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One week ago I turned 48 and I admit to being middle aged now. Besides the changing of my age, a lot of other things in life are changing. I’ve started a new job–so far just part-time, but I’m so enjoying working with a wonderful group of professionals. Physically I’m more aware of my diet, eating healthier, exercising 5 out of 7 days, drinking lots of water (and almost no pop) and minimizing sweets. And spiritually, my husband and I are in agreement with changes for our family. I am embracing these life changes, because, really what choice do you have?! I’m not in charge. So many of these changes are answers to prayers that I’ve had for so long. I’m excited to see where God is leading in my life and family.
Ellie and Jeff baked dark chocolate brownies and added pink frosting and sprinkles (because it’s just not a birthday treat without sprinkles).
Looks yummy!
One of my presents to start the holiday season.
Smiles on the birthday girl.
Celebrating with some of my kids…missing two (Brandon at college and Anna at tumbling practice). I did have a mini celebration with both girls after school at the Dairy Queen. Brandon sent me birthday greetings on facebook.
Us..aren’t we a cute couple! After our short family celebration Jeff took me out to dinner where I enjoyed a wonderful grilled salmon.
It was a wonderful birthday and I know it’s going to be a wonderful year for me.
“Piles of Smiles”
“Peter’s Pumpkins”
“Pumpkin Carving”
“Pretty Panda”
“Halloween Looks”
It was the night before Halloween and pumpkins needed carving in order to be ready to stand vigil outside our door.
Getting ready to work.
Ellie came up with a plan on the way to the pumpkin patch the previous day so out came her drawings to work from as she carved.
Dad supervised the carving. But she really didn’t need much help this year for the first time. I guess for Ellie, 7 is the magic age for pumpkin carving.
The work area. I prepared Anna’s pumpkin since she was out shopping with a classmate for their party.
A pumpkin carved.
See how it matched the plan.
Ellie and Daddy.
Mommy and Ellie and Belle (her doll). The smaller Christmas tree pumpkin was for Belle.
Anna arrived home in time to carve her pumpkin.
I think she is positively in love with her pumpkin man.
Now we are ready for Halloween!
Two days before Halloween and the girls ask, “Are we going to get pumpkins?” Of course we are! And of course we headed to our favorite spot: Peter’s Pumpkins and Carmen’s Corn. Jeff passes this place on his way to and from work daily and we love seeing Anna’s former Spanish teacher, Carmen when we visit.
OK, so maybe Anna is a bit big for a wagon ride.
Ellie is a much better size (at least yet this year) for Jeff to pull.
Not so fond of this odd-shaped pumpkin. It went back.
Jeff and Ellie headed one way looking for the perfect pumpkin.
While Anna headed another way.
Here’s the one Ellie liked.
Anna picked this one.
And Ellie needed a second one for her doll this year.
Pumpkin weight lifting.
Girls among the pumpkins.
Jeff and the girls and pumpkins.
Me and girls and pumpkins.
Sisters.
Carmen and Anna. Carmen was Anna’s Spanish teacher for six years.
The MVC All Star girls helped out at the annual “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk” held at Lake Nokomis a few weeks ago.
Tiny, Lexi (and pooch), Anna and Morgan.
“Madonna” from the St. Paul Saints was there.
Posing with “Madonna”.
Anna having fun.
The team getting instructions from Coach Krisan.
Anna’s group that headed out to meet the participants.
Some of the moms (Nadine, Lisa and me).
The MVC All Stars.
The Purple Team cheering on the walkers at the starting line.
These girls know what they are doing…look at that “toe pop”.
Even “Goldy” from the University of Minnesota braved hanging out with these girls. They almost loved him to death and he had to make a quick escape.
Highlights of the event captured in a layout for Anna’s scrapbook.
After a month at college it was time for a visit to check up on our oldest. Brandon is a freshman at the University of Minnesota Duluth. From all signs he is loving the college life. But it’s good to let him know we still miss him.
Ellie checks out Brandon’s bottom bunk.
Jeff and Anna check out the “spacious” dorm room…a place for everything.
Jeff with his oldest and youngest. I think the concept of “college” is still hard to grasp for Ellie. But she loved seeing her big brother!
The kids in the dorm room. (Austin stayed home for the weekend since he had just been to Duluth to move his brother in.)
Brandon’s view of campus and Lake Superior.
Ellie wanted this car. After all what little girl doesn’t like “Hello Kitty”?! Not sure what someone of driving age would want with a car like this.
The library.
Anna checking out a college classroom and getting a view of things to come.
Brandon showing us one of his lecture halls.
I think Jeff really likes the bulldogs!
On campus with my girls.
After our tour of campus we treated Brandon and the family to a special dinner at the restaurant at the top of the Radisson Hotel downtown. With windows all around the revolving floor takes you on a slow tour of both the town and the harbor areas.
Jeff, Brandon and Ellie.
Jeff and Brandon both ordered the filet mingon. Ellie got to eat part of Jeff’s. She kept saying that it was the best steak she’s ever had. I’m sure it was my girl!
Me and Anna. She got a salad and crab cakes for dinner. I ordered the pecan-crusted walleye. Both were excellent.
As I mentioned we were at a revolving restaurant so it makes the following incident even more incredible. Just as we were completing our meal, Jeff gets up and starts talking to this group of people. I finally recognized Jeff’s Uncle LaVerne. It turns out they had been visiting along the North Shore hoping to see some fall colors (unfortunately there wasn’t much yet). They live in southern Minnesota. They had no idea we were in Duluth either. It was nice to say “hi” to family. We also find out later that a different cousin and her family were actually staying that that hotel over the same weekend.
What’s up with the cars in this town? Ellie spotted this zebra stripped model as we were leaving the restaurant.
Since dancing with the Minnesota Viking Cheerleaders A-Team we’ve had the opportunity a few times a year to perform on the field with the MVC during a game. It’s always exciting and nerve-racking and brings back lots of memories. This year the opportunity came early to perform a pre-game routine before the September 18th game. It was a busy morning with practices for both the pre-game routine and our routine for the Plaza.
The A-Team in the Dome. They let the cheerleaders have the field before the teams do in the morning. That means an early call time.
Anna came prepared for the early morning chill.
It was a morning that threatened rain by the time we were to perform on the plaza. Since the ground was wet, we had to modify the beginning of our routine to stay off the wet pavement. The drizzle stopped just prior to dancing and as soon as we were finished it started again.
The MVC A-Team dancing to “Shut the Phunk Up”. (I start 3rd from the left in the front row on the ground and quickly switch to the back row.)
After this routine on the Plaza it was back inside the Dome to our seats on the field. Now field seats are either great (if the play is in your end) or terrible (all plays at the other end). It is fun to be so close to the action and actually hear what is going on.
The MVC and A-Team perform together to “Pause”. I’m somewhere in there! And I have the distinction of being the oldest lady out there dancing.
On the field together…we had fun even if the Vikings lost.
I couldn’t resist the play on words! The temperatures were in the 90s with the heat index pushing 100. It was my first time dancing with my A-team this season. I missed the first pre-season game because it was Ellie’s 7th birthday. Since Jeff and the boys were off taking Brandon to college, both of the girls came with me downtown.
(photo by Ellie)
Hot and sweaty after a short practice, but still my beautiful A-team teammates (photo by Ellie).
The A-team performed two routines in addition to SKOL for the fans on the plaza:
One to “Party Anthem” (most of the time I’m towards the front right)
The second to “Don’t Want to Go Home” (most of the time I’m towards the right side)
The videos are thanks to my daughter, Anna.
Hanging out on the plaza:
We were all just dripping by the time we got back to the car and were anxious to be home and just relax. Pulling into the driveway the garage door wouldn’t open, so Anna hopped out to try the keypad. By that time I realized it wasn’t our garage door that was the problem, it was that there was no power in the neighborhood. I had taken my husband’s keys with me since that key ring had just the car key and a house key. But it wasn’t our house key (which I found out by trying the door). I still had another backup (or so I thought). We keep a lock box under our deck. I haven’t used it for years, but I still remembered the code. It was empty and I was seriously locked out of my own house and my husband wasn’t coming home for another two days. We hadn’t eaten dinner yet so I took the girls with me back into Chaska for a bite at Arbys. Towards the end of dinner Anna called a friend who lived in the neighborhood and they had found out that the power probably wouldn’t be restored until after midnight or later. The girls just looked at me and said, “What are we going to do Mommy?” I had no idea, but started looking through my contacts list on my cell phone and praying. I called my friend, Gail, who calls her home “The Blessing House”. She said to come on over and she’d leave the light on. We took over her two bedrooms downstairs and she even provided pjs and toothbrushes. The girls and I were royally blessed by the “Blessing House” and Gail that evening.
Ellie ready for bed.
Well, maybe NOT so ready for bed once she found Miss Gail’s masks and feathers. I caught her dancing in her room after I’d tucked her in. I guess we were on an adventure that was just too exciting for her.
Anna was ready to relax and sleep.
In the morning Gail made us hot chocolate and we sat in her window seats overlooking the lake. We finally made it home later that morning and the power was back on. In the car ride home Ellie commented, “When I grow up and have a house, I want it to be just like Miss Gail’s house. It’s going to be a God’s house.” (YES! I think it was a good adventure after all.)
Jeff and Austin helped Brandon move into his new dorm room on the University of Minnesota Duluth campus. Here are a few scenes from that day last week. They load all their stuff into these carts to go up the elevators. Note the “mountain dew” on top of the cart, an essential element in any dorm room. Kyle is his new roommate.
Another photo of the day scrapped! This one makes me smile, because it was the perfect day spent with my oldest daughter.
Those wonderful frayed edges around the photo and the burlap fabric scrap come from Heather T’s latest scrapping tool, Scrap Masks available at Mscraps.
