9 weeks!!!!

Two years after Chris initiated the "Oppel Blog" the other half of this family is finally going to make her first post.

9 weeks!!!!!!....and counting!

It seems like it was just yesterday that we learned that we were pregnant and now April 1st seems like it is just around the corner. Now that the basement project is done we are able to turn attention to getting ready for Baby O! The crib has been bought, the bedding just arrived yesterday, and the debate over paint colors has begun. Last weekend we tackled registering at Babies 'R Us and Target. I have to say that Chris was quite the trooper and made it through both stores in one day (he might have been motivated by the fact that he got to use the scanning gun!). In the end, I think it turned out that I was the one more tired at the end of the day. We have a lot on our "to do" list for the next couple of months, but mostly we are looking forward to enjoying the rest of the winter and the anticipation of her arrival.

(Picture of Chris putting together the high chair we received from my parents at Christmas!...the first of many "kid" things we will have to assemble!)



(30 weeks!)

Basement Finishing Update

The basement project is pretty much finished! Only took about 6 months so it could have been worse. The only thing left is to poly the doors and put them back in. Maybe do a paint touch up here and there and voila!

Click on the photos to enlarge.

Basement Update from October

The basement is coming along really well. I am pretty much down to installing woodwork, cabinets, and carpeting.

Hunting Season

I surprisingly didn't pull out the camera much hunting this fall but here are a couple of photos. One is of Jerry's delicious preseason venison meal and few more of my first buck.

BWCAW Labor Day Trip

This year we had a great Boundary Waters trip. We couldn't have asked for better company or weather. Participating in the trip was Linda Mell, Dale and Carol Mell, Jerry and Bonnie Niemi, Todd and Shannon Mell, and Heather and I. Here are some photos.

Basement Finishing Update

The basement project is coming along well. We are very appreciative of all the help from friends and family including Dale, Todd, Zach, Tom, Dustin, and Pat. The mudding and taping is being done as we speak. In one weeks time we will be able to start painting. Below are photos from just before the mudding and taping process.

Bathroom

Living room and fireplace

Bedroom

Understairs closet

Bedroom closet

Living room/game area

Living room/wet bar

Fireplace area (rock with be done after painting)

Whitelaw Trip - Ontario

Recently I had the opportunity to return to Whitelaw lake in Ontario Canada. That is about 70 miles NE of Red Lake, Ontario. The group this time was made up of Jon Holets, Jonathan Holets, Dale Mell, Todd Mell, Pat Cleary, and myself. We do this trip through loonhaunt outfitters.

We drove up to Duluth on Monday 6/29. Tuesday morning we drove up to Red Lake, picked up bait, ate dinner, and crashed at the hotel. Wednesday morning we flew into Whitelaw on an Otter owned by Greenway Air.

We fished, ate, and slept for 4 days. The weather was great. There was a forest fire near by so we got to see lots of helicopters which was interesting. The menu was mostly fish but we did bring in some duck, caribou, and venison. We had fish in panko bread crumbs, Louisiana batter, Shorelunch, and red onion grilled. We had fish in vegetable oil and bacon grease. We had fish with breakfasts, as snacks, as dinners. Basically we had lots of fish!

No large northerns to speak of but the pig of the trip was a walleye caught by Jonathan Holets. This was a monster at 31 1/2 inches with an estimated weight of 15lbs. I've never seen a walleye even close to that one. When I first saw it I thought it must be a sucker or a carp! The outfitter said this was a 1 in 10 year fish. My highlight was reeling in a walleye and having a large northern grab my walleye and snap my line off right next to the boat. All told we estimate that we caught 500-600 walleyes.

We flew out on Sunday afternoon and drove all the way home getting in pretty late. It was a great trip and as always it seemed like a good time was had by all.

Group photo - Dale Jon, Todd, Jonathan, Pat, and me


Another group photo


Displaying dinner - Todd, Dale, and me


Jonathan and the pig of the trip


Captain Pat


The first day, we swear we saw sleet


The group loading up the Otter on the way in