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    Archive for July 2008

    Weekend at Andy's

    Tuesday, July 29, 2008


    This past weekend we spent a fun-filled 2 nights at Andy and Jennifer's house. We originally were going up there because Mike and I were registered to run in the Lumberjack Road Races in Stillwater and we asked Andy to babysit Benjamin while we ran. However, we decided to make a weekend out of our visit and stayed until late Sunday night.

    On Friday night Andy made us an amazing meal of Swordfish Seviche and Portabella Mushroom burgers, some seriously gourmet food!!! Jennifer was at a wedding in Nebraska and was due back Saturday afternoon.

    Mike and I got up early Saturday morning and headed out to Stillwater for our races. Mike ran the 10 mile and I ran in the 5k race. It was beautiful scenery and it wasn't too hot and humid. Mike had a great finishing time and we both enjoyed ourselves! After heading back to Andy's, we all went out to Pastor Hamilton's BBQ where Benjamin made friends with the Pastor himself. He even gave the little guy his very own jar of BBQ sauce - lucky duck!! Benjamin told us that after lunch he wanted to go to a "really fun park," so we decided to take him to Como Town, the Como Park amusement park. It is a small amusement park with lots of rides that are suitable for Benjamin's age/size. Andy loaded Benjamin up with ride tickets and we all took turns escorting him on such rides as the Como Town Train, Fire Brigade, Tea Cups and Aladdin's Magic Carpet Ride. Benjamin had SUCH a good time and we successfully wore him out enough that he fell asleep during the car ride home.

    When we got back to the house, Jennifer was home, so we decided to all head out to Boca Chica, a Mexican restaurant not far from their house. Benjamin was entertained by a mariache band during our meal. After a very full day of running, eating and playing, we all headed to bed relatively early.

    On Sunday we all went to the Glockenspiel Restaurant in St. Paul for what we thought was going to be an outdoor German festival, but what turned out to be a few outside tables with a roving accordian player. We ate some German food, drank some German beers and just relaxed. Benjamin met a little girl there who took him under her wing to teach him the Bunny Hop dance, it was cute. After the "festival," Joe, Jen and the kids all stopped by Andy's house for a quick visit before we headed back to Rochester.

    Even after having a very full weekend, Benjamin and I drove down to Winona on Monday to visit my friend, Samantha, and her 2 adorable daughters. Benjamin and Nora, who is almost 2, played together while Sam and I caught up and we both got to hold baby Nina. It was a lot of fun!

    This week we are going to meet Grandma Chris and Grandpa Ed at a Twins v. White Sox game at the Metrodome - their first Minnesota sporting event. Also, Friday is IBM day at the county fair, so Mike is given the day off to go to the fair with his family, hopefully it isn't too hot!

    Yet another milestone. . .

    Tuesday, July 22, 2008



    smiling...laughing...rolling over...crawling...standing...walking...talking...tractor noise...

    he is my son!

    We just had quite a busy weekend! My Aunt Mary, Uncle Roland, Grandma and Great Aunt Arlene all visited from IL (and FL) to see my parents new place up in Mound. They came a little early and stayed over at our house Friday night to make their drive a little shorter. I ran a 4 mile Women's Race Saturday morning, which was the hardest run I have ever completed. It was a very hot and sticky day and I was just not prepared for the issues I had. I almost actually quit the race after the first mile, but somehow pulled myself together to finish in under the goal time I set myself. I am incredibly proud!

    After the race, we all drove up to Mom and Dad's for a nice day of barbecuing, playing games and just hanging out. Benjamin was able to spend some time with his Great Grandma and everyone else, you can see them enjoying a game in the photo.

    Sunday morning we drove out to White Bear Lake for the baptism of our godson and Joe and Jen's newest little one, John Warren. It was a beautiful day and we are so proud to be honored with being his godparents. John was such a good boy and nearly slept through the whole event! The entire family then went back to Joe and Jen's for a tasty brunch. All of us "kids" were even able to sneak away without our own kids for a while to a restaurant, which was so much fun!!

    Here is a photo of the proud godparents and sleeping John:

    Godparents and John

    HIYA!

    Sunday, July 13, 2008



    Jessica went out of town on business today so Benjamin and I are bachelors until Tuesday. We dropped mommy off at the airport at 1:30 and headed to the local movie theater for his first big cinema production Kung Fu Panda. After that we had a wonderful BBQ dinner of corn on the cob, hot dogs, and burgers. We followed that up by a TC chocolate ice cream bar and several walks around the neighborhood. Tomorrow we will camp in the backyard and roast marshmallows over on the firepit. Hope for good weather!

    Frenchie

    Friday, July 11, 2008

    Cuteness update:
    Benjamin...er...um, Gerard Depardu...just "made gas" and following it said "Excuse Moi."

    Bilingual...and stinky.
    We couldn't be more proud.

    Vacation

    Tuesday, July 08, 2008


    This morning, Mike and Benjamin drove me to work and while we were in the car someone on the radio said something about Wisconsin and Benjamin's ears perked right up! "Wisconsin, Mommy?? Is that where vacation is?" I don't think he's ever grasped the meaning of the word vacation. Whenever we take our next vacation, I know we are going to have to explain to him why it isn't in Wisconsin or at the Jellystone Resort where we stayed. To him, "vacation" was the entire specific experience and I guess that makes sense.


    We spent the holiday weekend in Wisconsin...on vacation...with Mike's parents, Joe, Jen, AJ and John. We drove to Warrens, WI on Thursday evening after work to the Jellystone Resort there. Cindy and Bert stayed there with us Thursday night and Joe and Jen met us all there Friday evening. The place itself was not exactly our cup of tea, but we really did have a great time. It was a nice opportunity for Benjamin to spend some quality time with his Grandma and Grandpa and of course, his best buddy, AJ. We did a lot of relaxing, swam around in the pools and waterpark, enjoyed a couple of campfires and celebrated Cindy's birthday. We didn't exactly make it out to any fireworks on the Fourth, which turned out to be a good thing. While leaving dinner that night, we caught some of the local display and Benjamin was NOT a fan. He kept saying, "I don't like fireworks, I want to go back to the car." So it was a good thing that we didn't invest a lot of time and energy trying to get a good spot to watch them anywhere!


    Benjamin really enjoyed the waterpark. He is so brave with trying out new things. He rode in the Lazy River with us, sat in the hot tub, went on some waterslides and even endured the wave pool. That was all fine and dandy until I had to go and slip off the tube and take us both under the water while simultaneously scraping up my knee into a bloody mess. It took a while to settle us both down after that mishap! But not too soon afterward, he was back in the Lazy River with Daddy!!

    Oh! We made a discovery this weekend! Benjamin has an imaginary friend...."Salty" (I know, we don't get it either). Bert and I were hanging out in our cabin with Benjamin and had an interesting encounter with his new friend. He was talking with him and asking Salty questions that apparently he answered back to. Ahh, the imagination of a child!!

    This coming weekend we are going to be at the St. John's Blockparty on Saturday with my parents. St. John's is our church and they put together a really excellent music festival on the blocks surrounding the church. This year the headliners are Soul Asylum and the Bodeans. On Sunday, I am travelling down to Chicago for a work-related conference, which should be fun. It will be nice to be treated to a four star hotel and good food, though I know I will miss my 2 guys!!