My Privacy

Christmas is always an interesting time to see what one will find when the presents are opened. Abbie got a diary for Christmas and it has sure been a hit. She's been busy secretly writing in it all the while making sure nobody is peeking.

Julia has been carefully watching and waiting for the opportunity to get her own. So one day this week, she was able to take her money and go shopping. Besides the snowman socks, a Princess wallet, pens, and jewelry, she chose her own "diary." When she saw the blue notebook with a magnetic latch, she immediately turned with wide eyes and exclaimed, "My own Privacy! I for sure have to have this because Abbie has one." Julia immediately went to work in her diary when she got home. She was busily writing and at the same time saying, "Nobody can see my privacy." Brent asked her what she was writing and she said, "No, this is my privacy. Nobody can see my privacy. Besides, all it will say to you anyway is Blah, Blah, Blah!"

Here's wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

End of an Era

2 Tickets ALDS Twins vs. Yankees Game 3 - $164.00

Parking next to the Dome - $25.00

Dome Dogs and other - $30.00

Gas to Dome and back - $64.00

Seeing the last Twins game in the Dome with my Son - $Priceless

Removing Home Plate to take to the new Target Field Twins Stadium

Parade Time

Sioux Valley had their homecoming already this week and ended the week with a parade and football game tonight. This was the first year Julia was alone on the side lines which meant no more candy collection competition from Abbie...except that Julia brought a friend along anyway and the candy collection was still good.

You know you are in small town school when your teacher drives her John Deere tractor to school to drive their parade float. And Abbie's first grade class all held onto a fire hose working to put out the fire from the Garetson Dragons.

Happy Birthday, Mom

As you may have noticed, I am about 3 months and 30 thoughts behind in keeping with this blog. My mom's birthday was last Tuesday so I thought I'd dedicate this one to her. No, I'm not late in wishing her a 'happy birthday', just late in letting you know about it.

As you may not know Mom has always liked music. She would always play the piano for us kids and make up songs with our names inserted as if they were written just for us and all of us brothers learned to play an instrument or two.

Growing up in the 70s, people liked to buy electronics combined with furniture and they were so heavy, they could not be moved unless absolutely necessary. Our home was no different as we had the 'living room stereo/picture frame holder hutch" It was about 6 feet long, 3 feet tall, and seemed to weigh 800lbs. It was terrible if you lost a toy behind it for it was not readily retrievable without multiple brother help. This magnificent piece of acoustical furniture featured a state of the art 4 button, 8-track player with 6 tape storage, in the middle was a large vertical radio with a 3 inch dial to smoothly run the arm up and down the dial, and on the right was the record player.

We had many fun times with that old stereo. I can remember having many records with the likes of: Eternal Echoes, BJ Thomas, Elvis, Tom Jones, Grease soundtrack, Star Wars-Empire Strikes Back Soundtrack, Statler Brothers, ABBA, Lowell Lundstrum, Johny Cash, Burrel Ives, and Anne Murray. Ooohhh...Anne Murray...any time that smooth, alto voice would grace the halls of our house, Mom would be heard singing along. It was remarkable at how much mom would sound just like Anne Murray.

So here's to you, Mom. Anne Murray from 1973. Thanks for the memories and Happy Birthday..last week.

Your #1 Son.

What a Summer!

Tennis Lessons, Bible School, 40th Anniversary Celebration, Black Hills vacation, fireworks, fun on the lake, weddings, birthday celebrations, four-wheeler rides, jet skiing, lemonade stands, fishing at the river, golf, swimming pool, play time with friends, camp fires, horse rides, s'mores, corn on the cob, visits with cousins, bike rides, baseball games, lawn mowing, overnight guests, ice cream cones, lazy mornings, laughter, story telling, hard sleeping, and some nights of tucking kids in a little too late, but what sweet memories.......