twiblr

The Chicago office I am working at moved this week to it’s...

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:25:18 -0600

The Chicago office I am working at moved this week to it’s new HQ. The new building is nice and the best thing about it is that I cam barely hear the trader’s televisions any more.

I had to get a haircut today and the sun was out, so Lars, Leif...

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:13:54 -0600

I had to get a haircut today and the sun was out, so Lars, Leif and I decided to walk. The temperature is close to 40, so the kids asked me if they could scooter. (Actually, they begged to ride bike, but it’s still a little cool and icy for little kids.)

Despite the spring-like weather, the remnants of winter are everywhere. Here, the kids had to portage the scooters across a long patch of ice.

We all got haircuts, drank soda at the liquor store, got food for dinner and had a great walk in the sun. Good day.

We had a great time at the s’mores party last night hosted by our amazing friends. It was the...

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 09:04:53 -0600

We had a great time at the s’mores party last night hosted by our amazing friends. It was the perfect night to say goodbye to winter.

I didn’t get out much today, but the little I did feels...

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:28:04 -0600

I didn’t get out much today, but the little I did feels like spring. The snow is melting and the days are getting longer. Biking season is just around the corner. Everyone feels it.

Congratulations to Lars and Brita

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:00:00 -0600

We got an email from the piano teacher with the results from the piano test. Both Lars and Brita scored as high as they could (a perfect 5). Gretchen and I are proud of the hard work they put into their pieces.

Everyone was relieved to get through the piano tests. Brita...

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:30:44 -0600

Everyone was relieved to get through the piano tests. Brita played her pieces without many mistakes and then we made our way to Subway for a celebretory lunch.

All in all, Lars and Brita did great.

Lars and Brita each had piano tests today. The tests...

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:00:00 -0600

Lars and Brita each had piano tests today. The tests wall-to-wall performances of pieces played before judges (and tiny audiences).

Lars was nervous, but played well. I managed to get this picture off before one of the judges informed me of the ‘no cameras’ rule.

Had a great dinner with an old friend tonight. I told him how...

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:55:39 -0600

Had a great dinner with an old friend tonight. I told him how fabulous my wife wife is and how much I adore my kids. I’m happy at work - great client, excellent boss.

But I wonder sometimes if the travel is too much. Am I trading my time for the right price? Am I going down the right path? Is the burden on my family too high?

My kids love walking down these stairs. I wish they were here tonight to walk down with me.

We were hoping for Olympic hockey tonight, but got Ski Cross...

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:14:15 -0600

We were hoping for Olympic hockey tonight, but got Ski Cross (first time in the Olympics) and Super Combined.

I remember loving skiing events as a kid, but none of us found the love tonight.

15 kids. 7 sunday toppings. 6 pizzas. 1 super mom and a happy...

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:04:00 -0600

15 kids. 7 sunday toppings. 6 pizzas. 1 super mom and a happy 7th birthday.

Four more weeks and it’ll be spring in Chicago. For all...

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:10:50 -0600

Four more weeks and it’ll be spring in Chicago. For all the cold and snow in Minneapolis, it’s amazing the winter was so mild in Chicago. Sure the river froze, but not like last year.

Here’s to a great spring and an even better summer.

The view from my hotel room is spectacular. That’s the...

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:34:37 -0600

The view from my hotel room is spectacular. That’s the Tribune Tower on the left and the Wrigley building on the right. I’ve been coming here so long now (5+ years), I barely notice their beauty any longer.

We celebrated Brita’s birthday and Valentine’s day...

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:47:08 -0600

We celebrated Brita’s birthday and Valentine’s day by staying overnight at the Hyatt Regency. The rooms were great, we watched the Olympics together, ate takeout from Brit’s, slept in, and got some good swimming in. It was a much needed dose of family time.

Leif took skating lessons this year from the Minneapolis park...

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 11:30:00 -0600

Leif took skating lessons this year from the Minneapolis park systems, but our Saturday mornings became so much more. While Leif was learning, Brita skated and played with her friends. Lars grabbed a puck (or tennis ball) and practiced shooting goals or skating as fast as he could across the ice. Our Saturday mornings went from hiding frome the weather inside and alone to getting out and being social.

Brita turned seven yesterday and I thought this hat (designed by...

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 22:00:46 -0600

Brita turned seven yesterday and I thought this hat (designed by mom) turned out exceptionally well.

Happy 7th birthday, Brita!

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:00:00 -0600

Brita is born

Brita's first spring

Brita turns 1

Brita turns 2

Brita turns 3

Brita turns 4

Brita turns 5

Brita turns 6

Happy 7th birthday, Brita!

Brita wanted 2 meals for her birthday: Wendy’s and Noodles...

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:27:43 -0600

Brita wanted 2 meals for her birthday: Wendy’s and Noodles & Company. Tonight, while coming home from choir practice, we granted one of her wishes on the eve of her birthday. You can see she wasn’t the only happy kid at our house.

Today was National African American Parent Involvement Day at...

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:38:16 -0600

Today was National African American Parent Involvement Day at school. Because there aren’t many African Americans at our school, it’s morphed into a parent day where the kids sing songs nominally about African American themes. It also meant a breakfast with Brita before the show and a chance to show off school.

The show was great, but the snow was terrible for driving. Gretchen had to drive Lars to the upper campus, but she got stuck on the way out, which threw off the whole day.

Stefan and Tobias came over to watch the Superbowl with us. It...

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:49:00 -0600

Stefan and Tobias came over to watch the Superbowl with us. It was the rarest of great moments: good food, family, hot fire and blowing snow, and a good Superbowl game.

Tonight was the big Linden Hills Winter Festival. They had ice...

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:48:01 -0600

Tonight was the big Linden Hills Winter Festival. They had ice skating, a marshmallow roast (all gone in the first half-hour), a giant snow pile for sledding, and horse and carriage rides. This is the first winter I can remember as an adult that reminds me of when I was a kid - consistent cold and plenty of snow.