New Years

Just thought that it was time for a little payback! I know that these photos were taken at New Years but I thought that I would give my relatives a little time to sweat and wonder when I would post them. (If they even remember them being taken). To catch you all up Andy and I decided to have a new years party this year. I will be better informing everyone next year. Maybe even post it on the blog. Anyways I have always been accused of being the trouble maker of the family but little does everyone know that my older/mature sister has another side of her own!! She just never got caught ! Jenna, Katie, and Mary Paula decided that my garage was a catwalk and I'll let the photos explain the rest! Once again (the smart one) Mary Paula was behind the camera most of the time and out of blackmail range!

Jenna and Katie making there own catwalk Katie's Sexy Look

M.P what's with the focus here, or did it look focused to you?And I guess I don't know what look they were going for here on Andy's Car!

Jerry who never gets in trouble but always seems to be there in the background!!

Matt, I love how patient you are but as you can see she needs A LOT more practice!

Now if you could only remember the lyrics M.P.

-So long for now!


Hope all is well with everyone.
-Kari

Canopy Tour videos!

Hi all! Jenna here!
I'm so very impressed with all of the posts on this blog and I can't tell you what a great feeling it is to be able to read all of the updates on your lives, most amazing little ones, adventures, new jobs, weddings and more!

My mom gave you all the update on our trip to Mexico, but in a hopeful attempt - here are some videos from the Canopy Tour in the Sierra Madres about an hour outside of Puerto Vallarta up in the mountains. I was BY FAR the biggest scaredy cat of the group - and Matt was fearless. The highlight for me was seeing my DAD rappell 85 feet down from the canopy platforms.

Anyway - join us on the this virtual tour in the trees!





Oh, and if you want to see more pics from our trip and recent life happenings - we have a photography blog as well that we update almost daily if you click here!

Much love!
Jenna and Matt

Greetings from Colorado!

Hi All! It's been great to hear all of the updates and see your photos from the day to day. I'm a bit overdue on this, but here are a few pics from over the past few months. It's been an exciting first winter in Colorado, from learning to telemark ski, a backcountry yurt trip, working with Jenna and Matt on the photography front, and moving into a new place near downtown Denver.

Mom came out and we couldn't resist a trip to the mountains to "shred the gnar" - or so Matt and I like to think of our amateur telemark and snowboarding skills. Turns out, Lady Di is quite the skiier. Jenna had a good laugh at the three of us learning, as it was early season. A few weeks later we roped Jenna into learning how to tele ski and ahh the role reversals enjoyed by Matt and myself : )



Two weekends ago, we headed to a backcountry yurt to celebrate Matt's 30th birthday. Yurts are pretty cool - you reserve one in advance, snowshoe or ski into them, and enjoy a weekend of woodburning stoves, intense games of scrabble and sudoko, and perhaps some extreme sledding. I've heard there are some greats in Northern Minnesota - I'd recommend it!



A view from inside the yurt. Talk about a view to wake up to!



And what would be a birthday without some cake. Us girls had some fun crafting this while Matt and his friends were out snowshoeing.



The roommates and I salvaging our rental into a cute little bungalow with some paint! I'm no Martha Stewart but it made for an interesting Saturday.



I hope all is well with everyone!

Katie

Just thought I would share a photo of what our 16 month old Ellie Kay has been up to lately. Besides keeping us running and showing her true strong willed self she keeps us pretty busy. Even her big sister has a time trying to be nice to her. I guess I forgot about this stage. It seems like it's been forever since Eva was like this. I love it! Although sometimes it's nice for Nana and Papa to take over. We are so blessed to have family close to help us. Well take care for now!

-Kari

A Wentzler Hello

Hi all.
Brandy here with all of our latest news. Over the Valentine's day weekend we had a visitor for Dad's Birthday.... Uncle Brent! Benjamin gave him an immediate hug and I, being the hormone driven pregnant lady bawled. Brent got to meet Brecken and a fun weekend was had by all. Brady plotted everything - thanks man.
We had a getaway of our own early in Feb. We had a weekend at the Dells with the kids. Crowded you ask? Why yes! We managed to enjoy ourselves and do a little human observation in the meantime. Did you know the average time it takes to find one's children, after misplacing them, is 45 minutes? We didn't lose ours, but we heard plenty of other parents yelling that exact number after finding their own. huh.
Some news about our up and coming summer, Our new baby is due to arrive at the end of May. And Tom is headed, we thinks, to Chicago's Vandercook College of music. He's hoping to start a Master's of Music Ed. degree. It's a three yr. program that is offered for the summers. We're excited and anxious to begin this journey, but both of us will be close to family. I have all of you and he has a sister living right in Chicago! wheew. That's all for now, God bless you all
Brandy

Buenos Dias Amigos from Puerto Vallarta!

Hola Amigos, hermanos y hermanas, y todas las familia....(hello friends, brothers and sisters and all family!)

Just returned from 5 warm and sunny days in Puerto Vallarta. Matt and Jenna met Ken and Diane there for Matt's 30th birthday celebration....that's what we're doing in the picture....what a surprise to receive 20 oz margaritas....only need one of those! We had a very wonderful time. Spent our days walking the beach, exploring the area on foot, taxi cab and city buses, swimming in the ocean, (Matt taught us how to swim with the ocean waves...exhilarating and very salty!), bartered with the Mexicans for all their wares, soared through the air 90 feet and above the tree tops, suspended in a harness on a steel cable, known as a zip line or Canopy tour( very scarey, safe and thrilling!!!!)

Anna and Katie stayed in Hastings and Denver and watched the pugs.....Thanks girls...

Happy Valentines Day!

I hope everyone got their fill of flowers and chocolate today!!

Just a quick update on our side.

I started my job 3 weeks ago at Luther Nissan Kia in Inver Grove. My official title is Accounts Receivable and Titling, however, I kind of do a little of everything. They keep sending me to classes to learn more. Its kinda funny how you go to school for all those years only to graduate, get a job, and go back to school!

Chris is doing well with his studying, it sounds like a lot of you have heard through the grapevine about his journey thus far. He starts class next monday (the 19th) so he's excited for that. I do have to give him kudos for going into this field. Chris and I took most of the same classes in school but I still can't wrap my brain around half the stuff he is studying.

Wedding plans are rolling right along. Less than 4 months now! Which reminds me... Our reception is going to be at Treasure Island and we do have a block of hotel rooms reserved. If you are planning on staying the night please call and reserve your room ASAP! If the block fills up they can give us more rooms but the closer it gets to the wedding they can't guarantee open rooms. June 9th, write it down!

I guess that is all for now!
*~* Ris (and Chris too)

It's a Boy!

I am sure everyone has heard that prego lady had her baby. Brecken Robert was born on February 2nd at 1:37pm. He weighed 9lbs. 2oz. and was 22 inches. He is a Big Guy! We are enjoying having Dad at home with us for the rest of the week, he took off 2 weeks to get to know his new son. Big sister Autumn couldn't be happier to have her new brother finally here. Nine months was quite the wait for a five year old. This picture was taken when he was just 3 days old, I can't believe how alert he is. Have a great Valentine's day!
-Liz

I'm on board!

Ok, I'm finally on board with this blog and am going to test it out. Diane, can't wait to see a picture of Mexico! You better have a cervasa in your hand so I can live vicariously through you (we're not going anywhere warm this year.......boo hoo)

Ok, I will try to post a picture on this blog---valentine from Sammy...........



(I can barely get any pictures of Sean and Jake anymore) Have a Great Day!!.............M.P.