Fall Events and Thanksmas 2016

This year's Fritel Thanksmas was at nephew Brad and Maureen's.

They have a 3-car heated garage which was great for our gang (42)

The day after Thanksgiving, we headed to Grand Forks

for the UND hockey game and some pool time.

The grandkids are sporting their
"I survived Fritel Thanksmas 2016" shirts

Color code: Orange (Trina's), pink (Ana's) green (Sara's), blue (Jimmy's)

Julia would not sit by herself, so Sara got in the pic :-)

Scenes from Brad and Maureen's

First we ate (too much)

Getting ready for the gift exchange: Brad explains the "rules"

This year's theme was the letter "t" (we are spelling "Fritel")

Bob drew the lowest number, so he chose first
from the stack of gifts pictured below

 Nicole and Eric's new baby, Cora, met the gang on Thanksmas

 A variety of "characters" and a great choice of "t" gifts :-)

Front: Claire, Ari & Matthew, Jett & Caiden, Doug J. & Julia, Maureen & Haylee, Sara & RJ

Seated: Trina, Diane, Cecelia, Lydia, Nicole & Cora, Annika, Grace, Ana, & Samantha

Row 3: Bob, Brad & Kimber, Tom, Andrea, Kathy, Eric & Jace, Barb, Steve, Kelly & Luke

Back: Jerry F., Jerry B., Jill, Doug F., Jay, Connor, Suzanne, & Jimmy

Fun and games at the farm the whole week of Thanksgiving

with 22 of us sleeping in various locations in the house!

 Ari and Claire put on a show including "props"

which I am still finding under the furniture

 Gymnast Caiden. Does Ari look interested??

Attempt at a card game

 I think they're watching Charlie Brown

 Doug and Jett admire the Christmas tree

Bob cut from the barn that blew over at Ritterman's.

The sign was from the old KC hall in Rugby

 Julia and Doug

 Jimmy guards the bucket of German potato salad

 One quiet moment: Caiden, Grace, Kelly, Julia, and Bob

 Sara, Julia, RJ, and Doug enjoying our nice November!

 "Slide rules" Annika, Cecelia, Lydia

 Sasquatch Squad: Caiden, Annika, Ariana, Jett

Lunch bunch: Cecelia, Lydia, Claire, and Ari

Sisters-in-law at the UND hockey game
Diane, Barb, Kathy, Wendy

Fall Has "Fell" 2016

Fall means closing up the camper 

at Lake Metigoshe and heading

to the Norwegian "Hostfest" in Minot

View from our yard

 Prettiest time of the year at the lake! 
Note: the dominant Fall color in ND: Yellow
My flowerbeds, however, make me homesick 
for the Cleveland Fall colors

 Baby Spirea that I just transplanted

 Last year's baby Spirea

 Barberry and Spirea

 Two Spirea varieties and a different Barberry

 The oldest Spirea in the flowerbeds

 Three-year-old Spirea amidst Snow-on-the-Mountain

 Another older Spirea

Five-year-old transplant

 The Norwegian Hostfest is a big deal in ND
Mollie B is a popular country singer who was

trained in opera, but not "country." 

She comes to Texas to do concerts and dances every year.

 I think Neil Sedaka wrote every rock star's most 

popular songs.  He put on a great concert.

 Little Norwegian dancers

The "Ringling Five" are Montana ranchers

who apparently can't count, but can sing :-)

A Special Birthday Party

Pre-party reception started at 6:30 

in a room with a balcony overlooking the city.

Kevin is COO of the Foundation. He worked 

with Donna at HHS.

 The dinner was in the Rainbow Room at NBC studios.

Note the date and the time.

 The emcees were Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen.

 The Winton Marsalis orchestra provided music.

 Vernon Jordan praised the foundation and the President.

 Barbra sang some special songs.

 The President thanked the supporters of

the Clinton Foundation and the Global Initiative.

 Chelsea talked about her dad.

 Bon Jovi sang...

 Bono talked about meeting the President in Ireland

and thanked him for helping to bring peace

 Denis O'Brien expressed heartfelt appreciation

to the President for the peaceful solution to

"the troubles" in Ireland.

Donna and her boss

 Bob and the President talking about farming

 Fifteen years for The Clinton Global Initiative and

Seventy years for The President

Bon Jovi, Barbra, and Tony Bennett sing

"Happy Birthday" to the President

Kevin and Donna heading home....note the date and time--

that's AFTER midnight!