Faustina describing her morning to me:
"I woke up and saw you reading a book to the twins, and I was very happy to see them. And I wanted to go to Starbucks to get a coffee, but I don't have a license yet, I'm too big. And then, I was thinking, "I should go and pick up Kim and say hi to her! But, I can't, because I don't own a car." So, I'll just be happy here today."
Note: We don't go to Starbucks, although, I wish we could!
She sounds like a teenager, except that she has mixes up 'big' and 'little'. Minor details.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Women's World Cup 2011 Germany Abby Wambach Extra Time Goal USA vs Brazil
This is awesome. Check out the replays - unbelievable. We went on to win in a shoot out. Go USA!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Arboretum
This place is my absolute favorite place in MN besides my own home. I could spend days here by myself. It is so beautiful and peaceful. I can take or leave the zoo, nice parks, etc, yes they are fun, but I truly love the arboretum. I don't go here nearly enough. The fact that we had our wedding reception here is a cherry on top.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
4th in pics
We got up early and headed out west to the Minnetonka area with donuts in hand.
We spent the day with good family friends. They knew of July 4th festivities near Minnetonka - such a beautiful area. Faustina rode her bike and Jude was in his stroller for the parade march. Kim and I gawked at the amazing houses on the along the lake.
The kids enjoyed the popsicles they handed out.
While Faustina was with Michelle and Belle going around to the dozen different booths of games, we needed to relax in the shade because we were melting from the heat.
Jude was spinning around and running around so much he kept falling over. We dowsed him to cool him off a bit.
We headed over to Lake Minnetonka for lunch and the beach.
Jude loves the water, and his Dad.
Auntie Kim and Faustina worked on their sand castles.
And the playground was a hit.
Mike and Philippe got their work out on the kayak.
We headed home to rest for an hour or 2 and then headed over to West St. Paul for dinner and to see the fireworks downtown. Needless to say, everyone was very ready for bed when the day ended at almost 11:30pm!
We spent the day with good family friends. They knew of July 4th festivities near Minnetonka - such a beautiful area. Faustina rode her bike and Jude was in his stroller for the parade march. Kim and I gawked at the amazing houses on the along the lake.
The kids enjoyed the popsicles they handed out.
While Faustina was with Michelle and Belle going around to the dozen different booths of games, we needed to relax in the shade because we were melting from the heat.
Jude was spinning around and running around so much he kept falling over. We dowsed him to cool him off a bit.
We headed over to Lake Minnetonka for lunch and the beach.
Jude loves the water, and his Dad.
Auntie Kim and Faustina worked on their sand castles.
And the playground was a hit.
Mike and Philippe got their work out on the kayak.
We headed home to rest for an hour or 2 and then headed over to West St. Paul for dinner and to see the fireworks downtown. Needless to say, everyone was very ready for bed when the day ended at almost 11:30pm!
Monday, July 4, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
On Beauty
"Life is not just a succession of events or experiences: it is a search for the true, the good and the beautiful. It is to this end that we make our choices; it is for this that we exercise our freedom; it is in this – in truth, in goodness, and in beauty – that we find happiness and joy. We must not allow ourselves to be deceived by those who see us merely as consumers in a market of undifferentiated possibilities, where choice itself becomes the good, novelty usurps beauty, and subjective experience displaces truth."
~ Pope Benedict XVI (New Technologies, New Relationships.)
I love this quote by Benedict. It is true, life is about truth, beauty, goodness. It is nice to keep it simple. This particular phrase 'Verum, Pulchrum, Bonum' (truth, beauty, goodness) is especially ingrained in my mind since it was the slogan for my highschool. As a person studies God's glory, these three virtues take on many sides and dimensions, there is so much to learn.
A week ago Mike and I had fancy sit-down dinner with about 10 adults who all read the book "The Godless Delusion" which is about atheism. One topic that surfaced was Beauty; people talked about how our culture has lost a true sense of what is Beautiful. Much of this stems from the fact that our culture is in a post-Christian era. Everything that is beautiful originates in God - he created Beauty. So, of course, with the absence of God comes the absence of Beauty. Beauty, of course, can apply to artwork, people, creation, ideas, books - beauty can be found in every aspect of our lives. It is something, I would argue, that we as human beings are created to crave. We want it, we look for it, we revel in beauty when we do find it. The wonderful thing is, is that everything beautiful is an imitation of our God and beauty always points us back to him.
Soon after our discussion I had a dream (I have so many many dreams while I'm pregnant!!) that I was back in my seventh grade art class painting. I secretly always desired to be a good artist - I distinctly remember wanting to have the talents my classmates had as they produced gorgeous imitations of artwork in watercolor, pastels, and colored pencils. I was inspired that night to take out some paints and sketch an imitation of one of Mary Cassatt's paintings. I have always loved her artwork - often her subject matter is mother and children. When I was in highschool our family took a trip to the Chicago Art Institute and there was a special Mary Cassatt exhibit that drew me in. What I produced in an hour is certainly nothing to display, but it is fun to think of making an attempt to imitate something that is beautiful and meaningful. Since good artwork intrinsically directs a person back to God, it is a privilege to even try to imitate such beautiful art. For me, people and faces are especially hard to paint maybe because individuals are complicated beings! :)
~ Pope Benedict XVI (New Technologies, New Relationships.)
I love this quote by Benedict. It is true, life is about truth, beauty, goodness. It is nice to keep it simple. This particular phrase 'Verum, Pulchrum, Bonum' (truth, beauty, goodness) is especially ingrained in my mind since it was the slogan for my highschool. As a person studies God's glory, these three virtues take on many sides and dimensions, there is so much to learn.
A week ago Mike and I had fancy sit-down dinner with about 10 adults who all read the book "The Godless Delusion" which is about atheism. One topic that surfaced was Beauty; people talked about how our culture has lost a true sense of what is Beautiful. Much of this stems from the fact that our culture is in a post-Christian era. Everything that is beautiful originates in God - he created Beauty. So, of course, with the absence of God comes the absence of Beauty. Beauty, of course, can apply to artwork, people, creation, ideas, books - beauty can be found in every aspect of our lives. It is something, I would argue, that we as human beings are created to crave. We want it, we look for it, we revel in beauty when we do find it. The wonderful thing is, is that everything beautiful is an imitation of our God and beauty always points us back to him.
Soon after our discussion I had a dream (I have so many many dreams while I'm pregnant!!) that I was back in my seventh grade art class painting. I secretly always desired to be a good artist - I distinctly remember wanting to have the talents my classmates had as they produced gorgeous imitations of artwork in watercolor, pastels, and colored pencils. I was inspired that night to take out some paints and sketch an imitation of one of Mary Cassatt's paintings. I have always loved her artwork - often her subject matter is mother and children. When I was in highschool our family took a trip to the Chicago Art Institute and there was a special Mary Cassatt exhibit that drew me in. What I produced in an hour is certainly nothing to display, but it is fun to think of making an attempt to imitate something that is beautiful and meaningful. Since good artwork intrinsically directs a person back to God, it is a privilege to even try to imitate such beautiful art. For me, people and faces are especially hard to paint maybe because individuals are complicated beings! :)
Friday, July 1, 2011
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