Eleven years ago this August Matt and I got married. We had watched our video a handful of times that first year and all of a sudden the video vanished. Literally. I pulled apart our home at the time, but couldn't find it. I didn't panic. I just figured that it'd show up when we moved. It didn't. Well if it wasn't at our house, then it had to be at my parent's house, right??? Nope. No such luck. They've also moved, and when they did, we went through everything with a fine tooth comb. The video never showed up. I've thought about it over the years, wishing I could see it one more time, but also realizing it was gone, and I was out of ideas where it could be.
As Katherine has gotten older she's asked me about my wedding -- wanting to see my dress, the pictures and the video. I had to explain to her that somehow the video got lost and I've looked everywhere, but it's gone. She was disappointed, but I told her that maybe some day it would show up.
As luck would have it, when we were in LeMars this past weekend, I ran into a guy who graduated a year after I did. It was his father who shot and edited the video, so I had to ask if there was ANY chance his dad might still have it in the archives. He told me that he didn't know for sure, but he thought his dad had almost all the videos he's shot over the years, and would guess mine would be there too. I was instantly giddy at the thought of getting my hands on the video, and being able to watch it with family and friends.
Anyway, I got a message on Facebook today (Oh how I love my Facebook!!) stating that my wedding video did exist, and his dad could put it on DVD for me. (It was originally on VHS tape back in the day -- wow, don't I feel old!! LOL!). I AM THRILLED! I can't wait to see it. I haven't seen that video in over 10 years, and it's about time I do!!
It's crazy -- I wish I could say my memories are perfectly clear of that day, but sadly they're not. One of the things I CLEARLY remember is standing at the alter, trying to say my vows, but couldn't get a word out. Literally. I. could. not. talk. At the time it seemed like I stood up there in silence forever, but I'm sure in reality I'm sure it was only a minute or so.... which is still A LONG time!! I'm pretty sure my mom started to panic! LOL. Anyway, I can't wait to see it! I can't wait to watch Katherine's face as she watches it. I can't wait to hear Matt's perspective of that day. I can't wait to see our family and friends. I CAN'T WAIT!!
Troy and Andrea share the same anniversary as we do, so I'm thinking of hosting a little viewing party in August, and inviting all our neighborhood friends. We can watch everyone's wedding video, drink a little wine and have some good laughs. AAAAHHH, doesn't that sound like fun????
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Yes ... I'm alive!!
Wow.... I know I've been neglecting the blog BIG TIME!! I've been called out on it by several people, so I figure it's time to do a quick update. It's not for lack of things to blog about, but we've been super busy, and with Katherine and Caleb not napping, my time to surf the net and blog is well ..... non-existent. However, with all that being said, I promise to do better!! So here's to regular blogging again! LOL.
** It's been crazy hot here the past few days. Since Andrew can't spend long periods of time outside and the other two love to swim, I bought this super cool water slide for the backyard. I ordered it around midnight last night, and it shipped out this morning. Oh man.... I can't wait to get this thing!! I think the kiddos are going to LOVE it. Here's to hoping it arrives before the pool party we're having for Rick and Danyel next Tuesday night!
** Andrew has been super close to crawling, but all of a sudden today, he took off. He's officially mobile, and it's so fun to watch him begin to explore his world. He's so adorable -- shuffling his little knees across the floor with his tongue sticking out and determination in his eyes. He's all about getting his hands on anything and everything in sight. Caleb had better watch out, because if Andrew can get anywhere near the train table, the tracks are his!!
** This past weekend we went back to LeMars and had a super fun time. My parents brought the kettle corn stuff up to Ice Cream Days and Isaac & Elizabeth also came and stayed and Matt's parents house with us. Isaac hasn't been back in 8 years (with the exception of 1 day) so it was quite the trip down memory lane. Isaac, Elizabeth and I drove around town and saw all the sights ..... I'm not sure if I told him, but that time was incredible. We spent a good amount of time driving around town, and reminiscing about old times -- some of which I had forgotten about. For example, I can't believe I had forgotten about the car accident in our front lawn!
** The parade in LeMars is unlike any we have in Des Moines. It seems like all the parades in Des Moines are nothing more than a ginormous rolling billboard -- insurance salesmen, cable companies, dance studios and politicians. The ice cream days parade was AMAZING!! Oh man... it had everything -- bands (there's a novel idea, huh??), unicyclists -- one of which was juggling, actual floats, even a man herding dressed-up geese. Don't ask. There are no words. Literally none. Elizabeth took a few pictures and as soon as she sends them to me, I'll post them. I couldn't believe it!!
** I have tons of pictures to upload and edit. Isaac graduated on 6/5 which was also Katherine's last day of school. I'll post them soon!!
I have so much more to blog about, but right now, I need to sleep! Katherine and Caleb are spending the night with Grammy and Pop-pops and I need to pick them up fairly early tomorrow -- it's off to the Science Center for a play date. We've gotta stay out of this heat!!
** It's been crazy hot here the past few days. Since Andrew can't spend long periods of time outside and the other two love to swim, I bought this super cool water slide for the backyard. I ordered it around midnight last night, and it shipped out this morning. Oh man.... I can't wait to get this thing!! I think the kiddos are going to LOVE it. Here's to hoping it arrives before the pool party we're having for Rick and Danyel next Tuesday night!
** Andrew has been super close to crawling, but all of a sudden today, he took off. He's officially mobile, and it's so fun to watch him begin to explore his world. He's so adorable -- shuffling his little knees across the floor with his tongue sticking out and determination in his eyes. He's all about getting his hands on anything and everything in sight. Caleb had better watch out, because if Andrew can get anywhere near the train table, the tracks are his!!
** This past weekend we went back to LeMars and had a super fun time. My parents brought the kettle corn stuff up to Ice Cream Days and Isaac & Elizabeth also came and stayed and Matt's parents house with us. Isaac hasn't been back in 8 years (with the exception of 1 day) so it was quite the trip down memory lane. Isaac, Elizabeth and I drove around town and saw all the sights ..... I'm not sure if I told him, but that time was incredible. We spent a good amount of time driving around town, and reminiscing about old times -- some of which I had forgotten about. For example, I can't believe I had forgotten about the car accident in our front lawn!
** The parade in LeMars is unlike any we have in Des Moines. It seems like all the parades in Des Moines are nothing more than a ginormous rolling billboard -- insurance salesmen, cable companies, dance studios and politicians. The ice cream days parade was AMAZING!! Oh man... it had everything -- bands (there's a novel idea, huh??), unicyclists -- one of which was juggling, actual floats, even a man herding dressed-up geese. Don't ask. There are no words. Literally none. Elizabeth took a few pictures and as soon as she sends them to me, I'll post them. I couldn't believe it!!
** I have tons of pictures to upload and edit. Isaac graduated on 6/5 which was also Katherine's last day of school. I'll post them soon!!
I have so much more to blog about, but right now, I need to sleep! Katherine and Caleb are spending the night with Grammy and Pop-pops and I need to pick them up fairly early tomorrow -- it's off to the Science Center for a play date. We've gotta stay out of this heat!!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Only my husband....
leaves the house with Andrew to go and pick up the burley that we bought last week and comes home with TWO THOMASVILLE LEATHER CHAIRS for the living room. That's right, he is on his way to pick up a bike carrier and comes home with new furniture... I would attach a link to the beauties he purchased, but I haven't seen them yet, and he can't find the exact chair on the website. So, like me.... you'll just have to wait and see what he bought! We'll be surprised together!! LOL!!
Here's how it went down -- I had to make a Costco run, so I put Andrew down for his nap and left Matt with Katherine and Caleb out in the backyard by the pool. On the way home, I got a call from Michelle and she mentioned that they wanted to go the home show. I told her to dress Nicholas and Caden in their swim trunks and bring them over to play. After all, it'd be more enjoyable for Brian and Michelle not to drag the boys in and out of houses, and it'd be fun the boys to play with Katherine and Caleb. When I returned home I found Olivia, Emma, Parker, Grant and Emma R also playing. A few minutes later Andrea comes over to grab the few items I picked up for her at Costco and asked if I'd watch her boys while they went to buy landscaping stuff. Fine. Really, at this point, what's a few more kids??? So, including my two (Matt took Andrew) I had 10 kids swimming, running around, playing soccer, and climbing on the swing set. Wow... I wish I had out my camera. They were pouring water down the slide and skidding across the lawn. Needless to say, our backyard is a mud hole, and the kids looked like they spent the afternoon mud wrestling. They were covered, head to toe, in mud and grass clippings, and the pool water was a chocolate color. Literally. It was disgusting!! But wow... did they have fun!! They should all sleep well tonight!!
So while I was hanging out with the kiddos, Matt decided to stop at Homemakers and spruce up the living room. I guess that's what took him so long!! Now, I need to find someone to take the love seat off our hands and pick out a new couch for the long wall in the living room. Since the chairs are leather, I'm thinking a cool fabric of some type... I'm also going to look for a long sofa table for the entry way. I can't wait to go shopping!!
When Brian and Michelle got done at the home show they came over to pick up the boys. One thing led to another and we decided to order pizza. It was a good excuse for Michelle and I to leave the house for a few minutes!! We got home, fed the kiddos, and then sat down to eat. All of a sudden, the tornado sirens went off. We made the mad dash to the basement with all the little ones, and man.... did that wind blow! Our landscaping took a pretty good beating, two of our neighbors lost trees -- one snapped in half, the other one was uprooted, some lost huge ceramic pots, and Andrea's grill was thrown off the deck and knocked her Adirondack chairs over. It was quite the storm! The kids were all playing in the basement and giggled with excitement when we lost power. It was the strangest storm -- it went from fine one minute, to pitch dark, pouring rain, and blowing like crazy the next!
As soon as the Launderville's left, we threw the kids in the tub and they went into our room to watch a show. I left the room for a few minutes and when I came back they were both passed out cold. We carried them into their receptive beds and never heard another peep out of them. Oh, I love summer! These wonderfully carefree days when they can play all day and have so much fun that they can't keep their little eyes open another second longer. This is what childhood is all about!!
Here's how it went down -- I had to make a Costco run, so I put Andrew down for his nap and left Matt with Katherine and Caleb out in the backyard by the pool. On the way home, I got a call from Michelle and she mentioned that they wanted to go the home show. I told her to dress Nicholas and Caden in their swim trunks and bring them over to play. After all, it'd be more enjoyable for Brian and Michelle not to drag the boys in and out of houses, and it'd be fun the boys to play with Katherine and Caleb. When I returned home I found Olivia, Emma, Parker, Grant and Emma R also playing. A few minutes later Andrea comes over to grab the few items I picked up for her at Costco and asked if I'd watch her boys while they went to buy landscaping stuff. Fine. Really, at this point, what's a few more kids??? So, including my two (Matt took Andrew) I had 10 kids swimming, running around, playing soccer, and climbing on the swing set. Wow... I wish I had out my camera. They were pouring water down the slide and skidding across the lawn. Needless to say, our backyard is a mud hole, and the kids looked like they spent the afternoon mud wrestling. They were covered, head to toe, in mud and grass clippings, and the pool water was a chocolate color. Literally. It was disgusting!! But wow... did they have fun!! They should all sleep well tonight!!
So while I was hanging out with the kiddos, Matt decided to stop at Homemakers and spruce up the living room. I guess that's what took him so long!! Now, I need to find someone to take the love seat off our hands and pick out a new couch for the long wall in the living room. Since the chairs are leather, I'm thinking a cool fabric of some type... I'm also going to look for a long sofa table for the entry way. I can't wait to go shopping!!
When Brian and Michelle got done at the home show they came over to pick up the boys. One thing led to another and we decided to order pizza. It was a good excuse for Michelle and I to leave the house for a few minutes!! We got home, fed the kiddos, and then sat down to eat. All of a sudden, the tornado sirens went off. We made the mad dash to the basement with all the little ones, and man.... did that wind blow! Our landscaping took a pretty good beating, two of our neighbors lost trees -- one snapped in half, the other one was uprooted, some lost huge ceramic pots, and Andrea's grill was thrown off the deck and knocked her Adirondack chairs over. It was quite the storm! The kids were all playing in the basement and giggled with excitement when we lost power. It was the strangest storm -- it went from fine one minute, to pitch dark, pouring rain, and blowing like crazy the next!
As soon as the Launderville's left, we threw the kids in the tub and they went into our room to watch a show. I left the room for a few minutes and when I came back they were both passed out cold. We carried them into their receptive beds and never heard another peep out of them. Oh, I love summer! These wonderfully carefree days when they can play all day and have so much fun that they can't keep their little eyes open another second longer. This is what childhood is all about!!
Monday, June 1, 2009
kudos to Katherine!!
Tonight was Katherine's first gymnastics practice of the summer, which means that she has a new coach and new kids in her class. Her coach tonight was Kelly, whom she absolutely adores. Kelly has a daughter on the team, and is a firm believer in tough love. She drills correct form into those girls and really fine tunes every move they do. She's always pulling on their arms, pointing their toes, and tapping their knees to make sure they don't give out. She's tough on them, but super fun and the kids respect her for it.
With all that being said, she stopped me on the way out of practice tonight and told me that, "Katherine is an amazing talent. She has tons of potential, and is THE leader on the team. She expects big things out of her and will do everything she can to make sure that she excels". She also told me that she was about to give Katherine a big dose of tough love this summer, and constantly challenge her because she could handle it. She looked down at Katherine, smiled and patted her on the head, and asked her if she was ready.... Oh. my. goodness!!!! She could hardly contain her excitement! She's ready for summer gymnastics!! She's ready and willing to do anything and everything Kelly wants her to do. She so badly wants this!
We've also decided to start up some private lessons again this summer. We haven't done any privates since Mr. Tarry, and now that Katherine is firmly entrenched at Chow's and wanting "more" again, it's time to give her the extra boost if that's what she wants. I've said it all along, but if she wants to do this, we'll support her 100% -- physically, emotionally and financially. I'm just so happy for her that she's in a good spot right now and overflowing with happiness.
I was editing pictures tonight and came across these from her meet at Chow's. They uploaded backwards for some silly reason, and quite honestly I'm too tired to try and fix it now.... So in reverse order -- here we go!
Katherine accepting her medal and ribbons. You can't really tell from this picture, but there are four ribbons attached to the sheet she's holding (one for bars, beam, floor and vault). She was the only girl in her class to get all four blues and was beaming with pride!
Katherine on bars --
Katherine with the girls on her TAG team, waiting to go on bars.
Katherine on floor. She's doing a back walkover in the first picture.
handstand forward roll.
The rest of these pictures are on beam. Since I uploaded them backward, here's her dismount! LOL!!
This girl has got some air!!
Waiting for the meet to start.
So there you have it --her first meet at Chow's. By all accounts, it was a success... she was happy with how she did, and surprisingly, wasn't one bit nervous. Considering all the people that were there, I was a little stunned, but so proud of her!
With all that being said, she stopped me on the way out of practice tonight and told me that, "Katherine is an amazing talent. She has tons of potential, and is THE leader on the team. She expects big things out of her and will do everything she can to make sure that she excels". She also told me that she was about to give Katherine a big dose of tough love this summer, and constantly challenge her because she could handle it. She looked down at Katherine, smiled and patted her on the head, and asked her if she was ready.... Oh. my. goodness!!!! She could hardly contain her excitement! She's ready for summer gymnastics!! She's ready and willing to do anything and everything Kelly wants her to do. She so badly wants this!
We've also decided to start up some private lessons again this summer. We haven't done any privates since Mr. Tarry, and now that Katherine is firmly entrenched at Chow's and wanting "more" again, it's time to give her the extra boost if that's what she wants. I've said it all along, but if she wants to do this, we'll support her 100% -- physically, emotionally and financially. I'm just so happy for her that she's in a good spot right now and overflowing with happiness.
I was editing pictures tonight and came across these from her meet at Chow's. They uploaded backwards for some silly reason, and quite honestly I'm too tired to try and fix it now.... So in reverse order -- here we go!
Katherine accepting her medal and ribbons. You can't really tell from this picture, but there are four ribbons attached to the sheet she's holding (one for bars, beam, floor and vault). She was the only girl in her class to get all four blues and was beaming with pride!
Katherine on bars --
Katherine with the girls on her TAG team, waiting to go on bars.
Katherine on floor. She's doing a back walkover in the first picture.
handstand forward roll.
The rest of these pictures are on beam. Since I uploaded them backward, here's her dismount! LOL!!
This girl has got some air!!
Waiting for the meet to start.
So there you have it --her first meet at Chow's. By all accounts, it was a success... she was happy with how she did, and surprisingly, wasn't one bit nervous. Considering all the people that were there, I was a little stunned, but so proud of her!
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