For the past few years, it feels like we've been perpetually busy, but I try to keep our weekend plans limited to one or two things at a time.  But last weekend, I threw caution to the wind and we packed in about a year's worth of stuff into just a few days.

Friday we joined our family in St. Paul for Grandpa's funeral, followed by a luncheon at Buca.  Although we're not Italian, we kind of wish we were so it's the perfect place for a big meal filled with massive amounts of food and wine (the massive part applying mostly to the food).

My cousins Michele, Julia, Jenine and Ted.  Jenine looks disappointed here because I didn't get her new ring in the photo.  I tried, but it kept throwing a blinding glare into my lens rendering the image useless.


We pinned the kids into a booth and tried to distract them with crayons until the food arrived.  Sophie wasn't buying it.


She was most comfortable hanging out with Grandma Jane.  Especially after she finally went to the bathroom, having successfully held her bladder for about seventeen hours (and sorry to anyone who was at Fort Snelling who had to witness me trying to get her to go to the bathroom near the many trees on the property).


Friday night we joined some friends for a special dinner at their house in honor of the lobsters that had recently flown on in from Maine.  It was their last trip, and we were glad to have them at our table. 


Other than enjoying good food and great company, we also were treated to one of the best views around - just outside of their front door.


On Saturday we went to mom and dad's house because I couldn't stay away from Baby Miles.  He is such a good baby and I held him as much as Sophie would allow.


Just look at this happy baby, isn't he the cutest?  He smiles all the time.  Except when he's eating rice cereal, then he's spitting all the time.


We also went on a few boat rides.  Martin spent his time alternating between telling me to punch him in the gut (because of his "hidden" life jacket) and begging to go faster.


We tracked down a loon nesting and I took about thirty pictures, thinking that I was some kind of wildlife photographer.  But it appears my knack for cutting off heads in photos isn't limited to those that contain people.


Sophie also took a few loon pictures, but hers turned out much better than mine.


On Sunday, Sophie and I joined the extended Nelson family in celebrating Marty's Aunt Mary's birthday.  We ate loads of good food (again).


Here is Sophie with two of her favorite ladies.  Judging only by skin tone, which one do you think is related to me?


And after all that fun and running around, Sophie fell asleep in the car mid-draw.  Now that's a good weekend.