Happy 22nd Birthday Derek!

July 30, 1988 ~ Derek's Birthday
Derek ~ 2010
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Derek turned 22 today. I decided that I had to mark the occasion with a blog post because the year Derek was born was the year that Jeff turned 22 also! He was actually about 23 days shy of 22 the day Derek was born. There is definitely a resemblance between father and son!

Happy Birthday Derek!

What Jeremy LOVES right now!!!!

STAR WARS!!!!!

DINNER TIME!!!!!

Oh...the things that I could capture.....

....if only I owned this camera!!!

.....happy memories.....

I was looking at some of my "albums" on my computer. Without printing any digital pictures it seems like a lot of the time I don't go back and look at them enough. I was clicking through one of our vacations to Seattle (most of my favorite memories are located there) and this picture caught my eye and made me smile! I sure do miss that little two year old that couldn't talk!!! Sometimes!! There was a lot of screaming back then if I recall...now it's a lot of back talk and whining!! I also miss that blonde blonde hair! But most of all...I miss Seattle!!!

Indiana in Connecticut!

Rare and awsome photos of my brother's family!

On vacation in CT last week.

Sara ~ September 1994 - July 2010 ~ I will miss you!

THE RAINBOW BRIDGE POEM

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...

Minnesota Vacation June/July 2010

Montana enjoying the lake.
Larry driving the boat.

Connor, Kody & Christen on being pulled as fast as possible on the lake.

No mater how fast, it wasn't fast enough for them!

Look close and you can see Christen's braid flying in the air!

Father/Daughter fishing on the Kettle River.

Uncle Randy getting the fishing lines ready for everyone!

Christen with her 3 pound carp...she was so proud!

Trevor & Jeremy showing their muscles!!

Or, lack of them! You can actually see Jeremy's ribs!

Believe it or not there is only 18 months between these two boys!

They have so much fun playing together.

Grandpa Art is in his glory!

He got to hold a lab puppy that was just under 24 hours old!

He was so excited and talked about that for the next 2 days!

Grandpa Art & Christen strolling through the Askov Cemetery.

Grandpa Art & Larry

Jeremy & Christen taking Grandma Delpha back to her room after a visit.

Connor with a puppy.

Christen with Murphy....it was almost impossible to separate these two!

Grandpa Art with 3 of his Great Grandchildren.

Jodi, Connor, Christen and Grandma Delpha.

Jodi & Grandma

Jaki & Grandma

Jeremy walking along a country road...he is pretending to be Yoda!

Christen picking wild flowers.

Three boys with their sticks!

Me and my boy in the "family tree" on Randy & Rosie's property.

Cousins in the "family tree".

All the kids after our day of fishing!

What a fun morning!

Jeremy at the lake.

Thanks to Uncle Randy, Aunt Rosie, Larissa and Trevor for offering up such great hospitality and seeing to making some great memories!

It was also great to see Aunt Ina and Sadie!

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Our trip to Minnesota was so much fun! It was way too short but we managed to fit in quite a few wonderful memories to cherish for years to come! Thanks so much to all of our relatives in Minnesota for making our trip up there one to remember forever! We have over 700 pictures from the trip so it is really hard to post just a few.......ENJOY!