TBT: Meeting Elsa

In honor of this week's birthday, here are some pictures from the weekend we first met our dear daughter-in-love, Elsa.  I knew we were in trouble when my eldest son, Ben, who had never noticed anything about women's clothing in his life, saw her waiting outside her dorm and said aloud, "Oh good-- she is wearing that cute little denim outfit."  I looked at him and said, "Who are you and what have you done with my son?"  

Hope you had a wonderful birthday, Elsa.  You bring much joy and blessing to our lives!

Throwback Thursday

 Christmas 2007 was the Christmas-Before-Christmas:  It started out with a  lovely Minnesota wedding...

Continued family time for the Hanson clan at Lampost in Cedar Falls where we shared lots of laughs (and the stomach flu as I recall...)

 And my brother and his family treated us to one of their dinner show performances. They are a talented and generous group, and I will be missing them this year!

  

And time with my siblings always makes me laugh until my sides hurt.

Miss you all, Hanson siblings!

Throwback Thursday

I think Gramps is in a precarious position, don't you?!

TBT: My sweet nieces, the Browns

TBT: FinFamFour

 Thinking back with love, and missing my boys.

TBT: homeschool history class

We met for a year at the Johnsons.  As far as I can tell, the back row includes one of the Siemon boys, Eric Francisco, Ben Finnegan, CJ Johnson, Tim Finnegan, Andrea Theye.  On the couch are Nathan Finch, Catherine Hines, Wendy Hines, Jess Hines and Kristofor Hines.  On the floor are another Siemon boy, Alissa Idler, and Meghan Johnson.  What sweeties they all were, and what fine young adults they are now.  Praising God for these good friends.

TBT: Friends closer than a brother (or sister)

 Throwback Thursday: the bridal shower for Elsa, manned (or womanned) by some of my favorite people: Valerie Idler, Kelley Baer, Jaqueline Weaver, Kris Hollis, and Amy Lawrence.  How I cherish your friendships over many years, ladies!

Throwback Thursday: Speech and Debate

I have so enjoyed other people posting throw-back Thursady or Flashback Friday that I thought I would give it a go.  Here is a photo from somewhere around 2000 or 2001, loading a car of speech and debate kids, their luggage and bins, coming home from a tournament. Here's to those amazing and fun days with Josh Baer, Emily and Carolyn Thomson, Joey Piotrowicz, Josh Spill, Michael Francisco, et al. And here's to thinking of the current crews-- Hallie Brown, Drew Hollis, et al., heading to current Nationals tournaments.