Pergande Family Updates: September 2017

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Fostering with Secondhand Hounds

The Pergandes have been looking for ways to give back and help others. We have decided to save some of our four-legged friends and foster them until they can find their forever home. Our first foster, Buddy (a 8 month mixed breed), arrived this past Saturday. While we are not very experienced, we are so lucky to have Buddy as our first foster. He is a super sweet puppy with a gentle soul. He loves tummy rubs and is super well behaved, already potty trained and crate trained after about 48 hours.

Picture from the shelter he was rescued from in Oklahoma...

Picture from Homeward Hills Park in our back yard...

Chilling in Stanley's old bed...

Homecoming 2017 - Sophomore Year

This was a big year for homecoming for the parents with the kids wanting more independence and us parents wanting to ensure some level of safety and controls. Canyon went to homecoming with a friend and a big group of kids, which included pictures at Arneson Park, dinner at Applebees, a bus ride, and a couple of afterparties. I think half of Eden Prairie was at the park for pictures (a little bit chaotic). Mom and Dad helped one of the parents hosting the after party. Overall, the night ended well and safe and I think Canyon had a great time as well. Here are a couple of pictures from the night.

Canyon and his date Grace...

With some of his hockey buddies...

With his baseball buddy Jack...

The crowd at Arneson Park...

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Mom and Dad Have Reunions the Same Weekend

The weekend of 9/15 - 9/17, Trisha and Ron both had reunions back in Illinois while the kids held down the fort back in Minnesota (a big first!). Ron had a Lambda Chi reunion at University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. His fraternity recently completed construction of a new fraternity house and was having a ribbon cutting ceremony. Many of the alumni, including Ron, contributed to this huge endeavor. Alumni came from all over the world for this weekend. Ron had an amazing weekend back on campus with old friends. He enjoyed touring the new fraternity house, staying at the Union, and taking in a football game.

While Dad was in Urbana-Champaign, Mom traveled to Chicago to return for her 30 year high school reunion. Her weekend started with a Friday night visit with Aunt Kimmy. The reunion started with a Saturday morning tour of Maine East. Two of her former classmates now work at the school as Dean of Students and Associate Principal, respectively. It was amazing how the school looks both the same and has also changed at the same time. We got to see parts of the school that were previously forbidden to see as students. Great way to start the reunion. In the evening, >100 people joined for a reunion party at Durty Nellies. It was such an amazing evening that went late into the night. So great to see old friends and bring back those old memories that actually were not long lost.

Our tour group...

Tour guides and classmates Dino Dilegge & Mike Bender in the Special Ed gym where we were all senior leaders...

The gymnastics room with some of our team members in tow...

The iconic building from the front...

A drive by Mom's high school home...

Pre-reunion dinner crew...

Late night reunion crew...

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

First Day of School - A Sophomore and an 8th Grader.... Where does the time go?

Our first day of school started with waffles and an our annual picture by the front tree. Kids still tell us that they hate taking the picture..... Wow are they growing up way too fast... Love you Canyon and Presley...

Minnesota State Fair 2017

Mom absolutely loves the Minnesota State fair. This year, I went 3x - once with Canyon, once with Presley, and once with the whole family. I keep hoping they come out with a season pass so I can go every day. I have attached pics/highlights from each of the days this year...

Day 1 - Chicks with Wicks with their boys (and a couple of pals)...

Group picture at bus stop entrance...