Miles is 9!

Happy 9th Birthday to Miles Jay Grimmius!
Lots of love to you from Gma Jill & Grandpa Larry

We now have two 9-year-olds, two 7-year-olds, and two 6-year-olds in the cousin collection. I know it's a clichéd expression, but truly -- where DOES the time go???

They say it's your birthday....

Happy Birthday to Angie!

This is one of my favorite pictures of you, Angie. 

I'm sure it has some hidden meaning, 

but I'll be danged if I can figure out what it is! 

Lots of love to you on your 35th birthday!

2016 Holiday Gift Exchange

The theme for the 2016 Holiday Gift Exchange is ready for the world to experience. Okay, maybe not the world, but certainly for the 8 members of the Potts/Dellon/Grimmius Group. Here it is. Because you’re one of them. 

This cartoon is for Annie. It will make sense when you know this year's HGE theme.

Over the years we’ve had a superb variety of HGE themes that have tapped into the creativity and frustrations of all involved.  You’ll all remember the awe-inspiring mix and match of stores and themes in 2009, College (2010), Merry Monogram (2011), Happy Holidays on the Farm E-I-E-I-O (2012), Superheroes (2013), Let It Go with Gadgets, Gizmos, and Thing-a-ma-jigs (2014), The Force Awakens (2015). Does anyone remember 2007 or 2008? Did we do the HGE back then? Why can’t anyone remember?

As possibilities for this year’s theme emerged, one family member suggested practical, useful gifts only. Another suggested he or she (he) get ALL the gifts as a sign of our deep and abiding appreciation. Use your own judgement about fulfilling either request.

This year’s HGE will offer the same rewards and challenges as in the past, possibly literally, because the theme is… ta da… wait for it… BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.

Tips from your 2016 HGEC

Just what are “been there, done that” gifts?  Some thoughts …

·       Gifts related to travel. Have you been there? Has your giftee been there?

·       Perhaps a memento of something you’ve done, or that your giftee has done, hence the phrase “done that”.  For example, been to prison?  Your giftee might appreciate a souvenir of your incarceration.

·       How about gifts from other HGEs? To paraphrase Mick Jagger, you may not have always gotten what you wanted. This could be your golden opportunity to pass it along.

·       I encourage all HGE Giftees to share additional “been there, done that” ideas, especially with those of us who have been there, done that, for a lot longer than any of the rest of you.

Some don’ts to keep in mind

·       No “been there, done that” bathroom gifts for Dad/Larry

·       Pre-sat-upon pillows for Annie are discouraged

·       Charlie’s Betsy Paul wig has already been done

If you haven’t really been there or done that, we don’t have to know.

How much should you spend? Range is $0 to $50, because you’ve all been there, done that.

Gifters may present their gifts to Giftees any way they choose. There are no specific guidelines this year because we've all been there…….

Watch email soon for the

Cousins in October

The Cousins had a short, but sweet and fun time together last weekend. I'll post a few pictures to give the essence of some of the events, but as always, there are a lot of pictures, a lot of action, and it would take more space than a mere blog entry to tell it all. 

A successful restaurant: The opening ceremonies for Cousin Weekend involved the biggest restaurant extravaganza the cousins have yet to concoct. It started on Friday night after Hannah and Vivi arrived in St. Peter. Miles and Westy were here to greet them, and had some time to play. The four of them rearranged and reorganized the sunroom so nearly every square inch was covered in contents from the play cupboard. Business took off. Owen and Ethan joined in on Saturday morning, and business continued to thrive. Cousins were taking orders, working the sandwich line, making change, serving food, and collecting tips for the poor. 

A tray of doughnuts with monster teeth and six little monsters to gobble up the goodies: Enough said.

A birthday party for a six-year-old: The youngest cousin is now 6, and has caught up to Vivi. In poker terms around here a pair of 6's, a pair of 7's, an 8 and a 9 make a FULL HOUSE.

   

A sleepover: E & O stayed overnight at our house so C & A could get up and out the door early to run in the Mankato Half Marathon. While the runners were running, the cousins were goofing around.

A post-run selfie:  Hurray for Mommy/Auntie Angie and Daddy/Uncle Charlie!

A workout at the TreeMendous Playground:  Surprisingly, we've never taken a photo of all six cousins playing on the equipment in Gorman Park. We almost didn't get one this time, as a couple of the impy-er cousins preferred running away from the photo shoot. But eventually, all six convened long enough for some smiles together.

A Halloween scavenger hunt:  Six cousins x one clue per cousin = six spooky prizes per cousin to hand out to the other cousins, with an occasional photo to document the fun.

A campus visit:  The cousins love to run around the Gustavus campus. Here are Owen and Cousin Pumpkin. Vivi managed to get a snuggly ride from Uncle Charlie.

A happy grandpa:  He'd be even happier if Miles and Westy had still been in St. Peter when this picture was taken, but he managed to be amused by four out of six for a while.

Thanks to the cousins and their parents for a fun weekend. 

Evan, we missed you!

Westy is 6!

Happy Birthday Weston Charles-Sometimes-Jay Grimmius!

We love you lots. Enjoy being SIX!