Seeing Purple.....

No, NOT the MN Vikings......

For the last 6 months I have been involved on the committee for the Memory Walk. So, last Saturday morning was the BIG event here in Central MN! With just under 600 walkers, and a BEAUTIFUL fall day, there were alot of families that came together to walk in memory or in honor of a loved one!

I had the best job of all..........photographer! As much as I would love to, I am not able to post any photos, as they are for the Alzheimer's Organization! When I think back to the day, this adorable little couple comes to mind. A man and woman guessed to be in there early 80's started out the walk by her pushing him in a wheelchair. The confused look on his face spoke volumes about the disease. However, when I went to the end of the walk to take photos, there they both were walking side by side and HAND IN HAND. -that is the only way one can get through this nasty disease........side by side and hand in hand.

Do you know someone who has been affected by Alzheimer's or dementia? If so, I challenge you to reach out to them and their family.......walk beside them........and hold their hands when they need it!!!

Saturday morning I got Josh outta bed and told him he was going to come with me to be my "assistant". He was a great help, but more than anything.......when we got in the van to come home, he said "mom, that was a fun morning". Coming from an almost 15 year old about spending the morning with mostly elderly, that was HUGE!

Homecoming....

This weekend was Homecoming here! Despite the bronchitis, I pushed myself to go to the game. It was a great football game, with an even better halftime performance by the marching band (of course I am biased).

It was unseasonably warm (85 degrees), so we sat under the stars with only t-shirts! Of course, our home team WON!! Following the game was the Homecoming dance for the high school .....so, Josh had his first BIG dance night! When I was in high school Homecoming was a semi-formal affair, but now-a-days it is not anything like that! They all went wearing their Homecoming t-shirts! Josh had a date, and tells us it was great FUN, but that is all the details he will share with us!

His friend Brittany is a total sweetheart, and spent the day hanging out with our family yesterday! Today we were back to FALL.....with cool temps, and a heavy sky. The trees are really changing.....I love this refreshing time of year!

Accomplished....

When I get into projects like this one, I feel so much accomplishment when I am done! I don't know what makes me feel that way. I do know, however, that we will have plenty of salsa goodness to enjoy during every college and NFL football game this upcoming winter! My "mater" plants STILL have loads of fruit on them, so I am thinking about putting my Gram to work when she comes to spend some time with us later in the week! I remember when I was a little girl, and I would go with Gram to the basement to pick out a jar of beans, or pickles, or peaches, or pears! I loved her cellar with all of her canning goods in it! Mine will never look like that, but the idea of canning brings me great joy!

Michelle St. Clair found me out....

so I have to share with you my WONDERFUL "official" news......

I am absolutely THRILLED to be designing for Creative Memories!!! It is not like you remember it to be! Trust me! The product is awesome, and I am having the time of my life with it! I never thought I would be a digi scrapper, but have been dabbling with the Storybook Creator! Check it out ladies!

Where did the summer go?

It seems almost as though the summer just got here, but then on another note it seems like all the parades and marching band was forever ago! Today was a big day in our house. Taylor started his first day of middle school, and Josh started his first day of high school! (holy cow, I am getting old) Of course my photos had to be quick as they are close to too cool for taking photos on the first day of school!

Last spring Josh took his math placement test for this year, and was reccommended by his 8th grade advanced math teacher for IMP2 placement, but missed the score by ONE point. They agreed at the high school to allow him to retake it today, as we didn't want him to be bored in IMP1, as much of it is a repeat of last year. So, Dennis took him early this morning, and he took the test. We are thrilled that after a summer of no studying, he passed and will be placed into IMP2!!!! He did have a few glitches in his schedule that will be worked out today, but is on his way to a great school year! (I think I forgot to mention that he is entering high school at 6 feet on the nose!)

Tay had the upper hand on entering the middle school! He has been there so many times with his brother that he already knows his way around, and knows alot of the teachers! He got into the same "house" as his friend Spencer, which made him extremely happy! I am sure they will both be exhausted tonight!

As you can see, Champ is being spoiled rotten. We decided over the weekend to see how he would do outside of his kennel at bedtime. We he snuggled right in, and now spends the nights on on of our beds!

Dennis and I did have an opportunity over the weekend to go out on a "date". We went and played miniature golf, and then went for nachos and a beer at the local watering hole! The date came to an abrupt halt when Dennis got a migraine, but we enjoyed some quite time together while we could

!

Fall is definetely in the air. We had some rain, and will only be in the 70's for the rest of the week! Along with spring, this is one of my favorite times of year!

a 1, 2, 3, 4 vacation....

1 mini van, 2 kids, 3 states, 4 days.........worth of vacation! We had a blast visiting the streets of Chicago, ate yummy Chicago style pizza, toured museums, went to Navy Pier, took in a Cubs game and visited Lambeau Field in Packerland (Green Bay)! It was so refreshing for all of us!

It's been a LONG time.......

I could list a ton of excuses, but let me just say I am sorry that I have abandoned my blog, for those of you that have been checking!

Of course summer not only brings with it beautiful weather, but all those activities like soccer, softball, and the like. To sum it up......Dennis made 2 Canada fishing trips. Josh marched in 14 parades, went to Mt. Rushmore for a week with the marching band, then a week in northern MN teaching bible school on an indian reservation. Tay and I made a very last minute trip to Boston to meet my sister, my mom, and my nephew. Nolan was seeing a specialist there for his eye disease! We also enjoyed several days at a friends cabin with Dennis' brother Doug and his family! It was great fun!

The biggest news in our house, is that we added a furry four legged friend to it! "Champ" came to our home on July 2nd...and is totally spoiled! Not ever having had a pet in all my years, I am quite shocked at myself at how much I enjoy having him here. He is part Beagle and part Rat Terrier. Therefore, we don't let him off his leash, as he will never come back! He is a year and a half old, and is spending his spare time burying his bone in the hostas!

We are leaving next week for a few days to Chicago, then onto Green Bay for Packer training camp. My cheesehead is beside himself!!! We are looking forward to some enjoyable family time.

I hope that you are all having a great summer! I will try to update again SOON! (not 2 months)