I haven't had time to post a lot this month so far because I've been so busy shooting everything.  I've had one after another great set of photo opportunities.  Have a look for yourself.  I encourage you to post your comments on any photo for everyone to see. 

By Brothers Fish Fry in St Louis Park

Taking My Girls to the Rice County Fair

Laps for Logan

Books and Stars

The mosquitoes stayed away, low humidity, 75 degrees, friends, family, great food, drink, some background music, meeting new neighbors, plenty of laughter, a beautiful sunset, some fireworks in the street and a front row seat to the local display.  It couldn't have been a better day.  We started the celebration in the cities at my brother Andy's house.  His oldest son has a birthday on the 4th of July (his 2nd son's birthday is on New Years Eve).  I would love have a birthday on the "fourth".  It's my favorite holiday.  The weather is always favorable and everyone is in such a good mood.  It's the "New Years" of summer.  Not to mention my love for fireworks.  I love the smell of sulfur after the blasts.  Really!  It's weird but after the fireworks last night around eleven, there was this smog-like haze of sulfur hanging around.  It's a unique olfactory experience.  Call my crazy, I know. 

I love all those John Phillip Sousa marches they play around I.D. It's so patriotic yet corny.  It's just appropriate for this day.  So, when you put all this together you have one of the most sensoral events possible.  Every sense has it's little treat all day long.  This is what makes it so memorable to me. 

In the photo below are (L to R) Esta Cox-Freeland (grandma), the my dad Al, then Chad & Juley Jenkinson with their 3 kids Sebastian, Isabella and Boden.  Then my wife Lori, me, my mom Sonja, then Bill & Pat Jenkinson (Chad's parents).  Pat & Bill live in the cities.  I grew up in Iowa with the Jenkinsons before we all moved to Minnesota in the early 80's.  We moved up here August 15th 1981.  That will be 27 years in Minnesota this summer.  I'm 35. 

This is a video of 2 "Patriots" being lit at the same time.  Caution: Loud!

Earlier this year my Uncle Kent & Aunt Kay Freeland planned an outing on Lake Pepin in Lake City, MN.  They rented a large paddle boat that had been restored for use on this large waterfront.  It was a double decker with a full bar, bathrooms, retro-charm, great service, near perfect weather, friends and family and a view to kill for.  It was a perfect day and I'd like to thank Kent and Kay for everything.  Please enjoy the following photo and video albums.  Meanwhile, I am putting together a compilation of these photos and videos, that will be presented to music.  I just wanted to get these up first.

Friends and family that were aboard, please leave a comment for everyone to read.  Tell me what you thought of the trip.  Share photos if you can.

Click here to view all video

TIM FREELAND

I am proud to talk about my families literary skills.  My dad Al, brother Andy, grandma Esta and uncle Kent have all published books over the past 10 years.  I've placed them all here in one spot and have linked them to their respective Amazon.com listing for purchase and review.  I am still working on my first book that will probably be on a topic nothing close to these and probably less interesting. Following is some background from my Dad on his writing experiences.

I always enjoyed reading juvenile or junior reader books - even as an adult.  I have never really psychoanalyzed myself as to why this is so - I just enjoy them.  An easy read - I enjoy pictures - I hate the presumptuousness of the 2000 page books??  Not sure why.  This being the case, I guess that sets the stage for the three books that I have published. 

In the early 80's I started taking canoe trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) in Northern Minnesota.  I fell in love with the area, as well as the mystic of the Indian lore, the voyager traders traveling across the landscape so many years ago, and the danger and excitement of the area.  After many years it hit me that there were many types of books written about the BWCA, but not any or at least many, written from a young reader's perspective. 

 Tim and Lori’s Wedding

June 29, 2007

I prepared this just in case I had an opportunity to say a few words at your wedding, but it never happened. I thought I would type it up from the card that I have had in Bible since then, so you can see what I was going to say.

This is truly a fantastic time of my life! I get to see my son marry a person that not only he, but all of us have fallen in love with – Lori! I can’t speak highly enough of her and her wonderful traits that will cement your relationship for all time. I also want to tell you Tim how proud your Mom and I are of you – remaking your life, overcoming the struggle of being a single parent, working hard to make a family filled with love and now finding the perfect match and mate for the rest of your life.

It has been 976 days since Rylie first stepped through the doors of the new Northfield Montessori facility in 2005.  At age 3 Rylie joined the "Discovery I" classroom where she moved to "Discovery II" and finally into the "Montessori" room.  Last week, she left for the last time after completing the Kindergarten program. I would personally like to thank all the teachers for their hard work over the years.  It's a job that not many could do and I don't think teachers are rewarded enough in our society.

This step in Rylie's life is truly a fork in the road for me and her.  See, Rylie's mom lives in a neighboring town and after much debate, it was decided that Rylie would attend public school in that system at this time.  I really wanted Rylie to attend school and grow up in the same community that I did.  However, she will still split equal time between towns by dividing up vacations, weekends and holidays between the two families. 

They had their musical performance this morning.  I was very impressed as this was probably the first for most of them.  I remember being in their shoes.  We all had to get up there at some point in our childhood.  I remember looking out at the parents and belting it out.  We'll, now I found myself on the other side of things, as I do often with my kids.  Good job Kayla.

Congrats to Rylie for making it on the cover of our latest special section.  I took the photo that they put on the cover and on page 7, featuring D.D. Davidson (aka Grandpa Dave).  Dave volunteers at the Northfield Montessori helping the kids learn to read.  Thanks to everyone.

Let's face it.  Whether the marriage makes it or not, those black and white photos of the guys last forever.  Below you'll find two of my all-time favorite "guys at a wedding" photos.  The frames and signed one is my first wedding in 2000.  I had it framed and got the "posse" to sign their names around the boarder.  The second is my brothers wedding which was held at Gooseberry Falls up on the north shore.

What do they use to catch the Ether bunny?  The Ethernet.  ha ha ha ha. 

Ok.  Next subject.  Where in the world did the concept of an Easter bunny come from?  And what do eggs have to do with salvation through Jesus.  I've been to oh....33 Easter services in my life.  I do recall a few Pastors discussing this topic in great detail.  It's not an easy one with kids, because we have to skirt the whole tooth-fairy, Santa tales while emphasizing the truths of Christian believes.  It's difficult for many adults to grasp the Christian resurrection and eternal salvation let alone kids doing so.

Regardless...a good time was had by all.

My daughter Rylie is five and a half years old.  I recall picking her up from the nursery when she was a new born and getting anxious as I did so.  I always got so exited to see Rylie again, after being at work all day.  Well, it still happens.  I get so exited as I drive to pick her up from the Northfield Montessori every day.  I'm always exited to give her a hug again.

Rylie has always run to me when I pick up.  When she was smaller she would run and jump and I would pick her up and throw her...as you might see in the movies.  It's awesome.  She has always made a scene that catches the interest of the other kids.  It's gotten to the point where they all tell Rylie when I'm walking in the door so they can see what she does.  Recently, she's had a fist full of drawn pictures for me, all of what have "I love you Dad" written on them.  I've collected them all.  I need a bigger box to keep them all.  I decided to run my camera last week as I picked up.  Here's a sample of the experience. 

Prior to our marriage on June 29th 2007, Lori and I picked out a ton of photos that nicely captured family from both sides. I had a lot of scanning to do. I put together this photo-show, burnt a copy to DVD and played over all the TV's at our reception. It went over very well. So, here it is, for everyone to see. I love you Lori.

NOTE: Un-click the little volume icon to hear the "stock" music.

Congratulations to my brother Andy and sister-in-law, Sara Freeland for giving birth to their third boy this week.  Kermit Andrew Freeland was born Tuesday February 26th at 10:15pm.  He was 8 pounds, 20".  Kermit's two older brothers are Jake and Gus.  Jake's birthday is on the Fourth of July while Gus's is on New Years Eve. That's amazing!

I have not had the chance to ask my brother if this name had anything to do with Leap Year?  He was just three days away from being a leap-baby.  That's was I was hoping for.  Leap-Hop-Frog...I think you get it. 

Kermit is a Freeland Family name.  Below is a photo of the first Kermit.

The Day before I got married in 2000 I put together a speech for my Dad at the grooms dinner.  I spend about a week writing and re-writing a tribute to my father, Al.  I have always been so proud of Dad and wanted to do a public eulogy-like speech on his accomplishments.  When the night came, we were at the Chart House in Lakeville and there was no privacy.  It was loud, we were mixed in with the public and a band was playing.  I didn't give the speech.  Later that evening I approached him and told him what happened.  I gave him my notes.  He told me he had written a dedication to me and was unable to give it.  I got those notes.  Later on, after reading my dedication he told me his only prayer was for me to have a child that would write a speech about me, like that, some day.  I've attached the speech here.

Dedication to Dad at my grooms dinner. 6-19-2000