Just cuz...

A photo today just cuz even on the worst of worst days I still feel like the luckiest lady in the world to have these two knuckle-heads in my life. Not that today is a bad day or anything, but I'm just counting my blessings. Love you two!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Enjoy a pint, or two or three. Hell, have ten or twelve for all I care! Just call it luck of the Irish if you can still get up on time for work tomorrow, if ya have to go that is :)

D.E.S.P.E.R.A.T.E.

Up here in the frigid tundra we call Min-knee-soooo-da vitamin D has been on back order. Oh, yah, hey, we've really missed havin' the sunshine for the last 4 months. So if we look at little desperate at 56 degrees Fahrenheit-we are. We, I mean my hubby, gets reacquainted with the grill. Yup, we break out the lawn chairs. We tuck em back in the garage, safe from the wind and right, smack dab, in the center of the sun's rays. We bust out frozen can cool-ies from the freezer and dip into the icy cold brew-ha-ha supply. Just add neighbors and voila-instant par-tay. Now those knuckleheads who are out and about sporting shorts? Now, those are some seriously hearty souls (and slightly nucking futs, if ya know what I mean).

Family Heirlooms.

I'm in full fledge purge mode (again). This weekend I cleaned out every drawer in my kitchen-the pesky junk drawer included. I gave Goodwill more Pampered Chef gadgets than you can shake a wooden spoon at(sorry MOM). I'm living life under a new personal mantra, slogan, motto whatever you call it. If I don't love it and if it isn't going to be loved by future generations it's out. So with that said, if I got somethin' you want you better tell me now. I can put a piece of masking tape with your name printed on it and you can have it when I'm gone-maybe sooner (PS I'm not planning on going anywhere). Speak now else ya run the risk of, "it," showing up in the donation pile or collecting points in the recycling bin (if it's recyclable and weighty!). But here's the point... when my kids/grandkids/friends clean out my house they won't have to lug box upon box of, "saved treasures," out the door. In my mind that's both good news (no saved paper clippings and baby teeth) and bad news (no masters hats) all rolled into one. See the knuckle heads (Nooncy and Hubby) found their perfect treasure from their Grandpa Hubert. They remember these hats as his staple headgear any time he hit the links. Not a club was swung without a bottle of warm water and a masters hat. This, plus fond memories of Grandpa hitting the ball off two-breast-like-hills or , "hitting it off the boobs," equals the need to have these cherished family heirlooms. So think about it. What will you be remembered for?

Oh and speaking of family. Calling all of the Cholick fam-dam: check out our official reunion blog!

Remembering Charlie...

March 6th. Bitter and sweet. This sweet little boy was born to two of the best parents ever - 8 years ago. His stay was short, but his impact on this world has endured. I swallow the lump in my throat and find solace in the fact that Charlie is among angels... Happy Birthday sweet, little boy and happy anniversary to your very special parents, whom I love dearly.

Happy Birthday MOM!

Happy Birthday to my little Mama Bear! Little as in all 5 ft 2.5 inches of her. She's a live one this mama-o-mine and as sassy as the day is long(wonder no longer where I get it from). I'll never forget the year she turned the big 6-zero. She specifically said she didn't need to have a party with customized, "Over The Hill," invitations. She didn't need everyone knowing how old she was gonna be. Opps! Little did she know the invites were already signed, sealed, delivered. Ahhh, but that was a few years ago and I'm sure by now she won't mind the entire blogosphere knowing she's a year older. I just hope, pray, wish and hope a little more that I look this good when I am cashing in all those senior discounts. Ha! Happy Birthday MOM. I love you.

Remembering Grandma Tootie...

Grandmas are special. Grandma Tootie is no exception. Loved for her kind heart and sassy personality. Renowned for her harvest dinners (think peaks upon peaks of mashed potatoes) and banana bread. Honored for her membership in the church and her high scoring bowling game. Known as a, "senior statistician," with the Minnesota Twins. Her memory lives on in story after story told about her over the weekend. We didn't hold a funeral per say, but rather a true celebration of life for a woman who lived a full one. She lives on in the hearts and memories of her 5 children, 15 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren and countless other family members and friends. We love you Grandma Tootie - we will miss you. We will never forget you.

Obituary from the Lakefield Standard:

Funeral services for Dolores Cholick of Lakefield took place Sunday, March 1, 2009, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lakefield, with Fr. Charles Quinn officiating. Burial was in the St. John’s The Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Minneota Township, Jackson County. Dolores Cholick died Feb. 26, 2009, at the Colonial Manor in Lakefield. Hansen Funeral Home of Lakefield handled the funeral arrangements.

Dolores “Tootie” Helen Cholick, daughter of George and Clara (Schumacher) Havier, was born on Dec. 29, 1922, in Lakefield. Tootie grew up in Lakefield and graduated from Lakefield High School in 1940. Following her education, Tootie was employed at Walker Insurance Agency and later worked at M.N. Johnson Mercantile until 1947. She married Hubert Cholick on Feb. 17, 1947, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lakefield. Following their marriage, the couple resided on a farm in Minneota Township, Jackson County, and Tootie worked at Campbell Soup Company in Worthington and later at Berkley’s in Spirit Lake, Iowa, until she retired.

Hubert passed away on Oct. 29, 1998, and Tootie continued to live in her home until she entered Colonial Manor in Lakefield on Dec. 12, 2007. Tootie was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lakefield and served as a trustee. She was a member of Lakefield Council of Catholic Women and served as treasurer for eight years, and was a member of St. Bertha’s Guild. She also was a charter member of the Hanson-Ward V.F.W. Auxiliary and belonged to Minneota Project. Tootie enjoyed cooking, playing bingo, bowling and socializing with friends.

Tootie is survived by her children, Marie and her husband, Marvin Rickert of West Des Moines, Iowa, Hugh and his wife, Deborah of Duluth, Ga., Robert Cholick and his fiancé, Rose of Norcross, Ga., Joan and her husband, Craig Voss of Lakefield, and Thomas Cholick of rural Lakefield; fifteen grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Richard Havier of Knoxville, Iowa, and Michael and his wife, Susan Donaldson of Lakefield.Tootie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Hubert; and one brother, Gerald