Each year, a local farmer by the name of Sever Peterson turns his corn field into a maze the size of 10 football fields. Yesterday afternoon, Ryan, Paula, Nick, Kristin, Roger and I “walked like an Egyptian” (this year’s maze had an ancient Egypt theme) and navigated the maze — without any of us getting lost! In fact, Ryan made it to several points in the maze without a map by simply bending over, picking up a handful of dirt, and tossing it in the air, as if the winds determined his direction. The event included more than just a maze — we enjoyed roasted corn, apple cider, mini donuts, carameled apples, kettle corn, a petting zoo, and pumpkin slinging. Despite the cold weather, the sun was out and we all had a great time. Check out the pictures of us at Sever’s Corn Maze and Fall Festival.

The installation of Ryan and Paula’s new deck was completed just in time for a Memorial Day weekend picnic. Check out the hilarity as we christened the new deck and kicked off the summer!

We met Nick and Kristin a few years ago, when they were neighbors with Ryan and Paula at their old apartment building in Bloomington. Unfortunately, just a day after Nick and Kristin moved in, they were in a car accident that left the two of them in the hospital for several days. A week or so later, bruised and battered and high on Vicodin, Nick knocked on Ryan and Paula’s door to introduce himself and inform them that no, he wasn’t beating his girlfriend. The couples became fast friends after that, and Roger and I have had the pleasure of getting to know them, too.

Since then, all three of us have moved to different areas of the Twin Cities, but recently gathered at Ryan and Paula’s home to celebrate a wedding shower in honor of Nick and Kristin (photos here). The two will become Mr. and Mrs. Nick Johnson in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday, Aug. 10. Good luck, you two! We’ll be thinking of you!

After a year of planning, Wendy and Tim were finally married this past Saturday at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Burnsville (you wouldn’t believe me if I told you that their pastor used a puppet in the ceremony, would you?). While my amateur photography skills aren’t the greatest (due in part to some pretty bad lighting in the church and at the reception) you can get a feeling for the event through the pics I’ve posted at Ofoto. Congrats, Tim and Wen!

A new blog on the scene: Ailee and Rachel. Okay, okay, so mom and dad are doing most of the typing … but still — these girls are pretty high-tech at only five days old! Congratulations to Chris and Kristin on the birth of their beautiful twin girls, Ailee Ryan and Rachel Taylor! The girls were born a bit earlier than expected this past Sunday night (they were due in August but just couldn’t wait to meet us all, I guess) and are only a bit over a pound a piece — but are doing well and have surpassed some major hurdles in their earliest days. Chris, Kristin, Ailee and Rachel: our continued thoughts, prayers and well-wishes are with you.

Uncle Ron, who is neither my uncle nor Roger’s uncle, is coming to visit this weekend.