WICKED!

A few months ago, a friend of mine, Lisa, sent out an email asking if anyone was interested in going to see Wicked--suggesting we make it a girls' night out.

I was super excited!

Jeff was super excited, too. Yeah, he totally wanted to crash the girls' night! I also invited my sister, gave a ticket to my niece for her birthday, and invited an old friend.

Last night was THE night!!

I was so excited! This is the first Broadway play I'd ever seen. We've been to a couple other plays but nothing with this much acclaim.

I was also excited because the old friend I invited was my roommate in the summer of 1997...and that was the last time I'd seen her. Reconnecting with old friends is always such great fun!!

Jeff and I grabbed some dinner at Mackenzie's before the show. It was conveniently located right next door to the theater. My friend, Heather, joined us, and then my sister and niece joined us, too.

Wicked was showing at the Orpheum theater in Minneapolis. What a gorgeous theater! We'd never been inside this theater before. I had no idea how big and old it was. Today, I had to look up the history of the theater. Fascinating! It originally opened in 1921. Jeff figured it was so old by noticing that it the lighting had been converted from gas lamps to electrical fixtures. The Hennepin Theater Trust actually gives tours of their theaters (including the Orpheum). I'd definitely LOVE to take one of those tours.

The play was fantastic! We were in the center of the very back row, so definitely not the best seats in the house. I still enjoyed the play immensely. I especially loved the storyline. It was incredible! I loved the little twists and turns and the tie-ins to the Wizard of Oz. I loved the music and the acting! I loved the fun company of the people I went with.

There were 20 or so of us that went together as a group. I didn't get a chance to socialize with them all, but it was definitely worth the group rate!
:))

Overall, it was a fabulous evening out! Thanks, Lisa, for organizing it all!

Back to Blogging: A Title I Am Particularly Proud Of - "Tuesday, November 04, 2008 - "Tragic Ending to our House Hunting Saga"

NOTE: As part of SITS Back to Blogging event, here's one of my best titles (certainly not a blogging strongpoint of mine). This was originally posted on November 4, 2008. We have since moved away from the apartment. :-)

After much back and forth with the City of St Paul, we decided to forego buying a house and continue renting.


Luckily, it only took less than a week of searching on Craigslist to find a fantastic place.

Our new address is:
2254 Benson Ave
Unit E
St Paul MN 55116

We have conveniently relocated to the W 7th area. We're about 10 min from school, 10 min from my parent's house, and 15 min from church. Perfectly located!

We rented a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom condo from a nice young couple. It's an upstairs condo, and we're nearly completely moved in. Everything's here but not quite unpacked just yet.

Of course, Sallie moved with us. There was no way we were going to give her up. She's way too cute and adorable, so that was one of our criteria in our apartment search. She's adjusted very well to our new place. While we are nestled in between two very busy streets, our condo is located in a wooded area right next to the railroad tracks and lots of other housing complexes. It's very residential, and Sallie loves going for walks.

Back to Blogging: A Post I Wish More People Had Read - "Talking with Sallie"

NOTE: This was originally posted on December 24, 2008. As part of SITS Return to Blogging event, I'm posting this post. I wish more people had viewed it, because it's so funny to see Jeff and Sallie singing together. We often bring this video up whenever we want to show off how awesome our little girl is.



Back to Blogging: The First Post I Ever Wrote - "Welcome!"

As part of SITS Back to Blogging event, I am re-posting my very first blog entry for the Dodson Journal! This was originally posted on February 27, 2006.

Clarinda decided she should do some updates to our website this morning. She was shocked and appalled to discover that we hadn't made any updates since November! That is such a shame...

In light of this, we've decided that our website is too cumbersome and difficult to update frequently. We checked out a friend's blog and thought that might be the way for us to go, too. We hope to keep this updated much more frequently. We'll shoot for once a week, but hopefully at least a few times each month.

We haven't decided yet if we will try to update this retroactively or just going forward--probably a little of both.
 
While I have much enjoyed this blogging experience, I doubt that I've kept up with it nearly as well as my intentions were in Feb 2006! There have been several stints where this blog has been severely neglected. Perhaps Back to Blogging will inspire me to keep up with it.

Camping - Afton State Park

We went camping this past weekend with some friends of ours. It was so much fun. We've really discovered that we enjoy camping. This was our second trip with summer! :-)

This particular campsite was a hike-in. It was rough, as there was quite the hill to traverse before getting to our site. With all our gear (yes, we did try to pack light), it was quite strenuous, and we were pretty pooped by the end.

So, what do you do after hard work like that?

Reward ourselves with a fire!

Enjoying the fire

What's done there, Sallie?

The next morning, we all went for a walk around the park. Afton State Park certainly is beautiful. The clear, blue skies and perfect temps probably helped a lot, too.

Sallie leading the way!

We came across this little log shelter. Not sure what it's purpose is exactly, but we thought it would was a great photo opp.

Our friends

Next to that little shelter, there was this cool brick wall.

Another photo opp?

Yes, indeed!

The Dodsons...and Sallie (of course)

At the end of our little morning hike, there was a beautiful look-out.

Jeff's turn

Clarinda's turn

Here's what we saw. Gorgeous!

I love this pic of Sallie! She looks like she's about to chase after something.

Family Vacation 2010: Big Lake

We just got back from our 3rd annual family vacation up north. As usual it was so absolutely gorgeous up there.

Day 1

We picked up the rental car in the morning and then drove to pick up Trevor and his girls. I sat in the back seat with them. It was a little squishy but not too bad. We met up with the family near Hinckley (about half-way) for a late lunch.

Shortly after that, we realized that Chelsea (my brother's girlfriend) was driving all by herself since she wasn't staying the entire week. I offered to ride with her, so she wouldn't be as bored. ☺ It was very fun to talk and get to know her better.

We arrived late in the afternoon, after driving the 4-5 hour drive. We didn't do much that day. Just settled into our cabins. Relaxed.

Day 2

Trevor, Dan, Chelsea, Jeff and I decided to tackle the BWCAW via canoe. This is something we'd been saying we'd do every year! There is an access point at the other side of the lake from the lodge. We didn't make it very far into the Boundary Waters, but it was a lot of fun.

There were SO many water lilies and lily pads. I really wanted a picture.
Unfortunately, this was the best I was able to get.

Trevor kayaking into the BWCAW

Dan & Chelsea

Day 3
We drove to Bass Lake and hiked the trail to Dry Falls. It's not a very long hike, but it is quite rugged! Most everyone went on this outing. Most of those who went jumped into the lake, too. It was COLD, but the water coming off the falls was so very warm. Delightfully warm. It was so fun to go swimming in that big beautiful lake. And lounge in the warmth of the waterfall. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera on this outing (or just didn't take any pics).

Day 4
Another day for hiking. We tried a new trail. I can't remember which one. I think we  probably walked in about a mile or so. Rested for awhile, and then returned back to our cars and the lodge.

Grandpa pointing something out to the girls.

We didn't bring any water bowls for the dogs, so they got to drink right out of Dad's hands.

We had to cross a little foot bridge on our hike, so I made everyone stop on our way back to get a picture of all the hikers.

If you look real close up the trail, you'll see a speck of black. That's my sister. I wasn't really feeling the brisk pace they set, so I lagged behind with Sallie.
Soaking in the beauty of my surroundings.
 Also helping to prevent Sallie from getting tangled in everyone's heels.

Day 5
We mostly hung out on the pontoon this day. We had the pontoon all week, but Jeff and I hadn't spent much time on it prior to this day.

I love the look of the sunlight on Big Lake.

I found The Lovely Bones in the little lending library at the lodge. I was quite glued to it for most of the trip. I wasn't sure I'd like it but was quickly sucked in. I would definitely recommend this book!

Sallie lounging on the pontoon.

Day 6
Bass Lake was so awesome back on Day 3 that we decided to go back again. It was a very small group this time - just Jeff, me, Trevor, and Tatiana. This time we brought (and used) the camera.

View of Bass Lake from up on the hiking trail

Jeff the Conqueror ☺
Bass Lake near Dry Falls

Rushing torrent of Dry Falls (taken while out in Bass Lake. We ♥ our tough camera)
The Falls were COLD and flowing at what seemed a mere trickle compared to just two days before.
It was a little disappointing.

Tatiana swimming

Clarinda swimming.
I don't know what it was but both times we went, I loved swimming so much that I just didn't want to get out.
(I think I swam more in Bass Lake in those two days than in Big Lake all the other days combined.)

Until I saw this guy. Then I was pretty much DONE with swimming (at least that day. in Bass Lake).

While we were swimming, Trevor was exploring.
He found the reason why the falls had shriveled.
A beaver dam. ☺

Day 7
On our last day, the entire family took the pontoon out to an island for lunch. It was fun to hike around the island. The lodge has a camping site on this particular island, so there was an easy place to dock the pontoon. (The camping site was very nice as well: a mess tent for cooking and a couple sleeping tents with cots.)

Sallie rolling around

Mmm...there's the scent!

Guess I should roll around on it again. ☺

Treva looking out at the lake

What perfect form!

Shortly after our lunch on the island, Jeff, Trevor and his girls, and I loaded up the rental car and headed back to the cities. Everyone else returned the next afternoon.

Until next time...we ♥ you Big Lake Wilderness Lodge!

Good-bye, Frannie!

We're sure gonna miss you!

We welcomed the Franster into our lives in May 2008, but on Sunday, we said our final good-byes.

She was a good car, and we had some really fun times with her.

But now she is gone, and we are sad.

But also very excited about this new stage in our lives...without a car.

We're looking forward to a much healthier, lower stress life.

We'll be biking around town. Yep, even for groceries.

We're looking forward to exploring our neighborhood more and discovering all the fun local shops within biking distance.

We've decided to live a simpler life here in St Paul where we're not all-consumed with material things.

We're gonna focus more on us and our relationship and the beauty of the world around us.

Wish us luck in our new endeavor!

PURGING

Jeff and I are making the move to a more simplistic, less materialistic lifestyle.

We're hoping to enter the Peace Corps in two years when we've both finished our programs at school. We're really excited, but we know that it will definitely take some adjusting, so we're beginning the process now.

Last weekend, we sold

Nintendo Wii Console With Wii Sports Game + 7 other & Wii Fit

Play Station 3 (40 gb) In Perfect Condition

Black & Decker Power Tool Set

Double Doored TV Stand / Cabinet

AND

Great couch / earthy tones

We're still hoping to sell many more items like our car and our TV.

It's hard letting go! But also freeing. :-)

I'm loving the look of our much more minimalistic living room. There is so much space without a couch or a TV! It's actually very comforting.

I've been neglectful...

I usually spend most of my time updating my personal blog instead of this family.

Jeff and I have had so many fun, amazing adventures, and you all are missing out! (I know I have NO ONE to blame but myself for this, but still...)

Hopefully, not for too much longer.

I vow to begin updating this blog much more regularly.

Look forward now to some backward momentum. I'll start with June 2010 and work backward through time. I think I'll even post-date these, so I don't look like such a slacker!

Enjoy!

Camping with Friends

This past weekend, we went camping with some good friends!

It was our first camping trip, well, ever.

Other than the KOAs when we moved from Oregon back to Minnesota.

It was really fun to relax in the outdoors with another couple.

And Sallie, of course!

Here are a few more pictures from our overnight camp-out.

Jeff deep in thought

Making lunch the next day

Being a good girl while we packed everything up.

We had hoped to go canoeing while we were out camping, but due to some inclement weather, we decided to just head back to the Cities. The weather had been much worse closer to home, but it had pretty much cleared up by the time we'd returned. We took a short canoe trip down Minnehaha before ending our camping trip.

Despite a bit of rain, it was a great weekend!

Graduation Season

This was quite the year for graduations in our family!

My brother graduated from the University of MN.

May 21, 2010

Here's the whole crew that came out to his commissioning ceremony to an officer in the US Marine Corps.

(Actually there were about 5 more people that weren't in the pic

 that came out to celebrate, too)

Congratulations, Corey!

Next up...my niece graduated from 8th grade. She wrote a speech that was selected to be given during the ceremony. She did an awesome job!!

June 4, 2010

Congratulations, Selena!!

Third on the docket was my sister's graduation from Saint Mary's University. B.S. in Business.

June 6, 2010

Way to go, Treva! (Isn't she gorgeous!)

Last but certainly not least...my nephew's graduation from high school.

June 13, 2010

You're awesome, Emillio! We're so proud of you.

Curious about the leis? My sister-in-law made them for each of the graduates. Aren't they fun?! Emillio received about 5 or so more, filled with candy.

Orange Glow

I looked out the window tonight around 9pm, and there was a fantastically orange glow. After a few minutes, I asked Jeff if he'd looked out the window.

He hadn't.

Once we both were aware of the eery beauty that was outside, we threw Sallie's leash on her and took a little family walk across the street to campus.

Naturally the pictures don't really do it much justice.

You'll have to just trust me that it was gorgeous. and oh, so eery.

We can't forget Sallie.

Isn't she the cutest?!

Less than 15 minutes after coming back inside, it was pitch black!