The wedding is over. It was so much fun!!!! Andy's family was just great. They really rolled out the red carpet for us. Kimber had a party on Friday evening that was a lot of fun. They got married legally on Friday and had a nice ceremony on Saturday at the Inn for everyone else. The inn was very nice and the food was really good. Emily and Andy received many nice things. The drive was way too long but the stops at the World's largert truck stop were fun.

I'm finally writing again!!! The ahower went great. It was so nice having everyone home. Sunday we found dresses for Aubrey and Allison to wear and I found a dress for Alair. WE have a place for the dogs to stay too. Things are falling into place.

WE ALSO FOUND OUT aubrey and Alec are expecting in May. Very exciting!!!

I'm sewing a Halloween dress for Christine's sister, Mary. It's a rennaisance dress and will be very pretty.

This last Sunday, we went to a 80th birthday for Kim's uncle,Bob. Potluck. Good food. It's always nice to see relatives. They made sure when we were having Emily and Andy's reception, so hopefully they can come. This weekend Allison and Chris are coming down. We are going to make leaves for Emily's wedding cake.

We had very sad news on Friday. Allison and Chris lost their baby. She had some symptoms earlier in the week and on Friday her doctor confirmed what she already knew in her head, but didn't want to know. One thing that helped is knowing that that little being is in heaven and being looked after very well. They are able to try again in about a month and a half.

We are having a bridal shower for Emily and Andy next Saturday. It'd going to be a busy week as I help with Kids Against Hunger on Wednesday, Alair has her first day of Early Childhood on Thursday, and I have to make the food sometime. Oh well!!

Emily got her dress last Saturday and took pictures. It's very pretty and definitely her.

Kim took our truck in today to find out why it's doing some odd things. Found out it's going to cost 2500.00 dollars. That's just great!!!!

Well, a friend called up and asked if I could alter her daughter's wedding dress. I said, sure I'd look at it. She came over and tried it on and it's no problem. Then Emily called............................ She got her engagement ring and they set the date................ This November!!!!!!!! Ok. If she waits till spring,they run into sisters having babies and she doesn't want them having a baby at the wedding. So that means now. The date is November 15 in Indiana at an inn in Pokagen State Park. Her dress will probably be off the rack and Alair will wear the same dress she wore for Allison's wedding last fall. She even said I coukld wear the same dress. I only wore it once and this is a different crowd..Besides, I hate shopping for me. Aubrey and Allison are just going to buy street length dresses that match. We are having a shower on September 27th and then a reception for our friends and relatives in December. Only about 50 people will be at the actual wedding. Most of that is our family.

Oh yeah, another girl called and asked me to alter her bridesmaid dress for her sister's wedding. I said sure. What's on more.

I do well under pressure!!!!!

Ok. so I got the painting done. But I didn't get all the cleaning done that I wanted to. Alair got sick, and for two days didn't eat, drink, or do any thing. She threw up. And wanted me. So I just shoved everything into the other bed room upstairs and shut the door. Now Allison is coming this weekend. She will stay in that room. Oh well!!!

Apple seems very nice. Very easy going. She is going with a teacher and her husband this weekend to the Black Hills. She has been at teacher workshops every day this week and went shopping after school one day, so I haven't seen her a lot. She seems happy, but misses her Canadian boyfriend, who is also a teacher in Thailand.

Allison called on Monday with the good news that she and Chris are expecting!! Yippee!!!!!

Alair's birthday was a lot of fun. We had homemade pizza and build your own sundaes with homemade ice cream. She got lots of presents and was thoroughly overwhelmed. On Sunday, Andy's future in laws came over to swim and eat lunch. They are very nice and eat a lot, but not in a bad way. I like people that aren't afraid to be themselves. We talked alot and had a good time.

Erik is home from his summer job for a few days. He will move up to school on Saturday, and school starts on Monday.

Our exchange teacher comes on Saturday. I still have to paint!!

Still cleaning!!! I keep geting interrupted. Nice interruptions though. Audra, Andy's girl friend in high school came to visit. Most people think this is strange, because they have each moved on, but she's a very nice girl, and we talk a lot. She used me as a shoulder when she had family problems and that was just fine. We both like to read and borrow books to each other.

Alair's birthday party is this week end. Aubrey, Claire, and Allison are coming down. The guys have to work. I guess we are having home made pizza and home made ice cream. We are also going to move more things around as Apple comes next week end. Erik and Andy will be here also.

The weather has been great lately. Low 80's. Some rain, we need it.

We had a great time in Indiana! Friday night when we got there, Andy's mom had supper ready for us, We met Andy's dad, sister and her husband, and Grandma Jean. Grandma and Alair got along great. Saturday, we went to Amish places. Bought meat and cheeses and shopped. The flowers were just gorgeous. They take such pride in their gardens. Sunday we went up to Lake Michigan. Alair really liked playing in the sand. We were at the town of St. Joseph. It's reslly touristy but neat. Monday we went antiquing. Tuesday we came home. It's always interesting to see how other people live.

You never realise how much you depend on electricity until it goes out. Thursday we had a large storm and lost power for about 6 hours. The phones were out for a while also. Land lines and cell phones. I was supposed to make sheet cakes for a wedding on Saturday, but couldn't start that either. Alair really didn't notice once the black skies cleared some. She just played with her toys like normal.

Rachel came over for supper last night, She goes home on Sunday.I still don't have the cakes done. I do well under pressure.

Ok, so we went to Crazy Days on Thursday thunking it would be just nuts. It wasn't. There were racks of clothes outside the stores and extra salespeople to help you, but there weren't throngs of shoppers. I hadn't been to the mall on Crazy Days in many years because you had to be crazy to go!!! What happened? Is it because of the economy? Or just Thursday and people are working. We went back Saturday with Allison. Surely the crowds would be there. No. It was somewhat disappointing. What was nice though, was on Thursday, our niece who works on one of the stores had lunch with us. She in pregnant with their first child, and it is due on Dec.4.

Yesterday, I made 6 pies for the ice cream social at Louise's church. A long time ago, she asked if I would make pies for the ladies that didn't want to or couldn't. Since we are going to be gone this weekend, I said I would make them and then freeze them and get them to her. She will bake them and take them to the social.

Today, I have to clean house some. I hate coming home to a messy house after being gone.I also will start packing and doing the laundry.

Yesterday, Alair and I rode along with Kim. We delivered to several places and then made it it the main branch in the cities. I had made cupcakes for the people there. Kim had to get his computer updated. It didn't take too long. Alair only had time to eat licorice and peanuts from the vending machine. It was 11:30 afterall. We then went to Ingebritsens'. It's a Scandinavian store. Kim always gets pickled herring and whatever else sounds good in the season..Then to lunch and ToysRUs. We got Alair a few new things to play with on the 10 hour+ ride to Indiana. Today we are going to Crazy Days in Mankato to shop for bargains. Alair loves to shop!!

Saturday, Kim, Alair, and I cleaned in the storeroom all morning. We took out 8 garbage bags of clothes, some to the dump, and some to Good Will. We still have more and then the toys and momentoes. The girls have to deal with some, because I don't know who's it all is. Allison may be here this weekend and she can help.

Alair and I went to a shower for one of Kim's cousins daughters yesterday. It was nice. We got to see his cousins that were at the marathon again. His aunt was there. The only one he has left. We found out Andy and Christine have to change their wedding date as a cousin's son is getting married on Sept. 19 and I want Judith {Kim's aunt], to be st our wedding. We don't have many relatives left.

After the shower, we went to an ice cream social at the church that has CVLHS in it. All the proceeds went to the school. There were alot of people there and it was nice to talk to them.

After much whining and messing up of hair everytime I tried to comb it, Alair got her hair cut. SHORT!!! She looks really cute and maybe now won't have perennial bed head.

Rakel {Rachael}, our exchange student from Aug. 02 to June 03 is in the USA. She is here for a wedding of one of the friends she made while here. This is the second one she is a bridesmaid in. She came over yesterday afternoon for a visit. It's always great to see how they are doing and if they have changed since going back. Oh yeah, she's from Iceland. It's funny, they always remain about the same age as when they leave to me.

Andy and Christine stopped by last night and Andy took the ring he intends to give her. It was my mom's ring. About 20 minutes after he left, he called and said she said yes. So now it's official. We're excited for them. It's going to be a busy year for our family.

I don't know what happened to last week. Kim and I and Alair came down with colds on Monday. They hit like a ton of bricks and just got worse each day. I washed my hands constantly and held my breath as I made 24 dozen cookies for the 4th{ some for us} and sewed a sash for a local pageant, and watched 2 extra dogs, but I feel like nothing got done and it is all a blur. Friday we didn't do much of anything. Saturday we worked in the garden early. Andy and his girlfriend came over for supper. Sunday after church we did a little shopping. Our two extea dogs left after supper. Louise has someone staying a their home to watch them. The dogs will be much happier. Andy called last night and said he had asked his girlfriend's dad if they could get married. He said ok, so Andy is really happy. Two weddings next year!!!!

Last weekend, Aubrey and Claire came down to help clean out our store room. So, Saturday my husband asks if we want to go to a nursery about 40 minutes away. We say sure. Kim bought some plants and got a good deal. This is the time to buy. Then we came home for lunch and then went to our local green house that was also having a sale. We got home in time for naps. After getting numerous other things done and eating supper, we got to the store room. We pulled everything out and then it was the girls' bed time. Sunday morning we got at it early and sorted through a lot of stuff. Aubrey found things from her child hood that she wanted so that was good. Now I have to deal with the rest. Oh well!!!

I am in the process of baking 20 dozen cookies for the 4th of July celebration in a nearby community. For the last several years I baked for a customer of my husbands that has a big barbeque for their customers and family and friends. Most of the town! There's a sign with my husband's business at the cookies, so it's advertising for him.

Kim's sister and her husband went on a cruise down the Danube. They left yesterday and will be gone about 12 days. We got their two miniature weiner dogs. We've watched them before and the're fine but now we have Alair and the novelty doesn't seem to wear off. They aren't used to little kids so we have to watch her. Life is great with 5 dogs in the house!!

We had a great weekend!!! Emily, her boyfriend, and his mother came on Thursday in time for supper. Kim's sister and her husband came also. Andy's mother is very nice. The next morning we left for Duluth. We all went in our truck so it was very cozy, but with the cost of gas, we all thought it made more sense. We got Emily's race packet and then walked around Canal Park a little. We then drove to Hibbing and went out to eat with our other kids. Our son Andy stayed home to watch the dogs along with Kim's sister as we got a hotel room for Friday night at the last minute, and Andy wanted to start on his house. He did see Emily on Thursday though. Emily didn't run as well as she had hoped to, but we all think she did great. We all then went back to Hibbing and Chris cooked a turkey on his spit. It was great!! By the way, earlier in the day Andy asked Kim if he could marry Emily. Looks like we're going to have another wedding soon. No date yet. Sunday morning I made pancakes and then everyone packed up and headed home. Emily and Allison were especially sad as there just wasn't enough time together. We hope next year to add another day. The ride home was fine and Emily, Andy, and Marty left soon after we got here. They still had about 10 hours left to drive. Alair was happy to get home again. Today I'm doing laundry and trying to keep things cleaned up as I have Bible study here on Friday.

Aubrey and Clair will be coming down next weekend for a few days to help me do some organizing. It's easier to do things when the 2 year old can be otherwise entertained.

Erik came home last night from his new job ha has for the summer. He works for Ziegler-Cat. They are in oartnership with the school he goes to in the diesel mechanics program. He stays in a towm home the company rents with 3 other guys in the same class. 150.00 a month rent. Not bad at all. He brought his laundry home as he does every weekend for me to do. Yeah, don't say it. Any way, I got to thinking that if his apartment is this nice they must have laundry somewhereon the property. Erik says yeah, right in the apartment!!! Go figure. It's nice to have him home though.

Tomorrow we will be taking Dad out for lunch. Who ever can come. Most of the kids won't be here. We learned a long time ago that it's more important to all get together when we can and not necessarily on the holiday or birthday. I don't play the guilt card. My mom did and I didn't like it. When you get married you have to respect the "other side" too. Also our kids live long distances away. We are all getting together next weekend in Duluth for the marathon any way.

I've got to start cleaning soon. Emily and her boyfriend and his mom, who we haven't met yet, are going to spend Thursday night here. I really need to get going!!!

Ok, so out community's big weekend is over for another year. The pageant went fine. There were three girls and all of them are nice. Our daughter that lives in Hibbing came down Friday for the weekend , but had to leave early on Sunday morning.We decided to go to church on Saturday instead of Sunday and then go down town to eat. Our youngest son was with us also. Sunday was the parade and my husband drives the foreign exchange students through in his '48 red Dodge pickup. We have hosted 7 exchange students over the years. Alair and I decided to ride with him. It had rained a lot, so when the sun came out it was really warm and humid. It's always fun though.

We finally got all our paper work done to host an exchange teacher from Thailand starting in August. The first time we will have a teacher. She's Buddist, so that will be interesting. We hosted a wonderful girl from Turkey a while back and she was Muslim. The student we hosted fromIceland is coming to visit in July. She made many friends here and has been back several times. We enjoy learning about different culturees and meeting new people.

We had the first rehearsal for our local "beauty" pageant last night. I'm on the committtee, but the other lady is really in charge. I do make the sashes and donate them. We will rehearse again tonight and then the contest is on Friday.

My Dad's only sister passed away last Friday and the funeral was yesterday. She was 91 and hadn't been real well for a while. It's getting more and more that these are the only times we see relatives. Everyone is so busy all the time. It's too bad. My brother and his wife were there and neither even acknowledged us. They haven't talked to me since our Dad's estate was finalized. He thinks I cheated him, but everything was done how Dad wanted and by the law. And besides, I'm not the one that got over 500 acres of farm land and 3 farm sites. It's sad though. I asked him to just agree to disagree and he said no because I{me} think I'm right. I guess he doesn't understand that that's what agreeing to disagree means. Thay didn't invite us to either of their kids weddings. I talked to our Pastor and he said that I've done what I can and now it's up to him. We told our kids there won't be anything to inherit. We're going to spend everything so they don't go through the same thing. Money can do terrible things to people.

On a lighter note, I had lunch with my husbands sister, two of his cousins and his only living aunt on Saturday. It was really nice. Two of his cousins will be running inGrandma's Marathon in two weeks and so is our 26 year old daughter. This is her third time. Our whole family is going up there and staying with one of our married daughters, It should be a lot of fun.

So after moving a piano a sofa and two tables, I have a place to work on sewing and crafts without using the kitchen table all the time. I hate cleaning up the table to eat and then getting every thing out again. We went to three graduation parties this weekend. We didn't go to the ceremony at the parochial school where our two boys graduated from. I guess we should have. I heard several times that our son who graduated last year, the only graduate, was brought up. He went and we discussed his being infamous. I won't go into that now. He's a good boy. Alair, our 2 year old really liked the parties. She's getting much less shy around other people. I bought her a 38 cent bottle of bubble stuff and we had a great time blowing and chasing bubbles. Our dog, Mattie, had a great time chasing them also. Cheap fun.

Every so often I decide to rearrange the furniture in my home to better suit my needs at the time. Our boys love it, as it usually means they have to carry things through too small doorways and up or down stairs. I need a table on the main level to lay out patterns on and leave in progress things so I don't have to put them away to eat . This is the weekend for change. The boys have been warned. We also have three graduation receptions to attend. Two from the Lutheran school our boys went to and one from the local public school. There have only been a few times in the last 10 years that we haven't had a kid graduate. With 5 of our own and 7 exchange students this is usually a very busy time of the year.

This is the first time I've ever done this. My life is probably pretty boring to most other people, but I turned 50 about a month ago and decided I had learned some things in that time and with comments from others, could probably learn more.