My pleasure . . .

It was my pleasure to send World War II vet and ex-marine, 91-(and a half!)-year-old Jim down his first zip line ever today, setting a new course record for the oldest person to ever zip at Sand Creek  Adventures!  

He said next on his bucket list, "Parachuting!".

While walking the dog on Friday . . .

Micah heard the pitter patter of little feet behind her.

Look what she saw . . . 

 

New Life Family Services Walk/Run for Life

Micah and I volunteered this morning for New Life's Walk/Run for Life in the face painting booth!  What a blast!  She heartily painted and I hardly painted!  Hmmm . . . must have been because she does a better job (or maybe I was just two busy socializing with the social workers, both past and present!). 

Caught by the tail!

Being part-terrier, our lab-wanna-be chased a chipmunk up the downspout today.  Annie was in the process of destroying the plastic portion of the downspout when I decided to offer some assistance.  I took off the plastic and you could hear the little chipmunk try to run up the metal downspout and then slide back down.  It's little tail would peek out and then it would try to run up again and slide right back down.  

Annie was right there and after two missed attempts of nabbing it by the tail, she got it and pulled it out. After she carried it around for a bit in her mouth while I praised her with "Good dog, Annie!", she ate the little rodent! 

Mystery Tour!

We had two groups from St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie come out to Sand Creek on Monday.  They were on a "Mystery Bus" Tour and had no idea where they were headed.  

Our morning group had a blast on the low ropes course.  Little did they know, once they left us they were headed to a water treatment plant!

The afternoon group came to us from a sewage treatment plant and were so glad to get some fresh air!  I just thought, "What a totally fun idea!"  

Makes you wonder . . .

Matt is working with the University of Minnesota - Mankato to determine what classes to take at Normandale this fall, speaking with both the Education Department and the Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Department, as he hopes to transfer to Mankato after two years.  

Due to how our computer is set up, Matt was sending e-mails out with Sam's e-mail address (he can't sent them out under his address).  The rec department caught that the e-mails were from Matt and responded with "Matthew".  The education department started EVERY e-mail (and there were several!) with "Samuel", even though Matt had signed his name every time.

Makes you wonder which department can read . . .  

"O" is for "Outback"

In our quest to eat our way through the alphabet, we celebrated Father's Day at the Outback Steakhouse.  While we had a great time - and good food - our Aussie friends would have died!  There was absolutely nothing Australian about the food - like no timtams on the dessert menu!  But we did sit by a couple of kangaroos!

Totally Terrific Teen Time!

Monday through Thursday of this week I worked for Apple Valley schools teaching 13-, 14-, and 15-year-olds how to be swimming instructors.  We had a group of seventeen just great teenagers and a very fun week!

Then today, I worked out at Sand Creek with the Kerkhoven High School Marching Band sending them off the zip line!  What a riot!  A few were in tears, some needed encouragement, all were excited!  It's just been fun - as every job should be!  And now, I'm going to rest . . . 

Doin' the Dance of Joy!

Mmmmm, hmmmm!  It was Sambo Allan doing the dance of joy today!  Back in March, he had gotten the call for jury duty and was able to get it deferred until June 8.

Today, the news he got was music to his ears (and feet!) - "it's a quiet week for jury duty and this concludes your time of service!"  Woo hoo!  Dance on!

When?!?

We left Lexi's grad party in Blaine later than we expected yesterday afternoon and went directly to Haley's grad party in Lakeville, bypassing Shaun's grad party in Brooklyn Center because I just did not have the energy to do all three.  When we arrived, Haley's brother Trae came out of the garage and gave me a big hug and then Haley did the same thing - only she was brave enough to ask why we were there!  Her party wasn't until today!  Concussion?  Oh, no!  Traumatic brain injury!  It's been six weeks today . . . and I only wish I had a brain!  

From Jen's blog to you . . .

"Give me a heart for my journey, 

and peace as I make my way."

Graduation!

Take a minute and enjoy Matt's graduation!  I managed to snap a photo before he left to catch the bus . . .

And here he is receiving his diploma cover!  (He got the actual diploma on the bus ride home.)  You should have heard the applause when they called Matt's name - the 454th and final student to graduate from Lakeville North in 2015!

RRRRRIIIIIIIPPPP!

Right in the middle of CPR class this morning, my shorts decided to rip from seam to seam across the bum!  Me?  I just continued to teach - albeit moving very carefully now!  When it was all said and done, I tied my sweatshirt around my waist for the journey home - after giving the front desk the laugh of a life-time!

For those of you who are wondering why I didn't tie my sweatshirt on sooner?  We were in the coldest room at the Y and I wanted to be warm more than I wanted to be "proper"!