Jake’s aunt from NY is in town this week. She is always so good about reaching out and visiting while she’s in town. She is like me and enjoys catching up with people in smaller groups – so you can have an actual conversation. She wanted to see all of us, and since the boys were at camp all week, we connected with her today.
One other thing she is good at is capturing photos of her time with people. We were able to ask our neighbor to snap a group picture after we got back from our walk around the neighborhood with her. Pretty great group of people here!
Work and play day at the lake. Super hot temps meant the water felt extra refreshing today. Aunt Kristin took the kids tubing, I brought Grandma Lois to pick out flowers and then helped plant them, there was a group effort to blow up the water trampoline, and Jake and the boys helped install a new antenna.
Shecklet #4 asked me to take a few photos of just the two of us.
Blowing up the trampoline.
The Shecklets love their great grandma!
Jake grilled pork chops for us and tenderloin for Grandma Lois & Uncle Steve. His grilling post to FB was pretty funny: “In Nissedalen I like to be even though there is no charcoal. Made a little porkpourri.”
Three of the four Shecklets went north with Jake and his parents to help with various projects at Nissedalen. Grandma Patti sent me this photo of Shecklet #4.
Today was a day that Shecklet #4 has been counting down to for several weeks! Her godparents came to town to witness her First Communion with us. We were also joined by Grandma Patti, Grandpa Dave, Great Grandma Lois, Aunt Kari, Aunt Larissa, and several friends. Our little girl is definitely loved!
In his homily, Fr. Jim asked the kids if any of them had thought about what they wanted to be when they grew up. (He was relating his question to the call the apostles had once Jesus ascended to Heaven.) Shecklet #4 volunteered her answer last. She said she wants to be a saint! This sweet girl has always had an extra special dose of compassion for others and deep feeling of God’s presence in her life. I look forward to continuing to watch her grow in her faith.
One of my friends was able to capture some beautiful pictures of Shecklet #4 receiving the Eucharist. And Jake recorded a video. After mass, we had an opportunity to take a photo with our pastor, Fr. Jim.
We continued our celebration with a reception at our house. Huge thanks to M&M for helping set out/prep the food for everyone after mass. And special thanks to Shecklet #1 for sharing his ice cream cake for dessert – it was a popular choice with our friends and family!
Congratulations, Shecklet #4! We are so happy for you! What a beautiful day!
We had a solid run of 13 years without a broken bone that ended last fall. We now have our second break in 7 months.
This brave girl took a hard fall on Friday night while riding on some pretty tricky snow. Ski patrol brought her down the run and evaluated her before we took her home. Ortho urgent care diagnosed a broken humerus. ☹️ Follow up with the doctor is next week. We are praying she heals quickly and completely and that her pain decreases over the next couple of days.
My Grandpa Bill, my dad’s dad, has been gone from us for 34 years. My aunt sent out a few photos of him from his time in the service and afterwards. I’ve edited her captions to say “Grandpa” instead of “Dad.”
1942 – Elbow Lake (Grandpa Bill and Great Uncle John)1946 – Grandpa Bill at Nagoya Mts, Gestapo Headquarters, Japan1947 – Grandpa Bill, home from the Service
Growing up in Iowa, which was a 9 hour drive to where he and my grandma lived in northern MN, we didn’t get the opportunity to make many memories with him. I’m grateful that my aunt has taken the time over the years to scan and document items of our family’s history. Photos like these are treasures. It is fun to be able to share with my kids a little about who their great grandpa was.
Knowing what our family has enjoyed this winter, it’s no surprise that this is our favorite photo from the set sent out today.
1946 – Grandpa Bill skiing with buddies at Mts. of Kobe, Japan
Finally, here are my Grandma Fran and Grandpa Bill at my Aunt Ann and Uncle Gene’s wedding in 1979.
I can see my grandpa in two of my cousins and my dad. Family genes are strong.
I looked at the clock around 12:35 this afternoon and thought about where I was 8 years ago today. What an entrance Shecklet #4 made into this world. Not many kids can say they were born in an ambulance on one of the coldest days of the year. It’s a day I will never forget.
This year, Shecklet #4 asked if she could have an 80’s themed birthday party. As someone who has fond memories of the mid-to-late 80’s, it didn’t take much to convince me to agree to her idea. The recent below zero temps we had gave us an opportunity to use the extra indoor time to create decorations and party plans.
This is part of the Pac-man photo prop the kids made back on 2/12.
And a few more of the decorations we had, including the birthday banner that Larissa and Shecklet #1 made on 2/6 when we had our day of crafting fun.
The birthday girl could hardly contain herself this morning. She was up at 6am and regularly asked me throughout the day, “How long until my party starts?” She even woke one of her sleeping brothers from his slumber so she could open a few presents from us.
She also received ski gear and is very excited to try it out tomorrow.
Tonight’s party was a ton of fun! The birthday girl had a blast! She could totally pass as a child of the 80’s. She rocked the side ponytail and blue eyeshadow like a pro. Her sister wore the 80’s trends well, too!
We had a few friends and family join us in rad neon, tulle, makeup and scrunchies. The kids had a boom box piñata and played “stick the cassette to the boom box.” Jake grilled burgers and hotdogs (birthday girl’s request,) we held a glow stick dance party in the basement, and enjoyed angel food cake and ice cream for dessert.
I love how everyone who joined us embraced the 80’s theme and helped make Shecklet #4 feel so special today.
Three years ago I laid down on an operating table and put complete trust in my surgical team to remove the tumor pushing on my brain.
Today, I celebrated my 3rd ANniversary (AN=acoustic neuroma) on the slopes with my family, snowboarding for the first time post-op. (And first time in 11 years!)
Post-op life continues to be a blessing – in spite of many challenges that have taken place. (Not just surgery side-effects.) As a simple reminder note to myself: some of the things I still deal with are the same as what I faced immediately after surgery – SSD, sense of taste gone on half of my tongue, and my right eye doesn’t close as much as my left when I smile. Fatigue is still present and I take naps several days a week. I think a lot of it has to do with my brain filtering noise – tinnitus as well as household noise. I’m grateful to have a family that continues to understand that resting is something I simply need in order to have the energy to make it through the day.
A few individuals remembered this ANniversary and reached out to me this year. I’m grateful that they have done so. 01/23/2018 was a life-changing day for me and the support my family received leading up to it and after it will never be forgotten.
