House of Bounce

Braeden's party with his friends was held at the 'House of Bounce' in Rochester. Brad took the boys there for a night of bouncing in big bouncy things, playing video games, laser tag and food! Brad forgot the camera, so this is all you get. Jacob McMains, Gabe Strickland, Tim Garbers, Nolan Jacobson, Preston and Braeden attended the festivities.

Braeden turns 11!

Prior to going to the house of bounce the fam was excited to give Braeden his presents. We scored an awesome deal on a hockey helmet at the Let's Play Hockey Expo, so we bought him a face for it to make it complete and usable on the ice. We, also, gave him the composite stick he has been begging for. Can't wait to see the goals he scores with it! Ohhh and for you out-of-staters he is now measuring in at 5' 3" and his latest reading scores having him reading at a Sophomore level. Oh, our 5th grader is getting so, so big!

Tyler James Harlicker

One of Preston's very first friends passed away on March 29th. The funeral was on April 2nd with visitation the night before. I wasn't sure how the kids would handle all this. They have been to funerals before, so that wasn't new to them, but never had they nor I been to a funeral for someone we knew so well at such a young age. There were so many people at the visitation and so many beautiful flowers and tributes. We said our goodbyes to Tyler and gave our condolences to Tim, Susan and Jacob (Lillie was napping). It was at this very moment that Preston just broke down sobbing and I mean sobbing like you hurt yourself very badly. He had Tim, Grandma Judy (Tim's mom) and Grandma Anne (Susan's mom) all trying to console him. After he let it all out, it was like this peace just came over him. I can't even pretend to imagine to be a 7 year old and lose a friend. At the funeral Preston and some other friends sang, "Jesus Loves Me." He belted it out with all his might! Today would have been Tyler's 8th birthday. I'm sure he has having the best party ever with Jesus. Here is an excerpt from his Caringbridge on the day he passed away: Tyler completed his journey here on earth. we watched him all day it looked like he was reaching and trying to climb a ladder. he called me in the afternoon after his brother got home and told me Daddy I'm ready to go to heaven now but how do I get there.All I could tell him is I don't know, I gave him the rosary beads that were loaned to him by Mitch and Barb and also his angel token from Beth and told him to call for an angel and they could help him. we stayed by his bedside the whole day and watched him try and get to heaven. numerous times he would take the rosary beads and follow the beads down to the cross and grasp it like a key he reached out and it look liked he was trying to open a door. he also a couple of times took my hand and neatly placed the beads in my hand and then just held it. I now feel he was passing his strength to me because I feel a strange peace inside myself. In the night he talked, at one point he just said I see a light. at another point he told me I see Jesus. at about 1:30 am he woke struggling and crawled towards me I picked him up and held him and told him to go go to heaven he took his last breath and died in my arms That's the way Susie saw it happening days ago. As I told her you carried him into this world He let Daddy carry him out.

Happy 8th Birthday, Ty! We love and miss you!

Braeden's Birthday in St. Paul

The day started with Braeden and I attending the Target Free Minnesota Orchestra Family concert. We won free tickets to it. It was Brae's 2nd time there as they took a field trip for school there. It was wonderful and they even had dancers and awesome fish balloons during a portion of it. All of the music was based on Water. Brad drove us there and dropped us off right at the door and later picked us up, too. So slick! We treated ourselves to some beverages while we were waiting to be picked up. I hope we win these tickets, again!









Back at Gammy and Grandpa's, Gammy had cooked up an awesome feast complete with this sweet hockey cake. Love it ! She even had Braeden with his blue Owatonna and #6 jersey right in front of the net. Of course he was spoiled rotten with gifts from all

March Birthdays

Uncle Mike turned 30! We took him for some brews at Macgroveland Tap. Brad was lucky enough to get badgered by some inebriated guy who thought he had paid his tab.








We hosted the Hinckley Family's March Birthday celebration. We have Laken, Uncle Eric, Madeline, Grandpa Dave and Braeden's all in March. The boys' school had there carnival, so we kicked off the festivities there. Clara loved, loved the duck pond. She seriously could have spent the entire time there just playing with the ducks. I worked the fish pond for a stretch. Wow, did that keep you on your toes. We ate lunch there and everyone got their fill of games, candy and prizes!









Then it was back home for gifts and supper. Bean gave Laken a fairy cookbook and made her the super cute apron. We gave Madeline a pool package, including a fun noodle which later served as a weapon. Nama and Grandpa gave Braeden Mario and Sonic at the Winter Olympics for Wii that he has been longing for.