John's Surprise

On his return from TX, John found his first surprise:  Vandals going around on the night of White Bear Lake Homecoming had smashed his windshield and broken his side mirror with two big granite rocks.  Thankfully, he got the window fixed today (no insurance), and will be looking into the mirror tomorrow.

Saturday night brought a better surprise!  Dad and the boys went to play frisbee golf.  While they were gone family members arrived for a surprise party for John for both his 25th birthday and his  soon going away to Madison to take up his new job with Epic.

Some pictures of all that were here:

John was totally surprised!  It was great that he had
decided to take an impromptu trip to TX the week
before the party, or I don't think we could've hidden it!

Afton was a fun delight as usual!

 It looks like 2 people to stay away from when pictures are being taken are Blane and Amy! 
(See the next few pictures!)

John's favorite guests! (the little ones!)

 

Don't let all the pictures make you think that Blane is weird.  He is actually a very wonderful guy to have around!

Jessica with her boyfriend Dan.

Chris and Angie happened to be in the cities, so they came
for a while !  Good thing too...Chris had to leave to  pick up
Jenny and her two boys who got stranded at the intersection
of Hwy 36 and 35E when her car broke down.

Thank God for the wonderful extended family we have!
And this is only a small, small part of it!!

HAPPY   BIRTHDAY   TO  HALF   OF   MY   CHILDREN!!
Since we have so many birthdays together, and I haven't blogged forever, I thought I could put a joint-birthday blog honoring all of our birthday stars...Ruth, Rebecca, John, and Joseph!!   Even though repeated pictures, I do hope you enjoy them as much as I do!! (These are not necessarily in chronological order!)

Rebecca 12 y.o. and Joseph 4 y.o.
 

Rebecca 2 y.o. and John newborn

Rebecca 10 y.o.

July 2009

Rebecca and Esther right before Rebecca left for France

Ruth 6 months

Ruth 1 y.o.

Ruth 16 y.o.

2 y.o. (the year she also got
Kitsny Witsny from her old friend, Ben)

Ruth almost 7 y.o. and John almost 1 y.o.

This is John the summer before his senior
year in high school.  I believe this is the trip
we made to the Colgroves for Kelsea's 21st!

New Mom in 2008

Ruth 11 and Rebecca 7

John 17

                                    

John 13

Joseph 6 and John 12

John 1 y.o.

John 8

John 12

       

Joseph 14 y.o.  At the UofM.  Now he's a student there!

Joseph 2-3 months old.  Lots of hair!!

Joseph 2 y.o. Golden Birthday

David had the right touch for getting
the baby to sleep!

Joseph age 12 with Adam,
New brother-in-law to be, July 2007

The girls having fun at my old home, July 2009.

HAPPY  BIRTHDAY  RUTH, REBECCA, JOHN AND JOSEPH!!