Laughter and Meeting The Man that Made Us Laugh

Well, this was the "Big Bill Engvall" weekend. Mark & I had gotten tickets for us and Jennifer & Josh to go see Bill at Grand Casino in Mille Lacs back in July. We were so excited, you see, we had FRONT ROW tickets, just slightly to the right of center stage. We had gotten our tickets nearly 2 months earlier and had also reserved two rooms. We all got up to the hotel around 4:00 pm, checked in and took the kids to the arcade and then went to eat at the prime rib buffet. It was good! After that, we took the kids to the pool.

At the pool, Jennifer and I nearly had a heart attack. All of a sudden, we didn't see Braiden. Jennifer started to walk around one side of the pool, and I the other. Then she asked Emma where he was and Emma said he went to the hot tub. Sure enough, there he was talking to some old guy. Well, the kids played in the pool for a little more and then we headed up to the room to get them ready for bed and the adults had a couple of drinks and got ready for the 9:00 show.

Well, let me tell you, the concert was so great! We laughed so hard. It's so great to laugh at someone telling jokes without using any profanity, just making fun of all the ordinary things that can happen to all of us. Of course Bill did some of his famous, "Here's your sign" jokes and before your knew it, and hour and a half had passed and it was all over. We went back upstairs to check on the kids, and have a drink before going back to the casino to play for a bit. As Jennifer & I walked into the casino, we walked right past Bill Engvall. Yep, we walked right past him, never said anything to him, just giggled like school girls. Jennifer really kicked herself that night and the next morning for not saying anything to Bill.

Well, Sunday we took the kids back to the arcade. Jennifer and Josh had gone to get a coffee, Shantel and her friend Katie were up in the room getting ready and Mark had headed to the bathroom. All of a sudden the fire alarm went off. I looked at the attendant in the arcade, she wasn't doing anything. No one was. I took the kids and starting walking towards the door and met their parents. Then Mark came up and I asked him if he had heard anything from Shantel, and just then my phone rang. They had come down and were just outside the arcade, so we all went out there to avoid the annoying fire alarm.

Well, we were standing there, when we look over and lo' and behold, there is Mark talking to Bill Engvall. So we all went over and got a few pictures taken. Jennifer was sure glad! Here are the pics of us with the funny man himself, Bill Engvall.

Here's one of Josh and one of Jennifer with Bill. She was a bit giggly.

Here's one of Mark and myself with Bill and one of Shantel with him. She had her eyes closed, but there weren't any retakes as the all clear was sounded and Bill headed back to his room. It was really nice of him to allow people to take pictures. So, the girls went up to finish getting ready, Mark checked us out of the hotel and we headed back for Sunday Brunch Buffet. Little need to eat anything else for rest of the day. Well, it was a great weekend, beautiful weather, fun times, laughter and a photo op we never expected.

If it's fall, It must be...........

Time for those fall tractor and threshing shows! Yes that's right. For the past two weekends, Mark has been at tractor shows. Over the weekend of the 8th, we went up to Dalton, Minnesota. It was an interesting weekend. Friday was a nice day, and then on Saturday it RAINED! We had purchased a portable DVD player on Friday, so on Saturday we sat in the Trailblazer watching a movie between customers. It did clear up for awhile during the BIG TRACTOR PARADE. Yes I said tractor parade. I am totally amazed by those tractor parades. It amazes me that a hundred years ago, before anyone had engineering degrees, that someone could create massive machines that ran on steam, were relatively quiet, and are still working today. Here are a few pictures of some of those tractors.

A couple of the big tractors. They are so amazing!

The John Deere really interested me. I had never seen a tractor with the wheels covered like that. This is a tractor that is used in the orchards. The wheels are covered so they won't damage any of the fruit. The Farmall is like the one my daddy had on the farm. I drove it in the fields during haying season. I pulled the wagon while my brother, Tom and his friend Larry loaded the hay bales. I rememeber my brother yelling at me, seems I didn't get close enough to the hay bales. I also remember popping the clutch and killing the engine. I didn't really like driving the tractor, I didn't think it was a very 'girly' thing to do at the time.

This past weekend, Mark was at the show in Albany, It was HUGE! So many people, and a big flea market. Mark did well both weekends. I think he drummed up a LOT of new business. That will keep him and Shaun busy for awhile! On Sunday, Josh and Jennifer came to Albany with Braiden and Emma. I have postings from last year when Mark & I had the kids for the weekend and brought them to the Albany Threshing Show. They really enjoyed it, so they came back again this year. They like watching the big tractors drive by.

A great way to spend a fall day, watching all the tractors go by!

Live Each Moment

Life can be short. We never know what is waiting for us around the next corner or over the next hill. Life should be lived to the fullest and along with that, we should always take time to appreciate those around us. Family and friends are two of the most valueable gifts we are given by God. As you all know, Minneapolis experienced a major tragedy a month ago with the collapse of the 35W bridge over the Mississippi. On Sunday, Mark and I drove down to the U of M, parked and walked over to the recently reopened 10th street bridge.

We stood and looked at massive concrete slabs, concrete pillars, and large steel frames that had been left in a heap of junk. The steel looked like those cheap clothes hangers you get from the drycleaner that can be twisted with ease by a 5 year old. One of the concrete pillars had been moved by the impact and the steel beams had dug a groove into the pillar. They had begun to remove some of the concrete, but you could still see evidence of where the cars had been by the bright pink spray paint. On the pieces remaining, you could still see the construction barrels that had closed off lanes and the sheets of plastic that covered the work the workers had been working on that day. You could even see the port-a-potty that sat between the two sections that was there for the workers. The pictures on the news do not compare with what you see when you stand before it. I am still amazed and thankful that the death count wasn't higher. It was eerie seeing the signs laying in the rubble and the twisted steel still in the river.

So, I want to share these pictures with you and ask you to never take a moment for granted. To remember to tell you spouse, children, parents, sibling, friends, coworkers or whoever how important they are to you, and that you love them everyday. That they all bring something special into your life and that you appreciate them all. Remember to take a little time to enjoy a sunset, or the pitter patter of rain, to take in the quiet moments when you can and to cherish the noise also. I ask you to remember that everything happens for a purpose.

If you happen to be reading this, that means you are special to me, either a friend or family. I want to let you know that you are important to me. My life is better because I have you in it.

Please remember those involved in this tragedy in your prayers.

At the Park with Nana

One nice evening in August, I took Braiden and Emma to the park. It was a beautiful evening.

Here are a couple more shots of the kids at the park. Afterwards we headed to the Dairy Queen.

Shantel & Sports

Well, it's now fall and that means volleyball time for Shantel. She was also busy this summer as she was on 2 softball leagues. One was in St. Cloud where the girls played twice a week. They really enjoyed that league and took second place. They really played well and it was fun watching the games. After the final game, some of us went to Applebee's to celebrate the season. Here's a picture of Shantel with a couple of her friends, Hannah & Kiara.