Grandma's Are Special

Thankful for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving morning turkey hair :) hehe

Where's the other bag? Better get out the flashlight.
Our fan club, watching us cook, cheering us on.
Larissa, she was awesome and helped out in the kitchen.


Yes! It worked let's carve this thing.


Time to eat~




This is me, super grateful.
Now that's a pretty table.

I am so thankful that we survived our first Thanksgiving hosting experience.

I am thankful that even though we only took one bag of innards out of our turkey we did find the other bag in the neck before cooking it too long... oops.

I am thankful that we figured out (with the help of Kris and Jim) that our turkey was upside down as we were cooking it before it cooked too long that way.

I am thankful that making stuffing from scratch was easier than expected.

I am thankful that our warming drawer made it easier to "time" all the food to be "eating ready" at the same time.

I am thankful that we had enough food for everyone and are still eating left overs 4 days later.

I am thankful that everyone fit around our dining table and that we had a finished family room to fit everyone in. (thanks Peter)

I am thankful that everyone enjoyed the food and stayed a while to play games and watch football.

I am thankful for the great prayer and sharing of what we are thankful for that we explained around the dinner table.

I am thankful that everyone didn't laugh too hard about my "Thanksgiving facts" that I made, 1 for everyone to read and try to answer as we went around the table. (it's the teacher in me :)

I am thankful for Cousin Larissa that helped in the kitchen and Cousin Jenessa that was super with clean up help. Thanks girls.

I am thankful for Peter, he was awesome, getting out the flashlight to look inside to turkey to see where the other missing bag was, basting it every 3o minutes, carving it for the first time, jumping right in with clean up...we were a good team.

I am thankful that it is over and we made it work.

Last but not least I am thankful for family, all my family, for those that joined us, for those that gave us advice on how to make thanksgiving dinner and stopped by to check on us, for those that were celebrating in other places- I am thankful for all of you!

New York New York

Moving, going, walking, going

busy, busy, busy,

hot, loud, smelly, bright,

energetic, independent,

colorful New York.

Niagara Falls

We took a boat ride on the "Maid of the Mist"...the rainbow was quite awesome below the great Niagara Falls.We were prepared for getting up close and personal with the falls, to do that we needed extreme rain coat ponchos. Looking good.

Pretty amazing site and this is only half of it, I couldn't fit the Canada side in the picture!

Bridge on the other side of the falls.

Can't believe how close I'm standing to the edge of the look out point, it's super high and you can see right down through the fence, scary for a girl afraid of heights!

Peter admiring the rapids leading up to the falls, amazing!

Sitting in traffic snap shot...

Sitting in traffic on 94, great place to take a picture of Minneapolis over the bridge.

Don't worry I wasn't driving.

Back to the Future

On Friday we went to see a movie at the Riverview Theater in our neighborhood.

When we left there was a large line waiting to see the late night movie.

Every weekend this summer at 11:30 the Riverview shows an 80's movie.

This week was "Back to the Future" and a real Delorean just like Marty McFly's was waiting outside.

Everyone was taking pictures and sitting in it.

Wonder what creative Back to the Future fan owns that...

Cristina and Ryan's Wedding

This seems like the blog of weddings... second post in a row about weddings. I promise my next one will be about something different like shoes, or movies, or the president, or the world...but for now it's weddings.

Congrats to my cousin Cristina and her new husband Ryan. Two music teachers getting married equals great wedding music and creative seating chart (which you will see later).

Your wedding was such a great time and it was lovely to have the "fam" together all in one place.

Here are some wedding highlights!

Driving to Chicago- 7 hours to go

(doesn't Peter have crazy hair :) hehe)
Sami is hitching a ride with us. She does have her permit, but we are not going to let her practice.
Grooms dinner enjoying true Chicago deep dish pizza. Ryan surprises Cristina, who happens to be a crazy Twins Fan, her own jersey with Joe Mauer's number and her soon to be last name Wintersheimer...that's a mouth full. In fact it was one letter too long so Ryan had to take off an "e" so it would fit.


Before the wedding night we are enjoying a little sun in the courtyard at the hotel.


Getting pretty for the wedding celebration.



Yes! Cristina and Ryan are now married.

4 generations...
mom and daughter...
sisters...
the newlyweds
the head table
sisters= bridesmaids, matron of honor and bride
dad and me
Aunt Cindy and Uncle Mike Parents of the bride
Aunt Carol, Uncle Doug and Justin (Joshua we missed you)
Uncle Marty and Aunt Julie
bro and sis...Luke's taking notes the next one of these in the fam will be his!
Kelda the dedicated photographer, working her magic once again.
little bro, little sis
table centerpieces with creative famous composer table seating chart, with fun facts on each musician on the back, perfect for the newlywed music teachers. We sat at Aaron Copeland.
Jonathan apparently loves straws.
Kayleigh and Peter. Kayleigh asked Peter if he was married yet and if they could dance ;)
mom and dad love to swing dance
Melena the matron of honor, who gave a great speech and cass
Kelda and her parents..we're glad she's back from Washington for the wedding.
everybody loves grandma


Sami and Peter love to pick on eachother.
just chillin with a beer
it's the end of the night, good bye Cristina enjoy Jamaica on your honeymoon!
What a great night!