Where to begin???

Now that we've been back a week, I am finally getting around to updating this...
We had a WONDERFUL week in Minnesota.
How about I sum it up real quick?

Tuesday: Stella and Liz arrive, lunch with Grandma and Great-Grandma, quiet dinner at home.

This is how Grandma welcomed Stella to town...
spraying her with the hose!

Wednesday: Liz has a day with old friends...lunch with Nikki, dinner with Emily.
--no photos...oops!

Thursday: Uncle Jimmy arrives!!!! (On the red-eye at 6am...we have to bug him to play, there will be no daytime sleeping!) Cousins, Meridith, Stacy and Ali and Uncle Chris arrive from Texas!!! Hang out, watch Stella blow bubbles...mom, Liz & Meridith get manicures and pedicures.
Thursday night--dinner out with all family members in town! Grandma, Grandpa, Kelly, Buddy, Jenny, Logan, Blake, Aunt Julie, Aunt Ann, Mom, Dad....the list goes on and on!!

Great-Grandma's favorite dinner companion (after Great-Grandpa, of course)

Cousins Stacy and Meridith and Uncle Jimmy

Cousins Kelly and Blake

Grandma, Great Aunt Ann, Great-Grandpa & Great Uncle Chris

Friday: Cousins meeting, play at Grandpa's pool! Nick arrives!!!
Dinner and game night at Grandma and Grandpa's house!

Chicken fight! Michael and Logan vs. Buddy and Blake!

Meridith, Stacy, Liz, & Laura

This is how many people participated in game night...
our family LOVES games and LOVES to laugh!

Saturday: Paint dishes/gift for Grandma's birthday, lunch out, tour and reminisce about living in Edina, get ready for party.
GRANDMA'S 80th BIRTHDAY celebration at Interlachen Country Club!!!
Liz visits ER---long story, all is ok, nothing to worry about

Uncle Jimbo, cousins Carolyn, Ali, Logan & Jenny!

Stella's masterpiece!

This is most of the artists, although we're missing a few in the photo!

Now, for the main event...
THE PARTY for Grandma Christianson!!!

Ready for a big bash!

Grandma surrounded by most of her grand-daughters!

Dad and cousin Laura--dessert experts

Sunday: Liz and Nick sleep, while everyone goes to church, to catch up after their 12am-7am visit to the hospital (again, everything is ok, no problem!)
Meet up with everyone at Mall of America! Shop, ride rollercoaster, see movie!

Aunt Julie with "the girls"

Mom and Nick

Monday: Go to Grandpa's pool, say goodbye to cousins leaving, swim and have lunch poolside, take nap, start getting packed.
Nick leaves. :(
7pm--Twins game vs. Chicago White Sox--Twins win 7-0! (headed to 1st place!!!)

One more dip in the pool!

Yes, that's my mom riding the shark!

Stella, Logan & Blake

Go Twinkies!!!

Cousin Carolyn with the foul ball that sailed into our suite and hit her in the shoulder!

Cousins Jenny, Kelly, Logan and Blake!

Tuesday: Back to Ohio!

It was such a great long weekend together. This is the first time that our entire family has been together since May of 2004 (our wedding). We had a blast...lots of activities, tons of laughter (which might be why I ended up in the hospital), great opportunities to catch up with each other and hope that there's another reunion in our future sooner than later!

Now we're home, the bathrooms still are not complete...although they're very close! They look really good and we can use one of them if we want (it's just missing a shower door). We'll get photos of the progress posted sooner than later.