Christmas time already? December 20, 2009

I can’t believe that it’s already almost 2010! Last night we went over to my uncle John’s for my dad’s side Christmas party. I really didn’t end up taking as many photos as I wanted. I always feel weird being the only one snapping pics. Even before we got there my mouth was watering for aunt Kathy’s deviled eggs. By the end of the night I must have consumed almost a dozen. I guess I should learn how to make my own at home.

Here’s the few photos I got:

Jessica, Darcy, Lauri, & Troy.

Emma (Mitchel’s girlfriend), Mitchel, Nick, & Midge watching some air hockey.

Emily & Deja.

Tracy & Payton.

Sean & Craig.

Rick, his girlfriend Diane, Mitchel, & his girlfriend Emma.

Mikayla (Dan’s new fiance) & Dan .

This was going to be a nice photo of Derek and my dad but all of a sudden they started wrestling. Sometimes family gatherings are like watching some sort of nature program and in this case the younger generation is trying to show dominance over the elders.

Nick.

Oh yes, and uncle Steve kept referring to me as “Pam” all night because he thinks I look like Pam from The Office. Ugh, I don’t even know how many time I had to exclaim “I don’t look like her!”  That whole thing is getting to be pretty old.

Thanksgiving November 27, 2009

Yesterday was time for Thanksgiving again. This year it was a bit more sparse than usual because not everyone could make it including my dad because he had to work. We did have a good time though and it’s nice to see family especially since you usually only get to see them during the holidays.

Chuck making his famous Cajun turkey. This is the food item that most of the family drools over.

Lindsey & Erin with my favorite Thanksgiving food, homemade rolls.

Jamie & Jake

Mike & Grandma

Jake brought tupperware along so he could bring food back home.

The couch, a great gathering place.

Samantha, Jamie, & me.

Re-enacting a photo from last year minus Kaleb.

Mom, Craig, & I. Craig doesn’t take “normal” photos.

Free backrubs.

Plenty of desserts left to bring home.

 

a birthday, a visit from my brother, and loathing of my physique. October 20, 2009

Well it’s been some time since I’ve made a post in this blog so I thought it was time for an update.

On October 10th my mom, dad, and I went to my aunt Denise’s 40th birthday party:

My cousins Tony & Tricia, & me.  Tony lives pretty far away south of here and Tricia lives all of the way out in South Dakota so I only see them a few times a year (although that goes for most of my family).

Aunt Amy & my mom.

Aunt Amy, my dad, & aunt Carol.

Some of us ladies: Kristi, Tricia, Amy, Amanda, me, Carol, Denise, & my mom.

Uncle Chuck brought some Brew House beer. That stuff tasted like coffee.

The birthday girl.

My aunt Carol loves to stand and dance on top of furniture. It’s just her thing.

This past Wednesday Craig came home for MEA break. I think he really likes coming home. This is proven by the fact that he has to drive 6 hours each way. I think he gets home sick plus he gets to see the dogs, sleep in his own quiet bed, and eat all he wants.

This is him preparing a bowl of ice cream which he doesn’t get much of up north:

And big news! It stopped raining and the sun came out from hiding! I think it got into the lower 60′s which is waaaay better than the 30′s & 40′s. That more like it! This is how it should feel. I was thinking that Minnesota was skipping fall completely and heading into the longest, darkest, and worst season ever like some sort of cruel shock treatment. (I HATE winter!)

Today I went with my mom to Kohls to see if I could find a pair of jeans that fit since I haven’t bought a new pair in almost 3 years and mine are getting worn out. I tried on 13 pairs and gave up. NONE of them fit me right and I feel like crying. I’ve always hated trying on pants. Once in a blue moon I can actually find a pair that fits and I treasure that special find so very much. This is one of the reasons that I LOVE skirts and dresses. They are so forgiving and help cover up my larger bits that give me so much trouble (hips, butt, & thighs). Plus they are so easy to find the right size and fit into! I wish this was the 40′s or 50′s so I could wear those clothes all of the time.

Labor Day Weekend September 8, 2009

This past weekend of course was Labor Day weekend and I think this was the first year I actually had something to do for the holiday weekend. Usually my dad’s side of the family tries to get most of us together once a year up at  Kathy & Jim’s cabin but this year we had to reschedule for September. I think this was actually the best weather we’ve had (it didn’t rain!).

 

Eric & Jim starting the beer drinking.

 

Craig and his very tiny tent. I would not sleep in that thing. I think it would make me feel claustrophobic not to mention too close to wildlife while sleeping because I like having some space between me and the tent walls at night.

 

My cousin Nick with a beer and a turkey leg.

 

Eric enjoying a beer.

 

Abri & Emily

 

Payton

 

Uncle Steve

 

This was actually a very pretty sunset but the sun doesn’t look right in this photo.

 

Abri

 

Emily (don’t you just love the soft light!)

 

Uncle John, Sammy, & Grace.

The four of us took a short little walk down the beach before dark. I love how sandy the shoreline is on Mille Lacs. It’s for sure one of my favorite lakes to swim in.

 

Some sitting around the fire:

Alan & aunt Mary Ann with Daphnie (the daughter of my dogs Gracie & Luke). They have to drive all of the way from Ohio to visit.

 

Craig & Nick

 

I think that Troy is getting a little big for this.

 

Jim mixed up a giant martini for uncle Tom.

 

The next day it was more warm sunshine

Deja

 

Emily & Grace

 

Pat at the wheel for a while thinking he’s the captain.

 

aunt Kathy

 

Jim, the real captain. (as indicated on his cap)

 

Rick & Mitchell

At the end of the boat ride Jim told a few of the guys to put weight on the front of the boat so they all got up there without really thinking and the whole front end of the boat went down like we were sinking. Thankfully we didn’t sink but sadly I didn’t get that YouTube worthy moment on film   I also went on another ride with the next group and noticed by the time that I got back to shore that I should have put on some sunscreen. I am seriously burned like I can’t believe. It’s painful to raise my arms and the burn has a purplish tint to it. Hopefully it will turn tan and not peel!

 

Dad, Rick, Derek, Mitchell, & Craig.

Father Hennepin State Park August 13, 2009

I spent August 3rd through the 8th with my parents and aunt Mary & uncle Dan. (& Craig for 2 days) We stayed at Father Hennepin State Park up in Isle, MN on Mile  Lacs Lake. Craig came home during the weekend while I was up at the cabin in Amery, WI and the day after I came home the two of us drove up to stay with the others in the campground. I think this was my first time camping that I really didn’t need any bug spray! The park has a really nice long & sandy beach, paved paths, and some hiking trails. The downsides were that it was crowded and the sites had no privacy and the park itself is kind of small. I think it would be the perfect park if the campsites had more privacy because that was a BIG downside. There were people walking through our site to theirs and while sitting around you almost had to look at your neighbors because they were so close with nothing seperating the sites.

Luke riding in Craig’s lap. Craig put on the brakes and poor Luke’s head smacked into the horn on the wheel. It was pretty comical but also a good reason your dog shouldn’t ride on your lap.

Gracie in the back seat where she later threw up a clump of grass.

Craig & Luke on a dock on our first walk around the park. Notice how you can’t see the shoreline on the other side of the lake. Mile Lacs is huge!

Nice sandy beach.

Me.

Dan & Craig.

Duckies!

It seems like everyone has these recliner chairs now.

Playing some washer and box game. (Almost the same as but not as good as cornhole).

It took some time for Gracie to get used to being tied up because at home she’s always running free.

Sunset!

Dad & the puppies.

Some funky mushrooms.

More duckies! (I love ducks).

On another walk.

We played a very loooong game of Canasta followed by a couple games of Liverpool.

The only deer I see the whole time I’m there & it’s an albino one!

7/17 Weekend July 21, 2009

Well first off I must say that this summer has been flying by! I really don’t know where all of the time has gone. It has also been a bit busier than I had expected because I think I’ve done something almost every weekend.

This past weekend started off on Friday when my family drove back up to Minneapolis to see Jaspar’s private house show. It was also a chance to visit with Jaspar’s family who was up visiting from Arizona. (This weekend family from Arizona, the weekend before was family from Kentucky ). Here’s a few shots I took at the house show:

Some group shots:

The family minus Gina

us girls

cousins

Jaspar was given this funky leopard print pill box hat.

On Sunday we took the drive up to my uncle Greg’s for a potluck and to visit with family some more. On our way back down home we stopped off at Jaspar and Kale’s potluck for more visiting I only ended up with a couple of photos because I was being lazy and only had my little camera with in the fading light.

Janelle

Kaelyn

We ended up staying there pretty late (we don’t get to see them very often). I think that Kaelyn has convinced me to take a trip to Arizona to experience something new. Maybe some of her energy and creativity will rub off on me. When this will be? I don’t know. Soon I hope, which would make sense because I have the free time right now.

The drive home was a bit frustrating trying to get out of Minneapolis and having all of your options blocked off because of road work. It seems like they are doing work on just about every road they can get their hands on. Thank goodness for GPS! (although hearing “recalculating” 20 times in a row is annoying.) One bad thing that happened this weekend is my external portable hard drive keeled over   I’ll have to figure out how much I lost with that. I was editing a photo from Friday when my computer froze and when I plugged my external HD in the next time it wasn’t working and I freaked the heck out! Not only are photos and files lost, I’ll have to shell out some bucks to replace it (and I’m low on the green these days).

The Past Week Or So July 8, 2009

This past week or so I finally got to see some family that I almost never get to see since they live in Kentucky. My aunt Connie, cousin Melissa, and cousin Niki and her new hubby Teddy came up to visit us. On June 28th we met up at my uncle Greg’s for a little pool party.

 

Teddy & Niki

 

Niki & Melissa

 

Aunt Connie

 

Uncles Jerry & Greg getting competitive.

 

Me & Niki.

 

Then on July 2nd I ran up to the mall to hang out for a little while with them and have some dinner at Kokomo’s with the family.

Niki, Teddy, & I.

Sadly this is the only photo I took at the mall. I guess I was being lazy with the camera.

 

On the 4th of July we went back to Greg’s for a little get together.

My cousin Jaspar and her husband Kale.

(too bad I didn’t notice that he blinked when I took the photo.)

 

Teddy, Niki, & Chad.

 

Ryann & Connie.

Poor Ryann had only a couple of days to visit and had to go right back to L.A

 

Melissa & Erin.

I wish I could be that skinny & tan!

 

Ally & Chad.

 

Mary & Dan.

 

Craig & Chad.

(Craig doesn’t take many normal photos.)

 

Niki

 

Brett & his girlfriend Molly.