i feel home

"There are few things pure in this world anymore, and home is one of the few.

We'd have a drink outside, maybe run and hide if we saw a couple men in blue.

To me it's so damn easy to see that true people are the people at home.

Well, I've been away but now I'm back today, and there ain't a place I'd rather go.

I feel home, when I see the faces that remember my own.

I feel home, when I'm chilling outside with the people I know.

I feel home, and that's just what I feel.

Home to me is reality, and all I need is something real."

I Feel Home - O.A.R.

This past weekend, I finally took Andy "home." No, not up north to Berkeley. The real home. Minnesota. It was perfection. Considering the times we've been back to the Chicago area in the last few years, we were long overdue for a visit to the land of 10,000 lakes.

Unsurprisingly, the weekend started as a family trip home for my cousin's wedding and morphed into an action-packed five days of non-stop life, love and laughter.

Itinerary of life for our weekend of life...

FRIDAY: Attend Patrick and Leah's Wedding and Reception

SATURDAY: Elizabeth Anne's Baptism and Celebration, Get weird at Beth's

SUNDAY: Year One Photo shoot by K. West Photography and Summer BBQ at Lauren's Lillypad

MONDAY: Celebrate first wedding anniversary (my how time flies!) with lunch at Lake Calhoun before saying Bon Voyage to Andy

Kate to Europe Countdown: 23 days...

adventures in andyland

For those of you who don't know, Andy headed overseas on Monday. Upon arriving, he was swooped up by the coach, taken quickly to our apartment in Toulouse to drop his things and pack a bag, then hopped right back into the team van to head to Luchon for a training trip.

I don't know much about Luchon, other than it borders Spain near Andorra and the Tour de France weaves through the area. Upon Google-ing, it seems like an absolutely lovely place to spend your first 5 days adjusting to the French life.

Though contact has been minimal (damn you European views on the importance of wifi), Andy has spent the last few days getting to know his fellow Spacer's through a variety of team building activities including hiking, mountain biking, rafting and venturing into sulfur-scented natural steam caves. All of the aforementioned activities seem less "training" and more "fun" focused, but who am I to judge? I'm definitely probably just jealous.

A few iPad snapped photos below (I selfishly held onto the camera to document the upcoming excitement here in the states)...

Kate to Europe countdown: 25 days

on to the next one...

orange county fair

Ron and Ann made their way to the west coast for a weekend visit in early August. Despite my super busy schedule (thanks to a client event), Andy and his parents had a lovely time tooling around the Los Angeles and Orange County areas.

Fresh off the heels of kicking yet another event's butt - in typical RipeOrange fashion - we headed to the Orange County Fairgrounds in an attempt to ingest as many fried and beer-related calories as humanly possible in a three hour period. We succeeded.

I think it's safe to say the Heins were freaked out impressed by my obsession love of "fair rides" and though I didn't force anyone to tackle The Zipper with me, I did insist on back-to-back trips on the Tilt-A-Whirl. Andy and Ann proved wonderful whirling partners but their companionship still pales in comparison to that of my favorite fair-goers, my cousins Jillian and Stefani.

Thanks for making the trip out, elder Heins!

on to the next one...