MidwestMinshalls; a photographic diary....

PROM!!

2009-04-18T20:17:00.000-07:00

Liv went to prom tonight with her boyfriend, Mike Bessman. They looked great - hope they have a good time!

Getting the corsage!

Heading to Prom - they were so tired of pictures!!

The Grand March at Prairie Valley (Mike's high school).

Zoe Riding

2009-04-18T20:09:00.001-07:00

Zoe has decided that, this year, she loves her motorcycle! Last year we couldn't bribe her to ride it and this year we can't keep her off it!

Grandma's Bowling Christmas 2008

2008-11-29T14:39:00.000-08:00

Liv and Aaron

Alex, Shannon & Andy - enjoying the game

Great-grandkids

Maddie, Liv, Andy, Alex and Jackson

Maddie, Liv and Andy

Minshall's forced family fun!

Like father, like daughter

Hardine Family

Susan and Maggie

Jacy, Kurt and Maggie

The Dome - Revisted

2008-11-22T16:29:00.000-08:00

So it was back to the Dome on Friday, November 21st. Southern Cal (12-1) took on Tama (13-0). Everyone was fired up, but very nervous (OK, so maybe just I was nervous!). We all knew Southern Cal was a great team, but anything can (& does) happen in the Dome...

Shannon and Barry looking cool and calm - gettin their game face on!

Team warming up for the Class A State Championship

Lining up for the National Anthem

These next few pictures are courtesy of the Des Moines Register

At the end of the 4th quarter the game was all tied up. I was so nervous my stomach hurt!!

But not to worry, in the end Southern Cal was triumphant!! We scored a touchdown on the 4th down of overtime which tied up the game again (21 to 21), then we went for the two point conversion & made it!! I think Tama thought we would kick a field goal & tie up the game to head into double overtime - they were not expecting us to go for the two points! I have to admit, I was not sure we were going to pull it off (I am such a pessimist), but I was totally wrong! It was so exciting!! The game of a lifetime!

It was so fun to watch how ecstatic the boys/fans were!

This is the look of a happy (& relieved) man!

The team with their trophy!

Hard work does pay off!

When we got back to Lake City, there was a welcome home rally for the team. Most of the town showed up! The boys and coaches worked so hard to get a championship. Lake City couldn't be more proud!!!

Coach Case gave a great speech.

Shannon with the coaching staff.

CONGRATULATIONS MUSTANGS ON BEING STATE CHAMPS AND FOR A GREAT SEASON!!!

THE DOME

2008-11-17T19:42:00.001-08:00

Once again, the Southern Cal Mustangs made it to the 1st round of playoffs at the UNI Dome on Friday, November 14th. We played the Madrid Tigers. Both teams were 11-1 on the season. For the 6th straight year, Shannon is once again one of the team statisticians. He loves helping the team and being part of the excitement of high school football!

Getting ready for the game...

Statistician & water boy (Bobby Boucher eat your heart out!)

Shannon consulting with a player, giving him the ol' pep talk ;)

Minutes before the start of the game - getting ready for the National Anthem.

The Lady Patriots are a group of girls (ranging from sophmores to seniors) that sing the national anthem for all of the Mustangs' events. Each year they get invited to sing at state sporting events such as the girls state basketball tournament, the state wrestling tournament & the state football playoffs at the UNI Dome. They are awesome!!

The tigers fought hard...

But in the end the Mustangs were victorious!!! We play for the championship on Friday, November 21st. There will be no school that day and I have taken the day off work - we will all be in attendance to watch the Mustangs take on Tama!!

Liv - in her fan attire

Liv and Shelby enjoying the game

October Happenings....

2008-11-08T11:22:00.000-08:00

Lost of things were happening in October & there never seemed to be any time to update my blog. Below are some of the things that made October so busy....

Zoe turned 7! The actual birthday party was pretty low-key, but turning 7 is a huge milestone! Zoe was pretty exited. She got to bring cupcakes to school & she helped me make her birthday cake (Liv did the decorations!).

Zoe started gymnastics in September. She really loves it & is a total natural!

Warming up...

Work on the bars - I'm not sure I could even hang on the bars, let alone hold my legs up for 10 seconds!

Liv was pretty vocal about her choice for President. Too bad she can't vote for another 3 years!

Each Halloween, the band dresses up in costume for the halftime show of the football game. They played the themes from Ghostbusters, Addams Family and the Munsters. Its really cute & they have a good time!

A lot of October was taken up with preparing for the haunted house. The hard work paid off, we had record crowds & brought in money and food items for local charities.

Awww, Zoe your 2-headed devil baby is adorable - but it looks like you need a manicure!

Getting into make-up....

Ready to scare...

What a lovely couple - Deven and Noel Blair.

The unholy trio!

The whole gang on opening night.

Zoe went as a princess for trick or treating, but was ready to scare when the sun went down. See what too much candy will do to you!!

Out & About

2008-10-01T19:56:00.000-07:00

Shannon is the Administrator of Shady Oaks Care Center in Lake City. On 9/26/08 Shady Oaks had its 40th anniversary. They had games, a cotton candy machine, and a bounce house for the kids. Plus a polka band (Yippee!) and good food for all.

Zoe admiring the fish pond.

Who doesn't want cake and ice cream!

This week is Southern Cal's homecoming. Tonight they had the coronation and skit competition. Last year, as a freshman, Liv's class won the skit competition. I think this year they have it in the bag! It was hilarious! Dress up tough football players as women and you are a shoe in!

The court...

This year's theme is "The Olympics". This is supposed to be Shawn Johnson - no offense to her!

Our guy "cheerleaders" decided to join the real squad for the school fight song.

Liv was the only girl in the skit group. She was in charge of music. Here she is with the group.

Good times, good times :)

Colorado Vacation

2008-09-22T18:50:00.000-07:00

Shannon's company has two conferences every year. The first one, in the spring, is all business & is always held at the company's corporate office in Omaha. The fall conference is usually more relaxed & is held somewhere fun & spouses get to come! This year, the conference was in Keystone, CO, a resort near Dillon, CO. Shannon & I had a really fun time while my Mom stayed with the girls. It was nice to have an entire week with no responsibilities & no kids! Below are some of the pictures from the trip (you always think you take more pictures than you really do).

This was the view from our hotel in Denver.

If you have never been to Casa Bonita in Denver, I really recommend it! It is cheese heaven!! It is a mexican restaurant & so much more! There are cliff divers, a gift shop, an arcade, a characturist and a lot of other stuff! It is absolutely huge inside! When I was a kid and we went here, it was the only thing around for miles. When I took Shannon and Liv here for the first time (in 2003) I discovered it is now in the middle of a strip mall! Urban sprall!! Whenever we visit Denver (or just drive through) we always make a point of stopping at Casa Bonita.

While Shannon was at conference, I took a road trip. I saw some really beautiful country. Too bad there was no one to share it with :(

This was outside of Leadville, Colorado.

I set the timer on my camera. I had never used the timer before & wasn't even sure I knew how! I'm kinda hunched over because I had to put the camera on a rock. The picture didn't turn out too bad??

These are the mountains that are over my shoulder in the last picture. I tried to zoom in to show how pretty it is, but the camera does not do it justice!

This was the resort where we stayed in Keystone, Colorado. Our room was in the pinkish building, the window right above the green sloping roof on the left side.

This was the view from our balcony.

This was another view from our balcony. The resort catered mostly to the winter crowd. They freeze this lake during the winter months and you can ice skate or play hockey.

We took our free day and went shopping in Breckenridge. It was about a 20 minute drive from our resort. Breckenridge is a BEAUTIFUL community with great shops! I would go back in a heartbeat!

We ate at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. They had this bench outside that had Forrest's nike shoes (that you can put your feet into), his suitcase & a box of chocolates. Forrest Gump is one of my ALL-TIME favorite movies, so eating here was a real hoot.

Shannon and Andy getting ready to enjoy shrimp anyway you can imagine - boiled shrimp, fried shrimp, shrimp k-bob, shrimp 'n potaters, shrimp cocktail....:)

Karen, James, Fay, Andy, Me and Shannon on the Continental Divide. This was only about 7 miles from our resort. However, the road was extremely twisty & there was a sheer drop off on my side of the car! (I had a minor panic attack!!! - Who knew I was so afraid of heights!!)

It was FREEZING!! I was NOT prepared - as you can see - so we took these few pictures & got back to the car with the heat on full blast!

On Wednesday, the whole gang went to the Country Boy Mine outside of Breckenridge. We got to tour the mine and have a barbeque. It was really fascinating!!

You can see Breckenridge's ski runs on the mountain behind Shannon. I'll bet its gorgeous in the winter!

Getting ready to head into the mine...
This was our guide, Larry. He was awesome - really knew how to tell a story! We went 1,100 ft into the mine with 900 ft of mountain over our heads! Larry let us feel how it was to be a miner (cold, damp), hear how it was to be a miner (he turned on the jackhammer & boy it was LOUD!) and see what it was like to be a miner (he shut the lights out - it was pitch BLACK!) After hearing Larry's story, I really don't know how anyone ever survived being a miner back in the day!! After the mine tour we got to pan for gold. One lady in the group actually got a fleck of gold in her pan!!

Fashonista!

James, Shannon and Andy - being goofs!

One of the ways to get back to your car, at the end of the night, was to go down this 500 ft. slide. It was like a water slide, without the water - oh, and it was pitch black!! The only thing you could see were the sparks coming off your clothes (from the static electricity) as you slid down the tube. It was a blast!

The only bad part was before you actually got to the end of the slide, you came to an abrupt stop. I guess that is better that flying out the end of the tube!

You had to wiggle down to the end of the slide & if you didn't move fast enough, the guys were there to pull you out by your feet!! I haven't laughed so hard in a long time!!!

Our last night at the resort....

and this is what we woke up to! Didn't we just get rid of the white stuff??

The driving conditions were a little hazardous! I think they got a total of 6 inches of snow in the area that we stayed.
Later in the afternoon, the sun came back out & most of the snow stayed above the 10,000 ft elevations.

We went home through Estes Park. This was just one of the many breathtaking views. Unfortunately the camera does not do the scenery justice!

When we got to Estes Park, we decided to stay at the famous (or infamous) Stanley Hotel. It is a beautiful, old hotel that is haunted. This hotel was Stephen King's inspiration for his novel "The Shining". Not only did they film the tv version of "The Shining" at this hotel, but also one of our all time favorite tv programs - Ghost Hunters - did a show here! We were very excited to stay the night & we were hoping we would have our own ghostly experience!!

This is the view from the front lawn of the hotel - WOW!!

This is the grand staircase in the main lobby.

I guess I'm not really dressed for this type of elegance!!

The stairway & architecture of this hotel is fabulous!!

This is the room that Stephen King stayed in (not to mention a whole host of other famous people) when he got the idea to write "The Shining".

Legend has it that ghost-children roam the halls on the 4th floor. As luck would have it, our room was number 410!! I tried to provoke the children into showing themselves, but I had no luck!

There was a 52" flat screen tv mounted in our room and on one of the channels, they play the movie of "The Shining" 24 hrs a day.
Another view of our room. It was not very big, but what it lacked in size it made up in atmosphere!!

Our bathroom.
I thought I would try and scare Shannon....it didn't work!

This was the view from our room. I don't think you would ever get tired of looking out your window!!

Gorgeous!!

I hated to leave this beautiful view, but it was back to the real world

New School Year

2008-08-20T17:25:00.000-07:00

And so it begins again...the new school year started today. The girls were super excited to get back to school & see their friends. I, however, was not quite ready for this year to start! My 6th grade teacher once said, 'the older you get, the faster time flies'. At the time I thought he was a crazy old man, now I realize he was a WISE, crazy old man! I can't believe Liv is a sophmore this year!! I remember my sophmore year in high school with (rose-colored) clarity. After a very nutritious breakfast of a chicken patty (for Zoe) and a hot dog (for Liv) - Hey, Betty Crocker, I ain't (HA!!)- they were off to school. We are all going to try to make the best of this year...but hang on cause its gonna be a bumpy ride!!

Liv wearing her "the office" t-shirt - her favorite show. She just bought season 3 & has pre-ordered season 4.

I wanted to get a good picture of these nice white tennis shoes, cause I probably won't ever see them again! They will be dirty & scuffed by the end of the day :( Zoe is very excited to start 1st grade!!

We had to talk Zoe into getting that book bag, but now she won't stop carrying it around!

Here's to another school year......

Update on Haunted House

2008-08-20T17:17:00.001-07:00

The crew has been working so hard on the haunted house! The short squad was even recruited to help out! It's been 24/7, all haunted house, all the time!! Every day its a new idea or a new costume!

Our friend's son, Tristan, was helping build a wall. Bob Villa eat your heart out.

Shannon & Jason working hard???

Peek-a-boo

2008 Iowa State Fair

2008-08-10T16:36:00.000-07:00

Liv, Shannon & Zoe at the capital bright & early Sunday morning.

Liv, Zoe & I on the capital steps, waiting for the bus to take us to the fair.

Zoe driving a humvee

Wacky, waivable, inflatable, arm-flailing tube man! Wacky, waivable, inflatable, arm-flailing tube man! Wacky, waivable, inflatable, arm-flailing tube man! (sorry, inside joke with Liv!)

Zoe was fascinated by the state's largest boar - Frieght Train - he weighs in at a mere 1,259 lbs!

This is a 3,000 lb bull! Amazing! Huge! Scary!

Local "it" girl, Shawn Johnson imortalized in butter!

Gotta love the butter cow! Open your eyes, Zoe! You have to see the butter cow to believe it!!

Ringing the bell , time for class in the old fashioned, one room school house.

I tried to explain to Zoe that years ago, all the students in school were in one classroom (K-12). She was pretty surprised. I think she is happy with her more modern school!

Zoe, playing in the bubbles

Due to the nice weather, the fair was extra crowded today. There had to be at LEAST 200,000 people there!

Shannon & Zoe trying out the "Old Mill"ride.

Liv spent some time helping a friend work at a shop in the cattle pavilion. Retail may be her new passion.

We decided to brave the crowds & go to this year's Iowa State Fair. We got to Des Moines at 8am ready to see all the sights. We saw amazing livestock (real & carved in dairy products), local talent on the Bill Reilly stage, rode the tram (where I almost had a panic attack, who knew I am now afraid of heights! when did that happen!), ate fatty cholesterol laden food and did my favorite thing...people watching!. All-in-all I think we had a pretty fun day.

Haunted House in the making

2008-08-08T17:33:00.000-07:00

The crew has been working very hard to get everything ready for this season's haunted house. & this year promises to bring the scariest haunted house yet! More pictures will be posted of the progress.

midnight book release party

2008-08-08T16:16:00.000-07:00

Liv and I went to the Borders in Ames on Friday, August 1st, to the release party for "Breaking Dawn" by Stephenie Meyer. They had activities, games & prizes til midnight, then the book was released at 12:01 a.m. We were both very excited & we had a good time! Liv stayed up ALL night & finished the book! That's 700+ pages in only 5 hrs!

Shannon's Fishing Trip

2008-06-29T20:49:00.000-07:00

Shannon and they guys on their annual fishing trip. This year the gang went to the boundry waters (Rainy Lake, Minnesota). Caught lots of fish and had a great time!

Buck (aka Bocephus)

The guys enjoying weiser & 7

Shannon, Kurt, Buck, Keith, Ryan & Mark at the Island View Lodge

Boys on the party barge

Shannon enjoying the sunset on Rainy Lake

Kurt pointing the way

View, from the boat, of the lodge

Ryan (aka the Pike Slayer)

Reardon catches a nice 3.5 lb. smallmouth

Shannon's first pike

Ungrund heading toward the boat after a great shore lunch.

Kurt & Shannon at their annual fishing trip

Kurt catches a nice pike

A view from the camp

Kurt & Shannon hangin out at camp

Shannon's first slot walleye (23")

Dino and Dennis - the guides - Love those bacon & onion sandwiches!

Guys at the shore lunch

Kurt with a 24" walleye

Kurt with a 29" northern pike

Guys playing bags

Ryan & Kurt's scramble

2008-06-06T20:09:00.001-07:00

This was Ryan and Kurt's motorcycle scramble. Looked like they were having fun, until someone...Ryan...hit a tree - OUCH thats gotta smart!! He has a bad sprain, but he should be ok. He said he would race again! Crazy!

Ryan & Kurt's visit to Lake City

2008-06-06T20:06:00.000-07:00

Ryan and Kurt came to stay one night with us before their big motorcycle scramble. I didn't get many pictures, as you can see, but we had some pizza, bags and a bonfire. FUN!

Zoe's T-Ball game

2008-06-06T20:02:00.000-07:00

Zoe riding her new motorcyle

2008-05-14T19:54:00.000-07:00

It took a little coaxing...Ok A LOT of coaxing...but Zoe FINALLY decided to ride her motorcyle. I think we might have a hard time keeping her off of it now!

Chalk Zone

2008-05-14T19:26:00.000-07:00

Liv and Zoe and their chalk counterparts!

Liv's Confirmation

2008-05-14T18:45:00.000-07:00

On 4.24.08 Liv made her confirmation. She was called on by the bishop to answer questions about being a Catholic and why she was making her confirmation. She did very well! I think I was more nervous than she was!

1st Soccer Game - Go Team!!

2008-05-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

4.9.08 It was freezing for Zoe's first soccer game. I think the high was 37 degrees!! Still, Zoe played awesome! She even got to play goalie.

Soccer

2008-03-30T15:55:00.001-07:00

Zoe will be starting soccer next week & she is more than ready! Running like crazy & kicking things??? Sounds like Zoe's cup of tea! Liv and Shannon have been helping her get ready.

Liv's Pirate Life

2008-03-30T15:39:00.001-07:00

Liv was in the spring play at school. It was called "A Pirate's Life for Me". It was a musical & it was awesome! Liv was part of the Pirate Queen's crew.

Ready to Ride

2008-03-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

Liv's New Do

2008-03-20T19:56:00.001-07:00

Is it Spring time yet??

2008-03-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

The weather was so nice today, I can almost imagine Spring is right around the corner. Liv got out her new toy & she can't hardly wait to actually ride it! Zoe tried riding her bike, but with all the snow & ice melting, it was hard to find dry pavement!

Zoe's Spring Program

2008-03-12T19:51:00.001-07:00

Zoe had her kindergarten program and she was so excited! She recently lost her first tooth, so she had fun showing that off as well.

Zoe getting ready to start singing

Showing off her one front tooth!!

WHAT ARE THESE??

the Glockenspiel

The last song...it was a really nice program!

Liv's Spring Vocal Concert

2008-03-12T19:09:00.000-07:00

This is just a sample of one of the songs Liv performed with the choir for the Spring Vocal Concert. This was Liv's favorite. I don't have much memory on my camera for video, so unfortuately the song is cut off before the end :( Liv is on the right, 3rd row (behind the girl that is 2nd over from the piano). She is kinda hiding - they should put the short people in the front row!!

Christmas Eve - hangin at home

2008-02-25T19:26:00.000-08:00

Good Times, Good Times....

2008-02-25T19:23:00.000-08:00

"what him say???"

Liv's mime group

GET SOME

Back where it all started...

cookin in the kitchen

i think its snowing??

angel or.....

devil

Pete and repeat

Sno-coming

Heyyyyy

I'm going in

young diva

new teenage fashion statement

yo adrian!

Lazy Saturday

2008-02-25T19:17:00.000-08:00

The girls and I were bored one Saturday and we decided to give the girls needed rock -n- roll mohawks! Perfect for guitar hero...

skiing & tubing in boone

2008-02-25T19:09:00.001-08:00

Since the midwest is suffering through the longest & coldest winter we have seen in a long, long while, we decided to make the best of it and go skiing/tubing. It was a balmy 6 degrees under a bright, full moon last Friday night as we made our way to Seven Oaks in Boone, IA. We had a blast! Zoe, Shannon and I all took our lives in our hands and went tubing! Zoe showed no fear, but it took me awhile to work up the courage to take on the "mountain". I have to say...it was a lot of fun!!

skiing & tubing in boone

2008-02-25T19:05:00.000-08:00

Alex and Aaron in the lodge - warming up - BRRRRR!

Aaron took a tumble....

We like to call Susan by her new name - Peekaboo Street!

Liv looking cool

2008-02-25T18:49:00.000-08:00

skiing & tubing in boone

2008-02-25T18:46:00.000-08:00

Liv, Shannon and I in our winter finery!

Zoe is being pulled up the "mountain" - she was fearless!

Shannon's turn!!

Shannon is on the left & Zoe is on the right - looks like Zoe is winning!

FAMILY

2007-12-08T16:12:00.001-08:00

Alex & Aaron

Mary Jo, Grandma Ryan, Shirley & Phyllis

Zoe & Liv in their Halloween costumes

Aaron, Andy & Alex - daredevils!

not their best side??

thats better!

Sue & Shirley

Liv & Alex being dorks

Paige & Liv

Rush, Aaron, Liv, Alex, Rachel, Andy & Regan

Zoe & Grandma Shirley

Kurt, Ryan, Liv & Alex

Liv & Andy

Shea & Phyllis

Katie, Kelsy & Courtney

Shannon, Ryan & Alex

Shea & Susan

Aaron & Liv

Liv & Grandma Shirley

Kelly, Susan & Kelsy

Liv & Shelby (my daughter from another mother)

Jack & Shirley

Sue & Kurt

Day at the Omaha Zoo

2007-12-08T15:58:00.000-08:00

Zoe had fun riding the giraffe

Liv jumped on next...

and takes off after Zoe - aaaaah!

but Zoe gets her revenge in the end!

the girls in the jungle

Liv at the touch tank

Liv, Zoe & their penguin counterparts

Liv facinated at the aquarium

Shannon & Zoe at the zebra exhibit

great picture of the giraffe exhibit

Haunted House

2007-12-08T15:21:00.000-08:00

Last minute instructions...

Liv's friends came from Carroll to get scared!

The whole creepy crew

Kyle, Liv & a demonic baby

Local photographer, Tony Evans, took a few photos:
Liv as Samara from "The Ring"

Kyle keeping the crowd (Justin Peter) in hand...

The Lake City Haunted House completed its 2nd successful season this year. For 2 nights in October, this bunch does their best to scare the living daylights out of all who dare enter. Liv and Shannon are in the front row. Liv in the long black hair was the girl from "The Ring" and Shannon is next to her in the old man mask - scary!!

Zoe in the fast lane

2007-12-08T14:12:00.001-08:00

Zoe in the snowie

Zoe & Caleb on a car date!

Zoe, Aaron & Deklyn at the bowling alley

Zoe at State Football

Aaron, Zoe & Paige - hamming it up!

Zoe was a cheerleader for Halloween this year - Go Team!

Zoe

Liv's Life

2007-12-08T14:07:00.000-08:00

Liv & Chrissy

LC gangstas

Hellooooo is anyone in there??

Liv, contemplating life

Liv & the gang at a mustang's football game

Taylor & Liv in a tree

Taylor, Liv, Chrissy & Jessie

Kyle, Wil & Liv

Chrissy, Taylor, Liv & Melissa

Liv

2007 Ryan Christmas

2007-12-08T13:53:00.000-08:00

Shirley & Kelly

Aaron, Andy, Susan, Alex & Mick - such a happy family!

Phyllis, Debbie, Shea, Shirley & Jack

Shannon teaching Zoe to bowl

2007-12-08T13:39:00.000-08:00

Kelly, Rachel, Rush, Sue, Alex, Mick and Susan

Andy, Liv and Alex

Rachel & Liv

Andy & Liv

2007-12-08T13:38:00.000-08:00

Sue & Ryan (looking his best, as usual)

Ted, Patty, Debbie & John

Justin, Kelsy, Courtney, Nathan, Debbie, Bryan and Katie

Mary Jo & Grandma

The Cornish Family

2007-12-08T13:37:00.000-08:00

Charlie's Angels - eat your heart out!

2007-12-08T13:30:00.000-08:00

Susan tall

Susan small!

We always have a blast at Grandma Ryan's Bowling Christmas. Grandma rents out the local bowling alley and we have the run of the place for 4 hours. The kids go nuts and the adults have time to catch up without interruption. Too bad its only once a year!

Southern Cal at State Football Playoffs

2007-12-08T13:20:00.000-08:00

Shannon & other coaches pre-game

Liv & Shelby - super fans!

Zoe

Liv

Shannon has helped the Mustangs for the past 5 years as the team statitician. The past 2 years the Mustangs have made it to the state playoffs at the University of Northern Iowa "UNI" dome. This year, Zoe and I went to the game. Unfortunately the Mustangs lost in the semi-finals, but it was very exciting and fun!!

first day with the new toy

2007-12-08T13:08:00.000-08:00

This is Shannon's new Christmas/Birthday present. Even though the weather is not cooperating, Shannon doesn't seem to mind when it comes to riding his new toy.