Gingerbread Houses '09

After all the turkey had been eaten, we brought out the Gingerbread kits for our Gingerbread Building Contest. Since Howard and I are usually at the dunes for Thanksgiving we aren't around to participate in the contest...but this year we smoked out the competition! At least that's our story!

Samuel and James showcasing his two story Gingerbread house.

MarLi showing her house that she decorated inside and out!Love these ladies!!! Aunt Colleen showing off "Batman's Winter Home"

My dad and mom with their house.

My grandma had each of us as gingerbread men...so cute!!And drumroll please...our gingerbread house! Howard custom made the fireplace.

50th Anniversary

Over the weekend we threw my grandparents a 50th Anniversary party...but even more than that it was a surprise. AND they were surprised!! It was about a year of planning and inviting all their friends and family and it remained a surprise...that was amazing!
I have the best grandparents. They are a wonderful example of who I should be and how my marriage should be. I am so blessed to have them in my life! What a great heritage I come from!

Here are a few pictures from our night...

We had a display table set up of a whole bunch of pictures through the years. I think finding all these pictures were as much fun as anything!

Connie, Mindi and Cami (with their mom, my grandma's sister) came down from Utah for the party.Me with my cousin Mindi and her baby Brooklynn (what a cutie she was!)Grandpa with my cousin MichaelMy sister MarLi with Grandpa My grandparents with their two daughters My mom and I

My brother Rand and his girlfriend, Leslie My grandpa and I

I'm not sure what we are doing...hahaMy grandma and IAt the end of the night, after toasts and a slide show we had my grandparents come up and say a few words. They were pretty overwhelmed, but in a good way.