3rd blogversary

3 years of mostly bragging and ragging on my kids, I 'spose.  Zach wasn't quite one then, and he'll be four soon.  Jinkies.

A turned 10 last week.  Another kid in double digits...

The kids go back to school on Tuesday.  Not looking forward to cracking the homework whip again, but the change will be good for all of us.  With summer winding down, life around here is becoming stagnant.  It's been tough lately to pry the kids' grubby mitts from the TV or Wii remotes or the computer to go do something a teensy bit more brain stimulating. Not to mention busting up disagreements all day.

paintingpalooza

Been a crazy week.  The kids spent this past weekend in Waconia so Nate and I could paint the living room and hallway.  The previous weekend we were back in Iowa to celebrate my mom-in-law's 70th b-day.  Happy birthday Doreen!

The cousins had lots more fun together.  You don't see many of these spinny thingamajigs at parks anymore.  The older cousins got to stay at Nana and Papa's farm for a few days afterward and wear out the go-karts.

The painting project is still not complete.  It was tough covering the dark red walls.  Had to do 2 coats of primer and 2 coats of paint.  We liked the red but were ready for a change.  The other features 'pop' better now that they're not outdone by the shazam! red walls.  There will be 3 different colors when we're done - the hallway is a shade lighter and there'll be an accent wall here and there.  Golly, we've seen too much HGTV.

Yay for Nate!

Yesterday my handsome, smart, hardworking hubby got some news from his manager.  He received a promotion to Lead Software Engineer.  Good job, Nate!  Love you!

to lotto or not to lotto?

A Burnsville couple won the Powerball this week, with a ticket they purchased just a few miles from our home.   The big $228.9 million will become a $123 million cash payout, then 'only' $84 million after taxes.  Seems this couple met with their financial adviser earlier this week and their retirement prospects weren't looking stellar.  Funny how things work out sometimes.

Lots of lotto winners end up going bankrupt.  We like to think we wouldn't be idiots and lose it all, but if you imagine the nitty gritty details of a life with sudden wealth, the pressure must be insane.  When the jackpot gets huge we fantasize how we'd spend it - besides the nicer house and $$ set aside for college, etc., we'd pay off the mortgage at church (so they stop pestering us with capital campaigns), give some to our fav charities, and to family and friends.  But how much?  And would you really become an instant philanthropist anyway?  Whatever you do give away, it's probably never enough.  Putting the shoe on the other foot, what if it's someone close to us that pockets 84 mil?  Say my brother Chris wins, and all he does is give me 2 million?  Chris, you lousy cheapskate.  Alesha, we practically grew up together, how could you only take me on a world cruise?  How messy it would all be.

Well, it's pointless anyway, 'cuz we never play the lotto.  And lightning never strikes twice - a winning ticket already sold in our hometown.

lots more celebrating!

We went to Josilan's baptism in the Des Moines area on July 31.  It was a double baptism/1st Birthday celebration because she turned one on May 28th in Ethiopia, a few weeks before Erik & Kim went to pick her up.  It's crazy how many cute expressions she has!

Then Monday of last week Lily the Yorkie-Poo joined us again while her family vacationed.  We had lots of fun with her just like last year.  We took her to the park in her little dress where she barked her rather fierce bark (for a 4 pounder) at all the other dogs.  She'd tremble & sniff 'em when they came close.

Unfortunately Michael got injured when he tried to pick up the cat during a Felix/Lily showdown.  He had to have a couple stitches under his nose and some glue put in the scratch under his eye.  He toughed it out and is healing well.

Nate had a b-day on Aug. 2, the day we supposedly missed Economic Armageddon by a hair.

And finally, happy 80th birthday to my dad!  Aug. 3 was his big day, then we had an Open House for him on Saturday (the 6th) at my parent's home in Waconia.  We had a great turnout.  It was awesome to see family & friends from near and far, including the 'Southwood Gang", lots of family from northern MN, my mom & dad-in-law from Iowa, and my aunt and some cousins from Omaha that we rarely see.  Also lots of Waconia folks who my dad has known for many years through his involvement in the community.  He is really a go-to guy there.  Doesn't really look 80, does he?

Felix's 1st Birthday

7/29 is Felix's b-day.  He's one now, officially an adult cat.  Some new weird behaviors emerged since last I wrote about him.  He licks my legs when he's hungry and when hungry or playful jumps up and attacks anybody's legs as they walk away.  He does at least have the sense to do this with his claws retracted.

Couldn't get a good pic in his b-day hat.  He ran away and wore it around his belly for a while.

Smurferrific

Before we scaled down to cheaper (but still not cheap enough) basic cable, Adrienne had discovered and gotten hooked on the old Smurfs cartoon on Boomerang network.  She's into all things Smurf just in time for the new movie to come out tomorrow.  She's sporting a self-made Smurfette t-shirt and holding a play-doh Smurf.  All the chalk art on the driveway is Smurfy.

A summer walk at Ritter Farm Park.  Ooo, a hill!  Must run down!

holy heat wave batman

So I could talk about the heat and especially the humidity but I guess I'd be a johnny come lately.  We went to a Twins game on Monday and sat in the nose-bleediest upper row which turned out well 'cuz we were in the shade the whole time.  Discovered that there are still bozos who attempt to yell things to the refs and players from way the heck on the top row.  And since you can't get a Dome Dog at Target Field, they came up with some other un-catchy hot dog name I can't recall.

Haven't mentioned it before, but this summer an annoying, sometimes painful and eventually expensive sort of health-related issue has come to a head.  Not gonna go into details, but no worries - it's minor in the Grand Scheme and all, but it's been enough to make my underlying anxiety boil over a bit.  All while our 2 old vehicles keep getting older and the high cost of gas makes everything else pricey too.  Argh.  And, uh-oh, Christmas is only 5 months away.  There's always something...

Anyhoo, life is still good and Culver's chocolate custard is yummy and Nate and I (nerd alert!) have started watching Star Trek: TNG on Netflix.  Season 1 is a little boring.  Seems the later years are better.

pre-heatwave picnic on the deck

playing catch-up

On vacation in Grand Rapids, Zach caught a rock bass with a kiddie pole and giant bobber.

The beginning of a brief ill-fated tube attempt by Adrienne, 

who was the only kid brave enough to try it out

S'mores and then sparklers at the firepit

Back home for 4th of July weekend at the Eagan parade

Got to meet our cutie-patootie new niece Josilan this weekend!

Uh, do I look like I need to use a bib?

Megan and Adrienne, cousins in crime.

Grand Canyon 2011

Been a lazy blogger lately.  Last week we were up north at a cabin on the lake, don'tcha know.  But first things first.  Michael got back from his trip to the Grand Canyon just before we left.  Here are a few of his pics:

Michael had a great time with Nana & Papa and his cousin Isaac and claims he didn't miss us at all.  Hrmf.  But he allowed me to hug him for a while when he came back.  His week & a half absence felt weird.  He also took some videos and kept a little journal of his trip, with important details like how far they went on a given day, where they ate, and whether the hotel beds were comfy.