Living Life to the Fullest – May Image Dump

While I could write several different stories this month and I considered it based on the pictures below, I instead decided to just share what my month has looked like. Its been good. Real good. As I wrote last month, I am slowly taking my life back from my imbalance of work, home and self. […]

Some time away with friends – Spring Break 2017

I know, it’s been silent here. Like most posts I have written in the past year, I start with I have been busy. This past month has been no different. We did, however, take a much needed break to Mexico for Spring Break. We went back to the same area we went two years ago […]

That’s a Wrap – Bring on 2017

And just like that, 2016 is almost over. What a blur. 2016 was an incredible year for me and my family. It was filled with the highest of highs and some pretty low points. Thankfully, the highs outnumbered the lows and my family is strong and good. As I look back on the year, a […]

A quick trip to London

I am still amazed that airplanes can get off the ground and it’s possible to get on a plane and wake up somewhere else. That somewhere else can be near or far. Recently, the combination of a formal invitation to an event and cheap airline deals resulted in my wife and I making a last […]

A Better Plan for You

I was listening to an interview recently and this person shared something that struck me. Before I move on here the comment is faith based but the end outcome, and what struck me, has meaning whether or not you are a believer or not. This person was commenting on prayer and the 3 options God […]

4th of July Back Yard Portraits

For the first time that I can remember, we are not running all over the place to soccer or other kid related event(s). Instead, we have been home for 3 straight days with good friends in town from Colorado. It has been joyous. Last evening we spent the evening in the back yard. Perfect temperature, […]

6 Months Into 2016 – Work Hard. Play Hard.

As the days go by, we are very close to moving into July 2016. My wife and I were discussing that we have pretty much made it through another soccer season with both our kids in a traveling, competitive club. But when I actually took time to go through our first 6 months of the […]

Spring Break 2016 – Steamboat Springs

OK….Before you get started reading and checking out images, please know this is a family post. Meaning, I really don’t expect anyone to read it or view other than my family. With that out of the way, here goes. As I shared in an earlier post, my brother and his wife & family have a […]

Finding Peace in Paradise

For those close to me, and in some cases just being around me, it’s no secret that my last year has been incredibly stressful. While most of the stress is work related, there is some that is simply my own to own. I am an achiever and I like to please folks. I like to […]

Up North – A quick getaway to winterwonderland

Last Friday after the kids got home from school my wife, kids, dog and I headed up north for a private get away. I think it was our introverted tendencies reacting to hosting Christmas at our house. We wanted a quiet place, away from all the rig-a-ma-roll of the city. We arrived late in the […]

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. We didn’t send out a holiday card this year so I guess this post will have to do. We had an incredible year here at the Gnat house. We carried out the work hard play hard motto. Mostly we followed followed these two kids around to all their activities. We […]

People of 2015

One of the things that I have personally been inspired by is people. Some of you that know me know that I have said out loud that I want to learn to take portraits. Some of you that know me, also know that when I say stuff out loud and set my mind to it, […]

THE MN STATE FAIR – THE GREAT GET TOGETHER

I fear that I might lose my Minnesota citizen’s card by what I am about to say, but I feel I must confess. I have not been to Minnesota’s State Fair in over 20 years. There, I said it! This past week though I redeemed myself. I took a day off after working 13 days […]

Our trip to the Pacific Northwest

Last week my wife and I celebrated our 16th year of marriage by traveling to Seattle and the area north of Seattle. It was our first trip in many many years without our children. Our plan was a couple days in the city and a couple days out of the city. We found out […]

FIFA Women’s World Cup Fever

Last week my kids finished up school and to celebrate, we headed to Winnepig, Canada to see a couple matches of the FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer tournament. It isn’t often that you get to see one of the best teams in the world play. We got to watch Australia vs Nigeria and the USA […]