Anna's Big Day

Well it's official, on September 13th Anna and Todd tied the knot. It was a fabulous day and Joe and I had a blast!! Here are some pictures from the day - although I just realized, I have no pictures of Anna and Todd together - sorry you two!

Anna, Katherine, Me and Molly - Katherine and Molly were our neighbors freshman year at Carroll

The boys pretending they are rock stars (or at least Joe)

Dad, Mom, me and Joe

Travis, Joe and Todd at the end of the night

Congratulations Todd and Anna!!!! We love you!

A night in Duluth

On September 6th, Anna and I were in Duluth for her final bridal shower at her parents house. The last time I had been there was 10 years ago!!


It was an absolute blast staying with Mom and Dad Schifsky. Anna's aunt from TX was there (what a riot!), Tya (Anna's sister-in-law) and Tya's mother (you put her and Anna's aunt together and watch out - what a hoot). We were busily getting everything ready for the shower Sunday morning and what fun. There were probably 30 some ladies in all that came to celebrate Anna's big day.

Amazingly - we were able to fit all of Anna's (and Todd's) presents in her little Honda Civic and there was even room for her and I too.

The best part about staying with Anna's parents? The pink fleece sheets!!! Yes - there were pink fleece sheets on the guest bed and they were the comfiest and warmest sheets I have ever slept on. I have been looking all over and finally found a set of my own, although I had to settle for beige since they didn't have pink. Seriously - do yourself a favor and if you ever come across fleece sheets, buy them!

September Birthdays

In order not to forget anyone's birthday here are the September Birthdays:

Draiman - September 6th

Josh - September 18th

Troy - September 19th

I hope everyone gets some great presents and Troy - don't have too much fun on your birthday (it's on a Friday so watch out East Troy!)

Happy Belated Birthday

Happy Belated Birthday to all of the August Birthdays -

Uncle Keith - August 28th
Aunt Ginger - August 30th
Stephanie - August 31st

I know I called 2 of the 3...my bad...sorry Stephie - so this post is really for her.

Happy Birthday to Stephanie, Happy Birthday to Stephanie
Happy Birthday dear Stephanie, Happy Birthday to you!! :)

Stephie - Please forgive your absent minded cousin - I feel even worse about it now that I know you have "the pool on order."

Hope everyone's birthday was great!

The Great Minnesota Get Together

Reason number 6 for not blogging was the MN State Fair. Ahh...the fair. I vaguely remember going to the WI State Fair a very long time ago with Aunt Ginger and Liz and riding some ride that spun backwards (or forwards or both) - and that is it - that is all I remember. I know the WI State Fair is (or at least was) known for it's cream puffs well the MN State Fair is known for all the foods you can eat on a stick. Here are some examples:

• Chocolate covered cheesecake on a stick
• Macaroni & cheese on a stick
• Tator tots deep fried on a stick
• Cajun seasoned alligator on a stick
• 1/3 lb of bacon on a stick (yes, Joe bought it and there is a picture below)
• Cheese on a stick (it is really good - a big chunck of pepper jack with a corn bread breading)
• Pork chops/chicken breast on a stick
• Pronto Pups/Corn Dogs (I prefer pronto pups - crispier breading)
• Deep fried candy bar on a stick (seriously - GROSS)
• Fried Fruit on a stick
• Spaghetti & meatballs on a stick
• Giant pickle on a stick
• Scotch Eggs on a stick (hard boiled egg, wrapped in sausage, rolled in bread crumbs and deep fried)

Does everyone get the picture?

I have been to "the fair" (as we in MN refer to it) every year (some years twice) since I have lived up here. Oh how I love it and I actually start to crave it come the spring. This past Saturday Joe and I went and had a blast. Normally you have to wait in line forever for everything but this year Saturday just wasn't that busy (at least in the morning). The only thing Joe waited in line for was his 1/3 lb of bacon on a stick (they also had chocolate covered bacon but we couldn't find it).

Here is my lovely husband and I bright eyed at 8 AM Saturday ready to eat and walk.

And here is my lovely husband eating his bacon on a stick...

I wonder what they will think of next year...

I know, I know

Oh - there have been a few people who shall rename nameless (who am I kidding - Amy, Anna and Carrie - this is for you) who have let me know I have not been blogging regularly and are quite upset with me for that.

However, I do have some excuses...

1. I had a minor procedure done on my upper jaw August 7th (please direct questions to Sally Bower - my publicist)

2. August 11th was our 1 year anniversary and I was doped up on painkillers that week

3. Work has been incredibly busy - I worked 13.62 hours last Wednesday (I only left my desk twice)

4. Anna's upcoming nuptials have been all consuming - Every weekend we have been doing something with the house and/or yard - Joe and I wouldn't trade it for anything though - We're thrilled that we can open our home to their family and friends.

5. Last weekend (Anna's fault again) was her showerette - surely nobody expected ANYTHING of me that weekend...

6. Labor Day weekend - The Great Minnesota Get together rates the highest among our other responsibilities

Ok - so those are the reasons I have not been blogging - I will now start again and I am sure that if I take a month sabbatical again, Amy, Anna and Carrie will let me know! :)

August already...

Can you believe that yesterday was August 1st? August 1st has quite the memories...

Yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of the 35W Bridge collapse in Minneapolis. They expect that the new bridge should actually be done by as earlier as the middle of Septmeber. Last weekend a 6 x 9 ft piece on concrete fell from the 35E Bridge in Saint Paul and hit 2 cars. Nobody was injured but 35E was closed the rest of Saturday evening (it happened about 5 pm) and was inspected. All was ok and it was reopened just in time for me to drive under it on my way to work.

On a happier note, yesterday was also the 5 year anniversary of me moving to Minnesota...can you believe it? It feels like just yesterday that Mom, Dad, Amy and I made the long drive up here to move me in to the townhouse in Burnsville. I have moved more times the 5 years I have been in Minnesota than in my 23 years of living in Wisconsin!

I went from Burnsville to Saint Paul (across from Anna's apt), to the ghetto (with Joe - thank goodness!) to Highland Park (above Joe's sister) and now the East side! I think it will be quite a long time before I (we) move again and if we do end up moving in the next 5 years (not expected, but hey you never know) we are TOTALLY hiring movers!!!