Wet Winter Blues

Don't let go Jon!

On a rare dry January day when the sun peeks out and teases me with the threat of winters close, I reflect on what the 1st day on the lake will be like. While rummaging through some old photos this one will remind you that rain is not the only thing in Oregon that can get you wet. (innuendo not intended)
P.S. O'Brien is Irish for "Oh SHIT!"

Slip Sliding Away

Below is another example of why I won't be moving back to MN, it appears the only entertainment at this college campus is taking video of students walking across a slippery sidewalk and eating it.

What's with that laughing girl at the end, it's not THAT funny!

Snow Play 2007

My 3 plus dog and I went to Tombstone pass summet where we go to play in the snow.
Enjoy my photo web-album

Snow Play 2007

Uncle Ben

Congratulations to my brother Jon and his wife Jennifer on their new baby girl Paige Roche who was born today in St. Cloud, MN. This my first niece (biologically speaking anyway)





Paige was born at St. Cloud Hospital, and I learned not only do they have an online nursery, they have an online gift shop! I didn't order them anything because I knew all the blog readers out there would be sending the "It's A Girl" bouquet and how many do you really need, honestly?

My Maw & Paw

My Mom gone and ran off to get marreid this weekend, rather than spending Christmas with family. Really we are happy for the Newlyweds, and my new Stepdad Larry.

In Memory of Diana

My stepsister Diana passed away far two young leaving behind a mourning family. Although I moved far away without really knowing her, my prayers are with My stepmother and my family back home. If your prayers could also go out to my stepmom Dolly and her family left behind I know it will make a difference. Feel free to leave you words of encouragement to my family back in Minnesota if you have the urge.

Published on November 30, 2006
DIANA LYNN HOLLY, 41

DIANA LYNN HOLLY, 41
FOLEY
NOV. 23, 1965 - NOV. 29, 2006
Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, December 2, 2006 at Living Waters Lutheran Church in Sauk Rapids for Diana L. Holly, age 41, of Foley, who died Wednesday at the St. Cloud Hospital. Rev. Larry Strenge will officiate and burial will be at Benton Cemetery in Sauk Rapids. Friends may call from 4-9 p.m. Friday at Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Sauk Rapids and one hour prior to the services Saturday at the church.
Diana was born Nov. 23, 1965 in St. Cloud to Roger & Yvonne (Juel) Reinert. She married Richard Holly on Sept. 19, 2003 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Foley. Diana graduated from Sauk Rapids High School in 1984. She started her career as a correction officer at the Benton County Jail and eventually worked at St. Cloud Correctional Facility until leaving in 2004 due to health issues. Diana loved gardening especially her flowers, camping, fishing, spending time with her children, and her dogs Ottis and Duchess.
Survivors include her husband, Richard of Foley; children, Ryan Melby of St. Cloud, Ashley and Travis Melby; step children, Ashley and Dylan Holly all at home; mother, Yvonne "Dolly" (Maurice) Roche of St. Cloud; father, Roger (Nancy) Reinert of Sartell; brothers, Delroy (Kathy) Reinert of Sauk Rapids, Roger Jr. (Amy) Reinert of Rice, and Zack Reinert of Sartell; and grandmother, Joyce Juel of Sauk Rapids.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ray & Irene Reinert and Laverne Juel; and nephew, Devon Reinert.
Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.

Teenagers! Give me a break!

Every generation must endure the trials and tribulation of raising kids. What makes me curious, is what were the privilages our parent's-parent's denied when they misbehaved? Were kids just all beaten into submission?

Today teenagers seem to assume a bill of rights far beyond what I learned was in our constitution.

Here is my understanding of the current rights provided to the average teenager these days:

• Parents should make no law establishing chores
  
• A well connected group of friends must communicate, therefore the right to bear cellphones must be protected.
  
• No teenager, in a time of summer vacation, should be expected to clean thier room
• Parents should make no attempt to violate a teenagers right to privacy, including notes, emails, instant messaging, internet histories, and cell phone conversations.
• No teen should be expected to answer to any actions without probable argument, denial, defiance, yelling, kicking, screaming, and slamming of doors.
• In all prosecutions, teenagers reserve the right to second opinions from the opposing parent, step parent, grand parent, or anyone with a supporting view.
• Any penalty should never exceed one week of allowance, one day of cellphone OR MySpace privilages. Groundings must never include restriction from school activites included but not limited to dances, football games, parties, birthday celebrations, or the mall.
• No teen should be denied the free exersize of personal expression, including hoochie outfits, piercings, tatoos, or other body modifications.
• Parents must provide equal opportunity to socialize with all other teenagers without discrimination based on social status, body modifications, criminal records, personal hygene, appearance, or addictive or hazardous activities.
• Curfews, when imposed, must never be earlier than the latest curfew of the other teenagers currently participating in the evenings activites, or the ability to "spend the night" must be allowed in case of conflict.

Fortunately, my house is a dictatorship, not a democracy.

Cyber Parenting

Although my family thinks I'm nuts, I have a vision, and I wan't your opinion. Here's the issue: Our kids are often out of control. In the rat race of both parents working, after-school activities, and a busy prime time TV season has left our discipline lacking. The kids don't do there chores, and talk back when reminded. Groundings and revoked privilages have become so commonplace they are no more effective than a UN resolution. What is a parent to do? We started threatening to cancel Christmas gifts when it occured to me.... A discipline blog!

YESSSS! I create a blog, email all the grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents, or whomever can review and keep up on our family dicipline blog to see how things are going. I will start each kid off with 100 points. For each negative post I will assign a certain number of deductions, for each positive point we will add some bonus points. At the end of the year, the resulting number will be the percentage of christmas budget remaining for gifts!

Say child #1 nets a loss of 25 demerits, and he was hoping for a IPod, well shucks I guess the %75 of the IPod buget means they will be getting a real nice AM/FM walkman instead.

Not only can the grandparents and other family members get a real picture of our family life, they can see if the kids really have been bad or good for goodness sake, and as a bonus I get to vent my frustrations so I don't snap and end up on the evening news.

Happy Easter

Hope everyone had a great Easter! Ours was the typical dysfuctional family day. Had the wake-up wars, and fights for the shower, followed by in-car assult on the way to church. Then a roll of the eyes filled hour and a half at the Sunday Easter Service. Later in the afternoon we decided to "Torture" our 13 year old with the infamous dinner at the parents. I hope she doesn't turn us into the child services division for "Ruining her life" Oh I love teenagers there so cute. Thankfully our puppy can take the edge of parenting a teenage daughter. Enjoy this pic of our bunny puppy Daisy the wiener dog. 

The Deed Has Been Done

Jon & Jennifer's wedding went off without a hitch, it was a spectacular event and one to remember. It was an honor to attend, and expect some additinal photos posted when I return to Oregon. 

Evil Dad

I don't know if even I would do this to my kid, but hey, let's enjoy this little bit of cruelty and not let it go to waste.


If you want to give the gift of crap in the pants, here is a link to a similar webpage trick.

Cruise'n

Mom is in Florida, heading out on a cruise ship for the week, we are so jealous! We got nearly a foot of rain in January and I could use some sun! 

Happy Birthday Nathan!

Nate now has wireless web! I picked up a USB
wireless adapter for a whopping $12.95 at
Frys so he can get online at the local coffee shop.

Howdy Cousin

My cousin Brad left me a comment and since he might be reading I thought to post another image from the past.
This again with my trusty old Mavica, did not deliver the quality I currently expect, but as you can see on the left, Brad is proud of his hike. We were on a trip to Tumble lake, just above Detroit Lake in Oregon. This trip requires a long winding drive up a single lane, gravel logging road that has shear cliffs along the sides, then once you get to the trailhead, you must hike about 3 miles down a switchback trail to a secluded lake. The trip in is a challenge, but the trip out is a killer! .