Back to work! I am getting together with Annie tomorrow. It has been too long.

Spike stayed in Minnesota at Tom and Jean's house. He is being well taken care of in Minnesota. Here is Sam and Spike . . .

Sam (my nephew) has been in a hockey tournament in Champlin Park. His team won the tournament! It was awesome. I made it to all three games. Before every game I would ask Sam to wave to me in the stands. He finally remembered during his last game. I think it was because I bribed him with a Butterfinger candy bar if he would follow through.




Sam (in the white and blue)


Of course I would make JT and Marie amuse me by making them pose for very important pictures.

JT driving the London Bus


JT racing off (since he is the Fire Chief)


Marie taking her turn as the ToyTown Fire Chief


We had to drop Sam off an hour before the game so we had some fun at Caribou Coffee. Marie by the Bear.


Marie and JT



Saturday Night Met up with Amy, Ted, Buffie and Carolyn for dinner at Town Talk Diner.

Carol, Carolyn, Amy and Buffie


Amy and Ted



Friday Michelle met me for the hockey game. We then went down to see my parents.

Dad, Michelle and Mom


Carol and Michelle


Tom, JT and Sam

Spent Thanksgiving at Mom and Dad's house. It was an off year so Tom and the family were in LaCrosse. Happy 79th Birthday MOM!!!

David and Ben


Carissa and Megan (and Boo). Spike and Boo got along great, which was a relief.


I then headed over to my friend Jill's house (my friend since 1st grade).

Jill and John


Jill's sister Jules and Morgan (mini Jill)


Ava and Carol


Wednesday - Had a get together at Michele and Scott's house.

Kim, Carol Michele and Lisa (we all went to Augsburg College)


Andrea and the crew - Julianna, Nathaniel and Naomi


Keith and Joey


Astrid Carol and Jeff ~ Astrid and Jeff have set their wedding date - Labor Day Weekend 2008 in Duluth


Astrid and Carol

Jen Bertsch and I have been having a great time. Jennifer in front of the famous dueling site in Weehawken.



We then went to Hoboken. NY Tours was doing a walking tour of Hoboken. Jen is in front of the Elysian Fields ~ Home of the first baseball game.


Jen in front of a home of Frank Sinatra


And WHO KNEW ~ Stephen Collins Foster lived in Hoboken ~ he wrote the most brilliant song ~ Camp Town Races

Hello

Time Flies! I am so excited to fly home to Minnesota on Tuesday the 20th. Mom's birthday is Thursday. I will be in town through Monday (26th) morning.

My college friend Jennifer is coming in town from DC tomorrow. It will be nice to spend the weekend getting caught up.

I celebrated Joe's 45th birthday in Brooklyn last Saturday night. He received a very nice gift from UnderGear. Right, Miller?

Shane, Jennifer, Ysabel and Rhys moved into their new place in Jersey City yesterday. I stopped by on Friday night and helped unpack a couple of boxes. The place is absolutely gorgeous.

Thursday Night ~ Went to Gonzo (great Italian restaurant) in NYC for Darbi's birthday. Darbi and I went to college together.

Darbi and Mark

Joe ran his first marathon ~ finished under 5 hours! Lindsay and I cheered on the runners at the 16 mile mark - Queensboro Bridge. It was a sight!

Kate, Kristin, Evan, Joe and Kora





Kate is hilarious ~ She was talking loudly to Kora at the time of this picture


Saturday: Birthday Party in Brooklyn

Kora turned four yesterday and Kate just turned two (Oct 27). There was face painting, tattoos and balloon art

Evan and Joe


Evan loved the tattoos


Kate also loved them ~ she was hilarious!


Kora looking lovely


Ysabel got a 'princess face'

We had a costume contest at Hanover Direct. We have a competitive team so we took it to the next level by doing a skit ~ Michael Jackson Thriller. We won the competition!