cousins

Olsons, Langans, and Desrochers

June 21, 2014

state 2014

TRF headed to Mpls once again to compete at the state tennis tournament.  Eleven years in a row...awesome!

The state tournament is super fun and there is something special about each year.  This year Isaac competed in the NUMBER ONE DOUBLES category and SAM COACHED!  so cool.  

I love this tournament.  I'm not a tournament-girl and tournaments have actually been a source of stress for me over the years.  I love the competition (love it) so it's not that.  It's the atmosphere...long story.  I'm sure that has been disappointing for my kids over the years...or maybe not! :)  At this point in our lives it probably comes as no surprise to them...they know me pretty well!

Isaac and Devin beat Foley the first day.

These two have played together for years and they are so fun to watch.

They don't take things too seriously but are very serious about playing hard.

The next day they lost to Rochester but it was a great match.

It was fun to see Sam interact with the other coaches, players, and of course the fans!  I got a couple of hugs:)

He is just so darn cute.

The boys get along really well and enjoy being together.

On the last day, we lost to Breck.  We got to see a lot of great players and our boys competed strongly.

My dad and Jo drove down from Babbitt and joined us for the tournament.  This might be the 3rd or 4th year they have joined us...something like that.  He is a funny guy and fun to have around.

Brooke rode down with us.  It was fun to have her with us!

The team was listening to introduction of players and the rules.  cute legs and shoes.

Devin and Isaac :)

As assistant Coach, Sam was asked to announce the players names during the closing ceremony.  The boys stepped forward and received their 4th place medals!

Ben came too!  Wouldn't have been the same without him.

It's 4:14 pm on Wednesday afternoon and the team portion of the tournament comes to an end.

Sam and Brooke :)

and the coaches

and the brothers

The boys make it home Friday evening.  They are escorted into town by the Fire Dept and Police Dept. Adoring fans follow behind honking and waving.  It's really fun:)

A reception is waiting for the boys at LHS including Super One's version of "tennis ball" cookies...haha:)

Alumni!! Yay!

Good to have the boys home!

And I guess tradition is a final game of "wall ball" (invented by the TRF tennis team) before the boys hop into vehicles and head to their homes.  I'm waiting for Isaac and snapped a picture of him as he huddles with his friends.  After spending a week together, night and day, they still hang together as long as they can.

2014 Prowler Tennis team ---  4th place at State --- "best public school in the state"

21

 My beautiful boy turned 21 almost 2 weeks ago!

This baby has blessed so many lives.   So loved...

Ben always made the most of his days... days filled with endless play!  

and each year we celebrate this sweet boy.

and he grows...what fun it has been!

this boy is a part of me... in little ways and big ways.  In and out of my thoughts he is there.  Part of my heart and loved so deeply.

 my boy...

 and so we gather...and celebrate...and love each other.

Ben is part of the world now.  He was tiny and was all mine. His world was small... me, our family, and our small home.  and I close my eyes and cherish those memories.  Memories are like my breath.  They are a part of me and they are as real as the objects in front of me...and they are magic.  I feel such pride in the man he has become ... our loved and adored baby boy.

hunting 2013

The guys spent the weekends up at the hunting shack but also hunted on Dennis and Grandma's farm.  This is part of the hunting crew... Jerry wasn't with the group on this day and Dennis made it in a picture a little later. :)

Grandma served pancakes and sausage during their traditional morning "break".  

. . . and there is always homemade raspberry jam!

I hung around and snapped some really cute photos.  There is just something about a "gang of little boys" (to quote Sam)!

This is adorable!  Sam and Dominic exploring and peeking.  love it.

and now we have almost everybody!  I love the orange and the boots:)

Another hunting season ends.  No deer this time but memories for a lifetime!

treasure

Isaac and I were cleaning out his room over Labor Day Weekend.  I love Labor Day weekend.  We almost NEVER go anywhere and it's heaven.  After a full summer of activities, hanging out at home is perfect.  And historically, it was the weekend we prepared for back-to-school.  Well, that little ritual ended when the boys were in about 4th grade.  After that, there was no joy in preparing so we just waited it out -- no back to school shopping, no cleaning out backpacks . . .  nothing.  We just braced ourselves for the first day and jumped in.

Anyway, our cleaning had an easiness and purpose.  Sam was moving into Ben's old bedroom and Isaac would have his own room.  Motivation was high. :)  Isaac is deliberate and thorough.  And so I love to clean and organize with Isaac.

As we cleaned and sorted, we would often linger over mementos and keepsakes. . . the $2 bill tucked in a drawer from grandpa Marv, Pokemon cards, pictures from kindergarten, medals from basketball tournaments, and on and on.  Any DVDs, PS games, or CDs were surely opened and checked for contents.  They were often empty and so the search would begin for the missing disk.

Isaac picked up a CD case and opened it.  "Mom", he said.  I stopped what I was doing after the first request. . . we weren't in a hurry.  "Look", he said.  Inside the case, on the back of the cover was this amazing image.  "Isn't that cool", he said.  It was wonderful!  And my boy knew how much I'd appreciate such a beautiful image and magical words.

"I love it", I said.

"I know", he said.

Aaron and Emily

We celebrated the marriage of Aaron and Emily last Saturday in Northfield.  

Captured this pretty picture of Lissy.

Sweet little Henley fell asleep on Grandpa Anderson's shoulder.  

 So so cute . . .

 Grandpa and Grandma Anderson . . .

 Dad, Jo, Jason, Erica, and their families . . .

 I love to take pictures of interesting objects . . . this is the grill of the "party bus" that picked up the wedding party from the church:)

 Grandpa Jeff and his precious boy, Henley . . . I'm going to edit this photo when I have time.  It's adorable!

Jeff and Kim leaving the church.  Everyone headed from the church to the reception at the Grand.  

 Another picture of Henley on Grandpa's shoulder, visiting with Steve in the parking lot.

 I love this photo . . . I think it might have to be framed and hung in their living room:)

 The reception and dance were held at an old theatre in Northfield.  It was such a cool building with so much character.  The atmosphere was amazing . . .

 I love the old front door.

 This was painted on the wall as we walked in.

I love the way people are reflected in the glass.  I just noticed my reflection:)

I could have snapped pictures of the beautiful building all night long.

 . . . just like the way this photographed.

Lissy and Zach at the head table . . .

It was fun to visit with family.  And it was fun to just watch family enjoying each other:)

Lissy looked beautiful and I took a ton of pictures of her:)  I'm only posting a few!  She is visiting with her sisters-in-law.

Happened to catch this sweet photo of Emily sharing her wedding ring.

We shared a table with Schultes and McCulloughs.

It was wonderful to see family that we don't get to see often.  Sarah's husband, Julio, and their son, Jacob, were up in the balcony and I managed to capture this cute photo.

Kim's mom and her aunt . . .

Adam and Madison . . . cute photo:)

Zach's brother, Josh, talking with his fiance. . . 

The bride's bouquet . . .

adorable . .

bridesmaid's bouquet . . .

 Cousins killing time with cousins between the meal and the dance :)

. . . gorgeous ceiling tile

Ben visited with Julio . . .

Jeff and Bill . . .

Isaac, Seth, Sam, and William got to sit together during the reception.

 Aaron and Emily cutting the cake.

funny picture . . . he was enjoying his cheetos before the meal!  

Sam and William . . .

orange . . .

Jeff and Sarah . . .

more orange . . .

Maggie and Lissy . . .

Gloria and Sarah . . .

Love this!  Whenever glasses clinked and the bride and groom kissed, they drew a couple's name out of the "hat" and that couple had to stand and kiss!  This is the reaction when Jeff and Kim's names were drawn!

 head table . . .

My dinner plate . . . what    in    the   world?!  I had a HUGE serving of prime rib and amazing potatoes.  What a generous meal!

 cute photo of Aaron and his friends . . .

Grandma Sherry and Dennis . . .

Bill and William . . .

It was a wonderful day!

 A bottle of wine was given to the guests that stayed at the hotel.