Freedom Celebration 2008

We were in the Freedom Celebration at church this past weekend. Mom, Todd & I were in the choir and Evan spent the weekend and carried a flag again this year. It is a great celebration with music, drama, a special sermon & a Parade of Honor of all of the veterans & service men in attendance at each service.

Gabe & Faith's Wedding Reception--6/22/08

My cousin, Faith Rector married Gabe Angieri in Costa Rica on January 19,2008. We went to their wedding reception at the Nicollet Island Pavillion in Minneapolis on Sunday afternoon. It was fun to see our relatives and help Faith & Gabe celebrate their marriage. :)

The centerpieces for the tables were made up of pictures from the wedding in Costa Rica, so I took some pictures of the pictures.

Faith & Gabe's wedding in Costa Rica.

Faith & Gabe on the beach in Costa Rica.

Sonja & Todd

Cousins: Teresa, Maria, Faith, Wendell Lee, & Bert and Aunt Lila

Gabe & Faith

Sonja, Todd, Mom, Aunt Lila & Tyler (Bert's son)

Gabe & Faith cutting the cake.

Todd, Sonja, Faith & Gabe

A Picnic, A Bridal Shower & A Dinner Engagement.......Whew!

On Saturday, June 21st, we had a very busy day. It was the day of my friend, Janelle's bridal shower.......we had a family BBQ at my mom's house because Anthony, Heather & Andrew were in town.........and we had dinner at our friends, Dick & Cindy's house that night. We fit it all in and had a fun day!

I stopped at Mom's for about 15 minutes before leaving Todd there to get things set up for the shower. I was able to go back again for a little while before Todd & I went to dinner at our friends' house. So I got a few pictures of some of the kids. :)

Evan (5)

Nicholas (6)

Keith & Janelle at the bridal shower.

Janelle had Keith come to help open presents. Keith kept asking, "Where's Todd?" I told him that if I had known that he was going to be there, I would have brought Todd...........Todd like a good food spread. ;)

Janelle & Keith received a lot of nice things. It was a great shower!

Aunt Nana & Andrew (almost 6 months)

Andrew & Aunt Nana

Tyler (almost 2 years)

Maddie (almost 2 months)

DIck & Cindy's kids were very excited that we came to dinner. Matthew, Corey, Todd & Katie.

Memorial Day 2008

Maddy is 1 month old already! (on the 27th)

Tyler was getting tired at the park, so we swung on the swing for awhile.

Tyler & Aunt Nana on the swing.

Brenden, Evan, Justin & J.D. on the climbing rocks.

Brenden, Justin, Evan & J.D. on the climbing rock.

Maddy slept through the whole trip to the park. :)

Tyler playing peek-a-boo with Daddy.

The boys were excited to have us play Guitar Hero with them, which I think they just got the day before. I think they were surprised at how well I did, because I am so bad at video games in general. Maybe the musical background helps. :)

Maddy & Grandma A.

Tyler saying good-night to everyone.

We went down to Jeremy & Kim's house in Chaska for Memorial Day. We BBQ'd, walked to the park & just hung out & had a good time. Mom rode with us & Angela & Evan came down, too.

Two Years Already! :)

The first weekend in May we went up north to celebrate our 2nd anniversary. We drove up to Duluth on Saturday, May 3rd and spent Saturday & Sunday at Todd's mom & step-dad's house. We visited Todd's Grandma Vi & brought her an early Mother's Day present. Lookin' pretty good for 91, isn't she? :)

On Monday, May 5th, we drove up to the Grand Superior Lodge and spent two nights in "our" honeymoon suite. We walked on a north shore trail that used to be Hwy. 61 before they cut the tunnel thru the rock for the highway. We enjoyed the fireplace & the view and even had our own little fire on the rocks by the lake on our anniversary night. We had a great time!

Maddie Comes Home!

Baby Madison came home from the hospital this morning. J.D. & Justin were at school, but Tyler & Brenden gave her a Princess' Welcome. They sure love their new baby sister! :)

Tyler loves his baby Maddie! In fact he wouldn't go into the kitchen to eat lunch until we brought his baby in there & set her on the kitchen table. That is saying a lot because Tyler really loves food. :)

Maddie with her blanket that Grandma A (Lane) made for her.

Brenden & Maddie. He is very proud of his baby sister & loves her very much!

Aunt Nana & Maddie


Brenden (5), Justin (8), Aunt Nana, Madison (2 days), J.D. (10.....2 weeks away from being 11) & Tyler (1-1/2)


Brenden, Kim, Madison, J.D., Jeremy, Tyler & Justin