John's and Karen's Family . . . the blended and extended: 2010

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Saturday, November 06, 2010: Columbus Bluejackets vs. Minnesota Wild game

Travis, Grayson, John, and I attended the NHL game tonight with the Columbus Bluejackets playing the Minnesota Wild. The Minnesota Wild won, 3-2!!!! Go Wild! (Karen and Brandon were texting back and forth throughout the game.

Johnny watching for Travis & Grayson in our hotel lobby.

He graced me with his Lagomorph Lad profile.

We sat high on the lower level on one end of the Arena.

1-1 tie at the end of the 1st period.

2-2 at the end of the second period, and the Bluejackets were outshooting the Wild. However the Wild made their shots count, for they got the 3-2 shot, which was the game-winning score! I forgot to take a photo of the scoreboard, but you can check it out online if you don't believe me!

Grayson and Travis

Saturday, November 06, 2010: Tour of OSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital

Travis took John and I on a tour of The Ohio State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital today.

The corner of the building.

The new and nice academic building.

Veterinary Hospital

Terrible view of the beautiful football stadium.

The bridge over the Olentangy River near campus.

This is the Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites John and I are staying in.

The scarcrow inside the lobby area of the hotel is a Brutus the Buckeye!

Saturday, November 06 2010: College Traditions store

Brutus the Buckeye drew us in to this collegiate store, College Traditions....

Here's Brutus the Buckeye

Travis was dying to pose with Brutus the Buckeye...well, okay, Karen "made" him.

College Tradtion is on the left side

Bye, Brutus!

Saturday, November 06, 2010: Jack & Benny's breakfast

John and I met Travis for breakfast this morning at a place called Jack & Benny's in Columbus, OH. Clearly a popular breakfast spot, we ended up seated at the counter, where we could watch the short-order cooks at work.

Jack & Benny's

Johnny and Travis at the counter.

Of COURSE, they'd have a fire-engine red firetruck in Columbus, OH!

Across the street from Jack & Benny's was a laundromat called Dirty Dungaries. Note it says, Dry Cleaning, Coin Laundry & Pub.... That's a first!

Friday, November 5, 2010: Schmitdt's Sausage Haus & Restaurant

John and Karen were in Columbus, Ohio, visiting Travis, who as a new grad veterinarian, is doing a veterinary internship at The Ohio State University's veterinary teaching hospital. Our first connection was to go to dinner with Travis and his peer and friend, Grayson Cole in German Village at Schmidt's Sausage Haus & Restaurant, clearly to us a very popular Friday night dining spot.

Schmidt's Sausage Haus & Restaurant

Grayson and Travis humor me with the cutouts.

Grayson and Travis

Karin und Johannes (Karen and John)

Karin und Johannes again.

Even the stereotypical German guy tells us to watch our step on the uneven bricks.

Little German kitschy stuff.

We had the buffet....watched over by a stereotypical German guy with his bier stein.

Wednesday, November 03, 2010: Dinner with Barb & Tom Tonn

Barb (Ditter) Tonn, a fellow graduating classmate of Karen's was in Arizona from Minnesota with her husband Tom this week. Barb suggested we meet for dinner, and we had a window of just one evening that worked for the four of us. So, because they were staying with friends in Sun City West, John and I met Barb and Tom on the west side at an On the Border on Bell in the Arrowhead area. It was a pleasant evening, so we sat outside on the patio and shared some great conversation. Here is a photo of the Tonns.

Barb (Ditter) Tonn and her husband Tom Tonn

Sunday evening, October 31, 2010 (Halloween night):

Jake and Brittney were in charge of their ward's Trunk or Treat activity on Saturday night, which was when Porter wore his Halloween costume (he was Steve Nash of the Suns, but I need to get a photo!). So when Jake, Brittney, and Porter came over for dinner on Sunday evening, Porter was not in costume. After dinner, Jake went to a Stake Choir practice, and Brittney and Porter stayed with us for the Trick or Treating experience. Porter got into it, though we had only approximately 25-30 trick or treaters in our well-established neighborhood.

Brittney and Porter...who checks out the doggies.

Ummm, Uncle Bridger, I see the Halloween candy!

Strickers with googly eyes from Grandma Karen and Grandpa John!

Not sure what to think of that wacky headband you have on, Uncle Bridger!

And now Grandma Karen has it on!

Though I look involved with the squishy pumpkin, I'm NOT going to let you put that thing on MY head, Uncle Bridger!

Ball?

Porter loved going to the door with Grandma Karen to respond to the Trick or Treaters. So Grandpa John BECAME one!

And now Grandma Karen is, but it's a TRICK, she has a camera ready!

I can work remote controllers!

Let's play Wii.

Okay, it doesn't work--I'll gnaw on it instead!

That thing is on my head! Not for long, it isn't!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

October 29, 2010: Trunk or Treat!

One thing I love about many wards in the LDS Church, is that they make it easy for the little ones to trick or treat without necessarily having to go Trick or Treating, particularly when Halloween falls on Sunday (the Sabbath). So, no exception this year, our Larkspur Ward and McDowell Mountain Ward combined to throw a big Trunk or Treat activity. So much going on, but I only got my camera out during the latter part when the children trick or treat at the tricked out vehicles parked along the perimeter of the church building. So you won't see the chili cook-off and accouterments, or the haunted house, or the cupcake walk, or the children's parade, or, etc, etc. But here's a taste of the fun at the end.