafty-macaroni-gluer (a quote from a former Project Runway designer) took over and voila we had curtains!

It was so much fun. I am so happy it turned out. If interested, this is where I learned all about "mis-treatments". No sewing or gluing was required for my little project. I can't wait to do this in our master bedroom!

PS - Sorry for the bad pictures. I had limited time -- I had already subjected Dylan to the fabric store and I wanted his help on future projects!

it's mine

2009-02-03T14:59:00.015-06:00

Dylan and I are pretty good at sharing. What's yours is mine type of thing. Dylan is most definitely better than me, but I am getting better.:-) To further this, we try to make it a point not to say my, mine, his, yours, etc. For example, it's not his boat, it's our boat. She's not my mom, she is mom (or memah!).

Then there is the camera. It's mine. I try and try and try to say the camera, but physically I just can't do in 99% of the time.

Today is one year with my camera. Yes, I love the silly thing so much that I remember the day I bought it! I remember calling Dylan in a panic (he was out of town) because it was the last one and the sale price was AMAZING. We had been saving money for a new tv and without hesitation Dylan told me to buy the camera, the tv could wait another couple months. (I know, my husband is AMAZING!!)

The camera and our portable hard drive full of photos are my prized possessions. It's not the camera itself that I love so much, its the photos. I love the adventures and the memories of the photos. My camera forces me to learn, to try new things and to be creative. I love the entire process.

Don't worry - we did get the tv. I wonder if Dylan remembers the day we purchased it? :-) Either way, I truly am grateful for our camera!

Here are some of my favorite pictures of the last year. By no means am I saying these pictures are the best photos. Usually my favorite pictures are linked to the fun and the experiences behind the pictures.

did you know

2009-02-03T08:06:00.027-06:00

01. WHAT TIME DID YOU GET UP THIS MORNING? 5:50
02. DIAMONDS OR PEARLS? pearls
03. WHAT IS THE LAST FILM THAT YOU SAW AT THE CINEMA? The Break Up. We have a new theater now but we still haven't been to a movie since 2005!
04. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW? The Bachelor
05. WHAT DO YOU USUALLY HAVE FOR BREAKFAST? Coffee
06. WHAT IS YOUR MIDDLE NAME? Jo
07. What Food Do you Dislike? Venison. Unless its venison summer sausage made by the best smoke master around - Dylan! :-)
08. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CD? Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride (its getting old but I love it)
09. WHAT KIND OF CAR DO YOU DRIVE? Tacoma
10. FAVORITE SANDWICH? Almost anything at Panera
11. WHAT CHARACTERISTICS DO YOU DESPISE? ostentatious
12. FAVORITE ITEM OF CLOTHING? a newer pair of gap jeans
13. IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ON VACATION, WHERE WOULD YOU GO? a remote beach
14. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR BATHROOM? tan and white
15 FAVORITE BRAND OF CLOTHING? banana republic
16. WHERE WOULD YOU RETIRE TO? the mountains or lake
17. WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY? 25th at the lake with Dylan, my mom and my dad!
18. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? the olympics
19. FURTHEST PLACE SOMEONE IS READING THIS? FL?
20. FAVORITE SAYING? NUMBERS! and MILK!
21. WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY? May 28
22. ARE YOU A MORNING OR NIGHT PERSON? Morning
23. WHAT IS YOUR SHOE SIZE? 9
24. PETS? Lizard and Meeks

25. ANY NEW AND EXCITING NEWS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? nope
26. WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE? A nurse
27. HOW OLD ARE YOU TODAY? 27
28. What is your favorite candy? the stale licorice ropes from the bait shop at the lake
29. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER? orchids and columbine
30. WHAT IS A DAY ON THE CALENDAR YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO? 3/12/09 = Florida baby!!
31. WHAT IS YOUR FULL NAME? Kelli Jo N____
32. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Sirius internet radio
33. Do YOU WISH ON STARS? maybe on a shooting star
34. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? this pinkish color
35. HOW IS THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW? bitter cold (-20!!)
36. FAVORITE SOFT DRINK? ginger ale
37. FAVORITE RESTAURANT? Slopeside in Steamboat

38. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD? my handmade, personalized porcelain doll
39. SUMMER OR WINTER? summer
40. HUGS OR KISSES? kisses
41. COFFEE OR TEA? coffee
42. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? twist
43. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? last night watching the bachelor. I am a sap.
44. WHAT IS UNDER YOUR BED? Dylan's shoes
45. WHAT FRIEND HAVE YOU HAD THE LONGEST? Abby, Amanda, Ali
46. WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT? gym, grocery store, wal*hatred*mart, petsmart and then watched the bachelor!
47. FAVORITE SMELL? stepping off the plane at the beach and smelling the salt in the air
48. WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? the present economy
49. SALTY OR SWEET? probably salty
50. HOW MANY KEYS ON YOUR RING? 4
51. HOW MANY YEARS AT YOUR CURRENT JOB? 2.5 years
52. FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK? Saturday
53. HOW MANY TOWNS HAVE YOU LIVED IN? 8
54. DO YOU MAKE FRIENDS EASILY? nope! I'm shy and quiet until you get to know me.

6 weeks

2009-02-02T08:03:00.009-06:00

Six more weeks of winter, that's all? I would make that deal any day! That means spring would be here mid March! I'm sold.

Honestly, I'm not complaining today. We had such a great weekend. It was enjoyable to be outside without gritting your teeth or walking like a drunk penguin. If you have never experienced extreme cold the drunk penguin walk means nothing to you, but if you have lived with extreme cold you understand the walk! :-)

Dylan and I really do only have 6 more weeks of winter. We are visiting my brother, sister-in-law and niece is less than 6 weeks in Florida! We can't wait to hang with little Grace, watch the Yankees and Red Sox and just chill on the beach.The diet and the count down have begun. :-)

We love and miss you Gracie Poo.

44 with 58

2009-02-01T17:50:00.028-06:00

44 in January! 44 degrees in January almost makes you forget about all those 30 below days - well almost. Too bad the winds picked up and gusted to 58 mph making it difficult to fully enjoy the warm temps.

Yesterday morning we went for a drive in the country (we sound like we are 80 years old!) I had hoped to get some good pics of the snow and trees, but I didn't find what I was looking for. We still had fun though.

At one point we pulled over - well actually we just stopped in the middle of the road because with no traffic in the middle of nowhere there is no need to pull over - so that I could take some pictures of a snowy path and trees. As I walked down the snowy path past a large 'No Trespassing' sign a car drives by, slows and then puts it in reverse. The car ends up being the land owner! Thankfully my husband can charm anyone and the land owner left us alone.

On the way back home Dylan drove us through a cool little town. I really liked the hills and the river that the little town was built around. We live near several large rivers that truly are quite amazing.