Introducing Tim Vedder, the "T" of O+T=V

Coming to the realization that I need to start chipping in around here, it is time for my inaugural post. I am Tim, husband of Oona, and father (not biological) of Oscar. Now that my CFA exam is completed (results due July 29th, zoinks!), I am excited at the prospect of being a person again. A few updates from the Vedder family...


Tim Vedder, Godfather...my niece Mara celebrated her first birthday on May 27th, and boy did she make out like a bandit. You wouldn't know it from her picture though as she looks like a child entering the Terrible 2's a year too early. She had her first taste of sweets with a bday cupcake and am sure she is hooked. Note to self, next bday present to her should be a 12-pack of Sunkist Soda.

Cabin Fever...we made what is turning into an annual trip up to our family cabin in June, bringing our friends Matt&Cortney and Laramie&Lynn. The weekend was everything it should be: people trying to party like they are still in college and realizing they get tired shortly after the news is over. The weather was warm and sunny, and we lounged around during the day, taking time to scare ourselves to death on Laramie and Lynn's jetskis. The evenings brought every card game imagineable as well as a cabin favorite- the marble game Aggravation. I turned out to be the most "aggravated", as anyone who knows me knows I hate losing...and man did I lose. Laramie whipped up a bonfire on the beach as we toasted smores and tried to drink the place dry. Matt and Cortney suffered thru a weekend on bunkbeds like champions, Oscar learned he hates the water, and the rest of us got mild sunburns to remember the weekend by. I am excited for next year...I plan on winning Aggravation.

(Pics are Laramie and Lynn, Matt with his boyfriend and jealous girlfriend Cortney looking on, and everyone hanging on the beach)

Tim Vedder, Marathon Man? Well, we will soon find out. In an effort to do something different, painful, and fun each year, I have found my 2008 activity. My "friend" Brian and I somehow talked eachother into suffering through 26.2 miles of the Twin Cities Marathon this October 5th. As we each blame each other for the idea, so far my legs and lungs are still intact. I have found it to be a great excuse to buy shorts, shoes, shirts, and act like I am some sort of athlete. As the long runs are just beginning (this Friday is a 10-mile stroll), I look forward to seeing if I can not only complete the run but also if I can beat Oprah Winfreys time of 4hr 29min 20sec...eat it "O". Wish me luck, progress reports to follow.

So there ya have it, up to speed in only a few paragraphs. I hope our page views don't go down the tubes now that I am bangin' away at the keys, Oona will be back in no time to rescue this blog I am sure.

Just call me Carrie Bradshaw

So this weekend was full of family, the big CFA exam for Tim, graduation parties, birthday parties, visiting with friends, meeting new puppies and family house projects which included lots of yard work and rebuilding a 7' fence. But I'm not really going to write about that, because something else really special happened that I must write about. Something that I've been wanting to do for a long time and something that gives me a feeling nothing else does...my sister and I got our movie tickets out and popcorn bucket filled and sat ourselves front and center for Sex and the City...the movie!!!

Let me give you a little background. When I first moved to Minneapolis about 3.5 years ago I didn't have too much of a social circle and Tim was working long hours so a co-worker of mine borrowed me her beloved DVD sets of every episode of Sex and the City. Now at that time I had never seen the show and I wondered what was so special about it, it didn't seem that special to be honest, but oh was I wrong. So wrong. I would put a DVD in everynight and snuggle in my bed anxious to see what happened next in the lives of my new "girlfriends" Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha. I would laugh and I would cry and I spent pretty much every night like that until the dreaded last episode in which I probably cried for about an hour because it was all over, no more Sex and the City, no more wild nights with the girls, no more make-believe land of friends. It was hard for me to imagine not having another episode to watch. I was hooked. Then my sister moved to Olympia and was feeling the same loneliness so I borrowed her my collection (I had ran out and bought my own Sex and the City library by then) and she ended up experiencing the exact same thing I had...she was totally hooked and so it began, our obesession with a show that was no longer available for our viewing, no more new episodes, no more Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda. Nada.

But then something miraculous happened...at first I thought it was a rumor, but then there before my very eyes I saw it for myself, Sex and the City was coming back, but this time as a movie!!!! The girls would be back on the big screen and I couldn't wait to see them again. I waited for the big day, but then made a promise to my sis to wait until we were together to see it for the first time. It worked out perfectly that she'd be in town visiting for a grad party the second weekend the show had been in theaters. So there we were last night, at the theater with our buttered popcorn and gigantic soda 30 minutes early to get the best seats for our big event. We were nervous the girls would let us down and the movie wouldn't be as good as it could be, but we were very very wrong. The movie was amazing, perfect I should say. We laughed and cried and never once even blinked through the 2.5 hours of perfect Sex and the City bliss. I feel as if I've had some closure now, and all I can say is, it was worth the wait. I love those girls. I know I sound like a freak with how much I adore the show, just don't worry about me unless I move to Manhattan with heels on and a cosmo in my hand.

Boyzzzz

A few pics of the guys being guys, as you can tell by the beer, toilet paper and football. Just celebrating their manhood before Sam ties the knot.



Sam's last meal - pb&j with 2 Amstel Lights on the side.


Andy "Bud Light" Dufresne works on the Bud Light 50 pack in the fridge.

The Dog House

Welcome to the dog house, where the dogs are crazy and the people are going crazy. Up until a few days ago our house had one dog and seemed quite quiet and orderly, now there are 3 and the place has quickly turned into a total disaster zone. I can't even remember what it is like to have 1 dog just after 3 full days of having 3, which conveniently forms an official pack. That's right, there is a pack of dogs living with us, wild dogs. Let me explain...Tim and I are watching the Lockner's dogs while they enjoy their first week of marriage in Napa. We offered to watch them since they are brand new to the family and we love dogs, so we never thought twice about it. I introduced you to the Boston brothers Bruno & Rosco about a week ago, and after getting to really know them, and by that I mean spending a few days living with them, I feel it is necessary to re-introduce them. Please meet the devil dogs also known as Hey Stop That, and NO Bad. No, I'm kidding, well...kind of, okay, not really. These little guys are absolutely adorable and we do have our special moments together, but please do not be fooled by their cute innocent ways. Deep down behind those sweet little puggy faces and big brown wide-set eyes are two little terrors at heart. I never imagined two puppies would be this much work. I have had a terror puppy before, just under two years ago and we still have bad moments. (Oscar, I'd like you to explain the poop piles in the basement.) But I don't remember this. Chew toys are not interesting but somehow rocks are, oh and doors, woodwork, dresser knobs, tables, shoes, garbage, aluminum cans, you name it and it has been chewed
on these past few days. Also having two puppies means having two little wiggling
bodies peeing and pooping all over your life. And I don't mean it like they are ruining my life, I mean they are literally peeing and pooping all over it. Reminder - do not put cute puppies in your bed, it leads to yellow sheets. And just when you are cleaning up after one the other is most likely squating behind you leaving a puddle.

Now I don't want you to think that these dogs are not the sweethearts that they are, because they do have very good qualities too, but they are puppies and there are two of them and they test your patience even when you really really
love dogs.

Oh what am I saying, I take it all back. Look at that face!

Just looking a bit frazzled as I round up the boys.

Don't you want to pet me? Huh? Huh?
Nap time on the couch.

Oscar is a good boy!

Wedding Weekend - Part II

As I explained in Wedding Weekend Part I, Tim and I had two special weddings this past weekend and I feel they both deserve separate blog entries...

Saturday night our friends Sam & Sarah were married in an outdoor ceremony at the Sculpture Garden in Minneapolis. The wedding was small and intimate and the happy couple really lucked out with great weather. I have to tell you, having to attend two outdoor ceremonies two nights in a row really made me nervous, there had to have been one night of crummy weather, but these marriages were in the stars because the weather was sunny and warm.

Sam & Sarah exchanged vows in front of their close family and friends and then we all headed over to Solera for a night of celebrating. The whole wedding was really nice and had a very intimate private feel. The room at Solera was filled with orange and green paper lanterns, scattered candles and orange Gerbera Daisies. The food and drinks were great and we got to spend the night hanging out with our friends here in Minneapolis, along with the guest of honor Mr. Andy Dufresne A/K/A 'Doof" who flew in all the way from San Francisco to celebrate with the Lockners. We were lucky enough to have Andy stay with us as our second house guest and got to spend extra special time with him which was nice since when he was here over a month ago for our wedding we didn't get to spend much quality time together. I think he enjoyed his stay though he really looked ready to get back to California after a weekend with the Vedders.

Sam & Sarah we wish you the best! Hope you are having a great honeymoon in California enjoying the wine country. Your dogs are making our lives quite eventful. More on that to come...oh and I still need to post pics for this wedding as well.

Wedding Weekend - Part I

This past weekend Tim and I had two weddings to attend. Friday was the McHenry wedding and Saturday was the Lockner wedding. Let's just say there was a lot of love being celebrated over Memorial Day weekend this year. Since both weddings were special and unique in their own way, I feel they deserve separate blog entries so we begin with Wedding Weekend Part I, the McHenry wedding....My friends Steve and Christina tied the knot Friday evening in an outdoor ceremony on the lawn of the Gale Mansion in Minneapolis. The ceremony was beautiful and the weather was perfect for their night. Steve is a friend from La Crosse and Christina is a member of the infamous 'Scotland Crew' so it was an exciting mix of old friends for me and also for Tim. It was awesome seeing a bunch of old college buddies that I haven't seen in years along with a few of my Scotland buddies including Chip, Bryce, Dean & BJ. Christina looked amazing and their wedding was fun and creative, I loved Christina's crafty touches on everything, including handmade natural soaps we received as party favors and the yummy cupcakes. We spent the whole night catching up with old friends and enjoying the night. Kelly & Zak came to stay with us and broke in our brand new guest bedroom. Once the wedding celebration came to an end, the wedding party headed over to Brit's to continue the fun, where we also ran into Sam & Sarah and some other friends out celebrating the night before their wedding.

I have lots of pictures that I will post later. Steve and Christina are now enjoying their first 3 weeks of marriage in Australia and New Zealand. Congrats McHenrys!!!

The Chair

Dear Mom & Dad,

I wanted to tell you that I really love my chair you gave me. It is such a great spot for me to spend my time. It has the best view and staring out the window really gives me pleasure. The chair is quite comfy and the perfect place to take little snoozes. I wanted to thank you for allowing me to sit on the chair, and the ottoman makes me happy too.

Love,

Oscar