In Celebration - a walk back through memory lane.

 Once upon a time, back when it was acceptable to have big hair, boom boxes were hoisted upon your shoulders as you walked; email was still new, there was no facebook, no tweeting and you still had a choice of a type writter or a computer to write your college papers...a freshman girl met a freshman boy at a fraternity party and started dating. Freshman year...Sophomore year...Junior year...Senior year...these two young lovers dated all the way through. Sure there were bumps in their relationship...there were some months that they weren't "with eachother", but for most of their 4 years they were an "item".

Graduation came and with it came the uncertainty of what was going to happen. Graduateboy left for a job in New Orleans...Graduategirl left to go back "home" to Minnesota to work in the family business. Daily and nightly phone calls and letters back a forth - any way to stay in communication, to express one's love to the other is what kept these two college grads going while appart. In June of the graduating year, grad-girl went down to New Orleans to visit her love. Little did she know that this visit was more than a visit...

While touring the antebellum plantations of New Orleans, the couple stopped off at Nottoway, the White Castle of Lousiana. Here grad-boy tried to impress his love by asking about the posibility of viewing the different suites in addition to taking a tour. Not wanting to deal with any embarrassing moments, grad-girl stepped up to apologize and was ready to just pay for a ticket for the tour ONLY...but that is when the key to the Bridal Suite was handed over. Shocked and speechless, grad-girl just followed her love and the porter to the room. The room was huge and had a little private pool attached. Once everything was settled, grad-girl took a seat in the parlor of the suite...that is when grad-boy came over, got on one knee, looked grad-girl in the eye, took out the black box and proposed.

Now...skipping ahead 10 months to April 7, 1991....

We were married in Minnesota at 11am with all our family and friends surrounding us. A nice simple ceremony followed by a beautiful brunch before leaving for the airport for our honeymoon.

Over the last 20 years...we have spent in New Orleans - working Exxon/Macy's, exploring the area and enjoying the food and whatever New Orleans had to offer. Later it was onto Minnesota...working Paper Warehouse, enjoying a townhouse in Mpls and later a older house in Edina. In 1996, we entered into Parenthood with the birth of Robert and again in 1999 with Matthew...

Robert was 3.5 years old when Matthew was born

We took advantage of the life we had in Minnesota, which gave us plenty of opportunities for vacations and exploring the US travelling by car.

In the early 2000s, life brought us out west, where we have settled. Together, we find ways to enjoy life - exploring what California has to offer: beaches, snow and wonderful weather in between; we have worked together to deal with job changes; and we continue to watch our two boys grow, change and thrive...

2010-Robert's graduation from middle school/Matthew's graduation from elementary school

Our way of life (school, work, hockey, misc sports) - our priorities, might not match how other families life...but our crazy life seems to work. As long as we work together, talk things out...I know in my heart we can face whatever we are handed.

Here's to the past 20+ years and here's to the next...I love you with all my heart!