Danae, 2008

                So mom is relaxing a little bit more this year and not taking on all of the work of the usual Christmas letter, thus why you are hearing from me, Danae.  She has been begging me to type up some stuff for this Christmas Blog thing you are now reading… but I don’t really know what to tell you. 

       Well let’s just start from the beginning shall we? Where we left off last year… even though I don’t think I ever even read our “Christmas letter” from last year --- was there one?  I have no clue what my mother told you – that’s a little scary.

So January…

The start of 2008.  Well.  There wasn’t much in January that I know of.  Cara turned 22 on the Jan 21.  This means shortly after you read this she will be turning 23... on January 21st, same day she turned 22 last year! ;)  Uhmm... as far as I'm concerned, that’s all there was in January!

Onto February…

The second month of the year.  Again… not a lot!  So I’ll just throw it out there that in MARCH I got to take a trip to Illinois with my best friend, Kate, for our spring break!  We took the Mega Bus to Chi town and stayed with my Aunt Deedee, Uncle Scott and girls.  We had an absolute blast just hanging out and shopping!  As for April… nothing interesting that I can remember.

Kate & Me at Millenium Park!

Push PAUSE button.  Here’s a disclaimer: I’m just writing whatever I feel like sharing and what I think is the “interesting” stuff and whatever happens to pop into my head.  Mind you, the “interesting” stuff isn’t really all that interesting… it’s just stuff.  So don’t blame me if you get bored, nobody’s making you read!  Push PLAY.

May:   Mom and I headed down to Illinois for a “girl’s weekend” with the “older” girls (moms and cousins) on her side of her family.  Cara came from Cincinnati and met us there.  We stayed at Aunt Amy's house - all of us.  Amy's kids and Uncle Dirk were gone for the weekend - so we all hung out there for the weekend.  Mom’s other 2 sisters; Deedee and Barbara came too -- with their girls, and so did Grandma. We spent the weekend eating way too much, talking, laughing, dancing, and of course, shopping!

 In either April or May … my dad (Kirk) started to build a BARN! Actually, just a giant shed that looks like a barn!  He single handedly did MOST of the work.  But lots of people chipped in along the way!  My friends and I even got to help put up the front wall! For his birthday my mom had a bunch of his friends come over (surprised dad) to help him work on it.  They got mostly finished with it this day other than the roofing which Nate, my mom and I helped him (a little) with.  To finish it off they painted it red with white trim just so everyone really thinks it's a barn! haha

Pics from girls weekend!

In June Nate left us for almost a month to head to Europe with a bunch of friends! I'm sure he will cover this in his "section" of the blog.  I had the joy of going to see Jack Johnson in concert in the month of June! It was a perfect weekend! I went tubing down the Apple River in Wisconsin with some friends the day before and again the day of the concert ---then went to the concert which was in Somerset, Wisconsin at River’s Edge… an outdoor venue and it was absolutely beautiful out!  If you have not heard Jack’s music you should surely check him out!  He’s definitely a family-friendly artist and draws fans of all ages which was very apparent and fun to experience at his concert!

In June I also started a job --- as a "nanny" for 2 families.  The job was mainly for one family who had two girls, Aubrey and Brynna with a regular schedule of Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 7:30-4:30.  Then 1-2 times a week I also had another family (friends of family #1) who had 1 boy, Nick, and his two sisters Holly and Heather.  This was a great summer job - full of fun and was definitely a great experience!  When I wasn't doing the nanny job -- I was working at Enhance Salon as a receptionist.  Then there was a 3rd job:  working at  a consignment shop.  This one I started in May when I first got home from school - and before the other jobs started.   After my first few weeks at the consignment shop, the owner/my boss,  offered me a "management position" -- which would include “more hours and definitely a higher pay.”  Unfortunately I had to turn this down because my loyalties were with the nanny job the salon --- which I enjoyed more than the consignment shop. 

The last weekend in June mom, dad and I headed to Cincinnati for Cara’s college graduation, SHE DID IT! Woot!  My Grandpa (dad’s dad), Aunt Sandy (dad’s sister), Uncle Bob, and my cousin Faith met us in Cincinnati for the celebration!  It was great getting to see them since we don’t together quite as often now that they all live down in St. Louis.  It was very weird seeing my big sister graduate from college and being all grown up and stuff.  Still not sure if I like it.  But huge congrats to her none-the-less!  After graduation, Cara came home with us for a several weeks before her "real" job started the first week of August.

  Top Left: Jack Johnson!
Top right: Me & Nate helping dad roof the barn!
Bottom left: Me & my friends helping put on the front wall!
Bottom right: Tony, Brittany, Aria, Me & Matt after tubing down the Apple River!

              Then came July.   Mom, dad and Cara went to Indiana over 4th of July weekend for a wedding.   I got to spend all day at a friend’s house playing sand volleyball and corn-hole, grilling out, listening to music, and just hanging out with friends before heading off to see the fireworks!  I love fireworks.....its a favorite of mine every year!

                  NEXT:  Our trip “out west”! Hahaha.  My cousin Drew (dad’s sister’s middle son) was  married on July 26 in McCall, Idaho.  We took that opportunity to go on a family road trip!  In a rented minivan (weren’t sure our 96 dodge caravan would make it all the way there …and back in one piece!  Lucky for me, you had to be 21 to drive the rental… so I didn’t have to do any of the driving on this cross country road trip!  We made the trip there in 2 separate chunks (days) with a stop at a hotel in Montana to keep ourselves from going crazy.  For some reason we decided to make the trip home in one straight shot of around 24 hours! AH! Yes, we ARE crazy.

Wedding, Yellowstone......very fun and amazing.   It was a lot of time in the car and TOGETHER.  We all had our moments of mumbling and grumbling  but overall it was a great trip and really taught us what we could stand ---or not stand about each other!  There were way more moments of laughing and joking and having fun than the "other" option.  (Mom doesn't like it much when we don't all get along, but in all honesty, I think I like it even less!)

 Top Left: Cara & Me at her college grad!
Top Right: 80's bowling night w/friends!
Bottom Left: our fam and Zabeks at Drew & Bri's wedding!
Bottom right: Cara, Me and Nate in Yellowstone!

          By the the third weekend of August it was time to head back to school for Nate and I.   A few car loads and a few trips were involved, but we got all of our junk down there and settled in for school to start on Monday August 25.

            School for me first semester was amazing!!! I had quite an easy schedule filled with fun classes that believe it or not, were ALL required either for my major (which is Elementary Education with an Early Childhood (birth-grade 6) emphasis) or a gen ed!


               I've also had the opportunity to attend 4 concerts! Which is one of my favorite things to do!! First was Hanson!  Yes the “MmmBop” brothers from the 90’s… they're still going strong and are so amazingly talented and are actually doing a lot of great charitable things!  My friend, Aria, took me to this concert in Minneapolis!  Second concert:  Shawn McDonald with Phil Wickham opening at Northwestern College in St. Paul.  This was a great concert and if you haven’t heard either of them you really ought to check them both out! They are amazing artists!  I went to this one with Aria, Cam, Cortney and Kristin.  Third concert:  Brandon Heath! This was for the Art.Music.Justice tour which also included Charlie Peacock, Sara Groves, Sandra McCracken, and Derek Webb.  I saw this tour at Kate’s school, Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.  It was a fabulous concert!  Fourth concert:  Jimmy Needham and Barlow Girl at Club 3 Degrees in Minneapolis with my good friend Megan! This was probably the most amazing concert I’ve ever been to!

            I turned 20 on September 19! (since that IS my BIRTHDAY after all!)  It was a wonderful birthday! My friends Kate, Brittany, Aria, Cam, and Steven all came down to Winona to celebrate with me.  Mom and Dad surprised me with a visit -- and brought the "party food" with them!   It was an absolute blast!  haha!

Top Left: Me & Aria @ Hanson!
Top Right: Brit, Kate, Sheila, Katie & Me on my birthday!
Bottom Left: Me & My roomies!
Bottom Right: Girls at the "No Pants Party!"

Oct - Now FAST recap:

Halloween weekend - cities for ValleyScare (haunted amusement park) and Jimmy Needham/Barlow girl concert!

Vet's Weekend - Went to Illinois and went WACKY BOWLING with cousins and siblings!

Thanksgiving - Had a "no pants party" (meaning only dresses or skirts) with a few good girl friends from high-school then went back to Illinois for an AWESOME thanksgiving with my mom's WHOLE SIDE!!!!! soooo so so good!

Dec - Took christmas card pics w/my ROOMIES! Katie, Shadia & Kelsey! And took some relatively easy finals and then came home! Then went to the cities for a weekend of ice-skating then up to St. Ben's to see Megan dance and then go to a 90's dance party!! Now I'm here and....

Top Left: cousins playing cards at thanksgiving
Top right: Me & Megan before the 90's dance party
Bottom Left: Kate & Me at the "No Pants Party"
Bottom Right: Cousins at Wacky Bowling!

Okay,  well I’m bored with this!  I’m sure you are too… If you even read this far-- then go you!   No seriously though, way to go.  This was boring.  I wrote it and I think it’s boring! SO I’M DONE! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!