This is a Blogsy experiment.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Monday, November 2, 2009
Halloween photos please
Hey! America! How about some pictures to cheer up a poor guy chained to his desk for two more weeks? Come on!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Somewhere over the ocean...rainbow...oh I don't know...
Finally I have a breathing moment to put up the pictures and words I have promised!! Things have been crazy since the engagement -- hell they were crazy before. I have meant to get to the blog everyday but something pulls me away (and no it is not Aaron). Honestly, most of the time it is me...I always think I have to write just the right thing, make it snappy, cute, deep or some crap like that...I forget...the three of you just want to hear from me.
So...finally you are hearing from me.
It was SO fantastic to be in NYC and see Katherine, Kristen and the rest of the gang. Rohan I can't express how many times we said that we wished you were there!! You are very missed. You and the whole family!!
So...I am sure you are waiting with batted breath to hear the incredible engagement story...Well it all happed in August...I will try to keep it brief and let the photo's describe the rest. But hell - there is a ton to say...
The month of August started off with a bang -- We bought a car!!!! Yep my first car...
Isn't she cute?! Her name is Stella and I love her!
Then it was my 39th Birthday -- can you believe it! Aaron made it a week to remember. Each day he would greet me with a homemade bound book that included hints of what would happen that night...of course I let my imagination go wild and thought...is this it...is he going to ask me...but it didn't happen then...
The week included...
Monday - movie with picnic in the park
Tuesday - more movie(s)Ice Age Three and Hangover -- great mix
Wednesday - Titanic exhibit / fancy lunch / fun dinner / cirque del sol
Thursday - He made a lovely dinner at home and had me dress to the "9's" for a surprise night on the town - all the upscale sheshe NYC/ LA bars you could go to here in Mpls...which I was surprised are many!
Friday Aaron blindfolded me for 3 hours (come on, it was relaxing) and we drove to a surprise location...my brothers in Duluth! They had the house decorated, wine ready and we had a mini party.
Saturday - Aaron drove to a beautiful lodge in Bayfield (in Northern Wisconsin) where the Apostle Islands are located. He had gotten us a lovely room that looked over the water. We went to an AMAZING meal at this 5 star restaurant called Wild Rice -- it was hidden in the woods.
Sunday we explored the woods and had a lovely drive home to Mpls
The first picture is mom and I at Cirque -- we wanted to fit in :) - I didn't want you to think that was my "night on the town" outfit...
Then the next weekend - we went for a lovely visit to the sailboat -- for Brinnon's maiden voyage. It was great and she had a fantastic time. Little did I know that weekend Aaron had asked my father's permission to ask me to marry him...SO my parents were in the loop the entire time!!! As were my Brother and Sister in Law.
THEN...it was off to NYC for a week long vacation and meeting friends frenzy. It was a blast and I think...but let me not speak for them...that Kristen and Kathy liked Aaron...ladies?
Thank you so much for hanging out -- thanks so much for the beautiful dinner Kathy!!!! We had so much fun hanging out with you, Albert and the kids -- and what an after dinner presentation! Oh - you will be happy to hear I finally sang in front of him! So tell the kids that next time they might be able to get a "Georgous" out of me!
We had a great time the whole time we were there -- here are a few pictures from the week -- the baby with squash on his face is sarah's boy August!
Ok - now I am finally on to the big day...it was on August 29th at 4:30pm. so as I mentioned BOTH my parents were in cahoots with the planning -- you know my Mom loved every minute of it! Anyway. After we got back from NYC on Thursday night we had plans to go to my parents boat on that Saturday. Little did I know what he had in store for me! Friday was a tough day and I was in the worst mood ever...I am surprised after surviving that day with me he still wanted to ask me!
Anyway we headed down on Saturday - all seemed normal to me. We got there and the wind was blowing pretty good so my mother said that Dad just wanted to beach by the point for dinner and we would go out later -- ok -- no clue there. So we got there and my Dad was really specific about where he wanted to beach - he had never been like that before -- I wound up in the water up to my knees helping him find the perfect area - little did I know that Aaron was sweating up on deck. We even ran aground at one point - boy oh boy did that make them nervous. So -- we finally got to the spot and mom said she was going to walk the dog and asked me if I wanted to go. I thought, sure, why not (later I heard she couldn't believe how simple it was).
So we go on a 30 minute walk -- she was acting a little strange but I STILL did not pick anything up. They really kept it under wraps well. So...we come around the bend and start wading into the water and I notice stuff up on the boat... I say...
"What is on the boat?"
Aaron yells back -- "oh nothing, just come up on board"
"...Are those flowers" I say...
"yeah, I just picked some on shore" he says back
I turn and look at shore...confused..."where?"
"Just get on the boat." my father interjects
As I hoist myself up on the boat I look up at Aaron -- There were flowers and candles all over and then he smile huge and pulls a small, white box from around his back.
"Wha, wha, wah..." I begin to babble
he gets on one knee...I think at that time I got down on both.
"Will you marry me."
I babble more, I cry, my mother cry's then says...
"you haven't said YES yet!"
"oh my god...YES, of course, YES"
It is all kind of a blur - but a beautiful one. He could not have choosen a better way to do it.
Before I new it my mother brought out two wine glasses with our names etched on them and a bottle of champagne. She then proceeded to set up a small table with a lace table cloth, my grandmothers CHINA and candles. We had steak, king crab and other delicious treats -- truly a meal to remember! It was all amazing - and lovely. I cry thinking about it. Here are a few pictures from the event -- a little out of order but at least finally shared:
So... that is the low down. We are now in the midsts of figuring out what it is - when it is - where it will be - and all those details. We believe we are heading towards a year from now - here in Mpls (so mark you calendars and get ready to book a flight) but we are still working out the details. Where ever it is --- you better all be there -- I know it might be hard but I would love to have you there.
Oh -- The ring -- Aaron actually got it at a gas station in Wisconsin on July 18th -- the weekend we did our first big road trip together. I actually pointed it out and said..."now thats a ring"...it is temporary...but I love it!
So to close out this extremely LONG entry. I will end it with a poem I wrote for Aaron in response to his asking me to Marry him...no reason why he shouldn't be wooed too:
It started in December.
Oh, a month to remember.
A monologue…
A Yule log…
A little dialogue.
Then came the big day.
A turn,
A glance,
Then…frozen in a trance…
What can I say…
The earth stood still that day.
Then about nineteen days later
It was boom, crash, blang, pitter patter
Our hearts melded, it couldn’t have been better.
Each day that went by I would smile and sigh
The content, the joy…my god am I high??!!
I was down there, you were up here
You were up here, I was down there.
Then came moving day
Off and away
Down the road a brand new way
Together hand and hand - we like it that way.
And then…on one fine day…
On the 29th of August at 4:30 to be exact
You got on your knee, it wasn’t an act.
You have set my heart a glow,
I love you from head to toe,
You are the man of my dreams…this I know,
So I will say YES again, and AGAIN, and NEVER say NO.
You are my husband to be
And I your wife
YES-SIREEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!
I miss all of you. And I just want you to know.....
I am happy. OH, so very happy.
So...finally you are hearing from me.
It was SO fantastic to be in NYC and see Katherine, Kristen and the rest of the gang. Rohan I can't express how many times we said that we wished you were there!! You are very missed. You and the whole family!!
So...I am sure you are waiting with batted breath to hear the incredible engagement story...Well it all happed in August...I will try to keep it brief and let the photo's describe the rest. But hell - there is a ton to say...
The month of August started off with a bang -- We bought a car!!!! Yep my first car...
Isn't she cute?! Her name is Stella and I love her!
Then it was my 39th Birthday -- can you believe it! Aaron made it a week to remember. Each day he would greet me with a homemade bound book that included hints of what would happen that night...of course I let my imagination go wild and thought...is this it...is he going to ask me...but it didn't happen then...
The week included...
Monday - movie with picnic in the park
Tuesday - more movie(s)Ice Age Three and Hangover -- great mix
Wednesday - Titanic exhibit / fancy lunch / fun dinner / cirque del sol
Thursday - He made a lovely dinner at home and had me dress to the "9's" for a surprise night on the town - all the upscale sheshe NYC/ LA bars you could go to here in Mpls...which I was surprised are many!
Friday Aaron blindfolded me for 3 hours (come on, it was relaxing) and we drove to a surprise location...my brothers in Duluth! They had the house decorated, wine ready and we had a mini party.
Saturday - Aaron drove to a beautiful lodge in Bayfield (in Northern Wisconsin) where the Apostle Islands are located. He had gotten us a lovely room that looked over the water. We went to an AMAZING meal at this 5 star restaurant called Wild Rice -- it was hidden in the woods.
Sunday we explored the woods and had a lovely drive home to Mpls
The first picture is mom and I at Cirque -- we wanted to fit in :) - I didn't want you to think that was my "night on the town" outfit...
Then the next weekend - we went for a lovely visit to the sailboat -- for Brinnon's maiden voyage. It was great and she had a fantastic time. Little did I know that weekend Aaron had asked my father's permission to ask me to marry him...SO my parents were in the loop the entire time!!! As were my Brother and Sister in Law.
THEN...it was off to NYC for a week long vacation and meeting friends frenzy. It was a blast and I think...but let me not speak for them...that Kristen and Kathy liked Aaron...ladies?
Thank you so much for hanging out -- thanks so much for the beautiful dinner Kathy!!!! We had so much fun hanging out with you, Albert and the kids -- and what an after dinner presentation! Oh - you will be happy to hear I finally sang in front of him! So tell the kids that next time they might be able to get a "Georgous" out of me!
We had a great time the whole time we were there -- here are a few pictures from the week -- the baby with squash on his face is sarah's boy August!
Ok - now I am finally on to the big day...it was on August 29th at 4:30pm. so as I mentioned BOTH my parents were in cahoots with the planning -- you know my Mom loved every minute of it! Anyway. After we got back from NYC on Thursday night we had plans to go to my parents boat on that Saturday. Little did I know what he had in store for me! Friday was a tough day and I was in the worst mood ever...I am surprised after surviving that day with me he still wanted to ask me!
Anyway we headed down on Saturday - all seemed normal to me. We got there and the wind was blowing pretty good so my mother said that Dad just wanted to beach by the point for dinner and we would go out later -- ok -- no clue there. So we got there and my Dad was really specific about where he wanted to beach - he had never been like that before -- I wound up in the water up to my knees helping him find the perfect area - little did I know that Aaron was sweating up on deck. We even ran aground at one point - boy oh boy did that make them nervous. So -- we finally got to the spot and mom said she was going to walk the dog and asked me if I wanted to go. I thought, sure, why not (later I heard she couldn't believe how simple it was).
So we go on a 30 minute walk -- she was acting a little strange but I STILL did not pick anything up. They really kept it under wraps well. So...we come around the bend and start wading into the water and I notice stuff up on the boat... I say...
"What is on the boat?"
Aaron yells back -- "oh nothing, just come up on board"
"...Are those flowers" I say...
"yeah, I just picked some on shore" he says back
I turn and look at shore...confused..."where?"
"Just get on the boat." my father interjects
As I hoist myself up on the boat I look up at Aaron -- There were flowers and candles all over and then he smile huge and pulls a small, white box from around his back.
"Wha, wha, wah..." I begin to babble
he gets on one knee...I think at that time I got down on both.
"Will you marry me."
I babble more, I cry, my mother cry's then says...
"you haven't said YES yet!"
"oh my god...YES, of course, YES"
It is all kind of a blur - but a beautiful one. He could not have choosen a better way to do it.
Before I new it my mother brought out two wine glasses with our names etched on them and a bottle of champagne. She then proceeded to set up a small table with a lace table cloth, my grandmothers CHINA and candles. We had steak, king crab and other delicious treats -- truly a meal to remember! It was all amazing - and lovely. I cry thinking about it. Here are a few pictures from the event -- a little out of order but at least finally shared:
So... that is the low down. We are now in the midsts of figuring out what it is - when it is - where it will be - and all those details. We believe we are heading towards a year from now - here in Mpls (so mark you calendars and get ready to book a flight) but we are still working out the details. Where ever it is --- you better all be there -- I know it might be hard but I would love to have you there.
Oh -- The ring -- Aaron actually got it at a gas station in Wisconsin on July 18th -- the weekend we did our first big road trip together. I actually pointed it out and said..."now thats a ring"...it is temporary...but I love it!
So to close out this extremely LONG entry. I will end it with a poem I wrote for Aaron in response to his asking me to Marry him...no reason why he shouldn't be wooed too:
It started in December.
Oh, a month to remember.
A monologue…
A Yule log…
A little dialogue.
Then came the big day.
A turn,
A glance,
Then…frozen in a trance…
What can I say…
The earth stood still that day.
Then about nineteen days later
It was boom, crash, blang, pitter patter
Our hearts melded, it couldn’t have been better.
Each day that went by I would smile and sigh
The content, the joy…my god am I high??!!
I was down there, you were up here
You were up here, I was down there.
Then came moving day
Off and away
Down the road a brand new way
Together hand and hand - we like it that way.
And then…on one fine day…
On the 29th of August at 4:30 to be exact
You got on your knee, it wasn’t an act.
You have set my heart a glow,
I love you from head to toe,
You are the man of my dreams…this I know,
So I will say YES again, and AGAIN, and NEVER say NO.
You are my husband to be
And I your wife
YES-SIREEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!
I miss all of you. And I just want you to know.....
I am happy. OH, so very happy.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Musings
La, la, la, tum, tee, tum, tee, dum. Oh, woo, woah, la, la.
Da, da, tee tum tee dum. Raat, ta da ta da.
La la la la tuh tum too tee.
Yip yip trip-it trip-it.
La la.
Da, da, tee tum tee dum. Raat, ta da ta da.
La la la la tuh tum too tee.
Yip yip trip-it trip-it.
La la.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Visitors from New York
Yes, it can be done. People can visit Melbourne from New York! Phil and Di are here with their three girls, Freya, Astrid, and Imogen. And Di is pregnant yet again! And it's going to be another girl! Strewth! We are going through our book of Norse myths looking for another name that matches the previous names. All suggestions welcome.
Getting tired of winter now and would like some warm sunshine - can you guys spare any? I have started at my second school. I am teaching 9th and 10th grade Math and 7th and 11th grade History. Today in 11th grade history we did the Vietnam War. Heavy duty stuff, but the kids handled it pretty well. I am reading a lot of young adult fiction for my English literature elective - novels directed at the 12-16 year old set. Sex, sex, sex, that's all they care about. I get a bit steamed up as I read. Rachel has had to deal with the consequences!
The kids have now learned two Abba songs on the keyboard so Hannah is playing Dancing Queen all the time, Sam is stuck on Mamma Mia. We have also been using our bikes and discovering all the terrific bike trails around Melbourne. Hope all is well with everyone.
Getting tired of winter now and would like some warm sunshine - can you guys spare any? I have started at my second school. I am teaching 9th and 10th grade Math and 7th and 11th grade History. Today in 11th grade history we did the Vietnam War. Heavy duty stuff, but the kids handled it pretty well. I am reading a lot of young adult fiction for my English literature elective - novels directed at the 12-16 year old set. Sex, sex, sex, that's all they care about. I get a bit steamed up as I read. Rachel has had to deal with the consequences!
The kids have now learned two Abba songs on the keyboard so Hannah is playing Dancing Queen all the time, Sam is stuck on Mamma Mia. We have also been using our bikes and discovering all the terrific bike trails around Melbourne. Hope all is well with everyone.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
News from Melbourne
Glad to see all is well in New York and everyone looking as lovely as ever. Wish I could have been there to have a drink with you all. I am in the middle of four weeks vacation from university. The semester finished with a blizzard of assignments and I can't remember much of June except that I was sitting here typing, typing, typing. I was also teaching Grades 7, 10 and 11 math at a nearby high school. I think that went pretty well and by the end I was beginning to feel comfortable in front of a group of teenagers and had begun telling little jokes that none of them understood. I had one of those teacher moments when one of the kids in my class got his highest ever mark for a math test in the subject that I was teaching. He said, "You're a legend, Mr Nicholls!" How sweet! Next semester, I will be teaching math and history at our local high school - the one that Hannah and Sam will go to if we still live in this neighborhood. I just hope I don't have to teach my babysitter - that might be embarrassing.
We didn't get to go to Sydney after all. Rachel too busy at work, so that trip may have to wait until September. We are planning to go to the UK for Christmas to see Rachel's Mom and the rest of the family. I've been running a bit more often but it is difficult to get away at this time of year because it gets dark so early and Rachel doesn't get back from work until so late. Also, this area has hardly any street lamps - I'd be running in pitch black. Australia's a fairly rich country - surely we could invest in some lights! I may have to start getting up at 6 and running in the early morning. Ick.
The kids are busy with swimming and football. Sam has decided that he is going to be a footballer when he grows up. They are both getting rather tall. Sam has lost his first tooth. His accent is now distinctively Australian, but I think Hannah has hung on to her Englishness. They both gave performances at the end of semester keyboard recital. Both played Abba's "Mamma Mia" very well.
I'll be posting six months worth of photos on the other blog soon and I'll post a link to it here. I haven't posted on that site for six months and I think Rachel's Mom will be getting rather cross with me if I don't get something on there soon.
Tom Cruise is in Melbourne at the moment. You would have thought the rest of the world had simply stopped. All we get is Tom Cruise went shopping, Tom Cruise went to the footy, Tom Cruise had dinner in a restaurant. There was some other news about some pop singer having died. Then we got Tom Cruise's reaction. The Australian media is even more awful than it was 20 years ago.
I went to the doctor's the other day for a checkup. We've been in Australia for a year now and the doctor asked how we had settled in. I said we were all fine and described all our activities. Then I explained that it was a bit different here because everyone in Melbourne lives at the back of their house and in their own backyards. Every single social event has to be arranged in advance. There is less opportunity to meet neighbors or socialize when simply running into people who are sitting in their front yard watching kids play or reading or barbecuing, and there is no central focus such as Prospect Park or Central Park like there is in New York. The doctor looked at me for a few seconds and then said, "Australians are just not that friendly. All that mateship business is a myth that we have created. We are just not that friendly." Hmmm. I'm going to have to think about that. Maybe he is right.
We didn't get to go to Sydney after all. Rachel too busy at work, so that trip may have to wait until September. We are planning to go to the UK for Christmas to see Rachel's Mom and the rest of the family. I've been running a bit more often but it is difficult to get away at this time of year because it gets dark so early and Rachel doesn't get back from work until so late. Also, this area has hardly any street lamps - I'd be running in pitch black. Australia's a fairly rich country - surely we could invest in some lights! I may have to start getting up at 6 and running in the early morning. Ick.
The kids are busy with swimming and football. Sam has decided that he is going to be a footballer when he grows up. They are both getting rather tall. Sam has lost his first tooth. His accent is now distinctively Australian, but I think Hannah has hung on to her Englishness. They both gave performances at the end of semester keyboard recital. Both played Abba's "Mamma Mia" very well.
I'll be posting six months worth of photos on the other blog soon and I'll post a link to it here. I haven't posted on that site for six months and I think Rachel's Mom will be getting rather cross with me if I don't get something on there soon.
Tom Cruise is in Melbourne at the moment. You would have thought the rest of the world had simply stopped. All we get is Tom Cruise went shopping, Tom Cruise went to the footy, Tom Cruise had dinner in a restaurant. There was some other news about some pop singer having died. Then we got Tom Cruise's reaction. The Australian media is even more awful than it was 20 years ago.
I went to the doctor's the other day for a checkup. We've been in Australia for a year now and the doctor asked how we had settled in. I said we were all fine and described all our activities. Then I explained that it was a bit different here because everyone in Melbourne lives at the back of their house and in their own backyards. Every single social event has to be arranged in advance. There is less opportunity to meet neighbors or socialize when simply running into people who are sitting in their front yard watching kids play or reading or barbecuing, and there is no central focus such as Prospect Park or Central Park like there is in New York. The doctor looked at me for a few seconds and then said, "Australians are just not that friendly. All that mateship business is a myth that we have created. We are just not that friendly." Hmmm. I'm going to have to think about that. Maybe he is right.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
New York
I know it has been forever since I have written an entry - I am sorry for that. I don't really even have time to write anything now but I wanted to post the pictures i took in NYC so at least Rohan new that everyone was still alive and healthy. We all missed you VERY much Rohan and hope that all is going well in aussie land -- should we call you teach now? Please say HI to the kids.
Kristen and Kathy Aaron and I have bought our tickets to come back out to NYC. We will be there Saturday August 22 to Thursday August 27 -- so set some time aside. I will be in touch so we can make plans.
Sarah Holden's little boy -- August -- he is now just a few weeks over 6 months
Me, Nika (Till and Sara's little girl), and August
Kathy and little Chloe (she is so cute)
Kristen, little Chloe and Mateo sleeping in the corner (Lorenzo was on the other side of the bench asleep too -- we were in the restaurant across from Kirsten's house for hours hanging out).
Kristen's Sister from Toronto, Me, Kristen, Little Chloe and Mateo.
All for now - I PROMISE - I will write more later.
PS I just ran 3 miles tonight for the first time in months! I had to rest my IT band -- still hurts but I am sick of getting more and more out of shape and fat...so...here we go...I least I started. Wish you all were all here to run with...it is just not the same running without you.
Kristen and Kathy Aaron and I have bought our tickets to come back out to NYC. We will be there Saturday August 22 to Thursday August 27 -- so set some time aside. I will be in touch so we can make plans.
Sarah Holden's little boy -- August -- he is now just a few weeks over 6 months
Me, Nika (Till and Sara's little girl), and August
Kathy and little Chloe (she is so cute)
Kristen, little Chloe and Mateo sleeping in the corner (Lorenzo was on the other side of the bench asleep too -- we were in the restaurant across from Kirsten's house for hours hanging out).
Kristen's Sister from Toronto, Me, Kristen, Little Chloe and Mateo.
All for now - I PROMISE - I will write more later.
PS I just ran 3 miles tonight for the first time in months! I had to rest my IT band -- still hurts but I am sick of getting more and more out of shape and fat...so...here we go...I least I started. Wish you all were all here to run with...it is just not the same running without you.
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