It WAS this cold 15 years ago

Today, almost every school in Minnesota was closed due to subzero weather. Our weather station clocked -25 this morning. We've had a high of -8.

Darn cold, but it seems to be a tradition.

Today is our 15th wedding anniversary. January of 1994 was a record setting cold month. On January 15, the high temp was -9 degrees. The low was -34 degrees. (Paul's friends had always said it would be a cold day in hell when he finally married.)

How are we celebrating?

It's too cold to grill a really great steak outside. It's too cold to go out to dinner. We've tentatively planned a get-away weekend celebration in the near future.


So, we're having lentil soup!

Yeah, let's party!







While supper cooked, we exchanged cards and gifts of chocolate.

Then Paul got a gleam in his eye and said I needed to open my real present.

So what is he doing here?

Attaching the strap to my real present, a Canon Rebel XSi camera!













With an 18-55mm lens, a 55-150mm lens, a macro lens, and all the bells and whistles.

Wow. I'm almost speechless.







I got him chocolates.

yikes.









What an amazing, surprising man. I am a very spoiled girl.

Happy Fiftieth Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

We celebrated my parents fiftieth anniversary last evening with a family dinner.

We had discussed going out to dinner, but there is nowhere you can put 14 people in a
restaurant, and still be able to talk to everyone.

So we did it here. It turned out well, because everyone got a chance to visit with everyone!



My folks.

Married October 25, 1958.











Almost the entire family!

Paul took the picture, so he's not there.

Two of my brother's step-daughters weren't present.










Table viewed from the other end.













Mom and Dad serving the gorgeous cake, baked by Heidi.









My brother, Bruce, and his wife Heidi.












The oldest grandson, Nic, with his significant other Megan.

Nic is Bruce's oldest boy.







Bruce's next boy, Chris, with his S.O., Amanda.









Ben and his girlfriend Bekky.











Girl of the House and the youngest Girl of the House at Bruce's.









We had a magnificent prime rib, some shrimp, and a few assorted side dishes.

I think everyone enjoyed themselves! I know WE did!

There will be NO more snow in Minnesota this winter,

and our household will take full credit.

We had so much fun with the borrowed snowshoes, we bought some for ourselves. Now, that about guarantees there will be no more snow this winter!

It's our 14th wedding anniversary today, and our snowshoes came just in time. Yes, 14 years; the traditional snowshoe anniversary.

January of 1994 was a record setting cold month. On January 15, the high temp was -9 degrees. The low was -34 degrees. (Paul's friends had always said it would be a cold day in hell when he finally married.)

We discussed many options for honeymooning. I had been going to Sanibel island for many winters. He had been mountain skiing for many winters. After an extensive discussion, we went to Jackson Hole, WY for our honeymoon.

I had only skied in Minnesota. Going to the top of that lift at Jackson, looking down the mountain, I thought I must surely have lost my mind!! "You've got to be kidding - I can't do anything THAT steep!" Paul pushed, prodded and coaxed, and I made it down that hill. Now the only year we haven't mountain skied was the year Girl of the House was born. (She's a December baby.)

So, we're winter people. I haven't been back to Florida since 1993. Paul has NEVER seen the ocean. He'll get there sometime, but I suspect it will be in Washington State, on a summer trip.

Snowshoes are a terrific gift. Just remember who you need to thank for the lack of further snow...