Jonas Brothers Concert and Josh Birthday Dinner

Loving Life

family
lake
boat
raft
jumping
laughing
floating
shelly

Welcome to the GUN SHOW

This is Andy right after he got his Conceal Carry license~ I'll talk about that one later. I think I need to do some journaling on it.

I had this "Dear Hunting" postcard for years now. I am a hoarder always have been and I am assuming I always will be. So when I get to use something that I never thought I would ever have a use for I get super excited...can you blame a girl who hoards?

From Wikipedia

Compulsive hoarding (or pathological hoarding) is the acquisition of, and failure to use or discard, such a large number of seemingly useless possessions that it causes significant clutter and impairment to basic living activities such as mobility, cooking, cleaning, showering or sleeping. A person who engages in compulsive hoarding is commonly said to be a "pack rat", in reference to that animal's apparent fondness for material objects.

Geez, that sounds like me but my house is in order, I sleep at night, I shower, and I don't cook and it's not because of my collections of stuff...it's just that I don't cook (wink).

I'm going to take pictures of my {space} because I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression of my "hoarding"

Lake Life

Had another great day on the lake! We went out with Lundberg's and met up with Lomes. We had dinner at Lord Fletcher's tonight but I got very annoyed at the Chaos. All of our kids were going nuts and not listening. I had to get out of there, so I grabbed the girls and told everyone I was walking home...Sasha made me carry her the entire way, Lola's hip hurt and whinned, Andy bitched. WHAT STARTED OFF A GREAT DAY ENDED.

Check out the picture of Andy carrying Sasha on his back...I took her diaper off because it was super saggy from not being changed in hours...I thought it would be better to walk with a bare bottom then a soggy diaper. What a great photograph!!!

Happy 4th Of July

The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America.

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.

He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing taxes on us without our consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies:

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

Happy July 4th America

I love living on Lake Minnetonka
There were thousands of people out in the middle of the lake near Maynard's watching the display in the sky. The fireworks were so amazing! We didn't go out with the children because we decided that Sasha is way too young and will be scared of the big explosions.
When we move into our next house, I want to do an annual party for families on the 4th. Decorated bikes, parade, bbq, boat rides, and fireworks off the dock.

We always make an trek out to Wisconsin every year to pick up the crazy fireworks that you can't get here at Target- this year Andy picked up crazy ones that I thought would blow his head off- lucky for him- he runs fast.

Aylah and Lola

We love when Aylah comes to visit us from Madison, WI. The girls have seen each other a few a few times a year, since they were both babies- Aylah is a few months older then Lola.


Aylah's mommy and I have been friends (on and off) for 35 years.
My dad and Aylah's grandmother go back almost 60 years.
My grandmother and Alla's grandmother were friends (from Russia) for probably 60 years.

It's amazing to see our children friends...I can't believe the history that we have here.

Alla and I grew up together and had so many fun experiences along the way- from having crushes on Dukes of Hazzard boys to wanting to marry Erik Estrada. Both our parents worked and left us at each others homes for hours alone at a time...just thinking about our independence like that was way beyond our years. I hope that our girls will continue with their special freiendship...it'll be 4 generations of friends- CAN YOU SAY YOU'VE HAD FRIENDS THAT GO WAY BACK???

Inspiration

photographer
Wendy Bevan
{www.flickr.com/photos/juliptulip}

Lola at Stages Theatre

Lola had her debut today at Stages Theatre- this year it was a Fairy performance- last year it was Princess. Lola takes classes for a week and then the girls do their big show on the 4th night of class. I am hoping that Lola likes acting because she is such a ham...always posing in the mirror, walking like a super model, singing, and dancing. After the show- I am pretty sure that I don't see an Oscar in her future!

Earth Wind & Fire Concert

We had such a great time tonight at the concert...We went with Mo, Freddie, Kim, Tony and about 6 other couples- (none of them I knew). Tony and Andy (picture below) had a great time drinking and partying. Andy and I never dance together but tonight we had such a great time rub dancing...super hot!!!! Their music is super sexy- totally appropriate for any situation- dancing, singing in the car, fooling around.

I love EW&F!!!!

Pool 2008

I was just making invitations for Josh's birthday party and this is the image I used because we are having a pool party for him and I thought it would be fitting. Let's pray it doesn't rain...this summer the weather is super unpredictable- there hasn't been a lot of rain but it's been very cold. We haven't been able to enjoy the nights out on the boat without wearing heavy layers, which is ok but I would love to have the hot, steamy night I remember when I was a kid.

I took this picture of Josh last year but he still looks the same.

Shopping with Sasha

Seriously- can we go anywhere where you don't get yourself
wrapped up in something????
Shopping for curtains is no exception!

Girl's night out

Girl's night out for Amy's birthday. We had a fun night gossiping, eating, drinking, and being girly. I love girlfriend night's out!

Happy birthday Amy!

Stillwater

www.ci.stillwater.mn.u

Had a fantastic day in Stillwater with Andy and the girls. I love this charming town filled with boutiques, antique shops, and galleries. It's located on the bluffs of the St.Croix River. We stopped at an Italian restaurant for lunch and then walked around for about an hour, we then drove to Hudson to pick up fireworks for the 4th (big ones legal in WI).

Dan & Katie over for fun on the lake

Our friends Dan & Katie came over to hang out on the wave runners today and dinner after. They are a fun couple and I wish they would come over more often because they are super adventurous and up for a good time. Dan is an old friend of mine whom I had a brief affair with years ago. Katie is his young girlfriend (20 years younger). She's super sweet and very good for Dan. I think she keeps him on task, grounded and very happy.The four of us rode around the lake and ran into a group of gay guys on a boat (GOOD SHIP LOLLIPOP). They are friends of Dan's- a very fun group of dancing boys. We had a few drinks and got back on our sleds and went onto Lord Fletchers (a party bar on the lake). On our way there, in the middle of the lake Andy made a sharp turn and I flipped off the sled and landed in the lake. It was funny for a minute but the humor wore off when I couldn't get back on the sled. Ok, so I finially got my big ass onto the sled and we moved onward. We arrive at Fletchers which surrounds a lagoon with lot's of boats docked. The deck is so fantastic, with tables for outdoor seating, a big bar, and great music. It's a great place for people watching and a great place to be seen pulling up in fancy boats. Well....We find a spot to park our sleds (in the front) and my job was to get up on the dock and help Andy tie it up. I lose my balance and some how (after 3 drinks) end up in the lagoon. I scream, make a scene and scream for Andy not to let me fall in. He grabs me by my bikini top and yanks me back up to the sled. OMFG how embarrassing!!!! Not only was every one who witnessed it clapping and yelling but my friends were laughing so hard- it was so horrible!

Happy Birthday Mama

Dinner at Bacio tonight with our families for my mama's birthday. We had a great time- the kids stayed at home so we could have a nice adult time with family and friends.

I love my mama so much!!!!

How do you find the energy, Mama
To do all the things you do?
I never understood how you were a chauffeur, teacher, cook, friend, nurse and confidant to me when I was a kid and still all these years?
I now see it was love, Mama
That made you come whenever I'd call,
Your inexhaustible love, Mama
And I thank you for it all.

Now let's talk about my dad-
this trick has gotten him through 60 years of laughs (his own and people under that age of 8). How does one realize that they can balance spoons on their noses? Such talent!