The Dettinger Family

Best Friend - once removed?

2008-06-08T06:31:00.000-07:00

Ok - those of you who know me, know that Elizabeth & I talk on the phone, on average, about 25 times a day (I'm exaggerating a little, it's closer to 50, but don't tell Jake)
Her sis, Ginny, is on the other end, and talks to Betsy the rest of the minutes in the day, or maybe it's the other way 'round.
I think that makes Gin my best friend, once removed? My Morman friends can correct me on the correct genealogical term.
Anywho, she is hilarious, and a great writer, so check out her blog at :

http://stealthy-cat.blogspot.com/2008/06/what-is-turd.html

Maybe it's the fact I've been on my own for 3 days (for the THIRD STRAIGHT WEEKEND!) But, I laughed so hard I cried!

I miss my blog!

2008-05-29T13:31:00.001-07:00

Hopefully, if you are reading this - you will enjoy the new post! I have been biiiiiii-Z lately, with gardening and more gardening!
Here are a couple of pics of the kids with their cousins - Lindsey babysat last week while Castle had his tests at the Clinic (Note: If your child ever pees blood, call the Dr.)
Everything ended up being fine - thank God! But it was a little scary!
So lucky to have our cousins so close --Hope to have more garden project pics up soon!

Happy Birthday, Castle!

2008-05-01T20:37:00.001-07:00

Castle is 3 years old today - officially a big-boy, today he ate a special breakfast of French Toast & fresh-squeezed OJ, and spent the morning at work with Dad.
After we picked him up, I took the kids swimming at the Y for the morning, and Castle swam all by himself! Big first on a big day.
The past 3 years have gone by so fast - I am so lucky to have more time now with Jake than I did when Castle was first born and I was frantically adjusting to having 2 kids while Jake worked 85 hour weeks...but it has made us stronger, and appreciate our time even more, and given us strength for our new endeavors... What a great day.
In honor of the day, here is Castle's birth story... Enjoy!

Crunchy Conservative...

2008-04-28T21:05:00.000-07:00

...who said Republicans don't care about our environment?!
This was not merely a contrived political photo op, either -- we had a great time planting trees at the Groth farmstead. Our kids loved it too -- here are some pics of Fiona & Charlotte, being best friends.

He's Endorsed!

2008-04-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

As of this past Saturday, Jake is officially the endorsed Republican candidate to challenge the Democrats this November for the MN House of Representatives seat.
After speaking at the endorsing convention, there was a lengthy open question and answer session that had me sweating (but not Jake!) and it ended with a vote to endorse!
Brian D***s, our candidate for US Congress, gave a nice endorsement speech for Jake. Thank you to our other supporters - we literally couldn't have done it without you!
Now the work begins, as we need to make a plan to win this thing! Jake is headed up to St. Paul tomorrow, to spend the day with another representative to sit in on some debates.
Congratulations sweetheart!

"I don't understand women" - every man (& Castle)

2008-04-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

Fiona was explaining *something* to her friend, Abby at the 4th Avenue house today... Castle was trying to wrap his head around it. Very funny, very cute, very typical...

MY FRIEND JEN IS AMAZING!

2008-04-19T20:05:00.000-07:00

Check out this blog entry by my friend, Jen Schultz
http://genesisphotography.wordpress.com
She is an amazing artist and I can't wait to frame some of these photos for our house. If anyone is looking for a family photographer, I can't recommend her enough.
We love you Jen!

Saturday - Family Fun Day!

2008-04-19T19:47:00.000-07:00

Morning cartoons, Kutzky Park Cleanup Day, thrift saling with Grandma Sally & Grandpa Tom, and an afternoon at the Groth farm planting trees, flying kites & eating cupcakes & ice cream.
A supreme fantasy day dream by Fiona or Castle? Nope - it's just what we did today. It was busy and really fun. The kids were great, and boy, can they pick up garbage!
Oh, and when we got home, we made homemade pizza and played with worms in the backyard.

Spring has Sprung!

2008-04-18T21:25:00.000-07:00

Ok - After many weeks of wishing for spring and not doing a whole lot around the house, I am energized! It's like 50 degree weather gives you a whole new outlook - it must be all that Vitamin D from the sun, you know the energy from Mother Earth...
Speaking of Mother Earth, the Dettinger family (ok, me, Jake and our kids) CANCELLED the garbage service this week. No can, no trash, NO BILL!
So, I created a recycling center underneath our sink, built a make-shift compost bin for outside and will take all remaining trash to the dump, along with the recycling. At this rate, I will only need to go every few weeks. After 2 days, we went from filling up 1 large trash bag per day, to probably 25% of 1 bag after 2 days. Amazing...plus, we'll be growing some big worms in the backyard.
By the end of this weekend, I will also have freecycled almost the entire contents of our backyard - including (but not necessarily limited to): a lean-to shed, a doghouse, a dog kennel, stone pavers, rock, stone edging, an exterior door with a kitty cut-out, a fireplace screen, various sizes of scrap lumber & a bird bath.
The contents were posted on Thursday afternoon, by Thursday evening, everything was spoken for. Jake told me - "You're never going to get somebody to come and haul all of this stuff out of here - you should take a picture." * Revision * Jake never said that I wouldn't get somebody to come here - but he did suggest the picture.
I said, "I don't need a picture, and you'll be surprised what somebody will take for free." Needless to say, I was right - and in approximately 2-3 weeks, I will have a newly landscaped yard complete with a grassy yard for the calves - I mean, the kids...
Tomorrow is Kutzky Park Clean-up Day, after that we are planting trees at the Groth farm, where we will be eating lunch & some yummy flour-less chocolate cupcakes & homemeade ice cream.
I made 2 batches - but I'll have to wait until mornig to freeze the second batch of ice cream. Seriously, I love my Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker but you can only make one batch at a time - I need an ice cream maker with its own compressor - that way I can make multiple batches and fill our freezer with homemade ice cream in all sorts of flavors, yummy....highly recommended.
Here is the recipe if you're into flourless chocolate cupcakes, or just super yummy treats.

Chocolate Lava Cupcakes
1/2 cup (2 sticks) UNSALTED butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups dark chocolate chips
1 T flour
1 T Cocoa
5 eggs
Foil muffin cups
Beat eggs & sugar with a mixer about 5 minutes, until the eggs are frothy & sugar is dissolved.
Meanwhile, in a double boiler, melt the butter & chocolate chips
Add to eggs & sugar, mix in flour & cocoa
Spray muffin cups with non-stick spray and bake at 450 degrees for 8-9 minutes, centers will not be set.
Serve hot, with vanilla ice cream, and have a lava pudding treat, or save until cool for a super yummy, creamy cupcake.
Enjoy!

Laugh for Life...with friends for life.

2008-04-12T08:51:00.001-07:00

Last night Jake and I had a big night out on the town - (ok, at Assembly of God church) with Kyle & Beth at the New Life Laugh for Life Fundraiser.
New Life is a great organization, supporting women to choose life for their babies. Some of the services they provide are free pregnancy testing, newborn & maternity clothing, & ultrasounds so mothers can hear and see their newly conceived babies.
It is always inspiring to see great people strive for great things.
The comedian was great - Tim Hawkins - easily the funniest comedian I have ever seen. Check out this talented man on www.utube.com or www.timhawkins.net You won't be disappointed.
Check out New Life on the web too -- if you get involved, you won't be disappointed either.

7th Ave House

2008-04-07T10:59:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, Jake and I like to dabble in real estate ...that's why we've owned 4 houses in 5 years. Some would say we "flip" houses, I think they're more like slow heaves.
The past two weeks have been spent getting our last house on the market, and, if I do say so myself - it turned out pretty good!
SO, if you know anyone who is in the market for a 'vintage charmer' in Kutzky Park (the best neighborhood on the planet , might I add) have them give our good friend & realtor Kellie a call!
Here is the link for more pics & info:

http://www.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?ctid=89004&mnp=19&mxp=18&bd=4&typ=5&sid=3313afdfa3b74371b53cd8d0043f3f54&pg=2&lid=1097954412&lsn=14&srcnt=165#Detail

You'll probably have to copy & paste the link, but I promise it will be worth it...
Or, Kellie also has it on her website at www.bellaraehomes.com

Wish us luck!

Coming Soon: Fiona's 5th Birthday!

2008-04-03T21:48:00.000-07:00

Fiona celebrated 5 years of being a Dettinger on Wednesday, and the festivities continue tomorrow with a "friends" party...
Will post the whole recap this weekend - I can't believe she's 5!

The Candidate!

2008-04-03T21:34:00.000-07:00

Well - as many of you have heard, the campaign for House District 30A is well underway! Jake got elected last weekend as a delegate to the GOP Nat'l convention and we are excited for the Olmsted Co endorsement convention for his campaign for the State House of Representatives!
The website is up and running at www.jakedettinger.com
AND we had a family photo shoot yesterday - here are a few pics of the candidate. I'll post more as available. Our talented friend Jen Schultz was responsible for the fine art, as always. Check out her website at www.genesisphotographyonline.com
SO exciting!

Day in St Paul

2008-04-03T21:19:00.001-07:00

Tuesday was our big day in the big city! Our kids always love driving up to St Paul, as we approach downtown Fiona always says "It looks just like New York City!" Not quite, but I'll get her there someday...
Jake had a meeting at the State House, and after a yummy lunch at Cossetta's & a malt at the St Clair Broiler, we went the Children's Museum.
If water, face paints & blocks can't get my kids excited at home -- it sure can if they're laid out in a fun way and charged a $8 admission fee . But seriously - we had a blast and could have spent 10 hours at this place. It was so neat to see my kids sharing the experience with each other, helping Melvi have a good time and just appreciating a really fun outing.
It gave me some good ideas for our playroom too -- a shadow puppet theatre, a giant mousetrap game, ideas for more art projects, science experiments and crafts galore.
I love our family outings -- and I love having 3 preschoolers!

New Leaf!

2008-04-03T21:14:00.000-07:00

Ok -- One of the things I'm trying to change about myself is my lack of follow-through. I have big ideas, big dreams and I do alot, but inevitably some great ideas fall through the cracks of my busyness & flakiness... I want to pass my creativity onto my kids, but not the unreliability that can sometimes come with that -- SO, today is a day to turn over a new leaf and I am going to use this blog for accountability!
I'm done with the guilt of "oh - today was a great day - I should have posted about it on my blog..." I am ACTUALLY going to post something and start keeping a record for our family.
Today's the day -- like I said before, keep up if you can!

Melvin is 1 year old!

2008-03-10T07:16:00.000-07:00

This has been the fastest year of my life -- and it's only going to go faster... Yesterday we had a great birthday party for baby Melvin - except he's not a baby anymore, he is a 1 year old! We had a delicious brunch and lots of fun!

Elaina & Melvin are so hilarious, very different personalities... Melvin is a laid back man, and Elaina is a high strung woman, ha ha...they'll appreciate that in 20 years.

Enjoy the pics!

The Dettinger Family

2008-01-26T20:16:00.000-08:00

Hello Family & Friends --
I have started this blog to keep everybody up to speed on our fast life -- everything's fast when you're a mom to Fiona, Castle & Melvin:)
Keep up if you can!
- Love,
Knelly