They grow up too fast...

I did a photo shoot for my friend Lisa the other day and when I was uploading the video I made for her I found some old videos of Matthew from February of 2008.  It was not that long ago but my was it ever when you look at him.  Here is a link to one of the videos.  I will try to keep tabs on how many people go to it because you are only allowed 25 to do it this way.  I don't know if there will be more than that anyway...I don't think my blog is that popular:-)
just cut and paste this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch_private?v=Rnw8Uh9EWrA&sharing_token=zFneXrT_I1wgTr38PePfVQ==

Looking back

It is funny how time can be frozen.  We all have those moments where we remember right were we were... what we were doing...what we were wearing... but certainly how we felt.  There are a few events that connect us as a county.  I am sure everyone can remember right where they were on September 11, 2001 for example.  Other events are more isolated and hold you close only to those who are near you.  I am sure you all have something in mind as you read this.  One of my moments happened two years ago,  on this very day.  Mike, Matthew and I were driving home from our Thanksgiving in Montana.  We were at a yellow gas station in South Dakota(I think, Mike would know for sure) I remember the gas station well and it will forever be a place in my mind.  We had just pulled up to get gas when Mike's phone rang to tell us that his grandfather had passed away....forever I will remember the moment.

Before I met Mike I would have never understood this pain.  I never really knew my grandparents, they all died before I was born or when I was really little.  The whole concept of being so connected to a grandparent was new to me.   Then, I met the kindest and most loving people on earth.   They still are to this day, the best people I have ever met.  I can still think back on almost all the kind things they have said to me over the years and how much I needed to hear it.   I met them before I even knew my own family was ..shall we say, "out there".  I will never forget Clair telling me how much he did not get how my parents could not see how wonderful I was.  It was and always will be a golden-nugget-moment in my life.

I just heard on the radio the other day how incredibly good it is for a little boy to be called, "buddy" by his dad or grandfather.  It reinforces a sense of stability to the boy.  I have to say that this must be true.  If  there ever were two buddies, it was Mike and Clair.  When Clair told Mike his goodbyes in the hours before he passed he said to him, "Goodbye my little buddy" I can tell you that there were millions of   words and stories wrapped up in that one little word.

It is hard to believe that it has been two years since that moment at the yellow gas station.  If there is one thing I have learned it is that I want to be remembered like that.  I want to be honorable and kind.  I want to be unselfish and full of wisdom.  I want to make sure I honor my country by being aware of what is going on in it.  I want to share what I love with others. More important than all of that I want to be missed by my family.  Too often we get so wrapped up in life that we forget what it really is all about.  If no one missed you what a waste that would be.

We miss and love you Clair...and you were right about Matthew, he is pretty darn smart.  More important than that, he is good hearted, just like you.

Sweet November

I don't normally take the kids to school in the morning. We figured out this year that Mark(Hannah and Carter's dad) is the morning person. He is chipper enough to be with three cheerful kids at 7:30 am. I would rather push them out the door and work out with Jenny. I am better at afternoons however, when Mark would rather not leave work. There are always a few exceptions...like today. Mark is going in to be with Hannah this afternoon so I took the morning shift.

I was simply amazed by the beauty of Minnesota this morning. It is very hard to believe that it is mid November. If we had a few more months like this the winters might just be tolerable here. It is very wonderful to still be able to wear my slip on shoes(not boots either!) Here are some of the pictures of the beauty.

I am not sure what it is...I think it is the reminiscent of my youth when we lived in the Idaho country side, but I just love harvest time. I am simply mesmerized by farmers harvesting. I think I would have made a good farm girl. When I drove by this field all four trackers and trucks were lined up down the hill. I missed that shot. This is the field that Mike has permission to goose hunt on. Clearly I am a different kind of "goose hunter"

Happy November!

Another picture of Tucker

I had a request for a picture of Tucker's face. I think he is the cutest little boy. As Missy would say "Can you stand it".

Welcoming Tucker

On November 10th our friends the Wilcox welcomed a new member to the family. Tucker Rex Wilcox is now the new little brother to Matthew's friend Jack. I will never forget the day Jenny and I figured out that you were pregnant Missy! Hard to believe you are now miles away. I would give anything be able to photograph him daily!

Congratulations

Jenny....and legos

What would I do without you??? I can't imagine it. You are so much more than a friend. You are my big part of my Lego!

FYI: When I first met Jenny we would talk for hours at the fence. I would have to be perched and balanced on a tree stump(not a flat one either) and she would be looking up at my eight foot floating head. It was a lot like the neighbor on the show Home Improvement. During one of those first conversations she told me a little wisdom that has stuck with me. She told me her theory about how people where a lot like Legos. We only have so many spaces before we are full. During different times in your life different people will fill your Lego holes. They will always be a part of your wall but your holes are filled by those you need.

I have thought about this a lot over the years since....I have thought about all the people who have filled my Lego holes and who will always fill my Lego. Really....this is important if you want a strong wall:-) Okay, enough about Legos(it really is ironic that I posted about them yesterday)

Now all about Jenny!

Jenny is:

My moral compass

The Aunt Matthew will never have

The person I call when I am out of sugar

The person I call when I need to vent

A really really good person

A super fashionable dresser

One of my favorite photography subjects(well her whole family anyway)

One of the smartest people I know(just below Mike)

sooooooooo important to me!

Thank you so much Jenny! I am humbled by being your friend. You were placed in my life and I am so thankful. It is so wonderful to have you. I hope you have a great birthday!

Legos (the American Doll for boys)

Okay, I know I can be the queen of bargain shopping. I hate buying anything that is not a good deal. I hardly ever buy anything full price. Matthew has been asking for Star Wars Legos for Christmas. I have started to put my feelers out and watch for a good deal. Yeah! Right! I have decided that Legos are the American Girl Doll for boys(they both have big huge stores in the Mall of America) They both are way over priced, and they both are very popular and hard to find on sale. Really, someone tell me what the mark up is on legos? They have not changed the shapes or colors in years. They have to be getting pretty good deals from suppliers. A machine probably cranks those puppies out by the thousands....and yet they are more expensive than if they were made out of precious metal. I tried to google "what is the markup on legos" only to find links to sites selling them. I guess it is a real big secret. I wonder why. Ironically in the middle of my realization that Legos were actually Goldgos they ran a segment on the news about Legos being one of the only companies thriving right now. Hmmmm could it be that they only need to sell a few kits a day to pay for the overhead? It is too bad that they really are one of the only toys out there that help build boys minds.

If anyone sees a good deal on Star Wars Legos....let me know:-)

Yet another class...

I am sure you all remember the free class I took a while back for Photoshop. They are offering another one with a Christmas theme. I am super excited about it. Today is the last day to register if anyone else wants to give it a try(ahm....Lisa) I am not sure if you need Photoshop for this one but if you do you can always download the free 30 day trial. Here is the link:

http://www.jessicasprague.com/

Registration ends tonight at midnight(I am not sure what time zone) so if you are even slightly interested get signed up. Jessica provides lifetime access to classes so you can always go back when you have more time(if you sign up)

On to today's lesson

I need to publicly blog about my goals and values for Christmas this year...Harder than I thought!

I am very blessed when it comes to Christmas in my house. Mike and I keep it simple. We never stress over spending tons of money on gifts. Mike's parents too help in keeping the holiday simple. Christmas is not gift driven in any way. The best gift is the visit from Grandma and Grandpa. My value if I had to give it a name would be "together" Here is a list of my goals:

1. To keep us all healthy(the biggest challenge)

2. To make a few traditional dishes(French silk pie, dressing and now fried turkey)

3. To have the best gingerbread house(better than Mike's is enough for me!)

4. To keep my sign shop from taking over the house...yeah right!

5. To try ice fishing(in a ice house only!!!)

6. To design the coolest Christmas card ever:-)

7. To get my card out before Christmas(not to your doors...just out) Maybe I should just post it on my blog???At least it would be a step up from the last 3 years.

8. To blog every day in December...YIKES! That is a big goal

9. To honor God in some personal way(personal!)

I think that is most of them. Stay tuned for more from my class! I hope some of you sign up too.

And yet another one

A few more...

Shana...are you crying?

This is just too fun!

The Horner Family

My friend Shana has been asking me for months now to shoot a few family pictures for her. In due Minnesota fashion every weekend since she has asked has been very cold and windy. This past weekend however was perfect! Mike and I even noticed what we call "Minnesodians(men without shirts) on Saturday. It is very unusual to see that in November here. This made it the perfect opportunity to grab a few shots of the Horner's on Sunday. The sun was a bit of a challenge(but I like a challenge) The boys were also not really wanting to have much to do with it...even with the ice cream after bribe! In the end we did get a few nice shots. This is one of my favorites. Yes....I know that not all of you will like it. I am a really big fan of lens flare in shots and sun spots. Old school photography would say NO NO NO! I am a product of new school photography! I worked hard to get the sun flare and I LOVE it. I will have to post a few more from this shoot.

FYI: Can you see the Mayo Clinic? They will never forget where this shot was taken. I would vote them most likely family to live here forever, so they might not need the marker.

Congrats Mike

(somewhere I have a million pictures of them but I had to steal one from her FB!)
Most of my life I have been a like a small pebble drifting through water. Mike and I have been uprooted as soon as we have rooted. We have yet to find our place and we know it. Nothing felt so close to that as our home in Utah. When we were moving there the war in Iraq was a new thing. I prayed that our move would give us a chance to put our "money where our mouth was" in supporting the soldiers that were giving us all of them for what we had. It was fate and prayer that moved us next door the Mike and Tina. Mike was a soldier who was going back to serve six months in Iraq(and as shy as my Mike) We took great pride in being able to help Tina out while Mike was over there. They became like family to us. I know we were placed next door at a time when she really needed us(and vice versa) I also know that it is more than ironic that they were relocated shortly after we were. They however were uplifted to a warm and beachy state!! Our lives have gone in different directions for sure. I am thankful all the time for her that her wish of living next to family was answered. I also miss her boys. They were full of energy and trouble, just the way boys should be! I am always thankful for what a military family goes through so the rest of us can sleep at night. So many people miss the point of what a soldier really gives when he(or she) signs up. It is not just about the fear of bullets whizzing by your head. It is also the fear of your family being half way across the world with no way of being helped by you. It is giving up freedom of choice that we all have. They have no choice in where they live, or where life takes them. They can't just quit like the rest of us. The best part is that most of them do it with so much pride and honor. They could teach a lesson to a lot of us.

To make a very long story short....This post is really to congratulate Mike. It seems that after many many years of serving our country. Then many more months of hard studying... he has made Chief. This is a very BIG deal!!!! Thank You Mike!!!! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! We are so grateful for the past 20 years of your life that you have sacrificed so that our family can sleep at night. When I go to a coffee shop, or a grocery store and I feel safe...I think of all the people like you that make it possible. I am so excited to see where this leads your family! Kansas City maybe....(You have my sense of humor so you might find that funny)