A Happy Family

Spencer flew in tonight - arrived in Rochester about 8:30. It was a long day for Michelle knowing he was coming home. Ken and I took the kids out to the airport - we got there after the plane landed, but before they unloaded. I think Zach had it figured out - but Dakota was so happy and surprised to see Dad come thru the gate. The kids got to him before Michelle, so she had to wait for her hug.

As you can tell Connor decided it was time to go - I've got the bag, let's go home. I have a feeling that bedtime was a little later than usual tonight.

Happy Birthday Brian

Today is Brian's Birthday - its been a few years since we've seen Brian on his day, but don't want to pass up the chance to wish him a good day.
Something to remember -

A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day (or this year 366-day) jouney around the sun.
Enjoy the trip!!!!

Happy Birthday Brian - love you.

Dakota

Dakota danced at the Eagles Cancer Telethon this morning.......these pictures were taken just before they went on stage. My camera will not take photos that far away, so had to do a couple before. She really likes to pose. Her group did an awesome job of dancing.

Michelle, Zach, Dakota and Connor joined Ken and I at the Eagles club to have breakfast after she danced. It's for a good cause.

Dakota is Dancing

Just an fyi for those interested - Dakota will be dancing with the Kasson Just for Kix at the Cancer Telethon. Her group is scheduled to dance at 9:36 am Sunday morning. It will be on KTTC television.

Birthday greetings to Austin - Jan 14th

Hope your birthday is bright with love and laughter

another birthday girl

Happy birthday today to Sharon... don't know if you will see this but birthday wishes are sent to you today!!!!
Roger and I were suppose to have a new great nephew on his side today. Have not heard if he arrived yet just know his name is to be Sean Lawrence. Jennifer wasn't to thrilled to have a Friday the 13th baby but this was to be the day the doctor wanted to bring him into the world.
Hope everyone is having a warm evening!
Ann

Kimberly's B'day

Kimberly - hopefully you are having a great birthday.

Don 't think of it as another year older.........
think of it as another year of shopping!

another year to do the Minnesota Quilt Shop Hop!!!!

Monday Morning

Good Morning,
Hope everyone is having a great start to their week. My morning started by having the school age kids here for an extra two hours today. But, since the weather was so nice, we went for a long walk, then came home. The girls spent an hour with paper and markers - a couple of the girls have great imaginations - it is really fun to see what they color and create.
Ken and I are working on our schedules - it is different having his home during the day. I think I will get used to it really quick. And it will be nice for him to have time to do projects that have been put off.

January 6 - a special day

It's Virginia's special day - just wanted to take the opportunity to wish you a Happy Birthday and jhave fun with whatever plans you have.

Happy Birthday Sis - enjoy your day.

January 5th

Ken's first day of retirement was yesterday, Jan 4. So guess where he is today? He had to go into work for awhile. There are some projects that he told the boss he would help finish up, so he will go in for a few hours a couple days a week for the next few weeks. I really had to give him a rough time about that last night.

Isn't this weather unreal? It has been nice to get out with the kids. I just hope we don't pay for it in the spring. I really don't want winter weather in March and April or even May.

January 2nd

Today we went to the movie - We Brought a Zoo - and really enjoyed it. Ken, I, Michelle and children, Shawn and children and Barb were all there - and from the reaction of everyone I think it was enjoyed by all. If you thinking about going to it - I would recommend it. I wouldn't mind seeing it again.
We also saw the previews and had some good laughs from them....Dakota's reaction to the new Madagascar movie was so funny - guess she wants to see that one. The other preview that got a good reaction was the Three Stooges movie. Barb said she and Gabby would have to go see that one.
We don't go to the movies very often, usually only one a year, but we may have to start to go to a few more. It was very enjoyable today.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Ken and I would like to wish everyone a safe, happy and healthy New Year.
I am sure that most of you had a more exciting New Year's Eve than we did. We spent most of yesterday just running errands and other things. We started the day at Kasson watching Zachary and Jordyn's hockey. They are both improving their hockey skills and skating skills. Then had a little shopping to do, visited the neighbor in the nursing home, went to a visitation (Ken's co-worker's mother in law), went to church at 4pm. We did see Nancy's family at church. Then home to a lite dinner, a few minutes in the hot tub, a movie and early to bed. How boring!!!!!
But, atleast, we had no trouble getting up this morning to enjoy the day.

Our New Year will be starting out different - Ken's last day at work will be January 2nd!!!! He had talked about retiring later this year (2012), he wanted to get his 40 years in (mid May), but he was offered early retirement. And he didn't feel he could pass it up. Some of you don't know it, but Ken worked in a lab that is funded by grants. The last few months some of the grants have run out, and new grants haven't come thru yet. Ken could have continued to work since he was the senior employee, but then it would have meant a much younger employee would have to leave the lab and find a new position, and Ken didn't feel that was right. So we are starting a new phase in our lives -
I will continue to do child care for the next couple years. But now will have Ken around most of the time to help entertain the kids.

The other news in our family - if you haven't seen it on Brian's blog - is that Brian and Sarah are expecting a baby in early March. They have been told it is a boy - but guess we will have to wait to be positive.

I have had alot of people ask me if Spencer will be home soon - since the troops have pulled out of Iraq. The answer is no - he will be there for the remained of his deployment. He was not stationed in Iraq - he is in Kuwait. The family has been able to talk to him thru facetime on the computer. He talked to all three of the children on their birthdays - Connor in October, Zachary and Dakota in December, and of course, was able to talk to them at Christmas time. Please continue to think of our service men in your prayers - it is hard on them to be away, and it is hard to come home and try to fit it again. (One of our neighbors have had two sons - one still serving - in the army and both have gone thru deployments. I have talked to her alot about some of the problems that they have gone thru.) So often, we think they are home and everything is great, but that isn't always the case.

Please share any news and exciting events in your families -