Jobs 2016

 Grand March

 Ready to party...

 

 Softball Gals

 Kels and Andrew 

 

 Lil' TK and Steve-O

 Lil' TK and Taylor

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(¸.•´ (¸.•' Peace and Love

Kels and the Girls

Kels asked Ang to take some pics of her group of friends. It was so fun to see all the personalities and the friendship that these girls share. These are some of Ang's favorites...

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(¸.•´ (¸.•' Peace and Love

Sweet Sixteen

Kels and Lil' TK turned "Sweet Sixteen" on 12/29. Ang planned a surprise party that actually worked! Friends of the kids helped send out invites via text and everyone was at the WowZone on time...even to the point of the funny uncles text-bombing Ang to find where they were.

Friends and family enjoyed supper in the private conference room and then went off to play games. Laser tag was the popular choice as was bowling.

A way-too-big cake helped to end the celebration on a sugary high note. The next day, Kels and Lil' TK took their driver's license tests and both passed!

What a great way to end 2013.

 

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(¸.•´ (¸.•' Peace and Love

Curve Balls in Life

Lil' TK broke his nose. Well, the pitcher from the opposing team broke his nose. With a fastball straight to the schnoz. It was supposed to be a curve ball. The pitcher had been throwing a nasty curve ball for pitch #1 to every batter on the team. So far. This time, it didn't curve.

Ang thought it hit his helmet, from the sound of it. And from the way Lil' TK slapped at his helmet after the hit.

It didn't hit his helmet. That sound was the ball hitting Lil' TK on the left side of his nose...pushing it to the right. Only Lil' TK and the Umpire knew that though.

Everyone was kind of frozen. Until Kels yelled, "He's bleeding!"

Ang and Big TK have never moved so fast getting to the field.


Lil' TK never fell over, never passed out, never cried. He just did whatever all the frantic adults around him told him to do. Head back, head forward, relax, breathe, walk over here....etc.

5 hrs in the Regions Hospital ER. 2 hours home. Including a stop at Wendy's for a starving young man...with a broken nose.

He broke down for a moment in the ER...from all the stress and frustration, poking and prodding. Even in that moment, though, Lil' TK was strong. And brave.

Cousin JR was at the game as well. He was amazing helping get Lil' TK into the van and then the ER...never complaining. Supporting his younger cousin as best he could.

Kels accepted the 2nd place trophy from the game for her brother. The team moms took care of the twin sister who couldn't bear to go to the ER and see her brother in that condition. The pitcher's mom found Kels and got the address for the Shack...as she wiped away tears and wished Lil' TK the best.

3 days later...the good ENT doctor fixed Lil' TK's nose - moving it back to where it belongs.

The team that had watched their team-mate take a fastball to the face, signed a baseball and created a poster to put up in the recovery room. Lil' TK woke up from the procedure alert and bright eyed ("It was the best nap ever!")...and so thankful for his team and Nurse Sandy.

And then Ang and Big TK sent Lil' TK off to his buddy's lake home for 5 days to rest, relax and recoup. Just as thankful for good friends (The Marsh Crew) who love the crooked nosed kid just as much.

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(¸.•´ (¸.•' Peace and Love

The Birthday

Ang turned the dreaded 4-0 on January 28th. It was a great day despite the negative connotations. The entire crew met up with Ang's brother and his wife for lunch in the cities. Longtime friend, JM, joined the crew as well. Jake's City Grille in Eden Prairie has great food and that special "Jake's sauce" that makes everything taste better.

Later, the crew returned home to a small gathering of friends and family for cake and ice cream. C-Munster, Tedna and Katerbean brought Ang a bouquet of beautiful roses. For Ang's 30th...they brought 30 carnations. Ang is digging this tradition...


Big TK, Ang and Shi went out for a bit after the festivities at the shack ended.

All in all...there really wasn't anything to dread and it was a great birthday.

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(¸.•´ (¸.•' Peace and Love

Celebrate Good Times....

The Kopp Crew celebrated their good friend's wedding in October. PK and M were married in a touching ceremony on a beautifulgorgeous day. Big TK sang several songs during the ceremony and was incredible...as usual! Ang, of course, had to try and get some photos...here's what she was able to capture.

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(¸.•´ (¸.•' Peace and Love

No Dumb-Bells

After an interesting couple of weeks of temporary insanity due to cabin fever and 13yearoldism...Kels and Lil' TK forgot the fighting and dumb-bell throwing (yes, a dumb-bell was really used as a projectile flying object/weapon - it was not pretty) to hang out like the great kids they are.

They even took this awesome pic - without Ang asking or even knowing about it!

There seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. ;o)

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(¸.•´ (¸.•' Peace and Love

Favorite Teacher

Kels' class assignment for English.

Dear Mrs. Brudwick,
In English class we are writing to our favorite teachers, and I instantly thought of you! You were always there for me, and I could not have asked for a better teacher!

I thought of you as a second mom to me. You would come support/watch me play sports, you helped me pull my loose teeth out, you taught me valuable lessons, but more importantly you made 2nd and 3rd grade the best years. You made coming to school so much fun! Though I am now in 7th grade at DMMS, I definitely miss Hoover and everyone there.

I hope you know that you were (and still are) a huge part ofmy life. I will never forget you!

Thanks again!

Sincerely,
Kels
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Hoping everyone is lucky enough to have an influence on their life like this...

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(¸.•´ (¸.•' Peace and Love

August 2010

August started out with a sigh of relief that baseball and softball had come to an end and the weekends were free. Or so was thought!

8/9 – Ang, Kels and Lil’ TK went to the Vikings Training Camp with the cousins from SD and WI and super-awesome Aunt Sharon. It was way too hot to be comfortable but everyone had fun checking out practice, checking out the *hot* players and watching the younger boys have fun at the activities and autograph sessions. The cousins were able to get some cool Vikings gear so that they can cheer on the purple and gold with pride back home!

8/11 – Abby Lou’s birthday. 6 years old!

Kels has pitching tryouts for the 14U Peppers 2011 teams. First year trying out at that age level…said the older girls (16U and 18U) made her nervous but she did her best and even got to tryout with BFF MM.

8/14 – Andy and Jenny’s wedding in St. Paul. St. Thomas More church – incredible!! Again, too hot to be comfortable but a good time was had by all. Adopted Kopp Crew member, JM, gave an awesome Best Man speech. We laughed; we cried…it became a part of us. Oh – and the Vikings won the first pre-season game!

8/15 – Kels has fielding/batting tryouts for 14U Peppers 2011 teams. Weather was a little nicer, which was good since tryouts took over 2 hours! Gets a call a week later that she made the B team and will have the same coach she had her very first year in Peppers. Very exciting! Will also have her other BFF's from summer softball, KE and AL, on the team again!

8/16 – Lil’ TK starts Football practices. Is placed on the MNMYF West - Hickorytech Rams. Ang cannot wait to start cheering on #33. Pain heals, chicks dig scars…Glory lasts forever!

8/20-8/22 – VACATION at Mound Lake. Truly God’s country. Located by Burtrum/Upsala/Long Prairie/Grey Eagle. Lil’ TK’s adopted family – The Marshes – have a lake home there. Invited the whole Crew up. So blessed to have such great friends. No internet, no cell phone, no plans. Just relaxed riding the waves on the pontoon all weekend. Very sad to have to come home to reality but the Crew did miss Abby Lou - who was overjoyed to see us return. Although a quiet house and Gramma Nita to herself all weekend could not have been bad….

8/25-9/6 – Big TK is working at the Great MN Get-Together…the State Fair for the Vikings Locker Room. Blessed again with a great friend –JM – who offered to let him stay at his place in Bloomington the whole time he is working at the fair.

8/30 – Kels starts school volleyball practices. First match is 9/9.

9/9 – Kels and Lil’ TK start Dakota Meadows Middle School. As 7th graders. Ang is going to need to start buying a lot more hair coloring kits to fend off the gray hairs that will be coming…Holy Cow – 7th graders! Where has the time gone?

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(¸.•´ (¸.•' Peace and Love