Thanksgiving FlashBack 2005

Top 10 things to do in Manchester, NH

1. C.R. Sparks Restaurant & Bar
Restaurants

2. Amoskeag Fishways Learning and Visitors Center
Sights & Activities

3. Thousand Crane
Restaurants

4. FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Center
Shopping

5. Julien's Corner Kitchen
Restaurants

6. Chen Yang Li
Restaurants

7. Massabesic Audubon Center
Sights & Activities

8. Aloha Restaurant
Restaurants

9. Jillian's
Nightlife

10. Staples
Shopping

Pictures of the zoo/circus/loony bin

Halloween

Happy (late) Halloween!!! I'll be home for christmas. This was my big night at karaoke with my co-workers and my crazy(fun) boss. This pic was taken while i was between costumes. I was a hippie in pajamas. :-)

Oh dear....Christmas is coming!

We need to draw names for Christmas very soon.

grandpa's b-day

I had a great couple of days with Grandpa and Grandma at the cabin.
We worked on packing everything up and cleaning for the winter.
I wish you all could've been there!

We also called Sophie and had a good time catching up with her.

David

It's Grandpa's Birthday on October 17

Call him and wish him a happy birthday!!!

Rawr!

I made this at David's when I watched his dogs over the summer. He's got lots of good empty floor space! I just now uploaded it and thought I'd share! I have a few more cardboard drawings if you click on the image too.

How is everyone doing???

hey whats up everybody???? just wanted to share some pics

2nd Annual Lefse Day - November 10

Wow Saman!

Saman:
Are you feeling ok?
Love,
Auntie

Summer to Fall

Hey Peeps:

How are you all doing? It's finally cooling off here in the dessert -- I mean, Minnesota. We had more than 27 days this summer that were over 90 degrees -- and you all know how much auntie A loves the heat!!!

All right -- please email me if you don't know how to post an entry on the blog yet. I still feel like there are very few entries from people other than me...and Uncle D. Remember: go to blogger.com and create an account then make your way to the benrud blog and create a new post. ok? Let me know if you're still having trouble.

So, how is school for everyone? I'm really curious about Brenden...haven't heard a word from him since he started school. So, I'm thinkin, what's up with that guy? Anybody know??

Please, send information asap!
Love,
Auntie A.
ps: Cute dog, eh?

hello from Sonoma

hey guys.
i'm really looking forward to planning a trip to New Hampshire to visit Asia and Elijah.
I love the idea of renting a beach house next year.
I think that would be really fun.
Greg and I are having a great time at the farm.
We have fourteen apple trees that are ready to be picked.
Any good apple recipes???

I miss you all

Uncle D

picture of me at WEFEST near the cabin

Sign Up and Get on Board

Dear Family:

Go to blogger.com
Create an account so that you can contribute to this family update.
Do it now.

I want pictures and messages from Kansas, from New Hampshire, from London, from San Francisco, from Moose Lake, from South Minneapolis, and beyond!!

Yes, you can even send a political message -- like Uncle D's Save Water message.

Join in brothers and sisters!

Auntie A

Fleeting Summer...

Hey family:

How about you all touch base here and give a little update about what's going on?

Elijah? The new job? Health foods? Give us some of the dets, as in details.
Asia? Any new yogurt flavors? Hiked Monadnock yet?
Maya? What classes on the itinerary for fall? Is there life beyond Algebra?
Saman? When does school start? Is Erica leaving the country?
Yarrow? What up? The driver's license...is it part of your future?
Sophie? Driving? Preppin' for high school? New clothes? A new outlook?
Brenden? Dude...where ya been? When you headin' to New Hampshire?
Cameron? What school you goin' to?
Taos? Are you enrolled?
Gracie? Still wearin' your summer sandals?

How about checkin in with your fam il y???

Thank you!

T-Shirt update

Vote for me:
http://allmightys.com/features/vote_designs/not_cached/index.htm?viewDesign=366#c145
http://allmightys.com/features/vote_designs/not_cached/index.htm?viewDesign=365#c145

Also, request a reprint here:
http://www.threadless.com/product/835/Sounds_Of_The_Sea
If it gets reprinted, I get 500 bucks for doing nothing.

Adventures in New Hampshire!

It's the gang! Welcome to the blog, Eli!

Summer

Hey Everybody:

What's going on? Is anybody out there? What's the latest with Elijah and Asia? or, Gracie? or Taos? or Saman?
Where are our peeps?

Speak up -- be noticed.
Auntie.

A Night at the Museum

Yarrow Graduates!

Congratulations, Yarrow! We're very proud of you!

john

yes everybody john is in the hospital and no he is not ok he has had two surgrys so far and he will be in intensive care for awhile he has sufferd brain damage and will possibly have trouble speaking srry i am too tired to write more and i need to go see how he is so peace i am out if you would like john was on tv and click on this link to see it http://www.kctv.com/

Farmer Boys!

Do you know this family??

Sophie goes to Prom!

Birthday Brunch for Grandma on May 12 at 10:30 a.m.!

Hey Everybody:

Grandma's Birthday Brunch IS going to be on Saturday, May 12 at 10:30 a.m. at Uncle David's House. Please spread the word and let me know if you can make it.

Auntie A.

Friends Dining with Friends

Here's a picture of Greg, David, Sherri and myself at my Friends Dining with Friends fundraising event this weekend. The proceeds of this event support the mission of Clare Housing -- an organization that provides housing and supportive care for people in the Twin Cities who live with HIV/AIDS. My good friend Maria Ambrose opened up her house to host a group of 50 people who all donated toward the effort.

Two things about me

I just finished this big drawing for class yesterday and I want to show it off:


I've got a shirt in a current competition here:

(click image)
You should sign up and vote "5"!

The Golden Gate Bridge, Sour Dough, and Cable Cars

Hey Cats and Jammers:

I'm sitting here in Uncle David's livingroom in his apartment in San Francisco. I've been here for 4 days at a conference about Museums and the Web. I found a little time to walk through Chinatown, have lunch in North Beach (the Italian area), experience the Farmers Market down on the pier, drive across the amazing and stunningly beautiful Golden Gate bridge, eat Pakistani food, and hike a bunch of hills while stopping here and there to shop in second-hand stores. Unlce D found a really cool suede jacket with fringe on it!

It's been nice to be here and be intellectually stimulated and professionally challenged...plus, hang out with my brother!

I hear the weather in Minnesota has been beautiful!

Cheers!
Auntie A

Cameron Goes to the Weisman Art Museum!

Cameron and Auntie Ann spent part of the day at the office. We drew, talked to co-workers and Cameron got a private tour of the museum. On Mondays the museum is closed but Cameron got a special tour with Auntie Ann in a partially dark museum. It was a little spooky, but pretty cool. Cameron mentioned on the way to work that he really likes art because "It doesn't judge us."

He's a smarty.

Cameron and Brenden Meet the Winter!

Cameron is here today at Auntie Ann's house and we thought we'd put a picture of him on the Benrud Family Update.
We're hoping other people post some pictures, too!

Happy Bunny Day!
cameron

saman?

I heard saman won a threadless contest and one of his designs will be on sale online plus i guess he won some awesome prizes...Maybe you should let us know when there is good news to share SAMAN!

This girl makes me smile

I thought I'd post a picture of this cheerful girl just because she makes me smile.

hey

hey just stopping in............I hope everyone has a great easter!!! sorry i can't make it I wish i could.

Is anybody out there?

Hey Peeps:

Is anybody out there?

I was listening to MPR on my way to work today and heard Bush complaining about the Democrats wanting the troops out of Iraq. Bush said that if the troops were to pull out, there would be chaos in Iraq.....

PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, one way to – and one of the things I have found here in Washington amongst those who were skeptical about whether the Iraqis will do what it takes to secure their own freedom, is to remind them of what would happen if there's failure. In other words, there would be chaos. If we did not work to secure Baghdad and help the Iraqis to secure Baghdad, the country could evolve into a chaotic situation, and out of that chaos would emerge an emboldened enemy.

And there isn't chaos in Iraq NOW???

And then there's Grandpa Don

Father's Day is Sunday, June 17.

Grandpa and Grandma will be in town for Easter. Grandpa and I have a little bit of clean up work to do on TAXES!!!
I think I'll be hosting Easter at my house, this Sunday. We're planning on having a brunch around 11:00 a.m. Please let me know if you can attend. ok?

Cheers!
auntie

Yarrow Graduates in June

Rumor has it that Yarrow will be graduating soon.
Let us know the actual date, Yarrow.

Once we get the final word, we'll start planning the party.

But what's next for Yarrow?
Let's help Yarrow do some research on film schools. I think we need a film producer in the family.
Don't you think?

Good job on the lefse making!

Auntie Ann

Maya and Sophie in New York City!

Here's a picture of Sophie and Maya at Lombardi's Pizza in New York City.

We had a great spring break in New York, even though it was FREEZING cold. We saw the Broadway production of "The Color Purple"; we went to Harlem and saw the Apollo Theatre and picked up some coco mango incense and $5.00 shoes; we walked the alleys and back streets on and around Canal Street for some faux Coach purses and Tiffany's jewelry; we road the subway!; we ate dim sun in China Town; we took an odd and bizarre double decker bus ride throught the streets of Manhattan; we saw Rockefeller Center; Central Park; went to the Museum of Art and Design, stayed in a funky hotel near Times Square, and ate a hot dog from a street vendor!

It was a great trip and hopefully we can take an annual adventure!

Grandma Emelia Turns 98!

Today, April 1, is Grandma Emelia Hovland's 98th birthday!
Cheers to Grandma for a long and lovely life!

Grandma Jan Turns 70!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA JAN

Please mark Saturday, May 12 at 11:00 at David's house for a birthday celebration for Grandma.

Turning 70 is quite a celebration so please plan on attending this event in honor of Grandma. You may be asked to participate in some way, also. Details to follow.

Auntie Ann

Saman needs a Summer Job!!!

Hey everyone, this is a request to do some brainstorming with me. I am without employment for this summer, and as much as I'd like to draw robots and monsters all day, I need the money.

Anyone have any ideas??? I'd like to NOT end up with some menial service job, but that might happen and that would be okay (if any of those places would even hire me).

I'd love to try and get a creative job of some sort, as I have been getting more and more involved in art over the past year or so.
I also know how to fix macintosh computers pretty well. I think I'll be applying at some places where those skills could be put to use, but I doubt the apple store or firsttech would be hiring.

Any ideas?

LOST CREEK FARM

We now own Lost Creek Farm.
Our offer was accepted at 3pm.

We bought the farm with another couple that we will split it with.
We will build a place in the open field on the top of the bluff.
I'm thinking of a rammed earth house. What do you think?

Help me with some ideas for the farm.
Apple cider, wool, apple vinegar, furniture, art etc.

My friend Sotera bought a place near by and two other friends are starting a vineyard one mile away. We're all moving to the country!

The farm is four miles from where Laura Ingels Wilder grew up.
This is exciting because I am a fan of Little House on the prairie.