a great weekend...

I had one of the best weekends in such a long time…it was very busy but jammed packed with fun! We kicked it off by picking up my sister from the airport. That afternoon, my parents arrived and we had a quick dinner before heading to the University of Minnesota for Jim’s graduation! Yes, my baby brother is now a college graduate…where does the time go?!? It was a long ceremony but it was for the 1,200 students in the College of Science & Engineering, so it was expected. We also got the surprise last minute speech from Amy Klobuchar, our US State Senator. She gave a really great and inspirational speech and what a cool person to have at your graduation. I have never attended a graduation with anyone quite that "big" before!

Saturday, Jim and Lisa came up to our house so we could take them out for a graduation lunch. We tried a new place near our house, Bricks, and unfortunately had horrible service. Joe heard such great things about it, so we were quite disappointed. It took almost an hour for our food to arrive. Jim and Lisa had to get back to campus right after lunch, Jim needed to be at Coffman Hall for his concert by 4. So we had to postpone the graduation presents and cake until Sunday. We headed back to the house and some of us took a nap. After everyone was awake, we then decided to hit up the Blaine area garage sales around 3pm…I didn’t expect to find much leftover (since it started on Friday) but we scored some deals for pumpkin seed! I got a fleece Gap sweatshirt, Gap jean overalls, bath robe (with puppy paws), puffy vest and the perfect newborn Halloween outfit (includes onesie, pants, hat, bib, and socks) for pumpkin seed’s first Halloween. Everything looks barely worn…and all for the price of $7! Can you say SCORE?!?!? After seeing what deals you can find at garage sales, it's going to be hard to spend full price in the stores!

That evening, we headed back to the U of M for Jim’s final 7 Days concert. They sold out…they actually had to turn people away this year, that is crazy! And I’m going to be the proud big sister and brag about my little brother now. He sang this solo “This Side” by Nickel Creek. While he sang this song, I had flashbacks to a little blonde haired boy in a white t-shirt and glasses, singing his first solo ever, “Colors of the Wind” at his elementary Spring Fling (concert where the exceptional singers in each grade were selected to sing). It’s amazing to have witnessed how much he’s grown and accomplished since then.

And of course I cried at his concert (I'm such a sap lately, I blame the hormones)…his graduation ceremony didn’t seem so final but watching 7 Days sing their final songs (and the 8 graduating seniors who are some of Jim’s best friends)…just brought back my emotions of graduating from college. Just remembering how much your life changes in the first year after college and how much I missed those days at EC…made me sad for him. If you could erase the studying and homework from the picture, those were some of the best years of my life. I never laughed so hard as I did during those years…when your best friends were just a short walk away in the bedroom next to yours…and they were the best distractions when you just wanted to procrastinate even more...when you're biggest worry was the next paper or final. How simple life was back then!

On Sunday, we took my mom out for brunch at Majestic Oaks. It was delicious as always…Joe headed to his Mom’s afterwords, while we went back to the house to open gifts and eat some delicious cupcakes from my all time favorite bakery, Wuollet Bakery. That afternoon, everyone left and my parents dropped Debbie off at the airport. Joe and I then headed to our niece’s dance recital. Joe’s dad had driven down for it as well, so we all went together. Brandy did a fabulous job and is turning into such a pretty young lady. I can't believe she is old enough to be driving soon too! After her recital, we grabbed dinner with Mark, Melinda, Brandy and Vern at Wild Bill’s, which was very good. I will definitely be going back there again.

Brandy is the one on the far left.

It was such a great weekend, I was so sad to see it go. I had looked forward to it for so long...but my sister will be home again in July for the 4th and a family friend's wedding. I'm sure it will be here before I know it!