The 1-year anniversary looms ahead...

Joel and I will be celebrating our 1-year anniversary in just 5 days. I actually plan to start the celebration on Sunday (we got married on a Sunday). We've tossed around some ideas about how to celebrate. We thought about going out of town for a few days, to Red Wing, and staying at the bed and breakfast we went to last year. Next week is the one week all summer they're closed. Then I decided we'd start the celebration off on Sunday with brunch at Forepaugh's where we held our ceremony and reception. They're closed for renovations.

All right, all right, I will not be dismayed. Thus far, we are now planning Sunday brunch at Loring Pasta Bar (where we dined the evening of our wedding). And on Tuesday, we will be attending a Twins game. That seems right, since the Twins and baseball have been pivotal in our life as a couple.

I suppose at some point I'll be reflective about reaching this 1-year mark. In short, I don't think married life has been hard. In fact, I think it's been very, very good. I enjoy being married. That doesn't mean it's always easy, but it's the life I have wanted for a very long time.

I just had to find the right man for the job. That was the hard part.

This part is like the icing on the cake.

Pictures at last!

Joel, myself, Ana, and my mom at Ana's award ceremony. Way to go Ana!

Again, me and Ana following the ceremony. She really didn't want her picture taken that day. Could she have guessed the pics would wind up here?

Stacy paid me a visit during the Art Crawl.

Just outside my studio. To see more pics from the Art crawl, check out my art blog here.

The happy graduate, Hannah, with her mom, Julie.

Me and Julie at Southside's open house.

Mel with Jack (Brad's dog)

Brad's beautiful baby, Hazel, born 4-18-08.

I'm taking a little time this long weekend to catch up on the work of uploading photos and as promised, posting some here. I've selected a few photos from recent events--the Art crawl, Ana's award ceremony at work, Julie's visit and pics from a visit to meet my boss's new baby Hazel. Now I have to get working on getting the pics on Kodak gallery!

A brief update

I know...I have been negligent in posting and I'm not promising much tonight. My best friend, Julie, is arriving from out of town in a few days and I doubt I will get much written (if anything) during her visit. But here's what's been happening in a nutshell:

• Ana was selected to receive a BIG award at her work earlier this month. She is a sales associate at MOA's Bloomingdales and received their "Golden B" award. Only 4 staff are selected twice a year. The fun part was that her supervisor called me so I could surprise her by being at the award ceremony. Ana did not know she was receiving the award, but the little stinker spotted our car in the parking lot--and so had an inkling she had been selected. We still managed to surprise her a little by having her grandmother there. It was a "proud mother" moment. (Pictures to follow)
• Cyrus is recovering from strep throat. Fortunately, he did not pass it along to family or (even more surprisinly) to his girlfriend.
• I celebrated Mother's Day by going out to brunch with Cy and then to the Twins' game with Ana. The Twins won! (If you haven't been paying attention, the Twins are in first place in the Central Division...read more at my baseball blog)
• Joel and I are just 3 weeks away from our 1-year anniversary. Wasn't it just a year ago that I started writing here? Wow, it's been quite a year. I guess it will be time for some reflection in the coming weeks.