What guy wouldn't smile ear-to-ear??

Nothing like some very pretty women to make a guy...big or small...grin from ear-to-ear, is there?  Zachary (Mike & Lisa Krentz Stark) didn't mind at all that he was 'short stuff' in this group shot of him and some of the Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders last w/e.  Not sure if the football or the gals were the best part for him!

At the end of the month........

Wow, how did we arrive at the end of April so quickly?  At least now the temperatures are more like they should be.  And, to celebrate on this last day of April, we have Kristen Korkowski (#23)...(Joe & Sue).  Kristen has great things in store for her with her music...and, maybe some day, we can all say "we knew her when..." 

"Love is in the air....."

It's all about love and marriage today as we have two couples celebrating their wedding anniversary....Tom & Jody (Korkowski) Evenson are at 9 years, while Cory & Jennae (Korkowski) Stadsvold are at 13 years.  Congrats to you all...and it feels like spring is going to be in your favor today as well!

Tom & Jody

Jennae and Cory

Be thankful to God for EVERYTHING.......

Our grandson Isaac is totally in love with bacon...he has had bacon flavored everything, and there isn't a thing about any of them he doesn't like.  The following picture was sent to me this afternoon, and I think it is an activity related to his upcoming First Communion next Sunday; seems to be a 'thank you' note (maybe to God?)  At any rate, at least he has his priorities somewhat in order.....

A very special day....

It was a very special day for Lexi Dupont (Mike & Brenda Magnuson Dupont) last Sunday as she made her First Communion.  There is no denying that she resembles her mama, is there?  You were beautiful, Lexi....and what exactly were you praying for in that picture? Congratulations!

Looking great, Lexi!

Hope those prayers were answered :)

A hot time in the cold town last week....

If you can't change the weather and the conditions, how about embracing it?  Well, that's what Mike and Mary Lee did last week in the middle of a storm when they traveled to the 'happening' city of Forada to take in "Reverend Raven and the Chain Smokin' Altar Boys" blues music.  Mike says "amazing hand tossed pizza at the Forarda Bar & Grill plus a great music line up for a small local venue.  If you like the blues, try to catch a show by 'the Rev' sometime...highly entertaining!"  Thanks for the heads-up...we'll have to check it out....And, by the way, they're not scheduled anywhere in the area for a long time.  The closest is probably Duluth in August 2013.  

How about an anniversary today?

It's been several weeks since we celebrated a wedding anniversary, but we have one today.....Ray and Melissa (Korkowski) Murray are celebrating #11 on this day.  We send best wishes for a warm...and romantic...day for the two of you.  Happy anniversary, Ray and Melissa!

So much talent.....

As the siblings/in-laws all know, there has been talk of some sort of mutiny here in Minnesota what with the storms, snow, ice and constant cold temps.  There have been reports of getting a bus and making arrangements for pick-up of those wishing to escape to Florida...and the Magnuson's home in The Villages.  Obviously, we haven't thought anything about sleeping arrangements down there, but guess we'll have the bus after all.  In homage to these crazy thoughts, Faye penned a little ditty, and if all goes well, she will be winning the 'song of the year' award at the next country music awards show.  So, here you are......

Ole Theresa had a plan

eee eye eee eye oh

In her plan there was a bus

eee eye eee eye oh

But snow here, snow there

everywhere  snow snow

Ole Theresa had a plan

eee eye eee eye oh

In her plan there was a bus

eee eye eee eye oh

and on that bus there was a potty

eee eye eee eye oh

with a tinkle here and a tinkle there

here tinkle there tinkle everywhere tinkle tinkle

snow here snow there everywhere snow snow

Ole Theresa had a plan

eee eye eee eye oh

In her plan there was a bus

eee eye eee eye oh

and on that bus was Sister Cordy

eee eye eee eye oh

With Depends here Depends there

every where Depends Depends

Tinkle here tinkle there every where tinkle tinkle

Potties here potties there every where potties  potties

snow here snow there everywhere snow snow

Ole Theresa had a plan

eee eye eee eye oooohhhhhh

A day of my own.....

It is my day...and my day only...today!  On my schedule is breakfast with friends, as well as lunch with my mom and sister;  maybe a bit of shopping and then a steak dinner at home.   What a way to celebrate one's birthday...so, happy birthday to me....(and dust off that credit card for the day)!

My kindergarten picture....is that a tiny bit of curl in my hair?  What happened to it??

A few more birthdays this week.....

The big rush of birthdays is over for now, but we do have a couple of them this week, and today we have Al O'Donnell (#59) who sits in the place of honor for the day.  Happy birthday, Al....have a wonderful birthday!

Round 365.......

In case you thought perhaps the weatherman didn't know what he was talking about last night and today, you were wrong!  It is now 1 PM and the snow is falling at a good clip with big fluffy flakes....cannot see across the lake.  At this rate, they'll be shoveling one more time!

Don't think it's over...yet.......

It's very safe to say we're all VERY tired of winter.  After all, it is April and we should be done with this! However, I am the bearer of bad news.....look at this picture...and read the sign.  This is not a picture taken from the internet of some hither and yon place where they have snow year-round.  Oh no, this is Linus Korkowski....and this picture was taken right here in Minnesota back in May 1954...specifically May 4, 1954!  So, if you're thinking this is once-in-a-lifetime....it is not...so hang in there.  We could have several more weeks of this without breaking any records whatsoever.........

And, rounding out this particular week.....

And, believe it or not, we have two more birthdays again today....this time it's Joseph Majhess (Joe and Jennifer Korkowski Majhess) who turns 12, and Joe Korkowski (#45) who is somewhat older!  Seems you need the name Joseph to qualify for today as well.   Happy birthday, gentlemen....may you have a great day.

Joseph

Joe

And again.....

Another birthday today....this time, it's Gavin Nicholas (Bill & Megan Korkowski Nicholas) who turns 6.  Happy birthday, Gavin....and LOVE your red hair! :)

Spring....Minnesota style!

Well now, it's already April 19, and we've just had another dumping of snow to ensure that we won't see our lawns until sometime in July!  What would have been considered beautiful back in December is now totally disgusting...and we don't want any more.  Word has it that a bus loaded with disgruntled Minnesota people is ready to depart for Florida at a moment's notice!  And, from the backyard of Dave and Cindy, we have this 'beautiful' winter spring scene....

And another one....

Today the birthday boy is Adam Korkowski (Paul & Sue) who enjoys the last year of single digits as he turns 9. Happy birthday, Adam....and with those new skis, you certainly have had a good year for using them!

Let the birthday week begin...........

We have a bundle of birthdays on the week's horizon, and today we start out with three of them....Abby Oxentenko (Shawn & Amy Korkowski Oxentenko) turns 7; Jim Korkowski is 72, and Zachary Stark (Mike & Lisa Krentz Stark) turns 4.  Happy birthday, gang!

Abby Faye 

Jim in the 'early' years!

Zachary

Portable fish house or a boat?

That is the million dollar question when it comes to the upcoming fishing opener!  Hearing reports of ice still 3 ft. thick and more, it may be time to think 'outside the box' when it comes to making preparations for opening day. Or, you may look like this fella!  Decisions, decisions, decisions........

So you know....

Melanie Hartman, daughter of Linda and Wayne Rotz, funeral will be on Saturday April 20 at Our Lady of Seven Dolors in Millerville.  The wake service is on Friday from 3-7 pm at Our Lady of Seven Dolors.  She fought a long hard battle of a rare appendix cancer.  Please pray for her and her family, which includes children ages 5 and 7.

Donna

An employee of the century.....

There aren't...nor will there be in the future...many people who can say they've worked in the same community and in the same capacity for 50+ years, but last week, the community of Alexandria honored just such a person. Sister Patrice Kiefer, who has been in administration at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital and then subsequently at Douglas County Hospital, has decided that with her 90th birthday coming up, it was time to kick back and relax a bit!  The celebration brought out a good crowd to honor this remarkable woman, who looks a great deal younger than her actual age and has the stamina to go along with that look.  (Even some of the Franciscans from Little Falls drove into town for the party!)  This woman has had a special place in my heart for nearly all of those 50 years as I started as a candystriper in the snack bar at OLM as a teenager, went on to work in the business office during my high school and tech school years, and then settled into medical records for a long time after that.  She saw me thru high school graduation, my wedding, and three babies.  Now that she's got more time, she plans to continue being the die-hard Twins fan she is and to maybe kick those heels off (yes, heels!) in favor of some nice cozy slippers.  Happy retirement...and happy birthday!

Looking serious as the accolades were given

She was quite amused and impressed with the fact that we could take our own picture!

Geography isn't his strong suit.....

To save this child any further embarrassment, no names will be given, BUT, I can tell you he is an 8 year-old grandchild of mine :)  He and his family were playing the game Catch Phrase over the weekend, and his father was giving him clues as to the correct answer.  Dad says "the country that pizza and spaghetti came from"....and the answer this child replied with....."Iowa"!!  Now I'm quite sure that they do have pizza and spaghetti there, but that is not the correct answer......better luck next time.  In the meantime, remember this flag for the next time you are given this question......

April Fool's Day...two weeks late!

Mother Nature has not been nice for a long time now, but over the weekend, she put on a really big show...snow, sleet, rain, ice pellets, and even some thunder here and there!  It's time for April showers and May flowers, neither of which is even on the horizon at this time.  For those of you in the 'warm weather States', these pictures are just for you....see what you're missing???!!  

Norb trying to keep ahead of the snow in Millerville.....

Equipment at Tom's job in Bismarck, ND....

 ....and Tom & Caroline measure "April showers" North Dakota style!

Finally....a birthday again!

It's been another long dry spell without any birthdays or other celebrations, but we're gearing up for a busy week or so, and to kick the week off, we have Haley Korkowski (Nate & Edith) who turns 7.  A happy birthday to you, Haley!

A piece of history.....

Got this photo from Christella last week, and we're working on getting the two women identified, but until then.....that's Grandpa John Lambertz in the left back and Steve Schmidt in the front.  Steve was a brother to Clara (Schmidt) Lambertz, the woman who became Grandpa John's wife.  When I looked at Grandpa John, it made me smile to know where that curly and frizzy hair came from!  Strong gene....it's still showing up in our very youngest generation. :)

It helped to pass the time...and the miles......

Remember when you were a kid and took long road trips, and your parents....in hopes of keeping you occupied during the long drive...would tell you to look for different license plates?   Well, just a couple weeks ago, a gentleman wrote a letter to the editor of the Naples Daily News and told of his quest to 'fill out' his 50 states of license plates.  As I recall, he only had three out of 50 left to find.  So, on our way back home, we decided to play our own little game with license plates to see how many we could find from southeast Florida to central Minnesota.  And, much to our surprise, we spotted 34 out of the 50 states...even spotting one from Alaska!  There really wasn't a clear-cut pattern of those we didn't see...they were pretty much scattered all over the USA.  Not making the checklist on this trip......Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming.  Next time you have a long drive ahead of you, whip out your pen and paper and start checking them off......

It's going to be a girl.......

Received these pictures from the baby shower last weekend for Allen and Ann O'Donnell whose 'Baby Girl O'Donnell' is going to arrive sometime at the end of May.  From the looks of all those pretty packages, it seems to be a sure thing that she'll be looking very good!  We'll be waiting to hear........

Pretty in pink......

Allen, Ann and Grandma-to-be Annette

They look rested....for now!

Out of the mouths of babes......

On Easter Sunday, we attended church services at Jen and Joe's parish, St. Joan of Arc, in Boca Raton Florida. The homily was delivered by a very young deacon, who told of his recent visit to a religion class for children. They were talking about the last days of Jesus' life and his subsequent death on the cross.  He asked the kids if they knew what Jesus' last words were but no one was really sure....until one little guy raised his hand and said...."I'll be back!"  Well, yes, I guess he will, but that sounds more like Arnold Schwarzenegger, doesn't it?? Perhaps this little guy watches too much television........

The town of Ave Maria......

Again this year, we traveled over to Ave Maria Florida, a city created back in 2005 by Tom Monaghan, a man deeply committed to his Catholic faith.  And, who exactly is he?  Well, in 1960, he created something called Dominoes Pizza (and look where that got him!)  Then, from 1983 to 1992, he was the owner of the Detroit Tigers baseball team.  In just over seven years, this city has gone from absolutely flat 'nothing' to a community that has the first Catholic university built in 40 years, a seminary, a golf course, and a smattering of retail businesses. There is a small museum which is extremely interesting and focuses on the different areas of Mr. Monaghan's life...Dominoes Pizza, the Detroit Tigers, and then on his Catholic connections.  Given the recent selection of a new Pope, one of the items displayed held special interest....a chair that was designed by Mr. Monaghan for the visit by Pope John Paul II to Detroit in 1987.  You will notice that the chair has an arm rest on the left since the Pope always used his left arm to rest on...very considerate, don't you think?  If you ever have a chance to visit this charming city, you will be amazed at what can be done with dedication, vision...and of course, a bit of money!

Visiting Ave Maria Florida with Carol & Harvey Tewes from Alexandria (a bit windy that day!)

There is beauty inside the chapel in even the speakers in the loft

An eerie reflection of the crucifix at the altar

The special chair for Pope John Paul II (special cushion on left arm side)

Picture of the framed information re: the Papal chair

Was it only a couple weeks ago??

Warm sun and beaches seem like a distant memory, but grandma Theresa sent me these pictures from a few weeks ago where warmth, sand and fun were plentiful....

The Stark guys....Zach, Mike and Tyler...with their sand creations

Tyler is happy with his creation, BUT......

....here comes the "terminator", Dylan!

Grandpa Derald has his own form of discipline!

The bunnies didn't have a chance.....

Two little girls, Haley and Alyssa Korkowski (Nate & Edith) were up bright and early on Easter morning, ready for a little chocolate before church...and who can blame them when the bunnies look so good?  The Easter egg hunt proved to be successful and fun, and the lure of their Easter finery made church very appealing that morning. Those smiles tell it all!  

Alyssa and Haley with a lot of eggs

Haley enjoying bunny ears at 7:30 AM!!

Alyssa just waiting for that first bite

This did not melt in her mouth but rather her hands!

In their Easter finery and ready for church

She's a winner......

And, that winner is Brittany Korkowski (Mitch and Lezlie) who recently took 1st place in the compulsory event of her division at the Battle of the Blades event held in Alexandria.  You can even watch the action in this video clip that auntie Megan filmed.....https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200304476888990.  Congrats, Brittany!