Walk/Run Around the Lake

Our school held a walk/run a few weeks ago. We walked or ran 3.2 miles around this lovely St Paul lake. My kids had energy to burn though...

We took Spencer Tracy.


My favorite statue.


Some local 'celebrities': a couple of the K-9 dogs (they have their own show on Animal Planet!)


I hope it ends up being an annual event. It was wonderful to see the kids' friends and families outside the school and get so much exercise.

Tree Climbers Contest

My brother in law works with trees and we spent a lovely (albeit rather chilly) Spring day in Mounds Park watching the guys race up trees, do some stunt like things and rescue a 'dummy' that my brother in law named 'Chuck'. The kids got to climb a rock wall, ride in a cherry picker and do a zip line, as well as learn about trees. This was two weeks ago, I'm in a time vortex:).

One of the mounds:


J rescuing 'Chuck'.

Little Birdie

I saw this little bird on a walk a few weeks ago. I kept taking photos and getting closer and closer. I could not believe how close he let me get! I used the 'flower' close up setting on my camera.

He makes me happy:). Does anyone know what kind of bird this is and if, in fact, it is a male? Thanks!

Being Here Now

It's that time of year when I especially miss her. But now, all the firsts are gone. The first grandchildren, the first college graduate, the first of every holiday, the weddings. We have a new normal without mom being here. And this week, I relished in what our family is now. Her importance, love and wisdom will never be forgotten. I am proud of my dad and my sister and myself, for who we are now. I am proud of my husband, my brother in law and my step mom for becoming an integral part of our family, and us being integral parts of their families. And I'm proud of my little boys, for millions of reasons.

Happy Mother's Day.

Random Thoughts

Just some random thoughts and observations from our adventure!

1.We went through something called a 'Coyote Wash' in AZ. This amused me. Can you also get your coyote dried and fluffed? (I know, I know *bad joke*.)

2.Brian Fellows impersonations are only funny for about 5 minutes, once a week. I went way over that limit.

3.Is alien jerky made from illegal aliens, extraterrestials, or road kill?

4.A small bag of petrified rocks will make it just fine through the washer.

5.Loose, looser, and loosest slots: this just doesn't seem like a good thing to me! All the more reason for your money to disappear! And the signs were always next to some hot chick.

6. Gilda Radner is hilarious. Not kid appropriate.

Gaslamp District, San Diego, CA

We spent most of our trip just outside of San Diego. We visited my husband's 85 year old grandmother almost daily, and spent time with his aunt and uncle, his two cousins and their families and his dad and stepmom. We went downtown one day, to go to Horton's Plaza, and found ourselves in the Historic Gaslamp District, which I loved.

I heart San Diego...:)

Flagstaff, AZ

In Flagstaff, we managed to pick the same restaurant as Alan Jackson's crew. There ended up being three trailers with his name on it, as well as two tour buses. We ended up sitting next to some of the drivers and one gal thought they were huge celebrities. I was highly entertained.