Minneapolis in November!

This year, much like last year has been full of travels.  It's been great!  We found cheap tickets and decided to squeeze in another vacation before the end of the year.  It was great!  It wasn't centered around any event, so it felt like we could do anything we wanted to do and really see the city.  We arrived on the night of the 10th.  Shawn, being a state emplpyee, had Thursday, Veterans Day, off and he took us around the city.  We rode the light rail and walked around downtown.  We went to Target Field, the Twins Stadium. 

 We went to the Guthrie Theater to see the great views, including the Stone Arch Bridge and the old mills.

 The Minneapolis Central Library was a cool building, and so huge!  We took a break from the great outdoors to look inside for a few minutes.

   

 Rachel's dad was also in town so that night we all grabbed dinner at The Nook.  Adam and I got a taste of our first Juicy Lucy's!  They were absolutely delicious!

On Friday Rachel and Shawn were back to work.  Adam and I headed to the Mall of America.  We spent about 4 hours there and barely made a dent in the place.  We did some clothes shopping and both left with good buys.  After MoA the we had dinner at a place called Liquor Lyle's with the Combs Walding's and some of their friends then headed to a concert at a church. 

 We skipped out on the concert early and went to Nye's Polonaise Room.  Nye's came complete with The World's Most Dangerous Polka Band that plays every Friday and Saturday night!  Unfortunately I I forgot to take a picture of the band.  They were delightful and added a lot to the atmosphere.  

On Saturday morning we woke up to a whole lotta snow and a french toast and bacon breakfast!  We didn't leave the house until later in the day.  

We did some driving deciding what to do and ended up at Donny Dirk's Zombie Den.  That place was awesome!  The decor was cool and they were playing old zombie movies.  They also had a creative and tasty drink menu!  The bartender and server were dressed to the 9's!  We have already toyed with the idea of opening a zombie bar of our own.  :)

We then headed to Surly Brewery for a fundraiser dinner.  We ate, drank and had a tour of the place.  The brewery was started by people Shawn knows through playing ultimate frisbee. 

As if our night wasn't exciting enough, after the brewery we went to a party at Shawn's sister Erin and her roommate Mandie's place.

Sunday was another slow paced day.  We did some more shopping and went out to eat...again.  We planned to eat and bowl at Bryant Lake Bowl, but they were having an event so we only ate.  

It was a sad day on Monday when we had to head home to reality.  It was a wonderful vacation!  Turns out I really love that city, not to mention some of the people there! 

It takes a special kind of person...

Whenever someone asks what I do for a living and I respond "Child Protective Services" after the I'm so sorry look on their face they always say, it takes a special kind of person to do that kind of work.  I think it takes a special kind of person to do all kinds of work.  It takes someone very not like me to do what my father does.  His dedication to his works of art has amazed me since I was of age to appreciate what he does.  It takes a special kind of person, again, not at all like me to be a structural engineer.  Sitting at a desk all day doing math :), while extremely important to mankind takes a very special kind of person.  How about running a business with your spouse?  Teaching children?  Raising children?  There are all kinds of jobs that need special people to do them, my job included.

The whole year I have been doing this particular job I have spent a lot of time thinking, am I the kind of person who should be in the role I am in?  It can be a difficult job.  Most times because of the number of reports that come through on a daily basis, the paperwork, the confrontation with parents, learning the difference between true bad parenting and what I think I would do differently as a parent.  Sometimes it's the anticipation of going to court and having a responsibility of having a case and "messing with" a family even if its the most necessary and right thing to do.  I get to see the good, the bad and the ugly.  Sometimes unbelievably ugly. There are many reasons why the job takes a special kind of person. 

Today is a day when I don't feel so special.           

Kitties

During the short transition while I was moving from mom and dad's basement and into the apartment I left Quince there so she wouldn't get out in a new and unfamiliar neighborhood.  That plan didn't work.  I never saw her again. :(

I seem to have no so great of luck when it comes to cats.  Moe was the cat I was able to keep around the longest.  I got him for Christmas in the 6th grade and he disappeared close to the end of my Senior year.  Soon after he was gone I adopted Alara.  Since I went off to school right after that, she spent four years living with mom and dad while I was away.  After graduation she moved to Kansas with me.  In September 2007 I had to put Alara down.  With the billions of farm cats around at the time it didn't take too long to adopt another (or two) as mine.  Tiny, a little runt cat and Puff, aka Big Fluffy Orange Cat.  A short time before I left the farm Puff and Tiny went missing.  I adopted O'Malley on March 17th, 2009, just days before I returned to Colorado.  Quincie soon joined our little family in July 2009.  O'Malley had some behavioral issues and had to be put down in December 2009.

Quince moved with me from the apartment and into mom and dad's.  As you know, she didn't get to join us in the new place.  I think she knew that I was not returning to live at mom and dad's but what she didn't realize was that I would be back for her.  I have spent a lot of time at the Humane Society recently.  We posted signs in the neighborhood and even got a few calls of possible Q sightings.  I was very hopeful at first that she would come home, but alas she has not.

We were planning on waiting to adopt another kitty until after out trips in October and November.  Then I came across an add on the county "for sale" site at work.  There was a cute little cat 3-5 years old who has spent a majority of her life as a stray and she recently gave birth to a litter of kittens.  Her current home, a foster home, was looking for a forever home for her.  Adam and I went and met her and loved her right away.  She is a real sweetie!  We named her Noodles!  We are still getting to know each other as she has only been here since Thursday night.  She is loving and playful and a begger.  No matter what you have in your hand she wants to know if she can have a bite.  We plan to keep her indoors only.  Now we're crossing our fingers that she's a part of our life for years to come.  Also, if Quincie does decide to come back, we think they would make great friends!

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Mom's birthday was yesterday. We were expecting Adam's dad to come stay with us last night, so we planned a family brunch for her birthday celebration! Adam made Hominy, bacon and eggs. I made monkey bread and Nathan and Marika brought a colorful fruit salad! It was so much fun to have our first round of company in our new place! We all took turns playing on the Wii, eating and holding Jack! Mom got a Jack-covered mouse pad and a GPS for her birthday. I hope I'm speaking for everyone when I say it was a great time together! Hope you had a wonderful birthday mommy!

 

 

 

 

 

Celebrating Sarah's New Beginning!

Sarah is a dear friend of mine dating back to Doherty High School days. She has recently seen a lot of changes in her life and is embracing them and celebrating her new opportunities! Go Sarah! I love you sister!!!

The finished product!

You're kidding me!

I know, right. I have some nerve trying to pick up where I left off and pretend like I had nothing to say the last 3 1/2 months. I had plenty happening in that time. So much in fact, I haven't had too much time to blog. My apologizes for ignoring you, The Animals Know Things. Here goes...

After Jack was born April was filled with visits to my apartment where Marika, Nathan and Jack were living. He is such a joy!

The first weekend in May Adam and I took a trip to Salt Lake City for motocross. It was piss poor weather for the drive there, while we were in town and then fine on the way home. That was a bummer. We drove all that way to sleep in the hotel and get cold cold rained on and see about 30 minutes of boys on motor bikes.

Memorial Day weekend was filled with fun! I went to Boulder for a birthday party and to see my beloved Joel and Emily. Then later that weekend cousin Kirk arrived to spend the summer here and work with dad.

May also brought more visits to the apartment to see sweet little Jack and of course Nathan and Marika. :)

June was a busy month. I traveled to Minneapolis for Rachel's Bachelorette Party. We had a BBQ Friday night with the boys and Saturday night was Bachelor/Bachelorette party night. The girls had a ball hopping from one party joint to the next!

Later in June, I got to be in the audience for the first live Tornado Magnets (the band Adam plays in) show! They did a great job and the night was so much fun!

Nathan, Marika and Jack left for a trip to Idaho to visit Marika's family on the July 1. My birthday was July 2nd, just like every other year. I had a great day and spent the evening with friends downtown. If you know me well, you know that my birthday celebration didn't end at midnight on July 2. The majority of the entire month of July is my birthday, at least in my head it is. :) My good friend Rebekah and I decided to throw ourselves a 27th birthday party since her birthday is July 15th. We busted it out high class. We hosted a cocktail party complete with drinks and lots of delicious food. We had a fantastic time with everyone!

The next weekend, Adam and I were on a plane headed to Kansas for Rachel and Shawn's long awaited commitment ceremony! They got married on July 17th, surrounded by beautiful loving people and a whole lotta fun! It was a reunion of sorts for Bethel College friends and there was a great turnout of BC peeps. We also got to party it up with Shawn's friends. I would say we all fit together quite naturally. On Sunday before flying out, Adam and I went to see my dear friend Sara and her baby boy, Nolan. That was the first time I had met Nolan and he was born in January. It was due time! What a sweetheart he is. We also squeezed in a trip to the Salt Mine Museum before almost missing out flight home. (Literally, we were told we had to run to the gate.) Another fabulous weekend.

N,M&J came home after about 3 weeks in Idaho and were able to begin moving into their house! After 14 long months of owning the home and not being able to occupy the residence, they were ready for sure! It is such a beautiful home. Gillis Homes quality!

Mary, Ken and Megan arrived in Colorado on Tuesday, August 3rd and stayed until their drive home Monday the 9th. We were able to have a good ole Gillis get together in Loveland at Pete and Marilyn's. We ate yummy food and played games. We left the Beutke family behind in Loveland and they started their trip home from there. It was really fun having Kirk around for the summer and having the opportunity to get to know him as an "adult." :) It feels strange around the house without him.

I guess that was my summer in a nutshell. I can't believe it took me as long as it did to post. If you had the patience to read through this entire thing you get mad props. Stick with me. I'll try to do better.