Think Test

Here is a fun test to challenge your knowledge of basic things that we see every day. I got 19 out of 25 my first time. See if you can beat me.

Click Here: Think Test.

2007 In Review: June-July

JUNE

Within hours of the kids being liberated from school for the summer, we were off in the family mini-van headed to the Wisconsin Dells and Chicago. Kenzie, Jake and Katie have always been great travellers who (I think) enjoy their van time together.

Our first stop was a stay at the Polynesian Hotel in Wisconsin dells. Our hotel was not the fanciest of hotel/waterparks, but it had more than enough water fun, indoor and out, for Katie as well as Kenzie and Jake.

After Wisconsin Dells, we headed off to the Grenz Bed & Breakfast in Chicago (my aunt and Uncle Laurel and Wendy's house). I don't have any pictures of the Bed and Breakfast itself from this years visit as I was too busy enjoying the "breakfast" part of the stay. Wendy recommended that we visit the Robert McCormick museum at his former estate called "Cantigny." Cantigny Park is a picturesqe estate complete with golf course, gardens, historic mansion, army tanks and military museums.

"The museum is located on the Wheaton, Illinois estate of the late Colonel Robert R. McCormick. During World War I, McCormick, later the long-time editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune, was commander of the 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery, part of the First Division. He renamed his estate Cantigny in honor of the first American battle of the war. At his death in 1955, McCormick left Cantigny to be managed as a recreational and educational park. ***The museum includes 10,000 square feet of state of the art interactive and experiential exhibits."

Robert McCormick Mansion

Cantigny Gardens

Jake at Shedd Aquarium

JULY

Every year, Natasha looks forward to our annual July 4th trip to Valley Fair so she can ride the Frog Hopper with Katie.

Katie turned 2 on July 5th. Here she is waiting to go for a swim in her new swimming pool!

Too Much Birthday.

Katie still likes to go to sleep with her artificial aquarium on.

My Niece Ava (Katie's feet)

Katie at Valley Fair

Video of Katie in her new pool!

"Dorf" Jacob

Charles Lindberg House, Little Falls, Minnesota

"Slug Bug Limberg": Charles Lindberg drove this car around Europe.

Katie at our friend's cabin.

Bath time in the lake.

A full July left the kids "wiped out!"

2007 In Review: May

MAY

On Monday, May 7th, I said goodbye to my Grandpa Norgaard for the last time. As providence would have it, I had a court hearing in Fairmont, Minnesota on May 7th which was more than half-way to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where my grandpa was recovering at the V.A. Hospital after recently breaking his hip. I spontaneously decided to continue driving to Sioux Falls knowing that I would say good-bye to Grandpa.

When I arrived, Grandpa was, for the most part, non-responsive, but clearly was able to understand those speaking to him. I took this time to "clear the air" about some alleged childhood mischief Grandpa had attributed to me. When I was about 10 years old, Grandpa insisted that he saw me on top of the dome of one of three 75 foot silos on the family farm. To this day, I don't know if Grandpa actually thought that I was on top of the dome (I think he did) or he wanted everybody to think I was up there. Either way, I took this one final opportunity to pull myself close to Grandpa's ear and assure him that I was never on top of that silo! As I pulled back, I could feel him squeeze my hand and give a small "wink" assuring me that he heard me. I have wondered since if this wink was as if to say, "I know, Dan....I got you, didn't I!"

My Grandpa was a proud World War II Veteran. His funeral was made complete by 18 local VFW Vets attending the funeral, escorting his flag-draped casket out of the church to the congregation singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." This was a moving tribute on two accounts, one, the commitment to the VFW Vets to honoring one of their fallen colleagues as well as a tribute to Grandpa's undying patriotism.

Kenzie and her cousin Lily.

Jake and his cousin Isaac up a tree.

Katie doing dishes.

Jake and I spent a very cold and rainy Memorial Day Weekend at my new law partner, Greg Deckert's cabin. Jake caught his first Bass shown below.

2007 In Review: January-April

With the new year and this new blog upon me, I thought that I should review a few memories from 2007:

JANUARY

The most significant part of my year, and perhaps career, was the starting of my own law firm on January 1st. After spending the first week purchasing computers, installing software, and moving into my new office, my life finally stabilized and my practice began to thrive. I would be remiss if I didn't mention my office mates, Judy, Leigh and Vanessa at the Solo Suites Office Suites at the historic Exchange Building in St. Paul. They were all so kind, generous and encouraging to me as I started my new practice. I was sad to say goodbye at the end of July, however, as my practice moved to Maple Grove (see August below).

FEBRUARY

Katie: It's Cold in Minnesota in February, so we hibernate.

CHRIS TOMLIN CONCERT

Natasha and I went to see Chris Tomlin in Concert in February. This was a wonderful evening of praise and worship with today's pre-eminent worship leader. Even more awe inspiring was the message by Louis Giglio, a pastor/teacher who travels with Tomlin, demonstrating how :

"He's [God] [is] big enough to breathe out stars, yet intricate enough to fashion together the trillions of cells that make up every facet of who you are. The God who spoke the universe into existence made you, too, and knows everything about you. From the smallest molecule to the situation you find yourself in right now, He's aware of your circumstances and intimately acquainted with everything you do. And He cares about you and promises to carry you through."

MARCH

Katie: (almost) always cheerful.

APRIL

Jake & Kenzie: Best Buds



Easter 2007

DAD'S N' LADS

In April, Jake and Dan enjoy going to the Dads n' Lads Weekend at Camp Lebanon near Upsula, MN. Last year it rained the entire weekend so they enjoyed much better weather this year while enduring what seemed like hours and hours and hours of fishing talk by the key speakers (we are not fishermen). Jake enjoyed hanging from trees (literally) playing floor hockey (right) and carpet ball (below). Dan enjoyed spending time with Jake as well as with some friends and their sons from church.

Carpet Ball

Camp Lebanon Worship Band: "Rise & Shine"

Welcome to the Van Loh Family Blog!

After the persistent prodding of my daughter, McKenzie, to start her own blog, I decided that it was time to join the blogasphere and begin to share with the world the otherwise private thoughts and moments of the Van Loh Family. I have been blessed with an awesome wife, Natasha, and awesome kids, McKenzie, Jacob and Katie. They all have been blessed with an equally awesome husband and father. I hope that you will check our blog often and enjoy reading about the life, times and thoughts of our family.

Dan Van Loh