Mom's birthday - Our trip to Minnesota, Oct. 2008

As you can see from the following pictures, Minnesota is a truly beautiful place in the Fall. Before long the lakes will freeze and a bitter cold will set in. Catherine and I had a great time and loved seeing family and friends. What's hard is leaving them again at the end of our trip. What's great is we get to see Richard, my husband and best friend, and Catherine's Daddy. Now we have to settle back in to work and school tomorrow and that's a hard adjustment every year. Everyone was so kind to us; Mom makes room for extra people in her home; Jody works over-time (on her "day's off" from her busy work as Manger of a Perkins restaurant) and takes care of everyone and everything. This year I felt pretty useless after a bad fall I took on the evening of our 2nd day there, leaving me almost incapicated, unable to pitch in with cooking, dishes and the likes. My super-sisters pitched in and everything went ok, thanks to them, and of course, Mom.

I got to see everyone I wanted to see but a week goes by so fast when you fill your plate so full. I will remember so many good things--seeing my friends Hanna and Twila, having all that time with Jody, Michelle and Mom. Seeing my brothers Michael and Phil, whom I don't see as often; watching beautiful sunsets on Mill Lake, and FINALLY seeing my favorite neice and nephew Heather and Tony. We also saw Ali and Pam which was great---what a ball we all had drinking wine and talking about everything under the sun.

I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful and diverse family. It all goes by too soon. However Catherine and I are always glad to be back in our own home, back in sunny Florida and our own schedules and things-to-do.

Thanks, Mom and Jody for everything. Ya'll made it great, as usual. I miss everyone. I'll keep ya'll posted on the other blog I've started, the Family Tapestry!

Mom, I hope we celebrate another 20 years of your birthdays!
--Lori

Catherine and new friend, Destiney. You may as well call them cousins as Destiney calls me "Auntie Lori" and Catherine calls Lona "Auntie Lona". We Aslagson girls have waited for this for 20 years! Yippee! (we love Lona)

My brother Michael with Destiney and Catherine. (we hope) future step-daughter and neice. He makes a great Dad. And the older he gets (unlike the rest of us) the handsomer he gets!