Flat Stanley is Visiting

My nephew Hayden Umdenstock (9 years old) sent a letter to Kaitlyn yesterday. As a project for his class, he has to send "Flat Stanley" to someone and they write back and tell him where Flat Stanley has been and what he was doing during a week's timespan. Kind of like a story. I've heard of Flat Stanley but I think it's something that has come about since my girls were little. Anyway, I took Flat Stanley to the hospital with me this morning while I got my mammagram and talked the nurse into having her picture made with Flat Stanley. She was a good sport and went along with it.

Then I took Flat Stanley on to work with me. He helped me type some letters, answer the phones, make some copies and shred some papers. He worked really hard.

If he had shown up last week, he could have gone to Dallas for the OU/TX game, to the U2 concert and to the Star Wars Orchestra concert last night at the Ford Center. Anyway, we're playing along and I can't wait to see where Kaitlyn and Joe take him. Hayden should make a good grade on this!!!

U2 and Black Eyed Peas Concert

These pictures aren't very good, but they are from the U2 and Black Eyed Peas concert last night at OU. The stage was GI-NORMOUS and lit up and they could come out and go 360 degrees around it. The video display would sometimes spread out (up and down) and go around and around almost making you dizzy.

Michelle and I. She and her husband, Monty, were sitting up there with us.

Here's what it looked like when the field was lit up. Like a giant spider, but they called it their mothership, like a UFO.

Just some of the thousands of cell phones lighting up the darkness.

Michael and Kaitlyn were sitting up there with us too. Kristen opted not to go.

OU TX Weekend - Dallas, TX

Friday evening, October 16. Our anniversary dinner at Del Frisco's in Dallas. Had a wonderful dinner with our friends we go to OU/TX with each year.

Kay and Randy, probably our closest friends. Randy and Joe were on the same dorm hall as freshmen at OU. Kay and I met when Kaitlyn and Rainey were in the first grade and we became Girl Scout leaders for their troop until 7th grade.


Cory and his girlfriend. Cory and Randy went to grade school together and Cory lives in Fort Worth. He always plays golf with the men on Friday and goes to dinner with us Friday evening.


Mike and his wife, Jan. He went to OU with Randy, Joe, Cory, and Monty (not pictured). Mike paid for the whole dinner; tab was probably a good $1500. He is so sweet. I didn't get a picture of Monty and his wife Michelle. Monty came without Michelle - she had to fly to Tulsa with one of their daughters for a soccer tournament on Saturday (been there, done that!!). Monty's wife Michelle was the Ruf-Nek Queen when she was at OU. That's the girl that rides out in the Sooner Schooner whenever a touchdown in made.


At the very end the staff bought us out a piece of cheesecake for our anniversary. We all took a couple of bites to cap off the night!


Saturday morning, arriving at the Cotton Bowl for the 11:00 am (booooo) kick-off. Here's Big Tex as seen from a distance.

We met up with Joe's mother, Chris, and his sister, Jennifer at Big Tex. Here's Joe, Jennifer, Chris, and me.

We also met up with Joe's cousin, Lori Peterson and her husband, Jack. Here's me, Jennifer, and Lori.

Here's Chris, me and Jennifer.

Here's Jennifer, Lori, Jack, Joe, and Chris. They are doing the upside down Hook 'em Horns sign.

This is going into the Cotton Bowl.

Coming out of the Cotton Bowl after OU's disappointing loss. There is a sea of red and orange and everyone stays and drinks beer out here afterward and dances to the bands playing.

I had never noticed these swan paddle boats before. But we were in a part of Fair Park we usually don't go thru.


Leaving the fair. I had to take a picture of the ferris wheel. If I'm not mistaken, it is the largest ferris wheel in the United States or North America or something like that. It is HUGE (taller than the cotton bowl! You can see it from miles away.

October 16, 1984 - Silver Wedding Anniversary

Tomorrow is our 25th wedding anniversary. Here are some pictures from that day (a few are repeats from last year).

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Raymond Jondahl married at 4:00 PM on October 16, 1984 at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church, Norman, OK.

The wedding party - Mrs. Barbara Elliott, Matron of Honor, the bride and groom, and Mr. Andrew Kent Smith, Best Man.

We walked across the street from the church and went to Happy Hour at The Service Station Restaurant & Club where Joe was the manager.

Waiting at DFW airport for our plane.

The house that Joe's grandfather, Ralph Bogart, built on St. Maartin, Dutch, West Indies. It is called Frangipani House. Joe's uncle, Kent Bogart, owns it now. And yes, it is available for rent. It has since been upgraded and has a pool too. There is a placque that hangs in the house that has the names of all the couples that have honeymooned there since the early 80's. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Jondahl is up close to the top of the list I'm proud to say.

Dockside at Chesterfields by the Bay. A great little seaside bar.
We took a catamaran over to St. Bart's. It was beautiful there.
This was a restaurant called Napoli's. The man sitting beside Joe is Thomas. He is the "caretaker" of guests that come to Frangipani House. He had the restaurant opened up PRIVATELY for just Joe and I.

My new sister-in-law, Jennifer Jane Jondahl at the reception. She was six at the time (young enough to be my own daughter). She is now married to Zac Umdenstock and they have 2 children, Hayden and Taryn. Our reception was held at the restaurant where Joe worked AFTER we came home from our honeymoon.

Joe's cousin, Lori Bogart Peterson. Her father is the one that owns the house at St. Maartin. Lori is an artist and lives in Durango, CO with her husband Jack and daughter, Ashley.

One of the men I used to work with for 10 years. He and his wife were one-third of the partners that owned the engineering firm where I worked. We were all like family. The other guy was one of the cooks at the restaurant. And YES I USED TO SMOKE AND DRINK WINE A LOT! White Zinfendel is my favorite, especially on ice...

A few more from Date Night

These pictures are taken in front of a "green" screen and then you pick out your background when you order then online. It's a shame you can't see Kaitlyn's leg warmers and her high-top Reebok tennis shoes in these pictures. Her leg warmers matched her scrunchie (which she has around her wrist in this picture).

Kristen was wearing purple leggings in this picture (you can barely see them). They splatter painted their clothes with glow in the dark paint so it could be seen under the black lights at the party.

Sorority Stuff

Here's a couple of pictures from the sorority philanthrophy, "Strike Out Arthritis" which they hold at the local bowling alley.

This is Kaitlyn with one of her friends from the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority.

Here's a picture of Kaitlyn and Michael from the date party last Saturday night. It was an 80's theme.

Had some kind of bug

I've had some sort of stomach "flu" this week. It started Monday morning around 4:00 AM. Knocked me flat - lost 5 pounds. Finally went back to work today (Thursday). Am feeling about 98% right now. Have still not eaten much "solid" food. I've had some rice, buttered toast, part of a baked potato, chicken broth, ramen noodles, a banana, and ginger ale. Had quite a few ritz crackers with peanut butter on them the past two days. I think I'm going to try and eat some real food tonight for dinner. I hope no one else in the house gets this. Jann said her daughter had it this weekend and one of Kristen's roommates did too. I have no idea where it came from but I DON'T WANT IT BACK!!!! I don't think I've had something like this for 5-6 years. I almost volunteered for a colonoscopy I felt so cleaned out!