Joe is AMAZING

We had this super old heater in our garage - I should actually say ancient - and it hasn't been turned on in like 20 years. Joe called Thursday night and asked if I would help him take it out on Saturday. Well, my first thought was, dear Lord - the garage is going to blow.

I now have a new found respect and admiration for my husband. He got the heater out, and he and the heater are all still in one piece. The piece of wood that the heater was on was rotted so Joe got a new piece and made himself a little work space while pulled up a chair in the garage, had a beer and watched. Well, I didn't watch the whole time, I did help a little - he let me cut a piece of wood with the miter saw and hammer in a nail (hammering in not my strength). Anyway - Joe is becoming quite the carpenter and it looks great.

A big ol' nasty heater used to be in that spot

Joe and his work space

This morning I added some solar lights to the front yard (ones that I bought last year and never did anything with) and I can't wait until tonight to see how they look. I also looked at the flower pot I had planted about a month ago and I can't believe how the flowers have mulitiplied. I guess I do take after my mom's green thumb after all.

Flowers that I planted on 6.28.08

Flowers as of last night (7.19/08)

CONGRATS AMY AND LUKE...oh yeah, happy birthday to me

It finally happened - and on my birthday (it should have happened the weekend before but I will get to that)! I am finally going to get a younger brother - Amy and Luke are getting hitched...

So Luke proposed on Saturday, the 12th of July (yes - what a birthday present for me - like Amy told me "You got engaged on ALL of OUR Thanksgiving") while they were fishing. You see, Luke had been trying to Amy to go fishing with him over the 4th while Joe and I were in town but Amy didn't want to...she didn't feel like it. So thanks to my baby sister - I now have to wait FOREVER to actually see her ring in person and to try it on of course.

It was quite cute because Amy called me as I was walking into Target about 9 AM that morning and I asked to call her back when I got home and she said no because Luke wasn't her boyfriend anymore but her finacee. My next thought was "what is wrong with Luke, why the heck didn't he propose while we were in town." Amy was laughing and crying and Luke got on the phone and to let me know how that was his plan (to ask over the 4th) but that Amy wouldn't agree to go fishing. Since I was in Target, I couldn't scream and jump up and down (well I could have but security might have escorted me out) so I waited until I was in my car and screamed the whole way home.

Joe and I couldn't be more excited for the two lovebirds and look what we started - The week of our wedding, my friend Angela got engaged and I was in her wedding in Feb, Joe and I will be in Todd and Anna's in September and now I (at least I hope I will be) will be in another one next year. Geez, the old saying "Always a bridesmaid never bride" was off base for me. I wasn't "always a bridesmaid" until AFTER I was a bride.

Well, CONGRATULATIONS Amy and Luke - Can't wait until the big day. Oh Luke - are you sure you're ready to be a part of this family? I don't know if you know what your in for but feel free to call Joe if you ever need his advice!

4th of July

Sorry - this has been a bit delayed...

It was great to see everyone while we were down for the 4th. We had a great time relaxing, golfing (Dad is AWESOME!), drinking, eating and relaxing (oh wait - I already said that). I have to give a shout out to Mom and Dad - I was pretty sad when I heard the pool was leaving (it would have been the perfect weekend for it) but their backyard is amazing! I meant to take pictures and completely forgot so if you are reading this Mom or Dad, please send some.

I think the highlight of the weekend was that for the first time Joe drove the whole way, both ways! I didn't have to drive once...I even offered, it was wonderful! Ok...so the real highlights were:

The ETBT: Can you believe it? I actually went to it...TWICE! It will probably be a long time before I go back but hey, it was cool to be able to hang out with my sister and watch her and all her silly friends.

Brian: I haven't seen him in FOREVER!!!!! He looks great and I wish we could have chated more. Brian - if you're bored, shoot me an email :)

Steph and Troy's House: Beautiful, lovey, adorable...what else can I say. Joe and I told them that if they build a pool in the back, we'll rent the top of the garage from them or just set up a camper/tent in the back. Ok Steph and Troy - when is the pool going in? How much do you really want Joe and I to move back?? :)

It was a great weekend and I can't believe it has been 2 weeks already. Time sure does fly...Here are some pictures...

Aww Lu - Surrounded by the grandkids

The cutest ones of all

Yes, this is how he cooks at his restaurant too!!

Showing Lu

Happy 4th of July!!!

I am showing Grandma Lu how this technology works! She is having a slush so she is a quicker learner tonight.

Hope you all have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Yard work...it never ends

Joe and I spent this weekend working in the yard. We touched up the front yard then put mulch along the deck in the backyard. There is a weird little area right inside the back gate that was filled with rocks so Joe dug that out yesterday afternoon (while I watched and had a beer...I did the mulch around the deck by myself while Joe was at work earlier and he wouldn't let me help him) and then filled it with new rock and put the flower pot I had planted earlier on top.

We are hosting Todd and Anna's rehearsal dinner at our house in September so we are trying to get the big stuff out of the way before August!

Front of the house

Backyard

Back gate (before)

Back gate (after) Back gate (after)

California - Third times the charm...or is it?

Joe really is the best husband a gal could ask for considering he let Kari and I go off to California for 9 days at the end of May - our third time there. Would the weather be fabulous like the last 2 times we had gone? NO!

I left MN on May 23rd and flew into Milwaukee where I met Kari and we flew to LA. We stayed in Calabasas (just a little North of Malibu) from Friday night until Tuesday morning. The weather was not California weather at all. It was actually nicer in MN for most of our trip.

While in LA Kari and I went to Beverly Hills and walked around and paid $3.25 for a cupcake but it was worth it and we were on vacation! We drove around Hollywood, went to the Getty Center, went to USC, downtown LA, Griffith Observatory (where you can see the Hollywood sign), saw Arlington West, drove up to Santa Barabara and finally on Tuesday, it was nice enough to lay out on Santa Monica Beach.

Arlington West

Me at the Griffith Observatory (Hollywood sign in the back)

Tuesday afternoon we left LA and headed north for Sequoia National Park. We stayed a hotel about 5 minutes from the park and the scenery was creepy but it was the nicest hotel. Wednesday morning we got up early and drove to the Giant Forest to see the Redwoods and General Sherman. To get there you drive up a mountain about 5000 feet. I owe Kari enormously for driving that!

General Sherman (the tallest tree in the world - not the oldest though)

The Redwoods were amazing and my dad would have loved them! They take your breath away. We drove through the rest of Sequoia and drove a bit further North to Yosemite. We figured we were right there so why not. Well it wasn't as great as we thought. Yosemite is more of a get out and hike 20 miles to see the sites and that is so not Kari or I and it was pouring! At least we can say that we have been there.

We continued on North to San Francisco and just chilled out at the hotel that night. Thursday (the best weather day) was a long day as we got up early to see Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge, the crooked street, Alamo Square and then headed back down to the Wharf for the night tour of Alcatraz. That was amazing as well (Dad and Joe would have loved it)! We toured the prison and walked around the grounds and it really is amazing to look down and realize there is no way to get off "the rock." One of the inmates was quoted as saying something to the effect of, "The most frusterating thing is hearing the sounds of the yacht club on New Year's Eve. Hearing this singing and laughing, seeing the fireworks and knowing that you are only 1 1/2 from land but there is no way to get there."

Alamo Square - Amy - look familiar? These are the houses on the opening of Full House

Alcatraz

One of many regulations told to the prisoners

Golden Gate Bridge

Friday we drove to Napa and were a little disappointed with the town. Pretty ho hum and not much going on. We continued on and ended up at the Sterling Vineyards and toured the winery which was really neat to see.

Entering Napa Valley

Saturday (rainy and deary)was China Town!! It was great to see and then we hit the rest of the neigborhoods. We drove to Haight and Ashbury and saw the hippies, hit the Castro neighborhoods and saw the "happy" (think of the other word for happy...)people, drove along the otherside of the bay and saw the mansions and then hit the wharf again and walked around.

China Town

Main entrance to China Town

Sunday we left and it was good to be headed home. On the way home, Kari said that she is done with California for a while. She has been there probably the last 8 years or so in a row. After this trip, I am done with LA for a while...it's just too...not me. I would go back to San Francisco is a heartbeat though...actually I think I left my heart in San Francisco.

Update to storm....

YAY! The tree has been cut down...

Look how open the backyard is...we can actually see our neighbors - which means they can see us and our yard so we better get a mowing...