Christmas ’09 December 26, 2009

Short story: Christmas this year was uneventful. There is no long story. We were supposed to go up to my uncle Paul’s house today to see my mom’s side of the family but we decided not to chance it driving all that way on the slippery roads. So that sucks. I suppose I won’t  see anyone now until March. At least I got to see some of my dad’s side last weekend.  There is some good news to report though. When my mom called Paul to tell him we weren’t coming he announced that him and Cathy are now engaged! Cathy really does fit in with the family, she’s really great and already seems like one of my aunts Also just a few minutes ago I found out that my cousin Jamie just got engaged too! It does seem like lots of people get engaged during Christmas, doesn’t it? So in total that’s three weddings to look forward to because my cousin Dan also just recently got engaged to Mikayla but I’m sure their wedding won’t be for some time still. I’m some sort of wedding junkie. I could seriously go to a wedding every weekend and not tire of them.

Other than that it seems like the storm is wrapping up. Yesterday we got about seven or eight inches of wet heavy snow. Last night and today it kept switching from snow to sleet to rain and left a few inches of slush that is now frozen over into slippery ice. Who knows, maybe I’ll attempt making a snowman tomorrow although I usually lose interest and end up with just one very large snowball/bottom of a snowman. We’ll see.

Jaspar & Kale’s Blog! December 21, 2009

I just thought that I would tell everyone about Jaspar and Kale’s new blog.

Just a little while ago my cousin Jaspar and her husband Kale made the move to Durban, South Africa where they will be for the next two years.

Aren’t they the cutest!

Their blog is here: http://jasparandkale.wordpress.com/

I’m sure that they’re going to have many great adventures and stories to tell!

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.

This Past Eventful Weekend September 14, 2009

This past weekend was actually pretty eventful. On Friday I drove over to Chaska to shoot a wedding for an awesome couple and I think that went really well! I do hope that I grow out of feeling panicky and sick on days that I do photo shoots though. I’m okay once I get there and start shooting but the time before that is pure hell for me. Hopefully I’ll get more work from that past wedding because one of their friends just got engaged and one of them is a music producer that took my card so maybe I’ll be doing some artist portraits too? One thing that I’m worried about with that is I don’t have a studio or portable lighting because it’s so expensive and I haven’t even earned back the money that it cost to buy the equipment I currently have so hopefully natural light/outdoor portraits will be okay. The bride & groom also told me that they’ll be calling me in eight months because they just found out she’s preggers. So Jessie will have to give me some tips on photographing babies because I haven’t even ever held one (out of my own will) before.

Also on the morning of the wedding I was woken up by at&t calling me about a job and had me answer some questions. I’m just afraid that I might have messed up because I was literally half asleep and can’t even remember the conversation. I just know that I froze up on one of the questions and that she said she was forwarding my application to a hiring manager and I might get a call within a few days. So maybe I won’t be so unemployed and poor for much longer?

On Saturday the whole family (Craig came home for the weekend) went out for a movie & dinner. We ended up seeing Inglorious Basterds because my brothers and I are Tarantino fans and the previews looked so good. It didn’t end up being what I expected but it was still okay since I’m also a fan of Tarantino’s dialogue (there’s a lot of that) but I do wish there was more action. I thought that since he loved the original Inglorious Bastards film so much and was making this movie because of that one that it would be more like the original but wasn’t at all. Oh, and I would highly recommend the origional if you like campy and fun war films from the 70′s. After the movie we decided to try Baja Sol which was pretty darn good. They have their own salsa bar for unlimited chips and salsa (yum yum!) and the menu was pretty awesome too (lots of vegetarian options). We also had a very upbeat waiter that let me have a Dos Equis although I didn’t have my ID with me.

Yesterday Craig ventured back up north for school and I ended up taking a few last minute photos of Eric since he had to leave today to go to school in Birmingham, England for nine months. He says that he will keep a blog over there so he better uphold his word especially since he won’t be back home until May and he gets something like two months off to travel around Europe. So his blog for that is here: http://ericintheoldcountry.blogspot.com/ Now here’s a few of those awesome (I’m allowed to like my own work) photos from yesterday:

 

Eric in his cowboy/outback hat that he bought during our South Dakota Trip.

Of course I had to shoot some funny face pics:

 Yup, I really love these photos and I think it would be fun to do a collection of friends and family in the same style. Too bad Craig didn’t want his photo taken too  

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.