Sistah!

Brian's sister Anna came to visit last week!



Renee had this idea to get us to lean back on a slanted parking lot but take the picture so it looked flat...not sure if the illusion worked as well as she thought it would.



Here we are at the Pittock Mansion! Thanks for the great picture self timer!



A visit to Portland isn't complete with some Voodoo donuts!

Brian's Birthday Weekend!

HAPPY 26th BIRTHDAY BRIAN!


This past weekend we went to Cannon Beach with Olive. She had lots of good exercise on her bad leg and we had a great time in the 70 degree weather!


We really have forgotten that it's still March with all this warm weather we have been having.




Then on Sunday night we meet a few friends to have a birthday dinner together! It was really nice to see everyone and super special because Brian's sister Anna was in Portland!


We all came back to our place to sing and have birthday cake!


Now our place is all decorated for Brian's Birthday!


We are going out to a birthday dinner tonight and he can open all his birthday presents too! Happy Birthday to you Brian Cook! Yahooo for 26!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Renee woke up today with a plan....



a plan to make cupcakes for everyone in the building.



Lots of eggs and 70 cupcakes later the task was done.

Brian's Commute

Here are a few pictures from Brian's drive home from school every day. Last week he had a few nights and the sun was setting by the time he left.



One of the cool things about his commute is that he drives directly toward Mt. Hood on the way home.

Olive Post Surgery!

Our little girl is recovering nicely! She has 2 more days in her cast then she moves on to just having it wrapped up. I think shes excited to get up and walk around.

It's Vegas Baby!

What happens in Vegas...is on this blog!

At the Venetian Hotel

First night out on the town with my sister Carla and her husband Mike! We had a blast!
This is Carla & Renee on Fremont street at night


Paris Las Vegas at night!






Sigfried & Roy statue


Watch out Brian! Grrrrrrr!


All the different colors of M&M's



The first illustrations of the M&M candies, drawn in 1954, Brian loved seeing all the different illustrations starting at 1954 through 2010! It was really cool to see.


Excalibur at night


We stayed at the Golden Nugget and they had an amazing pool. The slide went from the 3rd story down through a shark tank, then into the pool! It was amazing. They had over 10 different kinds of sharks in the tank!




In front of New York New York!


Before we went into Excalibur



The night at the GAMGA (German American Masquerade Association) Masquerade Ball!


Carla & Mike in their masks


My Grandma & Grandpa Dancing at the ball. My Grandpa is wearing his Prinz hat for the festival.


This is our table representing Michigan for the festival. If you ever want to see a group of adults return to childhood give them a few balloons to play with, I have never seen faces light up so fast! They had a lot of fun!


Brian, Renee, Grandma, Grandpa, Mike, and Carla at the Masquerade Ball


At the Palazzo, what an amazing view!




This ones for Ingrid!!!
Can you believe that a Bonanza Gift store doesn't have Bonanza souvenirs?! No joke, not one Bonanza item in the entire store! Sorry Ingrid


Our last night in Vegas at the GAMGA ball!
Grandma & Grandpa in their Prinz & Prinzess outfits


Mike & Brian in their festival hats for the GAMBA ball, they looked so cute! Just like elves!



All of the GAMGA royalty!
Grandma & Grandpa are on the first level on the left side


Our last morning together, we are all waiting for our airport shuttle to arrive


We had such a nice time in Vegas together, it is always nice to get to see family and to check out Las Vegas!