Corey's Little Helper

Baby Summit

Happy Birthday!

Today my Aunt Becky would have turned 51. I'm thinking of you Becky, and I miss you lots.

Ten Years Ago...

Corey reminded me tonight that ten years ago today a bunch of us were playing four square in the Grainwood Elementary parking lot patiently waiting for me to turn 18! We goofed around, did some roller blading and even watched Mike drive his Bronco around the school's track a few times. we waited until midnight and then we went to Mystic Lake Casino. Back then I was the last person in my group of friends to turn 18, so when it happened everyone was there to help me celebrate! I remember I ended up winning some money that night and that the Mystic Lake Buffet was a lot cheaper ten years ago.

I can't believe that I'm turning 28 tomorrow. WOW! I'm getting closer to thirty! Scary...at least all of my friends will reach that point first. ;)

Happy Birthday To Me!!

I colored my hair...myself!

Over the weekend I was tempted with dying my hair. I usually go to the salon and spend about $80 for a cut and highlight. My Aunt Sue has a beautiful brownish-red tone that I love and she said she got it from a box. So...off to Target I went in search for the perfect color. Boy, the selection of hair color is huge! I have never dyed my hair using a color from a box before. I have always just done highlights (from the salon) and I have never colored my hair using just one color. Well...I needed a change.

I chose...Loreal Feria, Multi-Faceted Shimmering Colour 3X Highlights in a warm Bronzed Brown.

What do you think? I haven't been this dark in a long time...I think I like it!

Baby Shower

My sister, Stefanie, is having her baby shower today and I thought I would be creative and create a "diaper cake" for her. I used three packages of diapers, many yards of ribbon, a few flowers, and a cute duckie and nuk to top it off. (Thanks for the idea Aimee!)

I Love how it turned out...

WIZARD OF OZ

Eagan Summer Community Theatre is playing "The Wizard of Oz." This is probably the BEST play I have seen! It's only been out a week and I've seen it twice. Ashley Nichols, who plays Glinda the Good Witch was our soloist in our wedding. She and the rest of the cast do an amazing job. Read the review below...

THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Stage magic abounds in ‘Wizard of Oz’
Posted: 7/13/07
by Andrew Miller
The special effects may very well blow your mind.
There’s also something to be said for the veritable battalion of munchkins — 105 in all.
Eagan High School Summer Theatre is pulling out all the stops for its production of “The Wizard of Oz,” which opened last night and runs through Aug. 4 at the high school.
This is the fifth time Denny Swanson has directed “The Wizard of Oz” in School District 196 — the first was in 1977, and the munchkins in that production are now in their 40s.
This production is the most visually stunning of the bunch, Swanson said.
“This is far and away the biggest technical extravaganza we’ve done,” he said.
Along with flying stunts — Dorothy being whipped around by the tornado, the flying monkeys and Wicked Witch — there’s also plenty of pyrotechnics.
“Big booms and lots of flames,” Swanson said.
The show features a mammoth 181-actor cast ranging in age from 4 to 62. Every school in District 196 is represented in the cast.
Honey Ribar, who plays Dorothy, is making her second appearance in “The Wizard of Oz.” She first appeared in the show at Eagan High School in 2000. Back then, she played a munchkin.
Playing the lead in a stunt-heavy production is not without its dangers. Being tossed about on wires during the tornado scene at rehearsal two weeks ago, Ribar clipped the farmhouse on the set, giving her rib cage a pretty good knock.
But Ribar seems to be weathering the pitfalls of stunt work well.
“I’m not afraid of heights, and I like being a daredevil,” said Ribar, a senior at Eagan High School.
Ribar, like other cast members, grew up watching the movie version of “The Wizard of Oz” starring Judy Garland.
In fact, the movie holds a special place in the childhood of Ashley Nichols of Jordan, who plays Glinda the Good Witch. The film was a staple of her day-care days.
“I think I probably watched it once a week” as a child, said Nichols, now a vocal performance major at the University of Minnesota.
Tickets for the 18-show run of the “Wizard of Oz” are on sale from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Eagan High School Ticket Office. Call (651) 683-6964 to reserve seats. Tickets prices are $10 for adults and children over 12, $8 for seniors and children 12 and under.

Lake Bemidji State Park

Bemidji, MN

Corey and I took a few days off of work and ventured up to Bemidji State Park to do some camping with Summit. All of our good friends joined us...Mike, Aimee and their dog,Zoey. Eric and Liz. Kris. Andy. Pete, Anne and their dog Fred. We spent a long weekend enjoying the Great Outdoors. Here are some of my favorite things we did...

*Camping in a tent.

*BBQ's and Bonfires (Mmmmmm, Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Smores: great suggestion, Anne!!!)

*Hiking (The "Bog Walk")

*Shopping (In Bemidji and Nisswa.)

*Geocashing (The GPS Stash Hunt)

*A visit to the Lost Forty (A unique area in the Chippewa National Forest with red and white pine trees that are 300-400 years old!)

*A visit to Lake Itasca State Park (See the headwaters of the Mississippi River and climb and 100 foot fire tower.)

8 more days!

In a little over a week, Corey and I will be heading to Bemidji State Park to do some camping. We're so excited because we'll be joined by 8 of our friends and some are bringing their dogs as well...so Summit will have lots of fun too!

We've done a lot to get ready for the four day trip...check out our new tent! (that's with the rain fly off). It's great...the rain fly has a screened vestibule, so in case there is rain we're covered! We did a few returns and exchanges and decided on this monster. I never thought I'd get such a huge tent, but we have to have room for the dog now. ;)

The tent takes up our whole living room!

Happy Birthday America!

Happy 4th of JULY!

I LOVE July 4th...barbecues, picnics, FIREWORKS, parades, and family gatherings.

Get out there and celebrate your freedom, appreciate your country, pay respect to those that fight to protect us, and fly the flag or sport it's red, white and blue colors.

*Special thanks to my dad...he always knows how to make 4th of July FUN! I love your fireworks show, even if some get a little too close!! Hahahaha.