Saturday, October 11...A day at Holy Hill

Last Saturday we went on a drive about an hour away to this seminary/guest house/church/gift shop. The view was amazing and the drive was almost as spectacular as the church and vibrancy of the fall colors. It was a beautiful day...in the mid 70s! We had a much needed relaxing day enjoy the beauty that was around us. I'm so glad we went when we did, because now most of the leaves are gone and the weather has gotten so much cooler! The only negative was the asian beetles...there were so many that we had to cover our mouths a lot of the time so that they wouldn't fly into our mouth. There were so many that you couldn't help but step on them...they were on our clothes and everywhere! The church on top of Holy Hill...currently the towers are under reconstruction, and we were sad that we couldn't climb the towers....maybe next time!
My boys are avid tree climbers, so here they are taking in the beautiful day from a higher vantage point!
The boys would climb upon these stumps, then pick a place to race to, then say go and jump off, run to the predetermined spot and turn around, first one back to the top of the stump was the winner!
Ryan with the boys on the pathway leading to the Grottos for the Stations of the Cross
As we were walking, Jacob kept asking about the station where Simon helped Jesus, as he remembered that from Lent last year...here it was...station #7? I think???

One of the spectacular views from Holy Hill
These pictures don't do justice to the beautiful fall colors we could see for miles and miles!
Have you ever seen Holy Water come out of an outdoor faucet like this before?
The boys at in the cafeteria at Holy Hill! We had a fantastic, "church fall dinner" type meal in the seminary cafeteria
Jacob, Beth, John along the path in the woods.

After the Race

Ryan shortly after crossing the finish line with his medal!
Showing the boys his medal...they wanted one too!
Aaron Frank congratulates Ryan on joining the club, with Mary Jane and Marge looking on!
Ryan eating a Juicy Lucy burger that Mary Jane picked up for Ryan from Matt's Bar in Minneapolis! Ryan is a HUGE fan of the juicy lucy...a cheeseburger where the cheese is on the inside and oozes out with each bite. Ryan loves his with both regular and friend onions! Thanks MJ for getting this special treat for Ryan!

Walking back to the car after the race. It was so nice to have so many people cheering for Ryan...I don't know who was more nervous about the race, Ryan or me!

My husband....a Twin Cities Marathon FINISHER!

Ryan before he even got the starting line....it took about 10 minutes after the race started before he finally was up to the start line!
Here he comes...at mile 15! I was also at mile 9, but it was pouring out, so didn't take my camera with me then. We were lucky at mile 9 to get under a bridge, so we were able to stay pretty dry.
Megan Frank joined him at mile 15 and ran with him until mile 20! Here they are at mile 20.
At mile 20, Aaron Frank jumped in to help encourage Ryan.....Meg and Aaron thanks so much for all you did! Ryan is soooo thankful for friends like you!
Here's Ryan at the finish line! We are all so proud of Ryan and what he has accomplished!

Oktoberfest 2008

I didn't have my camera for most of the night, but I did snap these few photos at the beginning. Jacob LOVED climbing the trees at Grandpa and Grandma Jennissen's house....he still is talking about it! John was still able to fit into the lederhosen outfit that Ryan's folks found a few years ago. We had a great time, although we were home for too short of a time!