after finishing
my book, i took
a little time away
from my computer.
i needed it.
but i haven’t
just been sitting
on the couch…
we were in mn
for a week,
during which i joined
brooke and her
family for a saturday
afternoon at a beer
festival in chetek, wisconsin.
(maddy stayed back with the grandparents).
it was a beautiful day,
with an
awesome band
whose music made
brooke do this:
(the beer may have had a bit to do with that as well).
after the beer fest,
we drove through town
and i made some
new friends.
then we were back
on the road,
stopping for photos
with things i
don’t ever see in
los angeles.
the next morning
we were back in
minnesota, helping
tom and candee
set up for maddy’s
pool party.
actually, brooke
did most of the
helping while i took
a nap, but that’s
beside the point.
we had a great
turnout, and a ton
of fun.
especially maddy, who
spent almost the
entire party in the water,
even eating
her dinner in the pool.
…
while brooke worked,
maddy and i
spent some time
with aj, sonja, and emilila
at the splash pad,
the park and
the pool,
and some time
with the grandparents
and her newest
cousin, isla.
the day before
we left we
went to her uncle
adam’s baseball game
where she played
with ava
these two are
going to be
trouble together
someday, as evidenced
by this photo of the
two of them
trying to get the
attention of some
of the opposing team’s players:
during the game
we took a little
walk to
a spot i’ve always
wanted to visit,
but for some reason,
never found the
time to.
the next day we
were back on
a flight to los angeles
so we could be
home in time
for my friend
jasmine’s wedding.
maddy spent the
night with elizabeth
and family,
while we went to
the wedding.
had a lovely night,
and finally got to meet
aislinn and matt’s
new baby.
sunday we had our
friend andrea
and her kids over
for some fun in
the pool that brooke
bought for maddy
…
people keep asking
me what i’m doing
with my time
now that the
book is done…
well, with it
out of the way
it’s time to
get to work
on some stuff around
the house.
i spent all of
last week cleaning
and organizing my house.
this has been sort
of an ongoing
process the past few
weeks, but there’s
a lot more to do.
i hadn’t seen the
surface of my
desk in forever,
but i can happily
say that
after an entire day
of work,
i now can.
the living room has
been decluttered and
the folks at goodwill
now have close to 50
of my old books.
the kitchen cupboards
have been reorganized
and lots of
food well past
its expiration date
has been tossed.
but i can’t clean
this house forever,
so as soon as
all of the necessary
reorganization is done
i’m going to take
advantage of this
lull in activity to
do some things
that i haven’t
done nearly enough of
in the past few months.
since brooke
works every day
and maddy is playing
with her friends
at daycare,
my plan is to have a
routine that includes
hiking in the morning
and reading in
the afternoons.
sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?
i can’t wait.
…
last friday brooke’s
mom, aunt and cousin
came out to los angeles
for a visit, but i
think it was
mostly to escape
the humidity of
the midwest.
we had a great time
showing them
around town,
and even more fun
hitting up disneyland
and the next day
taking brooke’s
cousin to travel town
at griffith park
(the kid fucking loves trains…and so does maddy).
it was lunch time
and maddy really
wanted a tootsie pop,
but i wasn’t
willing to let
her have it until
after lunch,
so she sat
down in the middle
of the sidewalk
and threw one
of the most awesome
two-year old
shit fits ever.
(i should have turned the video camera on, but i figured i’d spare everyone).
with a little disciplinary
help from brooke,
we got her
calmed down and
she ate her lunch.
of course she
was then rewarded
with a very
sticky cherry lollipop.
that night we
had the great pleasure
of hosting the spohr
family for dinner
and a lot
of laughter.
maddy went to
sleep early
after staring in
amazement at annie,
and more than once
saying,
“daddy! hold her!”
it hit 10:00
and the jobless among
us could have
partied all night
if not for our
working-stiff partners.
jerks.
now it’s tuesday
and as much as
i want to lay on
my couch and read,
i actually have
a meeting with some
folks on the other
side of town later
this afternoon.
(don’t forget the liz logelin foundation is still looking for sponsor, donations and attendees for the celebration of hope gala and the
5k).
(also, i’ll be speaking at camp widow 2010. click the image below for more information).
78 Comments
OMG Love the pics of Maddy and Brooke on the Buzz Lightyear ride. Maddy’s eyes say it all !!
I hope the pics get fixed, but it sounds like you all have been having some fun. So jealous you got to meet Heather and fam and so jealous they got to meet you and fam! Lol.
Looking forward to your book. Enjoy the hiking and reading. You deserve it.
Your life sounds pretty great right now.
Holy crap, every time I read a new post I’m blown away by how friggin big Maddy is getting to be! Funny how fast you (I) forget how fast those first years go…..my daughter is a lippy 8 year old…idk when the hell that happened, I swear I looked away for a second and she’s turned into a little person! Mind blowing:) Parenting rocks ey!
Gorgeous pics…loved the ones at the Art Inst. My daughter loves loves LOVES to go there. She leads me around like she’s a tour guide (too bad she’s not on their payroll….yet)
Looking forward to seeing everyone in September! Take care~
PS-I hope that Brooke has the urge to make that move at the Gala…Let’s whoop it up on the dance floor Brooke! I have a sitter and everything! #mommysgoneWILD
PSS- Just kidding Matt. Don’t ban me from the Gala. I’ll behave to the best of my ability:)
Loving the dresses – especially the one Maddy had the shit fit in. I love to watch OTHER people experience them (but having a kid do it to me, different story).
But anywho – Glad to hear you are getting reorganized after the book. I can’t wait to read it!
I love that you took a picture of her in the middle of her tantrum. hahaha
Wonderful to hear from you. Sounds like a busy summer!
Looks like fun had by all and love the pictures. Have fun hiking and reading (while Brooke is working)
Enjoy a little down time. Great pictures, as always.
Totally lol’d at how you put Maddy’s shitfit. Good job, Brooke! Sounds like you have had some much needed fun since you’ve finished your book. Congrats
Looks like things are going great for you guys!!! Thank goodness they are for someone. LOL. Can’t wait for the book to come out… I am jealous as well that you got to have dinner with the Spohr family.. I would love to come to LA to meet all of ya!! Love the pics of Maddie she is so damn adorable.
Take care.
You guys always have some fun times! I love reading about all of you adventures. I can’t believe how big Maddy is getting-she’s such a little girl now!
Thanks for the update. It’s always a pleasure to see how well you’re all doing.
I absolutely love the Polaroid shot of M and her cousin with the giant cherry. So great.
Really looking forward to your book!
Today would be the day to escape the MN humidity. Even for a lifer, I am miserable!! As always great pictures & thanks for sharing!
I agree with everyone that I can not believe how big Maddy is getting!!!
Glad to hear you finally have time to do what you want now that the book is done.
Keep having the fun filled adventures!!
Maddy’s pink dress is so cute! Well done. On another note…not sure if you’ve ever addressed this on your blog before (I don’t remember seeing it) but I’d love to see pics of your tats. I have a few myself, all very meaningful to me, and yours intrigue me. Have fun hiking and reading.
Love that you share my awe in kids throwing fits. The spectacle is sometimes hard to believe. I wish I could say it got better as they get older, but mine are 7 and 9 – I’m still waiting. And unfortunately, they are too big for me to just carry away from the scene.
Enjoy your hiking and reading – you’ve worked hard!
I’m loving Maddy’s expression in the pic of her and Brooke on the Buzz ride. Hilarious!
Brooke looks adorable in every picture I see of her! Maybe you can get her to spill some of her shopping secrets?
Love the pics!! I look forward to the blog posts because you finally explain what is going on in the pics I see on Flickr!
Looks like you all had a wonderful time at Disney, especially on the Toy Story ride! Looking forward to more adventures with the three of you!
Congratulations on completing the book! I can’t wait to get my paws on it!
Maddy is a beauty, ans so is Brooke. I am jealous of your new schedule, I haven’t read a book for pleasure in MONTHS! Are you ever going to get a “regular” job, or do you think you will be sticking with the writing? Just curious! Blessings to all!
DARN, if I would’ve known you were coming to chetek!!! I would have offered you and yours some hospitality. That is where I live on the lake. Been following you through your journey for a super long time.
Guess you will have to make it another point to come to little old chetek wisconsin again!
I really wish I could lay down on the ground and throw a shit fit now and again. Without looking a) insane or 2) completely stupid or c) both.
I used to videotape my kids having tantrums… It was always fun to threaten to show them to people if they didn’t behave!
Thanks for the update.
Was so hoping to see the pic of you and Brooke exhausted at Disneyland again. Thank god for twitpic!
Hey Matt-
Long time stranger/friend here. Been thinking of you a lot recently b/c my 36 year old cousin, Aryn, passed away suddenly three days ago. It was sudden and unexpected and she was married and has an amazing 8 year old son. They live in CA (laguna niguel) and have no family in the area. Just thinking you might be able to reach out to them or something. Email me if you’d like more info. Thanks and great to see so much happiness in your life.
Maddy has such an incredibly expressive face…especially those big beautiful eyes.
i agree, love that pic of maddy & brooke on the buzz ride!!! LOVE LOVE that you are happy. your pics are awesome as always. any one that can get down at a show is ok in my book.
here’s to more adventures. more happy memories and a really successful book (that i am looking forward to owning and reading).
my favorite picture is the shit fit. (darn republican comes in a close 2nd) i should prob buy that photo book.
take care.
Maddy is growing up so fast and is looking cuter by the day, I love reading your updates and glad to hear you’ve got a routine planned – even if it is one I’m a tad jealous of!
Funny how you always have this laidback, takin’-it-easy tone to your posts, but your days seem jam-packed!
Maddy looks adorable as ever, and Brooke is beautiful (and fashionable!). What lovely ladies you have in your life.
I take pictures of tantrums too. There has to be proof later in life. Sounds like you are keeping busy!
I flew into MSP on Saturday to retrieve my children from the previous three weeks of being spoiled Up North by their grandparents. I was there for a coupla hours before flying back to Atlanta with them and was looking for flights in/out of LAX, but didn’t spot you. I suppose my timing was off by a week.
LOVE the pic of Maddie in the Mickey ears in front of the round window. The two year old shit fit is pretty awesome, too.
Love all the photos! Brooke is proving to be pretty indispensable around there, I have the feeling she’s a keeper.
I want to escape the humidity of the East coast too.. I’m planning on taking a trip to CA next month, hopefully we can get our girls together..
Wow you have been busy, I am going to be in Minnesota on August 9th thru August 14th, Any chance you and Brooke will be back there? We are finally taking my son to Mayo Clinic, it has been two years since he got so sick, he lost 52 pounds. We are flying in on Monday, August 9th and plan to do a little sight seeing since he does not have clinic until the next day. Any suggestions.
Glad to see you happy, good things happen to those who wait. Maddy looks so happy and grown up. You have done a great job with her.
Rosann
ha ha Maddy’s eyes! If you see Andrea again, give her a hug for me, she’s having a rough time right now.
So now, in this organizing, did you manage to part with all of those CD’s or are you still hanging on. I think it’s safe to say that they are well backed up and it’s time to take them to Amoeba and make some cash.
Now that you have some free time, I’ll have to swing by in the middle of your hike and your book reading and grab some lemons.
That huge kinetic sculpture looks amazing. There is a great sculpture park about an hour north of here called Storm King that has some of the same guy’s work: http://www.stormking.org
Another amazing update! Just have to say, Brooke is stunningly beautiful in all the pics. She seems to fit right in with you and Maddy. Continued happiness to all of you!
We were at Loring Park today! (Son and his girlfriend had some quality time at First Ave last night. Unfortunately, we both missed that it was an 18+ show, so I had to cancel a date and pretend I wasn’t babysitting them) Hope it wasn’t beastly hot when you were here.
Wow…for some reason these pics make WI look really weird. I live in a regular city (including crime unfortunately) in WI and I always wondered why people thought WI was so….different? What do most people think of when they think of WI do you think? Although, we moved “farther north” and we do have some roads that seem pretty country round these parts.
Also…totally jealous of the schedule. Take full advantage of it.
One thing that has always struck me about Brooke is her smile never looks forced or unnatural in her pictures and I don’t think that is just her being photogenic, she seems like a genuinely positive and happy person who embraces life. That might seem like a lot of assumptions based on a blog and some photos but I feel certain.
As I am typing this and looking at the picture of you and Maddy at the bottom of your blog I am suddenly struck by how much she has grown up.
Oh my! The nail polish!! (or pay-nolish as my 2-yr old says). I just love it! Such a lovely little lady.
My very good friend had a baby girl today and hasn’t decided yet but is probably naming her either Madeline or Elizabeth, or possibly Madeline Elizabeth. She isn’t a reader of yours, but I like both options from getting to know your family here.
Awesome that you have some time to re-group now. Love seeing photos of Maddy. She’s getting so damn big already! Congrats again on being done with the writing. Enjoy your summer!!
You are doing a great job on Madeline! Wishing y’all many more happy, bright, & peaceful days
Oh, and I forgot to add that lovely Maddy is looking like Liz more and more as she grows up.
Wow! It is a small world when I see pictures of Chetek on your blog from LA. My husband works in Chetek and we live about 15 miles from there. Saw my old high school music teacher ( Jerry Way) in the photo with brooke dancing. Cute!
It cracks me up that you’re hanging out in small town Wisconsin rockin an Eazy E t-shirt.
Love the update! It gives me such a good feeling to read the happiness in your words. Enjoy the rest of your summer! Please come to Canada for your book tour.
Nothing pisses a 2 year old off more than having her picture taken during a tantrum! Good job dad!
you’re such a bum. geez, don’t you ever work?! j/k.
can’t wait to see you guys in San Diego. round of drinks on me!
Matt –
Good morning. I cannot believe that you went to a beer festival in the middle of nowhere Wisconsin with an Easy E shirt on. I LOVE it! (I am from Wisconsin by the way, despite the Republican sign we are a blue state).
That’s it, I’m moving to WI. I want to live on Darn Republican St. Best street name EVER. But wait, it…snows there doesn’t it? Yeah, nevermind. Scratch that.
I love the many faces of Maddy! The shit fit and the zombie stare are most excellent.
This post seems to really show a happiness that it is so nice to see!
Yet another post displaying Maddy’s amazing wardrobe and even more extensive shoe collection. And the adorable photo of the puddle that maddy melted into is priceless. I seem to take more and more of those with a monster who resembles my daughter in them. Ahhh, the joys… and the beers which then make us laugh about it later.
I also agreed with everyone that Maddy is growing like a weed! I have been consistently reading here and on twitter but I never have a chance to leave a note so here I am! I’m so happy to see you happy. You are such a strong person and so deserving of all the happiness in the world. I’m jealous you went to Disneyland. I’ve been dying to get back there for the past few years. Someday!
Keep doing what you’re doing. That little girl is going to be one of the most awesome grown-ups (maybe even more awesome than you … you never know.)
I just have to say that I am very proud to report that my daughter (18 months) has the same shoes (or at least really close) as Maddy from the baseball game photos.
Since she’s such a fashionable little girl, this makes me feel pretty good.
Sounds like things are going really well for you – and it’s so great to hear that! Congrats!!
Great pics, adorable Maddy! Love the shit fits! I miss those, now I have teenage shit fits…It gets even more fun!
Thanks for the update, you guys make me smile!
I know it’s already been said but Maddy’s eyes on the buzz lightyear ride is priceless! I have one similar with my son (my daughter at almost 3 still refuses to go on it when we make our annual trip to Disneyworld). Love reading your posts and seeing your pictures. You make me laugh!
So about this girl Brooke…when are you gonna ask her?
So glad y’all are doing well! Maddy is adorable. And big big congrats on finishing your book. Can’t wait to see it in stores!
Already said, but definitely merits being repeated…
AWESOME SHIT FIT…My 2yr old Luc has the same kind, when he doesn’t get his way…oh, the life lessons…if they only knew that life only gets so much harder!!
And her clothes…seriously…??? Most adorable!!! Really!!!
ha! My brother-in-law’s family is from Chetek & I grew up not to far…I miss those fun festivals.
I really like it that you’re wearing an Eazy-E shirt. That is all.
P.S. Maddy’s eyes SLAY me.
Just saw pics of the cool spoon and cherry sculpture in a magazine yesterday and thought it was awesome….how neat to then see you there with your precious little one:)
I am about to be back amongst those working folks again… school starting. So, I understand wanting to cherish free time. Enjoy your time off!
I LOVE that you took a picture of Maddie throwing a tantrum! So many of our kids’ pictures are of them smiling… we all know they aren’t that way ALL the time.
Great pictures. You have been busy as always. We will be arriving in LA on August 8th. Do you have any advice on how to “do” Disneyland?
I often wish I could throw a fit in public like Maddie did. I think it would be quite liberating.
Glad to see you’ve been keeping busy and having fun!
You know I lived in Minnesota for 22 years and I never went to the big cherry on a spoon. I don’t know why. I still don’t know where that is! Ha maybe I should have gotten out more.
Now I’m in a small town in WI and may never see it. Oh well. Glad to see Maddy did! 
So next time you are up in the San Fran area, you should bring Maddy up to Tilden Park in Berkeley. My husband and his family run their miniature live steam engines up there (like the ones at Griffith Park) and I bet Maddy would love it!! My three year old son just got his first train last month and I bet they would have a ton of fun playing together. Here’s the website… http://www.ggls.org. We would love to have you guys come up and give Maddy a train ride or two.
the picture of brooke and maddie at disney with her eyes all big is priceless.
Wow! It looks like everybody had so much fun. I love your dress by the way. The kids were pretty busy too, and I also could not the awesome two year old tantrum on the sidewalk. lol! I also have some awesome memories of my daughter during that particular stage. Anyhow, I enjoyed looking at your pics.
Maddy is really growing up! I love the look on her face in the photos in which she’s a) staring at the baby (your neice?) and b) at Disneyland sitting next to Brooke. Awesome.
Liberty Fest is awesome… my friends who live on Darn Republican Street have hosted many a good time in Chetek and loved me through my best beer truck/street dance moments and my not-so-attractive times too. So fun to see pics from there, esp. since I wanted to go this year and had other plans. Shit. It is such a small world.
Such a cutie! You’re doing such a good job!
Hope I’m not posting twice – but I fear the sidewalk tantrums though I just endured a difficult plane voyage with my 17 month old from SF-NYC… SO I guess it was a warm up. Anyway, would love to be on the widow blogroll (how many people say THAT?! Jesus.)
Thanks again,
Susan
I’d love to hear what it is like taking a 2-yr-old to Disneyland. Any tips and suggestions? My husband says we have to wait until our little one is 4 but I disagree. It looks like Maddy had a great time!
Hello Matt,
I have been following your blog since the death of my husband in February 2010. I was looking for help with the pain. Your story and your blog ‘grabbed’ me and I haven’t missed an entry. I am glad to hear you are publishing a book. Your story has a universal appeal as evidenced by the following and publicity you have received. I have watched you forge through your journey with confidence, wit, humour and grace. You are an amazing man and father.
I have often wanted to comment on an entry, but when I would see 431 comments (!) I wouldn’t bother. Well today, there are only 71 – people must be on holidays!
I realize that you are at Camp Widow this weekend and I was tempted to join you all there. I am currently on a road trip from Calgary (home) to Santa Barbara, then east to las vegas. I sit in a tent in a campground outside Santa Cruz at present. Ya gotta love 2010 – sitting in my tent with a laptop, keeping in touch with the world!
Be well and blessings to you.
Aaron and I are planning on doing a lot of hiking in the upcoming months. I’m training for a trip to Macchu Picchu in April so we’ve been doing a lot of hiking during the week (since both of our jobs are pretty flexible). Let me know if you are interested in hiking with us!