Minnesota / Winter / Cold

Prologue ~ So yeah, summer is over, but I have some pictures from this past winter that I want to show you. (Jess and Dad - I think you may be the only two who look at this.)

Devin and I were in Minnesota for roughly four months - the longest either of us had been there since 2004 (Emily) and 1999 (Devin.)  It was wonderful to spend time with family and friends, although I would have preferred the months of May, June, July, and August, over January, February, March, and April.  Our timing wasn't awesome, but we made the most of MN winter.

What did we do?

Devin went ice-fishing with Brandon and Pete and a few of Brandon's friends.  They fished all day and between the 5 of them I think 2 fish were caught.  But that's not really the point of ice-fishing, is it?

I put on a snowmobile suit that Dad was borrowing from a friend and I went outside to play in the snow with Yeti.  It was awesome.

We dressed Yeti up for the cold.  As you can see, he didn't appreciate our thoughtfulness.  In fact, he wouldn't move until we took the hat and jacket off.  

We marveled at the fact that it was this cold.  I like to think that it makes people tough, but MN winters just make me lazy.

I was able to hang out with my old friends more than I've been able to in years - which still wasn't as much as I would have liked!  We also met Kasper Williams who was born on January 1st.  I'm so proud of my friend and the awesome mom she has become!

Jason and Mandy Ziemann, and Devin and I played BINGO a few times!  It was fun and hilarious and I highly recommend it!  However, be prepared to work!  This is no easy game... 

We were able to spend a lot time with Isaac Iten which I loved because I think next time we see him he'll remember who we are.  He introduced us to Yo Gabba Gabba and our lives will never be the same!  (There's always a party in my tummy!)  He's an awesome little kid and we miss him!  

One reason I love central Minnesota - there is a bar called The Friendly Buffalo - and we spent a great night there with Brandon, Nikki, and their friends.  We tried the Nordeast...once.  Did you know there is a "Chuck Norris" shot?  Seriously.  When I texted Jill about it she asked what was in it other than strength.    

Kelli, Christian, Laura, Adam, Devin, and I had the best intentions to go see the St. Paul Winter Carnival  - the ice sculptures, the parade.  However, we met at the Great Waters Brewery and 4 hours, 16 pitchers, and 200 pictures later, the bar closed and the carnival was over.  Needless to say, we had fun.

  

__________________________________________________

Devin and I flew out to Reno, Nevada to visit Nancy and Jeff for a week in February!  It was great to see them, spend time in Reno, and get onto the slopes!  We skied/rode at Kirkwood Mountain and Northstar and had some of the best snow/weather we've ever had on the mountain.

_________________________________________________

My one and only grandma celebrated her 90th birthday in March and we had a great party for her!  I have pictures from that day, but maybe I'll put them up on another post.  Also in another post - our trips to Boston, San Francisco, and Chicago...

The weekend before we left Minnesota, Devin went to Brandon and Nikki's Kentucky Derby party - although Nikki wasn't there.  Brandon won and Devin scooped poop.  As far as the actual derby results - I have no idea.

Ok.  I'm getting there...

Ali

Ali & Yeti - Spring 2007

Adam and Laura's dog, Ali, died on Tuesday night.  She'd been with them during such important and memorable years: moving to Arizona, getting married, early married life, a new baby, a growing child, and finally, moving to Minnesota.  Laura, and Adam, I am so sorry for your loss, but how lucky to have had her in your lives, despite her often maddening antics.  She loved you so much.

Of her nine and a half years, I got to live with Ali (by way of living with Laura and Adam) for six months - six months that became one of the most meaningful stretches of time for me thus far.  Having no job to speak of when I moved to Surprise, AZ, I was able to spend a lot of time with Al.  My first nickname for her was "Crazy," and she and I did a lot of walking, talking (mostly me), and soaking up the desert sun.

It was Ali who showed me that dogs really are amazing and have a deeper sense of understanding than I'd grown up thinking.  I remember one afternoon, shortly after I'd moved, I was sitting on the floor in my new room crying and listening to sad music, willing Laura and Adam to come home from work so I wouldn't have to be alone any longer that day.  But I wasn't alone.  Ali was home too and she walked into the room, sat next to me and put her paw on my leg.  (In a blog post it's hard to express the enormity of this gesture, but keep in mind that I was at an emotional low, and my loneliness was hard to manage.)  At that point I broke down but Al held strong and stayed where she was...until, a few minutes later, we heard the garage door open and she tore downstairs to bark-assault Laura who was coming in the house.  I will never forget that moment with Ali - we bonded then - and I've looked at dogs as family ever since.

Oh, don't get me wrong, she pissed me off too.  Like the time I had to chase her down the block in my pajamas after she jumped through the front window after a poor guy hanging ads on the front door.  Or when she ate a whole pack of Oreos I'd been saving for a post-run treat.  Or the weekend Devin and I watched her while Laura and Adam where gone and she  ripped her toenail out and bled all over the house and then barked ALL NIGHT LONG at, what we decided, where the voices in her head. 

But that bark kept us safe too!  I never worried about anyone messing with me while I was out for a walk with Al...ever.  And I know Patty and Jim felt better knowing Ali was home when Laura and Adam lived downtown Phoenix.  And she was great to have around when we went camping, because not only was she a great guard-dog, but she could keep you nice and warm too.  Although there was the camping trip when she rolled in cow poop...


She was always stubborn, sometimes a pain in the ass, and barked more than any dog I've known...but she was protective and loyal, and I'll never forget how she would light up when you asked, "Ali - do you want to go for a walk!?!"

I'll miss you Alabammaslammajamma.  The next time walk into Laura and Adam's house I'll be so sad not to hear your bark and nails on the floor, running to see who's at the door.  But I'm happy and thankful for the memories you've helped everyone create.  Thanks Al!

Ali Iten (2002 - 2011)   

Surprise!

Going waaaay back to January...

Devin and I left Thailand mid-January and ended our travels in Scottsdale, AZ where my dad was attending a conference and the rest of the family was vacationing.  We  planned this little rendezvous back in October while in Cambodia, with Dad and Pete in the know but led Mom and Jill to believe that we would be traveling abroad until the early February.

 We surprised Jill and Brendan at the airport first, as they landed about 20 minutes after we did!  Giggling, we watched them get off the plane and hid in a corner trying to figure out how to surprise them.  In the end, we just walked up to them while they waited at baggage claim.  Jill looked at Devin with a funny look on her face and after she saw me she just started saying "What the F*#k!? What the F*#&!?" as we got closer.  I'm not kidding, she kept saying it, and not quietly.  The first thing I had to say to her was "shhhhhhh" as I gave her a bear hug.  I love my little sister.

We surprised my Mom a bit later outside the hotel lobby as we pulled our packs from the trunk of the car.  It was dark, and even though she saw 4 people collecting bags, she thought that a random couple had taken the car as well.  Then she looked closer at Devin, then at me, who she had mistaken for Jill, and back at Devin again.  And then, as the tears welled, started repeating, "Is this for real?!?  Is this for real?!?"  It always feels so good to be hugged by your mom, doesn't it?

Dad and Pete knew all along, but it was still wonderful to see them and for us to be in one place at the same time!  The last time we'd all been together outside of Minnesota was for a friend's wedding in Montana back in 2006, and that was just a quick weekend.  We hadn't had a true family vacation since 2000 when I met them in Hawaii after studying in China!!  Yikes!

So, some pictures from Arizona:  

 

Such pretty girls.

No comment.

 

Before.

 
Not only were we able to spend time hiking, relaxing, and enjoying the beautiful weather, but being in Phoenix that weekend gave us the chance to cheer for Jill, running her SECOND HALF MARATHON!!

She did really well and we had a great time watching her work her butt off while we hung out!  :)  We're proud of you Jill!

After.

Jill's cheerleaders, sans Suz, who took the picture.

There's the Suz!

That was a peak into our stay in Scottsdale, Arizona!  It was a nice, relaxing way to ease back into the States!  Thank you Mom & Dad for such a great week!  (For the life of me I can't get this to format the way I want it to, and I don't want to spend more time trying to figure it out.)

On our way back to MN...winter.

P.S. I'm writing this as sit by a pool in Arizona...kinda funny how that worked out.

Let's rewind for a moment...

It's been an awfully long time since we last posted on this blog and we've been busy since that last entry!  I could promise to do better, but I write that in my journal all the time, and it's made a liar out of me.  For now, I'm going to try to get caught up.  For those of you who do look at this, it'll be a way to share pictures, as you know what we've been up to...

Oh Yeti...what would we do without your crazy antics?

I had to add a picture, didn't I?  :)