Relational Vacation

We have been on vacation for the past nine days. Wow!!! It has been a good change for Dan and I. Time for each other and time away from the "dailiness" (it that a word?!?) of life. This has not been a vacation for seeing the sights but rather one to renew and reconnect with family. We live so far from the Midwest that it find it a challenge to get back to this part of the country but we managed it this time and packed in a lot of relational time in this trip!

One of the highlights was reconnecting with Chuck's Wolf family cousins. Aunt Cornie and Uncle Bill have four children... Tom, Andy, Cory and Hank. All four cousins managed to get away with their Mother and meet for the wedding. We got to have our very own private dinner with them the night before the wedding. Dan and Abby got to meet these wonderful people finally after 16 years! We had a fabulous dinner with them ... closed down the restaurant... we were so loud... we laughed so much! Aunt Cornie the exquisite hostess!!! A night to remember for all...
The Wolf Cousins- at Long Last! The Ultimate Hostess!

Cousin Cory with Mick

Cornie Meets Dan after 16 Years!!!!

Cousin Hank with Abby

Our Kiddos- Sorry about Mick's Eyes...

Some Family Time

In the midst of it all we did have some family time with our 8. The only one we were missing was Hannah (sigh...) but it was quite a feat to get the rest of us all together. you had a very excited Mother in me over this turn of events!!! We had time at the hotel and at the Mall of America where Charlie won the Putt Putt Game against the males of our family. Of course the women were too busy shopping....

Lovely Tara and Jer

Darling Abby and Ben Return from Manila! Hooray!!!

A Beautiful Laura and A Proud Dad Laura and Lorenzo's Big Day
It was such a treat to be a part of their special day!!! It was an elegant wedding and wonderful reception 50 floor up overlooking Minneapolis! So glad we had an excuse to all be together!

The Bride with Cousin Jeremy

Aunt Kathy and the Groom

Cousins Relating

A Still Happy Couple Brother and Sister at the Wedding

A Meeting of the Minds

Wolf Cousins with Uncle John

The Cousins Reconnect with Becki

The Westerman Cousins with Spouses

The next day there was a brunch at the Coxes so people could then have real time to visit and get to know each other. It was great to have the cousins together! The Westerman Profile- No Family Resemblance Here?!?!?

Aunt Katie with Her Crazy Nephews

A Good Picture of Pawpaw- Chuck's Dad Westeman Cousins Charlotte and Becki

From the wedding Dan, Charlie and I traveled on to my parents in Wisconsin Rapids for a visit. It was great to be with them on their "turf", meet some of their friends and have some time to relax.

Daddo's Famous Tomato Plants

Wisconsin Rapids- Home of my Parents

Charlie Knows How to Make Maggie Laugh! Eating Maggie's Cinnamon Rolls...

Char With the Grandparents

Mini Golf Tourney with DaddoDaddo stooped low to play putt putt with us in the name of family relations! What a guy!

Daddo Couldn't Believe That His Shot Didn't Make It.... smile... welcome to my world....

The Champ for the Second Time in One Week....

Back to Minneapolis and an amazing dinner prepared by Chef Uncle Larry... time with Rosie and Hank including the really fun movie "Julie and Julia" and a great meal out at a northern Italian Restaurant in St. Paul.... Tomorrow we fly home to resume our lives but we go with our hearts full and grateful for all the wonderful family God has provided in our lives.... thanks to each of you for making our stays so warm and so much fun!