blueberry picking

It seems like forever since I have blogged. Life gets so busy sometimes and it is sometimes hard to find the time to blogging but I still have been taking a lot of pictures-- so I think soon I may do a "summer review" post just so I have a memory of our summer so far.... (Summer is going way too fast!!!)

So I am just going to jump right back in and start blogging again---because I miss it!

This past Friday, Drew and I loaded into my car and went to pick up my mom to head to Wisconsin for some blueberry picking. This is the 3rd year in a row that we went to this beautiful blueberry farm- and I think I love it more each year we go! It is a little bit of a drive to get to Maiden Rock,WI, but it is so worth it! It is such a scenic drive on some quaint country roads, which just adds to the beauty of the day.

This year Drew and I picked 15 pounds of blueberries. (We were hoping to pick a couple more pounds this year but it was so hot that we stopped at that.  There is always next year :)

After several hours of blueberry picking, we stopped for some lunch in Red Wing at the historic St.James Hotel.

Look at that cute little rooftop patio.

Then home to freeze the berries and to do some baking.

table of memories

It has been since our graduation open house. All of the food is gone, coolers were emptied, a lot of dishes were washed, items borrowed have been returned, everything has been cleaned up and put away… except for this.

The table I set up. This was so fun to put together and it is always one of my favorite things about each grad party that we go to. It is so fun to see pictures, awards and other items that are important to each graduate- and it is always so interesting to see how each graduate’s table is unique to them.

On Tyler's table we had his 'Senior Poster.' This is a fun tradition that each family puts together and is laminated and displayed at the 'all night graduation party' that is held at the high school.

So yesterday I took the table down. Up until then, I just have not had the heart to take it down yet! I think somehow it seems so final- that graduation is really over. Plus it is so fun to look at these mementos and memories from Tyler’s years in high school and younger days.

Bitersweet!

graduation open house

Saturday was a day to celebrate.

A day to celebrate Tyler’s graduation from high school.

A day to celebrate all his hard work

and all his accomplishments.

After all the weeks of making plans and after all of the preparation~

the day turned out perfect.

Better than I could have even have hoped for!

And the weather was beautiful!

After days and days of rain….

the sun finally made an appearance just in time for the party.

Many family and friends helped make the day special.

And best of all, Tyler really enjoyed the day.

He had a smile on his face from beginning to end~

and that is what it really about!!

We took some pictures before all the festivities started.

We had the college flag flying out front.

All the fabulous help we had getting everything set up.
From the food~

To the decorations~

We had a DVD of pictures of Tyler playing in the great room.

The food table was set up in the dining room.

The desserts were set up in the kitchen.

The chocolate fountain that Tyler requested was a huge hit with the kids AND the adults!

The tent was set up in the backyard.

A table with pictures, diploma, awards etc. was set up in the foyer.

Photos of some of our 125+ guests.

We are so proud of you Tyler!!

graduation

My oldest boy graduated from high school on Friday night.

June 11, 2010

It was a beautiful night filled with emotion

Happiness

Blessedness

Sadness

Thankfulness

Joy

Excitement

All rolled into one.

I am so extremely proud of my boy and cannot wait to see where this next step in his life takes him!!

brothers

Tyler and his Grandparents

After taking pictures, we enjoyed take-out Chinese from Leeann Chin's (one of Tyler's foods!!)

And fruit pizza for dessert.

The graduation was held downtown Minneapolis at the Target Center.

Tyler standing (in front row) for Magna Cum Laude honors.

last day

First day of Kindergarten

Last day of High School

Bittersweet.

flying by

My gosh…

these days have been just flying by…

faster and faster…

and I would love it if life slowed down just a bit…

but it doesn’t seem like that will be happening any time soon…

so I am taking a deep breath…

trying to stay calm…

and enjoy each moment…

because soon these moments will be just memories…

memories that I want to keep in my heart forever…

and never forget.

rhubarb

This past weekend I picked up some beautiful rhubarb at the farmer’s market and couldn’t wait to make this recipe from our family cookbook. I have made 'Rhubarb Crumble' a few times over the years and each Spring I can’t wait for the rhubarb to come in season so I can pull out this recipe.

I love rhubarb. I really do. :) Maybe it is because it is one of the first crops to show up in the garden and markets and it means summer is here. Maybe it is because of the fond memories I have from when I was a little girl sitting in my backyard munching on big stalks of rhubarb freshly stolen picked from the garden. Or maybe it is because it is in season for such a short time and then I have to wait another year for this sour, crunchy treat.

The recipe is from my Grandma’s sister and the original copy of the recipe reads, “To Sis Ginny, Love, Sister Ruth.”

(I doubled this recipe because I had quite a bit of rhubarb and I also threw in some strawberries and a little bit of cinnamon. Delicious!)

Rhubarb Crumble
Fruit mixture:
4 cups rhubarb, cut in 1 inch pieces
Grated rind of 1 orange
½ cup sugar
1 Tablespoon flour

Topping mixture:
1 ½ cups rolled oats
¼ cup brown sugar
Pinch of salt
1 Tablespoon melted butter
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
½ teaspoon vanilla

Combine rhubarb, orange rind, sugar, and flour. Spoon mixture into a greased 8 inch square baking dish. In a separate bowl, combine topping ingredients and sprinkle over fruit mixture.
Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until topping is golden brown and fruit is bubbly. Serve warm or cold, plain or with vanilla ice cream.