Anni Was My Guest

This summer Anni stayed with me for a week following the vacation time with her family. Both Nels and I loved having her here. During our time together, we were really busy.

First off, Anni helped me with hosting a neighborhood picnic. I had been planning to do this all summer, but put it off. I finally got my invitations out for Tuesday, August 7, which is National Night Out. We had 21 gather in my back yard. Each person brought their own chair, beverage, and a dish to pass. We set the food up inside my porch. It was great getting acquainted with some new neighbors and visiting with long time friends.

L to R: Julie, Colleen, Anni and Jennifer

L to R: Mary Jo, Kitty, Susie, Rita, and Patti

L to R: Mark, Susan and Sue

L to R: Alison, Sandra and Gwen

Dave and Kathy

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The next day I took Anni to the Mall of America—one of her favorite places. We shopped for several hours. She bought some things and really had a good time.

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The following day I took Anni to a ceramic studio where each of us chose a piece and began glazing it. Anni chose a cat and glazed it to match the cat she previously had designed in her cartooning program. I chose a 9" Christmas tree. We really had a good time doing this.

Anni checking her artwork on her phone for her cat

Anni and I glazing the first coats on our pieces—requires three coats of glaze

Anni had fun and now her cat will be ready to go into the kiln.

A week later I picked up our finished pieces. Here is Anni's cat.

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The next day we picked up Rellie and I took the girls to the movie theater to see "Christopher Robin." They told me they enjoyed it. After the movie Rellie asked to come to my home to hang out for awhile before going out for pizza. I was happy these cousins could have a good time together.

Anni and Rellie

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We spent as much time at the pool as possible while Anni was here. She is like a fish in the water. My neighborhood ladies pool friends really enjoyed having her around. Some of the time we just sat out on my porch which is so pleasant. Anni loved holding Nels.

On Sunday we got up really early so Anni could sing next to me in my church choir service. While she didn't know the music, she did great! That same day we had lunch with my theater friends prior to going to the Bloomington Theater Artistry to see the live performance "Legally Blonde." Initially Anni was a bit shy about applauding after each scene, but after intermission that changed. She really got into it. When I took her to the airport the following week (she spent the next week with her other grandparents in southern Minnesota), I asked her what her favorite things were while she was here. She said "Seeing the musical 'Legally Blonde' and playing with the kittens at Uncle Eli's farm."

Anni and I at the Artistry Theater