Thursday, July 30, 2009

Monday, July 27, 2009

A wedding

We spent this past weekend in Duluth for the wedding of Cousin Mike and New Cousin Amber. The bride and groom looked fabulous and hosted a great party. We enjoyed the excuse to take a road trip with Grandma and Grandpa P, as well as Uncle Charlie, Auntie Angie and Da Boyz. Miles danced the night away (8:30pm) and taught us all some great new moves --

I'm having a hard time deciding which photos to post, and I can't do them all...it would take up so many blog pages that blogger would probably shut me down. I've uploaded them to a Kodak album, so if I can get my act together I'll try posting a link. Maybe that will work, maybe not. I don't know how friendly Kodak and blogger are with one another.

This photo is definitely worth posting (and it was one of only two deck shots, so there was minimal decision-making required) -- yay for the new deck! You are welcome to come over and play on it with us. We would like the company!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Feet

Miles and I spent Saturday in St. Peter. The goals of our visit included:

1. Spend quality time with a variety of family members (to Miles, they were grandparents, uncles, an aunt, cousins, and a doggy).

2. Get in a good TC Marathon training run. (Charlie and I pumped out 9 miles. Woot wooot! We just need to add 17.2 more miles on to that and we'll be set... yeow.)


3. Sisterly bonding time for me and Angie...it was wonderful! Next time, we hope to have the other sister in the picture (that'd be you, Elisabeth).


4. Enjoy a delicious meal made by Grandma Jill (never too hard to accomplish because Gma J is such a good cook and the folks around her table are usually entertaining).


Here's a snapshot of Angie getting her tootsies pampered:

I'm sure our next trip to St. Peter will be just as great! And I really really really hope it includes another pedicure....

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Here, there, and everywhere in between.

We're here! We've just been a little busy lately. I'm sure you (whoever you are...) know what I mean.
I think I mentioned in a previous post that I'd sort through the 500+ 4th of July pictures and post some, but the thought just tires me out. Instead, I sorted through my favorite series (50+) from the weekend and picked out my absolute favorite:

Best cousins forever!

Just as we were getting settled back home in Otown, I had to pack up and leave again for a couple of days worth of meetings in Grand Rapids (the MN one waaaaaay "up north"). Tanner came with me, which I appreciated very much. The weather was beautiful and my meetings were mixed with plenty of time to play. We stayed at Ruttger's Sugar Lake Lodge, which meant Tanner to hit lots of golf balls while I was in meetings. We also cruised around the resort on these awesome bikes (not easy to pose on, by the way):


While we were gone, Miles spent time at both his G&G G's house as well as G&G P's house. Grandpa Dave taught Miles lots of great new things, including how to say "Owatonna" (very important) and 1-2-3 (he could only get to 2 until this visit). Grandpa Larry tried to teach Miles how to say "Minneapolis", but no progress was made. Maybe next time.
We timed our return trip well with the Ducky Derby. Here's Miles looking for the ducks:

Fortunately Grandma Jill stepped in to help point them out.


Life back home is still hopping. We brought Tuffy the dog down to see other dogs at the Blast ice cream shop -

The Blast offers free ice cream to dogs on certain nights during the summer. The only requirement is that the dog brings an owner. On a leash. Ha! Those clevor Blast workers.
Here's Zeus. He might as well have had his owner on a leash:
(those heels aren't going to do much for you -- or any of us -- honey.)

We wrapped up the weekend with a BBQ at Miles' friend Lauren's (and her baby brother Owen's) house. His other friends Claire, Kennedi, Ava, and Reid also showed up. It was a warm afternoon, but fortunately Lauren has multiple sprinklers. We went through three. The second one was a big soft plastic thing that popped. I'm pretty sure that was the highlight of the afternoon for all of the kids, as it created a little pond for them to jump in. Oh, the simple joys in life!
This was the only picture that contained most of the kids --



And here's Miles playing with Lauren, the hostess with the mostess (mostess skin showing, anyway).


The weather continues to be unusually cool for July, so we're making the most of it each night. It brings out the best in Miles.

(I had to leave the eyes red)

Sunday, July 5, 2009

What a weekend!

We're settled in back home after a fun weekend in St. Peter. Lead Cousin Hannah and Assistant Cousin Miles kept the 4th of July parties under control for Baby Cousin Ethan and Baby Cousin Owen. More than 500 photos were taken throughout the 3.5 days we were together....rest assured some will be posted soon.
In the mean time, here's what Miles did when he got home this afternoon:


Anyone else have a frog that needs filling?