A Midwest family lifeTumblr (3.0; @twiblr)http://twiblr.com/<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://assets.tumblr.com/swf/audio_player_black.swf?audio_file=http://www.tumblr.com/audio_file/24244316056/tumblr_m4z4twMcQe1qz6467&color=FFFFFF" height="27" width="207" quality="best" wmode="opaque"></embed><br/><br/><p>This is an audio recording of Brita playing her concert piece at the final piano recital of the year.  She is accompanied here by her teacher.</p>http://twiblr.com/post/24244316056http://twiblr.com/post/24244316056Sat, 02 Jun 2012 00:05:00 -0500brita<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4z4jrRFvU1qz6467o1_500.jpg"/><br/> Brita waves at practice<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4z4jrRFvU1qz6467o2_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> The auditorium<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4z4jrRFvU1qz6467o3_500.jpg"/><br/> Grandma and Grandpa after the concert<br/><br/> <p>Brita won the MMTA piano contest this year.  What does that mean?  She gets to play a concert in front of 3,000 people.</p> <p>As a kid, I think the enormity of the situation does not really sink in.  ”I’ll do this again.” or “This is what people do,” thinks the child.  No, I have never played in front of so many people.  And no, you might not get this opportunity again.</p> <p>Pictures during the concert were not allowed…and I followed the rules.  What I can say about what I saw from my very remote seat is that Brita smiled all the way through.  And tears came to my eyes, I was so proud.</p> <p>And Brita’s smile never ended all night.  She beamed from ear-to-ear until she fell asleep.</p>http://twiblr.com/post/24244022519http://twiblr.com/post/24244022519Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:59:00 -0500brita<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4z410CI9t1qz6467o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Lars played in an amazing band concert this year.  He was the lead trombone in the youth orchestra and they were amazing.  </p>http://twiblr.com/post/24243456829http://twiblr.com/post/24243456829Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:48:36 -0500lars<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4z3mmzOdN1qz6467o1_r1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>My dad once told me that he knew I was going to succeed in life when I took Nepali in college.  (Nepali both satisfied my foreign language credits and boosted my GPA with A’s).  </p> <p>I am not saying the same thing about Markus, but I will say this.  If he gets credit for taking this Musicology course, he is already ahead of me.  The teacher was engaging and informative.  The music was great.  And Markus performed admirably, playing the jug, and singing lead on the last verse of a country version of “Ignition - Remix”. </p> <p>An amazing night on so many levels.  I’ll say this about Markus.  He is on to something with this class.  If he continues down this path, his future is bright.  </p>http://twiblr.com/post/24243012395http://twiblr.com/post/24243012395Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:39:00 -0500markus<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4z26ooWTV1qz6467o1_500.jpg"/><br/> Lars <br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4z26ooWTV1qz6467o2_500.jpg"/><br/> Brita<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4z26ooWTV1qz6467o3_500.jpg"/><br/> Leif<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4z26ooWTV1qz6467o4_500.jpg"/><br/> Brita and Lars<br/><br/> <p>We visited my nephew Markus at Beloit College, and he took us on an engaging tour of the Godfrey Building of Anthropology.  I got these pictures and never posted them before.  Portraits of the kids rarely work out, but these turned out great.</p> <p>While the visit was amazing, I had to pause and think about Markus, and how far he had come since the first time I had met him.  Shortly after meeting Gretchen, I went to see her in Chicago.  Bill and Ursula took us down to Hyde Park to meet their first grandchild, Markus, who was just weeks old at the time.  Little did I know, he would mark so much time in my life.</p> <p>I met him as a baby.  He was the ring-bearer at my wedding.</p> <p>I remember going to visit him in Chicago after a Price Waterhouse conference.  He was 6 or 7 and had boundless energy.  I wanted to sleep.  He wanted to play soccer.  We ended up going to a local park and playing for an hour or so.  I was a goalie to endless shots and had the greatest time with a kid, until my own came along.  I will always remember blocking shots between trees, the joy he had in playing with me, and the energetic hugs he gave me when I first arrived.</p> <p>Later, we would visit Markus as a family.  He took up trombone and practiced in the living room, in between good-natured wrestling matches with my kids.  Later, Lars would take up trombone after seeing his older cousin playing.</p> <p>After that, we were lucky enough to have the whole family move to Minneapolis.  They arrived on a warm spring day, all the snow gone.  But a couple of weeks later, 10 inches of snow laid on the ground.  Markus, and his brother Tobias, took us sledding at the local Minneapolis park.  We built a huge snowman and posed for some amazing pictures, before retiring to the local pizza parlor for one of the best lunches of my life.</p> <p>And then Markus was a high-school student.  He was great with the kids and computers, but we lost touch a bit.  I was OK with that, because that is what happens in high-school. Whenever we came over, Markus always had time to play soccer with the kids.  (If he wasn’t there, Tobias was.)</p> <p>And now Markus is grown up.  His tour of the campus was generous and engaging.   I can see success around the corner.  It has been an amazing journey.</p>http://twiblr.com/post/24241310620http://twiblr.com/post/24241310620Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:08:00 -0500markusbeloit<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m453ixX9t21qz6467o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Listened to R.E.M. on my walk back from work. A live version of ‘Belong’ from Out of Time brought tears to my eyes.</p>http://twiblr.com/post/23194453310http://twiblr.com/post/23194453310Wed, 16 May 2012 19:12:40 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3fmdlNFqc1qz6467o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>My job hasn’t been very creative lately. I’ve noticed when that happens, my other creative outlets suffer tremendously. This picture isn’t great - but my goal was to take a photo and make it look like a drawing. Thanks to some simple iPhone software, I got an effect similar to what I was after. This is what I need to remember. If work isn’t getting my mind working, then I need a new hobby.</p>http://twiblr.com/post/22308293092http://twiblr.com/post/22308293092Thu, 03 May 2012 00:39:21 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2p7w9TWWm1qz6467o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Welcome to America. This sign says a lot. (Taken with <a href="http://instagr.am" target="_blank">instagram</a>)</p>http://twiblr.com/post/21349244944http://twiblr.com/post/21349244944Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:28:56 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m37zvxQq6Q1qz6467o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Gretchen planned a great birthday party for Leif.  We had capture the flag before the party, a cupcake decorating activity, and a scavenger hunt.  Because Leif loves Legos, the flag for capture the flag was a Lego dude on both sides.</p> <p>Perhaps because Leif was the little guy, he got to invite many more people than anyone other kid in our family.  Despite a few issues, the part went well and we all had a great time.</p>http://twiblr.com/post/22022986480http://twiblr.com/post/22022986480Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:30:00 -0500leif<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2h425rym31qz6467o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Brita has her first practice for her honors concert today. This is the first time she will play with a conductor and with other people. Great music is starting at a warehouse in Brooklyn Center. Come to think of it, this is the first time I have witnessed this process in person.</p>http://twiblr.com/post/21082937089http://twiblr.com/post/21082937089Sat, 14 Apr 2012 09:25:17 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2fvckdsdw1qz6467o2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2fvckdsdw1qz6467o3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2fvckdsdw1qz6467o4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2fvckdsdw1qz6467o5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>This year we made 54 eggs.  The kids found them all and everyone had egg salad all week.</p>http://twiblr.com/post/21045679343http://twiblr.com/post/21045679343Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:58:00 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2fuxiQysv1qz6467o1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2fuxiQysv1qz6467o2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2fuxiQysv1qz6467o3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2fuxiQysv1qz6467o4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Decorating eggs at our house has become an annual ritual.  The kids have a great time.</p>http://twiblr.com/post/21045144193http://twiblr.com/post/21045144193Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:54:00 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2e22bqg4X1qz6467o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I have an amazing walk to work and spring in Chicago is the best time to walk it. This building is right across from the Trump Tower on the Chicago River. The picture here does the building justice, but not the morning sun or weather.</p>http://twiblr.com/post/20988106827http://twiblr.com/post/20988106827Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:32:00 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2dxz2K2471qz6467o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>The weather has been unseasonably warm and we took the kids to the park to play. Brita (and most kids, really) love to climb the tree in front of the Rec Center. The filter on this photo isn’t true to life, but it’s how I’ll remember Brita up in the tree.</p>http://twiblr.com/post/20982658188http://twiblr.com/post/20982658188Sun, 01 Apr 2012 15:11:00 -0500brita<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2e22tB9Dx1qz6467o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Grandpa Bob and Lars look on as Leif and Brita crash into each other on the MOA bumper cars.</p>http://twiblr.com/post/20988126152http://twiblr.com/post/20988126152Sat, 31 Mar 2012 13:43:00 -0500larsbritaleif<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2dxs7IU681qz6467o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>While we were at the Mall of America, the kids went on a few rides. This was the first year Leif could drive the bumper cars by himself.</p>http://twiblr.com/post/20982412696http://twiblr.com/post/20982412696Sat, 31 Mar 2012 13:43:00 -0500leif<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2dxphagLV1qz6467o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>We took the kids out to Lego Land at the Mall of America to fill some boxes they had received for Christmas. Luckily for us that was the day the boxes expired. One more day and we would had some long faces.</p>http://twiblr.com/post/20982315646http://twiblr.com/post/20982315646Sat, 31 Mar 2012 12:53:00 -0500lars<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1bbdxQ6ih1qz6467o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Science Fair tonight. Lars chose tornadoes, Brita chose electricity, and Leif chose farts. Not sure if it’s the subject, the shirt, the lighting, the expression or all of the above. But this picture is hilariously awesome.</p>http://twiblr.com/post/19759185507http://twiblr.com/post/19759185507Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:44:00 -0500leif<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m17xj1U70b1qz6467o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I am ashamed to say that after 7 years of working in Chicago, I have never been to a Blues Bar. That changed tonight when a co-worker arranged a trip up to Kingston Mines. I would have loved to stay until the music stopped at 4am. The first set by The Mike Wheeler Band included a song by Eddie Shaw who performed with Howling’ Wolf and celebrated his 75th birthday on stage. A magical night and a set filled with amazing performances. Wow.</p>http://twiblr.com/post/19668105985http://twiblr.com/post/19668105985Tue, 20 Mar 2012 23:52:13 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m129whQbnN1qz6467o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>After a day of working on science projects, I saw Lars off to a friend’s afternoon birthday party and walked Brita to an overnight.  Then Gretchen said, “You and Leif need to get out and enjoy this day.”  After all, it is the middle of March and I have already dug out my sandals and shorts.  She was right.</p> <p>Leif jumped on his scooter and we went down to the pond and over to the lake.  Even though the ice just melted a week ago, the path felt very warm.  I am excited to get on my bike and ride with the kids this spring and summer.</p>http://twiblr.com/post/19492596246http://twiblr.com/post/19492596246Sat, 17 Mar 2012 22:33:52 -0500leif