Reflection of Our Time in Mpls/St. Paul

We leave on 12.31.13. Sheesh, time flies when you have such an adventure ahead of you. For those that I have not mentioned to, Caleb is getting smarter these days as he pursues a Masters in Prosthetics/Orthodics at Northwestern University in Downtown Chicago. He has been doing double duty the last 6 months from working 40 hours and then committing 20+ hours a week to do online classes. Starting on January 6th, Caleb will go to the the old 'Playboy Building' to learn with others in a classroom setting. How long will we be gone? Well, honestly, maybe forever. We do not know but for those that hate that idea, we will be back the soonest in July of 2015. Not too long, right? (that is to all our besties who dread us leaving.)

Reflection on leaving:
Caleb arrived to this scandinavian land in August of 2006 and really never left other that for visits. I have been here on a off, depending on the school season, since August of 2007.  For both of us, this is our home. This is what we know life to look like. Our friends are here and this is where our family labels us being from. Caleb remembers the year without me being here as dreadful (right, hunny?) but refreshing to be away from home. I remember the first year of me being here with nothing but Caleb being in my life. We have had our first date at Applebee's playing paper football and not communicating unless things got TOO awkward. We have experienced Arden Hall at seperate times but some of the best of times. We have our first apartment here together that we love. We have celebrated life together countless times as we experience this city more and more.

We have had the best times with the friends that we have met. Caleb claims he will never find anymore friends because he already has his friends. "Why find more if I like what I got?" He tells me about leaving his friends. My friends? I rather not bring it up due to my tears forming but they are the best of the best too. I love meeting new people but leaving my friends is the only hesitation of getting my house put into boxes.

Why are we pumped to leave in lieu of all these memories and people? Well, Caleb and I are obsessed with adventures, especially adventures together. We get to pick up our life we love and move it to a place we both really love. I love Chicago due to family (multiple household) being within an hour of me and the many trips my mom has taken me on to the Magnificent Mile and beyond. Caleb loves it for his nephew, Miles, yes BUT he really is looking forward to going to all the Bears games his little allowance will allow him. My boy is obsessed with those muscular monster men of the Midway. We will honestly enjoy our moments we share in Chicago and we are not ruling out staying there for awhile if Caleb is able to find a job. We never rule anything out until that door closes.

Please enjoy memories of MSP as seen by photos:

Our memories:

Laura's Memories:        

Caleb's Memories:

The Start of Celebration

Before we left the Dells to come back from Thanksgiving vacation we stopped at the Hess home (my bff from Wis Dells' parent's house) to find a wild tree in the woods. This was harder than it seems seeing that trees are not as pretty when no one looks at them for years on end. Needless to say we found one, it is a wild tree. That is for certain. When we got home we decorated that sucker and called it good. Caleb is not in love with the spirit of the tree like I am so please be kind to him as you tell him how awesome all your trees are. This is his favorite season after all. Please enjoy our tree in its finest state along with the decor of our home.

Home to Stuff the Turkey

For turkey consumption day (Thanksgiving) Caleb and I went to my mom's to celebrate.

The night before we left we had our own turkey dinner AKA turkey legs on the grill and this is what came out of that night: pure carnivore-looking entertainment.

We went to mom's the following day and were gone for a while. It felt weird to visit for so long, Tuesday night until Sunday morning. There was plenty that we did including going to three movies, "Last Vegas", "Frozen", and "Hunger Games 2". I would have to say that I liked Frozen the most and I would recommend it to ANYONE who loves cute humor. That snowman in the movie just made my side hurt from giggles. Last Vegas was actually quit funny but due to the setting in being in Vegas, there was some pretty raunchy moments. I am not a huge fan of Hunger Games so it was just ho-hum to me but rumor is it is a great movie so I am in the bandwagon. This Hunger Games was way more about behind the games instead of an entire movie at the games.

My mom is a huge movie watcher so when we were not at the theater we were watching movies at home or playing games with the kiddos. My aunt came to Thanksgiving with her 4 kids who range from 9 until 16 years old. It is great to see them but in doses, they are a pretty rowdy crowd.

We also went Black Friday shopping for ourselves and not others which was very fun. I was able to get clothes for myself for the first time in a very long time. I was able to hang out with my besties I had in High School which was such a pleasant surprise. They totally bring me back to where I was in high school and I really enjoyed my time chit-chatting and a lil of gossiping. Oops.

Please enjoy our pictures of the season we just celebrated.

I did cut my hair off on that Wednesday so
this is a pic before I left to the hair salon.

8 inches cut off , baby! Only for Lock of Love.
This organization is the only reason
I grow my hair out.

Caleb, the pilgrim peeling potatoes.
What a man!

He has a massive beard. Like Honest Abe.

We came home a tad early to do this: Bears vs. Vikings Game. He loves the Bears, I tolerate the Bears.

Weekend in Chicago = Mo Run 2013

The second weekend in November the Klinge family went to Chicago to run a race in honor of brother Nathan who just was told he is "in the clear" from cancer. WOOT! Caleb and I also went down a day early to look at apartments and I had a job interview. News on both, we dont have either,  YET. Fingers are crossed on both.

Please enjoy the photo montage father Paul kindly sent to us. Thanks, dad.

This is normal chaos of being a Klinge.
We rented a house seven blocks from Nathan and Kelly...
best decision EVER!

Getting our "moustache" on before the race

Kelly was asked to speak about Nathan's journey, I cried.
Big whoop, it is a presh story.

Cheering on the family at the finish line.

We be done racing.

Helping Anna across the finish line.

Playing "Headbanz" with Miles.

Making dinner as a family. A crowded, big family.

Watching the Bears game as a family.
I did watch the Packers, on the iPad.