Live from Tormville!

cousins by the dozens

We left home at 5am Michigan time, and arrived in Minnesota just before 5pm Minnesota time. I hopped straight from our van into Renee's car and we headed to church where the ladies were getting things ready for the wedding. 

I didn't take any pictures there. The families were all heading to Mari's house after the church, but we headed back to Renee's to eat and then to Grace's place. We hadn't seen her since Derek's wedding in the fall, and it was important that our kids got in some visiting time before the busy wedding day. 

Before piling into the van to head over to Mari's - Wendy had to get a little teasing in:  

"Graaaaandma - you're getting MARRIED tomooorrrroow!"  
"Graaaaandma - tomorrow is your WEDDING daaaaaayyy!" 

And no, those aren't real glasses. 

 We arrived at Mari's in plenty of time for smores.  Russell and Brian

Desmond. Our nephew and Godson. He is crazy about his Uncle Greg. 

Russell is really really close to passing Auntie Nicki. I predict he'll pass her by the time he starts 6th grade in the fall.

Wendy, Hallie, the neighbor girl (Kim and Tim's) and Carlie.

Hallie to Wendy:  I feel short when I'm around you
Wendy: Well, I feel tall when I'm around you.  

A Bonfire, smores, trampoline, visiting and mosquitoes. I left with Renee back to her house when she left to get her babies to sleep. I thought Mark was going to come with us, but he caught a second wind and took the dad ride home instead.

Settled in a cozy chair, I had a good view of Desmond peeking at me. If you look real closely above the toes, you can see his eyes between the cracks. 

He managed to stay up until his buddy, Uncle Greg, got home. 

When he got tucked away, we headed downstairs for a late night sauna before calling it a night. 

Morning came early. 

We had to be at the church by 10am for photos before the 11am wedding. so we began pushing kids out of bed at 8. 
Wendy and Penny began their day playing dolls and stuffed animals. 

The boys began their morning with some Pokemon challenges. 

Desmond began his morning playing horsey on Uncle Greg's foot.

I began my morning making Gertie's Pannukakku (Finnish pancake) recipe - but used Gluten-free flour and Rice Dream as substitutes. It looked different - it didn't bubble up like it usually does - but it tasted very similar. It was a quick and easy breakfast for a busy morning.  

And then we went to the wedding. 

Back at Renee's just after two - it was my goal to get the boys in the van before any limbs were broken on the trampoline. Mark is bravely nursing a wound here, but the goal was met. 

Success. 

It took us awhile to find a room for the night - the big towns were all full and the rain was really starting to come down, but we lucked out with a good place to crash in Elgin. We stayed at the Marriot's Courtyard. For a few dollars extra, we bought the breakfast plan and it worked out to be a pretty good deal. 

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Other stuff:

• I have to wake up Mark in a few minutes to get ready for another dentist appointment
• Greg got home from Chicago in time for bedtime stories last night
• He's pretty sure he can take tonight's karate time slot
• Wendy has her last day of soccer camp today
• Yesterday we went straight from soccer camp to Joann's and Target and stocked up on some fun supplies and projects
• Someone asked about the wet toilet paper on my van yesterday, so when I got home between soccer runs, I took the time to wash all the wet cottonwood fluff off my van. 
• During that time, there was a furnace guy walking down the street, so I scheduled an estimate. We're living on borrowed time, and we know it. Now is probably a good time to think about getting it replaced - before we actually need it. 

Happy Wednesday! 

the wedding candids

 Greg's sister Renee's family. They had stayed with us back in the fall when they came for Derek's wedding, and the boys matched up and got along so well - that we ended up staying with them this trip. Everyone had a blast. We'll have to stay longer than one night next time.

 Greg's nephew Brent and family

George and Joanne

Greg and his cousin Erin - sons of twin brothers. Erin is married to Dale's daughter Jen, so now they're not only cousins, but brother-in-laws. I told Wendy not to bother trying to explain this one at school. 

 

 Erin and his new sister-in-laws. 

 Greg's sisters: Sherry, Renee, Teresa, Karen and Mari

 Greg's brother Joel and family. This is where we've often stayed when we come. Mark often talks about Uncle Joel, and often asks our dad when he'll be as big as his little brother. 

 

 While Grace and Dale were opening gifts, the boys were arm wrestling. Mark took down more than one uncle. 

 Off on their honeymoon.

Inside, the girls were still playing with Penny and her Polly Pockets. 

 Wendy and Penny really bonded during our short stay. Penny was hoping Wendy could sleep with her in her bed, and stay a little longer. They got along great - both only girls in a family of boys.

They got along great until Penny got tired. 

Our family - minus Allan.

 Us. 

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And as for other stuff:

• I'll have one more Minnesota post
• Greg's Chicago trip had gotten postponed until today - but then got moved back to yesterday. He flew in the door at 3pm and flew back out the door with a suitcase.
• My hopes of getting out of a night of karate were dashed.
• Our yard looks like a jungle. Rain, rain and more rain. 
• The drain commissioner posted a warning today of flooding due to all the rain - which means I should probably spend some time today working on our crawl space which I've slated as a summer project anyway. 
• Soccer camp got cut in half yesterday due to the rain. Today looks more promising. 
• Wendy sounds like crud though - spring time allergies. 
• That's all I've got. 

be good. 

fun with cousins

On our way to my sister-in-law's camp on Tuesday night - we drove by the camp where my husband's sister often stays with her family when they go up north. I saw some Minnesota plates in the driveway so I pulled over and ran in to see if they happened to be up north the same time we were. 

They were! We quickly made plans for Thursday afternoon. The one in the above photo is their youngest - our Godson Desmond. He wasn't walking yet the last time we saw him. 

The boys hit it off quickly. It was a special time. So often when we get together with my huband's family it's so many cousins all at once that it's hard to make the connections. This week they were really bonding and getting to know each other. Fun. 

It doesn't get much better than burying cousins in the sand. 

I really don't have a clue. It had something to do with filling his bellybutton with sand and him gently and politely asking - please stop now, when it was full. Boys. 

Could we have just one nice picture of the boy cousins?  no?  Alright then - we'll take what we can get. 

As we had gone there pretty much straight from our overnight stay at McLains, we girls (me, my mom, and Wendy) headed home while the boys stayed on for another four hours for sauna, swim, and smores. They got a ride back to my mom's with their auntie Sherry. 

We had so much fun that we squeezed in another visit on Saturday night before they headed back home Sunday. We didn't get there until about 8pm, but still had plenty of time for visiting and more sauna, swim and smores. 

This is how the run from the sauna to Lake Superior looks: 

We'll get to see them all again in October. 

Fun. 

It was a beautiful day

And now we're recuperating. (after my brother's wedding)

My mom just left a few minutes ago - heading home after having been gone for five weeks. 
I'll be waking up the kids for Sunday School in a little bit. 
Then make myself another cup of coffee. 

Wedding photos will trickle out as the week goes on.  

Happy Sunday

 

smile

My husband's brother was in town this week, and stopped by this evening to pick up his daughter (we had to cancel dinner due to a sick Mark). I told them I'd like a brother picture, and then I told my husband to smile. 

His response?   I am. 

My husband is the one on the right. 

Pshaw. 

This is a picture I took on Sunday - a split second after one of the boys surprised him with a wet willy. 

Now THAT'S a smile. 

kinda like this

got home last evening - felt like this
woke up this morning - still feeling like this.

I let myself pretend for a few hours that it's vacation and I can relax, but now I need to face reality and get into gear.

More photos later.....

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photo of our newest nephew/Godson Desmond at Easter dinner.  

The weekend report

We'll see how coherent I can make this while drugged up on Benedryl. Could be fun. 

I debated between splitting the post into two or three posts, but I'm afraid I'd get caught up in the week then and never get back to it, so I'm going for more photos and a bullet style summary. Stick with me....

• Woke at at 4 am Friday - left the house at 4:30
• took advantage of long term parking
• Got on the plane in Lansing in time to enjoy the sunrise out the window. 
• Layover at O'Hare, tried my first Pumpkin Spice, got a lot of my daily steps in. 
• Arrived in MSP at 10:20 am 
• Texted my driver that I had arrived and was standing by a #2 in the pick up area.
• Marveled at modern technology that makes it that easy. Remember the old days when we'd have to call the airline to check if the flight was coming on time? 

• Made new friends. My kids second cousins. THIS one is like Brian in the girl form. I said they could be twins. They are champs at the monkey bars, both climbers, same lean build, both love math, they say the same random words, do the same nutty thing with their loose teeth and have the same facial expressions. It was crazycakes. She's going to call me the next time they're in town so her and Brian can meet and chum. 

• I slept in Sarah's bed, so I figured it was only fair that I teach her Wendy's favorite trick of reading/sleeping in the tree. She's hooked. 
• Enoyed a lunch with my cousin's wife MaryEllen, Carol H (who told me she'd only come if I kept my camera in its case, and I agreed - totally worth it), Emily and Laura. Good laughs, good eats, great visit.

• So I already was amazed at how much her and Brian are alike, and then she walks out of her bedroom Saturday morning with a shirt just like Brians, same color and everything. If their mugs had been in the same spot I really would have flipped, but they are not. 
• Saturday morning - 8:30, Jenny picked me up to head out to Cokato. I dropped her off at George's to tend to the bride's hair and I headed over to a dear friends home for morning coffee. 

• Was fun to catch up. Was starting to feel a little guilty about not bringing Wendy with me. First I spent the night in her friend Sarah's bed, and then I went to her friend Lydia's house. Lydia's dad was best man at our wedding 10 days shy of twenty years ago. Was fun to visit him too - we usually go there during his busy season. He escaped the photo,. 
• Ironed my dress for the wedding
• Got dressed for the wedding
• Found my way back to pick up the bride's hairdresser
• Ran to the gas station for a quick bite to eat
• enjoyed some giggles
• headed to the 1 pm wedding

• The photographer spotted me at the wedding and handed me a second camera to take some lobby shots before the bride walked down the aisle. I caught one with my own camera as well. Shots taken, I went to my seat. 

• I had a great seat. All the nieces and nephews of both the bride and groom sang

• It was darling. 

• I might like it better in black and white. 

• We don't normally take photos during our wedding ceremonies, but I was on a roll and feeling a bit of my grandma's sass in me. No flash. 

• My cousin Emily and family

• Bridal party

• The dads - George and Jack
• Enjoyed a delicious catered dinner at the church
• Told my cousin Eric that grandma would have really appreciated how they looked at each other when they said their vows. He nodded. He knew. He was one of grandma's favorites, after all. 

• The bride and groom. Of all of my cousins, Eric and I are the closest in age. I am SO thankful that I could make it to his wedding. It was such a special and beautiful day. 

• The entire Bekkala family. They are SO serious. (click to see it closer up) 

• Okay - maybe not always so serious. From left to right - Emily, Mark, Karl, Jack, Sarah, Eric, Wayne and Maria. 

• My Aunt Sarah (my dad's sister) and one of her granddaughters. 

• Just after this photo, I got stung by a bee right on my thumb knuckle. It hurt(s) like the dickens. This was taken this morning - a day and a half later. I will mention my reaction when I go for my physical this week. I have numbness up to my elbow. And it's itchy like crazy. That's what ya get for taking group photos in an apple orchard I guess. 

• My cousin Emily's boys. I got such a kick out of them - the oldest sings as he plays. "I'm a digger, I like digging, this is fuuuUUUnnnn....." 

• My cousin Wayne and family. When we were little, my cousin Wayne once asked me while I smile so much, and he's the most smiley guy I know - gets accused of smiling too much for a hockey referee. 

• My cousin Maria and family

• My cousin Karl and family. Their boy got bit by a bee too - right by his eye, hence the compress he's hiding behind his back

• There was a bit of a Kivisto style cider mill going on on the back deck - putting those apples and Kivistos to work. 

• Gift opening. 
• My ride showed up. 
• Got dropped off on Darrel and Ann's front porch. 
• Stayed up late visiting with Ann while she applied baking soda tinctures to my thumb. 
• Saw Ann twice this year and didn't take a picture either time. I'll make up for it next time. 
• Slept in Wendy's friend Sonjas bed, felt guilty about not bringing Wendy. 
• Woke up on Michigan time and enjoyed some coffee before everyone else woke
• Went for a walk with Ann and the dog
• Went to church

• Sat behind my cousin Tim. Poked him. 
• Saw Mike's new baby - That HAIR! Wish I had taken a picture
• Met Jenny's mom - *waving!!* (so glad you caught me and said hello) 
• Said a few more hellos
• Tried to guilt Missy into taking me as I was wandering, lost, in the parking lot dragging my suitcase behind me. 
• She wasn't buying it. 
• Switched my suitcase from Ann's car to Jenny's car

• Had lunch with my new friend Suvi

• Went sight seeing. I have never been to downtown Minneapolis in all my years. 

• My buddy. He didn't have a good week last week, so I was so glad that he was feeling better and able to show me some sights. 

• My favorite picture of the weekend
• You should know that Jenny and I have never actually met before this weekend. We have circled around each other for probably 25 years - we have so many of the same friends and have done so many of the same things, but honestly - never met. Long overdue. I love her. I wish we'd had more time. 
• At the airport by 4:30
• Texted Denny just after 5:00 - "hey, guess what, just ran into an old friend at MSP"  (Loren K) 
• Denny texted back, "you always find someone"
• I love people. 

 

this one is way better when clicked on. I can't imagine ever not marveling the view from above

 

• Pulled in my driveway at 12:20
• thankful. It was not an easy drive from the airport to home. I was tired. Windows down and radio up. 

It was good. 

Hope this wasn't too long for ya. 

peace - 

I'll miss her sassy humor

My Grandma Laakso passed away in the wee hours of the morning. 

We were blessed to have her in our lives for so many years. I'll miss her sassy humor. I miss her twinkling eyes. 

I don't know any arrangements as of yet. 

 

 

A fun-filled Wednesday

Yesterday was a fun-filled day. 

We hung around home until just past noon - taking care of business and allowing Wendy to perform her dog walking job duties, then we took off for another swim. We have done more pool hopping this year than the last couple years combined. 

This time we headed over to Mrs. K's house - Mark's preschool teacher and a longtime friend. Mark was excited to see the class pets again and give his teacher a big hug. He was a bit end of the day moody when I wanted to take a picture and his antics were making us laugh.  He even dared to pull his long time absent yawn tactic out of the bag.  You want my picture?   YAWN. 

Watching the clock, we headed home in time to meet my sister (she's staying with my dad for a month) and in time to make some coffee and dinner. 

And then we headed out for some ballooning.  (To check out the Kaleidoscope's facebook page - click here) 

I had forgotten to tell Terri (my sister) to put on closed toe boots or shoes before she headed over, so it was a good thing that she and Wendy wear about the same size. She put on Wendy's volleyball shoes. She needed them. 

There she goes! 

Later in the evening we decided that we're going to x out the may on the trailer and just leave the 'we be lost'  More fitting. 

Although we did manage to keep a pretty good eye on the Kaleidoscope for a good 90% of the flight. 

It was a beautiful flight.

And they say the landing went well too. George and I wouldn't know. 

We saw where Jerry landed, and we could catch glimpses of Denny through the trees - but for the life of us, we couldn't figure out how to get there. We drove around the big country block twice and then managed to pull in a few people who were able to give us some suggestions and assistance. 

I didn't time it, but if I had to guess - I'd say it took us just over a half hour to find Denny after he landed. Check out the map below and you'll see why.  Click on it for a closer view to be even more impressed. 

The large red dot in the field represents where Denny landed. The smaller red dot on the road represents the access point to that spot. The street/subdivision on the right is where Jerry landed and where we could see Denny from. 

Fun, right? 

At one point a local resident told us that there was a swamp between us and Denny from the north side, so we radioed to Denny not to put down - that we'd have to walk him out if we ever found him, and he radioed back - "Too late"

FINALLY - with thanks to locals and balloon crew for the Double Yellow out of Grand Rapids and dog treats to get by the Pit Bull, we found my sister and Denny and look - they didn't even need us anyway. They got that whole big balloon all deflated and wrapped up without us.

In a fun small world coincidence, when the land owners showed up and rode out on the golf cart - the guy says, hey - I recognize that trailer - I DID that trailer (just a couple weeks ago - the balloon and wording was added to the side of the trailer). He was the owner of Sign Works. What are the chances, right? The world gets smaller all the time. 

What a trip. 

My sister was officially initiated. 

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As for today - 

I'm not really minding the grey and rainy. Going to enjoy a nice cozy day at home getting some more things crossed off my to do lists before bringing Wendy in for an eye appointment.  She's about the age that Allan began needing glasses, and while she's not showing signs that her vision is bad - her eyes have been bothering her the last ten or so days (feeling the need to squeeze them shut, a lot of blinking) and she's been getting a few headaches. Worthy of at least a check up I figured. 

Happy Thursday! 

be good! 

Another graduate

Today was a busy day. I woke up early to get a head start on it.

After getting a few things done at home - I headed to a bridal shower - Greg's cousin's daughter is marrying my cousin's son. It was a must-go. It was written in red on our calendar. 

From there - I ran to buy a belated birthday pie for my dad, and then to Costco - something you normally couldn't pay me to do on a Saturday afternoon...but there was no way around it. It was as bad as you probably imagine. 

Home again - time to unload the groceries, a quick walk around the block to get my steps in, and then off to a graduation party for George's youngest, also written in red. I dropped off my family - and ran over to my dad's for a visit, pie delivery and some humble pie (you're getting quite a bit of grey hair, kid. Says my dad. Dad! You're supposed to comment that I've lost weight. Oh, he says - I noticed that, but you still have a ways to go. Laugh. Now you know where my bluntness come from - it was a good laugh) before I returned to the party myself. 

George's youngest. Her boyfriend drove from North Dakota to be there for her graduation. Her bags are packed - and he'll be driving her to Minnesota tomorrow morning bright and early. This makes eight of George's eleven kids living in Minnesota. What's up with that? 

My husband's family lives mostly in Minnesota as well - his mom and dad, and five of his siblings.  What's up with that? My husband's youngest sister, however, lives here and we got to see her and her too quickly growing son at the graduation party. He loves to blow raspberries. 

The bigger kids played on George's merry-go-round. 

This threesome played guitar and it was wonderful. Even after the wind and rain blew the power out. We ended up leaving the party before it got too hard to find our shoes. 

Graduation parties are a great time for catching up with friends and family. These two (aunts to my husband, married to George's brothers) were catching up with others by way of photos on the phone. 

Back when I graduated we used to pull out real live photographs from our purses and wallets. 

Times change.