familia

family (noun): a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not

It doesn't seem too long ago that the five of us were under one roof but now we have four different zip codes, each one representing a unique direction our paths have taken. And although we may be in different places, we are still considered a family - dwelling together or not.  It has been about eight months since my journey led me permanently away from 'home'. And one of the things that I have noticed is how much more meaningful family visits have become.  Not to say time with family hasn't always been meaningful - but there is something inherently different now that we are further away.  I don't feel the need to explain it other than to say it is special.

It was an extra-special day for me as I got to see both sides of the family! Mike's parents and brother came to visit in the morning and the Chorley/Aasness crew came in the evening. Mike's dad Jim is the most-handy man I have ever known and he sooo graciously helped us make our home more 'homey'.  They hung our curtains and pictures that I arranged in hopes of making our place feel less sterile and more peaceful. And that it did - it's amazing how big of a difference some color and photos have made. 

Because I worked most of the day, I was unable to participate in the action but I came home to a very warm and happy place. I am so appreciative - they did such a wonderful job! :) And it was just in time for the rest of my family to visit!

It was a fantastic Saturday afternoon, lounging around at home with people we love...no pressure, no agenda...just fun.

It was a perfect, low-key afternoon.  I like to document every moment in hopes of capturing the memories so I can relive them when everyone goes home and I find myself wishing we were closer. And once in awhile, I get lucky. Lucky to capture a look that says it all, a laugh that we don't want to forget or a milestone that has been made. Today, Haddie had her first banana and I had a front row seat for the excitement. :)

Oh yeah! She LOVED it! 

More please!

What?! That's it?! Come onn...

All the excitement worked up quite an appetite so we headed to Rueb 'n' Stein for dinner in downtown Northfield. We missed Adam (our brother who is soaking up his time at Gustavus while it lasts) but we had a great time! All-in-all, it was a stellar day. We are going to bed tonight after jumping our clocks ahead one hour, thankful for a wonderful family and for the time we get to spend together despite being in different zip codes. We love you! :)

TGIF

It has been a FANTASTIC Friday. Everything about today has been wonderful. It's amazing how much the start of your day can impact how the rest of your day unfolds. It's like I just woke up ready for a great day - and that it was...from start to finish. 

My dear friend Kristin came to Northfield to visit tonight and to celebrate the excitement that is March Madness. It's been awhile since we've been in college and since I breathe this environment every day, I thought I'd show her the energy that is St. Olaf. 

Fun in the photo booth...

There is always a lot to celebrate in life but March happens to bring a few birthdays that are great excuses for extra dessert and Caribou trips! :)

We started our evening at Olaf with some pizza bagels from the Pause Kitchen - the student run pizza kitchen on campus. It was a busy night in there but it was worth the wait. No meat today so a veggie pizza bagel it was. We even stopped at the Cage (another cafe on campus) for a delicious cookie! I was pleasantly surprised with the lemon sugar cookie - I highly recommend it! 

There were some great games on today (and some horrible ones, too...cough, Wisconsin, cough cough). At least Duke & UNC both won. Let's get it together Wisc!

Of course a Caribou trip was in order...it's officially cold-drink season for Mrs. Wobschall. 

It's always great to visit with Kristin and it was even more fun reliving our college days. She got to see a lot of different parts of St. Olaf and even met a couple of my co-workers!! I am one step closer to convincing her to get a job here...one great night at a time! 

The rest of the weekend has a lot in store for us...bring it on! :)

ps. I spent some time editing photos this afternoon and the picture of Haddie at the top was my favorite shot. I get to see her tomorrow and I cannot wait to see those beautiful eyes in person!

Sweet

Today marks the beginning of the Lenten season for us Catholic folk. And this year as I contemplated what I was going to sacrifice, the positive psychologist in me decided it would be more appropriate to take something on in addition to giving something up. So, I decided to sacrifice candy (and if you truly know me, you understand the depth of this sacrifice) and to take up drinking a healthier amount of water. And let me tell you - I am a picky peanut when it comes to water.  I don't like it cold. Or hot. It has to be room temperature. And I am very picky about the taste. I don't like the bloody tasting water that is stained with iron. I don't like Aquafina for whatever reason. And I'm not a huge fan of water out of the tap. I'd like to believe this is the most high maintenance thing about me.  But somehow I have come to love Smart Water and I am going to stick with it. It has been one full day of Lent and so far so good. No sweets for me and I've made about six trips to the restroom so let's just say, I'm doing well with the water intake. :)

Because I can't eat anything sweet, I've been extra-sensative to other sweet things around me. No, not really. It would just be a really good transition into this couple that I keep seeing that I want to tell you about! :) Very regularly, I run into this couple at the indoor track. Well, I don't actually run into them but I see them when I am running. Despite the poor transition, they really are sweet. They walk around and around and if it's a good day, they'll go about thirty minutes. In the various times I've seen them, I've never seen them lose their grip of each other. And as I lap them every three and a half minutes, I notice that they are never saying anything. But as I run past them I get this strange sense that they are communicating without saying anything out loud. It might just be a feeling, but I'd like to believe that they are so connected that without having to say anything, after all these years, they just know what each other is thinking and are able to communicate silently. I don't know their names or what their story is but they brighten my day when I see them and for that I am grateful. They are sweet. 

Kristin Ann

We all make a lot of friends throughout our lifetime. Sadly, many of them come and go - fulfilling a space in our heart only to be replaced by someone else in a new context, job, setting, or city. The most meaningful relationships are those that remain constant - the friends who are woven through each chapter of our lives and before you know it, they've become a major part of your history. I am lucky enough to have made a few of those friends and I want to celebrate one of them today. Kristin Ann.

Kristin and I met in college and have been best friends since then. We've shared a lot of amazing life experiences and continue to check things off our bucket list. We've traveled together to Florida, Atlanta, Chicago, Anaheim, and Madison, celebrated three graduations and nine (almost ten) birthdays, spent countless hours at Caribou, Culvers and Perkins, been through heartbreaks, shared the excitement of new love, engagements and weddings, attended countless Vikings games, shared the joy of becoming aunts... you name it - we've probably done it. And through it all, she has been a consistent character in each chapter of my life story - adding more meaning than I can describe.

Kristin & I getting a little out of hand in the photobooth at our wedding. She was a really important part of our celebration and I am SO honored and excited to celebrate her big day with her this September!

I won't comment on our bowling skills but we have fun doing pretty much anything...

Kristin, Dana & I were all Peer Assistants at Gustavus, which was a huge part of our college experience. We also shared the same majors - Communication Studies & Religion - so...needless to say, we spent as much time together as possible!

We've been lucky enough to go to a lot of great Vikings games over the years. We've seen Brett Favre in that nasty green and gold uniform but more excitingly, we've seen him in his wonderful purple attire. 

Throughout our time at Gustavus, we were lucky enough to find this amazing woman who has become such an important person in our lives. Deb was our Gustie-mom and continues to be a close friend and mentor. We love you, Deb!

The Great Minnesota Get Together...always a good time!

Over the years, Kristin has endured many Chorley family gatherings.
It is impressive that she's lasted through it all! :)

Kristin is full of life. Here are some examples...

Happy Birthday Kristin! You are wonderful and I am so lucky to have you in my life. I love you :)