Photos from weekend

Notre Dame



Sacre-Coeur (Church)







Pete Thinking...



The Winged Victory


Mona Lisa



Saturday night dinner (nummy!)



Benji's painting


Peace.

Weekend in Paris

Lets start out with Friday night.
We went on a dinner cruise on the Seine River.
It was nice, relaxing and very expensive! 275.00
Euros! So, over $300.00 dollars. The food was good,
but not $300.00 good.

Saturday we got a little bit of a late start but
managed to pack in a full day of sight seeing,
eating, shopping and walking. We started at the
Louvre and saw the Winged Victory and
the Mona Lisa. We had a nice lunch in a cute
cafe there at the Louvre. Boy, did I need food
and a coke bad! After I ate things were much
better. What I did not know untill later as I sat
in bed reading Carole's Paris book is that the
Last Supper painting is at the Louvre. I would have
liked to have seen that in person. We left the Louvre
and walked down some fun streets. We bought
some really cool paintings from an artist on the street.
Then we walked to Saint Chapelle a really cool
church Pete wanted to see. You had to walk up this really
narrow, sprial stair case. Not easy. The stained glass was
awesome and I hope the pictures do it some justice.

From there we walked and walked. I was well
medicated and did fine as far as my back went.
We had dinner in a little Italian place on one of the
funnest street I have ever been on. We bought Benji
one of those spray paint prints like he got in Mexico.
I hope he likes it. We then stopped by Notre Dame
and took some night photos. Pete told me Notre Dame is
his favorite place in the whole world. You learn something
new about your husband all the time I guess. We were going
to bike back but we were told it was a good 20 minute ride
so we took a cab and came back to the hotel and rented a movie.
I'll post photos later. We are ready to go out again today.
I want to go up in the Eiffel Tower, not sure Pete wants to do that.

Peace.

Happy Birthday to Me!

I awoke to the phone ringing at 10 am.

Pete was not in the room so I thought it was him.

Nope, I was wrong it was Jen. She said Happy Birthday,

How are you? I have some real bad news. She sounded bad.

She told me they had to go back home to Holland right away

this morning. Her knee down to her toes are three times

the size they should be. It started a few days before I

got here and she almost did'nt come down at all.

She has been walking all over Paris and not

complaining a bit. We are quite the pair, her with her

leg and me with my back. I tell ya. We really should buy

some stock in Alive. Anyway, this morning it just really got

to be way to much for her, she is in pain and just needs to go see

her doctor. They came over to our hotel and said good bye.

We hugged and cried. I miss them so much.

They will be home in the states on December 22nd for 2 weeks.

Get better Jen!

As I hung up with Jen, Pete walked in with some beautiful

flowers for me. He had been runing all over Paris trying to find

a florest that was open. He was all hot and sweaty and out of breath.

How sweet is he huh?

Right now he is out with some work
friends having lunch and will be back soon and we will

have the rest of today and the weekend on our own.

Not sure what we will do. Maybe dinner up in the Eiffel

Tower tonight.

Yesterday, Pete and I had breakfast together and then

he worked all day and I spent the day with the Wilsons.

I was walking down to meet them at their hotel. I was about

half way there when I hear someone yell "Hey, Anne!" from

across the street. It was Jen, Matt and Olivia coming to meet me.

It was very strange to be alone on the streets of Paris and

have someone yell your name out. We laughed about it all

day long. It would have been very easy to have missed eachother.

We all bought tickets to ride a bus all over. The tour
had 4 routes and like 50 stops. We saw Notre Dame,

The Arc De Triomphe, walked the Champs Elissas,

(not sure how to spell that, it's where Dad got his comb.)

had some awesome "French" onion soup lunch,

which the just call "onion soup" by the way. It was a full day.

Jam packed with Ibuprofen, food, friends and fun!

$orry Je$$ica, No birthday pur$e from this place.

This was the 1st night together.

These guards are all over in groups of three

around the Eiffel Tower.

Gotta go get some lunch now.

Love to all.

Peace.

Paris France

Here is the view from our room at the Hilton.
Once again, Pete said to me.... oh honey Im so sorry
about the view! He's to good to me!








Here is the three guys Pete came to see.
We all went out to dinner last night.
Really fun guys!


Pete has left to go to the show and I am
waiting for Jen to get here! I can't wait!

Let me back up a bit................................
Flights were good , slept a bit.
Got in to Paris and took a taxi
to the Hotel. Went to the hotel bar and split a
hamberger, walked over to the "Lady" as
they call the Eiffel Tower. Then came up to
our room and took showers and got ready for
dinner. Before we left I was checking out the
mini fridge in our room telling Pete
all that was in it. Coke, OJ, pulling stuff out
looking at the different lables and oh
look Pete a 4 pack of condoms. Hee- hee.
Then I read the warning..............................
Waaa waaa wwaaaaaaaaa

COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM!
Your room will be automaticlly charged for items
as they are taken out! OOOOOOPSS!!!!
10 Euros for condoms we dont need, 6 Euros
for a can of coke. And who knows what else.
Note to self, DONT TOUCH THE MINI FRIGE!
The fornt desk took off the charges thank God,
what a waste of money!

Dinner was nice, It was midnight when we got back to
the room for a quick call home and hit the sack.

I woke up 6 hours later to go to the bath room and
my back went out! I could hardly stand back up!
I took 3 Advils and fell back asleep till 11:30
and had to take 3 more. Thats where I am at now
Pete gone, waiting for Jen and I cant do anything!
It hurts to sit, stand, lay. I can't belive this.
Lower right side, and down the leg! I need to get in the
shower so I will be ready when the Wilsons arrive.
The Advil seems to be helping so I will log off
now and get cleaned up.

Hope all is well with all of my loyal readers!
Miss you already!
Love and hugs!

Peace

Happy Birthday Amanda!

Amanda in now 7 years old!
My baby is seven, I can hardly believe it.
Pete and I woke her up for school this morning
singing happy birthday to her. She awoke with a
HUGE smile on her face. Love her!

Here she is opening a few gifts this
morning from mom and dad.

Tonight we will take her out to dinner at Outback
and then head to the airport for Paris and Susan will be in
charge for a week! Thanks Susan, my SQS!
(Why is this all underlined?)

Gotta run, need to pack.
See you soon Jen!!!

Happy Halloween!

I found this on my quit smoking support site.
It's kinda funny, check it out.

http://www.dedge.com/flash/hangman/hangman.swf

It's another Friday of cleaning up and doing laundry.
Getting the house ready for a birthday party and
for leaving the place under Aunt Susan's control for a week.
Writing notes, planing outfits and so on.....

Benji had his 4 wisdom teeth taken out on Wednesday.
He is doing well, a bit swollen and soar but so far so good.
His 12 year molars were stuck so they had to come out
so that the ortho could finish his braces.
He was put "under" for the extractions and when
he came to he was so funny! Laughing, loud, swearing,
hugging me telling me how much he loved me.
He said to me, no he yelled to me "Mom, what the
hell did they do to me? This is fun! Hahahahahaha!"
He is back to normal now. Here is a photo of him
at Amanda's party yesterday. Can you see the puffy checks?


Gotta run, Amanda has a party to
be at in 35 min. in Eden Prairie
and I am still in my PJ's

Peace.

Amanda's "kid" party

Amanda's 7th birthday party was today
at the Country Club Lanes in Excelsior.
We had a nice time, a good little group
of girls. We were short a few due to MEA
weekend travels and illness. Amanda had
a good time.

She had high score of 98.


The cake was so cute and nummy too.




The girls were all very well behaved and I
think they all had a good time.



Susan met us there to be the official photographer.
And joined in on the bowling fun.


If our family didn't have enough October birthdays...
Amanda's friends sure made it that way.
We went to Ericka Akerberg's 10th birthday party on Monday night.
Then Amanda was at the AmericInn at a swimming party
last night for a friend of hers, her kid party today then another
friends party tomorrow at Pump it up. We have Saturday off
and then Amanda's family party on Sunday.
And her actual birthday is Monday the 22nd.
We will take her out to dinner before we head to the airport
and Susan heads home with the kids to put them to bed.
The never ending birthday! Man, she's a lucky girl!

Well, I must go to the lumber yard now.
We need more wood for the ark we have to build.

Peace!

Happy Birthday to Laurie!

Today is the 3rd Craig birthday this month.
This is Laurie's day! Happy Birthday!

Laurie is getting a very cold and windy
birthday this year. A high of 53 degrees
and I don't think we will hit that mark.
The wind is crazy. In Australia they say
its rather "blowy" out. I like that one.
It is VERY blowy here today.

Amanda has soccer tonight. That should be fun.
I'll need to get out the parkas and blankets.
I am very thankful this is the last of the
Tuesday soccer games! The 1st game it was
like 80 degrees now 50, nice. Then the last
game is on Saturday when they will be playing
2 games. Her first ever "tournament"
That will be another fun morning.
With a high of 58 degrees for that day.
Then we are done with soccer.
Forever as far as I am concerned.

13 days till Amanda turns 7 years old
and I leave that evening for Paris France.
to spend a week with my pal Jen!
I Can't wait to see you Jen!
I better start making lists for Susan
and start packing! I better sign out...

Peace.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is Niners B-day.
And it is beautiful out! 86 degrees and sunny!
Here is a photo from last year around this time.




The kids are getting ready to jump in the pool,
for most likely the last time this year.
Then in to clean up and head over to Michael & Kiki's
house for cake & ice cream. Thanks for hosting M & K!

Enjoy the rest of your week end.

Peace.

Mr.Jimmy

"Mr. Jimmy" Hutmacher dies at 75
Excelsior's Jimmy Hutmacher has died at the age of 75.
If the name isn't familiar, that's OK.
You may recognize Hutmacher by another name
Mister Jimmy.


Even though I did not personally know "Mr. Jimmy"
I feel as though I did. I would always wave and say
"Hi" to him. May he rest in peace.

I think I have a cold coming on. The gym was very
hard today. Not feeling so hot. But, I look good!
I went and had a Sue-do done yesterday. Love it!
Thanks Susan!

Oh, and the big news of our house yesterday was......
Benji passed his drivers ed class and his permit test!
He drove me all over the place yesterday.
He really does pretty good. I was very impressed.
This morning he asked me "Whats going on tonight?"
I said "well, not very much, Emily has gymnastics at 5pm"
He says "Can I drive you guys there?" He's just a bit
excited.

Well, we are out of milk and a bunch of other stuff
so off to Cub I go. 78 degrees and sunny today! YAH!!!

Peace.

200 Days!

Smoke free for 200 days and loving it.
Yesterday was the 1st day of the state wide
smoking ban. I am glad I quit. Other wise I
would have been mad about that, but now
who cares. It's just one more reason to add to
the long list of reasons why I quit and will not start again.
N.O.P.E! Not one puff ever! I like that saying.

It's another rainy Tuesday, so maybe Amanda's soccer
will get rained out again and I'll be able to pick Benji up
from his last drivers ed class without leaving Amanda
to play soccer with no parent there.

Yesterday I wrote out and mailed all Amanda's
"kid party" invites. We will be going bowling and
having pizza for lunch at Country Club Lanes
in Excelsior over MEA break.
She is very excited. She really is going to miss
having Olivia there. She keeps telling me it is not going
to be the same with out her there.
I am hoping she will be so excited and busy on the
day that she kinda forgets. I'm sure she wont, but
I'll pray it does not make her sad on her day.

Here is a photo of Amanda & Olivia in Mexico
last March when our families vacationed together.
We had so much fun! Can't wait for Paris!
21 days and counting.................................




And here is one Jenny took of
Emily, Amanda & Olivia.

Children of the corn!

Emily and Amanda still talk about this day.
Thanks for the hike Jen!



Gotta go get something done in this messy
room we call an office. Can't even see the desk.

Peace.

Where in the world?

I thought this was kind neat.
Try it out for yourself.

Birthday Month!

Lets start out with Gary, his birthday is today Oct. 1st
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GARY!
Oct. 6th ~My mother, Niners
Oct. 9th ~Laurie
Oct. 22nd ~Amanda
Oct. 25th ~Aunt Cindy
Oct. 26th ~Mine

Thats just family, add another 6 friends in and the party never ends.
All the birthday cake kinda gets ya ready for holiday goodies.

On to the Homecoming dance.
He is not talking a whole lot, he is such a boy!
I did get out of him that he had a lot of fun, he did dance,
he was about in the middle as far as his out fit. Some had tuxs
and some had on jeans. He ended up cleaning his black
shoes and just wearing them. So I will be making another trip
to the EP mall to return the shoes HE picked out.

Here he is...

Thats my boy, love him!

Gotta run, tons to do, its Monday!

Peace.