Father's Day BBQ June 13, 2008

Several of us gathered at Preston's and Kathleen's home on Friday, June 13th for an early Father's Day celebration. We had a great time at their home just relaxing on a beautiful day. We had hamburgers and hot dogs and lots of other great food: watermelon, chocolate chip cookies (yum!..send the recipe to me Kathleen!), cabbage salad, tossed salad, "Mom's" shrimp macaroni salad, chips, root beer floats and corn. Mark and Preston especially appreciate that Anne's seems to cook like Mom and so they just gobbled down the shrimp macaroni salad. Hey! I never even got a little spoonful you big boys!! Dad/Grandpa George received several gifts and among them were a couple of handsome shirts (blue of course!), a new bird book (one can always use a new one), and a bird feeder. He also received $$$ to go towards his new "walking stick." Such a great day for all of us.

Just a suggestion to the rest of you: get on the ball and create a family blog of your own and/or post family news and photos here where we can all enjoy it! And have you taken the time to vote whether this is a good thing or not? Take the time to do it. This is a great thing that we've started. Everyone (and that means all of us!) can contribute to this and help us all remain connected and knowing how we are and what is happening in our families. Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to contribute in one way or another to our "Comes In Handy" blog. It's a great thing! Can't get any better than this...or can it?

News from Erin & David

We have two very important bits of news. In order of priority:

1. A house for us! About 15 minutes east and slightly north from my mom and dad's house and 15 minutes north from David's parents', we have found a lovely spot to live in. We close July 22nd, which apparently gives us time to a) talk in our parents' ward while we're in it for two months, and b) teach about--irony--blogging this Tuesday for the enrichment ladies. We're quite quite excited about our first big 'ol purchase and affirming that it is indeed a large purchase, we have been a-garage sale-ing to put things in our purchase!
   
2. We have a shiny, brand-new blog now dedicated to not just recipes (Mark also put in a request to "see some pictures of [me] and the kids" on it...I actually don't have kids, a bit of a blockade for me). I am, however, the proud mother of two posts now on our new site.
   

Read about both here. It's a private blog, but all you need to do is send me your e-mail (or pass it to my mom, who'll pass it to me) and you'll get a handy (hahaha) invitation. Just accept it and you're in.

On a side note, Minnesota is beautiful this time of year, a fact you're all familiar with. Oh, you aren't? Well, come on over! It's about time for a family trip, isn't it? There is so much fun to be had here. Come see. (David will grill you a Minnesota/Wisconsin specialty, called the "brat." No, not "brAt," but "brAHt. You'll dwell in fatty goodness upon tasting it.)

I'll even let you view my online "What's Erin Doing in Minneosta" photo album, if you say "please."

Oh, and hey. One more thing. See that poll on the right? Vote!




Love, rain, sunshine, and greenery from Minnesota,

The Sprouts