Ahem....

Tom was born in 1955.

He is only 53.

Thank you.*

*And no, I am not at all sensitive about that.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM!!!

Another year has gone by for Tom. 54 of them to be exact!

Tom you are the BEST!! You are an example of unconditional love to me. You have a tender heart for the Lord. You're forgiving, hardworking, dedicated, love people and love our family. Hanging out with you is one of my favorite past times. One thing is for sure, there is never a dull moment in my life because of you! I love you and wish a lazy, lovely day for you. And may this year be your best as you walk with our Lord, enjoying Him and the wonderful path He's laid out before you.

Your ever lovin' wife,
Sally

Thanksgiving

Sooo I might have had a genius idea.

This year for Thanksgiving maybe we should consider renting a house for a few days in Wisconsin Dells, or somewhere around there. April is getting married on the Saturday after Thanksgiving which means Cheryl and I won't be able to go to MN like we wanted and Leah will have to be here on Saturday. We could find a house for around $250 a night and stay mabye Wed-Friday, or everyone else could stay through the weekend. If we did three nights, that would under $200 a couple if 4 or 5 "family units" came.

What do you think??

For anyone that normally spends Thanksgiving with in-laws.... maybe this year you should reconsider. :)

My blogger is acting up. Here's a link to a house on vrbo.com http://www.vrbo.com/117450

We could also consider one of those giant resorts, but I think a house suits our family better.

My New Jewelry

Another Great Spinach Salad

Spinach Apple Salad

1 bunch spinach or baby spinach
1/8 c thinly sliced mild onion
3 or 4 oz walnuts, toasted
1 apple, chopped
4 oz goat cheese, crumbled

Layer in a bowl. Dish out & add dressing of choice. Use a lighter creamy dressing, nothing heavy, because of the goat cheese. Deeelish!!!

This salad was copied off of one I ate at Bank Lane in Lk Forest. If I only had their recipe for the dressing. :)

Eddie Vedder

Karin Labelle went to an Al Franken event in Seatle last night and met Eddie Vedder!

She said he's "as handsome in real life as he is in rock star life"

And about Al Franken:
"Al Franken (your sisters new senator come November) was really great as well. His speach was so moving. He's a good midwestern man and that comes across in his style. He is so good on education and the environment. And super smart and of course funny. I tried to crack a joke to him, but my delivery got all flubbed and it didn't go over. oh well."

The Swell Season

Eric and I went to The Swell Season (Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova) concert last night with Shae and Lisa and it was so great. I think it's one of the best concerts I've attended, except that we didn't have great seats. They played from 9:15ish to 11:30.

Just wanted to let you all know so that you can be jealous.

Changed His Life....

I'm posting for Jason, who found his ultimate stir-fry sauce: Soy Wasabiaki (green label, found at Jewel). He said he feels like he's in an Asian restaurant when he's eating it.

Mmmmm....

Somethin' to watch

American Idol Gives Back

Thoughts... anyone....

americanidol.com

Hair Olympics

Our church had a ladies night at a salon that a woman in the congregation owns. We had a hair olympics- teams of 3-4 had to do a person's hair with what was given them. I was the model, of course, but I think we could have done much better if given thought and time. Here is the outcome:

And here is the well-deserved winner:

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Though my mom won't see this I still want to celebrate her & display her birthday pictures. She is an awesome mom and I love her very much. We went to Chili's (her favorite margarita place :) ) for her birthday bash. Attendees included Grandma Becker, Becky, Jason, Stef, Tom & myself. Here are some pictures of us all with the birthday gal. She won't mind me saying that she is 78. I hope I look that good & have all that energy when I'm her age. Go get 'em mom!

Painting 101

Cheryl and I went to a Painting 101 class tonight. Here is our interpretations of Matisse's Goldfish. I'll let you guess who's is who's.
A:


B:


Close up of the fishes:


(Is anyone else glad to not have to look at Eric's bruised hairy foot?)

Eric's Nasty Foot

The whole entire thing is discolored. Sick.

Oh, it happened playing volleyball. He landed on it wrong trying to do his awesome 1/2 fliperoo spike.

Weekend in MN

I just got back from visiting the Millers. We had so much fun!

A few highlights:

Cal pee'ed all over the bathroom and his face and hair. He was really excited I was there and couldn't contain himself. When Leah and I found him in the bathroom the pee was dripping off his hair into his face.

Cal said to me today, "I wish we could get married". Ahhhhh.....!

Isaac is adorable and likes to grunt and point and run and laugh.

Alisa and Kevin came over with Aiden. He's so cute and sweet. Alisa and Kevin are natural parents.

Eric busted his foot and was forced to sit around and play video games all weekend.

My hair looked weird all weekend since I didn't have a working blow-dryer.

Oh, and I feel like a zombie. I'm so e.x.h.a.u.s.t.e.d. I don't know how Leah does it!

Greetings from Chicago, IL

Its obvious its the middle of winter and no one is doing anything fun. This site is boring!

"Get your *ss moving and the soul will follow."

~ The Boss

Birthday Lady

Sexy, Strong, and (sad-to-say) Sick. We love Sally.

Happy Birthday, Mom.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JASON!!

A special start to this world on a Sunday afternoon,
His mother was baptized, baby still in the womb.
That was late spring and by the end of the year,
What joy! A boy! And not an eye without a tear.

Home… gazing… the shimmer of moonlight caressing his face,
All would be changed forever now. We wouldn’t remember a time without him in place.
Some colicky nights that he quickly outgrew,
To play happily alone or giggling & gurgling when attended to.

A little boy with swings and sandbox, sitting under the sun,
And two sisters coming along to eventually join in the fun.
In school he liked reading and did well in art.
He made lots of friends and must’ve broke some little girl’s heart.

In junior high he wore a mullet and light blue tapered jeans,
He played basketball & was crowned king, well liked by his peers it seems.
In high school we found he had his dad’s legs & speed,
Breaking records in track and running hard in cross-country.

A short stint at college, some jobs here and there,
It took him awhile to find a calling in which to place care.
He found a house he loved and wanted to make a home,
And a girl of his dreams to bring to so they would no longer roam.

We skip ahead now and find him being born, again, somehow.
Jason David Staton, a babe to this new life he’ll avow,
But I see a great man of faith, admitting he’s been broken,
Wanting all to taste of this world to which he‘s been woken.

His art is still there and comes out in different ways:
Plaster molds, cooking, walks in the woods with his dogs these days.
His heart is kinder from the soft blows of love.
He’s still funny and quick, oh the crazy things he thinks of!

Well, birthdays are a great way to end out the year,
Thinking back with love on all you hold dear.
And this is my way of saying to my son
I love you Jas and because of you I’m the blessed one!

Have a great birthday Jas!

Love you,
Mom

Our Pigeon Man

Here's an article more fully describing Joe Zeman Jr., aka Pigeon Man.


He was remembered:

STEF'S DAY!

What is the date? Good grief! The 21st!
Today’s the anniversary of Stefanie's birth!

Since that's the situation, the event at hand,
There should be a big celebration in the land.

For Stef is special, a child of God
And I want to bless her with more than a nod.

She's funny and fun, thinking she might be Lucy.
The Golden Girls make her laugh till she's light-headed and woozy.

Stef’s always sweet and thinks the best of others,
That helps Carol and me since we are the mothers.

Through good times and bad, through thick and thin,
She stands by her man and believes in him.

She'll shop till she drops especially at Target,
A sale, a reduction, she's likely not to forget.

She loves her dogs, to dream, and draw,
She'll rearrange a room and paint a wall.

There's plenty more that I could say,
But let's hear from you all on Stef s special day!

Happy Birthday Stef!!

Love ya,
Sally

R.I.P

A Chicago man widely known as "the Pigeon Man of Lincoln Square" was struck and killed by a van Tuesday afternoon on the Far North Side.

For the full story

(hey, I can't see my tool bar to insert a link or change fonts etc. Any ideas?)

UPDATED to fix link. Still don't know why you can't see the toolbar.