Blogger Reunion Dinner

Last Saturday my fellow bloggers and I decided we need to celebrate completing the 365 Blogging Challenge. We finally decided on a date and we all met halfway at a Red Robin in Layton. Jennifer and Kristy had went to Red Robin with my mom just a week before and they said that they have a new burger that I need to try. When Kristy and I meet Andrea and Steven for dinner we usually end up at Red Robin anyway so Red Robin it was!

I picked up Jennifer and we all headed down to Layton. I was excited to see everyone but I have to admit that I was just as excited to try this new burger. It was a special called the Mount Olympus Burger. An oregano seasoned burger with creamy artichoke and spinach dip, crumbled feta cheese, crisp bacon, romaine lettuce, tomatoes and garlic mayo on a rustic ciabatta bun. Sounds good right?

I am a lucky guy to have dinner with six terrific ladies. I guess I shouldn't complain that I am one of the only guys that blogs.

We made it to Layton and my fellow bloggers (Andrea, Lewis, Crystal and Chelsea) were already there. We waited for just a little bit for our tables but we had to pull Lewis away from her infomercial. Luckily they had it playing in the television by our table. It was great to see everyone, I have met Andrea's family before but I have not seen them since we started and probably a few years before that. But I felt comfortable around them because I felt like I knew them so well.

Kristy and Jennifer wanted to show me the burger special but it was no where to be found. Unfortunately they had took it off the menu! I was so disappointed. They had it just a week ago! Kristy and Jennifer asked about it and the waiter confirmed it. The burger was gone! But luckily for me, Kristy and Jennifer made the guy check to see if they could still make it and we were all happy when he brought back the happy news!

It was a very nice time. The food was fantastic and the company was even better. I wanted to do something nice for my fellow bloggers for taking the challenge so Kristy and I made these cool certificates of achievement and we also bought each blogger a special chocolate bar from Alvey's Chocolates from Logan. Then we parted ways and Jennifer, Kristy and I went to the mall to Dairy Queen. I was very surprised that we didn't run into Andrea and her family since that is what we usually did after dinner when we met Steven and Andrea for dinner.

Thanks to all my fellow bloggers for coming and participating in the challenge. I am glad that you all did this, it would have been a long journey for me to do alone and I don't know if I would have made it.

Now we just need to do another challenge so we have the excuse to meet again for some food and fun. I hope this is not the last time I get to visit these people.

The Breinholt Family Reunion 2010

Day 288

Yesterday was the annual Breinholt Family Reunion! It was held at some lady's house where there was a nice swimming pool and hot tub and beautiful yard to play around in. I am not sure how we know this lady but we are all grateful that we could play there. And I got to try out some new features on my camera!

We first decided to eat those large Blimpie sandwiches and then swim. My brother-in-law Gregg decided to eat away from the rest of the family since he likes to picnic buck naked.*

*dramatization, may not have happened

Logan loved to jump off the diving board. Here he is showing how to do a tornado dive by spinning around.

Logan also liked squirting people with the gun, just as much as Grandpa Breinholt did.

I am not a huge water fan. I was scared of the water when I was a kid. Now I am more comfortable in the water but diving and stuff like that I still won't try. The advantage of that is I get to spend time with my cute little nieces and play with them. Addy (pictured here) was fun to watch and play with. She would smile and laugh when I would bring a toy in from the water. But when she saw her dad get on the diving board she would cover her face. I wish I had a picture of that.

Kristy flipping out. Actual flipping, not like my niece Cassie flipping out when she saw that huge grasshopper.

Y.M.C.A! 

The In-Law corner. At every family reunion the usual gang of in-laws sit together and watch. Mom is spying on us.

There also was a slam dunk contest. Logan looks like Air Jordan here.

That's me in the middle just floating around. As soon as all the diving was finished I hopped in to do some floating and swimming.

The water must have had too much chemicals in it. It made my nephew Ryan's hair all blue/green. Breanna next to him also had some blue/green highlights.

Grandpa Breinholt also got some highlights. The picture doesn't do it justice. It looked like dad's chest was all moldy.

Kristy's hair also turned a shade of blue/green making her cry. Actually she was just rubbing her eyes when I snapped this pic. Rubbing her eyes because she was crying.

This is the eleventh attempt Cassie was making trying to sit on the tube. It was hilarious watching her try the first ten times. She finally got steady enough and then she looked up and saw Kristy taking a pic and of course lost her balance.

At least my hair didn't turn green. But then I don't have hair.

We had a great time (as always) at the reunion. I have said it before and I will say it again. I am extremely lucky and blessed to have such a great set of in-laws. I am proud to be an in-law member of the Breinholt Clan.

Quick Trip and a Quick Blog

Day 259

Late blog today. Kristy and I just got back from a small Harvey family reunion. We weren't thinking of going but decided at the last moment that we should go down and visit family. We don't see some of our family that often and we really should take advantage of it every chance we get.

So we braved the heat (it was supposed to be 99-100 degrees) and headed down. It was not so hot going down but it certainly was warm. We had the reunion at a park near Kristy's mom house. We brought our own lunches and just hung out with our family.

There was this nice large park next to it that we could run barefoot in and so Steven, Aaron and I played Frisbee. I was sweating like a pig. We chatted and then we headed back to mom's house after we ran a much needed errand. (wink, wink)

Fellow-blogger Andrea, Addy and Mom and Dad

Me and Steven getting some fuel for more Frisbee throwing.

Joey, Cassie and Heather

Addy, Andrea and Steven. Steven blows in this picture.

All in all it was a nice day. It was not as hot as it could have been. It was great to see family and spend time with them.

The Anhder Family Reunion

Day 213

Yesterday was our bi-annual Anhder Family Reunion. I have been going to these for as long as I can remember which may only be just a few years since my memory isn't what it used to be.

I know for sure that we have had one almost every year since I met Kristy. So it has been at least 13 years or so. The Anhder Family Reunion usually is at my Uncle Kurt's house and he and his family is gracious enough to host all of us. After Grandpa and Grandma Anhder passed away we still hold the Anhder Family Reunion but instead of every Memorial Day, we do it every-other Memorial Day.

My Aunt Margo for the first couple of years made these family packets which included family contact information, pictures, games and other tidbits of family history.

This the first one from 2000.

The Anhder Family Reunion this year was a lot of fun. It was good to see family that I have not seen since the last Anhder Family Reunion. The food was fantastic. Kurt grilled up some tasty chicken, hotdogs and cheeseburgers and there were a ton of salads.

And then they broke out the cotton candy machine, I must have ate 4-5 bags worth. And the best part was I never had to go and get it on my own. I had some awesome cousins to help this old man out.

After we ate and ate and ate (and visited) Kurt brought out the keg to play some Anhder Bingo. We have been playing this for years and the game is the exact same thing as Bingo only you have to yell "Anhder" instead of "Bingo" when winning. And the prizes are usually more treats and candy. After a couple of rousing games of Anhder Bingo we sat and relaxed. The weather was perfect for this and the kids had a great time. I am lucky and blessed to have such great aunts and uncles and cousins.

And before I was able to leave, Aunt Lesa talked me into a couple more bags of cotton candy. One that I promptly ate.

Logan and his cousin Dax eating cotton candy in the bouncy house.

Jennifer and I really got all types of enjoyment out of our cotton candy.

As did Kristy.

I am already looking forward to the next one in 2 years. Thanks Kurt and Lesa for hosting the party.

Blog Crossover

Day 124

Last night we had a small blog meet-up with some fellow bloggers.

My cousin and fellow blogger Jaimee and her family came over to my sister and fellow blogger's home and we had a nice live visit. My wife and fellow blogger and my family attended as well as my mom and future fellow blogger. (Yes, I like to say 'fellow blogger')

Fellow bloggers Jennifer, Jaimee, Me and Kristy
I didn't have many expectations when I started this blog. It was merely an attempt to chronicle my life so Logan can get to know me. Like he was reading a personal journal. But it has grown way beyond what I initially thought. Through this challenge I have gotten to know so many people and really get to know them. When we visited with Jaimee and her family it felt like we have known each other for years. Well, I have known them for years but this time I felt like I really knew them. They are more friends than just family. It was fun to see her cute children Matteah and Casey in person. Such sweet and fun kids. Daniel and Jaimee were fun as always but it seemed different this time since I felt like I have been in their daily lives for the last couple of months. It was awesome and I wished we lived closer so we could do this more often. Thanks for driving from Colorado Springs and up to Logan so we could spend some time together.

Matteah, Daniel, Jaimee and CaseyMatteah, Logan, Dax and Jace
While it was great to talk with them it made me miss the rest of the Case Clan. So if any members of the Case Clan are reading, it is not too late to take my challenge and BLOG! This has been a rewarding experience. You have been put on notice.

One thing I did notice about this whole blogging thing I started. I am the ONLY guy doing it. I guess I should count myself lucky. I have gotten to know some awesome women. Which reminds me, I am not only pleased about getting to know my side of the family but that also extends to my sister-in-law and fellow blogger Andrea and her family and also to my friend across the ocean and fellow blogger Sarah and her awesome family (which should be expecting a new shiny member any moment!). It has been fantastic getting to know you folks too. So how many people are doing this challenge anyway?

Thanks Jennifer for hosting a great blog meet-up.

Andrea it is your turn next. ;)

Pic of the Week: The Ice Man Cometh

Day 84

A couple of years ago we had a Breinholt Family Reunion up here in Logan and we went up to the lake at Tony Grove, up in Logan Canyon. It was a pretty good time although I will remember it for entirely other different reasons, which I probably shouldn't blog about here publicly.

But for the most part, the reunion was a lot of fun. I remember one incident in particular which made the event memorable (in a good way).


A couple of us (that is me throwing the rock, ahead of me is Steven and Andrea and Renae (yawning) with Logan and Gregg at the front) all decided to go and take a hike on this trail around the lake. It was a nice summer day, the sun was shining (and burning my poor bald head) but it was still very cool up in the mountains. Some of the surrounding areas even still had a few inches of snow. We stopped a few times to try and skip rocks off the lake. My son Logan was having the time of his life. He saw a ton of animals (mostly chipmunks and squirrels) and got to throw big rocks into the lake. Logan is a little competitive kid (wonder where he got it from) and he always wanted to be in the lead and be first down the trail. He was always fighting with his uncle Steven to stay in the lead. Steven had taken the lead and so I told Logan to grab some snow and rub and place it on Steven's leg (he was wearing shorts) to get him out of the way.

Logan was thrilled with this awesome plan and he quickly stopped to pick up some snow. As he was scooping up some snow, a man and his wife (not from our party) walked past us and ahead of us on the trail. Logan finally got some snow and ran towards Steven, at least we thought he was running to Steven. He pushed Steven out of the way and was heading toward the man that passed us thinking it was Steven. I yelled out "That's not Steven!" but it fell on excited and deaf ears. Logan iced the guy that passed us and not Steven. The funny thing is that the guy saw Logan coming and ran away like a frightened little girl. Logan caught him anyway and he yelped out (also like a little girl) when Logan iced him. Logan laughed deviously and then he realized that he iced the wrong guy. He was momentarily stunned and then he tried to get Steven. The man was not happy with what had happened but took it all in stride.