Winter Blues

Finn and I took a walk this morning.  The temperature said 25 degrees, but the wind was brutal.  Next time I will wear an extra shirt and bring a blanket for Finn in the stroller.  We didn't go far and I am, in fact, still trying to warm up.  I think a cup of tea is in my very near future (even though I'd love a cup of coffee; I'd also love to go to sleep tonight).

We are supposed to go to Iowa tomorrow, Finn and I, but the weather is being a spiteful hooker, and if it snows and blows like it's supposed to, we may be stuck here, missing out on all of the fun.  We have great plans to hang out in a hotel and play with Cousin Dane and watch Uncle Dan graduate from taxidermy school and look at all kinds of cool, stuffed critters, and maybe even stop at Ikea on our way home.  What is meant to be will be, and I don't drive in inclement weather (read: snow, rain, strong winds - basically anything that is not sunny and dry and safe!) but I am hopeful that we can make our trip as planned.

We are counting down the days to spring break...well, Finn is counting down the days.  He has zero concept of time and keeps asking me if it is next year yet, which, I guess in Finn time means later.  Anyway, he kept asking me if it was time to go to Mimi's house (Uriah's mom) and I finally had to tell him when we'd taken off all of the chains, then it would be time to go to Mimi's.  I probably shouldn't have told him we were going to the zoo or that we get to see absolutely all of our cousins (both hound and human).  He's pretty excited.  I'm pretty much sick of saying, not today fifteen zillion times an hour and then having him ask, "Please, Mama?  Please can we go to Mimi's house today?" in his very sweet little voice.  Next time we take a trip I am not telling him about until the day we leave.

Finn and I took a walk this morning.  The temperature said 25 degrees, but the wind was brutal.  Next time I will wear an extra shirt and bring a blanket for Finn in the stroller.  We didn't go far and I am, in fact, still trying to warm up.  I think a cup of tea is in my very near future (even though I'd love a cup of coffee; I'd also love to go to sleep tonight).

We are supposed to go to Iowa tomorrow, Finn and I, but the weather is being a spiteful hooker, and if it snows and blows like it's supposed to, we may be stuck here, missing out on all of the fun.  We have great plans to hang out in a hotel and play with Cousin Dane and watch Uncle Dan graduate from taxidermy school and look at all kinds of cool, stuffed critters, and maybe even stop at Ikea on our way home.  What is meant to be will be, and I don't drive in inclement weather (read: snow, rain, strong winds - basically anything that is not sunny and dry and safe!) but I am hopeful that we can make our trip as planned.

We are counting down the days to spring break...well, Finn is counting down the days.  He has zero concept of time and keeps asking me if it is next year yet, which, I guess in Finn time means later.  Anyway, he kept asking me if it was time to go to Mimi's house (Uriah's mom) and I finally had to tell him when we'd taken off all of the chains, then it would be time to go to Mimi's.  I probably shouldn't have told him we were going to the zoo or that we get to see absolutely all of our cousins (both hound and human).  He's pretty excited.  I'm pretty much sick of saying, not today fifteen zillion times an hour and then having him ask, "Please, Mama?  Please can we go to Mimi's house today?" in his very sweet little voice.  Next time we take a trip I am not telling him about until the day we leave.

Remembering.

All great things are simple, 

and many can be expressed in a single word:

freedom

justice

honor

mercy

duty

hope.

Sir Winston Chruchill

{The Artsy Girl Connection |   Finagle  a Photo}

All great things are simple, 

and many can be expressed in a single word:

freedom

justice

honor

mercy

duty

hope.

Sir Winston Chruchill

{The Artsy Girl Connection |   Finagle  a Photo}

Ballsies, it's cold.

And also, my son's "new to him" shoes remind me of Rain Man.  I think it's the navy blue nylon and velcro.  Whatever.  Think what you want.  I see Rain Man, though.

So back to this weather.  I guess I shouldn't complain since this really is what spring is supposed to be, right?  All chilly in the morning, warming up in the afternoon, nobody's tulips blooming yet.  Except that my tulips will never bloom because some asshole squirrel decided to eat the bulbs for a snack.  Don't tell Finn, but he's getting squirrel-lined mittens for Christmas.

Moving on.  Away from the bitterness.  It's been one of those days, I guess.  Just ask Uriah.  He's probably wishing he hadn't agreed to go on a walk with Finn and me this afternoon because I'm pretty sure it was torture for him the whole 2 miles.  Which brings me to my next point: Don't tell me you want to go on a walk with me if you only want to walk half of the walk!  I have walking expectations.  The first is that we walk 4 miles!  A day! As many days in a week as possible.  4.  Not 2.  That's actually the only walking expectation that I have.

Are you wishing you hadn't dropped by to check out what I have to say today?  I think it's time I resign to my bed, pull the covers up tightly and declare tomorrow a do-over.

Except...one more thing: today is my little brother's birthday.  He's not little anymore, but he always will be to me.  I hope someone sang him "Happy Birthday" and I hope he had a good day.  And I hope that this year will bring him much happiness, growth, and wisdom.  I miss him.

And also, my son's "new to him" shoes remind me of Rain Man.  I think it's the navy blue nylon and velcro.  Whatever.  Think what you want.  I see Rain Man, though.

So back to this weather.  I guess I shouldn't complain since this really is what spring is supposed to be, right?  All chilly in the morning, warming up in the afternoon, nobody's tulips blooming yet.  Except that my tulips will never bloom because some asshole squirrel decided to eat the bulbs for a snack.  Don't tell Finn, but he's getting squirrel-lined mittens for Christmas.

Moving on.  Away from the bitterness.  It's been one of those days, I guess.  Just ask Uriah.  He's probably wishing he hadn't agreed to go on a walk with Finn and me this afternoon because I'm pretty sure it was torture for him the whole 2 miles.  Which brings me to my next point: Don't tell me you want to go on a walk with me if you only want to walk half of the walk!  I have walking expectations.  The first is that we walk 4 miles!  A day! As many days in a week as possible.  4.  Not 2.  That's actually the only walking expectation that I have.

Are you wishing you hadn't dropped by to check out what I have to say today?  I think it's time I resign to my bed, pull the covers up tightly and declare tomorrow a do-over.

Except...one more thing: today is my little brother's birthday.  He's not little anymore, but he always will be to me.  I hope someone sang him "Happy Birthday" and I hope he had a good day.  And I hope that this year will bring him much happiness, growth, and wisdom.  I miss him.

Just a reminder...

I'll be back tomorrow with an amazing and simple Tandoori Chicken recipe.
Enjoy your family and friends this week; take nothing for granted.

I'll be back tomorrow with an amazing and simple Tandoori Chicken recipe.
Enjoy your family and friends this week; take nothing for granted.

Honor

Every Veteran's Day when I call Aaron, I usually ask him if he's tried on his Marine's uniform lately. He always laughs at my lame joke because, over a decade later, we both know that thing probably doesn't fit.  But what hasn't changed in in a decade is the way he carries himself, with a deep sense of Marine pride. What hasn't changed is way he quietly exudes loyalty for his country, and what is most admirable is the way he is teaching his son about honor. His uniform might be in the back of a closet somewhere, underneath a plastic dry cleaner's bag and a layer of dust, but my brother doesn't need a uniform for me to know that he is one of the few, one of the proud.

I've talked about Daniel's deployment here and here.  These days, Daniel's emails and letters home are few and far between.  His words, though when they do come, are so funny, and I can hear his voice in the lines. Abby sent him a letter early on in his deployment asking what kind of food he ate and if it was all powdered. He wrote back telling Abby he's not an astronaut. And then he proceeded to explain to her what he was doing and the animals that he had seen.  He told her that the food was good, not powdered, and there was plenty of it.  He requested that she send him some name ideas for the camel spider that his bunk mate managed to capture. She sat down immediately after that letter and wrote him a response. She's been sending him a letter every week or so since.

Since today is Veteran's Day, if I may, I would like to suggest that you read about Tom Brokaw's Bravest Families in America.  Mr. Brokaw was on Oprah on January 27th, 2011, along with Bob Woodward and First Lady Michelle Obama, talking about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the episode included interviews with a few of the Bravest Families in America.

The current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are the longest in United States history—longer than World War II and Vietnam. Tom says it's not just the length of time that has made these current wars different than past ones—it's our country's level of engagement. He says World War II united our country in an effort to save the world, and while we were deeply divided during Vietnam, the whole country was still very aware about what was happening. Today's wars are not something the typical American thinks about every day, and according to Tom, "less than 1 percent of the American population is bearing 100 percent of the burden of battle."

We are, all of us, luckier because of the men and women who make a daily commitment to serve our country and protect our freedom.  We should honor them every day.

Every Veteran's Day when I call Aaron, I usually ask him if he's tried on his Marine's uniform lately. He always laughs at my lame joke because, over a decade later, we both know that thing probably doesn't fit.  But what hasn't changed in in a decade is the way he carries himself, with a deep sense of Marine pride. What hasn't changed is way he quietly exudes loyalty for his country, and what is most admirable is the way he is teaching his son about honor. His uniform might be in the back of a closet somewhere, underneath a plastic dry cleaner's bag and a layer of dust, but my brother doesn't need a uniform for me to know that he is one of the few, one of the proud.

I've talked about Daniel's deployment here and here.  These days, Daniel's emails and letters home are few and far between.  His words, though when they do come, are so funny, and I can hear his voice in the lines. Abby sent him a letter early on in his deployment asking what kind of food he ate and if it was all powdered. He wrote back telling Abby he's not an astronaut. And then he proceeded to explain to her what he was doing and the animals that he had seen.  He told her that the food was good, not powdered, and there was plenty of it.  He requested that she send him some name ideas for the camel spider that his bunk mate managed to capture. She sat down immediately after that letter and wrote him a response. She's been sending him a letter every week or so since.

Since today is Veteran's Day, if I may, I would like to suggest that you read about Tom Brokaw's Bravest Families in America.  Mr. Brokaw was on Oprah on January 27th, 2011, along with Bob Woodward and First Lady Michelle Obama, talking about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the episode included interviews with a few of the Bravest Families in America.

The current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are the longest in United States history—longer than World War II and Vietnam. Tom says it's not just the length of time that has made these current wars different than past ones—it's our country's level of engagement. He says World War II united our country in an effort to save the world, and while we were deeply divided during Vietnam, the whole country was still very aware about what was happening. Today's wars are not something the typical American thinks about every day, and according to Tom, "less than 1 percent of the American population is bearing 100 percent of the burden of battle."

We are, all of us, luckier because of the men and women who make a daily commitment to serve our country and protect our freedom.  We should honor them every day.

From Daniel's Visit...

Hello, did you miss me?

I missed me - and you, too!  I've been busy trying to get my new "working-mom" life in order again.  It takes practice and planning and I'm still getting the balancing correct, so thank you for being patient with me.

I just put Finn down for a morning nap.  He's got five teeth brewing in his face and that makes for a tired and cranky boy.  Did I mention that he's walking now?  That makes for a very mobile and tired and cranky boy.  Last week when I was working, Uriah had the day off so he and Finn spent it together.  I'm sure it was the first day that they'd been together, just the two of them, since April.  Uriah took it upon himself to teach Finn to walk.  Not to worry...he video recorded those monumental first steps for me to watch when I got home from work.  I cried a little bit at first that I missed it, but to be perfectly honest, I'm more glad now that he's walking.  I know kids do things in their own good time, but I was starting to get a little worried.  And now that he can do it, he tries to walk all of the time; he falls down and picks himself right back up again to try again.  By the end of the day, I'm tired of holding my breath during the big spills and cheering so loudly for his accomplishments, but I'm so happy that he's got his little feet semi-solidly planted underneath him.

Abby's fully into her volleyball season and, although she hasn't had a game yet, they have practice every night after school, so she comes home tired and cranky, too.  Do you see a pattern here with my tired and cranky kids?  She's also waiting not-so-patiently to get an instrument in band.  Since homecoming is right around the corner, the band teacher has been working on marching with the students that played an instrument last year.  Until his time is freed up just a bit and he can work with the new band students, they are given an "interim" instrument.  Abby's playing The Woodblock.  You can imagine how she feels about playing The Woodblock (I think it's kind of funny, she does not.).  I'll be happy when homecoming is over and she can play an instrument that lives up to her lofty band expectations and stop complaining about The Woodblock.

Uriah's first summer season is done...thank you, Baby Jesus.  Hopefully now he'll be home a little bit more, although tonight he's going to hit some golf balls around the course after work, so maybe I'm just trading the busyness of the summer season with the faux-busyness of fall golf?

In an effort to make my life a little bit more organized, last week, I implemented cleaning zones.  I spent way too much time cleaning everything chaotically and randomly during the week, or cleaning whatever I felt needed the most attention on a daily basis, and yet somehow I still felt like I'd accomplished nothing.  Now, each day of the week has a different zone to clean and organize.  So far I feel much less like a chicken running around without a head, trying to catch up on laundry and ironing and dusting every single day, and more like: one day at a time...one chore at a time...it will all get done in its own time.  Speaking of zones: today is bedrooms, so I'd best get my tush into my room for a dusting and sheet changing and floor vacuuming flurry before Finn wakes up from his nap and we clean his room together (which, trust me, takes a lot longer, but I know that he needs to learn to "help.").

Happy Hump Day...it's all down hill after today!  Daniel will be home for a short leave (although it feels like he just left, but I guess that's the military for you, right?), so we'll be at my mom's this weekend reveling in a Post-Family reunion and a birthday party celebration for my special boy, Dane.  I can't even wait!

I missed me - and you, too!  I've been busy trying to get my new "working-mom" life in order again.  It takes practice and planning and I'm still getting the balancing correct, so thank you for being patient with me.

I just put Finn down for a morning nap.  He's got five teeth brewing in his face and that makes for a tired and cranky boy.  Did I mention that he's walking now?  That makes for a very mobile and tired and cranky boy.  Last week when I was working, Uriah had the day off so he and Finn spent it together.  I'm sure it was the first day that they'd been together, just the two of them, since April.  Uriah took it upon himself to teach Finn to walk.  Not to worry...he video recorded those monumental first steps for me to watch when I got home from work.  I cried a little bit at first that I missed it, but to be perfectly honest, I'm more glad now that he's walking.  I know kids do things in their own good time, but I was starting to get a little worried.  And now that he can do it, he tries to walk all of the time; he falls down and picks himself right back up again to try again.  By the end of the day, I'm tired of holding my breath during the big spills and cheering so loudly for his accomplishments, but I'm so happy that he's got his little feet semi-solidly planted underneath him.

Abby's fully into her volleyball season and, although she hasn't had a game yet, they have practice every night after school, so she comes home tired and cranky, too.  Do you see a pattern here with my tired and cranky kids?  She's also waiting not-so-patiently to get an instrument in band.  Since homecoming is right around the corner, the band teacher has been working on marching with the students that played an instrument last year.  Until his time is freed up just a bit and he can work with the new band students, they are given an "interim" instrument.  Abby's playing The Woodblock.  You can imagine how she feels about playing The Woodblock (I think it's kind of funny, she does not.).  I'll be happy when homecoming is over and she can play an instrument that lives up to her lofty band expectations and stop complaining about The Woodblock.

Uriah's first summer season is done...thank you, Baby Jesus.  Hopefully now he'll be home a little bit more, although tonight he's going to hit some golf balls around the course after work, so maybe I'm just trading the busyness of the summer season with the faux-busyness of fall golf?

In an effort to make my life a little bit more organized, last week, I implemented cleaning zones.  I spent way too much time cleaning everything chaotically and randomly during the week, or cleaning whatever I felt needed the most attention on a daily basis, and yet somehow I still felt like I'd accomplished nothing.  Now, each day of the week has a different zone to clean and organize.  So far I feel much less like a chicken running around without a head, trying to catch up on laundry and ironing and dusting every single day, and more like: one day at a time...one chore at a time...it will all get done in its own time.  Speaking of zones: today is bedrooms, so I'd best get my tush into my room for a dusting and sheet changing and floor vacuuming flurry before Finn wakes up from his nap and we clean his room together (which, trust me, takes a lot longer, but I know that he needs to learn to "help.").

Happy Hump Day...it's all down hill after today!  Daniel will be home for a short leave (although it feels like he just left, but I guess that's the military for you, right?), so we'll be at my mom's this weekend reveling in a Post-Family reunion and a birthday party celebration for my special boy, Dane.  I can't even wait!

On my (and aching) mind...

• I got an email from Daniel's Ady. He is officially in Kuwait.
• I bet he's hot. I will endeavor to not complain about the heat anymore.
• Abby asked me where Kuwait was.
• I think we need a map. Or a globe. Or both. And one of those pen's that has a red laser so I can point to places on my map and globe.
• Geography was not my strongest subject.
• Neither was math. Or Social Studies. Or gym. Or choir. Or art. Or French. Or history.
• I did okay in Home Ec, though. And English.
• It's a wonder I made it into college. Must have been my killer essay.
• I've let my son run amuck today.
• He got his one year shots, so I felt he deserved to be able to pull every single piece of tupperware out of my cabinets and spread them helter-skelter throughout the kitchen, dining room and living room.
• They need to be packed anyway.
• We Hefters - we're nothing if not nomadic.
• My head hurts.  I think it's stress.
• I don't really have it in me to play the clean-up game right now, although I should before I break an ankle on that yellow dump truck.
• We are having re-heated enchiladas for dinner.
• I made them a couple of weeks ago and froze them. Days like today call for quick and dirty meals.  I should freeze things more often.
• Do you have any good make-ahead and freeze meals?  Share your recipes, please.
• As far as sisters-in-law go, I guess I got the lion's share. 
• I hope that Ady comes for a visit soon...and Sars, too.
• My mom and my Emily are coming this weekend.
• I am going to put them to work unpacking.  It's good they know this already or they'd be awfully surprised when they got here.
• I haven't seen Emily since the beginning of  May when we left the big, bad city. 
• Holy crap, that's a long time.
• I need to send Daniel a package.  I wish I could put some Iowa corn in it.
• It would probably be popcorn by the time he got it.
• There really is corn everywhere here.  In the fields, in the stores, and being hustled on every single street corner.
• Finn just tried to eat a bug off the floor.  Must be dinner time for the baby.

• I got an email from Daniel's Ady. He is officially in Kuwait.
• I bet he's hot. I will endeavor to not complain about the heat anymore.
• Abby asked me where Kuwait was.
• I think we need a map. Or a globe. Or both. And one of those pen's that has a red laser so I can point to places on my map and globe.
• Geography was not my strongest subject.
• Neither was math. Or Social Studies. Or gym. Or choir. Or art. Or French. Or history.
• I did okay in Home Ec, though. And English.
• It's a wonder I made it into college. Must have been my killer essay.
• I've let my son run amuck today.
• He got his one year shots, so I felt he deserved to be able to pull every single piece of tupperware out of my cabinets and spread them helter-skelter throughout the kitchen, dining room and living room.
• They need to be packed anyway.
• We Hefters - we're nothing if not nomadic.
• My head hurts.  I think it's stress.
• I don't really have it in me to play the clean-up game right now, although I should before I break an ankle on that yellow dump truck.
• We are having re-heated enchiladas for dinner.
• I made them a couple of weeks ago and froze them. Days like today call for quick and dirty meals.  I should freeze things more often.
• Do you have any good make-ahead and freeze meals?  Share your recipes, please.
• As far as sisters-in-law go, I guess I got the lion's share. 
• I hope that Ady comes for a visit soon...and Sars, too.
• My mom and my Emily are coming this weekend.
• I am going to put them to work unpacking.  It's good they know this already or they'd be awfully surprised when they got here.
• I haven't seen Emily since the beginning of  May when we left the big, bad city. 
• Holy crap, that's a long time.
• I need to send Daniel a package.  I wish I could put some Iowa corn in it.
• It would probably be popcorn by the time he got it.
• There really is corn everywhere here.  In the fields, in the stores, and being hustled on every single street corner.
• Finn just tried to eat a bug off the floor.  Must be dinner time for the baby.

You Capture: Patriotism

Patriotism is...

...Answering the call of duty.

...Standing tall. 

Standing firm. 

Standing strong.

...Defending the smallest Americans.

And the oldest, the richest, the poorest.

The weakest and the strongest.

...Overwhelming pride.

...Sacrifice.

...Teaching the next generation to love, honor, and defend our country.

Patriotism is not temporary.

It is not a fair-weather friend.

It is not just the 4th of July.

It is every day.



Next week's challenge: Summertime

Patriotism is...

...Answering the call of duty.

...Standing tall. 

Standing firm. 

Standing strong.

...Defending the smallest Americans.

And the oldest, the richest, the poorest.

The weakest and the strongest.

...Overwhelming pride.

...Sacrifice.

...Teaching the next generation to love, honor, and defend our country.

Patriotism is not temporary.

It is not a fair-weather friend.

It is not just the 4th of July.

It is every day.



Next week's challenge: Summertime

Memorial Day

In high school, Memorial Day meant the beginning of the end of the school year.  In college, it meant a short, one day reprieve from work before summer session started.  For the past few years, it has meant a long weekend to travel home. 

This year, though, we are truly a military family.  Yesterday, I walked Finn and Abby up the street to our Memorial Day Ceremony.  A local man shared his thoughts about what it means to be a soldier,  and even if that soldier fought in World War II, it gave me hope that their is a good life to be had after a war because it's not so much the fighting that I'm worried about; Daniel has a good eye, a solid head, and a steady finger.  It's the after that I'm worried about (I do too much reading and there was an Oprah episode in February about soldiers after they came home that I just can't seem to shake from my subconscious).  But the man who spoke yesterday was positive and he had funny war stories to share and most importantly, he and his wife celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary over the weekend. 

I wish I had gotten a better picture, but our little town, along with the little towns around us, place a flag on the courthouse lawn for every local veteran who has died.  This year they added 20 new flags. 

The 21-gun salute did, in fact, choke me up a bit.  And taps pushed me right over the edge.  But for someone who can't stand the noise of the food processor, Finn didn't even flinch when those guns went off.

Is there anything better than a man in uniform?  I mean really...that Marine in the center?  So crisp, so stoic...so...military.

I love high school bands.  I know that there's a stigma of being a "band geek," and kids can be so mean, but I really had fun being in marching band - in spite of the heat and the questionable uniforms.  I could see Abby's eyes glaze over when the flag twirlers went past.  I think she wants to be one.

 Oh, the Girl Scouts...is it really a parade if the Girl Scouts aren't in on the action?

And the Boy Scouts...following in the wake of the Girl Scouts.  It's because their camps aren't as cool and you don't see people lining up every year to buy Boy Scout Cookies, do you?  I think I've made my point.

I didn't notice until after I was home and going through my pictures, but this fire truck has the Minnesota National Guard Red Bull flag on it...maybe because the Minnesota border is approximately thirteen and a half seconds away?  I'm going to have to look into it...  

This old man was even cooler than the Shriners and their little go-carts; and I think he got more applause.  I kept wanting to ask him, "Where will you go in your Hoveround?"

Shortly after this picture, Abby asked if she could follow the parade the rest of the route. I think she just wanted to watch the flag twirlers.  Finn fell asleep in his stroller during the 2 block walk home.  I think he was dreaming about a Hoveround.  And I worked in my garden. 

I was thinking about my brother.

In high school, Memorial Day meant the beginning of the end of the school year.  In college, it meant a short, one day reprieve from work before summer session started.  For the past few years, it has meant a long weekend to travel home. 

This year, though, we are truly a military family.  Yesterday, I walked Finn and Abby up the street to our Memorial Day Ceremony.  A local man shared his thoughts about what it means to be a soldier,  and even if that soldier fought in World War II, it gave me hope that their is a good life to be had after a war because it's not so much the fighting that I'm worried about; Daniel has a good eye, a solid head, and a steady finger.  It's the after that I'm worried about (I do too much reading and there was an Oprah episode in February about soldiers after they came home that I just can't seem to shake from my subconscious).  But the man who spoke yesterday was positive and he had funny war stories to share and most importantly, he and his wife celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary over the weekend. 

I wish I had gotten a better picture, but our little town, along with the little towns around us, place a flag on the courthouse lawn for every local veteran who has died.  This year they added 20 new flags. 

The 21-gun salute did, in fact, choke me up a bit.  And taps pushed me right over the edge.  But for someone who can't stand the noise of the food processor, Finn didn't even flinch when those guns went off.

Is there anything better than a man in uniform?  I mean really...that Marine in the center?  So crisp, so stoic...so...military.

I love high school bands.  I know that there's a stigma of being a "band geek," and kids can be so mean, but I really had fun being in marching band - in spite of the heat and the questionable uniforms.  I could see Abby's eyes glaze over when the flag twirlers went past.  I think she wants to be one.

 Oh, the Girl Scouts...is it really a parade if the Girl Scouts aren't in on the action?

And the Boy Scouts...following in the wake of the Girl Scouts.  It's because their camps aren't as cool and you don't see people lining up every year to buy Boy Scout Cookies, do you?  I think I've made my point.

I didn't notice until after I was home and going through my pictures, but this fire truck has the Minnesota National Guard Red Bull flag on it...maybe because the Minnesota border is approximately thirteen and a half seconds away?  I'm going to have to look into it...  

This old man was even cooler than the Shriners and their little go-carts; and I think he got more applause.  I kept wanting to ask him, "Where will you go in your Hoveround?"

Shortly after this picture, Abby asked if she could follow the parade the rest of the route. I think she just wanted to watch the flag twirlers.  Finn fell asleep in his stroller during the 2 block walk home.  I think he was dreaming about a Hoveround.  And I worked in my garden. 

I was thinking about my brother.

Home of the Brave

Tomorrow is a big day for the Post family.

I feel like I have lots to say about this new chapter, but for once the words escape me.  I don't feel like I will be eloquent enough or witty enough or that I will be able to convey just how incredibly proud I am of my brother.

{Finn & Uncle Dan | 5.25.11}

If I could request one thing, please keep my brother, and the men and women that he's serving with, in your prayers for the next year.

Remeber that they are the reason that we are the Land of the Free.

Tomorrow is a big day for the Post family.

I feel like I have lots to say about this new chapter, but for once the words escape me.  I don't feel like I will be eloquent enough or witty enough or that I will be able to convey just how incredibly proud I am of my brother.

{Finn & Uncle Dan | 5.25.11}

If I could request one thing, please keep my brother, and the men and women that he's serving with, in your prayers for the next year.

Remeber that they are the reason that we are the Land of the Free.