Drew's Confirmation

On Saturday, Drew made his Confirmation.

There were close to 300 students in our church that have spent the past 3 years preparing for this very special day.

Starting in 6th grade they are placed in a small group called a Pak, which consists of about 10 boys or girls and a couple of Pak adults that lead the group. This group stays together for the 3 years; worshiping together, praying together and learning together. This makes for a very special and close group.

The church service was so good with great worship and a heartfelt and touching Message.

The Youth Ministries Pastor's message was a great analogy of a relay race with a runner being handed the batan. He compared that to the student taking that baton and now is their turn to run with their faith. I really loved this message and I think the kids could really relate to it.

After the Message, each Pak was called up for a blessing which included a scripture and a prayer. Parents, Godparents and Grandparents came up with their child and laid a hand on them as this blessing was said,

Drew's Pak's Scripture was Psalm 91:1-2

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.

All of the students were givne a baton to remember the day. I thought this was so touching and a perfect keepsake to remember the Message and the very special day.

We were so happy to celebrate with Drew!

And to have some of our family with to celebrate.

Drew and his Grandpa.

Drew and his Grandma.

Brothers

And we were also so happy to have an aunt and some cousins to help celebrate.

We hosted a brunch after the service, which seemed the perfect way to round out the celebration.

Conrgratulations Drew!

We can't wait to see where this next step in your journey of faith and leadership takes you!

flower blessings

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Weekend Lens

walk at Centennial Lake :: amazing dinner at Pizzeria Lola :: breakfast request from Jake ::
photo booth :: Connect 4 game with Drew :: cocktail at Pinstripe's ::
the Iowan pizza and Lady ZaZa pizza

memory lane :: Old Stomping Ground

Recently Drew had to take a soccer refereeing clinic in a city about 40 minutes from our house. The clinic was only 2 hours long so it really didn't make sense to drive all the way back home in between and then back out to pick him up.

So Pete and I decided to grab some dinner after dropping Drew off at his clinic. We have been wanting to try the Gold Nugget for a while now and since it was in the area that is where we headed. Gold Nugget has been around forever but several years ago they totally rebuilt on the same site. I grew up in this area not too far away from this restaurant and it used to be a total hamburger dive.

After dinner we drove over to the house I grew up in. My parents moved from this house about 10 years ago and I don't think I have been back in this neighborhood since then. The house is still in really good shape & seems well kept up... but it is now grey.. not blue. :)

Then we drove back to the Glen Lake area and stopped at Dairy Queen. This is where I worked my very first job starting at the age of 15. When I started there, I made $3.02 an hour-- and I remember being so happy with that! :) I worked summers here for about 5 years.

We went in to get a little treat, and oh my gosh it hasn't changed one bit!!

In 25+ years it still looked the same and it still smelled the same.I remember leaving work and having to go home and change immediately because I would smell like a big Dilly Bar or grease or something. :)

I chatted with the girls behind the counter a bit asking who the owners were now, discussing how the place hasn't changed at all since I worked there forever ago, and that it still smelled the same way. They laughed and said this place is kind of retro (ha!) and commiserated about the smell. :)

Anyway, it was fun popping into my my old workplace. It brought back some great memories of working with friends, being super busy on hot summer nights with the lines going out the door, sitting by the fountain with our treats after closing...and it was a just fun place to work

Weekend Lens

a bonfire :: birthday lunch with my father-in-law at Newt's :: walk around Lake Harriet ::

coffee treat at Patisserie 46 :: refereeing 4 soccer games in the cold rain ::

hosting a sleepover birthday party

Birthday Celebration

Jake turned 17 on Tuesday. It was a school day and so we woke up a little early so that we had time for a special breakfast and time to open presents. His big gift was a new iPhone.

I made his requested breakfast of Eggs Benedict. {I used Pioneer Woman's recipe for the first time and it was so much easier than my old recipe!! Will definitely use this one again!}

Perfection!

Our family tradition is that the birthday boy or girl gets to choose the meals for the day. For dinner Jake didn't want to go out to a restaurant but wanted to stay home and for me to make crab legs.

So that is what I made! :)

Jake thoroughly enjoyed dinner! (OK, we all did!)

Make a wish!

Jake's favorite cake {Jello Poke cake recipe HERE}

All of that great food made for a very full Jakey! :)

The birthday festivities continued and last night Jake had a bunch of friends over for a sleepover. The only picture I took was of all the empty pizza boxes. :)

Happy Birthday Jake!!

Happy Birthday Jake

Happy Birthday

to you,

Happy Birthday

to you,

Happy Birthday

Dear Jakey

Happy Birthday to You!!!

Happy 17th Birthday Jake!! We love you so much!!

school stories

There have been a couple of funny school stories that Jake has shared with me the past few days.

One of his classes at school this year is AP Chemistry which is an extremely tough class. He came home from school and announced to me with great excitement that he received a 100% on a recent test. He was happily explaining that no one gets 100% on these tests. His teacher doesn't let the corrected tests out of the classroom and so he told her; "We can do one of two things; we can get a frame and hang this test up in the classroom or I can buy a fridge for the classroom so we can hang it up on that.." His teacher thought this was pretty funny! :)

The other story was about an AP US History quiz bowl that he was invited to. This class was one that he had taken last year and his teacher from that class invites past students that did really well in the class to come and compete in a quiz bowl with her current students. Jake was excited to be asked and arranged a "study group" at our house one evening for the 'past students' to go over old notes, etc. Jake told the teacher that they were having a study group and she laughed-- since they were not doing it for a grade, points or anything. Just to compete.  :)

Funny boy! And I love how dedicated he is to doing his very best at school (and everything he does!)

Memory Lane::Boys and their Wheels

All of this talk of Pete getting his "new" car has gotten me thinking about how boys have always loved their wheels.

It started for Pete as just a little guy.

{Pete is the little guy on the trike. :) 1970?}

And continued on through his cars in high school onto his lime green Honda in college.

{me and Pete 1987}

Yep, boys have always liked wheels. Those wheels could be on trains

{Pete and Tyler 1992}

or strapped on feet.

{Tyler 1994}

Those wheels could belong to beds.

{Jake, Pete, and Tyler 1997}

{Drew 2001}

Or cute little bikes with training wheels.

{Jake 1998}

Those wheels could be on a Pinewood Derby car

{Jake 2003}

or a treasured Dune Buggy.

{Tyler, Jake and Drew 1999}

Or even a mini John Deere tractor.

{Pete and Drew 2001}

And maybe the best is finally getting a drivers license

{Tyler 2007}

to drive a real set of wheels.

{Jake 2011}

Yes, boys love their wheels. :)