Memorial Weekend

FRIDAY

I TOOK THE DAY OFF FROM WORK TO HELP ALLISON AND KEITH MOVE INTO THEIR NEW HOUSE. IT WAS SO NICE TO BE AWAY FROM JUNIOR HIGHERS FOR A DAY- EVEN IF I WAS WORKING HARD MOVING BOXES AND UNPACKING THINGS THAT DON'T BELONG TO ME. BUT...IT IS ALWAYS FUN AND REWARDING TO HELP OUT GOOD FRIENDS; PLUS AL IS HAVING A BABY GIRL IN A WEEK, SO I THOUGHT THE MORE HELP THAT ARRIVED THE MORE STABLE SHE WOULD STAY. THIS IS MY GOD-SON WILL..HE WAS HELPING UNPACK CLARA'S THINGS AND DECIDED TO PUT THEM ON HIS FEET.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

SATURDAY MORNING I GOT UP AT 7:45 CUZ MY BODY WAS READY TO WAKE UP...EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T WANT TO. HAD LOTS OF ERRANDS TO RUN. AFTER A BUSY MORNING CLEANING, SHOPPING (not for fun stuff), AND GETTING MY OIL CHANGED I RAN OFF TO A 10 YEAR HIGH SCHOOL REUNION FOR THE FIRST SET OF SENIORS I TAUGHT. THEY INVITED ME AND I DECIDED TO MAKE AN APPERANCE. IT WAS FUN TO SEE HOW GROWN UP; WITH HUSBAND/WIFE AND KIDS IN TOW THEY HAVE GOTTEN. MAN, 10 YEARS OF TEACHING- WHO KNEW???

FROM THERE I GOT IN MY CAR AND DROVE NORTH TO SANDSTONE TO HANG AT THE PURSUITTI CABIN; WITH ANNA AND HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS. IT WAS A HOOT. I LOVE GOING TO HER CABIN, OF COURSE- CUZ CABINS AND PLAYIN IN THE WATER WITH FRIENDS IS FUN, BUT MORE THAN THAT HER FAMILY IS SUPER COOL...THEY MAKE ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING SUPER FUN. WE GOT HIT WITH SOME NASTY WEATHER ON SUNDAY. IT STORMED THAT MORNING TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAD TO FIND TREE COVERAGE FOR OUR CARS IN CASE OF HAIL DAMAGE. THAN AFTER WAITING FOR A COUPLE HOURS THE SUN PEAKED OUT AND OFF TO THE WATER WE WENT. GOT A COUPLE SOLID HOURS OF WAKE BOARDING AND SKIING IN. I WAS THE CHEERLEADER SINCE I DON'T WAKE BOARD AND OR SKI. BUT IT WAS STILL FUN TO JUST BE IN THE BOAT AND PRETEND THAT SUMMER IS HERE. RIGHT BEFORE I HAD TO LEAVE PAUL (anna's boyfriend), BRAD (a new found friend i made) AND I GOT IN THE PADDLE BOAT WITH THE INTENTIONS OF PROTECTING ANNA WHILE SHE WENT FOR A SWIM...BUT SINCE WE HAD 3 PEEPS IN A PADDLE BOAT MADE FOR 2, WE DIDN'T GET FAR...AND MY BUTT GOT REALLY WET! BUT WE LAUGHED A TON...GOOD MEMORIES. FROM THERE I HEADED HOME TO MA AND PA'S HOUSE.

MONDAY

WAS EXCITED TO BE HOME FOR THE DAY. I HAVEN'T BEEN AT HOME WITH MOM AND DAD FOR A LONG TIME. WOKE UP EARLY AND SAT AROUND CHATTING AND DRINKING COFFEE. I AM SO LUCKY TO HAVE COOL PARENTS THAT YOU CAN JUST HANG WITH AND B.S. WITH. LATER THAT MORNING WE DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO GET TO WORK. I WENT OUTSIDE WITH MOM AND HELPED HER PICK ROCK- OH THAT WAS A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE. I REMEMBER PICKING MILLIONS OF ROCK WHEN WE BUILT OUR HOUSE, MADE SOME HEY FIELDS AND WHEN MA WANTED A GARDEN. MAN- PICKING ROCK IS BORING AND TOUGH. AFTER THAT I GOT TO DRIVE THE BOB CAT. CRAZY! HELPED DAD CUT OUT SOME FENCE. I BURNT THE CRAP OUT OF MY ARM WHEN I USED THE CUTTING TORCH; FROM THERE ON OUT I LET DAD DO IT. THE BURN TURNED WHITE AND HAD INSTANT BUBBLES...IT KEPT BURNING SO I HAD TO STICK IT IN A NEAR BY PUDDLE...WHICH I AM SURE WAS SUPER CLEAN! THE THINGS YA DO WHEN YOU'RE ON THE FARM!!!! SPENT THE AFTER NOON WORKING OUTSIDE AND PLAYING WITH THE PUPPY. THAT WAS FUN. THAN GOT IN MY CAR DIRTY AND SMELLY AND HEADED BACK TO THE CITIES. WENT TO THE INDIANA JONES MOVIES WITH JUSTIN- IT WAS OK. I LAUGHED, AND I THINK JUSTIN LAUGHED AT ME! OVERALL IT WAS A GOOD RELAXING MEMORIAL WEEKEND.

ISNT THE NORTH WOODS/FARM PRETTY!!!!

Saturday day Part II - Nicki's getting married!

oh goodness, another one of my close friends is gonna bite the dust in a month. Nicki is getting married. She is so cute- and so much fun. love her to death. We (Allison, Catina and I) hosted a Bachelorette Party for her and had high hopes of having a bang up time. We all meet at BoneFire Grill on Grand Ave for dinner, gifts, games and conversation. It was fun to just chill with a bunch of Nicki's friends, family and soon to be family members. Nicki got to wear a crown passed down from Allison, she got a wand that had the power to boss anyone around...which i don't think she used much, and of course got some super fun 'personal' items. We had dessert (us hosts made our own) and than packed it up and moved onto Welsch's Big Ten Tavern for Karaoke and drinks. Nicki has a outstanding voice and sings like none other...and is one of her favorite things to do. We stayed and listen to Jim, Nicki, and Nancy take their turns signing....Jim and Nancy were not apart of our group but were 2 other hard core devoted karaoke singers. Anyways- we did a couple group songs- dance a little-and at around 12:45 called it a night. I hope that Nicki felt special, cuz she is. And I pray that her wedding day is everything she has dreamt about and more. It's a good thing to watch your friends fall madly in love and move into their next phase in life. Some day...some day!

Saturday Part I- Hope Rides.

Vollie and I have been friends since the 6th grade. Her and I met on the play ground one day (which is a long story) and have been pals since. About 2 years ago Vollie approached me and asked me if I'd be on the board of directors for her non-profit organization called 'Hope Rides'. This organization it just getting it's feet wet, but Vollie (and many others involved) have high hopes and big aspiration of things to happen with Hope Rides. To sum up what our mission is: to have a 'horsing' out reach program for the at risk population (which is massive). A place for people to come and learn about horses and life. We have a lot of planning to do and a lot of things to get done, but have seen the hand of God move in more than one way; which is super cool. if you want more information on Hope Rides go to http://www.hoperides.org/ and check us out. We'd love any and all support you can give us.

Ok- that was background information to what happened Saturday Morning. I got up at 5:00ish to get ready for the Horsemanship Horse Clinic held by Hope Rides, it was a fund raiser. 17 riders showed up to learn more about becoming a better rider. Lloyd Anderson did a fantastic job and many of the riders seemed to highly enjoy it. The weather was awesome, and Vollie and I of course had a great time catching up on life. Please take a look at coming out next year to attended the clinic.

I had to leave 4 hours early to get home in time to start round 2 of my Saturday. (see round 2 entry above)

connections... gotta have connections

i love that i have fun connections that get me places that most people don't get to go; and sometimes for free even. My friend Keith, who makes and sells Risen Drums hooked me and 7 of my friends up with a Meet and Greet pass with Leeland and Casting Crowns last Saturday @ the Excel Energy Center! Of course, we had to pay for the tickets, which we got at a discount rate cuz of Matt who works at NWC and gets discounted tickets. so...the Meet and Greet was interesting to say the least...and fun. The dude in the green t-shirt and blue vest would be Mike. Mike plays Risen Drums for Leeland (you need to get their CD...it's killer) -thus my connection. He is a crazy dude! The picture below is of Jay and I. No Aunt Bonnie, he isn't my boyfriend. But...he is my friend Jenny's boyfriend, thus my connection in getting a hug and picture taken with him. He's a cuttie huh!!!!

After Leeland left this little room that we were in; and let me just say that there were about 50 of us in that room standing in a circle waiting for the 'famous' people to come out. it was weird. This picture is of my group of friends (missing Ben and Dawn), and the lead singer from Casting Crown - Mark, who is right next to me and than the lead gaiter player. (3rd one from your left) The concert was very good. The Excel Energy Center has awesome sound. Keith and Allison and 2 of their friends has row 7 seats. We were off to the side and back about half way- still really good seats. But, of course Keith hooked us up 2 at a time and we got to sit in the 7th row for a while. Again, connections....

doc Nate is moving! so now i have a connection in Texas so when i wanna go visit i have a place to stay. it was said to say good-bye, but i know that he will do so well there. miss ya Nate!
Ok, this connection needs some work. I was invited to Jen's nephews 4th birthday party on Saturday. of course if i didn't know Jen i wouldn't have been invited and than wouldn't have seen all the spider (wo)men who showed up for the party. It's always fun to meet and watch a good-friends family interact.

My last connection was Jill getting Jen and I FREE tickets to the Swarm playoff game, again held at the Excel Energy Center. I haven't been to the Excel Energy Center my whole life- than... bam, 2 Saturdays in a row. crazy. Jill couldn't use the tickets for herself so Jen and decided to go check out what Lacrosse is all about. It was pretty interesting, and super entertaining. I could maybe get hooked on Lacrosse. It is very fast paced, not a dull moment (like hockey) and there are lots of fights! We were seated right behind the players box, row 5; prime time seats- for FREE. Lacrosse also goes really fast. We were in and out in like 2 hours. so it was worth our drive downtown St. Paul and the $10 we had to pay for parking. I highly enjoy my connections...and i love getting free stuff. Good times.

a couple days late.

happy birthday bonnie. i meant to send you a birthday wish via email and blog site, but...i totally forgot until this morning. what did you do? what did you get? how young are you? looking good!!!! anyways- just wanted to say happy belated birthday, and that you make me smile!!!! love and blessings.

p.s. a picture will be posted of bonnie and i at some point, but i have to find it, scan it and than post it- so who knows when that will actually happen-