Minnesota - October 3-17

Finally, the Minnesota post.

When we arrived Joni brought over some of the M&M's we bought for her & Jani for their 50th birthday party. We hear they were a hit! So cute:)
She also brought some real moonshine (home made hard liquor) that someone sent them from Tennessee!
And Mom served us some gorgeous blueberry pie with ice cream - yummmm!
A closer up picture of the moonshine, there are boisenberries in it to give it colour (although it still smells like rubbing alcohol)!
Mojitos, Mo' Problems
We were lucky that it was 25c (80f) for a few days when we first arrived. So we enjoyed one last boat ride before it was put away for the winter.
Beautiful view from the boat
Me & Muz
Minnie checking out the view
That evening we went over to my sister's aparment for an 'apartment warming' party.

'The Girls' - from left

(back row) - Aunty Joni, Cousin Jolie, Sister Megan

(middle row) - Mom, Sister Mandie, Sister Mariah, Grandma Sally

(front row) - Aunty Jani, Me, Aunty Julie

The Boys

from left - Murray, Cousin Caleb, Grandpa Don, Megan's boyfriend Mike, & Dad

Then for the weekend we drove up to Brainerd

Murray decided to stop for a bit of fishing........

Me with our good friends Mike & Beth's baby Tommy (snuggling his tiger... ahhhhh)

We went out for pizza and got this bizarre but REALLY yummy apple & chicken pizza!

Murray was horrified by some of the things we saw in the grocery store - ewwwww

Brainerd is best know for being the home of Paul Bunyan and his Blue Ox Babe
Murray giving Tommy a snack
Yummmm proper American style bacon!
Mike & Tommy
One of the trucks Murray was drooling over

He's going to be a tall boy! Cute
Chillin' on the couch
They put Murray to work chopping fire wood
We watched
Then the dinner prep began - first step - coat the Dutch Oven with tons & tons of Crisco (also known as lard)

Then put in the chicken that has been coated in flour & spices
Stick it in the middle of a VERY hot fire pit
One cheering baby on the sidelines helps the cooking to progress
Once the chicken is done, cook the fries (oh my gosh they were GOOD)!
and enjoy with friends!
Murray, Beth, Mike & Me
And oh yes - the chicken was FABULOUS!

Murray spilled something on his leg..... and Mike looks very happy to help out washing it off (ha ha)
Gorgeous Baby Tommy
Gripping that bottle for dear life! Gosh he's cute
Family Photo - Beth, Tommy & Mike
Ahhhh such a cute couple!
And baby Tommy sleeping in my arms

Can't wait to see them again next summer - we miss them SO much already! It was a really fun weekend though :)

When we got home Minnie was there waiting for us & all dressed up!
Then we went over to Grandma's to celebrate Mom's birthday early - with crab legs!
Grandma Sis loves the king crab!
But Joni thinks it stinks (well, we all do, it does stink when it's cooking!)

The claws can come in hand too to get your partner's attention
The cookie cake Joni made, and Megan & I decorated
Joni got a bit out of control with the Asti Spumanti (Kevin looks scared) lol
I also had a night out with my girlfriends

from left - Katie, Jessi, Stacy & Me

(bummer that we didn't get a photo while Sarah was still there!)

We also did a trip to the ginormous fishing & hunting store Cabellas. WOW it was huge huge huge!

We also had an 'open house' day on our last Saturday in town so people could stop by & say hello if they wanted to. This pic is of me & my Mom's friends - from left

(back row) - Sue, Bonnie, Monica, Lou Ann

(front row) - Mandie, Mom, Me & Diane

This was while Murray was over at Kevin & Joni's house getting into his first snowmobile suit.
Necessary in order to go out with Kevin & ride the Harley!!!
He had a very sporty day as well - fitting in some bow hunting practice
(look closely for Kevin in the background - his camloflage is deceiving!)

Some pretty pumpkins in town
A random photo of my Mom's table decorations - pretty photo though!
Me & my good friend Jessi
Mom & Me

Grandma Sis & Me
We also went over to see our friends Jake & Lori one night. This is their robot dog Toby (scary eyes!) He was super sweet though (except for when he peed on me).
We went to see Jake's parent's farm & saw this on the way..... notice the name of the tow truck on the back (The Happy Hooker) !
They took us out to a really fun Japanese restaurant Benihana where they cook in front of you.

Murray, Jake, Me & Lori

The chef was SO creative - this is an onion volcano

But also the food was awesome! Fun to watch AND eat! Oh I want some more of that lobster & those yummy sauces right now yummmmmmmm
Our last night in town we went out to a gorgeous steak restaurant.

A nice family photos

Mariah, Me, Murray, Mom, Dad, Megan, Marcus, Mandie

Joni & Grandma came too which was SO fab!!

Joni, Me, Grandma (how tiny does she look !!), Murray

Me & my Siblings
Mariah, Me, Marcus, Megan & Mandie
The pretty and oh so so yummy cookie cake Mom got for us :)
And I'll finish off with some gorgeous pictures of my baby - Minnie Moose
She's 11 now - such a sweet dog - I love her to bits!
My baby
And a gorgeous photo of the lake............. I miss everyone heaps already!!!!
I'm already looking forward to getting back to Minnesota next May!